Search

Pharmaceutical oral dosage forms are tremendously preferred by both consumers as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers owing to the plethora of benefits they offer. Lozenges (LZs) are one of the dosage forms that provide a palatable means of drug administration and have great importance with respect to their pharmaceutical applications. LZs offer additional benefits to pediatric and geriatric patients, along with people having problems associated with the gastro-intestinal tract. Dysphagia is a common problem faced by all age groups, which gives rise to the need for LZs. Moreover, the foremost merit presented by the medicated LZs includes its augmented retention time in the oral cavity that results in an enhanced bioavailability for buccal or upper gastro-intestinal disorders. Further, LZs can also be used to bypass the first-pass effect. The present review covers various aspects of LZs such as formulation, manufacturing techniques, evaluation parameters, marketed products, patents, and a compilation of research work that has been done on lozenges as a delivery system.

Aim: For procuring the stable form of drug delivery, tremendous efforts have been made in developing new drug delivery vectors. One such approach that meets the desired stability standards is Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles (LCNs).Background: The liquid crystals are the intermediate forms of solid and liquid materials, which hold high tolerance to bear the influences of physical parameters. The liquid crystals are employed in nanotechnology to find the best way to produce the intended action of customized targeting drug delivery. The structural alignment is another critical aspect to consider, as these can accommodate wholesome drug amounts.Methods: From the studies, it has been evident that distinct characteristics like the simplicity in structure, self-assembling properties, feasibility of production and efficacy in delivery with low toxic values have addressed the excellency of LCNs.Conclusion: The current review focuses on key areas regarding the nature of liquid crystals, diverse forms, technologies used to transform them into the desired nanoparticles, and their applications as drug delivery carriers as well as theranostic agents.

Metal nanoparticular synthesis techniques essentially involve a reduction of metal ions to convert them into nanoparticles. Reducing agents originate from natural and synthetic sources. Chemical methods involve the application of synthetic agents that are not healthy and eco-friendly and thus, there is a need for green methods. Green synthesis methods involve the reduction of metal ions using plant-based extracts or phytoconstituents and microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and fungi. These methods have been found to be cost-effective, more efficient and eliminate the application of hazardous chemicals. The phytoconstituents involved in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles are rich in polyols and antioxidants, which in addition to reducing properties, also offer stabilization of formed nanoparticles. Moreover, the size of nanoparticles can also be controlled based on the mechanism of reducing agent involved therein. The present review is an attempt to highlight the methods of synthesis of metallic nanoparticles with a special mention of applications of various natural antioxidants in their synthesis.