Article
Dermatology
Richard Krombholz, Stefanie Fressle, Ines Nikolic, Ivana Pantelic, Snezana Savic, Milkica Crevar Sakac, Dominique Lunter
Summary: There is a limited number of suitable methods for skin penetration analysis of topically applied formulations, and they often lack spatial resolution. Good ex vivo models are crucial for testing skin penetration. This study compared different techniques for skin penetration analysis using caffeine as a hydrophilic model drug and tested the effect of 1,2-pentanediol on caffeine skin penetration.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Lena Klein, Markus Lubda, David Specht, Sung-Min Pyo, Loris Busch, Juergen Lademann, Martina C. Meinke, Ingeborg Beckers, Joerg von Hagen, Cornelia M. Keck, Alexa Patzelt
Summary: This study utilized dermal microdialysis on ex vivo porcine ear skin to investigate penetration kinetics of caffeine, revealing differences in penetration effects between different sizes and types of caffeine nanocrystals, and confirming the validity of microdialysis data.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Mingyuan Li, Meng Li, Xinyi Li, Wanhui Shao, Xiujuan Pei, Ruyue Dong, Hongmeng Ren, Lin Jia, Shiqin Li, Wenlin Ma, Yi Zeng, Yun Liu, Hua Sun, Peng Yu
Summary: In this study, collagen liposomes were prepared with the addition of polyol, which not only increased the solubility of collagen but also improved its skin penetration. The results showed that the collagen liposomes had good stability and were more easily absorbed by the skin. This study provides a new method for improving the bioavailability and permeability of collagen in biomedical, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Geisa N. Barbalho, Manuel A. Falcao, Jefferson M. S. Lopes, Julia M. Lopes, Jonad L. A. Contarato, Guilherme M. Gelfuso, Marcilio Cunha-Filho, Tais Gratieri
Summary: Animal models are still used in ophthalmic drug product research and development due to the difficulty in simulating natural physiological conditions with in vitro models. This study developed a dynamic ex vivo model using porcine eyes with simulated tear flow to evaluate drug performance.
Review
Dermatology
Erika Minuci Nery, Renata Miliani Martinez, Maria Valeria Robles Velasco, Andre Rolim Baby
Summary: This review introduces potential candidates for alternative UV inorganic filters, such as hydroxyapatite, cerium dioxide, and hydrotalcite. Studies have shown that hydroxyapatite and cerium dioxide are actives with good performances against UV radiation, while hydrotalcite has shown good performance in improving the performance of classic ingredients and bypassing photoinstability. Further research on these ingredients and their interactions with sunscreen formulations is needed to explore their safety and efficacy for future development of inorganic UV filters.
JOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ines De Hoon, Rabah Boukherroub, Stefaan C. C. De Smedt, Sabine Szunerits, Felix Sauvage
Summary: Drug permeation across the cornea poses challenges due to its unique and complex anatomy and physiology. Static barriers and dynamic factors present hurdles for effective ophthalmic drug delivery. Novel drug formulations such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles have been explored to address these limitations. Reliable in vitro and ex vivo alternatives are needed for corneal drug development, adhering to the principles of the 3Rs, and models such as in vitro cell culture and ex vivo porcine eyes have shown promise in studying corneal permeation.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ghaith Kourbaj, Annette Gaiser, Stephan Bielfeldt, Dominique Lunter
Summary: This study compared the penetration of a 2% caffeine solution with and without 1,2-pentanediol as a penetration enhancer using confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS) and tape stripping. The results showed that there was no significant difference between CRS and tape stripping measurements for invasion, but there was a difference for depletion. The study highlighted the importance of conducting invasion and depletion studies and revealed the existing problems in the comparability of CRS and tape stripping.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yaqian Fan, Peilang Yang, Hongyang Ma, Yan Liu, Xiaokang Ding, Yang Hu, Gang Cheng, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: A ternary nucleic acid delivery system (HPD) was developed to address the challenges in wound gene therapy, including cytokine deficiency, substantial exudation, and difficult transfection. The study demonstrated that HPD had low toxicity and high transfection efficiency in cell lines/primary cells, and showed excellent performance in in vivo and ex vivo therapy of severe skin wounds. This research provides a highly efficient and reproducible delivery system for wound gene therapy, with potential applications in other clinical scenarios.
Article
Plant Sciences
Van-Long Truong, Young-Sam Keum, Woo-Sik Jeong
Summary: The study found that red ginseng oil can promote hair growth in mice, with specific compounds playing an important role in promoting hair growth. In addition, red ginseng oil also has a protective effect on skin damage caused by UV radiation.
JOURNAL OF GINSENG RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Panagiota Zarmpi, M. Alice Maciel Tabosa, Pauline Vitry, Annette L. Bunge, Natalie A. Belsey, Dimitrios Tsikritsis, Timothy J. Woodman, M. Begona Delgado-Charro, Richard H. Guy
Summary: Confocal Raman spectroscopy is a promising tool for quantifying drug uptake and clearance in the skin, providing valuable insights into local bioavailability. This research confirmed that Raman signals can be used to correct for signal attenuation and detect drug disposition, as well as distinguish between different formulations.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Khalid M. El-Say, Tarek A. Ahmed, Arwa H. Aljefri, Hossam S. El-Sawy, Reza Fassihi, Magid Abou-Gharbia
Summary: The study aimed to improve the bioavailability of atorvastatin calcium (ATC) through the development of a transdermal film using oleic acid-reinforced PEGylated polymethacrylate. The optimized film demonstrated enhanced permeability, improved bioavailability, and antidyslipidemic activity of ATC both in ex-vivo and in-vivo studies. The transdermal delivery system showed potential advantages for chronic administration of ATC, including improved patient compliance, therapeutic benefits, and feasibility for commercialization and broader application in other drug classes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
P. Breuckmann, M. C. Meinke, Th Jaenicke, J. Krutmann, U. Rasulev, C. M. Keck, R. H. Mueller, A. L. Klein, J. Lademann, A. Patzelt
Summary: Encapsulating substances into nanoparticles can enhance the bioavailability of topically applied products, with smaller nanocrystals proving more effective in increasing caffeine bioavailability. Larger nanocrystals may offer a promising approach to boost the bioavailability of topically applied drugs via transfollicular penetration.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cristiana Costa, Bruno Fernandes, Diana Guimaraes, Eugenia Nogueira, Madalena Martins, Teresa Matama, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: The follicular route is crucial for drug penetration in topical applications, and the effectiveness of follicular transport depends on drug properties and chosen vehicles. A study compared different systems for delivering fluorescent molecules to the hair bulb, finding that a liquid serum formulation was more efficient than nanoparticles in reaching deeper follicular regions, making it the simplest and best choice for follicle targeting.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Remo Campiche, Alizee Le Riche, Janin Edelkamp, Alfonso Fernandez Botello, Emmanuel Martin, Mathias Gempeler, Marta Bertolini
Summary: The study investigated the extract of the alpine plant Edelweiss for its ability to modulate hair follicle growth and inhibit hair loss while promoting hair regeneration. The results showed that the extract significantly prolonged the anagen phase in hair follicles, stimulated hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation, and increased dermal papilla inductivity, supporting its potential as an anti-hair loss agent.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Heba M. K. Ebada, Maha M. A. Nasra, Yosra S. R. Elnaggar, Ossama Y. Abdallah
Summary: The study explored the feasibility of tailoring a rhein-phospholipid complex (RH-PLC) to improve the challenging physicochemical properties and skin permeability of rhein. The RH-PLC was successfully developed at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1, showing significantly increased solubility and permeability properties compared to RH suspension. These findings suggest that the proposed RH-PLC could be a promising approach to enhance the permeability of rhein and other drugs with poor skin permeability.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Alec Sevilla, Jeremy Cheret, Wendy Lee, Ralf Paus
Summary: This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin on melanin production and melanocytes in intact human epidermis. The results showed that melanin content and melanocyte dendricity increased with melatonin treatment, while tyrosinase activity was inhibited. Higher doses of melatonin increased the number and proliferation of melanocytes and keratinocytes, as well as the expression of the premelanosomal marker gp100. These findings suggest that long-term melatonin therapy may stimulate melanogenesis and increase the activity of epidermal melanocytes.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Elijah J. Horesh, Jennifer Gherardini, Majid Alam, Jose Rodriguez-Feliz, Alan J. Bauman, Jeremy Cheret, Ralf Paus
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Tae Chung, Taylor Bopp, Chris Ward, Francesca M. Notarangelo, Robert Schwarcz, Reyhan Westbrook, Qian-Li Xue, Jeremy Walston, Ahmet Hoke
Summary: Decline in neuromuscular function is a major factor contributing to disability and mortality in the elderly, but the neurobiology of age-associated muscle weakness is not well understood. This study used a mouse model with a deletion of the QPRT gene to examine the neurobiology of neurotoxic metabolites. The findings suggest that the kynurenine pathway may play an important role in frailty and age-associated muscle weakness.
Letter
Critical Care Medicine
Chris Ward, Hafez Al Momani, Melissa J. McDonnell, Desmond M. Murphy, Laura Walsh, John Mac Sharry, Mike Griffin, Ian A. Forrest, Rhys Jones, Amaran Krishnan, Jeffrey Pearson, Robert M. Rutherford
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
C. D. Campbell, P. C. Ridge, M. J. McDonnell, C. Ward, M. J. Harrison, C. Collins, R. M. Rutherford
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takahiro Suzuki, Jeremy Cheret, Fernanda Dinelli Scala, Aysun Akhundlu, Jennifer Gherardini, Dana-Lee Demetrius, James D. B. O'Sullivan, Gorana Kuka Epstein, Alan J. Bauman, Constantinos Demetriades, Ralf Paus
Summary: Dysregulation of mTORC1 activity is closely related to aging, cancer, and genetic disorders. In this study, the role of mTORC1 in human hair follicles was investigated, revealing its negative regulation on hair growth and pigmentation. Inhibition of mTORC1 stimulated hair follicle growth and pigmentation, while knockdown of the TSC2 gene reduced pigmentation. These findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 could be a potential strategy for managing hair loss and depigmentation disorders.
Article
Dermatology
Moe Tsutsumi, Saito Sakaguchi, Kazuki Takagaki, Jeremy Cheret, Ralf Paus, Kentaro Kajiya
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Dermatology
Jeremy Cheret, Tara Samra, Samantha D. Verling, Jennifer Gherardini, Jose Rodriguez-Feliz, Alan J. Bauman, Celina Amaya Sanchez, Tongyu C. Wikramanayake, Xiang-Xi Xu, Ralf Paus
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Jason Powell, Steven Powell, Michael W. Mather, Lauren Beck, Andrew Nelson, Pawel Palmowski, Andrew Porter, Jonathan Coxhead, Ann Hedley, Jonathan Scott, Anthony J. Rostron, Thomas P. Hellyer, Fatima Zaidi, Tracey Davey, James P. Garnett, Rachel Agbeko, Chris Ward, Christopher J. Stewart, Clifford C. Taggart, Malcolm Brodlie, A. John Simpson
Summary: This study aimed to characterize airway host defense in tracheostomized children using serial molecular analyses. The results showed that long-term tracheostomy was associated with airway neutrophilic inflammation and the ongoing presence of potential respiratory pathogens. These findings suggest neutrophil recruitment and activation as potential therapeutic targets in preventing recurrent airway complications in this vulnerable group of patients.
Article
Dermatology
Ilaria Piccini, Jeremy Cheret, Moe Tsutsumi, Saito Sakaguchi, Leslie Ponce, Luis Almeida, Wolfgang Funk, Maximilian Kueckelhaus, Kentaro Kajiya, Ralf Paus, Marta Bertolini
Summary: Recent research has found that epidermal Merkel cells (MCs) not only have mechanotransduction function for light-touch sensory stimuli, but also are thermosensitive, suggesting a physiological role beyond mechanosensation. Functional olfactory receptors, specifically OR2AT4, were found to be expressed by epidermal MCs in healthy human skin, similar to neighboring keratinocytes. Stimulation of OR2AT4 by topical application of the synthetic odorant Sandalore significantly increased Piccolo protein expression in MCs, indicating increased vesicle trafficking and recycling, and reduced nerve growth factor (NGF) immunoreactivity within MCs, potentially suggesting increased neurotrophin release upon OR2AT4 activation. Further investigation is needed to explore whether these newly discovered properties of MCs are dysregulated in specific skin disorders and if they can be targeted therapeutically to maintain/promote skin health.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tara Samra, Tatiana Gomez-Gomez, Kinga Linowiecka, Aysun Akhundlu, Gabriella Lopez de Mendoza, Matthew Gompels, Wendy W. Lee, Jennifer Gherardini, Jeremy Cheret, Ralf Paus
Summary: This ex vivo study demonstrates that melatonin has differential anti-aging effects on aged human epidermis and dermis, including downregulating aging-promoting pathways, upregulating key stem cell niche molecules, and improving collagen and elastic fiber network.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Letter
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Adil Aldhahrani, Jeffrey Pearson, Chris Ward
Article
Allergy
Laura J. Walsh, Ashley Sullivan, Christopher Ward, Liam J. Fanning, Paul M. O'Byrne, John A. MacSharry, Desmond M. Murphy
Summary: The presence of virus in non-exacerbating asthmatic patients may lead to poorer asthma control and altered airway cytokine composition. Further research is needed to understand the role of viruses in the lung microbiota and their impact on asthma.
ALLERGY ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Letter
Dermatology
[Anonymous]
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)