Optimization of entrapment efficiency and release of clindamycin in microsponge based gel

The aim of the present study was to formulate clindamycin (CLN) as a microsponge based gel to release the drug in a controlled manner and reduce the side effects in the treatment of acne. Since this method requires poor water solubility of the drug to be loaded in particles, therefore, conversion of the hydrochloride salt to free base was done. By using an emulsion solvent diffusion method, we made six different formulations of microsponges containing CLN-free base by changing the proportions of polymer, emulsifier and the pH of the external phase. These formulations were studied for physical characterization and for drug- polymer interactions. The physical characterization showed that microsponge formulations coded by C5, C6 resulted in a better loading efficiency and production yield and their particle size was less than 30 µm. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the microsponges porous and spherical. C5, C6 microsponge formulation was prepared as gel in Carbopol and in vitro evaluated. The microsponge formulation gel C8 was found to be optimized. C8 released 90.38% of drug over 12 h and showed viscosity 20,157 ± 38 cp, pH of 6.3 ± 0.09 and drug content of 99.64 ± 0.04%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed no significant interactions between excipients and drug.

Physical characterization of biopolymers with starch from potato and cassava organic wastes polymerized in water

During the last decades, the use of plastic has become indispensable for the daily life of people; the global production of these materials reaches approximately more than 200 million tons per year. For this reason, research has been carried out to manufacture substitute materials that have similar physical properties, such as starch-based biopolymers; in this research we initially characterized the physical properties of a biopolymer based on starch polymerized in water, without plasticizers, and also to find an optimal proportion between starch and water; in this way an experimental design is generated where the proportion of these two varies, in which starch extracted from potato and cassava wastes was used. These biopolymers were characterized for linear shrinkage, density, and hardness properties. The results of the characterizations showed that the proportions lower than 1:5 starch-water present difficulty to process and deficiency in the homogeneity of the mixture, while the proportions higher than 1:5 presented a linear shrinkage higher than 82. 69% and a loss in weight higher than 74.45%; on the other hand, the hardness analysis showed an average of 79 points on the shore A scale and density with an average of 1.055 g/cm3, the results determined that the most adequate proportion is 1:6.5 starch-water.

Prospects for the production of radioisotopes and radiobioconjugates for theranostics

The development of diagnostic methods in medicine as well as the progress in the synthesis of biologically active compounds allows the use of selected radioisotopes for the simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of diseases, especially cancerous ones, in patients. This approach is called theranostic. This review article includes chemical and physical characterization of chosen theranostic radioisotopes and their compounds that are or could be useful in nuclear medicine.