FORMULATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF MUCOADHESIVE DENTAL APPLICATIONS CONTAINING BENZYDAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE

The aim of this research was to develop a bioadhesive film based on benzydamine hydrochloride incorporated into natural bioadhesive polymers with different quantities of chitosan and guar gum but utilising a plasticiser. The obtained gels were deaerated by sonification, formed and evaporated by hot air drying; then, the properties were evaluated. Guar gum had a great influence on mechanical properties of the films – dynamic viscosity, texture, elasticity, stretching robustness, swelling and blur time. The formulations were used to obtain mucoadhesive films containing 0.3% benzydamine hydrochloride; they were tested for the release of the model drug. The amount of chitosan added to the formulation reduced the quantity of released substance and slowed down the release. Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy did not reveal the creation of new chemical structures. In conclusion, the ratio of chitosan to guar gum in the medium impacts the mechanical properties and release parameters of the drug. These findings should enable researchers to match the parameter values to receive the most beneficial therapeutic outcome.

The Effect of CoFe2O4 Weight Fraction on the Properties of Magnetic CoFe2O4/Unsaturated Polyester Nanocomposites Synthesized by Hand Lay-up Method

Objective: In this study, Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanopowders were prepared by the sol-gel precipitation method. Methods: The prepared ferrite powders were sintered at 1000°C for 2 hours. CoFe2O4/unsaturated polyester nanocomposites were prepared with different weight fraction of CoFe2O4. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the crystallite size (D) of CoFe2O4 was found to be 20.68 nm. Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra confirmed the spinal structure of CoFe2O4. Results: The saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity (Hc) of all the composites were found to increase with increasing ferrite content. Conclusion: Dielectric constant values were found to increase with increasing the concentration of ferrite.

Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using aloe vera extract

In material science, green method for synthesis of nanomaterials is feasible, cheaper and eco-friendly protocol. To accomplish this phenomenon, present study was aimed to synthesize Copper oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Aloevera with two different precursors CuCl2.2H2O (Cupric chloride) and CuSo4.5H2O (Cupric sulfate). The extraction of Aloevera is employed as reducing and stabilizing agent for this synthesis.Copper oxide Nanoparticles is effective use of biomedical application due to their antibacterial function. The synthesized Copper oxide nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX), FourierTransform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT- IR) and Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM). XRD studies reveal the crystallographic nature of Copper oxide nanoparticles. Furthermore the Copper oxide nanoparticles have good Antibacterial activity against both gram negative (E.Coli, Klebsiella pneumonia) and gram positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus)bacteria.

A Comparison of Osteoblast Cell Proliferation and Osteocalcin Expression in Cuttlefish Bone and Bovine Bone Xenograft

Background: Cuttlefish bone Xenograft, calcium phosphate (CaP)-based biomaterial graft, offers an alternative and has been accepted for osteoconductive and probable osteo-inductive attributes. This study aims to compare the bone healing potential between the bovine-derived (BHA) and cuttlefish bone-derived (CHA).Materials and Methods: The study compared osteoblast cell proliferation of 27 New Zealand rabbits in 2.5 mm bone defect made in the femoral bone. The samples were divided into three groups, which were control, BHA and CHA group. The chemical and physical characteristics of BHA and CHA were determined for the content of hydroxyapatite by FourierTransform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), then tested by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the porosity. In the end of the second week, histopathologic and immunohistochemistry examinations were performed to evaluate the amount of osteoblast and osteocalcin expression.Results: The FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis showed both BHA and CHA samples were hydroxyapatite according to Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS). The CHA was significantly higher (297.22±19.772) compared to BHA (258.22±30.926) and control (131.67±34.213). Osteocalcin expression in CHA (7.82±2.230) compared to BHA (6.09±3.724) and control (4.07±3.606), was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: CHA group has the highest osteoblast cell proliferation and osteocalcin expression, meaning has a good potential as future source of bone graft.Keywords: cuttlefish bone, bovine, bone graft, osteoblast cell

Development Insights of Surface Modified Lipid Nanoemulsions of Dihydroartemisinin for Malaria Chemotherapy: Characterization, and in vivo Antimalarial Evaluation

<P>Background: The use of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) for effective malaria treatment is challenged by its poor aqueous solubility and inadequate bioavailability leading to treatment failures and emergence of resistant strains. A review of some novel drug delivery systems developed to address these challenges and their patents revealed that no study has reported the application of surface modified lipid nanoemulsions for improved antimalarial activity of DHA. Objective: The main thrust of this study is to develop oral dihydroartemisinin formulations solubilized in surface modified lipid nanoemulsions, characterize, and evaluate their activity against murine malaria. Method: Lipid nanoemulsions containing dihydroartemisinin were formulated by high pressure homogenization using soybean oil, and polyethylene glycol 4000 was employed for surface modification. The formulations were characterized for droplet size, surface charge, pH, fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, and surface morphology, viscosity and drug content efficiency. In vitro haemolytic study as a function of cytotoxicity using red blood cells as well as in vivo anti-malarial study using murine malaria model was also investigated. </P><P> Results: Nanoemulsions recorded droplet sizes ranging from 26 – 56 nm, and zeta potential in the range of -28 to -35 mV. The formulations were slightly acidic (pH 4.4 – 5.8) with the drug molecularly dispersed as seen using infrared spectroscopy. The formulations showed non- Newtonian flow with significant drug content efficiency in the range of 77-96%. The formulations did not induce haemolysis of cells and showed good clearance of parasitaemia. Conclusion: Surface-modified lipid nanoemulsion is a perfect carrier system for improving the anti-malarial activity of dihydroartemisinin.</P>

COMPARISON OF OXIDIZED CARBON NANOTUBES EFFICIENCIES FOR BENZENE AND TOLUENE REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely used as adsorbent in environmental treatment, especially for pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The purpose of this work is to develop materials based on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for Benzene and Toluene removal. This will exploit adsorption propertiesof modified MWCNTS for Benzene and Toluene. In the first study, adsorption capacity of pristine MWCNTs to Benzene and Toluene in aqueous solution was investigated through isotherm study. The qe values of CNTs for Benzene and Toluene were 45,5 mg.g-1 and 56.3 mg.g-1, respectively and a contact time of 120 min. The modification of three oxidized MWCNTs were performed with acid solution (HNO3/H2SO4), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The modified MWCNTs materials (CNT-COOH,CNT-NaOCl,CNT-H2O2) were characterized by Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The effects of functional groups on the MWCNTs on the adsorption capacity of Benzene, Toluene in aqueous solution were studied and compared to pristine MWCNTs. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of adsorption was significantly enhanced with oxidized CNTs, and following the order CNTs-NaOCl > CNTs-H2O2> CNTs-H2SO4> pristine CNTs.

Antiparallel β-sheet: a signature structure of the oligomeric amyloid β-peptide

AD (Alzheimer's disease) is linked to Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) misfolding. Studies demonstrate that the level of soluble Aβ oligomeric forms correlates better with the progression of the disease than the level of fibrillar forms. Conformation-dependent antibodies have been developed to detect either Aβ oligomers or fibrils, suggesting that structural differences between these forms of Aβ exist. Using conditions which yield well-defined Aβ-(1–42) oligomers or fibrils, we studied the secondary structure of these species by ATR (attenuated total reflection)–FTIR (Fouriertransform infrared) spectroscopy. Whereas fibrillar Aβ was organized in a parallel β-sheet conformation, oligomeric Aβ displayed distinct spectral features, which were attributed to an antiparallel β-sheet structure. We also noted striking similarities between Aβ oligomers spectra and those of bacterial outer membrane porins. We discuss our results in terms of a possible organization of the antiparallel β-sheets in Aβ oligomers, which may be related to reported effects of these highly toxic species in the amyloid pathogenesis associated with AD.

Heat, Cold and Pressure Induced Denaturation of Proteins

We studied the pressureinduced unfolding and refolding of monomeric proteins, such as SNase, αchymotrypsin and ubiquitin, by using synchrotron Xray smallangle scattering and Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, which monitor changes in the tertiary and secondary structural properties of the proteins upon pressurization. Furthermore, by using the pressurejump relaxation technique in combination with timeresolved Xray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, the kinetics of the unfolding/refolding of the proteins, was investigated. Significant differences in secondary structure and chain compactness in the folding/unfolding reactions of these proteins are observed. The results are compared with data obtained from other methods of denaturation, such as heat and pressure-assisted cold denaturation. The cold- and pressure-induced unfolding both yield a particularly unfolded state characterized by a persistent amount of secondary structure.