Cannabinoid Formulations and Delivery Systems: Current and Future Options to Treat Pain

The field of Cannabis sativa L. research for medical purposes has been rapidly advancing in recent decades and a growing body of evidence suggests that phytocannabinoids are beneficial for a range of conditions. At the same time impressing development has been observed for formulations and delivery systems expanding the potential use of cannabinoids as an effective medical therapy. The objective of this review is to present the most recent results from pharmaceutical companies and research groups investigating methods to improve cannabinoid bioavailability and to clearly establish its therapeutic efficacy, dose ranges, safety and also improve the patient compliance. Particular focus is the application of cannabinoids in pain treatment, describing the principal cannabinoids employed, the most promising delivery systems for each administration routes and updating the clinical evaluations. To offer the reader a wider view, this review discusses the formulation starting from galenic preparation up to nanotechnology approaches, showing advantages, limits, requirements needed. Furthermore, the most recent clinical data and meta-analysis for cannabinoids used in different pain management are summarized, evaluating their real effectiveness, in order also to spare opioids and improve patients’ quality of life. Promising evidence for pain treatments and for other important pathologies are also reviewed as likely future directions for cannabinoids formulations

Fluorescence and electron microscopy to visualize the intracellular fate of nanoparticles for drug delivery

In order to design valid protocols for drug release via nanocarriers, it is essential to know the mechanisms of cell internalization, the interactions with organelles, and the intracellular permanence and degradation of nanoparticles (NPs) as well as the possible cell alteration or damage induced. In the present study, the intracellular fate of liposomes, polymeric NPs and mesoporous silica NPs (MSN) has been investigated in an in vitro cell system by fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. The tested nanocarriers proved to be characterized by specific interactions with the cell: liposomes enter the cells probably by fusion with the plasma membrane and undergo rapid cytoplasmic degradation; polymeric NPs are internalized by endocytosis, occur in the cytoplasm both enclosed in endosomes and free in the cytosol, and then undergo massive degradation by lysosome action; MSN are internalized by both endocytosis and phagocytosis, and persist in the cytoplasm enclosed in vacuoles. No one of the tested nanocarriers was found to enter the nucleus. The exposure to the different nanocarriers did not increase cell death; only liposomes induced a reduction of cell population after long incubation times, probably due to cell overloading. No subcellular damage was observed to be induced by polymeric NPs and MSN, whereas transmission electron microscopy revealed cytoplasm alterations in liposome-treated cells. This important information on the structural and functional relationships between nanocarriers designed for drug delivery and cultured cells further proves the crucial role of microscopy techniques in nanotechnology

PENGEMBANGAN PROGRAM INTERVENSI DINI BERSUMBERDAYA KELUARGA PADA ANAK CEREBRAL PALSY DENGAN HAMBATAN KOMUNIKASI

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh kurangnya pemahaman, penerimaan, dan sikap orang tua terhadap hambatan yang dihadapi anak. Hal ini berdampak pada kemampuan keluarga dalam memberikan layanan intervensi dini di rumah. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk merumuskan program intervensi dini bersumber daya keluarga yang akan menjadi pedoman orang tua dalam melaksanakan intervensi. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah satu keluarga yang memiliki anak Cerebral Palsy dengan hambatan komunikasi di Ciamis. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah observasi, wawancara, dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: 1) anak memiliki hambatan komunikasi yang pencapaian perkembangan komunikasi verbalnya setara dengan anak usia 2-3 tahun dan usia kalender saat ini 5 tahun. 2) rendahnya tingkat pemahaman orangtua terhadap hambatan anak. 3). Rumusan program intervensi dini bersumber daya keluarga ini berdasarkan kondisi objektif serta kebutuhan keluarga dan anak. 4). tingkat pemahaman orang tua mengenai hambatan anak meningkat serta terjadi perubahan sikap dan perilaku orang tua kepada anak;--- The study was motivated by the lack of understanding, acceptance as well as the attitude of the parents toward their child’s obstacles. It somehow has an impact on family’s capacity to give early intervention support at home. This study was aimed at formulating an early intervention program to the child. The study used descriptive qualitative method involving a single family having a child suffering from Cerebral Palsy causing communication barrier at Ciamis. The techniques used in collecting the data were observations, interviews, and document analysis. The study revealed several findings as follows: 1) the child had communication barrier which made her communication verbal developmental stage was equal to 2-3 years old children. 2) The lack of understanding, acceptance and attitude of the parents toward their child’s communication barrier as well as the support in delivering early intervention at home. 3) The early intervention family-based program’s formulation was based on the objective condition as well as the needs’ of both the child and the parents. 4) The level understanding parents of the barriers to child increase and a change in attitudes and behavior of parents to child

Developing actively targeted nanoparticles to fight cancer: Focus on italian research

Active targeting is a valuable and promising approach with which to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of nanodelivery systems, and the development of tumor-targeted nanoparticles has therefore attracted much research attention. In this field, the research carried out in Italian Pharmaceutical Technology academic groups has been focused on the development of actively targeted nanosystems using a multidisciplinary approach. To highlight these efforts, this review reports a thorough description of the last 10 years of Italian research results on the development of actively targeted nanoparticles to direct drugs towards different receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells or in the tumor microenvironment. In particular, the review discusses polymeric nanocarriers, liposomes, lipoplexes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoassemblies and nanobubbles. For each nanocarrier, the main ligands, conjugation strategies and target receptors are described. The literature indicates that polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes stand out as key tools for improving specific drug delivery to the site of action. In addition, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoparticles and nanobubbles have also been successfully proposed. Taken together, these strategies all offer many platforms for the design of nanocarriers that are suitable for future clinical translation

Nanocarriers for neuromuscular diseases

Overview of the results obtained so far in the frame of a research on suitable nanocarriers for treating myotonic dystroph