Development of an Insulin Nano-Delivery System through Buccal Administration

Aim: To develop a new nano-delivery system for insulin buccal administration. Background: Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) had viewed countless breakthroughs in drug delivery systems. The main objective of PNPs application in delivering and carrying different promising drugs is to make sure that the drugs being delivered to their action sites. As a result maximizing the desired effect and overcoming their limitations and drawbacks. Objectives: The main goals of this study were to produce an insulin consumable nano-delivery system for buccal administration and enhance the mucoadhesive effect in sustaining insulin release. Methods: Water in oil in water (W-O-W) microemulsion solvent evaporation technique was used for the preparation of nanoparticles consisting from positively charged poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) coated with chitosan and loaded with insulin. Later, a consumable buccal film was prepared by the spin coating method and loaded with the previously prepared nanoparticles. Results: The newly prepared nanoparticle was assessed in terms of size, charge and surface morphology using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), zeta potential, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. An in-vitro investigation of the insulin release, from nanoparticles and buccal film, demonstrated controlled as well as sustained delivery over 6 hrs. The cumulative insulin release decreased to about (28.9%) with buccal film in comparing with the nanoparticle (50 %). Conclusion: The buccal film added another barrier for insulin release. Therefore, the release was sustained.

Design of experiments for the methylene blue adsorption study onto biocomposite material based on Algerian earth chestnut and cellulose derivatives

Novel bio-composite films based on Algerian earth chestnut i.e. Bunium incrassatum roots (Talghouda, TG) and cellulose derivatives (ethylcellulose; EC and cellulose acetate; AC) are prepared and tested for methylene blue (MB) adsorption from aqueous solutions. The biomaterial films are elaborated by dissolution solvent evaporation technique and are characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, SEM and optical microscopy. The pHpzc is also determined. For the adsorption tests, design of experiments based on 23 factorial design is built and followed. So, the effects of TG:EC:AC ratio, pH and MB initial concentration are discussed on the basis of mathematical modelling using Minitab software. Mathematical relations between equilibrium adsorption percentages and capacities versus selected variables were obtained and illustrated by surface plots. The interactive effects between variables have been also identified. The results showed that the MB adsorption percentage exceeded 83% and is mostly affected by pH value. Nevertheless the adsorption capacity is affected by MB initial concentration.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates-Based Nanoparticles as Essential Oil Carriers

Plant-derived essential oils (EOs) represent a green alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents in food preservation. Due to their volatility and instability, their application is dependent on the development of efficient encapsulation strategies allowing their protection and release control. Encapsulation in Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based nanoparticles (NPs) addresses this challenge, providing a biodegradable and biobased material whose delivery properties can be tuned by varying polymer composition. In this work, EO from Mexican oregano was efficiently encapsulated in Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate (PHB-HHx)-based NPs by solvent evaporation technique achieving high encapsulation efficiency, (>60%) and loading capacity, (about 50%). The obtained NPs displayed a regular distribution with a size range of 150–210 nm. In vitro release studies in food simulant media were fitted with the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, indicating diffusion as the main factor controlling the release. The cumulative release was affected by the polymer composition, possibly related to the more amorphous nature of the copolymer, as confirmed by WAXS and DSC analyses. Both the EO-loaded nanosystems displayed antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus, with PHB-HHx-based NPs being even more effective than the pure EO. The results open the way to the effective exploitation of the developed nanosystems in active packaging.

Manipulating a vertical temperature-gradient of Fe@Enteromorpha/graphene aerogel to enhanced solar evaporation and sterilization

Water purification via solar interface evaporation technique is an attractive method to solve water resources shortage. Many efforts have been devoted to developing materials with high absorbance and various heat...

Current – voltage measurements of Al/a-Se/Au Schottky diode solar cells

Schottky Diode (SD) Al/a-Se/Au as a solar cell (SC) was prepared by thermal evaporation technique (TET) on glass thin slide as a substrate under vacuum (10!" mbar). The Schottky Barrier (SB) have been prepared with different thicknesses (300, 500 and 700) nm in room temperature and (343) K annealing temperature. The current-voltage (IV) physical properties of the SB have got rectification properties and approved as a SC. This cell is developed with increased annealing temperatures and thickness of layers of SD. Experience under lighting shows good efficiency (η), which increased linearly with both thickness and annealing temperatures from (0.0318% to 4.064%) and from (0.0318% to 0.4778%). This is for three values of lighting power density (160, 230, 400) 𝑚𝑊/𝑐𝑚# in which the behave is similar. The best efficiency obtained in this work was (15.286)% at a power density of 400 𝑚𝑊/𝑐𝑚# , with thickness 700nm and 343K annealing temperature. Also (12.407)% at 230 𝑚𝑊/𝑐𝑚#, with thickness 500nm for the same annealing temperature.

β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of Budesonide with Enhanced Bioavailability for COPD Treatment

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-threatening disease of the respiratory system, affecting many patients worldwide. Budesonide (BUD), a synthetic glucocorticosteroid applied for the treatment of COPD patients, is a hydrophobic compound with low bioavailability. The formation of inclusion complexes of hydrophobic compounds with β-cyclodextrin (CD) through the solvent evaporation technique is an appealing method for the amelioration of the compounds’ in vitro release behavior. In the present study, CD–BUD complexes were prepared through the solvent evaporation technique. The effect of the applied solvent was evaluated through FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and in vitro release behavior measurements. It was found that the optimum complexes with the minimum degree of crystallinity and the optimum in vitro release behavior are prepared in the solvent ratio H2O/EtOH 80/20 v/v. In a further step, the formation of CD–BUD complexes containing different amounts of BUD was prepared. Through XRD measurements, the degree of crystallinity of the samples was calculated confirming the diminished crystallinity of BUD in CD complexes. The in vitro release of the samples showed the improved release behavior of BUD from the complexes in comparison to neat BUD while a direct correlation between the degree of crystallinity and in vitro release behavior was demonstrated.

Efficient Solar-Driven Water Purification Based on Biochar with Multi-Level Pore Bundle Structure for Preparation of Drinking Water

Water is an important source for humankind. However, the amount of available clean water has rapidly reduced worldwide. To combat this issue, the solar-energy-driven evaporation technique is newly proposed to produce clean water. Here, biochar derived from sorghum stalk with a multi-level pore bundle structure is utilized to fabricate a solar-driven evaporator for the first time. The biochar displays rapid water transfer and low thermal conductivity (ca. 0.0405 W m−1 K−1), which is vitally important for such an application purpose. The evaporation rate and energy conversion efficiency of the solar evaporator based on carbonized sorghum stalk can achieve up to 3.173 kg m−2 h−1 and 100%, respectively, which are better than most of the previously reported biomass materials. Furthermore, the carbonized sorghum stalk also displays good resistance to salt crystallization, anti-acidic/basic, and organic pollutants by producing drinking water using seawater, acidic/basic waste water, and organic polluted water, respectively. The direct application of processed water in food production was also investigated. The present solar steam evaporator based on the carbonized sorghum stalk has the potential to create practical drinking water production by using various water sources.

DEVELOPMENT OF CIPROFLOXACIN LOADED THROAT PAINT FOR THE TREATMENT OF STREP THROAT INFECTION

Objective: This study is to enhance the solubility and sustained release of ciprofloxacin (CPX) drug by amplifying the adhesive capability of formulation by forming throat paint for the Streptococcal pharyngitis, a sore throat infection. Methods: Solid dispersion was prepared by solvent evaporation technique, in which three different ratios of Polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) were selected, and the best ratio of solid dispersion was selected after characterization including Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with evaluation parameters including % yield, drug content, and drug solubility. In the case of throat paint, out of six different formulations, the best formulation was selected through viscosity, in vitro mucoadhesion, in situ release study, and spreadability parameters. Results: The DSC and SEM data proved that solid dispersion has a different moiety than its ingredients but it is quite a stable form. Formulation MD-2 was selected as the best formulation which able to increase the solubility of the drug by more than 3.5 folds, at the same time it shows the highest rate of drug dissolution of 13.951 μg/ml with % yield (97.199±0.167%) and drug content (96.425%). Throat paint was formed by fusion and trituration process and out of all six formulations F3 was selected as the best formulation on the basis of Viscosity (11932 Centi poise), Spreadability (17.621), Mucoadhesion (3937.481 dyne/cm2), and drug release (90.336±0.6%). Conclusion: Solid dispersion was successfully prepared with 3.5 times of solubility enhancement capability in comparison with pure CPX drug. The throat paint releases the drug (≥3 h) in a sustained manner with high mucoadhesive force.

"FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MORONIC ACID LOADED TRANSDERMAL PATCHES"

Objective: To prepare Transdermal patches of Moronic acid along with various polymers for controlled release action. Methods: Suitable method such as Solvent Casting Technique of Film Casting Technique are used for the preparation of Transdermal patch. Results: The prepared Transdermal patches were transparent, smooth, uniform and flexible. The method adopted for the preparation of the system was found satisfactory. Conclusion: Various formulations were developed by using hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers like HPMC E5 and EC respectively in single and combinations by solvent evaporation technique with the incorporation of penetration enhancer such as dimethylsulfoxide and dibutyl phthalate as plasticizer. Formulation F7 containing an equal ratio of HPMC E5: EC (5:5) showed maximum and sustained release of 86.814±0.262 within 24 h. Kinetic models were used to confirm the release mechanism of the formulations. Moronic acid release from the patches F1 to F7 followed non Fickian diffusion rate controlled mechanism.