Throat spray formulated with virucidal Pharmaceutical excipients as an effective early prophylactic or treatment strategy against pharyngitis post-exposure to SARS CoV-2

Amira A Boseila; Ahmed Z Ghareeb; Miral G AbdElwahab; Mohamed G Seadawy; Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy; Nashwa W Yassa; Doaa A Ghareeb

doi:10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114279

Throat spray formulated with virucidal Pharmaceutical excipients as an effective early prophylactic or treatment strategy against pharyngitis post-exposure to SARS CoV-2

Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2024 Apr 6:114279. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114279. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Amira A Boseila¹, Ahmed Z Ghareeb², Miral G AbdElwahab³, Mohamed G Seadawy⁴, Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy⁵, Nashwa W Yassa⁶, Doaa A Ghareeb⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutics, Egyptian Drug Authority Formerly Known as National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR), Giza, Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Kantara branch, Sinai 41636, Egypt. Electronic address: amira.hamada@su.edu.eg.
² Center of Excellence for Drug Preclinical Studies (CE-DPS), Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industry Development Center, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab, Alexandria, Egypt.
³ Center of Excellence for Drug Preclinical Studies (CE-DPS), Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industry Development Center, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab, Alexandria, Egypt; Faculty of Technological Industry and Energy, Thebes Technological University, Thebes, Luxor 85863, Egypt.
⁴ Chemical Warfare Department, MCL Almaza, Cairo, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta 34518, Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza 12566, Egypt. Electronic address: akarmalawy@horus.edu.eg.
⁶ Bio‑Screening and Preclinical Trial Lab, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21511, Egypt.
⁷ Center of Excellence for Drug Preclinical Studies (CE-DPS), Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industry Development Center, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab, Alexandria, Egypt; Bio‑Screening and Preclinical Trial Lab, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21511, Egypt; Faculty of Technological Industry and Energy, Thebes Technological University, Thebes, Luxor 85863, Egypt. Electronic address: ghareeb@alexu.edu.eg.

PMID: 38588829
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114279

Abstract

Our study aimed to develop a virucidal throat spray using bioactive compounds and excipients, focusing on the preparation of Curcumin (CUR) in a self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS). Two molecular docking studies against SARS-CoV-2 targets guided the selection of proper oil, surfactant, co-surfactant, and natural bioactive that would maximize the antiviral activity of the throat spray. Two self-nanoemulsifying formulas that were diluted with different vehicles to prepare eight CUR-loaded SNESNS (self-nanoemulsifying self-nanosuspension) formulas. In vitro characterization studies and in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect revealed that the optimal formula, consisted of 20 % Anise oil, 70 % Tween 80, 10 % PEG 400, and 0.1 %w/w CUR, diluted with DEAE-Dx. Preclinical toxicity tests on male rats confirmed the safety of a mild throat spray dose (5 µg/mL CUR). In a rat model of acute pharyngitis induced by ammonia, post-treatment with the optimal formula of CUR loaded SNESNS for one week significantly reduced elevated proinflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL6, MCP1, and IL8). In conclusion, our CUR-loaded SNESNS formula, at 5 µg/mL concentration, shows promising effect as a prophylactic throat spray against SARS-CoV-2 and as a treatment for pharyngitis.

Keywords: Anise oil; Anti-SARS-CoV-2; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidants; Curcumin; Self-nanoemulsifying self-nanosuspension; Throat spray.