scholarly journals Nicardipine Loaded Solid Phospholipid Extrudates for the Prevention of Cerebral Vasospasms: In Vitro Characterization

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christin Zlomke ◽  
Johannes Albrecht ◽  
Karsten Mäder

The aim of the study was to develop nicardipine loaded phospholipid extrudates as an alternative for PLA/PLGA-based implants for the prevention of cerebral vasospasms. Extrudates of different mixtures of saturated and unsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) were produced and characterized by DSC, microscopy and texture analysis. Single phospholipid components were identified by ELSD-HPLC. Extrudates of 2 mm diameter were obtained by twin screw extrusion temperatures below 50 °C. The ratio of unsaturated and saturated phosphatidylcholine components determines the physicochemical properties of the extrudates as well as the rate of erosion. Nicardipine loaded phospholipids extrudates released the drug over several weeks in vitro. The phospholipid composition of the remaining extrudate changed during the release, the content of unsaturated phospholipids decreased faster compared to the saturated ones. In conclusion, solid phospholipid extrudates are promising materials for the development of new parenteral controlled release systems.

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiqi Huang ◽  
Laura Roman ◽  
Mario M. Martinez ◽  
Benjamin M. Bohrer

The objective was to modify functional properties of breadfruit flours using twin-screw extrusion and test the physicochemical properties of the extruded flours. Extruded breadfruit flours were produced with twin-screw extrusion using different last barrel temperature (80 °C or 120 °C) and feed moisture content (17% or 30%). These conditions resulted in four extruded flours with different mechanical (specific mechanical energy, SME) and thermal (melt temperature) energies. At temperatures below the gelatinization of the native starch (<70 °C), swelling power was increased in all extruded treatments. Solubility was dramatically increased in high-SME extruded flours at all tested temperatures. Water holding capacity was dramatically increased in the low-SME extruded flours. A two-fold higher cold peak viscosity was obtained for low SME-high temperature extruded flour compared with the other extruded flours. Low SME-low temperature extruded flour still exhibited a hot peak viscosity, which occurred earlier than in native flour. Setback was decreased in all extruded flours, especially in high-SME treatments. The incorporation of extruded flours into soy protein gels did not affect cooking loss, while hardness and springiness decreased with the addition of extruded flours. Overall, extrusion of breadfruit flour altered functional flour properties, including water holding capacity and pasting properties, and modified the texture of soy protein gels.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2128
Author(s):  
Paulo F. Teixeira ◽  
José A. Covas ◽  
Loïc Hilliou

The dispersion mechanisms in a clay-based polymer nanocomposite (CPNC) during twin-screw extrusion are studied by in-situ rheo-optical techniques, which relate the CPNC morphology with its viscosity. This methodology avoids the problems associated with post extrusion structural rearrangement. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, which can be processed at ambient and low temperatures, is used to bypass any issues associated with thermal degradation. Local heating in the first part of the extruder allows testing of the usefulness of low matrix viscosity to enhance polymer intercalation before applying larger stresses for clay dispersion. The comparison of clay particle sizes measured in line with models for the kinetics of particle dispersion indicates that larger screw speeds promote the break-up of clay particles, whereas smaller screw speeds favor the erosion of the clay tactoids. Thus, different levels of clay dispersion are generated, which do not simply relate to a progressively better PDMS intercalation and higher clay exfoliation as screw speed is increased. Reducing the PDMS viscosity in the first mixing zone of the screw facilitates dispersion at lower screw speeds, but a complex interplay between stresses and residence times at larger screw speeds is observed. More importantly, the results underline that the use of larger stresses is inefficient per se in dispersing clay if sufficient time is not given for PDMS to intercalate the clay galleries and thus facilitate tactoid disruption or erosion.


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