in vaginal drug delivery system. Polymeric films composed of aminated fenugreek
gum and glycerol, loaded with therapeutic agent nystatin were developed for the
treatment of vaginal candidiasis. These bioactive films were able to deliver therapeutic agents in 8 h, however, these films cured vaginal candidiasis in rats which
were evident from histopathological studies (Bassi and Kaur 2015a, b). Enhanced
bioadhesiveness of these films might be due to the interaction between amine
groups of aminated fenugreek gum and negatively charged mucin chains through
hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interaction (Kaur et al. 2013). In another report
Bassi and Kaur (2015a, b) prepared bioengineered films using carboxymethyl
fenugreek gum and glycerol functionalized with nystatin which have delivered
100% drug in 5 h. This drug delivery system is found to be compatible with vaginal
mucosa which was inferred from the in vivo studies. Derivatives of fenugreek gum
(aminated, carboxymethylated) make them as pivotal macromolecule to be explored
in the field of targeted drug delivery by enhancing its bioadhesive and drug delivery
properties (Bassi and Kaur 2015a, b). Smart nanofibrous mats can also be fabricated
using fenugreek-based biopolymer for numerous biomedical applications (Yadav
et al. 2019). Mucoadhesive nature of fenugreek gum can be applied to fabricate
various potent formulations such as nanoparticle/emulsions, vaginal inserts and
hydrogels to treat bacterial vaginosis, vulvo vaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis,
urinary tract infections and aerobic vaginitis.
11.3.5 Aerogels
Aerogel drug delivery system has become the prime area of research in biomedical
and pharmaceutical terrain due to its porous structure and large surface area.
Aerogels composed of plant-based polysaccharide are biocompatible in nature, and
therefore it can be applied as drug carriers. It was shown that aerogel made up of
laccase oxidized fenugreek galactomannan act as a hydrolytic glycosidase agent
when loaded with lysozyme. Developed drug loaded aerogels were capable of
uptaking organic and inorganic solvents 20 times of its own weight. Hydrolytic
activity and clemency of lysozyme was noticed when biomaterial was kept on agar
plate containing M. lysodeikticus cells (Rossi et al. 2016). Chemical composition of
galactomannan plays a vital role in enhancement of overall efficiency of
aerogel-based drug delivery system. This study compared the aerogels obtained by
enzymatic lyophilization of galactomannans of fenugreek, guar and sesbania loaded
with therapeutic agents like lysozyme, nicin and polymyxin B. Fenugreek-based
aerogels expressed better mechanical properties than guar and sesbania. The highest
amount of galactose on the mannose backbone in fenugreek-based galactomannan
which could be the possible reason for the better mechanical strength (Campia et al.
2017). Excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, easy availability, low cost and
particularly high porosity with open pore structure make fenugreek-based galactomannan as a potential candidate to synthesize robust aerogel delivery systems for
biopharmaceutical industries (Fig. 11.2).
390
P. Mishra et al.
gum and glycerol, loaded with therapeutic agent nystatin were developed for the
treatment of vaginal candidiasis. These bioactive films were able to deliver therapeutic agents in 8 h, however, these films cured vaginal candidiasis in rats which
were evident from histopathological studies (Bassi and Kaur 2015a, b). Enhanced
bioadhesiveness of these films might be due to the interaction between amine
groups of aminated fenugreek gum and negatively charged mucin chains through
hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interaction (Kaur et al. 2013). In another report
Bassi and Kaur (2015a, b) prepared bioengineered films using carboxymethyl
fenugreek gum and glycerol functionalized with nystatin which have delivered
100% drug in 5 h. This drug delivery system is found to be compatible with vaginal
mucosa which was inferred from the in vivo studies. Derivatives of fenugreek gum
(aminated, carboxymethylated) make them as pivotal macromolecule to be explored
in the field of targeted drug delivery by enhancing its bioadhesive and drug delivery
properties (Bassi and Kaur 2015a, b). Smart nanofibrous mats can also be fabricated
using fenugreek-based biopolymer for numerous biomedical applications (Yadav
et al. 2019). Mucoadhesive nature of fenugreek gum can be applied to fabricate
various potent formulations such as nanoparticle/emulsions, vaginal inserts and
hydrogels to treat bacterial vaginosis, vulvo vaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis,
urinary tract infections and aerobic vaginitis.
11.3.5 Aerogels
Aerogel drug delivery system has become the prime area of research in biomedical
and pharmaceutical terrain due to its porous structure and large surface area.
Aerogels composed of plant-based polysaccharide are biocompatible in nature, and
therefore it can be applied as drug carriers. It was shown that aerogel made up of
laccase oxidized fenugreek galactomannan act as a hydrolytic glycosidase agent
when loaded with lysozyme. Developed drug loaded aerogels were capable of
uptaking organic and inorganic solvents 20 times of its own weight. Hydrolytic
activity and clemency of lysozyme was noticed when biomaterial was kept on agar
plate containing M. lysodeikticus cells (Rossi et al. 2016). Chemical composition of
galactomannan plays a vital role in enhancement of overall efficiency of
aerogel-based drug delivery system. This study compared the aerogels obtained by
enzymatic lyophilization of galactomannans of fenugreek, guar and sesbania loaded
with therapeutic agents like lysozyme, nicin and polymyxin B. Fenugreek-based
aerogels expressed better mechanical properties than guar and sesbania. The highest
amount of galactose on the mannose backbone in fenugreek-based galactomannan
which could be the possible reason for the better mechanical strength (Campia et al.
2017). Excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, easy availability, low cost and
particularly high porosity with open pore structure make fenugreek-based galactomannan as a potential candidate to synthesize robust aerogel delivery systems for
biopharmaceutical industries (Fig. 11.2).
390
P. Mishra et al.