Atta Abbas Naqvi

Rutin-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles targeted to the brain in the treatment of Cerebral Ischemia.

OBJECTIVE Rutin, a potent antioxidant, has been reported to reduce the risk of ischemic disease. Our study aims to prepare rutin-encapsulated-chitosan nanoparticles (RUT-CS-NPs) via ionic gelation method and determine its results, based on different parameters i.e. surface morphology characterization, in-vitro or ex-vivo release, dynamic light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), for treating cerebral ischemia. METHODS UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to evaluate the optimized RT-CS-NPs1 for brain-drug uptake as well as to follow-up the pharmacokinetics, bio-distrbution, brain-targeting efficiency and potential after intranasal administration (i.n.). KEY FINDINGS A particle size of <100nm for the formulation, significantly affected by drug:CS ratio, and entrapment efficiency and loading capacity of 84.98%±4.18% and 39.48%±3.16%, respectively were observed for RUT. Pharmacokinetics, bio-distribution, brain-targeting efficiency (1443.48±39.39%) and brain drug-targeting potential (93.00±5.69%) showed enhanced bioavailability for RUT in brain as compared to intravenous administration. In addition; improved neurobehavioral activity, histopathology and reduced infarction volume effects were observed in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced cerebral ischemic rats model after i.n. administration of RUT-CS-NPs. CONCLUSION A significant role of mucoadhesive-RT-CS-NPs1 as observed after high targeting potential and efficiency of the formulation prove; RUT-CS-NPs are more effectively accessed and target easily the brain.

Preparation and characterization of surface-modified PLGA-polymeric nanoparticles used to target treatment of intestinal cancer

Abstract We, the Editors and Publishers of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology have retracted the following article: Niyaz Ahmad, Md Aftab Alam, Rizwan Ahmad, Atta Abbas Naqvi & Farhan Jalees Ahmad (2018) Preparation and characterisation of surface-modified PLGA-polymeric nanoparticles used to target treatment of intestinal cancer. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 46:2, 432–446, DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2017.1324466 This article is retracted due to reuse of images from other articles by the same authors, representing results of different experiments. This includes Figure 2(b), which can also be found in: Ahmad et al. (2017) Isolation, characterisation, and quantification of curcuminoids and their comparative effects in cerebral ischaemia. Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies, https://doi.org/10.1080/10826076.2017.1293549 In addition, Figure 11, overlaps with Figure 7 of the following article, by different authors: Akash Chaurasiya, Ajeet K. Singh, Gaurav K. Jain, Musarrat H. Warsi, Emmanuelle Sublet, Farhan J. Ahmad, Gerrit Borchard & Roop K. Khar (2012) Dual approach utilising self microemulsifying technique and novel P-gp inhibitor for effective delivery of taxanes. Journal of Microencapsulation, https://doi.org/10.3109/02652048.2012.668959 When asked for an explanation, the authors were unable to provide raw data that would support the integrity of their research. As the authors were unable to provide the original images, the Editors agreed the findings of the study are no longer valid and advised for the article to be retracted. The authors have agreed to retraction of this article. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Role of traditional Islamic and Arabic plants in cancer therapy

Ethno pharmacological relevance This review article underlines individual Traditional Islamic and Arabic plant (TAI) and their role in treating cancer. The aim of the study is to specifically evaluate the progress of herbs, Arabic and Islamic traditional herbs in particular, applied in cancer treatment, so far. Materials and methods Islamic and Arabic plants were selected and identified through different literature survey using “Google scholar”, “Web of science”, “Scopus” and “PubMed”. Each plant, from identified Arabic and Islamic plants list, was search individually for the most cited articles in the aforementioned databases using the keywords, “Anticancer”, “Uses in cancer treatment”, “Ethno pharmacological importance in cancer” etc. Results The current review about Islamic and Arabic plants illuminates the importance of Islamic and Arabic plants and their impact in treating cancer. There is a long list of Islamic and Arabic plants used in cancer as mentioned in review with enormous amount of literature. Each plant has been investigated for its anticancer potential. The literature survey as mentioned in table shows; these plants are widely utilized in cancer as a whole, a part thereof or in the form of isolated chemical constituent. Conclusions This review strongly supports the fact; Arabic and Islamic traditional plants have emerged as a good source of complementary and alternative medicine in treating cancer. Traditional Arab-Islamic herbal-based medicines might be promising for new cancer therapeutics with low toxicity and minimal side effects. The plants used are mostly in crude form and still needs advance research for the isolation of phytochemicals and establishing its cellular and molecular role in treating cancer.

The effect of safranal loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion on oxidative stress markers in cerebral ischemia

Abstract We, the Editors and Publishers of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Niyaz Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmad, Atta Abbas Naqvi, Mohammad Ashafaq, Md Aftab Alam, Farhan Jalees Ahmad & Mastour Safer Al-Ghamdi. (2017). The effect of safranal loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion on oxidative stress markers in cerebral ischaemia. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 45:4, 775–787. DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2016.1228659 This article is retracted due to reuse of images from other articles by the same authors, representing results of different experiments. This includes Figure 1, which can also be found in: Ahmad et al. (2018). Intranasal delivery of quercetin-loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion for treatment of cerebral ischaemia. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2017.1337024 In addition, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of other Figures in the article, including Figures 3, 7(a), 8 and 9. When asked for an explanation, the authors were unable to provide raw data that would support the integrity of their research. As the authors were unable to provide the original images, the Editors agreed the findings of the study are no longer valid and advised for the article to be retracted. The authors do not agree with the retraction. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

The cost of poliomyelitis: Lack of cost-of-illness studies on poliomyelitis rehabilitation in Pakistan

182 Archives of Pharmacy Practice  Vol. 7  Issue 4  Oct‐Dec 2016 restore them to a functional life. Usually, LT results in excellent shortand medium-term outcomes although rarely long-term. Those patients are lucky who come walking back through the doors of the Intensive Care Unit to offer thanks to doctors and their near and dear ones. For others with permanently failing organ systems, life-sustaining interventions do not work out while new complications keep arising, and recovery looks impossible. Patients often think of the irony, what kind of living is this? Perhaps need to be tolerated only if recovery being the final reward. Patients need to undergo LT provided they find a suitable donor match in time and only if they are ready to take on the added cost of follow-up care. For patients of age <40 LT is a life saving procedure. However, for the underprivileged looking at the current cost of procedure and treatment, LT looks unaffordable.

Intranasal delivery of quercetin-loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion for treatment of cerebral ischaemia

Abstract We, the Editors and Publishers of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Niyaz Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmad, Atta Abbas Naqvi, Md Aftab Alam, Mohammad Ashafaq, Rehan Abdur Rub & Farhan Jalees Ahmad. (2018). Intranasal delivery of quercetin-loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion for treatment of cerebral ischaemia. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology. 46:4, 717–729. DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2017.1337024 This article is retracted due to reuse of images from other articles by the same authors, representing results of different experiments. This includes Figure 2, which can also be found in: Ahmad et al. (2017). The effect of safranal loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion on oxidative stress markers in cerebral ischaemia. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2016.1228659 In addition, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of other Figures in the article, including Figures 1 and 7. When asked for an explanation, the authors were unable to provide raw data that would support the integrity of their research. As the authors were unable to provide the original images, the Editors agreed the findings of the study are no longer valid and advised for the article to be retracted. The authors do not agree with the retraction. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Quantification of rutin in rats brain by UHPLC/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS after intranasal administration of rutin loaded chitosan nanoparticles

Rutin (RT), an antioxidant drug, has been utilized to treat cerebral ischemia hence a sensitive quantification method for estimation of RT in brain homogenate is necessary to develop. This study aims to prepare RT loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles (RT-CS-NPs) develop and validate ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-synapt mass spectrometric method Synapt Mass Spectrometry (Synapt MS) (UHPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) for quantification of RT in brain homogenate from Wistar rat. The process of chromatographic separation was carried out on Waters ACQUITY UPLC™ with the components of separation in detail as; column: BEH C-18 with dimension as 2.1 mm×100 mm and particle size 1.7 µm, mobile phase: acetonitrile (85 % v/v/v): 2 mM ammonium formate (15 % v/v/v): formic acid (0.1 % v/v/v) and flow rate: 0.25 mL/min. Liquid-liquid extraction method (LLE), in mixture, i.e. ethyl acetate:acetonitrile, was considered to optimize the recovery of analyte from the brain homogenate of Wistar rat. Over a total run time of 5 minutes, the elution time for RT and internal standard (IS), i.e. Tolbutamide, observed was 2.67 and 2.82 min respectively whereas the transition observed for RT and IS was at m/z 611.1023/303.1071 and 271.1263/155.1073, respectively. Results, regarding various processes and parameters studied for RT as summarized, established a linear dynamic range over a concentration range of 1.00 ng/mL - 1000.0 ng/mL with r2; 0.9991±0.0010. Accuracy for intra and inter-assay in terms of % CV revealed a range of 0.45- 2.11 whereas lower limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) observed was 0.09 ng/mL and 0.142 ng/mL, respectively. The analyte stability as well as method specificity and accuracy, i.e. recovery > 86 %, supports the idea for application of current developed method in order to quantify and evaluate the RT-loaded-CS-NPs for RT determination in brain homogenate after intranasal drug delivery.

Evolution of clinical pharmacy teaching practices in Pakistan

I am writing this letter in reference to the concept paper published in Journal of Pharmacy titled “Evidence Based Improvements in Clinical Pharmacy Clerkship Program in Undergraduate Pharmacy Education: The Evidence Based Improvement Initiative” which discussed issues of clinical pharmacy teaching practices of Pakistan, and the steps taken by some institutions in developing the clinical pharmacy teaching infrastructure few years ago.[1] Further to this, in a letter published in Archives of Pharmacy Practice, the author recommended several points on which clinical pharmacy education could be improved in Pakistan. Pakistan’s pharmacy education largely suffers from the gap between the course contents and learning goals in clinical pharmacy curriculum, and despite the revamp of Pharm.D degree program, the regulatory authorities have not provided enough opportunities for students to have hands-on experience of pharmacy practice.[2,3]

Antioxidant and Antiglycating Constituents from Leaves of Ziziphus oxyphylla and Cedrela serrata

Ziziphus oxyphylla and Cedrela Serrata plants have a folkloric use in Pakistan for treatments of different ailments, i.e., Jaundice, Hepatitis, Diabetes, and antimicrobial. Until now, none of the research studies have reported any phytochemical work on leaves of these two plants. This study aimed to isolate and perform phytochemical analysis in order to search for the constituent having the active role in treatment of the aforementioned ailments. A bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedure was used to isolate the concerned phytochemicals present in leaf extracts of Z. oxyphylla and C. serrata. The process involved the hyphenated techniques, i.e., Flash Chromatography, Semi-Preparative HPLC/DAD, UPLC/MS, and NMR in order to isolate and elucidate the structure of the phytochemicals. Seven compounds (1–7) were isolated and identified as flavonoids, more in particular glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol. They showed DPPH scavenging activity, compound 3 (isoquercitrin) being the most active one with an IC50 of 10.8 µg/mL (positive control quercetin; IC50 3.6 µg/mL). The superoxide-radical scavenging and total antioxidant (ABTS) assays indicated IC50 values ranging from 200 to 910 µg/mL and 170 to 320 µg/mL, respectively (positive control quercetin: 374 and 180 µg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, these compounds had low IC50 values for inhibition of protein glycation (AGEs inhibition), ranging from 530 to 818 µg/mL, comparable to aminoguanidine (510 µg/mL) used as a positive control. This study resulted in the identification of seven flavonoid glycosides for the first time from the leaves of Z. oxyphylla and C. serrata with antioxidative and antiglycating activities.

Isolation, characterization, and quantification of curcuminoids and their comparative effects in cerebral ischemia

ABSTRACT The study reports a rapid and short analytical technique for separation, characterization, and quantitation along with comparative pharmacological effect of curcuminoids in cerebral ischemia. Flash chromatography, using silica and diol columns along with gradient mobile phase, was utilized to separate three curcuminoids, i.e., curcumin (Cur), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) for the first time. The separated peaks were monitored at 200–360 nm, whereas the purity of compounds (96.2–97.6%) was determined through qualitative analysis such as infrared and 1H and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and differential scanning calorimetry. Furthermore, chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) for curcuminoids were prepared and characterized through zeta sizer, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The developed ultra performance of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method showed simplified automation and shorter run time for Combi flash over conventional separation techniques. The CS-NPs for all the three curcuminoids and combined-curcuminoids (CCr) (combined and administered together for a synergistic effect), following intranasal administration in middle cerebral artery–occluded rats were evaluated for grip strength, locomotor activity, and histopathological examination where the anti-ischemic activity was observed, in terms of potency, for all three CS-NPs and CCr as CCr>Cur>DMC>>BDMC. Cur-CS-NPs exhibited more potency among Cur, DMC, and BDMC, whereas CCr was the more potent anti-ischemic drug compared to Cur, DMC, and BDMC. For Cur the characteristic activity is proposed because of the presence of methoxy group on the phenyl ring whereas for CCr it is synergistic effect of curcuminoids. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT