{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T02:29:18Z","timestamp":1786674558669,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,8]],"date-time":"2022-03-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1646697600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Isra University","award":["(grant 50\/3-2018\/2019) and (grant 12-14\/2020\/2021)."],"award-info":[{"award-number":["(grant 50\/3-2018\/2019) and (grant 12-14\/2020\/2021)."]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Thymoquinone (TQ), the main active constituent of Nigella sativa, has demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, which suggest its potential use in secondary infections caused by COVID-19. However, clinical deployment has been hindered due to its limited aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. Therefore, a targeted delivery system to the lungs using nanotechnology is needed to overcome limitations encountered with TQ. In this project, a novel TQ-loaded poly(ester amide) based on L-arginine nanoparticles was prepared using the interfacial polycondensation method for a dry powder inhaler targeting delivery of TQ to the lungs. The nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR and NMR to confirm the structure. Transmission electron microscopy and Zetasizer results confirmed the particle diameter of 52 nm. The high-dose formulation showed the entrapment efficiency and loading capacity values of TQ to be 99.77% and 35.56%, respectively. An XRD study proved that TQ did not change its crystallinity, which was further confirmed by the DSC study. Optimized nanoparticles were evaluated for their in vitro aerodynamic performance, which demonstrated an effective delivery of 22.7\u201323.7% of the nominal dose into the lower parts of the lungs. The high drug-targeting potential and efficiency demonstrates the significant role of the TQ nanoparticles for potential application in COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym14061082","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,9]],"date-time":"2022-03-09T01:53:54Z","timestamp":1646790834000},"page":"1082","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["Novel Thymoquinone Nanoparticles Using Poly(ester amide) Based on L-Arginine-Targeting Pulmonary Drug Delivery"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9815-3720","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eman Zmaily","family":"Dahmash","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman 11622, Jordan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9680-0026","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dalia Khalil","family":"Ali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Isra University, Amman 11622, Jordan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3513-4976","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hamad S.","family":"Alyami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 55461, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hussien","family":"AbdulKarim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman 11622, Jordan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2731-1071","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammad H.","family":"Alyami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 55461, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5947-986X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alhassan H.","family":"Aodah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center of Biotechnology, Life Science & Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e01730","DOI":"10.1002\/brb3.1730","article-title":"Mental Health Status of the General Population, Healthcare Professionals, and University Students during 2019 Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study","volume":"10","author":"Naser","year":"2020","journal-title":"Brain Behav."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e14244","DOI":"10.1111\/ijcp.14244","article-title":"Depression and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study","volume":"75","author":"Alyami","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. 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