Publications by authors named "Akmal Sabri"

Wound healing is a complex process that may result in healthy tissue regeneration, but problematic chronic wounds exhibit fibrosis and persistent inflammation. To improve wound outcomes, the application of pro-proliferative polymers as bioresorbable particles was investigated for the first time. The surface of bioresorbable poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PLA) microparticles is decorated with a pro- and anti-proliferative polymer that adheres to the surface for a minimum of 21 days.

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Lipid-based nanocarrier systems have multiple advantages, including biocompatibility, biodegradability and drug loading capacity. Combining these findings with the concept of dissolving microneedles (MNs) would aid in the efficient delivery of peptides and improve therapeutic outcomes. Thus, MN-mediated transdermal delivery was explored for the delivery of salmon calcitonin (sCT).

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Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by female sandflies, primarily affects impoverished populations in tropical and subtropical regions. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most prevalent form, with over 600,000 new cases annually. Leishmania parasites spread via the lymphatic system, leading to disease progression.

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Topical therapy with imiquimod in a cream [5% w/w imiquimod cream (Aldara™)] for the treatment of nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) currently results in low cure rates, attributed to low imiquimod permeation. Herein we have developed novel microneedle array patches (MAPs), to maximize imiquimod intradermal delivery and retention in the skin, with potential as an efficacious treatment for BCC. Enhanced delivery of imiquimod in pig skin and BCC tissue was found with the obelisk poly N-acryloylmorpholine (pNAM) MAPs as compared to the 5% w/w imiquimod cream and MAPS manufactured from a commercially available polymer (PVPVA).

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Effective co-delivery of multiple drugs via microneedle (MN) platforms is challenging due to limited loading capacity and the need for sustained release. This study presents a bimodal coated-dissolving microneedle (DMN) patch for extended delivery of diclofenac (DCF) and dexamethasone (DSP) nanoparticles to treat osteoarthritis. The DMN tips are loaded with DCF nanoparticles (3.

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Tuberculosis remains a major global health concern, presenting as either active disease or latent infection, the latter carrying a risk of activation, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Prolonged isoniazid monotherapy is the standard preventive treatment, often supplemented with pyridoxine to mitigate isoniazid-induced pyridoxine depletion, as recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This present study investigates an alternative transdermal approach using hydrogel-forming microarray patches (MAPs) incorporating lyophilised isoniazid and pyridoxine wafers.

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Schizophrenia is one of the most severe mental disorders, affecting approximately 24 million people worldwide. Conventional treatments, such as drug-loaded implants and intramuscular injections, have several limitations, including pain during administration and the need for medical professionals to perform the procedure. In this study, a poly(lactic--glycolic) acid (PLGA)-based implantable microneedle patch (IMN) was developed for the transdermal delivery of risperidone (RIS) as a treatment for schizophrenia.

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This research focuses on developing and characterizing islatravir-loaded dissolving microarray patches (MAPs) to provide an effective, minimally invasive treatment option for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) prevention and treatment. The research involves manufacturing these MAPs using a double-casting approach, and conducting in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Results show that the MAPs have excellent needle fidelity, structural integrity, and mechanical strength.

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Article Synopsis
  • New multipurpose prevention technologies for women prioritize reducing HIV risks and preventing unwanted pregnancies, promoting greater sexual health choices.
  • A novel long-acting injectable platform combines the HIV drug MIV-150 and the contraceptive etonogestrel using a specially designed D-peptide that forms a drug-releasing hydrogel after injection.
  • The technology shows promising biostability, low toxicity, and sustained delivery of both drugs in animal models for nearly 50 days, indicating its potential for effective long-term use.
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Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) present significant treatment challenges. These infections often require systemic antibiotics such as vancomycin, which poses a risk for increased bacterial resistance. Topical treatments are hindered by the barrier function of the skin, and microneedles (MNs) offer a promising solution, increasing patient compliance and negating the need for traditional needles.

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Hydrogel-forming microneedle (MN) arrays are minimally-invasive devices that can penetrate the stratum corneum, the main barrier to topical drug application, without causing pain. However, drug delivery using hydrogel-forming MN arrays tends to be relatively slow compared to rapid drug delivery using conventional needles and syringes. Therefore, in this work, for the first time, different physical and chemical delivery enhancement methods were employed in combination with PVA-based hydrogel-forming MN arrays.

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Hyperlipidemia and its associated cardiovascular complications are the major causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Simvastatin (SIM) is one of the most commonly prescribed lipid-lowering drugs for the treatment of hyperlipidemia by competitive inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. However, the extensive first-pass metabolism leading to low oral bioavailability and frequent daily doses may lead to poor patient compliance and adverse effects caused by plasma fluctuations.

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As of 2023, more than 200 million people worldwide are living with osteoporosis. Oral bisphosphonates (BPs) are the primary treatment but can cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, reducing patient compliance. Microarray (MAP) technology has the potential to overcome GI irritation by facilitating the transdermal delivery of BPs.

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The retinoid fenretinide (FENR) is a promising compound for preventing breast cancer recurrence but faces challenges due to poor solubility and low bioavailability. This study explores the development of dissolving microneedles (MNs) containing FENR-loaded ethosomes for minimally invasive breast cancer chemoprevention, aiming to enhance local drug distribution. Ethosomes were formulated using ethanol, propylene glycol, soya lecithin, water, and polysorbate 80 micelles.

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Microarray patches (MAPs) offer a noninvasive and patient-friendly drug delivery method, suitable for self-administration, which is especially promising for low- and middle-income country settings. This study focuses on the development of dissolving bilayer MAPs loaded with norelgestromin (NGMN) as a first step towards developing a future potential drug delivery system for sustained hormonal contraception. The fabricated MAPs were designed with the appropriate needle lengths to penetrate the stratum corneum, while remaining minimally stimulating to dermal nociceptors.

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Objectives: Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers have been widely investigated as potential nanomaterials that can enhance the skin permeation of topically applied drugs. This article reviews the studies that have used dendrimers as penetration enhancers and examines the mechanisms by which enhancement is claimed.

Key Findings: A wide range of studies have demonstrated that, in certain circumstances and for certain drugs, the incorporation of dendrimers into a topically applied formulation can significantly increase the amount of drug passing into and through the skin.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hydrogel-forming microneedle array patches (HFMAPs) can deliver drugs like risperidone (RIS) transdermally while avoiding sharps waste by creating microconduits in the skin.
  • The study enhanced the solubility of RIS by using cyclodextrin derivatives, specifically hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), which increased RIS solubility by 4.75 times.
  • In vivo experiments demonstrated that HFMAPs provided prolonged release of RIS and its metabolite, significantly maintaining higher blood levels over several days compared to traditional intramuscular delivery.
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Parkinson's disease (PD), affecting about ten million people globally, presents a significant health challenge. Rotigotine (RTG), a dopamine agonist, is currently administered as a transdermal patch (Neupro®) for PD treatment, but the daily application can be burdensome and cause skin irritation. This study introduces a combinatorial approach of dissolving microarray patch (MAP) and nanosuspension (NS) for the transdermal delivery of RTG, offering an alternative to Neupro®.

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Levodopa (LD) has been the most efficacious medication and the gold standard therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) for decades. However, its long-term administration is usually associated with motor complications, which are believed to be the result of the fluctuating pharmacokinetics of LD following oral administration. Duodopa is the current option to offer a continuous delivery of LD and its decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa (CD); however, its administration involves invasive surgical procedures, which could potentially lead to lifelong complications, such as infection.

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Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is commonly prescribed for managing osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-surgical pain. However, oral administration of diclofenac often leads to adverse effects. This study introduces an innovative nano-in-micro approach to create diclofenac nanoparticle-loaded microneedle patches aimed at localised, sustained pain relief, circumventing the drawbacks of oral delivery.

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Carbidopa and levodopa remain the established therapeutic standard for managing Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, their oral administration is hindered by rapid enzymatic degradation and gastrointestinal issues, limiting their efficacy, and necessitating alternative delivery methods. This work presents a novel strategy employing dissolving microarray patches (MAPs) loaded with carbidopa and levodopa, formulated with Tween® 80 to improve their transdermal delivery.

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease primarily impacting neurons responsible for dopamine production within the brain. Pramipexole (PRA) is a dopamine agonist that is currently available in tablet form. However, individuals with PD commonly encounter difficulties with swallowing and gastrointestinal motility, making oral formulations less preferable.

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The lymphatic system is active in several processes that regulate human diseases, among which cancer progression stands out. Thus, various drug delivery systems have been investigated to promote lymphatic drug targeting for cancer therapy; mainly, nanosized particles in the 10-150 nm range quickly achieve lymphatic vessels after an interstitial administration. Herein, a strategy to boost the lymphotropic delivery of Rose Bengal (RB), a hydrosoluble chemotherapeutic, is proposed, and it is based on the loading into Transfersomes (RBTF) and their intradermal deposition in vivo by microneedles.

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Microarray patches (MAPs) have shown great potential for efficient and patient-friendly drug delivery through the skin; however, improving their delivery efficiency for long-acting drug release remains a significant challenge. This research provides an overview of novel strategies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of MAP delivery of micronized cabotegravir sodium (CAB Na) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The refinement of microneedle design parameters, including needle length, shape, density, and arrangement, and the formulation properties, such as solubility, viscosity, polymer molecular weight, and stability, are crucial for improving penetration and release profiles.

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