Enhanced stability and permeation potential of nanoemulsion containing sefsol-218 oil for topical delivery of amphotericin B

Aim: To characterize the enhanced stability and permeation potential of amphotericin B nanoemulsion comprising sefsol-218 oil at varying pH and temperature of aqueous continuous phase.

Methodology: Several batches of amphotericin B loaded nanoemulsion were prepared and evaluated for their physical and chemical stability at different pH and temperature. Also, a comparative study of ex vivo drug permeation across the albino rat skin was investigated with commercial Fungisome® and drug solution at 37?°C for 24?h. The extent of drug penetrated through the rat skin was thereby evaluated using the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Results and conclusions: The optimized nanoemulsion demonstrated the highest flux rate 17.85?±?0.5?µg/cm²/h than drug solution (5.37?±?0.01?µg/cm²/h) and Fungisome® (7.97?±?0.01?µg/cm²/h). Ex vivo drug penetration mechanism from the developed formulations at pH 6.8 and pH 7.4 of aqueous phase pH using the CLSM revealed enhanced penetration. Ex vivo drug penetration studies of developed formulation comprising of CLSM revealed enhanced penetration in aqueous phase at pH 6.8 and 7.4. The aggregation behavior of nanoemulsion at both the pH was found to be minimum and non-nephrotoxic. The stability of amphotericin B was obtained in terms of pH, optical density, globular size, polydispersity index and zeta potential value at different temperature for 90 days. The slowest drug degradation was observed in aqueous phase at pH 7.4 with shelf life 20.03-folds higher when stored at 4?°C (3.8 years) and 5-fold higher at 25?°C (0.951 years) than at 40?°C. The combined results suggested that nanoemulsion may hold an alternative for enhanced and sustained topical delivery system for amphotericin B.     

Metal/Polymer Based Stretchable Antenna for Constant Frequency Far‐Field Communication in Wearable Electronics

Body integrated wearable electronics can be used for advanced health monitoring, security, and wellness. Due to the complex, asymmetric surface of human body and atypical motion such as stretching in elbow, finger joints, wrist, knee, ankle, etc. electronics integrated to body need to be physically flexible, conforming, and stretchable. In that context, state‐of‐the‐art electronics are unusable due to their bulky, rigid, and brittle framework. Therefore, it is critical to develop stretchable electronics which can physically stretch to absorb the strain associated with body movements. While research in stretchable electronics has started to gain momentum, a stretchable antenna which can perform far‐field communications and can operate at constant frequency, such that physical shape modulation will not compromise its functionality, is yet to be realized. Here, a stretchable antenna is shown, using a low‐cost metal (copper) on flexible polymeric platform, which functions at constant frequency of 2.45 GHz, for far‐field applications. While mounted on a stretchable fabric worn by a human subject, the fabricated antenna communicated at a distance of 80 m with 1.25 mW transmitted power. This work shows an integration strategy from compact antenna design to its practical experimentation for enhanced data communication capability in future generation wearable electronics.     

Alginate dialdehyde (AD)-crosslinked casein films: synthesis,characterization and water absorption behavior

In this work, for the first time, alginate dialdehyde (AD) has been used as a cross linker to prepare casein films. The films, synthesized, have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The films were investigated for their water absorption capacity in the physiological fluid of pH 7.4 at 37 °C. The film samples (AD-X-CAS)₁₂, (AD-X-CAS)₂₄ and (AD-X-CAS)₃₆ demonstrated an equilibrium water absorption of 30.86, 26.15 and 11.93 g/g, respectively. Moreover, the swelling exponents for the films were in the range of 0.66–0.75, thus indicating non-Fickian water transport mechanism. The dynamic water uptake data were analysed by various kinetic models. The water vapour transmission rates (WVTR) for the three film samples were found to be 16587, 15900 and 14316 g/m²/day, respectively. The higher values of WVTR, obtained for all the three samples, indicated their suitability for high exudating wounds. The results of expansion study in 4% gelatin medium revealed that the three samples exhibited an almost 2.54, 2.09 and 1.90-fold increase in their diameter in 90, 75 and 60 min, respectively.     

Developing ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber compounds for industrial applications using a sulfur‐bearing silanized silica nanofiller

The loading of a sulfur‐bearing silanized silica nanofiller in ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber with 4.5 wt% of ethylidene norbornene diene content was increased progressively to 60 parts per hundred rubber by weight. The rubber compounds were cured via the tetrasulfane groups of the silane by adding sulfenamide accelerator and zinc oxide. The hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, stored energy density at break, tear strength, Young's modulus, M50–M300, compression set, cyclic fatigue life, and bound rubber content of the rubber vulcanizates were measured. With the exception of the elongation at break and compression set which deteriorated, the remaining properties improved and the rate of cure, optimum cure time, and cross‐link density benefited also when the loading of silica was increased in the rubber. The bound rubber content was unchanged, and the cyclic fatigue life of the rubber vulcanizate enhanced considerably when silica was added. Optimizing the chemical bonding between the rubber and filler via the tetrasulfane groups of bis(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl)‐tetrasulfide reduced the chemical curatives in the rubber. This was a major improvement in health, safety, and environment. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:2019–2025, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Nutritional and Phyto-Therapeutic Potential of Papaya (Carica Papaya Linn.): An Overview

Carica papaya is an economically vivacious plant of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated in over 50 countries across the world with 6.8 million tons production. Papaya holds a broad spectrum of phytochemicals, including polysaccharides, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, and phytosterols. These bioactive components are responsible for the pharmacological properties of this auspicious plant and demonstrate its importance in daily intake and alimentation. Additionally, it is an excellent aid to digestion and also hydrolyzing gluten, which is an important aspect for dyspeptic and celiac disease patients. Papaya acts as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarminative, anticancer, and has hepato-protective, immunological, and other therapeutic attributes. The seed and pulp of papaya have bacteriostatic effects against several enteropathogens, such as Bacillus subtilus and E. coli. In the current review, pharmacological attributes, nutritional value of papaya, and medicinal properties of its various parts have been elaborated to provide collective information on this multipurpose commercial plant. Moreover, its role in the production of alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose is also the limelight of the article. Furthermore, the present review article summarizes the literature pertaining to its pharmakinetics and also allies its health claims. Yet, the authors are still of the view that further research needs to be conducted for meticulousness.     

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a natural healthy vegetable

Bitter melon provides health benefits against various ailments for improving the quality of life. It is nutrient dense plant-based food containing versatility of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, polypeptide, vitamins, and minerals. Owing to presence of bioactive compounds, it has the ability to fight against various lifestyle related disorders, e.g. cancer insurgence, diabetes mellitus, abdominal pain, kidney (stone), fever, and scabies. Amongst bioactive moieties, p-insulin is similar to insulin whose subcutaneous injection significantly lower blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. It also contains steroidal saponins called charantin, act alike peptides and certain alkaloids that effectively control sugar level in blood. The therapeutic perspectives have been also highlighted as they are helpful in regulating blood cholesterol thus protecting the body from cardiovascular disorders like atherosclerosis. Whole fruit, seeds and leaves of bitter melon regulates impaired antioxidant status and suppress fat accumulation. Moreover, curative potential of its bioactive components and their utilization in value added food products are also the limelight of article.