Furqan A. Maulvi

Purpose: Myopia is a global vision problem linked to a significant economic burden and potential blindness in severe cases. Current interventions—including atropine eye drops, contact lenses, spectacles, and lifestyle changes—are often combined due to limited individual effectiveness. This study aimed to develop and stabilize atropine formulations, load them into contact lenses, and evaluate atropine release profiles. Methods: Atropine sulfate was converted to atropine base and complexed with 2‐hydroxypropyl beta‐cyclodextrin (HPBCD) in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) at pH 6.5 or 7.4. Formulation stability was monitored over one year at room temperature (21°C) using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Etafilcon A and omafilcon A lenses were soaked in the formulations for 24 hours. The amount of atropine base loaded and released was quantified via HPLC, and toxicity was assessed according to ISO 10993‐5. Results: After 1 year, the formulations retained 97.3% (pH 6.5) and 80.3% (pH 7.4) of atropine base. At pH 6.5, etafilcon A and omafilcon A absorbed 3.2 ± 0.1 μg and 1.7 ± 0.6 μg of atropine base, respectively. Etafilcon A released 100% of the atropine base within 4 hours, and omafilcon A released 59% within 2 hours. Contact lens eluates showed no toxicity. Conclusions: These findings support the stability and safety of atropine base formulations for potential ocular drug delivery.

Objectives: Dabigatran etexilate mesylate (DEM), a prodrug of the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran used for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, exhibits poor aqueous solubility, P-glycoprotein–mediated efflux, and limited oral bioavailability, which pose challenges for oral delivery. This study aimed to develop and optimize a cubosome-based nanocarrier system to enhance the oral bioavailability and sustain the release of DEM. Methods: DEM-loaded cubosomes were prepared using glycerol monooleate (GMO) and Poloxamer 407 by melt dispersion–emulsification. A Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize formulation variables based on particle size, entrapment efficiency, and drug release responses. Optimized formulations were characterized by dynamic light scattering, TEM, FT-IR, DSC, and XRD analyses. In vitro drug release and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in Wistar rats were performed to evaluate sustained release behavior and relative oral bioavailability enhancement. Results: The optimized cubosomes exhibited nanoscale particle size (~ 19–30 nm), narrow size distribution, high entrapment efficiency (~ 87%), and sustained biphasic drug release up to 24 h. Structural characterization supported incorporation of DEM within the lipid matrix and reduced drug crystallinity. In vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation demonstrated prolonged plasma exposure and enhanced relative bioavailability compared with the marketed formulation, with approximately 2.28-fold higher relative bioavailability. Conclusions: The optimized cubosomal system effectively improved the oral delivery and sustained release of DEM. The formulation demonstrated enhanced relative bioavailability and prolonged systemic exposure, supporting further development for oral DEM delivery. Anticoagulant efficacy, gastrointestinal safety, and appropriate dosing regimens remain to be established.

Polymer‐based transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) require precise control of solubility, permeability, mechanical integrity, and stability to achieve effective and patient‐friendly therapy. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and therapeutic DES (THEDES) have emerged as versatile, potentially sustainable and composition‐tunable excipients capable of modulating these properties within polymer matrices used in patches, films, hydrogels, nanoparticles, and microneedles. Through extensive hydrogen‐bond networks, DESs interact with polymer functional groups to regulate crystallinity, plasticization, viscosity, and drug–polymer affinity, thereby influencing drug loading, release kinetics, and transdermal flux. This review presents a polymer‐centric, design‐oriented framework that links DES composition with polymer compatibility and formulation performance. DESs are highlighted as active modulators of polymer structure–property relationships, enabling simultaneous control over drug solubilization, permeation enhancement, and matrix stability. The interplay between DES physicochemical descriptors, including polarity, viscosity, and hydrogen‐bonding capacity, and polymer characteristics is critically analyzed to guide rational formulation design. Emerging in silico approaches, including molecular dynamics, quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR), and quantitative structure–toxicity relationship (QSTR) models, are discussed as predictive tools for screening DES–polymer compatibility and accelerating optimization. Key challenges related to safety, regulatory uncertainty, scalability, and long‐term stability are also addressed. Overall, polymer–DES hybrid systems represent a promising platform for developing efficient, stable, and customizable TDDS.

Background Fasting, practiced in clinical, cultural, and faith-based contexts, has emerged as a non-pharmacological strategy capable of modulating multiple physiological systems. Contemporary evidence suggests that diverse fasting patterns (intermittent and time-restricted fasting, Ramadan fasting, alternate-day and periodic fasting, dry fasting, and fasting-mimicking diets) converge on shared metabolic–circadian–immune pathways and can be conceptualized within an integrated resilience framework. Aim This narrative review synthesizes current experimental and human data on fasting as a multisystem health modulator, linking metabolic, cardiovascular, immune, gut–liver–microbiome, neurocognitive, endocrine, and psychospiritual effects to common regulatory axes, particularly the Metabolic–Circadian–Immune (MCI) and Energy–Information–Resilience (EIR) models. Results Across fasting modalities, activation of energy-sensing pathways (AMPK–SIRT1–mTOR), metabolic switching to lipolysis and ketogenesis, enhanced autophagy/mitophagy, and improved insulin sensitivity have been shown to support the management of obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fasting also modulates immune and inflammatory tone, reshapes the gut microbiome, and may benefit autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Cardiovascular, endocrine, and neurocognitive domains show improvements in blood pressure, lipid profiles, neurotrophic signaling, mood, and cognitive resilience, while structured religious fasting (e.g., Ramadan) can additionally reinforce psychological discipline and spiritual well-being. At the same time, responses are heterogeneous, and prolonged or intensive regimens may pose risks in vulnerable populations. Conclusion Fasting can be viewed as a low-cost, multidimensional “biopsychospiritual” health intervention acting through interconnected metabolic, circadian, immune, and neurobehavioral pathways. By integrating traditional and religious fasting practices with contemporary mechanistic and clinical data, this review highlights shared energy- and immune-regulatory axes and underscores the potential of fasting within integrative, preventive, and personalized care. Standardized protocols, long-term outcomes, and multimodal trials combining immunophenotyping, microbiome/metabolomic profiling, and neuroimaging remain priorities for future research.

Conventional dexamethasone eye drops suffer from poor ocular bioavailability due to rapid tear turnover and limited corneal residence, necessitating frequent dosing and posing challenges in chronic ocular therapies. This study addresses the need for a sustained and biocompatible ocular delivery platform by engineering hydrogel contact lenses incorporating dual-surfactant micelles for prolonged dexamethasone release. Micelles were prepared using Pluronic P123 and TPGS at different weight ratios, with a total surfactant concentration of 0.1% w/v─ten times above their critical micelle concentration─to optimize drug solubilization and encapsulation. DLS confirmed nanoscale micelles (∼11-14 nm) with a narrow size distribution. Compared to conventional soaking and single-surfactant systems, mixed micelle-laden lenses achieved significantly higher drug loading (59.1 ± 11.5 μg), minimized leaching during sterilization, and reduced burst release. In vitro release extended over 96 h with sustained flux. In vivo studies in rabbits demonstrated a >20-fold improvement in bioavailability (AUC_0-24 = 579 μg·h/mL) and extended mean residence time (8.8 h) compared to eye drops, maintaining therapeutic tear concentrations for 24 h postapplication. The formulation also suppressed inflammatory IL-6 levels to near baseline, outperforming eye drops and soaked lenses. Cytotoxicity (96.3% viability) and ocular irritation tests confirmed excellent biocompatibility. In conclusion, this dual-surfactant micelle platform markedly enhances the therapeutic potential of drug-eluting contact lenses, offering a safe, sustained, and patient-compliant alternative for managing ocular inflammation. These findings support further clinical translation of micelle-integrated lenses as next-generation ocular drug delivery systems.

Myopia has become a leading cause of visual impairment globally, with a rapidly increasing prevalence among children, particularly in urbanised areas of East and Southeast Asia. High and pathologic myopia can lead to irreversible complications, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. This narrative review synthesises current and emerging strategies for myopia control as of 2025, integrating evidence from optical, pharmacological, behavioural, and surgical domains. Multifocal contact lenses, orthokeratology, and defocus-incorporated spectacles are effective in modulating axial elongation. Low-dose atropine remains a cornerstone pharmacologic therapy with consistent efficacy. Behavioural interventions, such as increased outdoor time, provide preventive benefits and are endorsed in school-based programs. Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy represents a novel, non-invasive option with growing support. Surgical approaches, while corrective rather than preventive, are relevant in advanced cases. The review also compares intervention efficacy, discusses the rationale for combination therapies, and highlights the need for individualised, age-appropriate strategies. Key challenges include treatment variability, limited long-term data, and barriers to adherence and access. Future directions involve personalised risk prediction, global implementation frameworks, and public health engagement. A multimodal, patient-centred approach is essential to reduce the lifelong burden of myopia.