Dr. Gitika Dhingra
@ncrdsip.com
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics
NCRD's Sterling Institute of Pharmacy, Navi Mumbai
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Cosmeceuticals
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Malkiet Kaur, Manju Nagpal, Gitika Arora Dhingra, and Ankit Rathee
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract Chitin, the most prevalent polymer in nature, a significant structural polysaccharide that comes in second only to cellulose. Chitin is a crucial component of fungal cell walls and also present in many other creatures, such as viruses, plants, animals, insect exoskeletons, and crustacean shells. Chitin presents itself as a promising target for the development of biopesticides. It focuses on unraveling the unique structures and biochemical pathways associated with chitin, aiming to identify vulnerabilities that can be strategically leveraged for effective and environmentally sustainable pest control. It involves a comprehensive analysis of chitinase enzymes, chitin biosynthesis, and chitin-related processes across diverse organisms. By elucidating the molecular intricacies involved in chitin metabolism, this review seeks to unveil potential points of intervention that can disrupt essential biological processes in target pests without harming non-target species. This holistic approach to understanding chitin-related pathways aims to inform the design and optimization of biopesticides with enhanced specificity and reduced ecological impact. The outcomes of this study hold great promise for advancing innovative and eco-friendly pest management strategies. By targeting chitin structures and pathways, biopesticides developed based on these findings may offer a sustainable and selective alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, contributing to the ongoing efforts towards more environmentally conscious and effective pest control solutions.
Manju Nagpal, Mehak Jindal, Malkiet Kaur, Manjinder Singh, Geeta Aggarwal, and Gitika Arora Dhingra
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Abstract: Skin cancer is a life-threatening disease and has caused significant loss to human health across the globe. Its prevalence has been increasing every year and is one of the common malignancies in the case of organ transplant recipients, of which 95% constitute basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. The prime factor causing skin cancer is UV radiation. Around the 20th century, sunlight was the primary cause of skin cancer. A novel hypothesis by US scientists stated that cutaneous melanoma was mainly due to recurrent exposure to the sun, whereas keratinocyte cancer occurred due to progressive accumulation of sun exposure. Management of skin cancer is done via various approaches, including cryotherapy, radiotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. Post-discovery of X-rays, radiotherapy has proven to treat skin cancers to some extent, but the indications are uncertain since it depends upon the type of tumour and surgical treatment required for the patient. Due to various limitations of skin cancer treatment and increased severity, there is a requirement for cost-effective, novel, and efficient treatment. Various nanocarriers such as SLNs, magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, etc., are the potential carriers in the management and prognosis of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer. Various research and review databases and patent reports have been studied, and information compiled to extract the results. The review also discusses the role of various nanocarriers in treating and diagnosing skin cancer.
Vivek Puri, Manju Nagpal, Inderbir Singh, Manjinder Singh, Gitika Arora Dhingra, Kampanart Huanbutta, Divya Dheer, Ameya Sharma, and Tanikan Sangnim
MDPI AG
Nutraceuticals are the nourishing components (hybrid of nutrition and pharmaceuticals) that are biologically active and possess capability for maintaining optimal health and benefits. These products play a significant role in human health care and its endurance, most importantly for the future therapeutic development. Nutraceuticals have received recognition due to their nutritional benefits along with therapeutic effects and safety profile. Nutraceuticals are globally growing in the field of services such as health care promotion, disease reduction, etc. Various drug nutraceutical interactions have also been elaborated with various examples in this review. Several patents on nutraceuticals in agricultural applications and in various diseases have been stated in the last section of review, which confirms the exponential growth of nutraceuticals’ market value. Nutraceuticals have been used not only for nutrition but also as a support therapy for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as to reduce side effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Diverse novel nanoformulation approaches tend to overcome challenges involved in formulation development of nutraceuticals. Prior information on various interactions with drugs may help in preventing any deleterious effects of nutraceuticals products. Nanotechnology also leads to the generation of micronized dietary products and other nutraceutical supplements with improved health benefits. In this review article, the latest key findings (clinical studies) on nutraceuticals that show the therapeutic action of nutraceutical’s bioactive molecules on various diseases have also been discussed.
H. Bakshi, M. Nagpal, Manjinder Singh, G. Dhingra and G. Aggarwal
BACKGROUND
Piperine is a key bioactive alkaloid found in plants of piperaceae family. The compound possesses various medicinal and pharmacological activities (cholesterol lowering, anti cancer, alzheimer's disease etc). Owing to its various target receptors (TRPV1, P-gp, CYP3A4 etc.) and several mechanisms, piperine has been studied as bio-enhancer for other drugs and its role has been evidenced in literature. When administered with other drugs, it increases absorption of other drugs thereby reducing the dose and dose related toxic potential. There are various mechanisms of piperine as a bio-enhancer and the common ones are i) prevention of efflux of drug molecules out of the cells; ii) decreased metabolism of drugs thereby prolonging half-life of drugs resulting in reduced urinary excretion. The detailed mechanism indicating bio-enhancing role of piperine along with various target receptors have not been comprehensively summarised till date.
METHODS
Literature related to the molecular, enzymatic and receptor targets of piperine were studied and database was collected using various search engines such as j-gate, google scholar, scihub, pubmed, sciencedirect etc. The literature related to therapeutic activities of piperine and its bio-enhancer role for other drugs has been thoroughly studied and compiled in brief.
RESULTS
A detailed summary of piperine targets along with related mechanisms has been stated. A brief therapeutic profile of piperine alone has been produced with supporting literature. Piperine role as a potential bio-enhancer for other drugs has been summarized.
CONCLUSION
Piperine is fascinating molecule of natural origin with several modes of its action, not only possess its own therapeutic activity but also enhances the therapeutic efficacy of other synthetic and natural drug molecules. Combination dosage forms of various API incorporating piperine as a bio-enhancer can be potential area of thrust for upcoming drug design and development.
Ashish Katoch, M. Nagpal, Malkiet Kaur, Manjinder Singh, G. Aggarwal and G. Dhingra
Controlled oral dosage forms have always been preferred for drugs with
variable absorption, and short biological half life and frequent dosing. The prime goal with sustained
release systems is to maintain uniform therapeutic blood levels for more extended periods of
time. Interpenetrating networks (IPNs) have been evidenced as uniform sustained release systems.
In the current study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and locust bean gum (LBG) based IPNs were developed
for the oral sustained release drug delivery of gliclazide (shows variable absorption).
The IPNs were synthesized by emulsion cross-linking method using glutaraldehyde (GA)
as a cross linking agent. Gliclazide is a potential second generation, and short-acting sulfonylurea
oral hypoglycemic agent having a short biological half-life (2-4 h), variable absorption and poor
oral bioavailability. Various batches of IPNs were formulated by varying LBG: PVA ratio and
evaluated for percentage yield, drug entrapment efficiency (DEE), swelling properties and in vitro
drug release studies. Further characterizations were done by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
(FTIR), C13 Solid state NMR, X-Ray diffraction study (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and Differential scanning microscopy (DSC) studies.
The percentage yield, drug entrapment and equilibrium swelling were observed to be dependent
on PVA-LBG ratio and GA amount. Sustained release of drug was observed in all IPN
formulations (approx 59 - 86% in 8 h in various batches) with variable release kinetics. SEM studies
revealed the regular structures of IPNs. FTIR, XRD, C13 Solid state NMR and DSC studies
proposed that drug was successfully incorporated into the formed IPNs.
IPNs of LBG and PVA can be used as a promising carrier with uniform sustained release
characteristics.
Tanya Lugani, M. Nagpal, D. S. Malik, Ameya Sharma, V. Puri and G. Dhingra
Acne is a chronic disease associated with the pilosebaceous unit and is affected by Propionibacterium
acnes bacteria. Approximately 95% of people worldwide suffer from acne in their life span
with a higher prevalence among teenagers (esp. boys). Conventional strategies incorporating antibiotics,
steroids, hormones, etc. are recommended orally, systemically, or topically, employed for the treatment
of acne but with various side effects (itching, scaling, redness, etc.) and are no more commercially accepted.
The literature has been collected using various search engines google scholar, PubMed, science
direct, etc. The review highlights the history of acne, its pathophysiology, developmental factors, various
treatment evolutions strategies ranging from conventional to novel approach eradicating the secondary
effects with enhanced efficacy and safety profile. We discussed various nanotechnological carriers
(liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, microsponges and other
nanoscale formulations), which are formulated in the last decade for the effective treatment of acne. Patent
literature and marketed formulations are included in the last sections. The encapsulation efficiency
of anti-acne drugs in different nanocarriers improves the efficacy as well as minimizes the side effects
of the drug. These carriers showed better bioavailability as well as better penetration effects even to the
pilosebaceous unit of the skin. Tolerance can be improved by increasing the concentration of anti-acne
drugs in the nano-carrier formulation. Conventional treatment strategies for acne had some limitations
like scaling, itching, and inflammation which can be overcome by nano-formulations, which exhibit better
efficacy. At present, various nano-technological carriers are being used potentially for the treatment
of acne. These nano-formulations are also associated with some limitations like drug entrapment, stability
issues, but these will be overcome in the upcoming years as long as the research is being continued
in this area.
Geeta Aggarwal, Manju Nagpal, Ameya Sharma, Vivek Puri, and Gitika Arora Dhingra
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Background: Biopharmaceuticals such as biological, medicinal products have been in clinical use over the past three decades and have benefited the therapy of degenerative and critical metabolic diseases. It is forecasted that the market of biologics will be going to increase at a rate of ˃ 20% per year, and by 2025, more than 50% of new drug approvals might be biological products. The increasing utilization of the biologics necessitates cost control, especially for innovator products that have a lengthy period of exclusive usage. As the first wave of biopharmaceuticals is expired or set to expire, it has led to various opportunities for the expansion of bio-similars i.e. copied versions of original biologics with same the biological activity. Development of biosimilars is expected to promote market competition, meet worldwide demand, sustain the healthcare systems and maintain the incentives for innovation. Methods: Appraisal of published articles from peer-reviewed journals, PubMed literature, latest news and guidelines from European Medicine Agency, US Food Drug Administration (FDA) and India were used to identify data for review. Results: Main insights into the quality requirements concerning biologics, the current status of regulation of bio-similars and upcoming challenges lying for the upgrading of the marketing authorization of biosimilars have been incorporated. Compiled literature on the therapeutic status, regulatory guidelines and the emerging trends and opportunities of biosimilars has been thoroughly stated. Conclusion: Updates on biosimilars will support to investigate the possible impact of bio-similars on the healthcare market.
Malkiet Kaur, Manju Nagpal, Manjinder Singh, Thakur Gurjeet Singh, Geeta Aggarwal, and Gitika Arora Dhingra
Maad Rayan Publishing Company
Introduction: Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) is a volatile oil, obtained from Cinnamomum zeylanicum has become one of the most important natural oil due to its antimicrobial activity. CEO suffers from various limitations such as instability and skin irritation. This problem has been overcome by formulating CEO-loaded nanosponges incorporated in carbopol gel with increased antimicrobial property and reduced skin irritation. Methods: The nanosponges were fabricated by solvent emulsion diffusion method and evaluated for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies, particle size, field emission scanning electron microscopy studies (FE-SEM), in vitro dissolution studies, in vitro antibacterial studies, using agar diffusion method, in vivo antibacterial activity and skin irritation studies and stability studies. Results: Nanosponge NS1 batch was found to be in the nanosize range. FTIR studies confirmed the absence of drug-polymer interaction. NS1 confirmed a porous structure with a uniform spherical shape using FE-SEM studies. In vitro dissolution studies of optimized NS1 revealed 80% drug release in 5 h whereas, incorporating the formulation into carbopol gel showed 100% release in 5h from G1 formulation. In vitro antibacterial study of the nanosponge (NS1 and NS3) showed remarkable antibacterial activity as seen from the zone of inhibition and gel formulation G1 also showed the highest zone of inhibition with 50±1.2 mm. NS1 and G1 were stable for 2 months under accelerated conditions and 3 months under room temperature conditions. Furthermore, the in vivo and skin irritation studies were performed with selected formulation against Staphylococcus aureus , where the results confirmed the significant antimicrobial activity with no skin irritation. Conclusion: Nanosponge carriers can be more therapeutically effective for essential oils which can further be incorporated into topical gels for convenient application.
GAYATRI DEVI, MALKIET KAUR, MANJU NAGPAL, AMEYA SHARMA, VIVEK PURI PURI, GITIKA ARORA DHINGRA, and MINAXI ARORA
Asian Journal of Chemistry
Gums are naturally occurring segments in plants, which are cheap and abundant. Natural gums and their derivatives are widely used in a pharmaceutical dosage form. These natural materials possess several advantages over synthetic ones being chemically inert, non-toxic, low cost and biodegradable. However, quick degradation in the body, poor mechanical properties and low solubility are few disadvantages. To overcome these disadvantages, natural gums are modified by applying different chemical modification procedures. The modification of gums is done via various methods such as changing functional groups of gum, cross-linking with ions, grafting with polymers, sulfation, phosphorylation and thiolation. Modification of gums results in some superior properties which can be used in drug delivery applications. For example, change in crystallinity, improved solubility, stability, and improved mechanical properties are of use in development of modified drug delivery systems. Modified gums help to achieve pH dependent delivery and sustained delivery along with improved release kinetics of the drug. Current review covers various types of modifications in general and research literature on various medications of different gums (locust bean gum, cashew gum, moringa gum, xanthan gum, etc.). The modified natural gums and their derivatives can be the prospective carriers in the controlled drug delivery of drugs.
MANJINDER SINGH, MANJU NAGPAL, VARINDER SINGH, AMEYA SHARMA, GITIKA ARORA DHINGRA, PARAMJOT MAMAN, and VIVEK PURI
Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a highly contagious virus that originated from China and has become a major threat in the current time. Presently, finding an effective treatment strategy for COVID-19 is in infancy. Worldwide, numerous clinical trials employing different treatment strategies (antiviral drugs and vaccines) are in progress to develop an effective therapeutic regimen against COVID-19. Literature related to the epidemiology, mortality, pathogenicity, treatment strategies and clinical data was studied and database was collected using various search engines such as j-gate, google scholar, scihub, pubmed, sciencedirect etc. The present review systematically summarises the published information about epidemiology, various stages of pandemic, mortality, pathogenicity, modes of transmission, clinical characteristics, methods of prevention, ongoing treatment strategies and drugs under clinical trials associated with COVID-19 with a hope to avoid possible threatening of the lives of millions of human beings and provide directions for future studies.
Malkiet Kaur, Gayatri Devi, Manju Nagpal, Manjinder Singh, Gitika A. Dhingra, and Geeta Aggarwal
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Background: Coronavirus has become a life-threatening disease and it is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This new strain of coronavirus is not completely understood and to date, there is no treatment for coronavirus. Traditional ayurvedic medicines, mainly essential oils and Chinese herbs, have always played a vital role in the prevention and treatment of several epidemics and pandemics. In the meantime, guidelines of the ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homoepathy) include a traditional medicinal treatment for flu and fever and also recommended to boost immunity to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It is not possible to find which essential oil will offer the best level of protection. However, it is likely to assume that some essential oils are likely to offer a measurable level of defense in the same way they do with many other known viruses. Methods: Literature relevant to various essential oils having antiviral activity has been collected and compiled. Various nanocarriers of essential oils have also been stated. The database was collected using various search engines such as J-Gate, Google Scholar, Sci-Hub, PubMed, ScienceDirect, etc. Results: Essential oils contain active constituents such as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenyl propanoids, etc., which are responsible for their biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and many more. However, the use of essential oils has always been limited due to poor solubility, solvent toxicity, volatility and low solubility. Many nanotechnology based carriers especially, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoparticles, nanoemulsion and microemulsion, etc. have been evidenced to overcome limitations associated with essential oils. Conclusion: Several essential oils possess potent antiviral activity and are characterized by fewer side effects and are safe for human use. The nanocarrier systems of these oils have proved the potential to treat viral and bacterial infections. Lay Summary: Current COVID-19 era demands traditional treatment for immunity boost up as support therapy. Traditional ayurvedic medicines, mainly essential oils and Chinese herbs, have always played a vital role in the prevention and treatment of several epidemics and pandemics. Therefore, authors have summarized various essential oils having antiviral activity in current manuscript. Various nanocarriers of essential oils have been reported. Essential oils contain active constituents such as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenyl propanoids, etc., which are responsible for their biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity. However, the use of essential oils has always been limited due to poor solubility, solvent toxicity, volatility and low solubility. Many nanotechnology based carriers especially, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoparticles, nanoemulsion and microemulsion, etc. have been evidenced to overcome limitations associated with essential oils. The nanocarrier systems of these oils have proved the potential to treat viral and bacterial infections.
Mehak Jindal, Manju Nagpal, Manjinder Singh, Geeta Aggarwal, and Gitika Arora Dhingra
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Background: Cancer is the world’s second-largest cause of death, with an estimated 9.6 million fatalities in 2018. Malignant tumour (cancer) is caused by a mixture of genetic modifications due to the environmental variables that tend to activate or inactivate different genes, ultimately resulting in neoplastic transformations. Cancer is a multi-stage process that results from the conversion of the ordinary cells to tumour cells and progresses from a pre-cancer lesion to abnormal growth. Methods: Chemotherapy inhibits the ability of the cells to divide rapidly in an abnormal manner, but this treatment simultaneously affects the entire cellular network in the human body leading to cytotoxic effects. In this review article, the same issue has been addressed by discussing various aspects of the newer class of drugs in cancer therapeutics, i.e., Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) from metal nanoparticle (NP) class. Results: Metal NPs are advantageous over conventional chemotherapy as the adverse drug reactions are lesser. Additionally, ease of drug delivery, targeting and gene silencing are salient features of this treatment. Functionalized ligand-targeting metal NPs provide better energy deposition control in tumour. AuNPs are promising agents in the field of cancer treatment and are comprehensively studied as contrast agents, carriers of medicinal products, radiosensitizers and photothermal agents. For the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents, AuNPs are used and also tend to enhance tumour imaging in vivo for a variety of cancer types and diseased organs. Conclusion: The first part of the review focuses on various nano-carriers that are used for cancer therapy and deals with the progression of metal NPs in cancer therapy. The second part emphasizes the use of nanotechnology by considering the latest studies for diagnostic and therapeutic properties of AuNPs. AuNPs present the latest studies in the field of nanotechnology, which leads to the development of early-stage clinical trials. The next part of the review discusses the major features of five principal types of AuNPs: gold nanorods, gold nanoshells, gold nanospheres, gold nanocages, and gold nanostars that have their application in photothermal therapy (PTT).
Harman Bakshi, Manju Nagpal, Manjinder Singh, Gitika Arora Dhingra, and Geeta Aggarwal
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Background: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that ingeminates itself with the repeated proliferation of keratinocytes. It globally strikes a 2-5 % population on an average. Management of psoriasis remains a daunting task with various challenges influencing treatment, such as patient conformity and adherence to therapy, delicate patient profiles, psychological aspects, and skin as a barrier to topical delivery. The first part reviewed pathophysiology, triggering factors, and clinical classification. The second part reviewed all the therapies, such as topical, oral, biological, parenteral therapy, phototherapy, and the phyto-pharmaceuticals. Methods: The research data related to the existing and upcoming therapies for psoriasis treatment, several nanocarriers, existing marketed formulations, and detailed description of phytopharmaceuticals with their mechanism. Results: Topical therapy is the mainstay treatment option with limited adverse effects. Biological therapy has reformed conventional psoriasis treatment by being more efficacious and has increased patient acceptance due to decreased adverse events. Nanoformulations present an edge over conventional therapy due to improved anti-psoriatic effect and decreased side effects. Phyto-pharmaceuticals act as a complementary and alternative therapy for diminishing psoriasis symptoms. Conclusion: A rationalized cost-effective patient compliant therapy is required for effective management and complete cure of psoriasis.
Gitika A. Dhingra, Malkiet Kaur, Manjinder Singh, Geeta Aggarwal, and Manju Nagpal
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Any kind of injury may lead to wound formation. As per World Health Organization Report, “more than 5 million people die each year due to injuries. This accounts for 9% of the world’s population death, nearly 1.7 times the number of fatalities that result from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. In addition, ten million people suffer from non-fatal injuries which require treatment”. This scenario leads to increased health and economic burden worldwide. Rapid wound healing is exigent subject-field in the health care system. It is imperative to be updated on wound care strategies as impaired wound healing may lead to chronic, non-healing wounds and thus further contributes to the national burden. This article is a comprehensive review of wound care strategies. The first and second part of this review article focuses on the understanding of wound, its types and human body’s healing mechanism. Wound healing is natural, highly coordinated process that starts on its own, immediately after the injury. However, individual health condition influences the healing process. Discussion of factors affecting wound healing has also been included. Next part includes the detailed review of diverse wound healing strategies that have already been developed for different types of wound. A detailed description of various polymers that may be used has been discussed. Amongst drug delivery systems, oligomers, dendrimers, films, gels, different nano-formulations, like nanocomposites, nanofibers, nanoemulsions and nanoparticles are discussed. Emphasis on bandages has been made in this article.
M. Nagpal, D.K. Maheshwari, P. Rakha, H. Dureja, S. Goyal, and G. Dhingra
EManuscript Technologies
The present study was designed to investigate the effects of different variables on the release profile of ibuprofen microspheres formulated using modified emulsification method. Eight batches of microspheres (F1-F8) were prepared by applying 2 3 factorial design. The amount of sodium alginate, amount of calcium chloride, and amount of magnesium stearate were selected as formulation variables. All the batches were evaluated in terms of percentage yield, percentage encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release characteristics. The batch F7 was found to be optimum batch and was further characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size analysis. Multiple linear regression was applied to confirm significant effect of each variable on release characteristics. The model developed in the present study can be effectively utilized to achieve the formulation with desired release characteristics.