Remigius Agu

By Utkarshini Anand, Tiam Feridooni and Remigius U. Agu

Part of the book: Recent Advances in Novel Drug Carrier Systems

By Tiam Feridooni, Adam Hotchkiss and Remigius U. Agu

It is well established that proteins have great physiological importance, thus possessing great potential for therapeutic use. There is increased interest in protein/peptide pharmaceuticals delivery due to recent improvements in analytical methods, advancements in molecular biology and genetic engineering, and a better understanding of regulatory roles of proteins and peptides. There are however major challenges that need to be overcome for systemic delivery of these biological molecules. The major hurdles that contribute to low biological activity are low stability, immunogenicity, and toxicity. A combination of strategies can be used to overcome these challenges and improve the bioavailability of protein drugs. Alternative delivery routes (e.g., nasal and pulmonary) and the development of new methods for overcoming delivery challenges (e.g., nanomedicine, and PEGylation), along with the development of innovative formulation strategies (e.g., spray-freeze drying, supercritical fluid methods, fluidized-bed spray coating, lyophilization, jet milling and spray drying), have resulted in improved pharmacokinetics of protein drugs and in some cases increased patient compliance.

Part of the book: Smart Drug Delivery System

By Arezou Teimouri, Pollen Yeung and Remigius Agu

Due to ethical concerns regarding animal testing, alternative methods have been in development to test the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical products and medications, specifically topical (dermatological) medications. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) skin cell cultures are examples of in vitro methods used as an alternative to animal testing. The first skin cells cultured were keratinocytes, a type of cell predominantly in the epidermal layer of the skin. However, with differences in skin characteristics and pathophysiology of different skin conditions, various skin cell cultures and models to better mimic these differences have been developed. These cell cultures include not only keratinocytes but also other skin cell types, such as fibroblasts, which are predominantly in the dermal layer of the skin, and certain immune cells and even melanocytes. To have a better understanding of the type of cell cultures used for testing dermatological products, this chapter aims to outline the differences between 2D and 3D skin cell cultures while considering the advantages and disadvantages of each culture. Different types of cell culture models used for wound healing and for inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis will also be discussed.

Part of the book: Cell Culture