Search Results (603)

Silicone elastomers are attractive matrices for transdermal drug delivery systems, but the controlled release of poorly water-soluble drugs from hydrophobic silicone networks remains challenging. Medical-grade silicone elastomers are generally regarded as chemically stable, biologically inert, and highly biocompatible polymer matrices, which supports their use in biomedical and pharmaceutical materials. Here, ibuprofen-loaded silicone/polyol composite films were prepared from hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) using glycerol- and 1,2-propylene glycol-derived alkoxysilane cross-linkers and amino-terminated PDMS as a metal-free room-temperature-vulcanising catalyst. The effects of cross-linker composition, glycerol, PEG 200 and selected functional additives on film formation, morphology, apparent ibuprofen release and preliminary Strat-M^® permeation were evaluated. FTIR analysis indicated no covalent reaction between ibuprofen and the silicone network, but suggested hydrogen-bonding interactions with polyol-rich domains, particularly in glycerol-containing systems. Raman mapping supported ibuprofen incorporation within the films, while SEM showed phase-separated microdomains whose morphology depended on the formulation. Apparent release into 0.9% NaCl at 37 °C was formulation-dependent over 72 h. The optimised F-9 film showed approximately 83% cumulative apparent release, whereas the F-10 film containing copper oxide nanoparticles and sea buckthorn oil showed the highest numerical cumulative apparent release, approximately 94%. Kinetic analysis of the apparent release data supported a mainly diffusion-controlled contribution, modulated by hydrophilic microdomains. These results provide preliminary materials-development evidence that silicone/polyol films can be used to tune apparent ibuprofen release and merit further optimisation for local topical or transdermal applications; however, efficient skin permeation and biological performance require dedicated validation. Full article

Separation sciences in Türkiye have evolved from early laboratory-based instruction into a robust, multidisciplinary field integral to analytical chemistry. The foundational roots were established before the Ottoman period and were further strengthened with the integration of chemistry into medical, pharmacy, military, and technical curricula. Following the inception of Darülfünun, the first European-style higher education institution and subsequent Republican-era academic reforms, chemistry emerged as an independent discipline supported by specialized institutes and training programs. Collaborative efforts by Turkish and foreign scientists fostered a rigorous laboratory culture, laying the groundwork for modern analytical practices. Since the mid-twentieth century, advanced sample preparation, chromatographic, electrophoretic, and mass spectrometry-based methods have become pivotal across Turkish research centers. Today, these methodologies drive critical applications in environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, food safety, toxicology, forensic science, and industrial quality control. Reflecting this sustained growth and rising international prominence, Türkiye was formally admitted to the Central European Group of Separation Sciences at the 29th International Symposium on Separation Sciences in Belgrade, Serbia, in September 2025. This article provides a comprehensive historical overview of separation sciences in Türkiye, highlighting institutional evolution, major scientific contributors, and the contemporary research directions shaping the field’s future. Full article

Implantable devices have undergone enormous development in the past several decades and more results are expected as there are still unanswered questions. In manufacturing, a relatively new technology called three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly involved, from which hot-melt extrusion (HME) coupled with fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most researched methods in producing implantable drug delivery systems (IDDS). The HME process is used to produce polymer filaments that are the carriers of the applied drugs, while FDM creates the implant itself from the filaments, based on the computer-aided designs. The availability of several polymers like polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, or thermoplastic polyurethane, etc., allows the incorporation of many active pharmaceutical ingredients while digital designs offer numerous variabilities in designs, formulations, and applications of 3D-printed IDDS. This allows more specific and detailed modifications in the end product which can forecast the possibility of personalized treatments and therapies. In this review, our research group gathered together different HME-FDM-printed IDDS to provide examples about the diverse applicability of 3D printing. These products, just like any other device and medicine in the medical field, must be characterized and evaluated properly. The methods and technology that are needed already exist and can be repeatedly used in the characterization of IDDSs; we also discuss these methods based on the available publications. In conclusion, every condition is given to make research and manufacture personalized 3D-printed IDDSs possible, however more research work and proof of safe usage are crucial to make these devices applicable in everyday medical treatments. Full article

Personalized oncology is transforming cancer care by tailoring therapeutic strategies to the molecular and clinical characteristics of individual patients. However, increasing treatment complexity, interpatient variability, and the growing use of advanced therapeutics challenge the limitations of standardized medicines. This review examines pharmaceutical compounding as a fundamental component enabling the delivery of individualized oncology treatments. A literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, using a predefined search strategy detailed in the manuscript. This narrative review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the application of pharmaceutical compounding in modern oncology practice. The analysis includes immunotherapy, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, genomic-guided therapy, and combination treatment strategies. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, three-dimensional printing, and robotic compounding, were also assessed, alongside regulatory frameworks, safety challenges, and quality considerations. The main findings of this study show that compounded medications support individualized care through dose adjustment, modification of dosage forms, and exclusion of unsuitable excipients, particularly in pediatric oncology, rare cancers, and patients with specific needs. The magistral and officinal preparations help maintain continuity of care when commercial formulations are unavailable. In addition, technological advances are improving the precision, reproducibility, and safety of compounding processes, and pharmacists are centrally involved in the design, preparation, quality assurance, and regulatory oversight of these therapies. In conclusion, pharmaceutical compounding remains an essential component of personalized oncology, enabling patient-centered and adaptable treatment strategies. The expanding engagement of pharmacists, together with advances in technology and evolving regulatory frameworks, is essential to ensuring the safe and effective implementation of individualized therapies in oncology care. Full article

Medication-related harm remains a major patient-safety challenge, substantially driven by fragmented pharmacovigilance ecosystems, inconsistent drug nomenclature, heterogeneous interaction knowledge bases, and the absence of unified multimodal medication-safety infrastructures. Existing clinical decision-support systems frequently remain interaction-centered, with limited integration of complementary safety domains such as lactation risk assessment, intravenous compatibility evaluation, and regulatory toxicity overlays. This study aimed to develop and evaluate SafeRx, a provenance-aware pharmaceutical knowledge integration platform designed to harmonize heterogeneous medication-safety data within a unified canonical framework. SafeRx integrated Romanian regulatory product summaries, Danish drug–drug interaction repositories, OpenFDA boxed warning datasets, LactMed lactation safety records, and Stabilis intravenous compatibility data through automated extraction pipelines, ontology-aware canonical substance normalization, AI-assisted semantic enrichment, and pharmacist-supervised governance workflows. The platform consolidated 2190 canonical substances linked to 9463 validated identifier mappings, 9932 canonical interaction pairs enriched with tier-based prioritization and mechanism-aware annotations, 514 regulatory boxed warning records, 1895 lactation safety entries, and 9088 intravenous compatibility records. SafeRx demonstrates the feasibility of constructing an interoperable, explainable, and pharmacist-supervised medication-safety infrastructure capable of integrating heterogeneous regulatory, pharmacologic, reproductive, and physicochemical safety domains within a unified clinically navigable framework for research, pharmacovigilance, and clinical decision-support applications. Future studies should evaluate prospective clinical implementation, electronic health record interoperability, and the real-world impact of tier-based prioritization on prescribing workflows, alert fatigue, and medication-safety outcomes. Full article

Brown algae are important primary producers in coastal ecosystems, where they provide habitat and food for numerous marine species. For humans, they provide raw materials (food, animal feed, and ingredients for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics) as well as ecosystem services such as coastal protection and carbon sequestration. The molecular characterization of brown algae is necessary to understand their role in ecosystems, their biochemical resources, and responses to environmental stresses—knowledge that is crucial for the sustainable use and biotechnological applications of seaweed. Within this context, we analyzed more than 300 primary and secondary metabolites by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to elucidate the metabolic profiles of seven habitat-forming species of brown algae in the arctic and temperate seas. Metabolite profiles were discussed considering physiological and ecological characteristics of the different algae, thus revealing the taxon-specific biochemical signatures and metabolite patterns contributing to seaweed adaptation to their typical habitats. Three important groups of metabolites representing polyols, phenolic compounds, and organic acids, were analyzed and discussed in more detail. Our study revealed metabolic diversity of species from the same order and genus, thereby indicating a very distinct regulation at the molecular level to meet metabolic needs of the habitat. The knowledge of different compositions of algal extracts can be used to develop specialized applications for humans in cosmetic, medical, or nutritional sectors. Full article

Additive manufacturing has emerged as a transformative technology for fabricating complex drug-eluting medical devices, offering unprecedented design freedom and functional integration capabilities. This comprehensive review systematically analyzes 3D printing technologies applied to pharmaceutical device manufacturing, focusing on drug-eluting vascular stents as a representative application. This review covers six primary additive manufacturing techniques, ranging from high-resolution vat photopolymerization (25 μm resolution) to direct energy deposition, with a focus on their capabilities for produce pharmaceutical devices with controlled drug release properties. Novel 4D/5D/6D printing technologies introduce stimuli-responsive behaviors enabling programmable drug release profiles and adaptive device functionality. Manufacturing process optimization reveals superior design flexibility compared to conventional methods, with 85–95% reduction in design iteration time and elimination of tooling costs for complex geometries. The material landscape encompasses traditional metals (316L stainless steel, cobalt–chromium), biodegradable polymers (polylactic acid, PLA; polycaprolactone, PCL; poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA), shape-memory materials (i.e., polymers and alloys capable of recovering a pre-programmed shape upon exposure to a specific stimulus such as body temperature, moisture, or light), and advanced nanocomposites, each offering distinct drug-loading capacities (100–500 μg/cm²) and release kinetics. Critical challenges include standardization requirements (International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 5840 and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2606), pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing protocols, and regulatory pathways for novel drug-device combinations. This review identifies key research priorities including development of biocompatible printing materials, accelerated drug release testing protocols, and scalable manufacturing processes suitable for medical device production. This analysis demonstrates that 3D printing enables integration of multiple pharmaceutical functions within single devices, controlled spatiotemporal drug delivery, and elimination of secondary manufacturing steps for drug coating processes, advancing the development of next-generation therapeutic medical devices. Full article

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a grave mental health condition that can result in significant health and social consequences. The medications Naltrexone and Nalmefene are indicated for the treatment of AUD, with Naltrexone having received the most extensive research attention. Methods: The majority of papers assessing universal measures of alcohol consumption employed two primary metrics: total alcohol consumption (TAC) and the number of days per month where individuals engaged in heavy drinking (HDD). Indicators pertaining to the maintenance of complete abstinence were excluded due to the absence of sufficient data. The safety of both substances was also assessed, as were the frequency of side effects and independent patient dropout. The study also incorporated practical factors of the therapy, such as the route of administration, dosage regimen, and the drug’s patient convenience, which can have a significant impact on adherence to therapy. Results: Nalmefene, administered in an “as needed” regimen, demonstrated statistically significant activity in reducing HDD and total alcohol consumption (TAC) among patients with AUD, particularly those with elevated World Health Organization (WHO) DRL risk. Preliminary findings from the ESENSE1 (Efficacy of Nalmefene in Alcohol Dependence; the first phase III study), ESENSE 2 (Efficacy of Nalmefene in Alcohol Dependence, the second phase III study), and SENSE (the final phase III long term-safety and cost-effectiveness study) studies indicate a substantial decrease in HDD and TAC following the initial month of treatment. These effects persist throughout the subsequent follow-up period. Several Japanese studies have corroborated the effectiveness of Nalmefene, demonstrating its efficacy across both short-term and long-term applications. Furthermore, these studies have substantiated its safety profile, indicating that there is no inherent risk of addiction or the emergence of withdrawal symptoms. The mild nature of adverse events (most commonly nausea and dizziness) led to a relatively low discontinuation rate of Nalmefene treatment. A subsequent study, employing a recognized methodology, corroborated the efficacy of psychosocial support in enhancing treatment outcomes. Meta-analyses demonstrate that Naltrexone exhibits comparable efficacy in reducing the frequency and severity of alcohol consumption. In select populations, the injectable form (LAI) of this pharmaceutical agent facilitates less frequent dosing, which is advantageous for the treatment process. A comparison of Nalmefene and Naltrexone reveals that the latter does not demonstrate a significant impact on the likelihood of individuals returning to heavy alcohol consumption. Conclusions: In the treatment of AUD, both naltrexone and nalmefene have been shown to yield positive outcomes, particularly in terms of reducing the HDD and TAC. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, Nalmefene is indicated for individuals with a high risk of developing serious conditions. It has been demonstrated to produce rapid and sustained results while exhibiting a favorable safety profile, characterized by the absence of significant adverse effects. Naltrexone is a medication that has proven to be effective. LAI may have a positive impact on the efficacy of treatment. Full article

Microneedles are a new technology in transdermal drug delivery that allows for the pain-free administration of drugs. Recently, these microneedles have gained popularity compared to traditional injections. Nevertheless, the selection of the most suitable materials is a significant issue, requiring a systematic analysis of various performance parameters. This paper developed a multi-criteria decision-making model based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to systematically evaluate four primary material types for therapeutic microneedle applications: polymers, metals, ceramics, and silicon. The researchers defined five performance criteria, ranked by importance: biocompatibility (48.8%), mechanical properties (25.3%), manufacturability (15.8%), cost-effectiveness (6.6%), and compatibility with different types of microneedles (3.5%). The validity of the framework was established using the TOPSIS and ELECTRE methods, which showed strong agreement in the rankings, and a sensitivity analysis revealed that the rankings did not change with a ±20% variation in the parameters in 95% of the cases. The outcomes indicated that polymers are the most suitable, with the highest global priority score (38.3%), and they are good in biocompatibility (53.0% local priority), manufacturability (53.3%), and relative cost advantages (62.2%), though medical-grade polymer costs remain substantial. Metals were placed second (31.8%) due to their better mechanical properties (50.3%), followed by ceramics (17.6%) and silicon-based materials (12.3%). The framework offers clear decision guidelines: polymers for dissolving microneedle systems and controlled drug release applications; metals for precise liquid delivery devices; ceramics for specialized pharmaceutical uses that require extreme chemical compatibility; and silicon for research applications requiring precise geometries. Full article

Heparin is a highly sulphated polyelectrolyte, and its properties depend strongly on its shape in solution. In this study, we closely examined the structural behaviour of low-molecular-weight heparin under aerobic ultraviolet-C (UVC, 100–280 nm) radiation. Using controlled photodegradation, we prepared native, small, and ultra-small molar-mass fractions, enabling us to investigate how structural properties vary with molecular weight. We examined relationships among molar mass, radius of gyration, second virial coefficient, and critical overlap concentration to characterise different conformational states. Our results showed that as molar mass decreased, the chain diameter and persistence length also dropped, while the overlap concentration increased. This indicates a reduced hydrodynamic volume and increased chain flexibility. Positive second virial coefficient values indicate that polymer–solvent interactions remained favourable after photodegradation. The scaling exponents suggest that degraded heparin behaves as a semi-flexible polyelectrolyte and adopts an extended-coil shape in water with electrolytes. Further analysis showed that the characteristic ratio and chain stiffness decreased as chains were broken by irradiation. Overall, aerobic UVC irradiation provides a reliable way to modify the physical structure of these molecules while maintaining solution stability. These findings show a clear link between reduced molecular weight and changes in shape, which is useful for developing better low-molecular-weight heparins for several applications, including pharmaceutical and medical use. Full article

The role of medicinal plants in primary healthcare and livelihoods around the world is both ancient and well-documented. Agathosma betulina (P.J. Bergius) Pillans, commonly known as ‘buchu’, has long been utilised in traditional medicine as a household remedy for various ailments and is also valued for its essential oils in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. This study aimed to profile and quantify the secondary metabolites in buchu using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight combined with mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) techniques, whereby plant material from three distinct locations in the Western Cape Province, Groot Winterhoek, Citrusdal, and Cederberg, was collected. A total of 32 maker compounds were identified from buchu leaves. The results revealed a significant location-dependent variation in the accumulation of multiple classes of phytochemicals, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, oligosaccharides, vitamins, and steroids. Citrusdal samples had the most bioactive compounds compared to the Cederberg and Groot Winterhoek. Citrusdal had the highest flavonoid levels, while Cederberg samples were the richest in phenolic acids and Groot Winterhoek was dominant in iridoid glycoside levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed distinct clusters corresponding to the three different regions, confirming chemical differences. Elucidating the distribution of secondary metabolites in this species may provide new information for possible medicinal and pharmacological uses, such as the creation of novel and enhanced organic medications and food products. These results will aid in selecting a buchu chemotype with optimal attributes for the intended therapeutic application, helping to protect wild populations from over-exploitation through cultivation. Full article

In recent years, the search for sustainable, bio-based alternatives to synthetic chemicals has intensified, positioning plant essential oils (EOs) at the forefront of applied phytochemical research. The following collection of ten articles from different geographical regions, published in Plants as part of the Special Issue “Plant Essential Oil with Biological Activity: 3rd Edition,” covers various aspects of recent scientific research on plant EOs, ranging from chemotaxonomy to green biocides, with particular emphasis on chemical composition and functional properties. Further attention is given to specific predominant single constituents and their bio-selectivity, modes of action, and innovative applications in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, particularly against major diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Full article

Background/Objectives: The accumulation of unused and expired pharmaceuticals in households is a growing public health concern with implications for patient safety, rational drug use, and environmental health. However, systematic risk characterization integrating clinical and environmental perspectives at the community level remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. This study aimed to develop and apply a composite risk index, grounded in an eco-pharmacovigilance framework, for the assessment of health risks associated with accumulated household pharmaceuticals in southeastern Mexico. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 526 randomly selected households using stratified sampling. Guided in-home medication inventories were performed with participant collaboration, and pharmaceuticals were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system. A composite risk index (CRI = Fr × PR) was developed within an eco-pharmacovigilance framework. The frequency of accumulation (Fr) for each therapeutic group was multiplied by a potential risk score (PR) derived through a structured multidisciplinary expert consensus process integrating clinical toxicity, environmental persistence, and antimicrobial resistance potential. Results: A total of 2184 pharmaceutical units were recorded during the household inventories, of which 28.7% were expired. Expired medications were primarily retained rather than actively used, representing a latent risk for inappropriate self-medication and accidental exposure. The therapeutic groups with the highest CRI values were antihypertensives (CRI = 42.3), antidiabetics (CRI = 37.8), and antibiotics (CRI = 31.5), indicating a relatively higher contribution within the composite risk index framework to overall household pharmaceutical risk. These findings highlight priority therapeutic groups driven by the combined effect of high accumulation frequency, distinct accumulation patterns, and intrinsic hazard. Conclusions: Household pharmaceutical accumulation can be characterized using a composite, eco-pharmacovigilance-based approach that integrates exposure and hazard dimensions. The proposed framework functions as a prioritization tool rather than a precise quantitative measure, enabling the identification of therapeutic groups requiring targeted intervention. Findings should be interpreted as indicative of relative risk patterns rather than precise estimates, given the exploratory design and guided data collection approach. The proposed framework provides a practical tool for prioritizing interventions aimed at improving rational drug use, reducing accumulation, and mitigating environmental impact. Further validation in diverse settings is warranted to strengthen its applicability. Full article

Because of their special optical and electrochemical characteristics, superior biocompatibility, adjustable surface chemistry, and inexpensive, scalable synthesis, carbon dots (CDs), including carbon quantum dots and graphene quantum dots, have become powerful and adaptable nanomaterials for advanced pharmaceutical analysis and other toxicants. The sensitive and selective detection of active pharmaceutical substances, degradation products, contaminants, biomarkers, and therapeutic medication levels in complex matrices has shown great promise in recent years with CD-based nanobiosensors. The development of various sensing platforms, such as electrochemical, optical, and dual-mode biosensors, as well as integration into microfluidic, paper-based, and wearable point-of-care (POC) devices, is made possible by their intrinsic fluorescence, effective electron transfer capacity, and ease of functionalization. With an emphasis on sensing mechanisms, biorecognition techniques, and analytical performance, this study critically reviews current developments in CD-based nanobio/chemosensors for pharmaceutical analysis. It includes a thorough discussion of important applications in drug development, stability research, therapeutic drug monitoring, and drug quality control. Along with new developments like green synthesis, AI-assisted signal processing, and smart sensing platforms, current issues with reproducibility, standardization, biocompatibility, and regulatory validation are highlighted. Lastly, prospects for the industrial application and clinical translation of CD-based nanobiosensors are discussed. Full article

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas because it disrupts functional oxygen transport of red blood cell (RBC) by binding heme of hemoglobin with high affinity. Contrarily, endogenous CO, which is constantly generated in the process of heme degradation by heme oxygenase, functions as a gaseous mediator necessary for maintaining physiological homeostasis. This toxicological (Yin) and physiological (Yang) duality presents a distinctive problem in medical and pharmaceutical applications, prompting the central question of this review: How can strict control over CO’s exposure dynamics, magnitude, kinetics, and tissue context be achieved to enable its safe therapeutic use? Here, we integrate the Yin and Yang of CO through an innovative exposure-engineering framework, leveraging the inherent RBC characteristics to offer a novel conceptualization for therapeutic development. We highlight the role of native RBCs as a biologically grounded platform that can convert hemoglobin binding—classically viewed as the basis of CO toxicity—into a measurable and controllable buffering mechanism. Then, reconciling the Yin and Yang of CO based on RBCs enables medical and pharmaceutical modulation that is attractive for clinical situations, therapeutics and diagnostics. Finally, we discuss key translational challenges—local concentration control, patient-specific risk stratification, manufacturability and critical quality attributes, and regulatory positioning—and outline how quantifiable exposure control can enable the safe clinical development of RBC-based CO therapy. Full article