Associate Professor

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), particularly in the form of patches, have emerged as a major breakthrough in pharmaceutical science, enabling drugs to be administered directly through the skin in a non-invasive manner. These systems allow controlled and sustained drug release, leading to improved therapeutic efficiency. Unlike conventional oral route Skin, TDDS bypass first-pass metabolism and help maintain consistent plasma drug concentrations. Progress in this field has been driven by the development of innovative materials, novel polymers, advanced permeation enhancers, and smart delivery platforms. The incorporation of nanotechnology has broadened the applicability of TDDS, making it possible to deliver molecules that were previously unsuitable for transdermal administration. Deeper understanding of skin physiology and its barrier functions has facilitated the design of next-generation patches utilizing nanocarriers, microemulsions, and stimuli-responsive polymers. Additionally, approaches such as microneedle arrays, iontophoresis, and sonophoresis have significantly boosted drug permeation across the skin. Several marketed products highlight the practical success of these technologies, while ongoing research continues to refine delivery strategies and evaluation techniques. Overall, the evolution of TDDS has led to more effective, convenient, and patient-friendly therapeutic options, positioning them as a promising platform for addressing complex treatment challenges and catering to diverse healthcare needs in the future.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is the most prevalent disease, affecting majority of the world’s population. There are plenty of antidiabetics available in the market helping in achieving glycaemia control. The use of DPP-4 inhibitor is one the effective approach for treating the disease. Alogliptin is the latest analogue to the DPP-4 inhibitor class, approved in 2013. It is a highly selective, oral inhibitor of DPP-4 enzyme. Along with Alogliptin, FDA approved the fixed dose combinations of Alogliptin with Metformin and Pioglitazone, in the same year. Clinical data demonstrate that administering Alogliptin alone or in combination, leads to reduction in mean HbA1c and Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) level. Mean reduction of HbA1c is about 0.5% to 0.6% with Alogliptin alone and on combination with Metformin and Pioglitazone, the mean HbA1c reduce approximately by 0.6% and 1.8% respectively. The drug also reduces the Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) level by 10mg/dl to 20mg/dl and in combination with Metformin and Pioglitazone, the FPG level reduce by 20mg/dl and 50mg/dl respectively. Alogliptin is a drug with suitable tolerance and high safety profile. The drug shows no incidence of hypoglycemia and is weight neutral. Hence, Alogliptin benzoate is the preferred choice of the drug to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.

India is one of the countries in the world distinguished for immense miscellany amongst plants. Less number of plants is studied for their medicinal values as compared to the total number of different varieties of plants found in the universe. In our present study, the plant Abutilon indicum (Family- Malvaceae) was subjected for determination of physico-chemical parameters. The total ash value, acid soluble ash value, alcohol extractive value and water extractive values were determined. The Abutilon leaves were also subjected for phytochemical screening. Methanolic, petroleum ether and chloroformic extracts were selected for the present study as this plant possesses several secondary metabolites like alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, flavanoids and proteins. The petroleum ether extract confirmed the presence of sterols, terpenoids and alkaloids. The chloroform extract showed the presence of alkaloids, sterols, flavonoids and glycosides while the methanol extract confirmed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, proteins and amino acids.

Curcumin a hydrophobic poly-phenol is derived from turmeric, the rhizome of the herb Curcuma longa L. Curcumin has been shown to exert anti-depressant effects in rodent models. However, poor bioavailability of curcumin curbs its usage as a therapeutic agent. In view of the above curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (C-SLNs) were prepared and evaluated for the antidepressant effect of acute administration of C-SLNs (1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) in the forced swim model of depression in mice. C-SLNs exhibited 47.42%, 67.39%, 31.67% and 36.2% reduction in immobility time after administration of 1, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg dose (p.o.) respectively. Free curcumin however did not result in a significant reduction, except at 2.5 mg/kg, which could produce a reduction of 21.7% but was still 2.83 times lower than the effect obtained with a similar dose of C-SLNs. The results obtained may be assigned to the therapeutic amounts of curcumin reaching the brain. Thus, C-SLNs with their improved bioavailability and permeability possess higher anti-depressant potential upon administration of a single and a much lower dose when compared to free curcumin.