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Eman Ebrahim El Naggar,1 Elham Abdelmonem Mohamed,2 Thanaa Mohamed Borg,2 Ahmed Ramadan El-Sheakh,3 Mohammed Fawzy Hamed4 1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University, New Damietta, Eygpt; 2Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia, Egypt; 3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia, Egypt; 4Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia, EgyptCorrespondence: Elham Abdelmonem MohamedDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, EL Gomhoreyaha St., Mansoura City 35516, EgyptTel +201065690987Fax +20502247496Email elham.mabdelmonem@gmail.comBackground: Naringin is a promising anti-inflammatory drug against various disorders including ulcerative colitis. However, its oral bioavailability is low (8%) possibly due to cleavage at the upper gut. Consequently, colon targeting would be necessary for drug protection at the upper gut, enhanced oral bioavailability and potentiated cytoprotection against colitis.Methodology: This study involved the formulation of compression-coated tablets of naringin employing mixtures of pH-sensitive Eudragit L100-55 (EUD-L100-55) and different time-dependent polymers including ethyl cellulose (EC), sodium alginate (ALG) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC). Drug–polymer interaction during release was assessed using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tablets were evaluated in vitro. Surface morphology of the optimized tablets either before or after exposure to the different release media was examined employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cytoprotection potential of the optimized tablets against indomethacin-induced colitis in rabbits was screened and compared to core tablets through a histopathological examination of colon, measurement of serum perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) and immunohistochemical localization of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).Results: FT-IR and DSC results may indicate drug–polymers interaction during release. Release retardation could be related to polymer swelling that was in the order of SCMC > ALG > EC. SEM examination indicated more porous coats at the buffers relative to the acidic medium. Colon targeting was expected in case of coats of 5% ALG, 5% SCMC and 10% EC (w/w) in combination with EUD-L100-55; thus, they were selected for in vivo evaluation. Effective cytoprotection of selected tablets against indomethacin-induced colitis was indicated by a significant (P< 0.05) reduction in mucosal damage, serum levels of pANCA and TNF-α expression compared to untreated colitis and core-pretreated groups. Compared to EC, higher cytoprotection potential of ALG- and SCMC-based tablets was reflected by lower concentration (5% w/w) to provide cytoprotection against indomethacin-induced colitis.Keywords: naringin, colon targeting, compression-coated tablets, Eudragit L, release retardants, colitis

Elham Abdelmonem Mohamed,1 Irhan Ibrahim Abu Hashim,1 Rehab Mohammad Yusif,1,2 Ahmed Abdel Aziz Shaaban,3 Ahmed Ramadan El-Sheakh,3 Mohammed Fawzy Hamed,4 Farid Abd Elreheem Badria5 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 2Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 4Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 5Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Abstract: Naringin is one of the most interesting phytopharmaceuticals that has been widely investigated for various biological actions. Yet, its low water solubility, limited permeability, and suboptimal bioavailability limited its use. Therefore, in this study, polymeric micelles of naringin based on pluronic F68 (PF68) were developed, fully characterized, and optimized. The optimized formula was investigated regarding in vitro release, storage stability, and in vitro cytotoxicity vs different cell lines. Also, cytoprotection against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats and antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice were investigated. Nanoscopic and nearly spherical 1:50 micelles with the mean diameter of 74.80±6.56 nm and narrow size distribution were obtained. These micelles showed the highest entrapment efficiency (EE%; 96.14±2.29). The micelles exhibited prolonged release up to 48 vs 10 h for free naringin. The stability of micelles was confirmed by insignificant changes in drug entrapment, particle size, and retention (%) (91.99±3.24). At lower dose than free naringin, effective cytoprotection of 1:50 micelles against ethanol-induced ulcer in rat model has been indicated by significant reduction in mucosal damage, gastric level of malondialdehyde, gastric expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, caspase-3, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and interleukin-6 with the elevation of gastric reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase when compared with the positive control group. As well, these micelles provoked pronounced antitumor activity assessed by potentiated in vitro cytotoxicity particularly against colorectal carcinoma cells and tumor growth inhibition when compared with free naringin. In conclusion, 1:50 naringin–PF68 micelles can be represented as a potential stable nanodrug delivery system with prolonged release and enhanced antiulcer as well as antitumor activities. Keywords: naringin, pluronic F68, polymeric micelles, in vitro cytotoxicity, antiulcer, antitumor activity

Irhan Ibrahim Abu Hashim,1 Noha Fawzy Abo El-Magd,1 Ahmed Ramadan El-Sheakh,2 Mohammed Fawzy Hamed,3 Abd El-Gawad Helmy Abd El-Gawad1 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 3Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Abstract: The goal of the current study was to explore the potential benefits of Acitretin (Act) nanovesicular gel as a prospective antipsoriatic topical delivery system counteracting the drug challenges in terms of its extremely low aqueous solubility, instability, skin irritation, and serious systemic adverse effects. Act-loaded niosomes were successfully developed, entirely characterized, and optimized. Further evaluation of the optimized formula was conducted regarding its stability and ex vivo cytotoxicity on different cell lines. The optimized niosomal vesicles were then incorporated in gel base matrix and investigated by sequential ex vivo (skin permeation and deposition) and in vivo (skin irritation and antipsoriatic activity using mouse tail model) experiments. The optimized Act-loaded niosomes (span 60:cholesterol molar ratio 1:1) were spherical in shape and exhibited the highest entrapment efficiency (90.32±3.80%) with appropriate nanosize and zeta potential of 369.73±45.45 nm and –36.33±1.80 mV, respectively. Encapsulation of the drug in the nanovesicles was further emphasized by differential scanning calorimetric and powder X-ray diffraction studies. After 3 months storage at 4±1°C, the optimized formula preserved its stability. Act nano niosomal gel produced a remarkable enhanced ex vivo permeation profile up to 30 h and significant drug deposition in the viable epidermal–dermal layers compared with those of Act gel. The pronounced antipsoriatic activity of the medicated nano niosomes was proved ex vivo in HaCaT cells (a keratinocyte cell line). Topical application of Act nano niosomal gel to mouse tail model further established its distinct in vivo antipsoriatic superiority in terms of significantly higher orthokeratosis, drug activity, and reduction in epidermal thickness compared with the control and other gel formulations. Also, negligible skin irritation and better skin tolerability of Act nanovesicular gel were revealed by primary irritation index and histopathologic examination. Keywords: Acitretin, nanovesicular gel, drug deposition, HaCaT cells, mouse tail model, antipsoriatic activity