Christina Viju John’s scientific contributions

Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems (MDDS) represent an innovative method for administering drugs through oral routes such as the buccal, sublingual, and gingival areas. These systems leverage natural or synthetic polymers to ensure prolonged adherence to mucosal surfaces, enabling extended and controlled release of medication. Several factors influence the effectiveness of mucoadhesion, including the hydrophilicity of polymers, molecular weight, and environmental factors like pH and moisture levels. MDDS can take various forms, including tablets, films, patches, lozenges, and gels, each offering different drug release profiles such as immediate, sustained, or controlled. These systems enhance drug bioavailability by avoiding first-pass metabolism, making them particularly beneficial for medications with low oral bioavailability or those requiring targeted delivery. Although MDDS offer improved patient compliance and therapeutic effectiveness, they still face challenges like irritation, taste concerns, and the diluting effect of saliva, which can impact drug stability. Despite these challenges, MDDS hold significant promise for advancing drug delivery technologies across various medical applications. This review thoroughly examines the mechanisms, advantages, limitations, and future prospects of mucoadhesive drug delivery systems.

The demand for natural and effective antimicrobial agents in oral care products has led to the exploration of botanical extracts such as Moringa and Neem. In this study, we aimed to prepare extracts from Moringa and Neem leaves and incorporate them into toothpaste formulations to evaluate their antimicrobial properties against oral pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was assessed using well-established agar diffusion assays against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative oral bacteria. Additionally, the pH and consistency of the toothpaste formulations were optimized for usability and stability. Our results demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity of the Moringa and Neem extracts against a range of oral bacteria, including common pathogens associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases. The formulated toothpaste containing these extracts exhibited promising inhibitory effects, suggesting their potential as natural alternatives or adjuncts to synthetic antimicrobial agents in oral hygiene products. This research work contributes to the ongoing exploration of plant-derived compounds for oral health applications.