Self-Gelling Solid Lipid Nanoparticle Hydrogel Containing Simvastatin as Suitable Wound Dressing: An Investigative Study

Hydrogels, an advanced interactive system, is finding use as wound dressings, however, they exhibit restricted mechanical properties, macroscopic nature, and may not manage high exudate wounds or incorporate lipophilic actives. In this study, we developed a self-gelling solid lipid nanoparticle (SLNs) dressing to incorporate simvastatin (SIM), a lipophilic, potential wound-healing agent, clinically limited due to poor solubility (0.03 mg/mL) and absorption. The study explores unconventional and novel application of SIM. The idea was to incorporate a significant amount of SIM in a soluble form and release it slowly over a prolonged time. Further, a suitable polymeric surfactant was selected that assigned a self-gelling property to SLNs (SLN-hydrogel) so as to be used as a novel wound dressing. SLNs assign porosity, elasticity, and occlusivity to the dressing to keep the wound area moist. It will also provide better tolerance and sensory properties to the hydrogel. SIM loaded SLN-hydrogel was prepared employing an industry amenable high-pressure homogenization technique. The unique hydrogel dressing was characterized for particle size, zeta potential, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, rheology, and texture. Significant loading of SIM (10% w/w) was achieved in spherical nanoparticule hydrogel (0.3 nm (nanoparticles) to2 µm (gelled-matrix)) that exhibited good spreadability and mechanical properties and slow release up to 72 h. SLN-hydrogel was safe as per the organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD-404) guidelines, with no signs of irritation. Complete healing of excision wound observed in rats within 11 days was 10 times better than marketed povidone-iodine product. The presented work is novel both in terms of classifying a per se SLN-hydrogel and employing SIM. Further, it was established to be a safe, effective, and industry amenable invention.

Hybrid Nanoparticles for Haloperidol Encapsulation: Quid Est Optimum?

The choice of drug delivery carrier is of paramount importance for the fate of a drug in a human body. In this study, we have prepared the hybrid nanoparticles composed of FDA-approved Eudragit L100-55 copolymer and polymeric surfactant Brij98 to load haloperidol—an antipsychotic hydrophobic drug used to treat schizophrenia and many other disorders. This platform shows good drug-loading efficiency and stability in comparison to the widely applied platforms of mesoporous silica (MSN) and a metal–organic framework (MOF). ZIF8, a biocompatible MOF, failed to encapsulate haloperidol, whereas MSN only showed limited encapsulation ability. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that haloperidol has low binding with the surface of ZIF8 and MSN in comparison to Eudragit L100-55/Brij98, thus elucidating the striking difference in haloperidol loading. With further optimization, the haloperidol loading efficiency could reach up to 40% in the hybrid Eudragit L100-55/Brij98 nanoparticles with high stability over several months. Differential scanning calorimetry studies indicate that the encapsulated haloperidol stays in an amorphous state inside the Eudragit L100-55/Brij98 nanoparticles. Using a catalepsy and open field animal tests, we proved the prolongation of haloperidol release in vivo, resulting in later onset of action compared to the free drug.

Antimicrobial Hydrophilic Membrane Formed by Incorporation of Polymeric Surfactant and Patchouli Oil

Membrane properties are highly affected by the composition of the polymer solutions that make up the membrane material and their influence in the filtration performance on the separation or purification process. This paper studies the effects of the addition of pluronic (Plu) and patchouli oil (PO) in a polyethersulfone (PES) solution on the membrane morphology, membrane hydrophilicity, and filtration performance in the pesticide removal compound in the water sample. Three types of membranes with the composition of PES, PES + Plu, and PES + Plu + patchouli oil were prepared through a polymer phase inversion technique in an aqueous solvent. The resulting membranes were then analyzed and tested for their mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, antimicrobial properties, and filtration performance (cross-flow ultrafiltration). The results show that all of the prepared membranes could reject 75% of the pesticide. The modification of the PES membrane with Plu was shown to increase the overall pore size by altering the pore morphology of the pristine PES, which eventually increased the permeation flux of the ultrafiltration process. Furthermore, patchouli oil added antimicrobial properties, potentially minimizing the biofilm formation on the membrane surface.

Encapsulated Plant-Derived Antimicrobial Reduces Enteric Bacterial Pathogens on Melon Surfaces during Differing Contamination and Sanitization Treatment Scenarios

This study aimed to quantify survival in Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates on melon rind surface samples achieved by sanitizer treatment under three differing melon contamination and sanitization scenarios. Sanitizing treatments consisted of the plant-derived antimicrobial (PDA) essential oil component (EOC) geraniol (0.5 wt.%) entrapped in the polymeric surfactant Pluronic F-127 (GNP), 0.5 wt.% unencapsulated geraniol (UG), 200 mg/L hypochlorous acid at pH 7.0 (HOCl), and a sterile distilled water wash (CON). The experimental contamination and sanitization scenarios tested were: (1) pathogen inoculation preceded by treatment; (2) the pathogen was inoculated onto samples twice with sanitizing treatment applied in between inoculation events; or (3) pathogen inoculation followed by sanitizing treatment. Reductions in the numbers of surviving pathogens were dependent on the sanitizing treatment, the storage period, or the interaction of these effects. GNP treatment provided the greatest reductions in surviving pathogen counts on melon rinds, but these did not regularly statistically differ from those achieved by HOCl or UG treatment. GNP treatment provided the best pathogen control under differing conditions of pre- and/or post-harvest cross-contamination and can be applied to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission on melon rinds.

Facile One-step Preparation of Mesoporous Siliceous phophsomolybdic acid for Proton Exchange Membrane

Background: Proton exchange membrane is art of PEM fuel cells, developing active materials with robust structure and high proton conductivity has attained huge attention in recent decade amongst researchers. Aims/objectives: Here we have developed a novel approach to prepare a siliceous mesoporous heteropoly acid with high stability in polar media and high proton conductivity to be utilized as proton exchange membrane. Methods: A highly stable mesoporous siliceous phosphomolybdic acid has been synthesized via a simple self-assembly between phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), the polymeric surfactant, and the silica precursor stabilized by KCl molecules as a proton conducting material for proton exchange membrane application. Results: As prepared siliceous mesoporous phosphomolybdic acids (mPMA-Si) show a high surface area with a highly crystalline structure, however the crystallinity reduced by increasing the silica content. Further analysis proved the Keggin structure remain intact in final materials. mPMA-8 Si shows the highest performance among all the materials studied with proton conductivity of 0.263 S.cm-1 at 70 oC. Conclusion: As prepared mPMA-xSi has shown a very high proton conductivity in a range of temperatures which make them a promising material for proton exchange membrane.

High-Performance Polymeric Surfactant of Sodium Lignosulfonate-Polyethylene Glycol 4000 (SLS-PEG) for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Process

Recently, the increase in fuel oil demand was not supported by petroleum production due to the low productivity of old wells. Furthermore, an appropriate technology, such as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology, is needed to maximize the productivity of the old well. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to synthesize a polymeric surfactant for the EOR process from sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in various SLS to PEG ratios, namely 1:1 (PS1), 1:0.8 (PS2), and 1:0.5 (PS3). The surfactants were characterized using several methods, such as Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), compatibility, stability, viscosity, and phase behavior tests. The performance of the surfactants for the EOR process in different brine solution concentrations (16,000 ppm and 20,000 ppm) was also studied. The result showed that the introduction of the PEG molecule to the surfactant had been successfully conducted as FT-IR analysis confirmed. The surfactant's hydrophilicity increased with the introduction of PEG due to the increase of the ether group. A Winsor Type I or lower phase microemulsion was formed due to the high hydrophilicity. The highest oil yield (79 %) was obtained by PS1 surfactant, which has the highest PEG dosage, in a brine solution of 1,600 ppm. Therefore, it was concluded that the introduction of PEG could increase the hydrophilicity, viscosity, and EOR performance.

Surface Properties and Biological Activity of the Synthesized Polymeric Surfactant and its Complexes

Poly (4-vinyl pyridine) (P4-VP) was quaternized and complexed with salt chloride to obtain polymeric surfactant complexes having to improve surface properties and microbial activity. P4-VP was quarternized by trimethyl chloro silane to give (QP4-VP) (I) and then complexed by using stannous chloride and cobalt chloride to give polymeric surfactant complexes. The quaternized P4-VP and its complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the surface properties of this polymeric surfactant and its complexes were studied. The influence of metal chlorides on the antibacterial activity of this polymeric surfactant was estimated and screened through the length of the field of hindrance versus various microorganisms. It shows an enhancement in the surface characteristics and fine germicidal action for quaternized P4-VP when complexed with metal chlorides. The designed cationic polymeric surfactant and its complexes have a good biological action against all such microorganisms.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Surfactant from Palm Oil Methyl Ester and Vinyl Acetate for Chemical Flooding

Surfactants for enhanced oil recovery are generally made from non-renewable petroleum sulfonates and their prices are relatively expensive, so it is necessary to synthesis the bio-based surfactants that are renewable and ecofriendly. The surfactant solution can reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between oil and water while vinyl acetate monomer has an ability to increase the viscosity as a mobility control. Therefore, polymeric surfactant has both combination properties in reducing the oil/water IFT and increasing the viscosity of the aqueous solution simultaneously. Based on the study, the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of Polymeric Surfactant was at 0.5% concentration with an IFT of 7.72x10-2 mN/m. The best mole ratio of methyl ester sulfonate to vinyl acetate for polymeric surfactant synthesis was 1:0.5 with an IFT of 6.7x10-3 mN/m. Characterization of the product using FTIR and HNMR has proven the creation of polymeric surfactant. Based on the wettability alteration study, it confirmed that the product has an ability to alter from the initial oil-wet to water-wet quartz surface. In conclusion, the polymeric surfactant has ultralow IFT and could be an alternative surfactant for chemical flooding because the IFT value met with the required standard for chemical flooding ranges from 10-2 to 10-3 mN/m.Keywords: Enhanced Oil recovery, Interfacial Tension, Methyl Ester Sulfonate, Polymeric surfactant, vinyl acetate