Applications of Nanoemulsion for the Wound-Healing Process

Attention to nanoemulsions has significantly grown in recent years as a result of their unique features like better stability, special appearance, higher performance, and sensorial merits. Chronic injuries are the consequence of a disturbance in the extremely coordinated cataract of wound healing actions. Nevertheless, correlated with variations in the timescales of various physical methods embroiled in tissue renewal, the aggression of the tumor microenvironment, rich in decaying enzymes, as well as its increased pH, demands the use of efficient drug delivery applications. This chapter summarizes that the various stages of wound healing include four phases: hemostatic stage, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling process, respectively. Moreover, the major reported classes of lipid-based elements were either vesicular (liposome, permeation increased vesicle, etc.), emulsion-based behavior (nano-emulsion and micro-emulsion), or comprise a solid-based liquid matrix in the wound-healing process.

Calcium Carbonate@silica Composite with Superhydrophobic Properties

In this paper, spherical calcium carbonate particles were prepared by using CaCl2 aqueous solution + NH3·H2O + polyoxyethylene octyl phenol ether-10 (OP-10) + n-butyl alcohol + cyclohexane inverse micro emulsion system. Then, nanoscale spherical silica was deposited on the surface of micron calcium carbonate by Stöber method to form the composite material. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the composite material. It is found that the surface of the composite material has a micro-nano complex structure similar to the surface of a “lotus leaf”, making the composite material show hydrophobicity. The contact angle of the cubic calcium carbonate, spherical calcium carbonate and CaCO3@SiO2 composite material were measured. They were 51.6°, 73.5°, and 76.8°, respectively. After modification with stearic acid, the contact angle of cubic and spherical CaCO3 were 127.1° and 136.1°, respectively, while the contact angle of CaCO3@SiO2 composite was 151.3°. These results showed that CaCO3@SiO2 composite had good superhydrophobicity, and the influence of material roughness on its hydrophobicity was investigated using the Cassie model theory.

A condensate dynamic instability orchestrates oocyte actomyosin cortex activation

A key event at the onset of development is the activation of a contractile actomyosin cortex during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. We here report on the discovery that in C. elegans oocytes, actomyosin cortex activation is supported by the emergence of thousands of short-lived protein condensates rich in F-actin, N-WASP, and ARP2/3 that form an active micro-emulsion. A phase portrait analysis of the dynamics of individual cortical condensates reveals that condensates initially grow, and then switch to disassembly before dissolving completely. We find that in contrast to condensate growth via diffusion, the growth dynamics of cortical condensates are chemically driven. Remarkably, the associated chemical reactions obey mass action kinetics despite governing both composition and size. We suggest that the resultant condensate dynamic instability suppresses coarsening of the active micro-emulsion, ensures reaction kinetics that are independent of condensate size, and prevents runaway F-actin nucleation during the formation of the first cortical actin meshwork.

Development and Evaluation of Micro Emulsion Formulations of Nebivolol for Solubility Enhancement

Nebivolol HCl is a newer drug of β1-adrenergic blocker category, basically used as anti-hypertensive. It is a 3rd generation, antagonist, having NO (nitric oxide) enhancing vasodilator properties. It has 12% oral bioavailability, because of its pre systemic metabolism by the means of cytochrome P450 2D6 enzymes. Its log P value is 4.03 and 5mg is its daily dose. It is highly lipophilic drug and belongs to class BCS II, with slow dissolution. Bioavailability of any drug can be improved by avoiding its first pass metabolism and promoting solubility. Several researchers have worked on the development of ME formulations on different poor water-soluble drugs, to increase their solubility. The purpose of this study is an attempt to enhance the solubility to improve the bioavailability of nebivolol drug by developing a novel delivery system that is microemulsion (ME) .ME formulations were developed using different oil, surfactant and co-surfactants in different ratio and studied on various parameters. Different preformulation tests done on received sample of Nebivolol. FTIR study was performed in order to find out any interactions between the ingredients. Based on the solubility Capmul Pg-12 was finalized oil, Tween 80 as surfactant, propylene glycol as the cosurfactant based on solubility and emulsification efficiency. Five Nebivolol ME formulations were successfully developed by use of oil, water, SA and Co-SA different ratio. Prepared formulations were studied for different properties- transmittance (%), pH, refractive index, viscosity, drug content, and solubility. It was seen that after 4 hours of diffusion, the drug released from the formulation ME5 is faster and more than that of the other i.e., 90.2±0.06%. It was found that ME5 was more stable and Soluble than other prepared formulations. With the better solubilty the bioavailability of Nebivolol will increased and helps in faster absorption and High diffusion in systemic circulation with lower or no risk of degradation. It somehow also reduced frequent intake of drug. Keywords: Nebivolol, micro emulsion, Ternary phase diagram, surfactant, co-surfactant.

Delayed Action Micro-Emulsion Breaker and Its Applications to Improved Completions Operations – An NNPC/FEPDC JV Approach During Completions Operations

In horizontal open hole wells, the formation of filter cake while drilling the open hole section of the well is desirable. This filter cake serves the purpose of forming a semi-impervious layer around the reservoir drain-hole. This layer helps reduce losses considering the overbalance required for well control during drilling. It also serves as an additional structural support to keep the open hole stable when the drilling bottom hole assembly (BHA) is pulled out of hole and the screens and lower completions accessories are being run in hole. However, when thewell is put into production, the filter cake becomes a contributor to skin and poor reservoir productivity. It is therefore required to get rid of the filter cake after running the screens and the lower completion. Having procured and prepared the sand screens for deployment after drilling the open hole section, it is important that they are run to the bottom successfully with minimal damage and plugging. Usually, the open hole section of the horizontal well is drilled with specially formulated drill-in-fluids (DIF). Since this section is drilled in over balanced mode, the exerted pressure keeps the hole open so that the sand screen can be run successfully. The DIF replaces the drilling mud used to drill the earlier hole section(s) but in addition to providing well control via overbalance and transporting cuttings from the hole to surface, it also minimizes invasion damage to the reservoir pay zone. A commonly used weighing material when densities up to 11.5ppg are required for well control is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). When densities above 11.5ppg are required (for deeper, abnormally pressured reservoirs), it becomes necessary to weight up the mud with a heavier material, usually barite + CaCO3. During the drilling process, this overbalance pressure exerted on the reservoir forces the CaCO3 out of the DIF solution and it forms a semi-impervious filter cake on the sand face of the reservoir. This desirable filter cake helps minimize excessive fluid losses into the reservoir hence limiting invasion and damage. It also contributes to the structural integrity of the open hole, keeping it stable prior to running of the screens. Depending on the weighting material used in the drilling of the reservoir drain-hole, the micro-emulsion breaker (MEB) can be designed to break down the filter cake and any undisolvedparticulates can be mobilized and water-wetted and can be then flowed during production or injection. The challenge is that depending on the lower completion configuration, it may take some time to get the wash pipe and work string out of the lower completion and close the formation isolation device. In some cases, it is possible for the formation isolation device to fail. If the Micro-emulsion Blend (MEB) is quick acting, any of these scenarios can lead to uncontrollable losses and serious difficulties in continuing the completion operation. This elucidates the need for a delayed acting MEB treatment. Lab tests and analysis involving the exact DIF /filter cake and various compositions of the MEB at downhole conditions to arrive at the required delay in action. It is critical to ensure that the delayed action does not result in reduced efficacy of the treatment. Hence, the MEB is not diluted for slow action but rather it is engineered combinatorially with a retarder and downhole mild acid generating microemulsion chemistry that gradually generates the necessary mild acid that will slowly dissolve the bridging materials (eg. calcium carbonate) in the mud withtime and allows the full strength of the MEB to take effect after the stipulated delay period. This paper will focus on the lab analysis and iterations to arrive at an optimal MEB blend.