Frog nest foams exhibit pharmaceutical foam-like properties

Brozio, S., O'Shaughnessy, E. M., Woods, S., Hall-Barrientos, I., Martin, P. E., Kennedy, M. W. , Lamprou, D. A. and Hoskisson, P. A. (2021) Frog nest foams exhibit pharmaceutical foam-like properties. Royal Society Open Science, 8(9), 210048. (doi: 10.1098/rsos.210048) (PMID:34527266) (PMCID:PMC8424294)

Abstract

Foams have frequently been used as systems for the delivery of cosmetic and therapeutic molecules; however, there is high variability in the foamability and long-term stability of synthetic foams. The development of pharmaceutical foams that exhibit desirable foaming properties, delivering appropriate amounts of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and that have excellent biocompatibility is of great interest. The production of stable foams is rare in the natural world; however, certain species of frogs have adopted foam production as a means of providing a protective environment for their eggs and larvae from predators and parasites, to prevent desiccation, to control gaseous exchange, to buffer temperature extremes, and to reduce UV damage. These foams show great stability (up to 10 days in tropical environments) and are highly biocompatible due to the sensitive nature of amphibian skin. This work demonstrates for the first time that nests of the túngara frog (Engystomops pustulosus) are stable ex situ with useful physiochemical and biocompatible properties and are capable of encapsulating a range of compounds, including antibiotics. These protein foam mixtures share some properties with pharmaceutical foams and may find utility in a range of pharmaceutical applications such as topical drug delivery systems.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, foam, frog, drug delivery, drug release, antibiotics.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kennedy, Professor Malcolm
• Authors: Brozio, S., O'Shaughnessy, E. M., Woods, S., Hall-Barrientos, I., Martin, P. E., Kennedy, M. W., Lamprou, D. A., and Hoskisson, P. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Royal Society Open Science
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• ISSN: 2054-5703
• ISSN (Online): 2054-5703
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Royal Society Open Science 8(9):210048
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence