Rekha Rao

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology

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Kapil N. Bhalla

Augusta University

Warren Fiskus

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Sunil Kumar

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology

Ramesh Balusu

University of Kansas Medical Center

Stacey L. Hembruff

University of Kansas Medical Center

Sheefali Mahant

Maharshi Dayanand University

Jacqueline E. Smith

Allen Institute for Cell Science

Kyungsoo Ha

Osong Medical Innovation Foundation

Sreedhar Venkannagari

Johns Hopkins University

Varsha Kadian

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology

Cooperative Institutions

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology

The University of Kansas Cancer Center

Institute of Medical Sciences

National Institutes of Health

Maharshi Dayanand University

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

National Cancer Institute

Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Janssen (Belgium)

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Enhancing efficacy and safety of azelaic acid via encapsulation in cyclodextrin nanosponges: development, characterization and evaluation

Polymer Bulletin (2020)

Anil Kumar Rekha Rao

Azelaic acid

Zeta potential

Thermogravimetric analysis

Beta-Cyclodextrins

10.1007/s00289-020-03366-2

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Citations (26)

Analytical tools for cyclodextrin nanosponges in pharmaceutical field: a review

Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry (2019)

Sunil Kumar Rekha Rao

Nanocarriers

Quality by Design

10.1007/s10847-019-00903-z

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Citations (32)

Supplemental Figure Legends from Auranofin Induces Lethal Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Exerts Potent Preclinical Activity against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Warren Fiskus Nakhle S. Saba Min Shen Mondana Ghias Jinyun Liu

<p>Figure Legends for the Supplemental Data.</p>

Auranofin

10.1158/0008-5472.22400706.v1

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Evaluation of antihypercholesterolemic activity of green alga Haematococcus pluvialisastaxanthin extract

Biomedicine (2020)

Ashaq Hussain Rather Rekha Rao

Introduction and Aim:Haematococcus pluvialisis one of the richest sources of natural astaxanthin, whichis considered as a super anti-oxidant. In the present study, we investigated the antihypercholesterolemic activity in the astaxanthin extract of green alga H. pluvialis. Materials and Methods:To accomplish this, astaxanthin extracted with acetone and was separated by thin-layer chromatography. Animals were housed in separate cages under the controlled condition with temperature (22 ± 2°C) provided a 12 h light/dark cycle. Rats were divided into five groups;each group consisted of six rats. Group 1 (Normal group NC) rats were given (orally) normal standard rat feed (250 mg/kg b.w./per day). Group 2 was given high fat diet (250 mg/kg b.w./per day). Group 3 was given H. pluvialisastaxanthin extract (250 mg/kg b.w./per day). Group 4 was given astaxanthin extract along with a high protein diet (250 mg/kg b.w./per day) and group 5 was given astaxanthin standard, dissolved in an equal volume of liquid paraffin for 30 days. Results:Among the treatment, astaxanthin extract was found to be an effective antihypercholesterolemic agent. Conclusion:The present study reveals that H. pluvialisastaxanthin extract can be used for the different food formulations for human welfare. Keywords:Haematococcus pluvialis; astaxanthin; antihypercholesterolemic; green alga.

Pluvialis

10.51248/.v40i2.61

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International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (2017)

Rekha Rao Sanju Nanda

Proniosomes based drug delivery systems have potential as a significant drug carrier in a variety of therapeutic applications.The objective of the present study was to investigate in vitro sonophoretic transdermal delivery of Losartan Potassium (LP) across albino rat skin using proniosomal gel and its comparison with aquasonic gel.Proniosomes of LP were fabricated with L--lecithin (egg yolk), cholesterol and a non-ionic surfactant and confirmed using optical microscopy.Permeation experiments were performed using modified Franz Diffusion Cell along with ultrasound treatment (Frequency-1MHz; Intensity-2.5 W/cm 2 ; Duration of application-30 min; Mode of application -Continuous and Pulsed).An in vitro skin permeation of LP with aquasonic gel was found superior than proniosomal gel using sonophoretic delivery.Using proniosomal gel, when ultrasound was applied in pulsed mode, LP transdermal flux and enhancement factor were 60.88 ± 6.2 μg/cm 2 /h and 5.31, respectively, 115.41 ± 5.01 μg/cm 2 /h and 10.07 those achieved using aquasonic ultrasound gel, respectively.Similar results were observed (better flux with aquasonic gel than proniosomal gel) using continuous mode of ultrasound application.These findings suggested that aquasonic gel could act better means of delivery for LP instead of proniosomal gel, when used in combination with ultrasound treatment. INTRODUCTION:Transdermal systems are generally designed aiming for systemic delivery of therapeutic agents to the intact skin surface.It has offered great advantages including prolonged therapeutic effect, non-invasiveness, improved bioavailability, reduced side effects, easy termination of drug therapy, and better patient compliance 1 .

10.13040/ijpsr.0975-8232.8(1).305-11

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Microsponge Based Gel of Tea Tree Oil for Dermatological Microbial Infections

The Natural Products Journal (2018)

Erosh Yadav Rekha Rao Sunil Kumar Sheefali Mahant Prakriti Vohra

Objective: Tea Tree Oil (TTO), derived from Melaleuca alternifolia possesses broad spectrum antimicrobial potential. However, its therapeutic utility is impaired due to its high volatility, poor aqueous solubility and low stability in the presence of light, oxygen and temperature. The present study was attempted to investigate Ethyl Cellulose (EC) microsponges (MSs) as topical carriers for TTO to circumvent above mentioned limitations. Methods: TTO MSs were prepared using quasi emulsion solvent diffusion technique. The effect of formulation variables on the production yield, entrapment efficiency, particle size and drug release of MSs was investigated. The optimized MSs were dispersed into Carbopol 934 gel and evaluated for drug release, skin irritation, antibacterial activity and photostability. Results: Scanning electron microscopy revealed spherical and porous nature of TTO microsponges. The optimized MSs possessed particle size of 36.98 μm, percent entrapment efficiency of 93.12% and percent cumulative drug release of 79.18%, respectively. MS-loaded gels were found nonirritant. In addition, TTO loaded MS gels exhibited good stability. Antimicrobial effect of TTO MS gel showed broader zones of inhibition in comparison to TTO gel. Conclusion: The findings of our study suggest that MS loaded gel could prove alternative to conventional antibacterial formulations for dermatological microbial infections.

10.2174/2210315508666180605080426

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Dithranol: An Insight into its Novel Delivery Cargos for Psoriasis Management

Current Drug Research Reviews (2020)

Varsha Kadian Sunil Kumar Komal Saini Vandita Kakkar Rekha Rao

Dithranol (DTH) is a well-known moiety that has long been used promisingly to impede and treat skin disorders, particularly psoriasis. Nowadays, a rekindled interest in the use of DTH for this disorder has been observed. Side effects associated with conventional topical formulations of this moiety have aroused the interest of the scientific community in investigating novel cargos of DTH for psoriasis management.Previous research has evidenced the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferating potential of DTH. Numerous studies have indicated that DTH inhibits polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocyte, modulates epidermal cell receptors and promotes anti-psoriatic action. However, some deterrent factors like poor solubility, stability, toxicity, staining and skin irritation hamper its use as a potential therapeutic agent. With the adoption of novel drug delivery technologies, the above mentioned inherent limitations of DTH have been compensated to reestablish this drug moiety.This article reviews novel drug delivery aspects, safety concerns, clinical evidence, current status, and future opportunities of DTH in the management of psoriasis. Further, it will update researchers on this promising drug moiety, which is free from systemic adverse responses in comparison to other therapeutic molecules like steroids, for psoriasis treatment.

Dithranol

Moiety

10.2174/2589977512666200525154954

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Ecofriendly Ethyl Cellulose Microsponges of Citronella Oil: Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Larvicidal assay

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2019)

Ruchi Sharma Nitish Kumar Sompal P. Singh Sunil Kumar Rekha Rao

Citronella Oil (CO) was used by the Indian army as mosquito repellant to repel mosquitoes at the beginning of the 20th century and later in 1948, it was registered in the USA for commercial purposes. Due to its ecofriendly nature, CO possesses immense potential as a mosquito repellent.Citronella oil is a valuable alternative to synthetic mosquito repellents commonly used nowadays. However, its volatile nature, poor stability in air and high temperature restrict its application. Its direct application on skin may lead to skin irritation. To surmount the above-mentioned issues, the present research aims to develop Microsponge (MS), a novel dosage form for enhancing the utility and safety of CO. Quasi emulsion solvent diffusion method was chosen for crafting MS using ethyl cellulose with various drug-polymer ratios and characterized. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation was also carried out to check the dermal safety of COMS.The present results revealed that the size of all prepared formulation lies in the micro range (20 ± 3 to 41 ± 4 μm), with good payload (42.09± 3.24 to 67.08± 6.43%). The results of FE-SEM depicted that MS were spherical in shape with porous nature. Cytotoxicity results indicated that COMS were safe on skin cells, when compared to pure CO. The optimized MS were also assessed for larvicidal assay against larvae of Anopheles culicifacies.The CO micro-formulations were found to possess enhanced stability of this oil. Entrapment of CO in MS resulted in a better vehicle system in terms of safety, stability and handling benefits of this oil.

Anopheles stephensi

Skin irritation

10.2174/1389201020666191120124314

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Novel Dithranol Loaded Cyclodextrin Nanosponges for Augmentation of Solubility, Photostability and Cytocompatibility

Current Nanoscience (2021)

Sunil Kumar Rekha Rao

Background: Drug loaded β-cyclodextrin based nanosponges (CDNS) are of special interest for the entrapment of moieties with the view to address their physicochemical challenges, and to improve their delivery characteristics and utility. Dithranol (DTH), the standard drug for psoriasis, has poor stability and solubility, which limit its pharmaceutical applications. Objective: The objective of the current study was to entrap DTH in CDNS in order to alleviate the above-mentioned challenges. Methods: To synthesize CDNS, β-cyclodextrin was treated with diphenyl carbonate in various molar ratios. The obtained placebo CDNS were loaded with DTH by lyophilisation. The particle size of the DTH loaded CDNS was found to lie between 150 and 450 nm, with a narrow polydispersity index range. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, zeta potential and electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were conducted for characterization of DTH-CDNS. Results: Findings from spectral examinations confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes. Solubilisation efficiency of DTH (in distilled water) was found augmented 4.54 folds with optimized CDNS. The cytocompatibility study was performed by the MTT assay employing THP1 cell lines. A remarkable amelioration in stability and photostability of DTH was also observed by its inclusion in nanosponges. Conclusion: In a nutshell, we report the rational engineering and characterization of DTH loaded cyclodextrin-based nanosponges, and subsequently, their stepwise screening for photostability, in vitro release, in vitro cytocompatibility, in vitro antioxidant and in vitro inflammatory activity in a top-down manner, yielding the best carrier for this drug.

Zeta potential

Thermal Stability

10.2174/1573413716666201215165552

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Citations (11)

Novel Carriers for Coenzyme Q10 Delivery

Current Drug Delivery (2016)

Sunil Kumar Rekha Rao Anil Kumar Sheefali Mahant Sanju Nanda

Coenzyme Q10, a natural yellow benzoquinone, is a vitamin-like substance commonly found in blood and inner mitochondrial and cellular membranes. It is a natural antioxidant principle which plays an essential role in maintaining several biochemical pathways of body. It has exhibited many pharmacological activities in chronic heart failure, cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, diabetes mellitus, carcinomas, autoimmune disease, cataract, asthma, periodontal disease and thyroid disorders. Moreover, it has demonstrated efficacy as nutritional supplement, in addition to its relevance in cosmetics.Coenzyme Q10 is a potent molecule but its high molecular weight and low aqueous solubility hamper its use as a therapeutic agent. Therefore, various novel drug delivery systems have been explored and developed to overcome these limitations in literature. Hence, objective of this review is to summarize the recent works on design and development of novel drug delivery systems for CoQ10, which include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, nanoemulsions, solid and aqueous dispersions. Further, an account of pharmaceutical studies has also been given.The reported studies indicate the promise of nanotechnology in enhancing the therapeutic value of CoQ10, promoting its usage as first line therapeutic agent, thus, revolutionizing its role in current medical therapy. The application of CoQ10 in pharmaceutical industry has grown tremendously in the past decade, due to its versatile nature. The successful application of this molecule in medicine, cosmetics and nutraceuticals points the way for its future development.

Coenzyme Q10

Solid lipid nanoparticle

Nutraceutical

Targeted drug delivery

10.2174/1567201813666160104130631

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Citations (32)