Nanoencapsulation of betamethasone valerate using high pressure homogenization–solvent evaporation technique: optimization of formulation and process parameters for efficient dermal targeting

Betamethsone valerate (BMV), a medium potency topical corticosteroid, is one of the most commonly employed pharmacological agents for the management of atopic dermatitis in both adults and children. Despite having remarkable pharmacological efficacy, these agents have limited clinical implication due to poor penetration across the startum cornum (SC). To mitigate issues related to targeted delivery, stability, and solubility as well as to potentiate therapeutic and clinical implication, the nanodelivery systems have gained remarkable recognition. Therefore, this study was aimed to encapsulate BMV into the chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) for optimum dermal targeting and improved penetration across the SC. The prepared NPs were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, loading capacity, crystallinity, thermal behavior, morphology, in vitro release kinetics, drug permeation across the SC, and percentage of drug retained into various skin layers. Results showed that optimized BMV-CS-NPs exhibited optimum physicochemical characteristics including small particle size (< 250?±?28?nm), higher zeta potential (+58?±?8?mV), and high entrapment efficiency (86?±?5.6%) and loading capacity (34?±?7.2%). The in vitro release study revealed that BMV-CS-NPs displayed Fickian-diffusion type mechanism of release in simulated skin surface (pH 5.5). Drug permeation efficiency and the amount of BMV retained into the epidermis and the dermis were comparatively higher in case of BMV-CS-NPs compared to BMV solution. Conclusively, we anticipated that BMV-CS-NPs could be a promising nanodelivery system for efficient dermal targeting of BMV and improved anti-AD efficacy.     

X-FEM simulation for two-unequal-collinear cracks in 2-D finite piezoelectric specimen

A study for two-unequal-collinear cracks in a 2-D finite piezoelectric specimen is carried out using a new set of six crack-tip enrichment functions proposed here for piezoelectric media in the X-FEM framework. The intensity factors and energy release rate are calculated using interaction integral in conjugation with the near tip behavior given by the Stroh formalism. Effect of finite size of the specimen is analyzed with respect to offset distances of the cracks from the specimen boundaries. ERR variations are investigated with respect to inter- crack space, crack lengths and electrical/mechanical loadings. Hence, two-unequal-collinear cracks in an infinite domain problem is simulated, analyzed and validated using X-FEM. Further, ERR at the crack tips for the asymmetric case of two collinear equal and unequal cracks, is also computed. It is concluded through this investigation that the proposed enrichment functions could be used to handle the problems of fracture mechanics in 2-D piezoelectric media within a good accuracy.     

On Inhomogeneous Deformations in ES Materials

Electro-sensitive (ES) elastomers or electro-rheological (ER) elastomers deform under the application of an electric field and their mechanical properties can be changed rapidly under the influence of electric field. The present paper deals with inhomogeneous deformations in ES elastomers. We have solved two problems namely inhomogeneous shearing deformation of a slab and inhomogeneous radial expansion and longitudinal shearing of an isotropic incompressible elastic circular cylindrical shell in the presence of electric field.     

Interaction Study of Anionic Surfactant with Aqueous Non‐Ionic Polymers from Conductivity,Density and Speed of Sound Measurements

In the present study, we have investigated in detail the interactions of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with aqueous polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and various PEG + PVP mixtures at 293.15, 303.15 and 313.15 K by applying conductivity, density and speed of sound techniques. From experimentally measured data, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) values, standard free energy of micellization (ΔG_m^o), standard enthalpy of micellization (ΔH_m^o), standard entropy of micellization (ΔS_m^o), isentropic compressibilities (κ_s), apparent molar volumes (?_v) and apparent molar isentropic compressions (?_k) of SDS in aqueous polymer mixtures have been calculated. The nature of the process of micellization has been evidenced from the magnitude of ΔG_m^o, ΔH_m^o and ΔS_m^o values. The trends of variations obtained in the various parameters have been explained in terms of the electrostatic as well as hydrophobic interactions pertaining in SDS?PEG/PVP?water systems.     

Nonplanar dust acoustic solitary and rogue waves in an ion beam plasma with superthermal electrons and ions

The propagation characteristics of dust acoustic solitary and rogue waves are investigated in an unmagnetized ion beam plasma with electrons and ions following kappa-type distribution in nonplanar geometry. The reductive perturbation method(RPM) is employed to derive the cylindrical/spherical Korteweg–de Vries(KdV) equation, which is further transformed into standard KdV equation by neglecting the geometrical effects. Using new stretching coordinates,nonlinear Schr?dinger equation(NLSE) has been derived from the standard KdV equation to study the different order rational solutions of dust acoustic rogue waves(DARWs). The impact of various physical parameters on the characteristics of dust acoustic solitary waves(DASWs) is elaborated specifically in nonplanar geometry. Further, the effects of ion beam and superthermality of electrons/ions on the characteristics of DARWs are studied. The results obtained in the present investigation may be useful in comprehending a variety of phenomena in Earth's magnetosphere polar cap region where the presence of positive ion beam has been detected and also in other regions of space/astrophysical environments where dust along with superthermal electrons and ions exists.     

Review of research work in sinking EDM and WEDM on metal matrix composite materials

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are newly advanced materials having the properties of light weight, high specific strength, good wear resistance and a low thermal expansion coefficient. These materials are extensively used in industry. Greater hardness and reinforcement makes it difficult to machine using traditional techniques, which has impeded the development of MMCs. The use of traditional machinery to machine hard composite materials causes serious tool wear due to the abrasive nature of reinforcement. These materials can be machined by many non-traditional methods like water jet and laser cutting but these processes are limited to linear cutting only. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) shows higher capability for cutting complex shapes with high precision for these materials. The paper presents a review of EDM process and year wise research work done in EDM on MMCs. The paper also discusses the future trend of research work in the same area.     

Optimum design of cyclone separator

Cyclone separators are one of the most widely used gas-solid separators. Although the optimal design of cyclone separators has been suggested earlier, the earlier works do not include all the critical parameters responsible for minimizing the pressure drop which is quite decisive to obtain a correct optimal design. In this article, the optimal design of the cyclone separator has been formulated as a geometric programming with a single degree of difficulty. The solution of the problem yields the optimum values of the number of cyclones to be used in parallel, and the inside diameter of cyclone shell and exit pipe, when a specified flow rate of gas is to be separated from solid particles, when the cut diameter is already specified. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Shielding and dielectric properties of sulfonic acid‐doped π‐conjugated polymer in 8.2–12.4 GHz frequency range

This article deals with dielectric and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of the polyaniline doped with dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) synthesized by microemulsion polymerization of aniline in aqueous solution of DBSA. Dielectric constant and shielding effectiveness due to absorption (SE_A) were calculated using S‐parameter obtained from the vector network analyzer in 8.2–12.4 GHz frequency range. Maximum SE_A of 26 dB (>99%) was achieved for polymer sample. The real part ε′ of complex permittivity shows small variation, whereas the imaginary part ε″ is found to decrease with the increase in frequency. Different formulations have been performed to see the effect of monomer to dopant ratio on intrinsic properties of polyaniline. Further characterization of polymer was carried out by UV–visible and thermal gravimetric analysis, whereas the conductivity measurements were carried out by the four‐probe method.© 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010