scholarly journals Controlling Nanoparticle Formulation: A Low-Budget Prototype for the Automation of a Microfluidic Platform

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Dominik M. Loy ◽  
Rafał Krzysztoń ◽  
Ulrich Lächelt ◽  
Joachim O. Rädler ◽  
Ernst Wagner

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with suboptimal pharmacokinetic properties may require formulation into nanoparticles. In addition to the quality of the excipients, production parameters are crucial for producing nanoparticles which reliably deliver APIs to their target. Microfluidic platforms promise increased control over the formulation process due to the decreased degrees of freedom at the micro- and nanoscale. Publications about these platforms usually provide only limited information about the soft- and hardware required to integrate the microfluidic chip seamlessly into an experimental set-up. We describe a modular, low-budget prototype for microfluidic mixing in detail. The prototype consists of four modules. The control module is a raspberry pi executing customizable python scripts to control the syringe pumps and the fraction collector. The feeding module consists of up to three commercially available, programable syringe pumps. The formulation module can be any macro- or microfluidic chip connectable to syringe pumps. The collection module is a custom-built fraction collector. We describe each feature of the working prototype and demonstrate its power with polyplexes formulated from siRNA and two different oligomers that are fed to the chip at two different stages during the assembly of the nanoparticles.

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-141
Author(s):  
Dmitriy O. Khort ◽  
Aleksei I. Kutyrev ◽  
Igor G. Smirnov ◽  
Rostislav A. Filippov ◽  
Roman V. Vershinin

Technological capabilities of agricultural units cannot be optimally used without extensive automation of production processes and the use of advanced computer control systems. (Research purpose) To develop an algorithm for recognizing the coordinates of the location and ripeness of garden strawberries in different lighting conditions and describe the technological process of its harvesting in field conditions using a robotic actuator mounted on a self-propelled platform. (Materials and methods) The authors have developed a self-propelled platform with an automatic actuator for harvesting garden strawberry, which includes an actuator with six degrees of freedom, a co-axial gripper, mg966r servos, a PCA9685 controller, a Logitech HD C270 computer vision camera, a single-board Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ computer, VL53L0X laser sensors, a SZBK07 300W voltage regulator, a Hubsan X4 Pro H109S Li-polymer battery. (Results and discussion) Using the Python programming language 3.7.2, the authors have developed a control algorithm for the automatic actuator, including operations to determine the X and Y coordinates of berries, their degree of maturity, as well as to calculate the distance to berries. It has been found that the effectiveness of detecting berries, their area and boundaries with a camera and the OpenCV library at the illumination of 300 Lux reaches 94.6 percent’s. With an increase in the robotic platform speed to 1.5 kilometre per hour and at the illumination of 300 Lux, the average area of the recognized berries decreased by 9 percent’s to 95.1 square centimeter, at the illumination of 200 Lux, the area of recognized berries decreased by 17.8 percent’s to 88 square centimeter, and at the illumination of 100 Lux, the area of recognized berries decreased by 36.4 percent’s to 76 square centimeter as compared to the real area of berries. (Conclusions) The authors have provided rationale for the technological process and developed an algorithm for harvesting garden strawberry using a robotic actuator mounted on a self-propelled platform. It has been proved that lighting conditions have a significant impact on the determination of the area, boundaries and ripeness of berries using a computer vision camera.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Liu ◽  
Ming Zou ◽  
Chuan Wu ◽  
Mengqi Cai ◽  
Guangyun Min ◽  
...  

A new quad bundle conductor galloping model considering wake effect is proposed to solve the problem of different aerodynamic coefficients of each subconductor of iced quad bundle conductor. Based on the quasistatic theory, a new 3-DOF (three degrees of freedom) galloping model of iced quad bundle conductors is established, which can accurately reflect the energy transfer and galloping of quad bundle conductor in three directions. After a series of formula derivations, the conductor stability judgment formula is obtained. In the wind tunnel test, according to the actual engineering situation, different variables are set up to accurately simulate the galloping of iced quad bundle conductor under the wind, and the aerodynamic coefficient is obtained. Finally, according to the stability judgment formula of this paper, calculate the critical wind speed of conductor galloping through programming. The dates of wind tunnel test and calculation in this paper can be used in the antigalloping design of transmission lines.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (06) ◽  
pp. 1440004 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHUAI GUO ◽  
JIANCHENG JI ◽  
GUANGWEI MA ◽  
TAO SONG ◽  
JING WANG

After analyzing the rehabilitation needs of stroke patients and the previous studies on lower limb rehabilitation robot, our lower limb rehabilitation robot is designed for stroke patients' gait and balance training. The robot consists of the mobile chassis, the support column and the pelvis mechanism and it is described in detail. As the pelvis mechanism allows most of the patient's motion degrees of freedom (DOFs), the kinematics model of the mechanism is set up, and kinematics simulation is carried out to study the motion characteristics of the mechanism. After analyzing the calculation and simulation results, the pelvis mechanism is proven to measure up to the movement needs of the paralytic's waist and pelvis in walking rehabilitation process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-61
Author(s):  
Mohanad Abdulhamid ◽  
Singoee Sheshai

AbstractAs a critical constituent of many associations’ protection and security precedence, video surveillance has set up its importance and benefits numerous instances with the aid of imparting immediate supervising of possessions, people, surroundings and property. This paper deals with the diagram strategy of an embedded real-time surveillance gadget based totally on Raspberry-Pi single board computer (SBC) for intruder detection which is reinforcing technology of surveillance to supply fundamental security to our life and associated control and alert operations. The suggested safety solution is hinging on our novel integration of cameras and action detectors into application of web. Raspberry-Pi is operating and controlling action detectors and video cameras for far flung sensing and surveillance, streams live video and files it for future playback. Also, this paper is focusing on growing a surveillance machine that detects strangers and to response speedily through taking pictures and relaying photos to proprietor based totally wireless module. This Raspberry-Pi based clever surveillance machine presents the concept of monitoring a region in a far-flung area. The suggested solution offers a fee advantageous ubiquitous surveillance solution, environment friendly and convenient to implement. Furthermore, the paper presents the idea of motion detection and tracking using image processing. This type of technology is of great importance when it comes to surveillance and security. Live video streams therefore be used to show how objects can be detected then tracked. The detection and tracking process are based on pixel threshold.


Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fliszár-Nyúl ◽  
Mohos ◽  
Bencsik ◽  
Lemli ◽  
Kunsági-Máté ◽  
...  

7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF) is a flavone aglycone which has beneficial effects in several central nervous system diseases. Most of the pharmacokinetic properties of DHF have been characterized, while only limited information is available regarding its interactions with serum albumin and biotransformation enzymes. In this study, the interactions of DHF with albumin was examined employing fluorescence spectroscopy and ultrafiltration. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of DHF on cytochrome P450 (CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4) and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzymes were also tested using in vitro models. Our results demonstrate that DHF forms a stable complex with albumin (K = 4.9 × 105 L/mol) and that it is able to displace both Site I and Site II ligands. Moreover, DHF proved to be a potent inhibitor of each enzyme tested, showing similar or slightly weaker effects than the positive controls used. Considering the above-listed observations, the coadministration of DHF with drugs may interfere with the drug therapy due to the development of pharmacokinetic interactions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Wu ◽  
H. Y. Wang

We study first-crossing problem of two-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) strongly nonlinear mechanical oscillators analytically. The excitation is the combination of a deterministic harmonic function and Gaussian white noises (GWNs). The generalized harmonic function is used to approximate the solutions of the original equations. Four cases are studied in terms of the types of resonance (internal or external or both). For each case, the method of stochastic averaging is used and the stochastically averaged Itô equations are obtained. A backward Kolmogorov (BK) equation is set up to yield the failure probability and a Pontryagin equation is set up to yield average first-crossing time (AFCT). A 2DOF Duffing-van der Pol oscillator is chosen as an illustrative example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the analytical method. Numerically analytical solutions are obtained and validated by digital simulation. It is shown that the proposed method has high efficiency while still maintaining satisfactory accuracy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Martin ◽  
Lucylynn Lizarondo ◽  
Saravana Kumar

Introduction Whilst telesupervision (clinical supervision undertaken using communication technology) is being used more frequently, there is limited information on what factors influence its effectiveness and quality. We undertook this systematic review to address this gap. Methods Eligible telesupervision studies were identified following targeted search of electronic databases and the grey literature. Data were synthesised thematically, resulting in development of core themes. Results We identified 286 papers for initial relevancy screening by title and abstract. The full text of 36 papers were then retrieved and assessed for further relevance. A total of 11 papers were included in the final analysis. We identified eight themes that contribute to effective and high-quality telesupervision: supervisee characteristics, supervisor characteristics, supervision characteristics, supervisory relationship, communication strategies, prior face-to-face contact, environmental factors and technological considerations. Conclusion From the available evidence, telesupervision can be a feasible and acceptable form of clinical supervision if set up well. Further studies with robust designs are required to strengthen the existing evidence on what makes telesupervision effective, as well as to examine its cost-effectiveness.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (19) ◽  
pp. 3469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brusač ◽  
Jeličić ◽  
Amidžić Klarić ◽  
Nigović ◽  
Turk ◽  
...  

With the increase in the number of medicines patients have to take, there has been a rapid rise of fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) in the last two decades. Prior to FDC development, pharmacokinetic properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have to be evaluated, as well as methods for their determination developed. So as to increase patient compliance in inflammatory bowel disease, three novel FDCs of thiopurine immunosuppressants and folic acid are proposed; physico-chemical and pharmacokinetic properties such as hydrophobicity, lipophilicity and plasma protein binding of all APIs are evaluated. Moreover, experimental results of different properties are compared to those computed by various on-line prediction platforms so as to evaluate the viability of the in silico approach. A simultaneous method for their determination is developed, optimized, validated and applied to commercial tablet formulations. The method has shown to be fast, selective, accurate and precise, showing potential for reliable determination of API content in proposed FDCs during its development.


Author(s):  
Dogan Kisacik ◽  
Gulizar Ozyurt Tarakcioglu ◽  
Cuneyt Baykal ◽  
Gokhan Kaboglu

Crest modifications such as a storm wall, parapet or a bullnose are widely used to reduce the wave overtopping over coastal structures where spatial and visual demands restrict the crest heights, especially in urban areas. Although reduction factors of these modifications have been studied for sloped structures in EurOtop Manual (2016), there is limited information regarding the vertical structures. This paper presents the experimental set-up and first results of wave overtopping tests for a vertical wall with several different super structure types: a) seaward storm wall, b) sloping promenade, c) landward storm wall, d) stilling wave basin (SWB), e) seaward storm wall with parapet, f) landward storm wall on the horizontal promenade with parapet, g) landward storm wall with parapet, h) stilling wave basin (SWB) with parapet, under breaking wave conditions. The SWB is made up of a seaward storm wall (may be a double shifted rows) , a sloping promenade (basin) and a landward storm wall. The seaward storm wall is partially permeable to allow the evacuation of the water in the basin.


2012 ◽  
Vol 542-543 ◽  
pp. 963-967
Author(s):  
Zhi Xue Tong ◽  
Li Chen Shi ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Li Gang Zhang

The multiple degrees of freedom mechanical arm of sampling machine for coal at railway carriage is driven by hydraulic press. It is a kind of joint. During working, the sampling head not only keeps in its poses, but also moves along a straight path. The mechanical arm’s motion is resolved into three independent motion systems, foundation rotation, straight motion of 3 degrees of freedom kinematics chain, and servo control system of the sampling head. A group of motion equations is set up. According to the reversion theory and optimization method, the motion control model is built up in order to reappear the motion track. The method is efficient to solve the motion control problem. And the result of driving curve is more suitable for the hydraulic system. This method is useful for motion intelligent control of different kinds of joint manipulator.


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