Influence of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and of Manufacturing Technique on in Vitro Performance of Selected Antacids

Factors affecting the performance of antacids F-MA 11, dihydroxy aluminum aminoacetate, magaldrate and magnesium hydroxide were studied in vitro using Schaub's acid neutralization test, a modified Reheis reaction velocity test and the USP test. From the results obtained it was evident that type and combination of antacid, the adjuvants and formulation techniques used in preparation of antacids affect their performance. The USP preliminary antacid test and acid neutralization test are not optimal in vitro tests to evaluate in vitro onset and duration of action of antacids.     

Biocompatible transferrin-conjugated sodium hexametaphosphate-stabilized gold nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and cellular uptake

The feasibility of using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for biomedical applications has led to considerable interest in the development of novel synthetic protocols and surface modification strategies for AuNPs to produce biocompatible molecular probes. This investigation is, to our knowledge, the first to elucidate the synthesis and characterization of sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP)-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-HMP) in an aqueous medium. The role of HMP, a food additive, as a polymeric stabilizing and protecting agent for AuNPs is elucidated. The surface modification of Au-HMP nanoparticles was carried out using polyethylene glycol and transferrin to produce molecular probes for possible clinical applications. In vitro cell viability studies performed using as-synthesized Au-HMP nanoparticles and their surface-modified counterparts reveal the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. The transferrin-conjugated nanoparticles have significantly higher cellular uptake in J5 cells (liver cancer cells) than control cells (oral mucosa fibroblast cells), as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This study demonstrates the possibility of using an inexpensive and non-toxic food additive, HMP, as a stabilizer in the large-scale generation of biocompatible and monodispersed AuNPs, which may have future diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

Monte Carlo simulation of arsenic ion implantation in (100)single-crystal silicon

In this paper is reported a new physically based Monte Carlo model and simulator for accurate simulation of arsenic ion implantation in (100) single-crystal silicon. A new damage generation model and an improved electronic stopping power model have been developed. These new physically based models greatly improve the capability for predicting arsenic as-implanted profiles. This new Monte Carlo model predicts very well the detailed profile dependence on the implant tilt and rotation angles as well as on the implant dose and energy over the energy range 15-180 keV     

Visualization of dynamic fiber-matrix interfacial shear debonding

To visualize the debonding event in real time for the study of dynamic crack initiation and propagation at the fiber–matrix interface, a modified tension Kolsky bar was integrated with a high-speed synchrotron X-ray phase-contrast imaging setup. In the gage section, the pull-out configuration was utilized to understand the behavior of interfacial debonding between SC-15 epoxy matrix and S-2 glass fiber, tungsten wire, steel wire, and carbon fiber composite Z-pin at pull-out velocities of 2.5 and 5.0 m s^?1. The load history and images of the debonding progression were simultaneously recorded. Both S-2 glass fiber and Z-pin experienced catastrophic interfacial debonding whereas tungsten and steel wire experienced both catastrophic debonding and stick–slip behavior. Even though S-2 glass fiber and Z-pin samples exhibited a slight increase and tungsten and steel wire samples exhibited a slight decrease in average peak force and average interfacial shear stress as the pull-out velocities were increased, no statistical difference was found for most properties when the velocity was increased. Furthermore, the debonding behavior for each fiber material is similar with increasing pull-out velocity. Thus, the debonding mechanism, peak force, and interfacial shear stress were rate insensitive as the pull-out velocity doubled from 2.5 to 5.0 m s^?1. Scanning electron microscope imaging of recovered epoxy beads revealed a snap-back behavior around the meniscus region of the bead for S-2 glass, tungsten, and steel fiber materials at 5.0 m s^?1 whereas those at 2.5 m s^?1 exhibited no snap-back behavior.     

Desulfurization of digester gas: prediction of activated carbon bed performance at low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide

Three chemically modified/impregnated activated carbons (supplied by manufactures) were used for adsorption–catalytic removal of hydrogen sulfide from digester gas. The performance of samples was studied in dynamic conditions at 1000, 2000 and 5000 ppm of H₂S in digester gas. The results showed differences in the H₂S removal capacities related to the type of carbon and conditions of the experiment. A decrease in H₂S concentration resulted in an increase in a breakthrough capacity, which is linked to slow kinetics of oxidation process. No significant changes were observed when the oxygen content increased from 1 to 2% and the temperature from 38 to 60 °C. On the surface of carbons studied hydrogen sulfide was oxidized predominantly to sulfur, which was deposited in micropores, either on the walls or at the pore entrances. The capacities at low concentrations, 50 and 100 ppm, of H₂S were determined using an approach based on known theoretical solution of a dynamic model where the parameters of the model were determined from the experimental data at a high concentration of an adsorbate.     

Immunodiagnosis of dracunculiasis by dot-ELISA

Different classes of tryptophan residues in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase were investigated with respect to their exposure to quenchers and sensitivity to high-affinity calcium binding to the ATPase. The charged quenchers, iodide and cesium, produced only slight quenching of ATPase fluorescence, whereas noncharged acrylamide and notably oxygen produced significant quenching. This finding gives support to the proposed location of most of the tryptophan residues of the ATPase in transmembrane domains of this protein (MacLennan et al., 1985, Nature 316r, 696-700). Among the different quenchers tested, oxygen quenching alone was sensitive to calcium binding to the ATPase, indicating that oxygen quenched tryptophan residues located in regions of the ATPase molecule which undergo conformational changes upon calcium binding. Time-resolved oxygen quenching data were analyzed with a recently described model that takes into account the existence of two different classes of emitters in the ATPase (Ferreira and Verjovski-Almeida, 1991, J. Lumin. 48, 430-434): a short-lived blue-shifted exponential component plus a long-lived red-shifted continuous lifetime distribution. Oxygen quenching of the single-exponential lifetime component was found to be insensitive to calcium, whereas quenching of the distributed lifetime component was significantly (ca 25%) enhanced by calcium binding. The different sensitivities of the two tryptophan classes to calcium binding to the ATPase are interpreted in terms of the proposed location of tryptophan residues in relation to the calcium transport sites in the ATPase molecule.     

Sustained Release from Precirol® (Glycerol Palmito-Stearate) Matrix. Effect of Mannitol and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose on the Release of Theophylline

The release of theophylline embedded in a Precirol® (glycerol palmitostearate) matrix containing varying amounts of mannitol and/or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 4000 (HPMC) was studied. The results indicated that HPMC or mannitol when incorporated alone, the drug release followed the diffusion-controlled matrix model where the quantity of drug released was proportional to the square root of time. The release rate was found to increase with increase in the amount of HPMC or mannitol in the matrix. When both mannitol and HPMC were incorporated in the matrix, the mechanism of release changed from the Higuchi model to a first-order release. A linear relationship was found between the fraction of HPMC or mannitol in the matrix and the rate constant. An optimum combination of Precirol®, mannitol and HPMC was found for a 12 hour theophyll ine sustained release preparation