Determination of loading capacity index of a continuous miner in soft rock roadway and virtual test method

To improve the loading efficiency and reduce energy consumption of a continuous miner in soft rock roadway, a seven-arm star wheel designed with Gaussian fitting method was proposed, and a coal loading model of the continuous miner star wheel loading mechanism was reconstructed with EDEM software. The loading capacity of the seven-arm star wheel and the three-arm star wheel of the EML340 continuous miner at different working speeds were studied respectively. The scientific and reasonable identification index was formulated and the index evaluation system of loading star wheel was established. It has been found that the performance of the loading star wheel is a collection of various identification indicators, the coal returning mass reducing the loading efficiency and increasing unnecessary energy consumption, therefore, it is difficult to identify by a single index. Loading coal and rock by the star wheel is a process that consumes energy and pays attention to output, therefore, the identification index should include two kinds of efficiency parameters and energy parameters. Rake coal torque and loading specific energy consumption have reflected the degree of energy utilization, which can be comprehensively used for preliminary design of the star wheel. The performance parameters such as loading power and loading efficiency are reliable indicators for designing and performance evaluation of the star wheel. Based on the statistical analysis of the test data, compared with the three-arm star wheel of the EML340 continuous miner, the loading efficiency of the seven-arm star wheel has been significantly improved. The loading power for coal loading has been reduced by 46%. The feasibility of the Gaussian design method of loading star wheel has been verified.

Hybrid Nanoparticles for Haloperidol Encapsulation: Quid Est Optimum?

The choice of drug delivery carrier is of paramount importance for the fate of a drug in a human body. In this study, we have prepared the hybrid nanoparticles composed of FDA-approved Eudragit L100-55 copolymer and polymeric surfactant Brij98 to load haloperidol—an antipsychotic hydrophobic drug used to treat schizophrenia and many other disorders. This platform shows good drug-loading efficiency and stability in comparison to the widely applied platforms of mesoporous silica (MSN) and a metal–organic framework (MOF). ZIF8, a biocompatible MOF, failed to encapsulate haloperidol, whereas MSN only showed limited encapsulation ability. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that haloperidol has low binding with the surface of ZIF8 and MSN in comparison to Eudragit L100-55/Brij98, thus elucidating the striking difference in haloperidol loading. With further optimization, the haloperidol loading efficiency could reach up to 40% in the hybrid Eudragit L100-55/Brij98 nanoparticles with high stability over several months. Differential scanning calorimetry studies indicate that the encapsulated haloperidol stays in an amorphous state inside the Eudragit L100-55/Brij98 nanoparticles. Using a catalepsy and open field animal tests, we proved the prolongation of haloperidol release in vivo, resulting in later onset of action compared to the free drug.

Optimization of PLGA nanoparticles for delivery of Novel anticancer CK-10 peptide

The main objective of this project was to formulate novel amphiphilic PLGA nanoparticles having better physicochemical properties for the delivery of the novel peptide (CK-10) to be used for targeting the cancerous/tumour tissue. Double emulsion/Solvent evaporation and novel microfluidic techniques were used to formulate the nanoparticles. Loading efficiency and in-vitro release were measured by a modified Lowry assay. Size and zeta potential were characterized by dynamic light scattering, tuneable pore resistive sensing, and laser obscuration time. Images were scanned by scanning, transmission electron microscopes, and laser obscuration time. Stability was checked by high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis. Water absorption and its associated changes in the physicochemical properties were measured by various titration techniques. PLGA/Poloxomer nanoparticles had the highest peptide loading efficiency by 56.13 % for the novel microfluidic technique as well as the highest in-vitro release and water absorption values. It also had the smallest size with the lowest PDI (208.90 nm, 0.11) which are vital parameters for targeting cancer/tumour tissue. The successful development of better physicochemical properties for the CK-10 loaded PLGA nanoparticles could improve the RAN blocking by CK-10.

Antimicrobial Peptides-Loaded Hydroxyapatite Microsphere With Different Hierarchical Structures for Enhanced Drug Loading, Sustained Release and Antibacterial Activity

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have great potential for clinical treatment of bacterial infection due to the broad-spectrum and highly effective antibacterial activity. However, the easy degradation and inactivation in vivo has been a major obstacle for their application and an effective delivery system is demanding. The surface physicochemical properties of the carrier, including surface potential, surface polarity, pore structure and morphology, have exerted great effects on the adsorption and release behavior of AMPs. This study investigated the influence of micro/nano carriers with different hierarchical structures on the loading, release and biological behavior of AMPs. Three types of AMPs-loaded hydroxyapatite microspheres (HA/AMPs MSs) with different hierarchical structures (needle-like, rod-like, and flake-like) were developed, which was investigated by the surface morphology, chemical composition and surface potential in detail. The different hierarchical structures of hydroxyapatite microspheres (HA MSs) had noticeable impact on the loading and release behavior of AMPs, and the flake-like HA MSs with hierarchical structure showed the highest loading efficiency and long-lasting release over 9 days. Meanwhile, the stability of AMPs released from HA MSs was effectively maintained. Moreover, the antibacterial test indicated that the flake-like HA/AMPs MSs showed more sustained antibacterial properties among three composites. In view of the excellent biocompatibility and osteogenic property, high loading efficiency and the long-term release properties of HA MSs with hierarchical structure, the HA/AMPs MSs have a great potential in bone tissue engineering.

Loading efficiency of doxorubicin into the micelle-like structures formed by function-spacer-lipid constructs self-assembly depends on constructs’ functional part

Supramolecular self-assemble systems based on neoglycolipids: Galili-Ad-CMG2-Ad-DOPE, A(type2)-Ad-CMG2-Ad-DOPE are studied here and compared with the well-studied Biotin-CMG2-Ad-DOPE, as well as with their combinations with NH2-CMG2-Ad-DOPE. They are function-spacer-lipid constructs with unique structure that allows them to form micelle-like supramers and be stable, what makes them a potential drug nanocarriers. The structural properties of the obtained supramolecular systems are studied depending on their functional part, and the loading efficiency of doxorubicin into the supramers is determined to reveal the influence of the functional part. The resulting supramers were separated from the unbound molecules by dialysis, the nanoparticles morphology were studied by atomic force microscopy, and the loading efficiency was calculated based on spectrophotometry data. The encapsulation of doxorubicin was confirmed based on changes in the size and shape of the supramers, as well as a decrease in the ratio of unbound molecules. According to the loading efficiency calculations, it was estimated that supramers formed by A(type2)-Ad-CMG2-Ad-DOPE are the most efficient nanocarriers with loading efficiency of 82 %. Supramers formed by NH2-CMG2-Ad-DOPE (no functional part) showed 1.5 times less efficiency. Finally, the least efficient carriers are supramers formed by Biotin-CMG2-Ad-DOPE (14%).

Physicochemical characterization of Novel Particulate Delivery Systems for Antitumor/metastatic Therapeutics

The main objective of this project was to overcome the drawbacks of the emulsification techniques during rising a delivery system for a novel and potent anticancer drug, CK-10, projected for enlightening the therapeutic index of the drug. Emulsion/Solvent evaporation and innovative microfluidic techniques were used to frame the nanoparticles. Loading efficiency and in-vitro release were characterized by a modified Lowry assay. Size and zeta potential were analyzed by dynamic light scattering, laser obscuration time, and tuneable pore resistive sensing. Compatibility and shelf life were tested by differential scanning calorimeter and Fourier transform infra-red. The extent of the nanoparticles degradation was measured by color indicator and potentiometric titrations. The result showed that PLGA/B Cyclodextrin nanoparticles had a higher peptide loading efficiency by 53.92% for the novel microfluidic technique as well as higher in-vitro release and better degradation. PLGA/B Cyclodextrin and PLGA/HPMA nanoparticles had a closely related size and zeta potential. It was concluded that the novel microfluidic technique could augment the physicochemical properties of the CK-10 nanoparticles to improve its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Porous Lactose as a Novel Ingredient Carrier for the Improvement of Quercetin Solubility In Vitro

In this work, quercetin was loaded in the highly-porous lactose via the adsorption of quercetin molecules in ethanol. The method aims to improve the quercetin solubility and the loading capacity of lactose. The method relates to the synthesis of the highly-porous lactose with a particle size of ∼35 μm, a mean pore width of ∼30 nm, a BET surface area of 35.0561 ± 0.4613 m2/g, and a BJH pore volume of ∼0.075346 cc/g. After the quercetin loading in ethanol, BET surface area and BJH pore volume of porous lactose were reduced to 28.8735 ± 0.3526 m2/g and 0.073315 cc/g, respectively. The reduction rate was based on the quercetin loading efficiency of highly-porous lactose. DSC analysis and XRD analysis suggest that the sediments of quercetin in the nanopores of porous lactose are crystalline. FTIR spectroscopy results suggest that there is no significant interaction between quercetin and lactose. The highly-porous lactose had a higher loading efficiency of 20.3% (w/w) compared to the α-lactose (with 5.2% w/w). The release rates of quercetin from the highly-porous lactose tablets were faster compared to the conventional α-lactose carrier.

Fabrication of Bio-Nanocomposite Based on HNT-Methionine for Controlled Release of Phenytoin

In this study, a novel promising approach for the fabrication of Halloysite nanotube (HNT) nanocomposites, based on the amino acid named Methionine (Met), was investigated. For this purpose, Met layered on the outer silane functionalized surface of HNT for controlled release of Phenytoin sodium (PHT). The resulting nanocomposite (MNT-g-Met) was characterized by FTIR, XRD, Zeta potential, TGA, TEM and FE-SEM. The FT-IR results showed APTES and Met peaks, which proved the modification of the HNTs. The zeta-potential results showed the interaction between APTES (+53.30) and Met (+38.80) on the HNTs (−30.92). The FE-SEM micrographs have displayed the grafting of Met on the modified HNTs due to the nanotube conversion to a rough and indistinguishable form. The amount of encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading efficiency (LE) of MNT-g-Met was 74.48% and 37.24%, while pure HNT was 57.5%, and 28.75%, respectively. In-vitro studies showed that HNT had a burst release (70% in 6 h) in phosphate buffer while MNT-g-Met has more controlled release profile (30.05 in 6 h) and it was found to be fitted with the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Due to the loading efficiency and controlled release profile, the nanocomposite promote a good potential for drug delivery of PHT.