Absorption Rate Research Articles

Assessing the Sustainability and Performance of Hempcrete

Aim: Traditional construction materials like cement, concrete, glass, asphalt, and steel require more energy in the manufacturing process, which results in high GHG emissions. Therefore, researchers from all over the world are focusing on solutions to tackle carbon emissions, with hempcrete emerging as a less polluting construction material. Hempcrete is a bio-composite comprising a woody core of hemp stem and hydrated lime. The objective of the study is to find out the physical and mechanical properties of hemp-lime concrete. Study Design: The present research paper is part of the ongoing study on hempcrete at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The present study chose an experimental research design. Methodology: The study presents its results in two parts: performance and sustainability. The first part investigates the performance of hempcrete in terms of its physical and mechanical characteristics. The researcher conducted numerous trials to fix mix designs, focusing on their workability. Cubes of size 10 cm were cast manually for five distinct mix designs. The second part of the paper examines the sustainability aspect of hemp-lime concrete via a relevant literature review. Results: During the specified time intervals of 28, 56, 84, and 112 days, the cubes exhibited a range in weight density from 506 to 674 kg/m3. In parallel, the compression test results demonstrated varying values, spanning from 0.510 Mpa to 0.810 Mpa across the same time points. Results show that there is a negative correlation between density and compressive strength and a positive correlation between density and water absorption rate. Conclusion: The results pertaining to weight density highlight the lightweight nature of hempcrete, to the extent that the cubes have the propensity to float in water. Due to its relatively low compressive strength values, hempcrete is deemed suitable for non-load-bearing applications within building construction.

Chiral absorption enhancement via critically coupled resonances in atomically thin photonic crystal exciton-polaritons.

Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDS) offer a promising route to the scaling down of optoelectronic devices to the ultimate thickness limit. But the weak light-matter interaction caused by their atomically thin nature makes them inevitably rely on external photonic structures to enhance optical absorption. Here, we report chiral absorption enhancement in atomically thin tungsten diselenide (WSe2) using chiral resonances in photonic crystal (PhC) nanostructures patterned directly in WSe2 itself. We show that the quality factors (Q factors) of the resonances grow exponentially as the PhC thickness approaches atomic limit. As such, the strong interaction of high Q factor photonic resonance with the coexisting exciton resonance in WSe2 results into self-coupled exciton-polaritons. By balancing the light coupling and absorption rates, the incident light can critically couple to chiral resonances in WSe2 PhC exciton-polaritons, leading to the theoretically limited 50% optical absorptance with over 84% circular dichroism (CD).

Design and Development of Ophthalmic Liposomes from the QbD Perspective.

Due to significant lachrymation, drug washing out, and poor adhesion to the lipophilic outer layer of the precorneal and cornea membrane, topical ophthalmic solution drops have poor ocular bioavailability. The rate of transcorneal absorption is impacted in the case of hydrophilic drug molecules as brimonidine tartrate, timolol maleate, cyclosporine, etc. Ophthalmic solution administered in many doses is less patient-compliant. The limitation of multiple-dose and its negative effects can be overcome by the development of delayed- release liposomes. Liposomes are regulatory-approved novel drug delivery systems. Its vesicular form aids in delaying medication release, and its lipidic makeup enables it to stick to the cornea's lipophilic layer. As a result, it will prevent precorneal clearing, extend corneal contact time, and provide sufficient transcorneal absorption. The aim of this review article is to portray the benefits of liposomes for ophthalmic drug delivery and its formulation development in the light of QbD. The review discusses the composition, preparatory methods and quality aspects of ophthalmic liposomes. It then accordingly reasonably proposes the quality target product profile, critical quality attributes, critical material attributes and critical process parameters, involved in liposome development for ophthalmic drug delivery. This review shall help formulation scientists to formulate ophthalmic liposomes of desirable quality.

Production of paver blocks from polyethylene terephthalate solid waste as partial replacement of sand.

Abstract Plastic waste management is an international concern. The amount of plastic trash produced globally is increasing at a rapid rate, and this pollution is caused by improper disposal, the waste's non-biodegradability, and the harmful gases released during incineration pose a hazard to human health. Because it's used in so many commonplace items, such as bottles and containers for the food and beverage sectors, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is one of the most widely used consumer polymers. Because of its many characteristics, including its inability to biodegrade and the gasses it releases when burned, it has grown to be a significant environmental problem. Waste made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) must therefore be recycled and used efficiently. The purpose of this study was to produce paver blocks by partially replacing sand with waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) material. Preparing the raw materials, mixing, vibrating, molding, curing, testing the flexural and compressive strengths, and curing are the steps in theproduction process. Design-Expert 13.0.0 Three-level Three factor Box–Behnken design was usedfor experimental design and statistical analysis of results based on the outcome and discussion. Atotal of 17 trials were carried out with the following parameters: 10, 20, and 30% of polyethylene
terephthalate; 0.52, 0.55, and 0.58 as the water-to-cement ratio; and 7, 14, and 28 days for the curing period. The interaction effects were examined based on the examination of the experimental data. The physio-mechanical properties of the generated Paver Blocks, including water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength, were examined. When the water-tocement ratio was 0.55, the maximum flexural strength was 4.92 MPa, and the maximum compressive strength was 29.74 MPa, the ideal process variables for polyethylene terephthalate percentage were 10 and 28. The paver blocks' average and maximum water absorption rates were 3.39% and 3.95%, respectively. Compared to regular blocks, the resultant Paver Blocks are lighter and have superior physical and mechanical qualities. These are excellent illustrations of planned paver applications that can make use of prefabricated paver blocks

On the uncertainty in numerical modeling of wireless communication devices operating at frequencies of 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 28 GHz.

Some of the difficulties in numerical modeling of wireless communication devices for dosimetric evaluations arise from, e.g. incomplete documentation available for the numerical model, such as missing information on dielectric materials or the antenna matching circuitry. This study investigates the impact of these difficulties on the dosimetric results, such as the peak spatial average specific absorption rate at 900 and 1800MHz and the peak spatial average power density at 28GHz. The impact of dielectric losses, detuning, and mesh resolution is quantified using different generic and Computer Aided Design (CAD) based models of wireless transmitters. The findings show that the uncertainties of the numerical results due to detuning and mesh resolution can be reduced by normalization to the antenna feedpoint power instead of the feedpoint current. Uncertainties due to variations in dielectric losses can largely be compensated by normalization to the radiated power.

Average Slope vs. Cmax: Which Truly Reflects the Drug-Absorption Rate?

Despite ongoing concerns, the primary metric utilized in bioequivalence studies to quantify absorption rate remains the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax). To more accurately depict absorption rate, the concept of “average slope” (AS) has been recently introduced. The objective of this study is to elucidate and compare the characteristics of AS and Cmax in their representation of the drug-absorption rate. For this purpose, an investigation was conducted on five drugs (nintedanib, methylphenidate, nitrofurantoin, lisdexamfetamine, and theophylline) with different absorption and disposition kinetics. The properties of AS and Cmax, as well as their correlations with other pharmacokinetic parameters, were assessed using supervised and unsupervised machine-learning algorithms, namely principal component analysis, random forest, hierarchical cluster analysis, and artificial neural networks. This study showed that, regardless of the absorption kinetics and across every ML algorithm, AS was more sensitive in reflecting the absorption rate compared to Cmax. In all drugs and methods of analysis, AS demonstrated significantly superior performance in expressing the absorption rate compared to Cmax. The joint use of different techniques complemented each other and verified the findings. Moreover, AS can be easily calculated and has the appropriate units and properties to be used as a metric to express the absorption rate in bioequivalence studies. The adoption of AS by regulatory authorities, as an absorption-rate metric, could significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of BE assessments. Overall, this study focused on addressing the longstanding problem of finding an appropriate absorption-rate metric by demonstrating the desirable properties of AS.

Enhancing coal gangue aggregates with fly ash-cement slurry: Synergistic effects of CO2 mineralization on physical and mechanical properties

The application of coal gangue in construction materials faces challenges due to its inherent structural looseness, elevated porosity, and high carbon content. This study encapsulated coal gangue aggregates (CGAs) with a fly ash-cement slurry, varying the content of fly ash (0 %, 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %) and maintaining a water-to-cement ratio of 0.35. These aggregates were subjected to a curing process within an environment containing a CO2 concentration of 20 %, 0.1 MPa pressure, 70 % humidity, and a temperature of 20°C. The study delved into examining how the combination of fly ash-cement slurry encapsulation and CO2 mineralization impacts the physical properties and microstructure of CGAs, focusing on understanding the influence and mechanism behind the synergistic effects. Findings reveal that following the encapsulation process using a fly ash-cement slurry, CGAs exhibit a higher apparent density, a reduced crushing value, but a notable increase in water absorption rate. Notably, treatment with 10 % fly ash-cement slurry and CO2 mineralization increased the apparent density by 3.85 %, reduced the crushing value by 39.57 %, and limited the increase in water absorption rate to 9.9 %. Additionally, the elastic modulus of the enhanced aggregates rose by 12.73 %. This can be attributed to the formation of a significant quantity of C-S-H gel and CaCO3 products as a result of the interplay between the encapsulated fly ash-cement slurry and CO2 mineralization. This process effectively occupied the voids within the coal gangue. Consequently, CO2 mineralization enhanced the interfacial transition zone between the slurry and coal gangue, ultimately leading to improved coal gangue's mechanical performance.

Elemental Diet as a Therapeutic Modality: A Comprehensive Review.

Elemental diets have been employed for the management of various diseases for over 50years, with several mechanisms mediating their beneficial effects. Yet, they are underutilized due to poor palatability, access, cost, and lack of awareness regarding their clinical efficacy. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to systematically search and review the literature to summarize the formulation variability, mechanisms of action, clinical applications, and tolerability of the elemental diets in gastrointestinal diseases. While large prospective trials are lacking, elemental diets appear to exhibit objective and subjective clinical benefit in several diseases, including eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth,intestinal methanogen overgrowth, chemoradiotherapy-associated mucositis, and celiac disease. Although some data support the long-term use of elemental diets as an add-on supplement for chronic pancreatitis and Crohn's disease, most of the literature on exclusive elemental diets focuses on inducing remission. Therefore, subsequent treatment strategies for maintaining remission need to be adopted in chronic/relapsing diseases. Several mechanistic pathways were identified to mediate the effects of elemental diets, including food additive and allergen-free content, high passive absorption rate, and anti-inflammatory properties. High rates of intolerance up to 40% are seen in the trials where exclusive elemental diets were administered orally due to poor organoleptic acceptability; however, when tolerated, adverse events were rare. Other limitations of elemental diets are cost, access, and lifestyle/social restrictions. Moreover, judicious use is advised in presence of a concomitant restrictive food intake disorders. Elemental diets offer a potentially highly efficacious dietary intervention with minor side effects. Palatability, cost, access, and social restrictions are common barriers of use. Prospective clinical trials are needed to elucidate the role of elemental formulas in the management of individual diseases.

In vitro evaluation and in situ intestinal absorption characterisation of paeoniflorin nanoparticles in a rat model.

Purpose: the aim of this study was to improve the stability and bioavailability of paeoniflorin (PF) by using nanoparticle encapsulation technology. Methods: paeoniflorin nanoparticles (PF NPs) were prepared with PLGA as the carrier using the compound emulsion method. The nanoparticles were characterised by using a Malvern laser particle sizer, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyser, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. The PF NPs were subjected to a series of stability investigations (such as for 4 °C storage stability, pH stability, and thermal stability), lyophilisation protection technology investigations, and in vitro release studies. Finally, the intestinal absorption properties of PF and PF NPs were studied by the in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) rat model, using the effective permeability coefficient (P eff) and the absorption rate constant (K a) as relevant indexes. Results: the prepared nanoparticles had a particle size of 105.0 nm with blue opalescent, rounded morphology, uniform size, good stability and slow release. We found that 4% alginate was the best lyoprotectant for the PF NPs. In the intestinal absorption experiments, P eff was higher for the PF NPs group compared with the original PF material drug group in all intestinal segments (P < 0.05), and the absorption rate constant K a increased with the increase in the drug concentration. Conclusion: the nanoparticles produced by this method have good stability and a slow-release effect; they can thus improve the absorption of PF in rat intestines, helping improve the stability and bioavailability of PF and enhancing its pharmacological effects.

Changes of in vivo electrical conductivity in the brain and torso related to age, fat fraction and sex using MRI

This work was inspired by the observation that a majority of MR-electrical properties tomography studies are based on direct comparisons with ex vivo measurements carried out on post-mortem samples in the 90’s. As a result, the in vivo conductivity values obtained from MRI in the megahertz range in different types of tissues (brain, liver, tumors, muscles, etc.) found in the literature may not correspond to their ex vivo equivalent, which still serves as a reference for electromagnetic modelling. This study aims to pave the way for improving current databases since the definition of personalized electromagnetic models (e.g. for Specific Absorption Rate estimation) would benefit from better estimation. Seventeen healthy volunteers underwent MRI of both brain and thorax/abdomen using a three-dimensional ultrashort echo-time (UTE) sequence. We estimated conductivity (S/m) in several classes of macroscopic tissue using a customized reconstruction method from complex UTE images, and give general statistics for each of these regions (mean-median-standard deviation). These values are used to find possible correlations with biological parameters such as age, sex, body mass index and/or fat volume fraction, using linear regression analysis. In short, the collected in vivo values show significant deviations from the ex vivo values in conventional databases, and we show significant relationships with the latter parameters in certain organs for the first time, e.g. a decrease in brain conductivity with age.

Sustainable Dynamic Wrinkle Efficacy: Non-Invasive Peptides as the Future of Botox Alternatives

Dynamic wrinkle reduction continues to challenge aesthetic dermatology, predominantly addressed through Botulinumtoxin (Botox) injections. Despite Botox’s robust efficacy with up to an 80% reduction in wrinkle visibility within just one week, its invasive administration and specific mechanism of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex inhibition prompt the exploration of safer, non-invasive alternatives. This review critically assesses recent innovations in non-invasive effects, with a focus on peptides and botanical extracts that exhibit a diverse array of mechanisms including SNARE complex inhibition, modulation of calcium and sodium channels, and interactions with acetylcholine receptors, contributing to their effectiveness in muscle relaxation on dynamic wrinkle approaches. Noteworthy peptides such as Argireline and SYN-Ake replicate the neuromodulatory effects of Botox, achieving up to a 52% reduction in wrinkles within four weeks without injections. Moreover, botanical extracts meet the rising demand for clean beauty solutions by enhancing skin elasticity and health through gentle yet potent mechanisms. However, the main concern with peptides is their low absorption rate, with only six clinical validations regarding Botox-like peptide anti-wrinkle efficacy available. These advancements not only deepen our understanding of cosmetic dermatology but also significantly influence market dynamics and consumer behavior, underscoring their pivotal role in redefining the future landscape of anti-aging effects.

Absorption and Reflection of Switchable Multifunctional Metamaterial Absorber Based on Vanadium Dioxide

A dynamically tunable terahertz broadband absorber based on the metamaterial structure of vanadium dioxide (VO2) is proposed and analyzed. The absorber consists of two patterned VO2 layers and a metal bottom layer separated by two polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) dielectric layers. Simulation results show that the absorption exceeds 90% in the frequency range of 2.4–11 THz with a relative bandwidth of 128.4% under normal incidence. When VO2 is in the metal phase, the designed absorber functions as an ideal absorber. The absorption rate can be flexibly adjusted from 2% to 99% as vanadium dioxide transitions from the insulator phase to the metal phase. Therefore, the newly developed broad structure has the capability to seamlessly transition between functioning as an absorber or reflector through modifications in the conductivity of VO2 from the insulator phase to the metal phase. Moreover, further insight into the underlying physical processes can be gained by studying the insensitivity of the proposed absorber to the polarization of incident light and its ability to achieve high absorption across a wide range of incident angles. Impedance matching theory and electric field distribution of the absorber are investigated. The THz absorber has many potential applications in fields such as THz sensors, modulation, and switches.

Cluster of Differentiation 36 (CD36) Preferentially Mediates Intestinal Absorption of Dietary Z-Astaxanthin and Especially 9-Z-Isomer via Higher Binding Affinity.

Variances in the biological functions of astaxanthin geometric isomers (i.e., all-E, Z) are related to their intestinal absorption, but the mechanism of isomer absorption mediated by transporters remains unclear. Here, models of in vitro cell overexpression, in situ intestinal perfusion, and in vivo mouse inhibition were employed to investigate the impact of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) on the absorption of astaxanthin isomers. Cells overexpressing CD36 notably enhanced the uptake of Z-astaxanthin, particularly the 9-Z-isomer (47.76%). The absorption rate and permeability of Z-astaxanthin surpassed that of the all-E-isomer by the in situ model. Furthermore, the addition of the CD36-specific inhibitor sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate significantly reduced the absorption of Z-astaxanthin in the mouse duodenum and jejunum, especially the 9-Z-isomer (57.66%). Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance techniques further validated that 9-Z-astaxanthin binds to more amino acids of CD36 with higher affinity and in a fast-binding, fast-dissociating mode, thus favoring transport. Our findings elucidate, for the first time, the mechanism of the CD36-mediated transmembrane transport of astaxanthin geometric isomers.

Doxycycline pharmacokinetics and tissue depletion in striped catfish (Pagasianodon hypophthalmus) after oral administration.

The pharmacokinetics and residue depletion of doxycycline (DOX) in striped catfish (Pagasianodon hypophthalmus) after oral dosage were investigated. The pharmacokinetic experiment was conducted in an aquarium, while the experiment of residue depletion was performed in both an aquarium and earth ponds. Medicated feed was administered orally using the gavage method at a dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight. Blood, liver, and kidney from medicated fish samples were collected. In the depletion experiments, fish were fed medicated feed for five consecutive days at a dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight, with samples collected during and after medication. The concentrations of DOX were quantified using an LC-MS/MS system. The pharmacokinetics parameters of DOX in striped catfish included the absorption rate constant (ka), absorption half-life (T1/2abs), maximal plasma concentration (Cmax), time to maximal plasma concentration (Tmax), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 96 h (AUC0-96 h) which were 0.12 h-1, 5.68 h, 1123.45 ng/mL, 8.19 h, and 25,018 ng/mL/h, respectively. Residue depletion results indicated that the withdrawal times of DOX in muscle (with skin) from fish kept in the aquarium were slightly longer than that in fish raised in earth ponds, corresponding to 194 degree-days compared with 150 degree-days. In conclusion, administration of DOX at the dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight can be used for treatment of bacterial infections in striped catfish, and a withdrawal time of 5 days at 29.4°C will ensure consumer food safety due to the rapid depletion of DOX from muscle and skin.

Absorption and Xylem Transport of 33P-Labeled Phosphorus in Nodulated Soybean Plants

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macro-element for plants, and understanding the characteristics of the absorption and transport of P in crops is essential. The low availability of P restricts the growth, nitrogen fixation, and yield of soybean plants. In this research, the radioisotope 33P was supplied to the culture solution to trace the absorption and transport of P in nodulated soybean plants monitored using an imaging plate. The absorption rate of 33P was almost the same under the light and dark conditions. The absorption rate of 33P in the decapitated roots was near to that of the intact plants under light. These results indicate that the P absorption is not affected by evapotranspiration over a short time period. Conversely, the 33P transport from the roots to the shoot was significantly lower under dark conditions than it was under light conditions, although some 33P reached the top of the shoots under both the light and dark conditions. The transport of P to the shoots depends on the transpiration supplemented by the root pressure. The multiplication value of the 33P concentration in the xylem sap and transpiration rate was almost equivalent to the transport rate of 33P in the intact shoots. This value may be adaptable and used to estimate the transport rate of P for the diagnosis.

Absorption and Xylem Transport of 33P-Labeled Phosphorus in Nodulated Soybean Plants

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macro-element for plants, and understanding the characteristics of the absorption and transport of P in crops is essential. The low availability of P restricts the growth, nitrogen fixation, and yield of soybean plants. In this research, the radioisotope 33P was supplied to the culture solution to trace the absorption and transport of P in nodulated soybean plants monitored using an imaging plate. The absorption rate of 33P was almost the same under the light and dark conditions. The absorption rate of 33P in the decapitated roots was near to that of the intact plants under light. These results indicate that the P absorption is not affected by evapotranspiration over a short time period. Conversely, the 33P transport from the roots to the shoot was significantly lower under dark conditions than it was under light conditions, although some 33P reached the top of the shoots under both the light and dark conditions. The transport of P to the shoots depends on the transpiration supplemented by the root pressure. The multiplication value of the 33P concentration in the xylem sap and transpiration rate was almost equivalent to the transport rate of 33P in the intact shoots. This value may be adaptable and used to estimate the transport rate of P for the diagnosis.

In Silico Investigation against Inhibitors of Alpha-Amylase Using Structure-based Screening, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Simulations Studies.

Type-II diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that results from fluctuations in the glucose level leading to hyperglycemia with severe adverse effects increasing worldwide. Alpha-Amylase is the key enzyme involved in the mechanism of glucose formation therefore Alpha-Amylase inhibitors have become a therapeutic target in the development of new leads as they have the potential to suppress glucose levels. Existing drugs targeting Alpha-Amylase highlight major drawbacks in terms of poor absorption rate that causes several gastrointestinal issues. So, this research is aimed to develop novel inhibitors interacting with Alpha-Amylase's active site using structural-based screening, binding pattern analysis, and molecular dynamic simulation. Hence, to search for a potential lead, we analyzed a total of 133 valiolamine derivatives and 535 desoxynojirimycin derivatives that exhibited drug-like properties screened through Lipinski filters. Virtual screening followed by binding interaction analysis we identified ten compounds that exhibited better binding energy scores compared to the standard drugs voglibose and miglitol, used in our study. The docking analysis, ADMET and metabolic site prediction estimated the best top two compounds with good drug profiles. Further, top compounds VG9 and VG15 were promoted to simulation study using the Biovia Discovery study to access the stability at a time interval of 100 ns. MD simulation results revealed that our compound VG9 possesses better conformational stability in the complex to the active site residues of Alpha-Amylase target protein than standard drug voglibose. Thus, our investigation revealed that compound VG9 also exhibits the best pharmacokinetic as well as binding affinity results and could act as a potential lead compound targeting Alpha-Amylase for Type II diabetes.

In Silico Investigation against Inhibitors of Alpha-Amylase Using Structure-based Screening, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Simulations Studies.

Type-II diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that results from fluctuations in the glucose level leading to hyperglycemia with severe adverse effects increasing worldwide. Alpha-Amylase is the key enzyme involved in the mechanism of glucose formation therefore Alpha-Amylase inhibitors have become a therapeutic target in the development of new leads as they have the potential to suppress glucose levels. Existing drugs targeting Alpha-Amylase highlight major drawbacks in terms of poor absorption rate that causes several gastrointestinal issues. So, this research is aimed to develop novel inhibitors interacting with Alpha-Amylase's active site using structural-based screening, binding pattern analysis, and molecular dynamic simulation. Hence, to search for a potential lead, we analyzed a total of 133 valiolamine derivatives and 535 desoxynojirimycin derivatives that exhibited drug-like properties screened through Lipinski filters. Virtual screening followed by binding interaction analysis we identified ten compounds that exhibited better binding energy scores compared to the standard drugs voglibose and miglitol, used in our study. The docking analysis, ADMET and metabolic site prediction estimated the best top two compounds with good drug profiles. Further, top compounds VG9 and VG15 were promoted to simulation study using the Biovia Discovery study to access the stability at a time interval of 100 ns. MD simulation results revealed that our compound VG9 possesses better conformational stability in the complex to the active site residues of Alpha-Amylase target protein than standard drug voglibose. Thus, our investigation revealed that compound VG9 also exhibits the best pharmacokinetic as well as binding affinity results and could act as a potential lead compound targeting Alpha-Amylase for Type II diabetes.

Influence of Nano-Silicon Dioxide in the Enhancement of Surface Structure of Public Filler and Properties of Recycled Mortar

This paper proposes a method of enhancing public filler (PF) with nano-SiO2 (NS) to prepare modified recycled aggregate mortar (RAM). The improvement effect of NS solution at different concentrations and immersion times on the macroscopic physical properties of recycled public fine aggregates (PFA) was investigated. Moreover, the effect of NS on the basic physical properties and durability of recycled mortar (RM) and the reinforcement mechanism of NS on recycled mortar was analyzed through various techniques. Results indicated that the modification effect of NS could remove loose cement mortar from the surface of PFA. It reacted with calcium hydroxide and calcite to generate nano-particles that could fill pores in PFA. The water absorption rate of PFA decreased to 9.3% when immersed in 2% NS solution for 72 h. There was no significant improvement in the mechanical properties of RM when the solution concentration and immersion time were increased. However, the compressive strength of RM prepared by modifying PFA with 2% NS was increased by about 21.9%, and the capillary water absorption and electric flux were reduced by 56.3% and 15.1%, respectively. Micro-analysis results showed that the volcanic ash effect of NS enabled it to react with Ca(OH)2 adhered to the surface of PFA, generating C-S-H and improving the interfacial bonding of PFA. Moreover, NS adsorbed on the surface of PFA dispersed into the freshly mixed cement slurry, which further enhanced the internal structure of PFA.

Quality-by-Design-Driven Nanostructured Lipid Scaffold of Apixaban: Optimization, Characterization, and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation

Apixaban, an anticoagulant, is limited in its efficacy due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, and extensive metabolism. This study investigates the application of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to enhance the bioavailability of Apixaban. NLCs were prepared using the high-pressure homogenization method. The influence of independent variables, viz., the amount of Tween 80, HPH pressure, and the number of HPH cycles, were studied using a 23 factorial design. The average particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency of the optimized NLCs were found to be 232 ± 23 nm, with 0.514 ± 0.13 PDI and zeta potential of about −21.9 ± 2.1 mV, respectively. Additionally, concerning the thermal and crystallographic properties of the drug, the NLCs showed drug entrapment without altering its potency. The in-vitro drug release studies revealed an immediate release pattern, followed by sustained release for up to 48 h. In-vivo pharmacokinetic experiments demonstrated that Apixaban-loaded NLCs exhibited higher values of t1/2 (27.76 ± 1.18 h), AUC0–∞ (19,568.7 ± 1067.6 ng·h/mL), and Cmax (585.3 ± 87.6 ng/mL) compared to free drugs, indicating improved bioavailability. Moreover, a decrease in the elimination rate constant (Kel) reflected the sustained effect of Apixaban with NLCs. NLCs offer improved oral absorption rates and enhanced therapeutic impact compared to free drugs, potentially reducing dose frequency and improving patient outcomes.