PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND DISSOLUTION STUDY OF SPRAY DRIED SOLID DISPERSIONS OF SIMVASTATIN WITH PVP K25 AND AEROSIL 200

BCS class II is well-known for the drugs, having poor aqueous solubility and high permeability. Simvastatin is also categorized as BCS class II, suffering from poor aqueous solubility, affecting its bioavailability. In an attempt to resolve this problem, solid dispersions of simvastatin were prepared by spray-drying method. Solid dispersions of simvastatin with PVP K25 and aerosol in ratio (1:1:1 to 1:5:1) and without aerosil 200 (1:1 to 1:5) were prepared by spray drying method. The dissolution test showed the enhancement of dissolution as compared to the pure drug and nearly equal to marketed formulation “SIMVOTIN 20mg” in both types of formulation, but formulations with aerosil 200 showed faster drug release as compared to the simple formulations without aerosil. The formulation containing the 1:3:1 (simvastatin: PVP K25: Aerosil 200) showed the faster drug release as compared to other formulation that do not contain the Aerosil 200. Other characterization studies were also performed such as FTIR, differential scanning colorimetry and powdered X-ray crystallographic studies. These studies showed the increased amorphous nature of the drug in the formulation, which explain the enhanced dissolution rate of the drug for these formulations.

Effect of organic carbon addition on paddy soil organic carbon decomposition under different irrigation regimes

Anaerobic decomposition of organic carbon (OC) in submerged rice paddies is coupled to the reduction of alternative soil electron acceptors, primarily Fe3+. During reductive dissolution of Fe3+ from pedogenic oxides, previously adsorbed native soil organic carbon (SOC) could be co-released into solution. Incorporation of crop residues could hence indirectly, i.e. through the stimulation of microbially mediated Fe3+ reduction, promote the loss of native SOC via enhanced dissolution and subsequent mineralisation to CO2 and CH4. Our aim was to estimate the relevance of such a positive feedback during the degradation of added OC, and to investigate the impact of irrigation management on this mechanism and on priming effects on native SOC decomposition in general. In a six-week pot experiment with rice plants, two Bangladeshi soils with contrasting SOC to oxalate-extractable Fe (SOC : Feox) ratios were kept under a regime of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) or continuous flooding (CF), and were either amended with maize shoots or not. The δ13C signatures of dissolved organic C and emitted CH4 and CO2 were used to infer the decomposition of added maize shoots (δ13C = −13.0 ‰) versus native SOC (δ13C = −25.4 ‰ and −22.7 ‰). Addition of maize residues stimulated the reduction of Fe as well as the dissolution of native SOC, and the latter to a larger extent under CF, especially for the soil with the highest SOC : Feox ratio. Estimated Fe-bound SOC contents denote that stimulated SOC co-release during Fe reduction could explain this positive priming effect on SOC dissolution after the addition of maize. However, priming effects on SOC mineralisation to CO2 and CH4 were lower than for SOC dissolution, and were even negative under AWD for one soil. Enhanced reductive dissolution of Fe-bound SOC upon exogenous OC addition therefore does not necessarily lead to stimulated SOC mineralisation. In addition, AWD irrigation was found to decrease the above-mentioned priming effects.

Hydro-Stratigraphic Conditions and Human Activity Leading to Development of a Sinkhole Cluster in a Mediterranean Water Ecosystem

Salento Peninsula (Apulia, southern Italy) is characterised by many active sinkholes, which represent the main geological hazard. The stretch of coastline between the village of Casalabate and Le Cesine wildlife reserve is highly affected, with a system of dunes separating the low beach from extensive wetlands, which were subject to uncontrolled urban development after reclamation. The overall morphology is characterized by flat topography, whilst from a hydrogeological standpoint, the mixing of inland freshwater with advancing brackish water favours the higher aggressivity with respect to soluble rocks, and the development of enhanced dissolution (hyperkarst). The relict landscapes within the protected areas still allow for the recognition of actively occurring sinkholes, which cause damage to houses, the road network and infrastructures. In this article the case of Aquatina di Frigole is described, where in the last 15 years numerous sinkholes have formed, with the processes still in rapid evolution. Detailed surveys allow for to identification of the mechanisms of sinkhole formation (suffusion sinkholes), the deriving cluster, and the main hydrogeological links among the different water bodies in the area. Acquatina di Frigole provides an excellent natural laboratory to observe development and evolution of sinkholes, and their relationships with the stratigraphic and hydrogeological elements.

Structure Determination, Thermal Stability and Dissolution Rate of δ Indomethacin

<div> <p>The structure solution of the δ-polymorph of indomethacin was obtained using three-dimensional electron diffraction. This form shows a significantly enhanced dissolution rate compared with the more common and better studied α- and γ-polymorphs, indicating an increased bioavailability for medicinal applications. The structure was solved in non-centrosymmetric space group <i>P</i>2₁ and comprises two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Packing and molecule conformation closely resemble indomethacin methyl ester and indomethacin methanol solvate. Knowledge of the structure allowed the rational interpretation of spectroscopic IR and Raman data for δ-polymorph and a tentative interpretation for still unsolved indomethacin polymorphs. Finally, we observed a solid-solid transition from δ-polymorph to α-polymorph that can be driven by similarities in molecular conformation.</p> </div> <br>

Structure Determination, Thermal Stability and Dissolution Rate of δ Indomethacin

<div> <p>The structure solution of the δ-polymorph of indomethacin was obtained using three-dimensional electron diffraction. This form shows a significantly enhanced dissolution rate compared with the more common and better studied α- and γ-polymorphs, indicating an increased bioavailability for medicinal applications. The structure was solved in non-centrosymmetric space group <i>P</i>2₁ and comprises two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Packing and molecule conformation closely resemble indomethacin methyl ester and indomethacin methanol solvate. Knowledge of the structure allowed the rational interpretation of spectroscopic IR and Raman data for δ-polymorph and a tentative interpretation for still unsolved indomethacin polymorphs. Finally, we observed a solid-solid transition from δ-polymorph to α-polymorph that can be driven by similarities in molecular conformation.</p> </div> <br>