Site Of Absorption Research Articles

Nutritional Variation on Sequentially Harvested Shoots and Fruits of Lagenaria siceraria Landraces.

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is valued for its medicinal and nutritive properties. The nutrient status of sequentially harvested shoots and fruits at various growth stages in L. siceraria has not been documented to date. This study aimed to compare the nutritional status of L. siceraria landrace shoots and fruits harvested at different maturity stages. Micronutrients, macronutrients, and proximate composition of shoots and fruits were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Data were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. The nutrient attributes differed significantly (p < 0.05) within and among landraces at different growth stages. Correlation of nutritional traits was primarily based on shared absorption sites and comparable chemical composition. The first five principal components in shoots and fruits had 90.218 and 89.918% total variability, respectively. The micronutrients Ca, Mg, K, P, and N in shoots and the macronutrients Fe, Zn, Cu, and Al in fruits were the main contributors to variability. The biplot and dendrogram clustered landraces with comparable nutrient values. Shoot traits classified landraces into three major clusters, where clusters I and II grouped landraces with superior and inferior Mg, P, K, N, Fe, K/Ca+Mg, ADL, and protein levels at 42-63 DAS. Cluster III consisted of landraces with more Ca, Na, Mn, Zn, and Cu. However, the fruit nutrient status classified landraces into two major clusters. Cluster I comprised landrace KSC (as a singlet) with the highest Ca, P, N, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu contents at various stages of growth (7-21 DAA). Cluster II had landraces with higher K, C/N ratio, Na, moisture content, ash, protein, and fat. The nutritional status of shoots and fruits determined at different stages of growth is essential for selecting the best harvest time and landrace(s) for required daily nutrient intake.

Fabrication of natural microcapsule with intrinsic core–shell structure as building blocks for achieving source control of obesity

Regulating oil absorption at the intestinal absorption site is a safe and effective strategy for controlling obesity. Nevertheless, all patients may experience adverse effects from medication, including lipase inhibitors. Herein, we report the preparation of natural core–shell sporopollenin microcapsules with the ultimate goal of solidifying lipids post-lipase inhibition, thus exploring a safe and effective strategy for controlling lipid absorption in obesity. Naturally occurring micro/nanoparticles provide an incredible array of potential sources for fabricating pharmaceutical microcapsule carriers. Natural pine pollen was treated with phosphoric acid to yield intact, clean, and monodisperse microcapsules. Their intrinsic core–shell structures can be harnessed as potential carriers for pharmaceutical microcapsules, ensuring their viability for large-scale production. This study proposes an innovative strategy for complementary source control of obesity utilizing natural core–shell sporopollenin microcapsules and lipase inhibitors. Natural pine pollen microcapsule carriers exhibit natural core–shell structures, tunable wetting properties, and excellent liquid absorption capabilities. Interestingly, as-prepared hydrophobic pine pollen microcapsules can be utilized for the solidification of liquid drugs. Moreover, their strong oil adsorption capability can solidify lipids in complex oil–water systems post-oral lipase inhibition. Derived from pine pollen, these natural microcapsule carriers can be produced on a large scale and boast the safety of being food-derived, making them promising candidates for essential components in obesity source control.

Enhanced superhydrophobic melamine sponge with bimetal organic framework for simultaneous oil-water separation and microplastic removal

The escalating problem of oily wastewater and microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to our environment. Addressing this challenge has been hampered by the lack of sustainable materials capable of handling multiple pollutants effectively. However, this research introduces a groundbreaking approach for designing a superhydrophobic composite sponge, MS@ZnCo-ZIF@HDTMS. Utilizing a straightforward layer-by-layer self-assembly strategy, this work achieved the robust integration of bimetallic organic framework (ZnCo-ZIF) onto the sponge surface. This integration was facilitated by the adhesive and ion exchange properties of polydopamine (PDA), thereby constructing intricate micro- and nanocomposite structures. The immense specific surface area of ZnCo-ZIF offered numerous absorption sites for the assembly of PDA and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS). Remarkably, the composite sponge exhibits superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties, demonstrating exceptional oil absorption capacities ranging from 55 g/g to 96 g/g, even after enduring 50 cycles. Moreover, MS@ZnCo-ZIF@HDTMS possesses remarkable mechanical and chemical stability. Its gravity-driven oil-water separation capabilities are noteworthy, achieving a permeate flux of 10,000 L m-2 h-1 and a removal rate of up to 99.2 %. Crucially, the superhydrophobic nature of the composite sponge, coupled with capillary effect, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and other interactions, enables MS@ZnCo-ZIF@HDTMS to capture a diverse range of microplastics from water relatively swiftly. Therefore, this work not only provides effective candidates for the sustainable treatment of oil and microplastics in water but also opens new avenues for the restoration of aquatic environments.

Dual-modified starch micelles as nanocarriers for efficient encapsulation and controlled release of walnut-derived active peptides

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic modified nanomicelles might be more conducive to passage of the gastrointestinal barrier than walnut peptide (WP). In this study, a novel double modified starch polymer, SB–CST–DCA, was synthesized by grafting sulfabetaine (SB) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) onto corn starch (CST) molecules through etherification and esterification. The modification mechanism was discussed to determine its chemical structure, morphological properties, and thermal stability. Peptide-loaded nanomicelles (SB–CST–DCA–WP) were prepared using WP as the core material. The encapsulation efficiency and peptide loading amount reached 76.90 ± 1.52% and 18.27 ± 0.53%, respectively, with good stability and pH-responsive release behavior observed to effectively control WP release and enhance its antioxidant activity. The composite exhibited safety, non-toxicity, and good blood compatibility at concentrations below 125 μg/mL. Duodenum was identified as the main absorption site with an absorption ratio of 41.16 ± 0.36%.

Histology and transcriptomic analysis reveal effects of dietary fish oil and soybean oil on lipid absorption and immune inflammation in the foregut of adult female spotted scat (Scatophagus argus)

The foregut is the main site of lipid absorption in fish, but the effect of different lipid sources on the foregut lipid absorption and metabolism in adult female spotted scat is still unclear. In this experiment, adult female spotted scat (length = 19.48 ± 1.13 cm, weight = 242.83 ± 50.90 g) were fed two iso-nitrogenous (45 % crude protein) and iso-lipidic (12.5 % crude lipid) diets configured with either 8 % fish oil (FO) or 8 % soybean oil (SO) for 60 days. Histological observations, serum measurements and transcriptome sequencing were used to investigate the effects of the oil sources on the foregut. Histological observation showed that the foregut folds of the SO group were shorter and narrower than those of the FO group, and nuclear vacuolation and villous atrophy were observed in the intestinal cells of fish in the SO group, indicating an inflammatory reaction. Both serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the FO group than in the SO group. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1355 differentially expressed genes between the FO and SO groups. Genes related to lipid metabolism (adipor2 and creb3l3) and cholesterol absorption and efflux (npc1l1 and sphk2) were up-regulated, whereas genes related to fatty acid synthesis and transport (fad1 and mfsd2ab) were down-regulated in the FO group. Circadian rhythm related genes ciart and nfil3, which are also involved in lipid metabolism, were up- and down-regulated, respectively in the FO group. The immune-related genes steap4, ddit4 and cldn6 which can inhibit inflammation, were up-regulated in the FO group, whereas pro-inflammation gene rnf225 was up-regulated in the SO group. In conclusion, compared with SO, FO may enhance the lipid absorption and reduce the inflammatory response in the foregut of the spotted scat. The results of this study provide a reference for the selection of dietary oil sources for adult female spotted scat.

Graphdiyne Enabled Nitrogen Vacancy Formation in Copper Nitride for Efficient Ammonia Synthesis.

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate is promising for sustainable ammonia synthesis but suffers from slow reduction kinetics and multiple competing reactions. Here, we report a catalyst featuring copper nitride (Cu3N) anchored on a novel graphdiyne support (termed Cu3N/GDY), which is used for electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to produce ammonia. The GDY absorbed hydrogen and enabled nitrogen (N) vacancy formation in Cu3N for the fast nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR). Further, the distinct absorption sites formed by GDY and N vacancy enabled the excellent selectivity and stability of NO3RR. Notably, the Cu3N/GDY catalyst achieved a high ammonia yield (YNH3) up to 35280 μg h-1 mgcat.-1 and a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.1% using 0.1 M NO3- at -0.9 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technology and in situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy measurement, we visualized the N vacancy formation in Cu3N and electrocatalytic NO3RR enabled by GDY. These findings show the promise of GDY in sustainable ammonia synthesis and highlight the efficacy of Cu3N/GDY as a catalyst.

Genes involved in the cholecystokinin receptor signaling map were differentially expressed in the jejunum of steers with variation in residual feed intake

The jejunum is a critical site for nutrient digestion and absorption, and variation in its ability to take up nutrients within the jejunum is likely to affect feed efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in gene expression in the jejunum of beef steers divergent for residual feed intake (RFI) in one cohort of steers (Year 1), and to validate those genes in animals from a second study (Year 2). Steers from Year 1 (n = 16) were selected for high and low RFI. Jejunum mucosal tissue was obtained for RNA-seq. Thirty-two genes were differentially expressed (PFDR≤0.15), and five were over-represented in pathways including inflammatory mediator, cholecystokinin receptor (CCKR) signaling, and p38 MAPK pathways. Several differentially expressed genes (ALOX12, ALPI, FABP6, FABP7, FLT1, GSTA2, MEF2B, PDK4, SPP1, and TTF2) have been previously associated with RFI in other studies. Real-time qPCR was used to validate nine differentially expressed genes in the Year 1 steers used for RNA-seq, and in the Year 2 validation cohort. Six genes were validated as differentially expressed (P < 0.1) using RT-qPCR in the Year 1 population. In the Year 2 population, five genes displayed the same direction of expression as the Year 1 population and 3 were differentially expressed (P < 0.1). The CCKR pathway is involved in digestion, appetite control, and regulation of body weight making it a compelling candidate for feed efficiency in cattle, and the validation of these genes in a second population of cattle is suggestive of a role in feed efficiency.

Tissue-, Region-, and Gene-Specific Induction of Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase Expression and Activity in the Mouse Intestine by Arsenic in Drinking Water.

This study aimed to characterize the effects of arsenic exposure on the expression of microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH or EPHX1) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH or EPHX2) in the liver and small intestine. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to sodium arsenite in drinking water at various doses for up to 28 days. Intestinal, but not hepatic, mEH mRNA and protein expression was induced by arsenic at 25 ppm, in both males and females, whereas hepatic mEH expression was induced by arsenic at 50 or 100 ppm. The induction of mEH was gene specific, as the arsenic exposure did not induce sEH expression in either tissue. Within the small intestine, mEH expression was induced only in the proximal, but not the distal segments. The induction of intestinal mEH was accompanied by increases in microsomal enzymatic activities toward a model mEH substrate, cis-stilbene oxide, and an epoxide-containing drug, oprozomib, in vitro, and by increases in the levels of PR-176, the main hydrolysis metabolite of oprozomib, in the proximal small intestine of oprozomib-treated mice. These findings suggest that intestinal mEH, playing a major role in converting xenobiotic epoxides to less reactive diols, but not sEH, preferring endogenous epoxides as substrates, is relevant to the adverse effects of arsenic exposure, and that further studies of the interactions between drinking water arsenic exposure and the disposition or possible adverse effects of epoxide-containing drugs and other xenobiotic compounds in the intestine are warranted. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Consumption of arsenic-contaminated water has been associated with increased risks of various adverse health effects, such as diabetes, in humans. The small intestinal epithelial cells are the main site of absorption of ingested arsenic, but they are not well characterized for arsenic exposure-related changes. This study identified gene expression changes in the small intestine that may be mechanistically linked to the adverse effects of arsenic exposure and possible interactions between arsenic ingestion and the pharmacokinetics of epoxide-containing drugs in vivo.

Enhanced dielectric properties and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 3D hierarchical nanohybrid of Au-Ag@MoS2-rGO

Addressing the growing need for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding in GHz devices, this study presents a novel bimetallic Au-Ag@MoS2-rGO nanohybrid developed via hydrothermal and chemical processes. This work marks the first exploration of their dielectric properties and EMI shielding effectiveness. The composite, featuring uniformly dispersed Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles on MoS2-rGO nanosheets, significantly outperforms MoS2 and MoS2-rGO in EMI shielding, achieving over 38.1 dB in the X-band frequency range and blocking nearly 99.99% of electromagnetic power. This improvement is credited to the enhanced interfacial interactions, increased microwave absorption sites, and the formation of three-dimensional conductive bridges, boosting electrical conductivity and charge mobility. This efficient electromagnetic energy dissipation through a synergistic blend of conduction loss, polarization, and internal reflections suggests the potential for these advanced conductive metal-based materials in microwave absorbers and shielding applications.

A general strategy for Ni0–NiOOH hybrid catalyst of high hydrogen evolution activity

Ni-based hybrid catalysts consisting of different components in variant valence state have the synergistic effect on boosting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. A general strategy is developed to achieve a Ni0–NiOOH HER hybrid catalyst, which needs to produce metal Ni0 and Ni(OH)2 concurrently. The strategy is demonstrated by two approaches, both of which include two electrochemical steps. To regular the content of the components in the hybrid catalyst, l-histidine and nitrate ions are introduced to the electrolyte in order to controlling the generation rate of Ni0 and Ni(OH)2. In terms of the two-step electrochemical technology, the pre-catalyst Ni0–Ni(OH)2 is electrochemically deposited firstly, and then electrochemical oxidized to Ni0–NiOOH, wherein Ni0 and NiOOH in different valence act as *H and *OH absorption sites, respectively. The XRD, TEM and XPS results demonstrate the coexistence of Ni0 and Ni(OH)2 in the pre-catalyst and the conversion of Ni(OH)2 to NiOOH in the final catalyst. Electrochemical tests show that the Ni0–NiOOH hybrid catalysts exhibit excellent HER activity. The overpotentials at 10 and 50 mA cm−2 are 39 mV and 88 mV, respectively, and the catalyst keeps a durable stability at 50 mA cm−2 for over 100 h. The present results suggest that the structure-performance correlations of the Ni0–NiOOH hybrid catalyst could be manipulated implementing this general deposition strategy.

Nano vitamin E improved the antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens.

Vitamin E (VE) is a potent nutritional antioxidant that is critical in alleviating poultry oxidative stress. However, the hydrophobic nature and limited stability of VE restrict its effective utilization. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach to enhance the bioavailability of lipophilic vitamins. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different sources and addition levels of VE on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, VE absorption site, and pharmacokinetics of Arbor Acres (AA) broilers. Three hundred and eighty-four 1-d-old AA chicks were randomly allocated into four groups supplemented with 30 and 75 IU/kg VE as regular or nano. The results showed that dietary VE sources had no significant impact on broiler growth performance. However, chickens fed 30 IU/kg VE had a higher average daily gain at 22 to 42 d and 1 to 42 d, and lower feed conversion ratio at 22 to 42 d than 75 IU/kg VE (P < 0.05). Under normal feeding conditions, broilers fed nano VE (NVE) displayed significantly higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities and lower malonic dialdehyde (MDA) concentration (P < 0.05). Similarly, NVE had a higher antioxidant effect in the dexamethasone-constructed oxidative stress model. It was found that nanosizing technology had no significant effect on the absorption of VE in the intestinal tract by examining the concentration of VE in the intestinal tract (P > 0.05). However, compared to broilers perfused with regular VE (RVE), the NVE group displayed notably higher absorption rates at 11.5 and 14.5h (P < 0.05). Additionally, broilers perfused with NVE showed a significant increase in the area under the concentration versus time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0-∞), mean residence time (MRT0-∞), elimination half-life (t1/2z), and peak concentration (Cmax) of VE in plasma (P < 0.05). In summary, nanotechnology provides more effective absorption and persistence of VE in the blood circulation for broilers, which is conducive to the function of VE and further improves the antioxidant performance of broilers.

Formulation Development of Non-effervescent Floating Pellets of Dried Ferrous Sulphate by Extrusion- Spheronization Technique

Dried Ferrous Sulphate is commonly used as iron salt for the treatment of iron deficiency by oral route, but conventional products face the problems of poor bioavailability due to its carrier-mediated absorption in an upper gastrointestinal region with a lower residence time at the absorption site and gastrointestinal side effects due to immediate release of the entire dose of an irritant drug which requires higher dosage frequency and prolonged duration of treatment to replenish deficient iron. Gastroretentive floating pellets of Dried Ferrous Sulphate would overcome these problems and to develop them using extrusion-spheronization, various grades of HPMC, ETHOCELTM 100cp along with Gelucire® 43/01 were tried in preliminary batches. Further optimization was done using Central Composite Design by selecting the different ratios of Gelucire® 43/01 and ETHOCELTM 100cp to a drug as formulation variables and spheronization time and speed as process variables, each at 3 levels. PVP K-30 as a binder and Isopropyl alcohol as a solvent were used. Pellets were characterized for average pellet size by sieving, roundness by microscopy, drug content, % drug release in vitro, and floating behaviour. Std run 3 with Gelucire® 43/01 (1.8:1) and ETHOCELTM 100cp (1.6:1), spheronized at 2000 RPM for 5 minutes was considered an optimized formulation which yielded an average pellet size of 868 µm ± 30, pellet roundness of 0.93± 0.02, immediate floating and sustained release for 12 hours in 0.1 N HCl dissolution medium and formulation with these characteristics could result into increased utilization of iron from the administered dose with reduced side effects.

Multi-molar absorption of CO2 by a novel dual-functionalized ionic liquid solution: Experimental and DFT mechanistic study

Viscosity and absorption capacity are the main indexes to evaluate functionalized ionic liquids. Based on the precise design strategy of both anion and cation absorption, a dual-functionalized protic IL diethylenetriamine methylurea ([DETAH][MEUR]) for trapping CO2 was successfully synthesized. The absorption and regeneration properties of the ILs solution were tested, and the changes in the physical properties of ILs before and after CO2 absorption were compared. The experimental results showed that the [DETAH][MEUR] solution had relatively low viscosity, excellent absorption property with 2.05 mol CO2/mol IL at 40 °C and 0.5 mol/L concentration, and its regeneration efficiencies still kept above 90.09 % after five cycles. In addition, the mechanism of the absorption reaction was explored by combining Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculation methods. It shows that in [DETAH][MEUR] solution, the N atom losing proton (-NH) in the anion is the main absorption site, and the primary amine (-NH2) in the protonated cation [DETAH]+ of secondary amine is used as an auxiliary cooperative trapping CO2. Hopefully, this work can provide a new way for the research and development of green CO2 absorbents.

Synergistic integration of ZrO2-enriched reduced graphene oxide-based nanostructures for advanced photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride.

The escalating demand for the antibiotic drug tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) contributes to an increased release of its residues into land and water bodies, which poses risks to both aquatic life and human health. Therefore, it is precedence to effectively degrade TCH residues to protect environment from their long-term impacts. In this aspect, the present study entails the synthesis of zirconia (ZrO2) nanostructures and focuses on the enhancement in the catalytic performance of ZrO2 nanostructures by employing reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as a solid support to synthesize ZrO2-enriched RGO-based photocatalysts (ZrO2-RGO) for the degradation of TCH. The study delves into comprehensive spectroscopic and microscopic investigations and their photodegradation assessments. Powder XRD and HR-TEM studies depicted the phase crystallinity and also displayed uniform distribution of ZrO2 nanostructures with spherical morphology within ZrO2-RGO. This corresponds to high surface-to-volume ratios, providing a substantial number of active sites for light absorption and generation of e--h+ pairs. Moreover, the heterojunctions created between RGO and ZrO2 nanostructures promoted the interspecies electron transfer which prolonged the recombination time of e- and h+ than pure ZrO2 nanostructures, accounted for enhanced degradation of TCH using ZrO2-RGO. The photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized materials were examined under visible and UV light irradiation.Thedegradation efficiency of ~ 73.82% was achieved using ZrO2-RGO-based photocatalystwith rate constant k = 0.007023 min-1 under visible-light illumination.Moreover, under UV-light, the degradation rate was explicated to be k = 0.01017 min-1 with ~ 85.56% degradation of TCH antibiotics within 180 mins. Hence, the synthesized ZrO2-enriched RGO-based photocatalysts represents a promising potential for the effective degradation of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly TCH under visible and UV-light irradiation.

Structure effects of imidazolium ionic liquids on integrated CO2 absorption and transformation to dimethyl carbonate

The integration of chemical absorption of CO2 and in situ transformation to highly valuable chemicals is a promising process as an alternative toward fossil fuels. Here, three imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,2,4-triazole ([Bmim][Tz]), and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium 1,2,4-triazole were synthesized to absorb and activate CO2 by the formation of CO2-adducts, which can be in situ converted into dialkyl carbonates with alcohols (ROH, R = CH3, C2H5, and C4H9) in solvent diiodomethane under ambient temperature and pressure. The results show [Bmim][Tz] exhibits the best CO2 absorption capacity and dimethyl carbonates (DMC) yield, where CO2 capacity is up to 0.216 gCO2/gIL and DMC yield (based on methanol) is as high as 20.2 %. The structures of imidazolium ILs have significant effects on the absorption of CO2 and subsequent transformation process. Fourier transform infrared and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies demonstrate ILs structures influence binding sites for CO2 absorption, which can combine with CO2 to form CO2-adducts, zwitterion [Bmim-CO2], and [Tz-CO2]−. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations verify the structure effects (binding sites and steric hindrance) of ILs on the activation of CO2 and methanol, through the elongated CO bond lengths of CO2-adducts and O-H bond lengths of methanol in IL-methanol complexes, respectively, leading to different DMC yields. The integrated process is promising for the energy-efficient capture and utilization of CO2 under ambient conditions.

Hydrogen sulfide chemiresistive sensor based on swift heavy ion irradiated cerium-based metal–organic framework/graphene oxide composite

Herein, we report ultrahigh sensitive and selective hydrogen sulfide (H2S) chemiresistive sensor using SHI irradiated cerium-based metal–organic framework (MOF)/graphene oxide composite (Ce-BTC/GO). The solvothermal synthesized Ce-BTC/GO coated on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, irradiated by the 100 MeV Au+ ion at the fluence rate 5 × 1010 ions/s, 5 × 1011 ions/s and 5 × 1012 ions/s has been tested for chemiresistive sensing of H2S. As irradiated, Ce-BTC/GO was multi-parametrically tested for XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and I-V characteristics for its structural, morphological, spectroscopic and electrical characteristics. The result reveals that the irradiation treatment greatly affects the electric characteristics of the GO, achieving dramatic conductivity modulation in the presence of H2S gas, it also creates the surface sites for the H2S absorption and hence shows excellent real-time sensing performance below the maximum residue limit established by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). SHI irradiated Ce-BTC/GO sensor also shows excellent response/recovery time, ultrahigh reproducibility, good repeatability and stability at room temperature. The sensor allows the detection of H2S with a sensitivity of 54.70% in a concentration range of 10–100 ppm with a limit of detection 10 ppm.

Superporous Hydrogel: A Novel Approach for Safe Gastroretentive Drug Delivery System

Superporous hydrogel are developed initially as novel drug delivery system to retain dosage form in upper gastrointestinal tract, and absorbs drug in gastric medium. The generation-based classification of superporous hydrogel is covered in this review. The hydrophilic polymer networks formed by the molecular entanglements which absorb water up to thousands of times to their dry weight. These systems swells quickly and resist in an extremely acidic condition in stomach. This hydrogel is instantly swell through capillary force which is driven by absorption of water through an open porous structure. This system provides better solubility and bioavailability by targeting the specific site of absorption. The conventional superporous hydrogels have the poor mechanical strength which is overcome by developing the second superporous hydrogel generation composites and the third-generation superporous hydrogel hybrids. This article has mainly focused on the classification, techniques, drug loading, research papers, characterizations and applications of superporous hydrogel.&#x0D; Keywords: Gastric retention, Cross-linking, Superporous hydrogel, Swelling rate, Elastic property, Hydrophilic polymer networks.

Bystander-application of a novel nasal swab optimized for drug delivery is safe and non-traumatic for the general population

ObjectiveThe PN Naloxone Nasal Swab (Pocket Naloxone Corp., Bethesda, MD) is a swab optimized for drug delivery and intended for use by non-medical personnel for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. The aim of this study (PNC-20–003) is to determine the safety of this nasal swab in a real-world environment. MethodsThis was a single-institution, quantitative-qualitative prospective trial performed at an outpatient clinic. Patients with normal or abnormal nasal structure were recruited. A non-medically trained individual placed the nasal (soaked in fluorescein dye) on each side of the patient’s nose. Endoscopy with recording was performed before and after swab placement. An independent reviewer rated degree of staining, mucosal bleeding, and trauma at nasal subsites. ResultsVideos from 32 nasal cavities (16 participants) were reviewed. All cavities had high intensity staining at the septum and the inferior turbinate. No patients had staining within the middle meatus, agger nasi, or olfactory regions. In patients with normal anatomy, obstructive nasal anatomy or prior nasal surgery, all cavities had staining near the nasal septum. Only 7 cavities (22 %) had minor bleeding defined as ooze that stopped in 1–2min, and 3 (9 %) had minor trauma defined as mucosal disruption less than 5mm. There were no significant differences in comparing pre- and post-swab nasal cavity, trauma, or bleeding exams. ConclusionsThese study results showed that this swab is atraumatic to the nasal mucosal membranes when administered by non-medical personnel. Analysis suggests contact with targeted sites for drug absorption regardless of anatomy.

DEVELOPMENT OF NASAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS FOR SYSTEMIC EXPOSURE: USE OF PERMEATION ENHANCERS TO ACHIEVE TARGET PRODUCT PROFILE

In recent years, special attention has been paid to non-invasive parenteral routes of administration, which are an alternative to injectable drugs, as well as other dosage forms whose effectiveness and safety may be compromised by the administration route. At the same time, there is a paradigm shift in relation to nasal dosage forms: they are no longer considered as primarily drugs exhibiting local effects, and an increasing number of nasal medici-nal products with systemic action are appearing on the market. There is a growing interest to the nasal delivery due to the possibility of maximizing the therapeutic potential of active substances that have proven themselves in clinical practice, for example, by quick targeted action to the site of the pathological process, increased bioavailability of the drug and reduced possible side effects. The nasal cavity as a site for systemic drug absorption has anatomical and physiological features that include a relatively large surface area, a porous endothelial basement membrane, a highly vascularized epithelial layer, high total blood flow, lack of first-pass metabolism, and easy access. Therefore, the development of a convenient (nasal) dosage form of the drug with a rapid onset of action is a promising approach. When developing a new pharmaceutical product, the factors that determine bioavaila-bility should be taken into account and addressed by appropriate formulation and delivery techniques: the use of mucoadhesive components or sub-stances that modulate mucociliary clearance, variation of the viscosity or osmolarity, or selection of an appropriate dosing device. Improving intrana-sal absorption is a promising direction for obtaining drugs with improved consumer properties. In addition to the functional properties of the formula-tions, safety aspects must also be taken into account. The article provides an analysis of the limiting factors for nasal preparations, strategies for in-creasing bioavailability, permeation enhancement mechanisms, and provides examples of the application of permeation enhancers used in developed and commercially available drugs. This review gives an idea on possible to use in nasal formulations permeation enhancers which have different mode of actions.

Room Temperature-Built Gas Sensors from Green Carbon Derivative: A Comparative Study between Pristine SnO2 and GO-SnO2 Nanocomposite

Room temperature-built gas sensors were fabricated from graphene oxide (GO), pristine and doped SnO2 nanostructures. The as-synthesized green carbon derivative (GO) nanomaterials were prepared from waste plastic precursor using Modified Hummer’s methodology. Pristine SnO2 and GO-SnO2 nanocomposite were synthesized employing a wet synthesis technique known as co-precipitation. The as-prepared nanoparticles were investigated for structural crystallographic and morphological features using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analytical techniques. High-angle annular dark field (HAADF) and elemental quantifications of the nanopowders were investigated with the Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Textural features were determined with the assistance of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyzer. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to ascertain the material stability and degradability of the synthetic materials. Functional group and bond structure analysis was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Gas sensor devices were tested for responses towards CH4, H2, LPG, and CO2 gases at 20 ppm concentrations of each. GO-SnO2 nanocomposite sensing device showed optimal detection response towards the respective analyte gases with values of 5.00, 5.08, 4.90 and 3.41 respectively. The prepared nanocomposite showed stability and selectivity towards the target gases in an order of magnitude of H2 &gt; CH4 &gt; LPG &gt; CO2. The optimal gas sensor device’s dynamic gas sensing response was ascribed to the GO doping effect which relatively increased its surface area (46.48 m2g-1) and absorption sites.