Pravin Pawar

Although many newly developed therapeutic compounds exhibit low bioavailability due to poor aqueous solubility and limited gastrointestinal permeability, oral drug delivery remains the preferred route of administration because of its simplicity, convenience, and high patient compliance. An efficient lipid-based method to get around these restrictions is self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems. These nanoscale droplets greatly improve mucosal penetration, surface area for dissolution, and solubilization of the medication. Furthermore, SNEDDS enhances the bioavailability of BCS class II and IV drugs by promoting lymphatic absorption, reducing first-pass metabolism, and maintaining drugs in a solubilised state. System efficiency is mostly determined by critical formulation variables, including droplet size, HLB, lipid selection, surfactant content, and thermodynamic stability. Sustained solubilization, modulation of intestinal permeability, reduced efflux activity, and enhanced lymphatic transport collectively contribute to improved drug absorption. Recent developments have expanded SNEDDS into specialized categories, including ligand-modified targeted SNEDDS for site-specific action, controlled-release SNEDDS for sustained delivery, solid SNEDDS for improved stability and handling, and supersaturated SNEDDS to prevent drug precipitation. These developments have made SNEDDS more adaptable, effective, and patient-friendly. Further studies are anticipated to maximise their therapeutic potential.

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy and inherited retinal dystrophies cause significant vision impairment globally and are grouped under ocular retinopathies. While traditional therapies are less effective as they only offer symptomatic relief, they run the risk of the disease progressing even further. The advent of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has the potential to allow the direct disease modification and correction of the diseased state of the gene. Therefore, a paradigm shift can occur where traditional therapies only offer symptomatic relief and disease modification can be offered instead. The objective of this article is to describe the current state of CRISPR-Cas9 for ocular retinopathies from the perspective of disease modification, and incorporate potential barriers to design a framework to assess the future opportunities and obstacles to the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system in the clinic. Methods: CRISPR 'Cas9', retinal 'gene editing', 'inherited retinal diseases', 'delivery systems', and a combination of these terms were employed when searching published literature. Studies were published in English, were original research, reviews, or clinical trials, and were peer-reviewed. Studies were excluded if they were not related to the ocular applications of CRISPR. Results: Results from pre-clinical studies or early-stage trials indicate that CRISPR-Cas9 may be used to restore the function of diseased retina and stabilize the further progression of the disease. Delivery systems are becoming more efficient and less likely to elicit immune responses. The expected therapeutic result is higher when all these systems are combined. Next-generation CRISPR editors, together with AI-based RNA design and delivery systems, are expected to improve the editing of the 'epigenome'. Discussion: The combination of CRISPR-Cas9 with cell-based therapies and personalized medicine approaches will continue to improve the precision and effectiveness of a given treatment. Advanced technologies in the field of gene modification and editing, AI-guided RNA therapies, and epigenome editing continue to remove obstacles related to specificity and expand the treatable areas in medicine. Conclusions: The potential of CRISPR-Cas9 in the treatment of Ocular Retinopathies is high given its ability to treat diseases by repairing their genetic causes. Continued off-target and delivery challenges and the slow pace of regulations will hinder the privileged work of multidisciplinary teams that are focused on the potential of CRISPR technologies. The long-term restoration of vision to patients who suffer from Retinal Diseases and improving their vision is not only the goal, but one of the more certain outcomes of this work.

Recent advances in nanotechnology have positioned solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as promising platforms for dermal and transdermal drug delivery. This review critically highlights emerging breakthroughs that go beyond the conventional advantages of lipid nanoparticles. SLNs, composed of physiologically compatible solid lipids, provide improved drug stability and controlled release; however, their clinical utility is often constrained by limited drug loading, drug expulsion during storage, and highly ordered crystalline structures. To overcome these drawbacks, second-generation NLCs incorporate both solid and liquid lipids, creating an imperfect lipid matrix that significantly enhances loading capacity, minimizes drug leakage, and enables tunable release kinetics. Recent formulation innovations including precision high-pressure homogenization, microfluidic-assisted production, and optimized hot/cold homogenization approaches have enabled tighter particle size control, improved batch reproducibility, and better long-term stability. In parallel, surface engineering strategies such as ligand functionalization, polymer coating, and incorporation of natural bioactives have demonstrated enhanced skin targeting, deeper stratum corneum penetration, and prolonged dermal retention. Notably, recent preclinical and translational studies report improved therapeutic outcomes in acne, psoriasis, fungal infections, inflammatory disorders, wound healing, hyperpigmentation, and melanoma-related skin conditions when compared with conventional topical systems. Despite these advances, important translational gaps remain, including large-scale manufacturing challenges, regulatory uncertainties, and limited clinical validation. By integrating recent technological breakthroughs with application-focused evidence, this review provides a forward-looking perspective on the evolving role of SLNs and NLCs as next-generation lipid nanocarriers for dermatological therapy and advanced skin care.

The triazole medication is an active medicinal ingredient that is highly effective against the dermatophyte, Candida, and Aspergillus species. Being a BCS II medication, responsible for most of its poor bioavailability in ocular region. The present study focuses on the development of a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) designed to improve the solubility and ophthalmic bioavailability of itraconazole. Screening of appropriate oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants was carried out through solubility profiling. A water dilution method was applied to evaluate emulsification capacity. The formulation was optimized using a 3² factorial design. The optimized batch demonstrated a droplet size of 60.6 nm, PDI of 0.46, and zeta potential of -11.2 mV. Drug content was found to be 93.25%. In vitro drug release followed anomalous transport with an 'n' value ≥0.85, indicating release pattern was controlled by a combined interaction of diffusion and polymer swelling mechanisms. An antifungal assay revealed significantly enhanced inhibition of Candida albicans growth by the optimized SNEDDS. In comparison to its marketed eye drop (ITRAL 1% w/v), an improved property of Itraconazole loaded self-nanoemulsifying system was noticed, and in vitro data suggest it is an alternative to eye drop. Assessment of different parameters -: such as minimal droplet size, optimal surfactant concentration, desired viscosity, excellent in vitro drug release, shorter self-emulsification time, and appropriate drug content -: revealed that the optimized batch was the most suitable formulation for further in vivo and ex vivo studies to establish its potential as an effective and efficient ophthalmic delivery system.

Obesity remains a complex global public health crisis driven by environmental, biochemical, and behavioral factors, leading to severe metabolic comorbidities. Digital therapeutics (DTx) has emerged as a scalable, data‐driven intervention, utilizing wearable sensors, mobile applications, and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver personalized weight‐management strategies. Rather than relying solely on traditional approaches, true DTx distinguishes it through rigorous clinical validation and targeted behavioral modification. Current evidence from clinical trials and real‐world data indicates that while DTx effectively enhances patient engagement and promotes short‐term behavioral change, sustaining long‐term adherence and significant weight loss remains a critical challenge. Furthermore, the integration of AI models offers advanced personalization, though their efficacy must be balanced against potential algorithmic biases and traditional statistical approaches. Successful implementation of DTx into standard obesity care requires overcoming substantial barriers, particularly digital divide, data privacy concerns, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, realizing the full potential of DTx necessitates collaborative efforts to establish standardized regulations, ensure equitable access, and design evidence‐based interventions that prioritize long‐term patient engagement and clinical efficacy.

The eye is the most accessible site for topical drug delivery. Drug's ocular bioavailability is quite low when administered topically as eye drops. Viscosity enhancers are used to increase ocular bioavailability by extending the precorneal residence time of the drug at the ocular site. Cellulose, polyalcohol and polyacrylic acid are examples of hydrophilic viscosity enhancers. The addition of viscosity modifiers increases the amount of time the drug is in contact with the ocular surface. Several polysaccharides have been studied as excipients and viscosity boosters for ocular formulations, including cellulose derivatives such as chitosan (CS), xyloglucan and arabinogalactan (methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose). Viscosity-increasing substances reduce the surface tension, extend the corneal contact time, slow the drainage, and improve the bioavailability. Chitosan is a viscosity enhancer that was originally thought to open tight junction barrier cells in the epithelium. Chitosan thickens the medication solution and allows it to penetrate deeper. Alginate is an anionic polymer with carboxyl end groups that has the highest mucoadhesive strength and is used to improve penetration. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), a polysaccharide with a high molecular weight, is one of the most common viscous polymers used in artificial tears to achieve their longer ocular surface residence period. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is biocompatible and biodegradable in nature, and it is available in ocular sustained-release dose forms. A polymer known as xanthan gum is used to increase viscosity. At 0.2% concentration, carbomer forms a highly viscous gel.

Background: Bacterial conjunctivitis is a serious ocular infection if left untreated. It is caused by several species of bacteria like Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Mycobacterium. Objective: The present investigation explores the development and characterization of moxifloxacin hydrochloride and ketorolac tromethamine combination loaded Eudragit RL 100 nanosuspension for ocular drug delivery in order to overcome the problems associated with conventional dosage forms. Methods: The nanosuspension prepared by nanoprecipitation technique showed successful entrapment of both water-soluble drugs in the polymer matrix indicated by their % entrapment efficiencies. Results: Formulations showed a mean particle size Conclusion: Due to their sustained release, positive surface charge and higher transcorneal permeation, this will be a promising ocular drug delivery.

Aim: The objective of present investigation was to increases solubility of voriconazole by using solid dispersion techniques and the development of solid dispersion-based voriconazole ophthalmic so...

Background: Voriconazole (VCZ) is a lipophilic candidate, effective against fungal infections like ocular keratitis and endopthalmitis. Objective: The purpose to develop, optimize and characterize voriconazole microemulsion as sustained medication for ophthalmic application. Methods: The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were developed using oleic acid, isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate (oil phases), tween 80 (surfactant), propylene glycol (co-surfactant), distilled water (aqueous phase) and modified chitosan (Mod.CH) as mucoadhesive polymer. The optimum composition of oil, S_mix and water was selected on the basis of phase diagrams and as mucoadhesive polymer Mod.CH was used in the formulations. All the formulations were evaluated for thermodynamic stability/dispersibility, physicochemical parameters (droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug content, viscosity, pH and conductivity), in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies. Results: All formulations showed droplet size below 250 nm, positive zeta potential and polydispersity index below 0.5. The in vitro drug release study performed on selected formulations showed maximum sustained release than marketed formulation. The in vitro transcorneal permeation experiment of formulations suggests that optimized formulations showed better permeation. The selected formulation of voriconazole microemulsion was able to produce maximum antifungal activity against Candida albicans when compared to marketed formulation. In vivo study performed on rabbit eyes, found more drug concentration in aqueous humor of optimized formulation; the AUC_0→t of IPMVM-11 was approximately 6.84-fold higher than VOZOLE and efficiently enhanced the corneal bioavailability. Conclusion: The modified chitosan based on voriconazole loaded microemulsion was promising novel carrier for sustained action in ophthalmic medication.