5FU-loaded PCL/Chitosan/Fe3O4 Core-Shell Nanofibers Structure: An Approach to Multi-Mode Anticancer System

Purpose: 5FU and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were encapsulated in core-shell Polycaprolactone/Chitosan nanofibers as a multi-mode anticancer system to study drug release sustainability. The structure of the core-shell drug delivery system was also optimized according to drug release behavior by artificial intelligence. Methods: The core-shell nanofibers were electrospun by a coaxial syringe. ANN was used for function approximation to estimate release parameters. A genetic algorithm was then used for optimizing the structure. Chemical assay of the optimized sample was performed by FTIR, XRD, and EDX. VSM test was conducted to measure the real amount of loaded magnetic nanoparticles. HepG2 cell cytotoxicity was studied and the results for the optimized samples with and without Fe3O4 after 72hrs were reported. Results: Feeding ratio of sheath to core and the amount of CS, Fe3O4, and 5FU had a statistical effect on nanofibers diameters, which were 300-450nm. The drug loading efficiency of these nanofibers was 65-86%. ANN estimated the release parameters with an error of 10%. The temperature increased about 5.6°C in the AMF of 216kA.m-1~300kHz and 4.8°C in the AMF of 154kA.m-1~400kHz after 20min. HepG2 cell cytotoxicity for the optimized samples with and without Fe3O4 after 72hrs were 39.7% and 38.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Since this core-shell drug release system was more sustainable compared to the blend structure despite the low half-life of 5FU, it is suggested to utilize it as post-surgical implants for various cancer treatments such as liver or colorectal cancer in the future. This system is capable of providing chemotherapy and hyperthermia simultaneously.

A Preliminary Pharmacognostical and Physico Chemical Assay of Shalmali moola Granules

Ayurveda is concerned with the maintenance of life and the healing of illnesses that present themselves in the human body. Several herbal and Herbo mineral preparations have been explained in Ayurveda for the treatment of disease. Standardization is necessary to ensure batch to batch consistency, as well as for routine drug preparation on a large scale. Modification of old dosage forms and development of new dosage forms is an evolving process that leads significantly to the flourishing of science with a transforming lifestyle and people's interest. The preparation of granules consists of a refined form of Ghana (solid herbal extract preparation) and Khanda Kalpana (solid preparations similar to granules). Shalmali moola granule is a formulation for its beneficial properties such as, Balya (immuno-modulators), Rasayana (rejuvenator), Vajikarana (aphrodisiac) etc. Present study has elaborated standardization, physio-chemical parameters, Qualitative analysis and Chromatography (HPTLC) of Shalmali moola granules. Granules were prepared by adopting reference of Bhaishjya Rantavali and This study will be useful for standardization of Shalmali moola granule and for the preparation of the monography of this formulation for the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI).

Preparation of Pharmaceutical Formula of Rafoxanide and Levamisole 6% Suspension as Pilot Production

A 100 litter of pharmaceutical formula of veterinary drug Rafoxanide and Levamisole with 6% suspension as pilot production was prepared. The formula contains two active ingredients with a broad spectrum anthelmintic activity. Rafoxanide belong belongs to salicylanilide group used for treatment and control of mature and immature liver flukes in cattle, sheep and goats. Levamisole belongs to Bezimidazole compounds and is active against gastrointestinal worms and against lung worms in cattle, sheep and goats. The drug formula is a white color suspension prepared according to scientific literature. Information was collected for all substances in the formulation for active ingredient ingredients and additives. The chemical assay was carried out on the active ingredients and the final formula and the results showed that they conform to the constitutional specifications. The results of the chemical assay of Rafoxanide (102.7%) and levamisole (101%) were found to be within the approved constitutional limits (90-110%) with the adoption of the results of stability study at temperatures (40, 50, 60 °C). The stability of the pharmaceutical formula was observed within the permissible constitutional limits.

Determination of poultry manure and plant residues effects on Zn bioavailable fraction in contaminated soil via DGT technique

A greenhouse experiment was aimed at assessing the effects of poultry manure, sorghum, and clover residues (0 and 15 g kg− 1) on the zinc (Zn) bioavailable fraction in contaminated calcareous soil using two chemical assay, including diffusion gradient in thin films (DGT) and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-triethanolamine (DTPA-TEA), and a bioassay with corn (Zea mase L.). The results showed that poultry manure, clover, and sorghum residues application increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 53.6 and 36.1, and 9.2%, respectively, with respect to unamended soils, as well as decreasing soil pH by 0.42, 0.26, and 0.06 units, respectively. These changes did result in increases of Zn effective concentration (CE) and DTPA-Zn, and plant Zn concentration as a result of the increased exchangeable form of Zn. In the sorghum residues-amended soils, a reverse trend was observed for CE-Zn compared to the DTPA method. Correlation analyses revealed that unlike CE-Zn, DTPA-Zn had a significant positive correlation with organic fractions that can be considered as an equivalent to the fact that the DTPA method had been overestimated Zn available to the plant. The best correlations between corn metal concentrations and soil metal bioavailability were obtained for CE-Zn using DGT technique, which also provided the best Zn bioavailability estimate. It is concluded that sorghum residues could be used to reduce the phytotoxicity risk of Zn in calcareous contaminated soil, and DTPA method is the less robust indicator of Zn bioavailability than DGT technique.

Physico-chemical Analysis, Total Polyphenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Yellow Dye Extracted from Curcuma longa

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a well known condiment of the Asian cuisine and also used as ayurvedic medicine in the content, since ancient times due to its potential therapeutic properties. Main colouring constituent of Curcuma longa is curcumin and curcuminoids. In the present work natural yellow dye was extracted from rhizome of turmeric using an effective low cost method of solvent extraction. The developed natural yellow dye was assessed for physico-chemical analysis, toxicity, polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. Physico-chemical assay showed good nutritional profile of the extracted natural yellow dye and quite safe at dose level 3.5g/Kg body wt. Significant phenolic content was found to be 63.32 mg GAE/100g, and also showed potent antioxidant capacity (% inhibition) ranging from 5.1-20.4 at 1-5 mg/mL concentration. Animal trials showed no mortality in the mice.

Determination of Poultry Manure and Plant Residues Effects on Zn Bioavailable Fraction in Contaminated Soil Via DGT Technique

A greenhouse experiment was aimed at assessing the effects of poultry manure, sorghum, and clover residues (0 and 15 g kg-1) on the zinc (Zn) bioavailable fraction in contaminated calcareous soil using two chemical assay, diffusion gradient in thin films (DGT) and DTPA-TEA, and a bioassay with corn (Zea mase L.). The results showed that poultry manure, clover, and sorghum residues application increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 53.6 and 36.1, and 9.2%, respectively, with respect to unamended soils, as well as decreasing soil pH by 0.42, 0.26, and 0.06 units, respectively. These changes did result in increases of Zn effective concentration (CE) and DTPA-Zn, and plant Zn concentration as a result of the increased exchangeable form of Zn. In the sorghum residues-amended soils, a reverse trend was observed for CE-Zn compared to the DTPA method. Correlation analyses revealed that unlike CE-Zn, DTPA-Zn had a positive correlation significantly with organic fractions that can be considered as an equivalent to the fact that the DTPA method had been overestimated Zn available to plants. The best correlations between corn metal concentrations and soil metal bioavailability were for CE-Zn using DGT technique, which also provided the best Zn bioavailability estimate. It is concluded that sorghum residues could be used to reduce the phytotoxicity risk of Zn in calcareous contaminated soil, and DTPA method is the less robust indicator of Zn bioavailability than DGT technique.

Bioassay-guided optimization of lipid-based erythromycin microparticles

Purpose: To optimize erythromycin microparticles by in vitro bioassay methods based on its antibacterial activity. Methods: The microparticles were produced by high shear homogenization. The effects of different lipid-to-surfactant ratios were studied. The hydrodynamic size of the different batches was evaluated using dynamic light scattering while bioactive drug load per batch was assessed in agar using bioassay methods. The antimicrobial activities of selected batches were tested ex vivo by determination of reduction in bacteraemia following administration of the microparticles to infected animals. Results: All batches had particles with hydrodynamic sizes < 8.5 microns. Batch 7 with a 2: 5: 2.5 (drug: surfactant: stearic acid) ratio, represents the optimized batch with a hydrodynamic size of 2281 nm, a bioactive drug loading capacity (BLC) of 4.67 ± 0.70 % and bioactive drug entrapment efficiency (BEE) of 10.51 %. The “microparticle MIC” against Staphylococcus aureus was 1.74 x 10-3 μg/ml. Despite containing lower amounts of erythromycin than the pure sample, the microparticles achieved comparable reduction in bacteraemia, with the optimized batch exhibiting lower variation in bacteraemia than the pure drug. Conclusion: Erythromycin microparticles have been successfully optimized with the aid of bioassay methods which has the advantage that only the bioactive drug concentration is factored in. This method eliminates problems posed by inadequate or non-discriminating chemical assay methods. Keywords: Microparticles, Erythromycin, Gastrointestinal, Bioavailability Antimicrobial, Bioactivity, Encapsulation