Intra-ventral pallidal glutamate antagonists block expression of morphine-induced place preference.

The role of ionotropic glutamate receptors within the ventral pallidum (VP) in the expression of conditioned place preference (CPP) and motor adaptations to morphine was evaluated. VP-cannulated rats were subjected to 3 days of conditioning in which saline was paired to one distinct chamber in the morning and morphine (8 mg/kg ip or its vehicle) was paired to an alternate chamber in the afternoon. This induced (a) CPP expression in drug-free rats 1 day later, which was blocked by immediate pretreatments with intra-VP injections of a glutamate antagonist cocktail (DL-2-amino-5- phosphonopentanoic acid lithium salt [AP-5] + 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione disodium salt [CNQX]), and (b) changes in motor function expressed following an acute morphine challenge 18 days later, which were absent if preceded by a 10-day treatment with the glutamate antagonists injected unilaterally once daily in alternating hemispheres. Thus, VP ionotropic glutamate receptors are critical mediators of the expression of place preference and motor adaptations subsequent to repeated morphine exposure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis and evaluation of ciprofloxacin-loaded carboxymethyl tamarind kernel polysaccharide nanoparticles

Nanotechnology is currently employed as a tool to fight more efficiently against human pathogens. Nanoparticles can be prepared from a variety of materials such as protein, biodegradable polymers and synthetic polymers. Tamarindus indica Linn. or tamarind is one of the most important biodegradable polymer. In the present study, chemically modified polymer of tamarind ‘carboxymethyl tamarind kernel polysaccharide’ (CMTKP) is used for the synthesis of nanoparticulate formulation. Antibacterial activity of CMTKP was analysed which was then enhanced by incorporating a flouroquinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin to it. Ciprofloxacin-loaded CMTKP nanoparticles were synthesised via ionotropic gelation technique. Nanosuspension so formed was lyophilised by addition of a cryoprotectant. Nanoparticles obtained were characterised for its particle size, morphology and stability. Interaction studies were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Antibacterial activities of ciprofloxacin, CMTKP and ciprofloxacin-loaded CMTKP nanoparticles were tested against two Gram negative and positive bacteria. The antibacterial assay results revealed greatest zone of inhibition by ciprofloxacin-loaded CMTKP nanoparticles in Micrococcus luteus. Toxicity analysis of the prepared formulation was carried out on vero cell lines via resazurin assay which revealed its minimum toxicity.     

Shape control and stability of multicore millimetre-sized capsules using a combined monoaxial dispersion electrospraying–ionotropic gelation technique

Multicore millimetre-sized fish oil-loaded alginate capsules were developed using a combined monoaxial dispersion electrospraying–ionotropic gelation technique and their stability was explored. By adjusting the preparation parameters, the capsule shapes could be irregular, spherical with a short-tail, spherical, fusiform, and fusiform with a long-tail. The continuous phase of the millimetre-sized capsules consisted of hydrophilic alginate calcium and water. Moreover, the water content increased from 17% to 69% with increased alginate concentration (2.5–30 mg mL⁻¹). The capsules prepared with alginate concentration of 10 mg mL⁻¹ or 20 mg mL⁻¹ show a similar loading ratio (about 5–8%) of fish oil during storage. Headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (HS-SPME-GC-MS) results confirmed the capsules masked the fishy odour of fish oil. Moreover, fish oil slowly migrated from the inside to the outside of the capsules. This work presented a simple method to prepare multicore millimetre-sized capsules with controlled shapes and a basic understanding of the effect of encapsulation using alginate to mask the fish oil odour.     

Ionic Hydrogels with Biomimetic 4D‐Printed Mechanical Gradients: Models for Soft‐Bodied Aquatic Organisms

Direct‐ink writing (DIW), a rapidly growing and advancing form of additive manufacturing, provides capacities for on‐demand tailoring of materials to meet specific requirements for final designs. The penultimate challenge faced with the increasing demand of customization is to extend beyond modification of shape to create 4D structures, dynamic 3D structures that can respond to stimuli in the local environment. Patterning material gradients is foundational for assembly of 4D structures, however, there remains a general need for useful materials chemistries to generate gray scale gradients via DIW. Here, presented is a simple materials assembly paradigm using DIW to pattern ionotropic gradients in hydrogels. Using structures that architecturally mimic sea‐jelly organisms, the capabilities of spatial patterning are highlighted as exemplified by selectively programming the valency of the ion‐binding agents. Spatial gradients, when combined with geometry, allow for programming the flexibility and movement of iron oxide nanoparticle–loaded ionotropic hydrogels to generate 4D‐printed structures that actuate in the presence of local magnetic fields. This work highlights approaches to 4D design complexity that exploits 3D‐printed gray‐scale/gradient mechanics.     

Design and characteristics of gellan gum beads for modified release of meloxicam

The aim of the presented work was to design, formulate and evaluate the properties of low-acyl gellan macro beads with the potential application as carriers for oral delivery of meloxicam (MLX) in the prophylaxis of colorectal cancer. The beads were obtained by means of ionotropic gelation technique. Calcium chloride (1.0%, 9.0?×?10^?2 M) was used as the cross-linking agent. Nine different polymer, drug and surfactant (Tween^®80) mixtures were used for production of the beads. The quantitative compositions of the mixtures were generated with the application of the Design of Experiments (DoE) modulus from the STATISTICA Software. The prepared formulations revealed 7.2–27.0% of drug loading and 29.2–50.7% drug encapsulation efficiency. It turned out that 0.5% amount of gellan gum in the mixtures was not sufficient to obtain spherical beads. The morphology and surface of the dried beads were analyzed by SEM. Raman spectra confirmed that MLX did not undergo structural changes during production of the beads. The swelling behavior and degradation of the beads were evaluated in three simulated gastrointestinal fluids at different pH (1.2; 4.5; 6.8). The MLX in vitro release studies were conducted on USP apparatus IV, working in the open loop mode. The obtained results showed that MLX release from the dried beads was pH-dependent. The formulations obtained from mixtures containing 1.0 and 1.5% of gellan may be considered as oral dosage forms for MLX, intended to omit the stomach and release the drug in the distal parts of the gastrointestinal tract.     

薄荷香精微胶囊的内乳化凝胶法制备及性能研究

薄荷香精在食品生产中应用广泛,但是由于其易挥发性和对环境敏感的特性,致使留香时间不长,货架期较短。目前,喷雾干燥是最广泛使用的微胶囊制备方法,但是由于喷雾后的高温干燥处理会导致香精的部分损失,所以需要探索一种在常温下制备香精微胶囊的方法。本文以海藻酸钙为壁材,薄荷香精为芯材,采用内乳化凝聚法来制备薄荷香精微胶囊,在常温下可获得球形好、粒径分布均一的微胶囊。通过傅立叶红外光谱定性验证香精是否被海藻酸钠包埋。由单因素实验和正交实验对包埋率和粒径分布进行考察,得到制备的最佳工艺参数。最佳的工艺条件为:芯材与海藻酸钠质量比1:3,海藻酸钠质量分数为4%,Span-80添加量2%,冰醋酸与碳酸钙摩尔比3:1,碳酸钙与海藻酸钠质量比7:40,乳化时间15 min。此条件下薄荷香精微胶囊的包埋率为59.63±0.47%,平均粒径为290.70μm。用差示量热扫描仪(DSC)对其热稳定性能进行分析,发现微胶囊可以对香精起到部分缓释作用。     

Ionotropic gelation method in the synthesis of nanoparticles/microparticles for biomedical purposes

The encapsulation of drugs inside polymeric nanoparticles/microparticles is a strategy currently employed in the search for new and more effective therapies. The use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers gives several advantages to these formulations. Protection of the active principals against the action of environmental and physiological agents, the reduced number of doses and a subsequent decrease in drug‐related adverse effects, and increased bioavailability are some of these advantages. Several methods and materials are now used to synthesize nanoparticles/microparticles for biomedical applications, from carbon‐derived structures to metallic and lipid particles. However, among the methods using polymers, ionotropic gelation is one of the more affordable and easier procedures to perform in daily laboratory work. In this mini‐review, we address relevant characteristics of ionotropic gelation, beginning with basic aspects of the technique, which reagents and conditions are commonly used, the factors affecting the stability of the formulation, the advantages and disadvantages of the method and some principal characterization techniques for the nanoparticulate/microparticulate formulation. Finally, we conclude with a few important considerations. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structural phase transition and electrical properties of Sr2+ substituted porous PMN‐PZT ceramics

In this study, Sr²⁺ modified porous PMN‐PZT ceramics with one‐dimensional pore channels were produced by the ionotropic gelation process of alginate/PMN‐PZT suspensions. The ion‐exchange method was employed during the fabrication procedure to adjust the content of SrO addition. With the SrO addition increasing from 1.653 wt.% to 2.957 wt.%, the structural phase of porous PMN‐PZT ceramics transformed from rhombohedral (R) to tetragonal (T) perovskite phase. Accordingly, the electromechanical coupling coefficient (k_t) value of porous PMN‐PZT ceramics decreased from 64.7% to 58.7%, while the hydrostatic figure of merit (HFOM) value increased from 1510 to 5547 × 10^?15 m²/N, and acoustic impedance Z value ranged from 4.59 to 7.55 MRayls, which helped for applications in underwater transducers or hydrophones.     

离子凝胶法制备壳聚糖纳米微粒

采用离子凝胶法,以不同浓度壳聚糖溶液与多聚磷酸盐(TPP)溶液配比反应制备壳聚糖纳米微粒,观察了壳聚糖、多聚磷酸盐浓度、壳聚糖与多聚磷酸盐的质量比和反应体系pH值对纳米微粒制备的影响。在壳聚糖与多聚磷酸盐溶液浓度分别为0.6~3.0 mg/mL与0.5~1.5 mg/mL时,保持质量比在3∶1~6∶1之间,可稳定得到壳聚糖纳米微粒;当pH值为5.0~6.0时壳聚糖纳米微粒保持稳定,当pH>7.0则出现沉淀。