Modeling of void formation and removal in liquid composite molding. Part I: Wettability analysis

This two-part paper focuses on the characterization and simulation of two important molding defects in liquid composite molding—poor wetting and void formation. Part I analyzes resin-fiber wettability. This involved characterization of various liquids/resins and fiber filaments/fiber mats by using wicking test and capillary pressure measurement. Methodology to quantify capillary pressurewettability relationships was developed. It was found that the Leverett J function can correlate capillary pressure-saturation relationships for fiber reinforcements with various porosities and fiber architecture.     

Effects of Reaction Medium on Grafting of Acrylonitrile Onto Sodium Salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Amylose

The grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) onto sodium salt of partially carboxymethylated amylose (Na-PCMA) using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator has been studied in water/solvent mixtures. The solvents used include methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, acetone and carbon tetrachloride. The results have been discussed. The effect of reaction medium on the molecular weight of grafted PAN has also been studied. The chain transfer constants (C_s) for solvents like methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, acetone and carbon tetrachloride have been evaluated at 30°C by the help of Mayo's equation.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds of Guar Gum and Hydroxyethyl Guar Gum

The quaternary ammonium compounds of guar gum (QAGG) and hydroxylethyl guar gum ether (QAHEG) were prepared by the reaction of guar gum (GG) or hydroxyethyl guar gum ether (HEG) with amine condensates of epichlorohydrin using either aliphatic or heterocyclic tertiary amines. These quaternary salts were characterized by infra-red spectra, viscometry and thermogravimetry. The temperature characteristics like initial decomposition temperature (IDT), ten percent volatilization temperature (T₁₀), temperature of maximum rate of decomposition (T_max), integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT) and activation energy of QAGG and QAHEG salts are compared with those of GG and HEG.     

A Study on Reaction Influencing Factors in Carboxymethylation of Leucaena glauca Seed Gum

Sodiummonochloroacetate and sodiumhydroxide were employed under different conditions to prepare and optimize the carboxymethyl derivative of Leucaena glauca seed gum. The effects of concentration of reactants, reaction temperature and time have been interpreted in terms of degree of carboxymethylation as well as efficiency and rate of carboxymethylation reaction. The formation of the proposed derivative has also been supported by providing infra-red spectral characterization.     

Kinetics of colour and texture changes in Gulabjamun balls during deep-fat frying

Gulabjamun, a popular Indian milk sweet, is prepared by deep-fat frying of balls of dough made of khoa, wheat flour and baking powder, and subsequent dipping in sugar syrup. Kinetics of colour and texture changes in gulabjamun balls were investigated with regard to frying temperature (120, 130, 140 °C). Crust colour was evaluated in terms of CIELAB parameters L*, a*, b*, and ΔE, and rheological properties in terms of hardness, stiffness and firmness. Frying-induced surface browning was reflected in a decreasing lightness value L* as well as the ratio of yellow hue index b* and red hue index a* and total colour expressed in terms of ΔE, L* following a zero-order change whereas the other parameters, a first-order change. Increase in the texture parameters hardness and firmness followed zero-order reaction kinetics whereas stiffness rise followed a first-order reaction. The temperature dependence of reaction constants could be explained by the Arrhenius equation. Activation energy was also obtained for both the colour and texture changes, which were in the range of 24.5-77.6 kJ/mol. High correlations between colour and texture parameters were observed and it was concluded that L* alone could be used to predict the firmness of deep-fat fried gulabjamun balls.     

Genome-wide bacterial toxicity screening uncovers the mechanisms of toxicity of a cationic polystyrene nanomaterial

By exploiting a genome-wide collection of bacterial single-gene deletion mutants, we have studied the toxicological pathways of a 60-nm cationic (amino-functionalized) polystyrene nanomaterial (PS-NH(2)) in bacterial cells. The IC(50) of commercially available 60 nm PS-NH(2) was determined to be 158 μg/mL, the IC(5) is 108 μg/mL, and the IC(90) is 190 μg/mL for the parent E. coli strain of the gene deletion library. Over 4000 single nonessential gene deletion mutants of Escherichia coli were screened for the growth phenotype of each strain in the presence and absence of PS-NH(2). This revealed that genes clusters in the lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway, outer membrane transport channels, ubiquinone biosynthetic pathways, flagellar movement, and DNA repair systems are all important to how this organism responds to cationic nanomaterials. These results, coupled with those from confirmatory assays described herein, suggest that the primary mechanisms of toxicity of the 60-nm PS-NH(2) nanomaterial in E. coli are destabilization of the outer membrane and production of reactive oxygen species. The methodology reported herein should prove generally useful for identifying pathways that are involved in how cells respond to a broad range of nanomaterials and for determining the mechanisms of cellular toxicity of different types of nanomaterials.     

Optical and Light Scattering Studies of Starch Granules

Starch samples were extracted from food grains namely Jowar, Cheno, Vatana and Tuwer, and physico-chemical properties were determined. These samples were examined under polarized light. SALS pattern enabled to determine the size of these starch granules. A comparison has been made between the size determined from the optical microscopy and the SALS technique.     

Effect of Kollidon VA®64 particle size and morphology as directly compressible excipient on tablet compression properties

The study evaluates use of Kollidon VA^®64 and a combination of Kollidon VA^®64 with Kollidon VA^®64 Fine as excipient in direct compression process of tablets. The combination of the two grades of material is evaluated for capping, lamination and excessive friability. Inter particulate void space is higher for such excipient due to the hollow structure of the Kollidon VA^®64 particles. During tablet compression air remains trapped in the blend exhibiting poor compression with compromised physical properties of the tablets. Composition of Kollidon VA^®64 and Kollidon VA^®64 Fine is evaluated by design of experiment (DoE). A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of two grades of Kollidon VA^®64 exhibits morphological differences between coarse and fine grade. The tablet compression process is evaluated with a mix consisting of entirely Kollidon VA^®64 and two mixes containing Kollidon VA^®64 and Kollidon VA^®64 Fine in ratio of 77:23 and 65:35. A statistical modeling on the results from the DoE trials resulted in the optimum composition for direct tablet compression as combination of Kollidon VA^®64 and Kollidon VA^®64 Fine in ratio of 77:23. This combination compressed with the predicted parameters based on the statistical modeling and applying main compression force between 5 and 15?kN, pre-compression force between 2 and 3?kN, feeder speed fixed at 25?rpm and compression range of 45–49?rpm produced tablets with hardness ranging between 19 and 21?kp, with no friability, capping, or lamination issue.     

Nanosuspension of efavirenz for improved oral bioavailability: formulation optimization,in vitro,in situ and in vivo evaluation

Context: Nanosuspensions (NSs) of poorly water-soluble drugs are known to increase the oral bioavailability.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop NS of efavirenz (EFV) and to investigate its potential in enhancing the oral bioavailability of EFV.

Materials and methods: EFV NS was prepared using the media milling technique. The Box–Behnken design was used for optimization of the factors affecting EFV NS. Sodium lauryl sulfate and PVP K30 were used to stabilize the NS. Freeze-dried NS was completely re-dispersed with double-distilled filtered water.

Results: Mean particle size and zeta potential of the optimized NS were found to be 320.4?±?3.62?nm and –32.8?±?0.4 mV, respectively. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetric analysis indicated no phase transitions. Rate and extent of drug dissolution in the dissolution medium for NS was significantly higher compared to marketed formulation. The parallel artificial membrane permeability assay revealed that NS successfully enhanced the permeation of EFV. Results of in situ absorption studies showed a significant difference in absorption parameters such as K_a, t_1/2 and uptake percentages between lyophilized NS and marketed formulation of EFV. Oral bioavailability of EFV in rabbits resulting from NS was increased by 2.19-fold compared to the marketed formulation.

Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that NS formulation of EFV can provide improved oral bioavailability due to enhanced solubility, dissolution velocity, permeability and hence absorption.