Preparation and characterization of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels: studies with electroactive probes

A new method of preparing thermoresponsive hydrogels consisting of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and acrylic acid (AA), with a well-defined concentration of an electroactive probe, 1,1'-ferrocenedimethanol (Fc(MeOH)2), is described, and a comparison of the physical and electrochemical properties of NIPA-AA gels with those of aqueous solutions is presented. The NIPA-AA gels undergo a discontinuous volume phase transition at 45 degrees C; this transition results in a release of approximately 40% of the solution mass from the gel phase. Characterization of hydrogels with electroactive probes is performed using electroanalytical techniques and FTIR and UV/vis spectroscopies. Steady-state voltammetry and chronoamperometry at platinum disk microelectrodes are used to measure the diffusion coefficient of Fc(MeOH)2 in gels under a wide range of experimental conditions. Similar diffusion coefficients for Fc(MeOH)2 in NIPA-AA gels are obtained by either electroanalytical technique at temperatures lower than 20 degrees C. The uncertainty in the Fc(MeOH)2 concentration in the gels, resulting from the discontinuous volume change transition, necessitated the use of concentration-independent chronoamperometric data (i.e. the chronoamperometric response divided by the steady-state current obtained at sufficiently long times) to obtain reliable diffusion coefficient values for Fc(MeOH)2. For temperatures above the volume phase transition, changes of concentration of Fc(MeOH)2 are detected in a copolymeric collapsed phase.     

含聚氨酯型温度和pH双敏性水凝胶的合成及性能研究

合成了两种阴离子型的端烯基聚氨酯（UAA）预聚物，制备了pH值敏感的水凝胶，比较了它们的PH值响应性，将UAA预聚物与N－异丙基丙烯酰胺（NIPA）共聚，得到具有温度和PH值双重敏感性的水凝胶，研究发现聚氨酯侧链的引入对NIPA的相转变温度（LCST）几乎无影响，聚合温度和组成比对所合成的水凝胶性能有较大的影响。     

Temperature-swing adsorption of proteins in water using N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer gel particles

The adsorption and desorption behaviors of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in water for temperature-responsive polymer gel particles have been investigated by the temperature-swing operation between 298 and 313 K, where the cationic N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) gels copolymerized with vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTA) or 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were used. The NIPA-VBTA and the NIPA-DMAEMA copolymer gels adsorbed BSA while the NIPA homopolymer gel hardly adsorbed BSA, indicating that the copolymer gels adsorb BSA through the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged groups in the gels and the negatively charged BSA. The adsorption amounts for the NIPA-DMAEMA gels were smaller than those for the NIPA-VBTA gels. This may be because almost every VBTA group, which is a quaternary ammonium salt, can be positively charged in water, while only some of the tertiary amine DMAEMA groups are protonated in water. Moreover, it was found that both the copolymer gels with a large mesh size of the polymer network repeatedly adsorbed BSA at 298 K and desorbed some of pre-adsorbed BSA at 313 K by the temperature-swing operation. This BSA desorption may result from the decrease of the number of the positively charged groups accessible to BSA due to the shrinking of the constituent polymer chains.     

Temperature responsive hydroxypropyl cellulose for encapsulation

This work focuses on the use of temperature responsive gels (TRGs) (polymeric hydrogels with a large temperature-dependent change in volume) for flavor retention at cooking temperatures. Specifically, we have studied a gel with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) that swells at low temperatures and collapses at high temperatures. In the collapsed state, the polymer acts as a transport barrier, keeping the volatile flavors inside. We have successfully synthesized a cellulose gel that exhibits this volume change and have encapsulated an oil phase inside the gel. The flavor-loaded encapsulated oil exhibited an increased release time when compared to similar gelatin capsules.     

Photopolymerized cross-linked polyacrylamide gels for on-chip protein sizing

A new method for on-chip sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of proteins is reported. Miniaturization of SDS-PAGE has attracted significant attention because it offers rapid analysis times, excellent resolution, high throughput, and the potential for integration and automation, as compared to conventional counterparts. The presented on-chip SDS-PAGE technique employed photolithographically patterned, cross-linked gels fabricated in situ in <20 min. The effects of sieving gel composition on the migration properties of fluorescently labeled protein standards (ranging in molecular weight from 14.2 to 66 kDa) were quantified, as was the ability of the gels to function as a sieving matrix for biologically relevant species. Ferguson analysis was employed to calculate retardation coefficients and free solution mobilities. In conjunction with fluorescence imaging, the on-chip SDS-PAGE separation mechanism was evaluated in terms of separation performance indexes, as well as limiting behaviors (i.e., free solution mobility, exclusion characteristics). The photolithographically fabricated gels employed for on-chip SDS-PAGE allowed rapid (<30 s) separations of proteins in short separation lengths (4 mm) with efficiencies as high as 4.41 x 10(5) plates/m. The on-chip SDS-PAGE separations were approximately 100 times faster than conventional slab gel SDS-PAGE (60 min) and occurred in a fraction of the separation length required by slab gels. The migration behavior of protein standards correlated well with molecular weight and allowed molecular weight determination for interleukin-2, fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and tetanus toxin C-fragment.     

Comparison of atmospheric pressure photoionization and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for normal-phase LC/MS chiral analysis of pharmaceuticals

In this work, we compared APPI and APCI for normal-phase LC/MS chiral analysis of five pharmaceuticals. Performance was compared both by FIA and by on-column analysis using a ChiralPak AD-H column under optimized conditions. By comparison, APPI generated more reproducible signals and was less susceptible to ion suppression than APCI. APPI generated higher peak area and lower baseline noise, and therefore much higher S/N ratios. APPI sensitivity (i.e., S/N ratio) was approximately 2-130 times higher than APCI by FIA and was approximately 2.6-530 times higher than APCI by on-column analysis depending on specific compounds. The better APPI sensitivity as compared to APCI was more dramatic by on-column analysis than by FIA. APCI sensitivity was degraded by ion suppression caused by LC column bleeding components and by elevated APCI baseline noise relative to APPI. On-column APPI LODs (at S/N = 3) were 83, 16, 17, 95, and 7 pg for enantiomer #1, and 104, 23, 19, 122, and 17 pg for enantiomer #2 for benzoin, naringenin, mianserin, mephenesin, and diperodon, respectively, on a Waters ZQ. APPI offers no concern of explosion hazard relative to APCI corona needle discharge or ESI high voltage discharge when flammable solvents (e.g., hexane) are used as mobile phases. Whether APPI dopants are required depends on the IP(s) of mobile-phase solvent(s) and solvent complexes, and photon energies of VUV lamps. Dopant was not necessary for hexane-based mobile phases due to their self-doping effects. Dopants did enhance Kr lamp APPI sensitivity when MeOH was used as the mobile phase. However, dopants became unnecessary for the MeOH mobile phase when the Ar lamp was used.     

Evaluation of the percutaneous absorption of chlorpromazine from PLO gels across porcine ear and human abdominal skin

Objective: The overall objective of this work is to determine the percutaneous absorption of chlorpromazine hydrochloride from pluronic lecithin organogels (PLO gels) and verify the suitability of topically applied chlorpromazine hydrochloride PLO gels for use in hospice patients for relieving symptoms such as vomiting and nausea during the end stages of life.

Methods: PLO gels of chlorpromazine hydrochloride were prepared using isopropyl palmitate (IPP) or ricinoleic acid (RA) as oil phase. In vitro percutaneous absorption of chlorpromazine hydrochloride was assessed through porcine ear and human abdominal skin. Further, the theoretical steady state plasma concentration (C_ss) of chlorpromazine was calculated from the flux values.

Results: The pH, viscosity, and stability of both PLO gels prepared with IPP and RA were comparable. The thixotropic property of RA PLO gel was found to be better than that of IPP PLO gel. The permeation of chlorpromazine hydrochloride was higher from RA PLO gel than from IPP PLO gel and pure drug solution. Theoretical C_ss of chlorpromazine from pure drug solution, IPP PLO gel and RA PLO gel were found to be 1.05, 1.20, and 1.50?ng/ml, respectively. PLO gels only marginally increased the flux and theoretical C_ss of chlorpromazine.

Conclusion: From this study, it is clearly evident that PLO gels fail to achieve required systemic levels of chlorpromazine following topical application. Chlorpromazine PLO gel may not be effective in treating nausea and vomiting for hospice patients with swallowing difficulties.     

5-乙烯基-2-降冰片烯的聚合及接枝反应

利用新型Pd(Ⅱ)型"裸露"的金属催化荆催化5-乙烯基-2-降冰片烯(VNB)的乙烯加成聚合,并利用红外(IR)、核磁(<'1>H-NMR)对单体及聚合物的结构进行了表征.同时利用过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)为引发剂引发聚合物与丙烯酸叔丁酯(tBA)、N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPA)、甲基丙烯酸-β-羟乙酯(HEMA)的接枝反...     

Shrinking patterns and phase coexistence of polymer gels

We have investigated the shrinking phase transition of slightly ionized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPA) gels. The macroscopic conformation change was observed on the heating process in two different methods; a continuous heating process and an isothermal process. It was found that the macroscopic behavior can be characterized by several conformation changes, the phase coexistence (or ‘linked-dumplings’), the grain pattern, the bubble pattern, and the opaque phase. Those have correlations with the phase transition velocity. The heating conditions to determine the characteristic conformations and the stability of the phase coexistence were qualitatively discussed in terms of the classical phase separation model of nucleation and spinodal decomposition.     

Preparation of silica monolith via sol-gel route

The present investigation deals with the synthesis of monolithic NiCl₂-silica gels obtained by hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxy silanes. This sol to gel formation can mainly be controlled by adjusting some variables e.g. acid content of the solution, ageing and leaching times. A minimum acid content was found necessary to prepare uncracked gel while ageing and leaching times were found to be not that sensitive for the formation of uncracked gels.     

In vitro release studies of flurbiprofen from different topical formulations

The release profiles of flurbiprofen (F) from different gel and ointment formulations were studied in order to evaluate factors governing the release process. Carbopol 934P (CAB), poloxamer 407 (POL), and eudragit S100 (EUD) gel bases were used, while emulsion (EML) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) ointments were employed. The release studies were conducted using membraneless diffusion cells and lipophilic receptor medium, isopropyl myristate (IPM). The effects of gelling agent concentrations and the initial drug load on drug release were determined. Hydrogels were observed to give higher amounts of drug release than hydrophobic EUD gel and ointments, despite the lower bulk viscosity of these bases. Flurbiprofen release from CAB gels was 3.06-1.56-fold higher than from other formulations. Over a 4-hr period, the amount of F released was 492.8 and 316.0 µg/cm² from 2% CAB and 25% POL gels, while it was 213.05, 168.61, and 160.9 µg/cm² from EML, 40% EUD, and PEG bases, respectively. The diffusivity of F in the gel bases was an inverse function of the polymer concentrations over the range of 1-3% CAB, 20-30% POL, and 35-45% EUD gels. Drug release was increased from the bases as the initial F concentration increased over the range 0.25-1.0%, while the diffusion coefficient observed an inverse relationship. The CAB and POL gels could be the vehicles of choice for the rapid release and onset of F after topical application.     

Effect of water removal on the textural properties of resorcinol/formaldehyde gels by azeotropic distillation

The resorcinol/formaldehyde gels containing 5% (w/v) of reactants have been prepared. After curing for seven days, the gel is treated with trifluoroacetic acid to initiate the condensation of hydroxymethyl groups. Drying of the prepared gels is done by removing water with the help of vacuum heterogeneous azeotropic distillation using amyl acetate and n-butanol. The textural properties of the gels thus obtained are compared with the properties of the gel obtained from exchange of water by acetone (control experiment). The pore volume and average pore diameter of the gel obtained from the azeotropic distillation of water with amyl acetate are 0.7663 × 10–3 m3/kg and 0.0145 m, respectively. These values are 1.5 times higher than the values obtained by vacuum heterogeneous azeotropic distillation with n-butanol and about twice than the values obtained in the control experiment. The surface areas in all the three gels are almost constant.     

An X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer study of nano-crystalline Fe2O3–Cr2O3 solid solutions

A series of gels with nominal composition Fe_2−xCr_xO₃ (x=0–2) was prepared at room temperature by an inorganic sol–gel route and studied by X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The gels dried at 105°C were found to be X-ray amorphous, but Mossbauer studies revealed the gels to be nano-crystalline solid-solution particles of the composition above, with super-paramagnetic properties. Further heating to 600°C gave crystalline X-ray patterns which allowed lattice parameter and crystallite size calculations to be made. It was found that lattice parameters and crystallite sizes decreased with increasing chromia content, and that at the higher chromia/iron ratios, a partially collapsed Mossbauer pattern results, indicating reductions in crystallite size and hyperfine field with increasing chromia content. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gelation of semiflexible polyelectrolytes by multivalent counterions

Filamentous polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution aggregate into bundles by interactions with multivalent counterions. These effects are well documented by experiment and theory. Theories also predict a gel phase in isotropic rodlike polyelectrolyte solutions caused by multivalent counterion concentrations much lower than those required for filament bundling. We report here the gelation of Pf1 virus, a model semiflexible polyelectrolyte, by the counterions Mg(2+), Mn(2+) and spermine(4+). Gelation can occur at 0.04% Pf1 volume fraction, which is far below the isotropic-nematic transition of 0.7% for Pf1 in monovalent salt. Unlike strongly crosslinked gels of semiflexible polymers, which stiffen at large strains, Pf1 gels reversibly soften at high strain. The onset strain for softening depends on the strength of interaction between counterions and the polyelectrolyte. Simulations show that the elasticity of counterion crosslinked gels is consistent with a model of semiflexible filaments held by weak crosslinks that reversibly rupture at a critical force.     

Carboxymethyl Mungbean Starch as a New Pharmaceutical Gelling Agent for Topical Preparation

An application of carboxymethyl mungbean starch (CMMS) as a gelling agent in the topical pharmaceutical preparation was investigated. CMMS was prepared using specific conditions that yielded a high-viscosity product. Polymer gels and gel bases were prepared at 1–10% (wt/wt), and physicochemical studies were carried out in comparison with four standard gelling agents: carbopol 940 (CP), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC). Piroxicam was used as a model drug to study the drug release profile of the gel formulations. The tackless, greaseless, and transparent CMMS gels exhibited pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropy at concentrations less than 5% (wt/wt). At a concentration of 5% (wt/wt) and higher, the semisolid gels showed plastic flow characteristics. Viscosity and X-ray diffraction results indicated a good compatibility between CMMS and the acidic piroxicam. No precipitation of piroxicam or phase separation was observed during a stability test. The release rate of piroxicam from 3% (wt/wt) CMMS gel was 1,003.79 ± 105.08 μg/cm², which was comparable with 947.66 ± 133.70 μg/cm² obtained from a 0.5% (wt/wt) carbopol formulation. The release profiles of both formulations were consistent and remained unchanged after 2 months' storage. Viscosity played an important role in controlling the release rate of low concentration CMMS formulations by regulating the drug diffusion. At a concentration of 5% (wt/wt) CMMS and higher, the release rates of piroxicam were not significantly different. A plausible explanation based on the nature of the gelling agent was proposed. Stability and drug release profiles of CMMS and commercial gelling agents were compared. The results supported the potential use of CMMS as a new, effective gelling agent for topical gel preparation.     

Carboxymethyl mungbean starch as a new pharmaceutical gelling agent for topical preparation

An application of carboxymethyl mungbean starch (CMMS) as a gelling agent in the topical pharmaceutical preparation was investigated. CMMS was prepared using specific conditions that yielded a high-viscosity product. Polymer gels and gel bases were prepared at 1-10% (wt/wt), and physicochemical studies were carried out in comparison with four standard gelling agents: carbopol 940 (CP), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC). Piroxicam was used as a model drug to study the drug release profile of the gel formulations. The tackless, greaseless, and transparent CMMS gels exhibited pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropy at concentrations less than 5% (wt/wt). At a concentration of 5% (wt/wt) and higher, the semisolid gels showed plastic flow characteristics. Viscosity and X-ray diffraction results indicated a good compatibility between CMMS and the acidic piroxicam. No precipitation of piroxicam or phase separation was observed during a stability test. The release rate of piroxicam from 3% (wt/wt) CMMS gel was 1,003.79 +/- 105.08 microg/cm(2), which was comparable with 947.66 +/- 133.70 microg/cm(2) obtained from a 0.5% (wt/wt) carbopol formulation. The release profiles of both formulations were consistent and remained unchanged after 2 months' storage. Viscosity played an important role in controlling the release rate of low concentration CMMS formulations by regulating the drug diffusion. At a concentration of 5% (wt/wt) CMMS and higher, the release rates of piroxicam were not significantly different. A plausible explanation based on the nature of the gelling agent was proposed. Stability and drug release profiles of CMMS and commercial gelling agents were compared. The results supported the potential use of CMMS as a new, effective gelling agent for topical gel preparation.     

Effects of ZrO2 precursors on the synthesis of V-ZrSiO4 solid solutions by the sol-gel method

The preparation of V-ZrSiO₄ solid solutions starting from different ZrO₂ precursors by using sol-gel methods is reported. The starting materials were hydrolysed and the dried gels were fired at a temperature between 500 and 900 °C with soaking times of 12h. The organic character of zirconia precursors was stronger, i.e. the starting material had more carbon atoms, a higher temperature was necessary to make the first crystalline phase appear (ZrO₂(tetragonal)) and the temperature range for the whole phase transformation was narrower. In all dried gel samples the presence of infrared bands which might be associated with either Si-O-Zr or Si-O-V was not observed. On the other hand, some bands could be attributed to a silica network and ZrO₈ groups. The main steps in V-ZrSiO₄ solid solutions were confirmed. ZrO₂(tetragonal) is crystallized on heating from an amorphous sample. The ZrO₂(tetragonal) ZrO₂(monoclinic) phase transformation then occurs and immediately afterwards the zircon formation begins. Finer textures in samples were obtained from polymeric gels rather than for colloidal gel samples, as seen from the scanning electron micrographs.     

A facile method for the production of high-surface-area mesoporous silica gels from geothermal sludge

Mesoporous silica gels were successfully produced from geothermal sludge by alkali extraction followed by acidification. The silica in the geothermal sludge was dissolved by NaOH solution to produce a sodium silicate solution, which was then reacted with HCl or tartaric acid to produce silica gels. The effects of silica concentration and pH on the silica gel properties were investigated. In addition, an improved method was proposed by incorporating two-step aging. The first aging step, which was conducted at pH 10, was used to induce Ostwald ripening to increase the size of the primary particles, and the second step was used to strengthen the gel network. Decreasing the silica concentration by diluting the as-prepared sodium silicate solution tended to increase the surface area and pore volume of the prepared silica gels. The silica gels produced by tartaric acid possessed higher surface area and pore volume than those by HCl. The surface area and pore volume reached approximately 450 m² g⁻¹ and 0.8 cm³ g⁻¹, respectively. When the gelation pH was decreased to 6, the surface area exceeded 600 m² g⁻¹. The first aging process increased the size and uniformity of the primary particles, which in turn increased the surface area of the particles. The pore diameter for all cases was greater than 5 nm, indicating that the silica gels were mesoporous.     

In Vitro Release Studies of Flurbiprofen from Different Topical Formulations

ABSTRACT

The release profiles of flurbiprofen (F) from different gel and ointment formulations were studied in order to evaluate factors governing the release process. Carbopol 934P (CAB), poloxamer 407 (POL), and eudragit S100 (EUD) gel bases were used, while emulsion (EML) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) ointments were employed. The release studies were conducted using membraneless diffusion cells and lipophilic receptor medium, isopropyl myristate (IPM). The effects of gelling agent concentrations and the initial drug load on drug release were determined. Hydrogels were observed to give higher amounts of drug release than hydrophobic EUD gel and ointments, despite the lower bulk viscosity of these bases. Flurbiprofen release from CAB gels was 3.06–1.56-fold higher than from other formulations. Over a 4-hr period, the amount of F released was 492.8 and 316.0 µg/cm² from 2% CAB and 25% POL gels, while it was 213.05, 168.61, and 160.9 µg/cm² from EML, 40% EUD, and PEG bases, respectively. The diffusivity of F in the gel bases was an inverse function of the polymer concentrations over the range of 1–3% CAB, 20–30% POL, and 35–45% EUD gels. Drug release was increased from the bases as the initial F concentration increased over the range 0.25–1.0%, while the diffusion coefficient observed an inverse relationship. The CAB and POL gels could be the vehicles of choice for the rapid release and onset of F after topical application.     

Preparation of a gel from metal alkoxide and its properties as a precursor of oxide glass

Basic research on the formation of monolithic gel as the precursor of oxide glass has been done concerning the hydrolysis and gelling of silicon tetramethoxide and the properties of dry gel. Disks of dried gel were prepared without fracture by adding the necessary amount of water for hydrolysis into a methanol solution of silicon tetramethoxide, followed by drying the formed gel while keeping the vapour pressure of the methanol under control. The dried gel was porous with micropores ranging from 15 to 100 Å in diameter. It had a specific surface area of more than 300 m² g^–1 and about 30% porosity. Monolithic gel was also prepared by using dilute ammonia water for hydrolysis. The time taken to gel became shorter with increasing ammonium ion concentration, but resulted in a gel of coarser structure. Dehydration polymerization of 60 to 75% occurred at room temperature. The polymerization was more pronounced in gels made with higher ammonium concentrations, but the amount of unreacted ethoxy group was also larger in these gels.