Drug stabilization in the gastrointestinal tract and potential applications in the colonic delivery of oral zein-based formulations

Background: Mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA) is a drug substance with an antiinflammatory activity, which is mainly used in the symptomatic treatment of diseases, such as Ulcerative Colitis, the Crohn's disease and the idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Mesalazine exerts its effect locally in the inflamed area of the intestine and not through systematic absorption, therefore the investigation of its release characteristics from solid pharmaceutical formulations is of great importance. Objective: The development of novel mesalazine modified release formulations with improved properties, regarding drug release in the gastrointestinal tract, by utilisation of the Design of Experiments (DoE) approach. Methods: D-optimal experimental design was applied. A Simplex Lattice mixture design was used for the development of suitable capsules containing 4 mini tablets and a D-optimal mixture design was used for compression-coated tablets, with the following characteristics: ≤10% release in 2 h, to minimize its degradation in the upper gastrointestinal tract, 20-40% release in 5 h for mesalazine administration in the small intestine, and quantitative release in 12 h for colonic delivery. The dissolution experiments were conducted in gastrointestinal-like fluids and pectinases to simulate the pectinolytic enzymes present in the colon. Results: The optimal compositions were reached via the desirability function, as a compromise to the different responses. The optimal solutions for both formulations led to colon-specific delivery of the active substance with minimal 5-ASA release in the upper gastrointestinal tract and appeared to conform with the pre-determined characteristics. Hard gelatin capsules, when filled with mini-tablets led to the aimed modified release profile, having sigmoidal characteristics and compression coated tablets led to colonic delivery. Conclusion: Two novel mesalazine formulations were developed with the desirable colonic release, by conducting a minimal number of experiments, as suggested by DoE experimental design.

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Application of Bacteriophages to Limit Campylobacter in Poultry Production

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.458721 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Elena G. Olson ◽

Andrew C. Micciche ◽

Michael J. Rothrock ◽

Yichao Yang ◽

Steven C. Ricke

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Intervention Strategy ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Control Measures ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Free Products ◽

Poultry Products ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Increasing Demand

Campylobacter is a major foodborne pathogen with over a million United States cases a year and is typically acquired through the consumption of poultry products. The common occurrence of Campylobacter as a member of the poultry gastrointestinal tract microbial community remains a challenge for optimizing intervention strategies. Simultaneously, increasing demand for antibiotic-free products has led to the development of several alternative control measures both at the farm and in processing operations. Bacteriophages administered to reduce foodborne pathogens are one of the alternatives that have received renewed interest. Campylobacter phages have been isolated from both conventionally and organically raised poultry. Isolated and cultivated Campylobacter bacteriophages have been used as an intervention in live birds to target colonized Campylobacter in the gastrointestinal tract. Application of Campylobacter phages to poultry carcasses has also been explored as a strategy to reduce Campylobacter levels during poultry processing. This review will focus on the biology and ecology of Campylobacter bacteriophages in poultry production followed by discussion on current and potential applications as an intervention strategy to reduce Campylobacter occurrence in poultry production.

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The Immunomodulatory Properties of β-2,6 Fructans: A Comprehensive Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041309 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1309

Author(s):

Ian D. Young ◽

Dimitrios Latousakis ◽

Nathalie Juge

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Immune Function ◽

Gut Health ◽

Comprehensive Review ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Immunomodulatory Properties

Polysaccharides such as β-2,1-linked fructans including inulin or fructose oligosaccharides are well-known prebiotics with recognised immunomodulatory properties. In recent years, other fructan types covering β-2,6-linked fructans, particularly microbial levans, have gained increasing interest in the field. β-2,6-linked fructans of different degrees of polymerisation can be synthesised by plants or microbes including those that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Accumulating evidence suggests a role for these β-2,6 fructans in modulating immune function. Here, we provide an overview of the sources and structures of β-2,6 fructans from plants and microbes and describe their ability to modulate immune function in vitro and in vivo along with the suggested mechanisms underpinning their immunomodulatory properties. Further, we discuss the limitations and perspectives pertinent to current studies and the potential applications of β-2,6 fructans including in gut health.

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Habitat Association of Klebsiella Species

Infection Control ◽

10.1017/s0195941700062603 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 52-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

Susan T. Bagley

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Industrial Effluents ◽

Opportunistic Pathogen ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Habitat Association ◽

Klebsiella Species ◽

Almost All ◽

Polluted Waters

AbstractThe genus Klebsiella is seemingly ubiquitous in terms of its habitat associations. Klebsiella is a common opportunistic pathogen for humans and other animals, as well as being resident or transient flora (particularly in the gastrointestinal tract). Other habitats include sewage, drinking water, soils, surface waters, industrial effluents, and vegetation. Until recently, almost all these Klebsiella have been identified as one species, ie, K. pneumoniae. However, phenotypic and genotypic studies have shown that “K. pneumoniae” actually consists of at least four species, all with distinct characteristics and habitats. General habitat associations of Klebsiella species are as follows: K. pneumoniae—humans, animals, sewage, and polluted waters and soils; K. oxytoca—frequent association with most habitats; K. terrigena— unpolluted surface waters and soils, drinking water, and vegetation; K. planticola—sewage, polluted surface waters, soils, and vegetation; and K. ozaenae/K. rhinoscleromatis—infrequently detected (primarily with humans).

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An in situ and ex situ TEM study of the formation of thin cobalt silicide films by molecular beam epitaxy on the silicon (100) surface

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010010648x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 884-885

Author(s):

D. Loretto ◽

J. M. Gibson ◽

S. M. Yalisove ◽

R. T. Tung

Keyword(s):

Molecular Beam Epitaxy ◽

Molecular Beam ◽

Defect Density ◽

High Vacuum ◽

Ultra High Vacuum ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Metal Base ◽

In Situ Experiments ◽

Potential Applications

The cobalt disilicide/silicon system has potential applications as a metal-base and as a permeable-base transistor. Although thin, low defect density, films of CoSi2 on Si(111) have been successfully grown, there are reasons to believe that Si(100)/CoSi2 may be better suited to the transmission of electrons at the silicon/silicide interface than Si(111)/CoSi2. A TEM study of the formation of CoSi2 on Si(100) is therefore being conducted. We have previously reported TEM observations on Si(111)/CoSi2 grown both in situ, in an ultra high vacuum (UHV) TEM and ex situ, in a conventional Molecular Beam Epitaxy system.The procedures used for the MBE growth have been described elsewhere. In situ experiments were performed in a JEOL 200CX electron microscope, extensively modified to give a vacuum of better than 10-9 T in the specimen region and the capacity to do in situ sample heating and deposition. Cobalt was deposited onto clean Si(100) samples by thermal evaporation from cobalt-coated Ta filaments.

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Microstructure of laser-irradiated, conducting Kapton polyimide

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100138889 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 502-503

Author(s):

D. L. Callahan ◽

Z. Ball ◽

H. M. Phillips ◽

R. Sauerbrey

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Phase Transition ◽

Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽

Cross Section ◽

Film Surface ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

General Utility ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Considerable Debate ◽

Potential Applications

Ultraviolet laser-irradiation can be used to induce an insulator-to-conductor phase transition on the surface of Kapton polyimide. Such structures have potential applications as resistors or conductors for VLSI applications as well as general utility electrodes. Although the percolative nature of the phase transformation has been well-established, there has been little definitive work on the mechanism or extent of transformation. In particular, there has been considerable debate about whether or not the transition is primarily photothermal in nature, as we propose, or photochemical. In this study, cross-sectional optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are utilized to characterize the nature of microstructural changes associated with the laser-induced pyrolysis of polyimide.Laser-modified polyimide samples initially 12 μm thick were prepared in cross-section by standard ultramicrotomy. Resulting contraction in parallel to the film surface has led to distortions in apparent magnification. The scale bars shown are calibrated for the direction normal to the film surface only.

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Fabrication and characterization - by High Resolution Electron Microscopy and atom probe microanalysis - of Co-based metallic multilayer films

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010017699x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 772-773

Author(s):

Amanda K. Petford-Long ◽

A. Cerezo ◽

M.G. Hetherington

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

High Resolution ◽

High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Multilayer Films ◽

Interface Roughness ◽

Probe Field ◽

Resolution Electron ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Field Ion Microscope

The fabrication of multilayer films (MLF) with layer thicknesses down to one monolayer has led to the development of materials with unique properties not found in bulk materials. The properties of interest depend critically on the structure and composition of the films, with the interfacial regions between the layers being of particular importance. There are a number of magnetic MLF systems based on Co, several of which have potential applications as perpendicular magnetic (e.g Co/Cr) or magneto-optic (e.g. Co/Pt) recording media. Of particular concern are the effects of parameters such as crystallographic texture and interface roughness, which are determined by the fabrication conditions, on magnetic properties and structure.In this study we have fabricated Co-based MLF by UHV thermal evaporation in the prechamber of an atom probe field-ion microscope (AP). The multilayers were deposited simultaneously onto cobalt field-ion specimens (for AP and position-sensitive atom probe (POSAP) microanalysis without exposure to atmosphere) and onto the flat (001) surface of oxidised silicon wafers (for subsequent study in cross-section using high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) in a JEOL 4000EX. Deposi-tion was from W filaments loaded with material in the form of wire (Co, Fe, Ni, Pt and Au) or flakes (Cr). The base pressure in the chamber was around 8×10−8 torr during deposition with a typical deposition rate of 0.05 - 0.2nm/s.

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Progress and perspectives on halide lithium conductors for all-solid-state lithium batteries

Energy & Environmental Science ◽

10.1039/c9ee03828k ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1429-1461 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Xiaona Li ◽

Jianwen Liang ◽

Xiaofei Yang ◽

Keegan R. Adair ◽

Changhong Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Storage ◽

Solid State ◽

Lithium Batteries ◽

Electrochemical Stability ◽

Superionic Conductors ◽

Fundamental Understanding ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Synthesis Routes

This review focuses on fundamental understanding, various synthesis routes, chemical/electrochemical stability of halide-based lithium superionic conductors, and their potential applications in energy storage as well as related challenges.

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Porphyrin-functionalized coordination star polymers and their potential applications in photodynamic therapy

Polymer Chemistry ◽

10.1039/c9py01391a ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (45) ◽

pp. 6116-6121 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tan Ji ◽

Lei Xia ◽

Wei Zheng ◽

Guang-Qiang Yin ◽

Tao Yue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Star Polymers ◽

New Family ◽

Potential Applications

We present a new family of porphyrin-functionalized coordination star polymers prepared through combination of coordination-driven self-assembly and post-assembly polymerization. Their self-assembly behaviour in water and potential for photodynamic therapy were demonstrated.

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A peek in the micro-sized world: a review of design principles, engineering tools, and applications of engineered microbial community

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst20190172 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 399-409

Author(s):

Baizhen Gao ◽

Rushant Sabnis ◽

Tommaso Costantini ◽

Robert Jinkerson ◽

Qing Sun

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Real Life ◽

Design Principles ◽

Microbial Interactions ◽

Potential Applications ◽

New Gene ◽

Global Biogeochemical Cycles ◽

Synthetic Microbial Communities

Microbial communities drive diverse processes that impact nearly everything on this planet, from global biogeochemical cycles to human health. Harnessing the power of these microorganisms could provide solutions to many of the challenges that face society. However, naturally occurring microbial communities are not optimized for anthropogenic use. An emerging area of research is focusing on engineering synthetic microbial communities to carry out predefined functions. Microbial community engineers are applying design principles like top-down and bottom-up approaches to create synthetic microbial communities having a myriad of real-life applications in health care, disease prevention, and environmental remediation. Multiple genetic engineering tools and delivery approaches can be used to ‘knock-in' new gene functions into microbial communities. A systematic study of the microbial interactions, community assembling principles, and engineering tools are necessary for us to understand the microbial community and to better utilize them. Continued analysis and effort are required to further the current and potential applications of synthetic microbial communities.

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