Enhancing encapsulation of filarial antigen Brugia malayi thioredoxin in nano-liposomes: The role of lecithin composition

Background and purpose: Lymphatic filariasis is a debilitating infectious disease prevalent in endemic areas, necessitating the development of an effective vaccine for eradication. Although recombinant vaccine candidates have been deemed safe, they often fail to provide sufficient protection, which can be overcome by encapsulating them in nano-liposomes. In this study, we have optimised the liposomal composition for enhanced stability and encapsulation of filarial antigen Brugia malayi thioredoxin (Bm-TRX). Experimental approach: Nano-liposomes were prepared using egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) and cholesterol via thin-film hydration, followed by sonication and characterizing. Encapsulation efficiency was optimised using different weight ratios of EPC to cholesterol (8:2, 7:3, and 6:4) and total lipid (EPC+Cholesterol) concentration to antigen Bm-TRX (10:1, 10:2, and 10:3) followed by release kinetics study. Key results: Optimised parameters yielded spherical liposomes measuring 209 nm in diameter with narrow polydispersity. Our findings demonstrated the highest encapsulation efficiency of 70.685 % and stability of 10 hours for an EPC to cholesterol weight ratio of 7:3. The in silico study proved the antigenic nature of TRX. Conclusion: The liposomal formulations loaded with TRX, as optimized in this study, hold promise for improving antigen efficiency by enhancing stability, bioavailability, and prophylactic effects by acting as immune potentiators

Efficacy of low dose intravenous dexamethasone for prolongation of analgesia in supraclavicular block: Randomized controlled trial

Background: Dexamethasone, a long-acting glucocorticoid is used as an additive along with local anesthetics perineurally to prolong the duration of neuraxial blocks. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose intravenous (IV) dexamethasone (2 mg) along with bupivacaine for prolongation of supraclavicular block in patients undergoing upper limb surgeries. Materials and Methods: Sixty American Society of Anaesthesiologists 1 and 2 patients, aged between 18 and 60 years were included in this study and randomized into two groups: Group D (dexamethasone group) and Group C (control group). Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block was performed and patients belonging to Group D received 25 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 2 mg (1 ml) dexamethasone intravenously while patients belonging to Group C received 25 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 1 ml of normal saline intravenously. Duration of analgesia, motor blockade, and requirement of rescue analgesic were recorded. Results were analyzed using unpaired Student′s t-test and Chi-squared test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Duration of analgesia in Group D was 11.88 ± 1.31 h as compared to 6.47 ± 0.93 in Group C (P < 0.05). Rescue analgesic requirement was significantly less in Group D (38.00 ± 20.51) as compared to Group C (173.33 ± 34.07). Patient satisfaction and quality of sleep was better in patients belonging to Group D. Conclusion: We conclude that low dose IV dexamethasone significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia and reduces analgesic requirements without producing any significant side effects