Rita Patrizia Aquino

University of Salerno | UNISA · Department of BioMedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences FARMABIOMED

Background/Objectives: This study investigates for the first time the use of the prilling technique in combination with solvent evaporation to produce nano- and submicrometric PLGA particles to deliver properly an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Curcumin (CCM), a hydrophobic compound classified under BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification System) c...

Background/Objectives: Although extemporaneous formulations of anticancer drug products for personalized therapy are produced according to Good Hospital Pharmacy Manufacturing Practice, the lack of knowledge about drug stability under clinical conditions limits the second-time use of these highly costly medications in clinical practice. Therefore,...

Couroupita guianensis, a medicinal plant autochthonal to South America and South India, is widely used in the ethnomedicine of the indigenous peoples of these regions thanks to its alleged antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound-healing properties. The majority of studies have mainly analyzed organic extracts of the Indian plant’s f...

Citation: Sardo, C.; Auriemma, G.; Mazzacano, C.; Conte, C.; Piccolo, V.; Ciaglia, T.; Denel-Bobrowska, M.; Olejniczak, A.B.; Fiore, D.; Proto, M.C.; et al. Inulin Amphiphilic Copolymer-Based Drug Delivery: Unraveling the Structural Features of Graft Constructs. Pharmaceutics 2024, 16, 971. https://doi.org/10.3390/ Abstract: In this study, the stru...

Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott is a tuberous plant, also known as taro, employed as food worldwide for its renowned nutritional properties but also traditionally used in several countries for medical purposes. In this study, methanolic extracts were prepared from the corms and leaves of Colocasia, subsequently fractionated via molecular exclusion...

Chronic skin wounds affect more than 40 million patients worldwide, representing a huge problem for healthcare systems. This study elucidates the optimization of an in situ gelling polymer blend powder for biomedical applications through the use of co-solvents and functional excipients, underlining the possibility of tailoring microparticulate powd...

(1) Background: almond peels are rich in polyphenols such as catechin and epicatechin, which are important anti-free-radical agents, anti-inflammatory compounds, and capable of breaking down cholesterol plaques. This work aims to evaluate the biological and technological activity of a “green” dry aqueous extract from Sicilian almond peels, a waste...

The production of aerogels for different applications has been widely known, but the use of polysaccharide-based aerogels for pharmaceutical applications, specifically as drug carriers for wound healing, is being recently explored. The main focus of this work is the production and characterization of drug-loaded aerogel capsules through prilling in...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: In the Amazon rainforest, the shamans of the Mayantuyacu site use the healing virtues of decoctions and teas from different parts of the Couroupita guianensis Aubl. (Lecythidaceae) trees as remedies in Ashaninka medicine. However, composition of the remedy and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Aim of the stu...

Bone repair and tissue-engineering (BTE) approaches require novel biomaterials to produce scaffolds with required structural and biological characteristics and enhanced performances with respect to those currently available. In this study, PCL/INU-PLA hybrid biomaterial was prepared by blending of the aliphatic polyester poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)...

The National Institute of Health has reported that approximately 80% of chronic infections are associated with biofilms, which are indicated as one of the main reasons for bacteria’s resistance to antimicrobial agents. Several studies have revealed the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in reducing biofilm formation induced by different microorganisms...

Stachys brachyclada de Noé ex Coss. (Lamiaceae) is a quite rare medicinal plant endemic to the Mediterranean basin. In this study, seven secondary metabolites from a methanol extract of its leaves have been isolated and identified by a combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR experiments and ESIMS analysis). They incl...

(1) Background: Eudraguard® Natural (EN) and Protect (EP) are polymers regulated for use in dietary supplements in the European Union and the United States to carry natural products, mask unpleasant smells and tastes, ameliorate product handling, and protect products from moisture, light, and oxidation. Moreover, EN and EP can control the release o...

To maximize the potential of 3D printing, several technological issues must be overcome, especially in the case of semisolid extrusion (SSE), where the 3D model is built up through the well‐defined extrusion of polymeric ink. Focusing on natural polymers, their physicochemical properties should be deeply investigated to evaluate 3D printability. Th...

Background: Officinal plants, minerals, animal derivatives, and miscellaneous have always been used to treat and improve appearance despite the different aesthetic canons of a specific historical and cultural context. Objective: The aim of this work was to make a critical comparison between medieval and modern dermocosmetics analyzing the works...

Post-COVID syndrome or long COVID is defined as the persistence of symptoms after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, the pathogen responsible for coronavirus disease. The content herein presented reviews the reported long-term consequences and aftereffects of COVID-19 infection and the potential strategies to adopt for their management. Recent studies...

Novel additive manufacturing (AM) techniques and particularly 3D printing (3DP) have achieved a decade of success in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Highly innovative personalized therapeutical solutions may be designed and manufactured through a layer-by-layer approach starting from a digital model realized according to the needs of a specif...

A new polymeric construct is proposed as a starting material for a liver-targeted delivery system in the present communication. The polymeric material has been designed to be sensitive to pH variations and potentially loaded with hydrophobic antitumoral agents. It is based on one of the most used copolymers in the field of nanomedicine: PEG-PLA. Th...

Cancer therapies started to take a big advantage from new nanomedicines on the market. Since then, research tried to better understand how to maximize efficacy while maintaining a high safety profile. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), the gold standard for nanomedicines coating design, is a winning choice to ensure a long circulation and colloidal stabili...

At present, the use of benzimidazole drugs in veterinary medicine is strongly limited by both pharmacokinetics and formulative issues. In this research, the possibility of applying an innovative semi-solid extrusion 3D printing process in a co-axial configuration was speculated, with the aim of producing a new gastro-retentive dosage form loaded wi...

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1d%7E6OWy0-R2I6 With the aim to overcome alginate shape fidelity issue during the semisolid extrusion 3D printing and matrix collapsing after drying, we speculated that a pre-crosslinking step of the alginate ink-gel with low amount of Ca+2 could improve the hydrogel performance. To verify this, the influence of pre-c...

In this paper, alginate/pectin and alginate/pectin/chitosan blend particles, in the form of an in situ forming hydrogel, intended for wound repair applications, have been successfully developed. Particles have been used to encapsulate doxycycline in order to control the delivery of the drug, enhance its antimicrobial properties, and the ability to...

The study focused on the development and characterization of an O/W emulsion for skincare containing Castanea sativa spiny burs extract (CSE) as functional agent. The emulsion was stable and had suitable physicochemical and technological properties for dermal application and CSE showed no cytotoxicity in spontaneously immortalized keratinocytes (Ha...

Cancer therapies started to take a big advantage from new nanomedicines on the market. Since then, research tried to better understand how to maximize efficacy whilst maintaining a high safety profile. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), the gold standard for nanomedicines coating design, although in many cases is a winning choice to ensure a long circulati...

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1cdM6Wy0-Q-yy Coaxial semi-solid extrusion and ionotropic alginate gelation: a successful duo for personalized floating formulations via 3D printing Author links open overlay panelGiovanniFalconeab1PaolaRussoa https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117791 Get rights and content Highlights • Fused Deposition Modelling...

Background Therapy/prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients are strongly related to gene alteration/s or protein expression. However, more than 50% of NSCLC patients are negative to key drugable biomarkers. Methods We used human samples of NSCLC and mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. Results We showed that caspase-4 was highly p...

Background: Almond skins are rich in bioactive compounds that undergo oxidation/degradation phenomena and are poorly soluble in water, reducing in vivo absorption and bioavailability, factors that influence the pharmacological activity of an active product. We developed a dried acetonic almond skins extract/cyclodextrin complex to improve extract...

The exploitation of agri-food by-products is a pertinent strategy in the context of the implementation of the circular economy concept in the agri-food industry. Therefore, the present work aimed to produce bioactive pullulan-based films loaded with polyphenolic-rich extracts from chestnut spiny burs (CSB, Castanea sativa Miller.) and roasted hazel...

Background. Therapy/prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients are strongly related to gene alteration/s or protein expression. However, more than 50% of NSCLC patients are negative to key drugable biomarkers. Methods: We used human samples of NSCLC and mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. Results. We showed that caspase-4 was highly...

Background . Therapy/prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients are strongly related to gene alteration/s or protein expression. However, more than 50% of NSCLC patients are negative to key drugable biomarkers. Methods: We used human samples of NSCLC and mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. Results . We showed that caspase-4 was highl...

Background. Therapy/prognosis of Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are strongly related to gene alteration/s or protein expression. However, more than 50% of NSCLC patients are negative to key drugable biomarkers. Methods: We used human samples of NSCLC and mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. Key Results. We found that caspase-4 was hig...

The administration of natural antioxidants is considered to be a prevention strategy for chronic diseases and a useful tool for the healthcare system to reduce the administration of expensive and often not effective treatments. The chemical characterization of a methanolic extract (AJ) of Ajuga reptans L. was performed, and its antioxidant activity...

Polysaccharide-based hydrogel particles (PbHPs) are very promising carriers aiming to control and target the release of drugs with different physico-chemical properties. Such delivery systems can offer benefits through the proper encapsulation of many drugs (non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, etc) ensuring their prope...

Spirulina platensis contains several compounds showing nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Recently, a series of peptides able to reduce the blood pressure level and to enhance the endothelial vasorelaxation was isolated from the hydrolyzed highly water-soluble Spirulina extract (HSE). However, HSE shows critical organoleptic characteristics also...

It is well known that wastewaters from the food industry are a potential source of valuable compounds, such that these wastewaters may be considered by-products awaiting the development of appropriate treatment methodologies. Whey is one of the most important polluting effluents from the milk industry because of its very high biological oxygen dema...

An extract obtained from hazelnut shells by-products (HSE) has antioxidant and chemopreventive effects on human melanoma and cervical cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis by caspase-3 activation. A clinical translation is limited by poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Dried plant extracts often show critical characteristics such as stic...

The aim of this research was to verify the application of alginate in combination with Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions to produce a floating and prolonged release system for the oral administration of prednisolone. Hollow and floating gel-beads were designed using prilling/ionotropic gelation as the microencapsulation technique, zinc acetate in the gelling solu...

Core-shell beads loaded with betamethasone were developed using co-axial prilling as production technique and pectin plus alginate as polymeric carriers. During this study, many operative conditions were intensively investigated to find the best ones necessary to produce uniform core-shell particle systems in a reproducible way. Particularly, feed...

Asteriscus graveolens (Forsk) Less. is a Saharan medicinal plant of Asteraceae family. A new acyclic sesquiterpene [7,12-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5,(6) E-dehydronerolidol (3)] and sesquiterpene germacranolide lactone derivatives [9β-hydroxy-11β,13-dihydroparthenolide-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) and 9α-hydroxy-11β,13-dihydroparthenolide-9-O-β-D-glucopy...

In this paper, alginate-pectin blend particles loaded with Annexin A1 derived peptide Ac2-26 as an in situ forming dressing was successfully developed for wound repair applications. High mannuronic (M) content alginate and amidated pectin blend have been used to encapsulate Ac2-26 in order to enhance stability of the peptide at room temperature and...

Halimium halimifolium (Hh) is a shrub used in Algerian folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal pain. An UHPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn method was developed to identify the metabolic profile of the traditionally used infusion (Hh-A) from the aerial parts. The structures of flavanols were confirmed by NMR analysis after the isolation procedure from a hydrohalcoli...

Background: Air pollution is becoming a threatening issue for human health. Many epidemiological studies relate air pollution index to adverse effects in terms of disease incidence and/or disease exacerbation. In our previous studies, we found air pollutants can induce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from human peripheral blood cells. To...

Strategies to load prednisolone or dexamethasone in preformed poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) filaments and 3D printed scaffolds were explored as a way of personalizing the drug, the dose and the release profile for regenerative medicine purposes. Instead of starting from a PLA filament preloaded with a given content of drug, we explored two more versati...

The choice of formulation is often of crucial importance in order to obtain a pharmaceutical product for the administration of poorly soluble drugs. Recently, a new water-soluble microparticulate powder form (MTE-mp) for the oral administration of a high functionality/low solubility silymarin rich milk thistle extract (MTE) has been developed. Find...

Processing and shaping of dried gels are of interest in several fields like alginate aerogel beads used as highly porous and nanostructured particles in biomedical applications. The physicochemical properties of the alginate source, the solvent used in the gelation solution and the gel drying method are key parameters influencing the characteristic...

COPD Patients’ information.

Release of IL-18 (A) and IL-1β (B) after LPS ± ATP or Poly dA:dT addition to unstable COPD-derived PBMCs. Data are represented as median ± interquartile range (n = 5).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide and its prevalence is increasing. The progressive decline of lung function and airway remodelling are a consequence of chronic inflammatory responses. It was recently postulated the involvement of the inflammasome in COPD, although the underlying mechani...

Share Link https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1YeOE1M49kMxbk ABSTRACT: Fused deposition modeling by 3D-printing is a rapid technique for the production of personalized drug dosage forms. One of the most delicate step of the whole process is the drug loading onto the thermoplastic polymer to obtain the drug-loaded filament used as feedstock for 3D FDM...

Trotula de Ruggiero is supposed to be one of the first female physician of the history, or at least the first who practiced, taught, and wrote medical texts inside the illustrious medieval Medical School of Salerno around the XI‐XII centuries. Here we retrace the steps of her fascinating history from historical cues to legendary anecdotes, through...

Chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller.) burs (CSB) represent a solid waste produced during the edible fruit harvesting. Their usual disposal in the field increases the environmental and economic impact of the agricultural process. HPLC-UV-HRMS profiling revealed that CSB organic and aqueous extracts (CSB-M, CSB-H, CSB-A) contain several hydrolyzable tan...

Considered as a superfood of the future, Spirulina platensis matrix has been extensively used because of its beneficial effect on the management of cardiovascular diseases. However, its nutraceutical properties, bioactive compounds, and molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that S platensis matrix processed in vitro by simulated ga...

The aim of this research was to develop a robust process capable of producing soft-capsules with hydrophilic core for topical administration by means of an inverse gelation. While this method is extensively studied to prepare particles with oily content, its knowledge space in the case of the proposed application is limited. Therefore, a half-fract...

BioActive Compounds (BACs) recovered from food or food by-product matrices are useful in maintaining well being, enhancing human health, and modulating immune function to prevent or to treat chronic diseases. They are also generally seen by final consumers as safe, non-toxic and environment-friendly. Despite the complex process of production, chemi...

A gastro-retentive delivery system loaded with piroxicam with a bimodal release profile in gastrointestinal-tract was developed. Piroxicam is characterized by high oral absorption, long half-life, but its elimination is impaired in elderly patients. To overcome fluctuations in plasma levels, floating gastro-retentive gel-beads with sustained releas...

Many natural compounds having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity are a potential target for new therapies against chronic inflammatory syndromes. The oral administration of functional herbal supplements may become a prevention strategy or therapy adjuvant for susceptible patients. A case study is our milk thistle (Silybum marianum) extract...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25049.].

Arthrospira platensis, better known as Spirulina, is one of the most important microalgae species. This cyanobacterium possesses a rich metabolite pattern, including high amounts of natural pigments. In this study, we applied a combined strategy based on Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and Ultra High-Performa...