Cristina Dinu-Pîrvu

New collagen-dextran-zinc oxide composites for wound dressing

The goal of this paper was the design, development, and characterization of some new composites, based on collagen and dextran as natural polymers and zinc oxide as antimicrobial, to be used in wound healing. Collagen hydrogels with various concentrations of dextran and zinc oxide were investigated in terms of rheological analysis. The spongious composites, obtained by freeze-drying of hydrogels, were evaluated by morphology (SEM), water uptake, and biological (enzymatic biodegradation) analysis. All the results were strongly influenced by the nature and concentration of composite components. Based on the performances of the hydrogels, stationary rheometry, porous structure, morphology, and biological behavior, the antimicrobial spongious composite based on collagen and dextran with 50% ZnO were the most promising for future applications in wound dressing and a biomaterial with high potential in skin regeneration.

Biopharmaceutical Profiling of New Antitumor Pyrazole Derivatives

Several new pyrazole derivatives have demonstrated promising antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects, but their poor solubility raised concerns over possible biopharmaceutical limitations. In order to improve their pharmaceutical potential we performed the biopharmaceutical profiling for nine pyrazole compounds using in vitro and computational methods. The experimental solubility was determined in five different media using a validated HPLC method. Although the experimental solubility was lower than the predicted one, a good linear relationship was observed. The results also indicated a minimal impact of endogenous tensioactives on solubility, suggesting dissolution rate limited absorption. The in silico experiments were focused on identification of molecular determinants of solubility, evaluation of drug-likeness, prediction of in vivo absorption based on mechanistic models, as well as identification of the main factors that could impact on the oral bioavailability. The results suggested that dose, solubility and particle size are the main determinants of absorption, whereas permeability has little effect, confirming the BCS Class II behavior of the compounds. The present investigation was able to rank the tested compounds in terms of biopharmaceutical behavior, and indicated the B3 series compounds as having a more favorable absorption profile making them the main candidates for advance to the pre-clinical in vivo studies.

Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Anthriscus sylvestris as an Alternative Source for Anticancer Lignans

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a wild herbaceous plant common in most temperate regions. It has been used traditionally to treat headaches, as a tonic, as antitussive, antipyretic, analgesic and diuretic. The plant contains deoxypodophyllotoxin, which is proven to have antitumor and anti-proliferative effects, anti-platelet aggregation, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and insecticidal activity. Deoxypodophyllotoxin is considered to be the plant’s most important constituent, because of its pharmacological properties and because it can be converted into epipodophyllotoxin, the main raw material for the semisynthesis of the cytostatic agents etoposide and teniposide. This work summarizes for the first time the results related to the botanical description, distribution and habitat, phytochemical and pharmacological properties and emphasizes the aspects for future biotechnological research to establish its utility in the therapeutic arsenal.

Superhydrophobic Natural and Artificial Surfaces—A Structural Approach

Since ancient times humans observed animal and plants features and tried to adapt them according to their own needs. Biomimetics represents the foundation of many inventions from various fields: From transportation devices (helicopter, airplane, submarine) and flying techniques, to sports’ wear industry (swimming suits, scuba diving gear, Velcro closure system), bullet proof vests made from Kevlar etc. It is true that nature provides numerous noteworthy models (shark skin, spider web, lotus leaves), referring both to the plant and animal kingdom. This review paper summarizes a few of “nature’s interventions” in human evolution, regarding understanding of surface wettability and development of innovative special surfaces. Empirical models are described in order to reveal the science behind special wettable surfaces (superhydrophobic /superhydrophilic). Materials and methods used in order to artificially obtain special wettable surfaces are described in correlation with plants’ and animals’ unique features. Emphasis is placed on joining superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces, with important applications in cell culturing, microorganism isolation/separation and molecule screening techniques. Bio-inspired wettability is presented as a constitutive part of traditional devices/systems, intended to improve their characteristics and extend performances.

Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Satureja hortensis L.: A Review of the Last Decade

Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory) is an annual herbaceous crop, native to Europe and in our days spread and used all over the world. Although its use as spice and medicinal plant is known since ancient times, peer-reviewed studies presenting the scientific data are scarce. The natural products obtained from summer savory (extracts and essential oil) are dominated by polyphenols and flavonoids, responsible for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, pesticidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective and anticancer properties, among others. The current study presents the progress made in the last decade regarding the potential applications of summer savory, being the first review study focused on S. hortensis, in the same time suggesting future research opportunities, as they appear from the properties of other Satureja species. The available data presenting the properties of summer savory represents a scientific support for application in industry, for developing “clean label” food products.

Liquid Marbles: From Industrial to Medical Applications

Liquid marbles are versatile structures demonstrating a pseudo-Leidenfrost wetting regime formed by encapsulating microscale volumes of liquid in a particle shell. The liquid core is completely separated from the exterior through air pockets. The external phase consists of hydrophobic particles, in most cases, or hydrophilic ones distributed as aggregates. Their interesting features arise from the double solid-fluid character. Thus, these interesting formations, also known as “dry waters”, have gained attention in surface science. This review paper summarizes a series of proposed formulations, fabrication techniques and properties, in correlation with already discovered and emerging applications. A short general review of the surface properties of powders (contact angle, superficial tension) is proposed, followed by a presentation of liquid marbles’ properties (superficial characteristics, elasticity, self-propulsion etc.). Finally, applications of liquid marbles are discussed, mainly as helpful and yet to be exploited structures in the pharmaceutical and medical field. Innovative pharmaceutical forms (Pickering emulsions) are also means of use taken into account as applications which need further investigation.

Romanian Aromatic and Medicinal Plants: From Tradition to Science

From ancient times, plants have been used by humans for food, fodder, fibre and medicinal purposes. Several plants were empirically considered as treatments for a large array of illness and medical conditions. Each community had specific natural remedies, based on the geographical area, environmental conditions and other factors. Thus, the use of plants can be considered as part of the intangible cultural heritage of each community. In the geographical area of today’s Romania, the ancient inhabitants, Dacians, had very good knowledge regarding the use of plants for medicinal purposes, as presented by several historical sources. The present work describes protocols for the extraction and purification of natural extracts, analytical characterisation, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of their potential applications as well as some practical examples of their application on selected Romanian native medicinal and aromatic plants. The presented results offer scientific support to their traditional use, suggesting in the same time some modern applications, for example in the nanotechnology field.

The effect of lavandula essential oils on release of niflumic acid from collagen hydrolysates

The aim of this paper is to design and characterize some drug delivery systems (DDS) based on collagen hydrolysates (H), niflumic acid as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory model drug and two essential oils of Lavandula officinalis L. (LO) and Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. Stoechas (LS), for use in healing cutaneous wounds with post-lesion inflammatory response. The essential oils are characterized by GC-MS. The wettability capacity of collagen hydrolysate powders was assessed by contact angle measurement. Niflumic acid release was investigated using a modified Franz diffusion cell, and the diffusion coefficient, time-lag and drug flux were determined. The kinetic parameters were found to be influenced by different concentrations and types of essential oils. These therapeutical products, based on collagen hydrolysates and synergistic drug associations, could have potential biomedical application in wound healing treatment.

Collagen-Niflumic Acid Spongious Matrices for Bone Repairing

Collagen is one of the most used biomaterials for bone defects repair, proving good results in tissue reconstruction research, and also its features recommend it as a very attractive drug delivery scaffold for local treatment of the affected osseous tissue. The inflammatory response is a common reaction that occurs in bone disease, the topical administration of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) representing a reliable strategy to overcome this issue. The purpose of this paper was the physical-chemical and biopharmaceutical evaluation of some spongious matrices consisting of collagen as release support and niflumic acid as drug NSAID model, usable in bone tissue regeneration. Type I fibrillar collagen gel (2.4% w/w, 3.5 pH) was extracted from calf hide by the technology currently used in Collagen Department of Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute. The collagen sponges were obtained by freeze-drying of gels adjusted at 1% and 7.3 pH, with different dextran (0; 10 and 20%) and MgO (0; 30 and 60%) concentrations (reported to dry collagen), with 0.5% and without niflumic acid (NA) (reported to gel) and the same amount of glutaraldehyde (0.5% reported to collagen dry substance). The sponges were evaluated through water absorption, FT-IR spectroscopy and optical microscopy. In vitro NA release from the designed sponges was carried out using a sandwich device adapted to a dissolution equipment. Power law kinetic model was applied to explain drug release from the tested formulations. The NA release from collagen sponges showed a non-Fickian transport mechanism. The addition in different concentrations of dextran and MgO leads to more compact structures and improves stability of collagenic matrices. Our results showed that the designed support could be adequate for treating the inflammation associated with a bone defect in orthopedic surgery.