Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Comprehensive Toxicological Evaluation of Nanoparticles in Food on Organic/Inorganic Nanostructure Frame Work

Basanta Kumar Panigrahi — 2026-01-28

Food science has seen a revolution because of nanotechnology, which uses materials at the nanoscale to improve quality, safety, and usefulness. With sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nm, nanoparticles (NPs) have special physical and chemical characteristics that set them apart from their bulk counterparts. These substances are used in packaging for antibacterial and preservation reasons, as well as in food systems to enhance texture, stability, colour, and nutrition delivery. However, there are serious safety and toxicological issues, frame work and risk Factors with the increasing use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in food and feed items. Both inorganic (like silver, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and zinc oxide) and organic (like lipid, protein, and carbohydrate- based nanoparticles) food-related nanoparticles are classified in this review, along with their fate and possible toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Organic nanoparticles are often less harmful because of enzymatic breakdown, whereas inorganic nanoparticles have demonstrated variable levels of accumulation and organ toxicity based on size, solubility, and reactivity. Limited and contradictory toxicological data highlight the urgent need for thorough long-term studies on nanoparticle exposure through diet, medicines, despite promised functional improvements. The fast-developing nano-enabled food technology and feed, it is crucial to comprehend the risk factors, the nanoparticles interact with biological systems in order to create appropriate regulatory frameworks and guarantee consumer safety.

Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Wound Infections: Insights from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Zaid A. Thawaba — 2026-02-05

Background: Wound infections are a common cause of morbidity in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among wound pathogens complicates empirical treatment and highlights the need for localised surveillance. Stratified analyses by sex, age, and clinical setting are crucial for optimising antimicrobial stewardship and informing clinical decision-making.

Aim: The present study investigated the spectrum of bacterial pathogens isolated from wound swabs and their antimicrobial resistance profiles in a large cohort of patients. The study further explored resistance patterns stratified by sex, age group, and patient setting (inpatient vs outpatient) to identify clinically relevant trends and support rational antibiotic use in wound management.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study analysing 2,577 wound swab cultures collected from January 2022 to December 2023. Bacterial isolates were identified and classified as Gram-positive or Gram-negative. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using standard disc diffusion methods. Resistance patterns were compared across sex, age groups (<12, 12–40, 41–60, >60 years), and patient settings (inpatient vs outpatient) using chi-square tests with a significance threshold of p < 0.05.

Results: Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 52.5% of isolates, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most prevalent (42.1%). Gram-negative isolates included E. coli (17.0%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.8%). Resistance rates were significantly higher in male patients for several antibiotics, including oxacillin, amoxicillin, and cefotaxime (p < 0.05). Age-stratified analysis revealed increased resistance to ciprofloxacin and clindamycin among older age groups. Inpatients demonstrated significantly higher resistance to key antibiotics such as ceftriaxone (78.9% vs 61.2%), gentamicin (52.2% vs 22.2%), and meropenem (33.1% vs 20.7%) compared to outpatients (p < 0.00).

Conclusions: High rates of AMR in wound infections—especially among inpatients, males, and older adults—highlight the need for stratified local surveillance to guide empiric therapy. These findings support the integration of culture-guided treatment, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection prevention measures to curb resistance and improve wound care outcomes.

Bacterial Etiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Urinary Tract Infections in Sana’a, Yemen

Ali A. Al-Mehdar — 2026-02-06

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide, significantly impacting morbidity and contributing to antibiotic misuse.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the bacterial etiologies and antimicrobial resistance patterns of UTIs in Sana'a, Yemen, to inform effective empirical treatment strategies.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using microbiological test records from four major medical laboratories and two tertiary hospitals in Sana'a between January 2022 and December 2023.A total of 3,829 urine samples from individuals with suspected UTIs were evaluated. Standard microbiological techniques were used to identify bacterial isolates, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method in accordance with CLSI standards.

Results: Among the 3,829 samples analyzed, 72.2% of the isolates were identified as Gram-negative. The most prevalent uropathogen was Escherichia coli, accounting for 65.7%, followed by Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. High resistance rates were observed to commonly used antibiotics, including amoxicillin (94.1%), ampicillin (85.9%), and ceftazidime (79.6%). Notably, resistance to carbapenems such as imipenem (11.8%) and meropenem (16.6%) remained relatively low. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was prevalent among both Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of E. coli and significant levels of antimicrobial resistance underscore the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship and updated local treatment guidelines. Stratified analysis revealed higher resistance in hospital-acquired infections, emphasizing the need for setting-specific guidelines. Methodological differences and the inclusion of potential duplicate isolates may have influenced resistance estimates. These findings underscore the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship, carbapenem-sparing protocols, and national surveillance. Future studies should incorporate clinical outcomes and expand to other regions to inform national policy. Regular surveillance of uropathogens and their resistance profiles is crucial to combatting the rising trend of antibiotic resistance in Yemen.

Development and Validation of an ADR Awareness and Reporting Questionnaire for Pharmacovigilance in India

Athira P K — 2026-02-06

Introduction: Under-reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remains a major challenge in pharmacovigilance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India. Accurate assessment of knowledge, awareness, and reporting practices among healthcare students and professionals requires valid and reliable measurement tools.

Methods: A 25-item questionnaire was constructed based on pharmacovigilance guidelines, literature review, and expert input. Validation followed a multi-step process:

Face validity: evaluated by 9 educational experts using a 4-point clarity scale; Item-level and Scale-level Face Validity Indices (FVI) were calculated.
Content validity: assessed by the same expert panel using Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and overall Content Validity Index (CVI).
Construct validity: examined through Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett’s test of sphericity.
Reliability: determined via Cronbach’s alpha in a pilot sample (n=10).
Pilot testing: conducted with 10 representative participants to assess feasibility, completion time, and acceptability.

Results: Face validity was excellent (average FVI = 0.9511; all items ≥ 0.78). Content validity was strong (21 items CVR = 1.00, 3 items CVR = 0.78; overall CVI = 0.9736), supporting retention of all 25 items. Sampling adequacy for factor analysis was meritorious (KMO = 0.812) with highly significant sphericity (Bartlett’s χ² = 2845.67, p < 0.001). Internal consistency was moderate (Cronbach’s α = 0.6849), acceptable for exploratory research. Pilot testing confirmed feasibility (completion time 10–15 minutes) with high participant-reported clarity and relevance; no major revisions were required.

Discussion: The developed 25-item questionnaire demonstrates excellent face and content validity, strong preliminary construct validity indicators, and acceptable reliability for early-stage pharmacovigilance research. It is a feasible, clear, and theoretically sound instrument suitable for assessing ADR awareness and reporting practices among healthcare students and professionals in India and similar settings. Further validation in larger samples and confirmatory factor analysis is recommended to strengthen psychometric properties.

Rheological Behavior of Pharmaceutical-grade Cellulose Ethers and Its Impact on Excipient Selection in Drug Formulations

Chinna Reddy Palem — 2026-02-09

Background & Scope: Pharmaceutical-grade cellulose ethers, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), are widely used as excipients due to their effects on viscosity, mechanical strength, hydration behavior, and drug release performance. In formulation development, excipient selection is commonly based on nominal viscosity grades; however, steady shear viscosity alone does not adequately describe the time dependent and deformation sensitive behavior that governs critical quality attributes and in-process performance.

Methodology: A comprehensive rheological evaluation of multiple HPMC and HPC grades obtained from different manufacturers was performed by preparing different concentrations of polymeric dispersions using steady shear and oscillatory rheometry. Flow sweep, amplitude sweeps, and frequency sweep analysis were conducted to characterize viscosity, viscoelastic behavior, and structural response under varying deformation conditions.

Results & Discussion: All cellulose ether samples exhibited non-Newtonian, shear thinning behavior. Distinct differences in viscoelastic properties were observed between polymer types and grades. HPMC demonstrated molecular weight and concentration dependent transitions toward elastic dominated, gel like behavior, while HPC remained predominantly viscous dominated under comparable experimental conditions. The observed differences in rheological behavior highlight the limitations of relying solely on nominal viscosity grades for excipient selection. Advanced rheological parameters, particularly viscoelastic characteristics, provide deeper insight into polymer structure property relationships and their impact on formulation performance.

Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of comprehensive rheological profiling beyond steady shear viscosity to support rational excipient selection and the design of robust pharmaceutical formulations involving cellulose ether polymers.