Box-Behnken Experimental Design Research Articles

Effects of Roller Milling Parameters on Wheat-Flour Damaged Starch: A Comprehensive Passage Analysis and Response-Surface Methodology Optimization

Damaged starch typically arises from mechanical damage caused by the action of the roller mills during the wheat flour milling process. The content of resulting damaged starch in the flour significantly influences its characteristics, emphasizing the importance of understanding and controlling the formation of damaged starch for the production of specialized flours. A detailed passage analysis from three different commercial mills revealed that starch damage control is primarily achievable at front passages of the sizing and reduction system, which generate the majority of the flour release in the mill. Also, it revealed that damaged starch content increases progressively from the initial to the final passages during milling in the break, sizing and reduction system. To investigate the effects of milling parameters on damaged starch, flour yield, and energy consumption, a three-level and three-variable Box–Behnken experimental design with response surface methodology was applied. As independent variables roll gap (0.05–0.35 mm), feed rate (0.15–0.35 kg/cm min), and fast roll speed (400–800 rpm) were employed. The obtained models were utilized to optimize milling conditions for producing flours with special characteristics.

Innovative Design and Optimization of High-Quality Peanut Digging-Inverter

To rapidly dry peanut pods and effectively address mold issues resulting from rainy weather, this article provides an analysis of the current research status of global peanut digging, inverting, and harvesting technologies. Based on a two-stage peanut harvesting model, the operating principles of a high-quality peanut digging-inverter are elaborated upon, and the design of key machine components is discussed. The evaluation metrics for the operation of a high-quality peanut digging-inverter include the rate of vine inverting, the soil content rate, the rate of fallen pods, and the rate of buried pods. Utilizing theoretical analysis, the Box–Behnken experimental design is employed to investigate the operating parameters of these machines, with the tractor’s running speed, the linear speed of the inverting roller, and the linear speed of the conveyor chain serving as the experimental factors in a three-factor, three-level experimental study. A regression model is established to analyze the impact of each factor on operational quality and to comprehensively optimize the influencing factors. The experimental results indicate that all factors significantly affect the rate of vine inverting. The tractor’s running speed (X1) and the linear speed of the inverting roller (X3) significantly influence the rate of buried pods, while the linear speed of the conveyor chain (X2) does not have a significant effect on this rate. Similarly, the tractor’s running speed (X1) and the linear speed of the inverting roller (X3) significantly affect the rate of fallen pods, whereas the linear speed of the conveyor chain (X2) does not. Furthermore, the linear speed of the conveyor chain (X2) and the linear speed of the inverting roller (X3) significantly impact the soil content rate, while the tractor’s running speed (X1) does not. The optimal combination of operating parameters is a tractor running speed of 1 m/s, a conveyor chain linear speed of 1.3 m/s, and an inverting roller linear speed of 2.1 m/s. Under these conditions, the high-quality peanut digging-inverter achieves a vine inverting rate of 89.29%, a buried pod rate of 0.31%, a fallen pod rate of 0.74%, and a soil content rate of 8.11%. The experimental values for each evaluation index exhibit relative errors of 1.14%, 6.45%, 1.35%, and 0.13% compared to the optimized values provided by the Design-Expert software. The findings of this research will facilitate the development of hardware conditions for the future intelligent and information-based harvesting of peanuts, thereby establishing a solid foundation for the high-quality initial processing of oilseeds.

Model study on transmission loss of the split-stream rushing exhaust muffler for diesel engine

Numerical simulation was carried out on the transmission loss of the split-stream rushing exhaust muffler, and the accuracy of the simulation method was verified through experiments. Taking the transmission loss as the response value, the experiment was designed by using Box-Behnken module of Design Expert software. A mathematical regression model of transmission loss with experiment factors was established by using the Box-Behnken experimental design scheme, the experiment factors include the diameter of the interior pipe, the shape of the rushing hole, the center distance of the rushing hole, the cone angle of the interior pipe as well as the number of rushing holes, and the mathematical regression model's significance was tested. The response curvatures of second order interaction to the transmission loss by different variables were obtained and the interaction relationships among variables were analyzed. The results showed that the diameter of the interior pipe and the center distance of the rushing hole are the main factors that affect the transmission loss. The transmission loss increases with the increase of the diameter of the interior pipe. When the diameter of the interior pipe is between 70 mm and 80 mm, the transmission loss firstly increases and then decreases with the center distance of the rushing hole changes from Smin to Smax. When the diameter of the interior pipe is between 80 mm and 90 mm, the transmission loss decreases with the center distance of the rushing hole changes from Smin to Smax. The effect of the rushing hole shape on transmission loss is not significant. The transmission loss increases with the increase of the number of rushing holes, but the increase of transmission loss is not significant with the number of rushing holes changes from 4 to 6 groups. Taking the transmission loss as the optimization index, the better experimental condition was obtained. Compared to the not optimized muffler of the sample engine, the average transmission loss of the optimized muffler is increased by 48.70 % when the frequency is 0-1000 Hz, the average insertion loss of the optimized muffler is increased by 7.4 %. At inlet air velocity of 40 m/s, the pressure loss is reduced by 56.8 %.

Optimization of the Homogenization Process of Ginseng Superfine Powder to Improve Its Powder Characteristics and Bioavailability.

As consumer demands evolve for health supplements, traditional ginseng products are facing challenges in enhancing their powder characteristics and bioavailability. The objective of this study was to prepare a novel ginseng superfine powder using a high-pressure homogenization (HPH) process. Response surface methodology was employed to determine the effects of HPH parameters (pressure, number of passes, and concentration) on particle size and the dissolution of the saponin components of the superfine powders. The Box-Behnken design of experiments was applied to ascertain the optimal HPH parameters for the smallest particle size and the highest dissolution of the saponin components. For the powders obtained at different parameters, the characterization of tap density, bulk density, flowability, water-holding capacity, appearance, and taste were observed. The optimized experimental conditions for the HPH process were as follows: 15,000 psi (pressure), 3 (number of passes), and 1 kg/L (concentration). The optimized values were 55 μm (particle size) and 83 mg/g (dissolution of the saponin components), respectively. The method offered technical support for the application of the HPH process in the preparation of ginseng powders. The objects of this research could be broadened to include a diverse array of botanical materials, addressing contemporary demands for cost-effectiveness and sustainability within the industry.

Elimination of malachite green by modified Fenton like process. Application of Box Behnken design

<p style="line-height:200%;text-align:justify;"><span style="line-height:200%;" lang="EN-US">The aim of this work was to investigate an advanced oxidation process for removing malachite green from aqueous solutions using a modified Fenton-like process. An experimental Box-Behnken design was applied to determine the optimal conditions by examining the effects of catalyst concentration ([Fe<sup>2+</sup>]), oxidant concentration ([K<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>O<sub>8</sub>]), and stirring speed. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that oxidant concentration was the most significant factor, with a p-value of 0.001, while catalyst concentration, the quadratic term of the oxidant, and the interaction between catalyst concentration and stirring speed were also significant. The optimal conditions for maximum dye removal were found to be a catalyst concentration of 3.5 ppm, an oxidant concentration of 3.07 ppm, and a stirring speed of 200 rpm, achieving a theoretical degradation yield of 100% and an experimental yield of 98%. This agreement validates the model and the importance of the optimized parameters. Additionally, degradation kinetics studies in various natural waters revealed that oxidation efficiency followed this order: Distilled water (98%) > Seawater ≈ Industrial water (88.97%) > Source water (85.57%) > Mineral water (80.52%).</span></p>

Design and Testing of an Integrated Corn Stubble Residual Film-Recycling Machine

The existing residual film-recycling machines struggle to efficiently recover and separate film stubble in a single operation. With roller-type film-rolling device unloading difficulties and other problems, in order to improve the recovery efficiency of film stubble and the separation effect while reducing human labor and to improve work efficiency, we designed an automatic hydraulic unloading film stubble-recycling integrated residual film-recycling machine. The angle of the membrane lifting device was determined by theoretical calculations using the method of coupled simulation of EDEM and ANSYS Workbench. We analyzed the amount of resistance as well as the maximum stress and deformation during the working process of the membrane-lifting device and focused on the design of the membrane–soil separating device and membrane-rolling device. The depth of the film shovel, the forward speed of the machine, and the rotational speed of the driving wheel of the jogging chain were selected as the test factors, and the residual film recovery rate was taken as the evaluation index. A three-factor, three-level test was designed by applying the principles of the Box–Behnken experimental design. The results show that when the forward speed is 1.36 m/s, the soil depth is 147.16 mm, and the rotational speed of the driving wheel of the shaking chain is 77.89 r/min, the recovery rate of the residual film is 87.56%, and the relative error between the experimental value and the optimized value is 2.73%. The experimental results can provide a theoretical basis for the design of the residual film-recycling machine.

Extraction of fermentable sugars and phenolic compounds from Colombian cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nut shells using subcritical water technology: Response surface methodology and chemical profiling

Subcritical water extraction (SCWE) is a novel technology that uses water at high pressure and temperature to recover bioactive compounds. While promising, further studies are needed to fully understand the potential of SCWE when applied to cashew nut shells (CNS), which are rich in phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, and other natural substances. This study aimed to evaluate SCWE applied to CNS from Vichada, Colombia, using a surface response methodology and to perform a comprehensive chemical profiling of the recovered extracts and the remaining solids. A Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to study the extraction process, focusing on variables such as temperature, pressure, and solid-to-solvent ratio. The liquid extracts were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, while the extracted solids were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The liquid extracts revealed a variety of compounds, including xylose, glucose, arabinose, long-chain phenols, organic acids, and furans. Extraction conditions significantly influenced the distribution of these compounds, with the optimal conditions for extracting fermentable sugars and organic acids identified as 180 °C, 15 bar, and a 20:1 mL/g solid-to-solvent ratio. The resulting hydrochar comprised lignin (58.82 ± 3.44 %) and structural carbohydrates (approximately 40 %), showing thermal stability up to 200 °C, OH functional groups on its surface, and a textured morphology under microscopy. These by-products have potential applications in various fields. This study demonstrates that SCWE effectively recovers valuable compounds from CNS for use in fermentation processes, suggesting that the resulting hydrochar could be utilized in soil amendment, adsorption, or energy applications. SCWE is highlighted as an innovative and environmentally friendly technology for managing cashew residual biomass, promoting sustainability and circularity in this production chain.

Green and efficient extraction of an anticaner agent N-methylsansalvamide using ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents from mycelia of strain Frusarium sp. R1

N-methylsansalvamide (SA), one of cyclic pentadepsipeptides produced by several Fusarium strains, is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer disease. In order to make sufficient amount of SA for drug development, a green and efficient extraction process of SA from the mycelia of strain Fusarium sp. R1 using deep eutectic solvent-assisted ultrasound extraction (DES-UAE) was firstly achieved in this work. Solvent screening results indicated that choline chloride-acetic acid (ChCl-Aa) was shown to be the best DES for SA extraction. Through single-factor trials, Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and BoxBehnken design (BBD) experiments, the optimal conditions for DES-UAE with the highest SA yield of 58.2 ± 1.1 mg/g were obtained as follows: ChCl-Aa ratio of 1:2.0 (M/M), water content of 16.4 %, liquid-solid ratio of 37:1 (mL/g), ultrasonic power of 175 W for 47.4 min at 46.3 °C. Compared to conventional extraction approaches, DES-UAE exhibited better SA yield since it caused more serious damage to the surface of mycelia powder on basis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Furthermore, molecular interaction studies suggested that SA has a variety of interactions with ChCl-Aa, including hydrogen and electrovalent bonds as well as van der Waals forces. Finally, the recovery rate of SA reached up to 99.5 % when the ratio of distilled water and DES extracts was 15:1 (V/V). These findings provide the way for large-scale production of SA.

Freeze-thawed electrosprayed everolimus loaded nanoparticles as a potential drug delivery system in brain tumours: Design and characterisation

Freeze-thawing is a method that has proven beneficial to achieve cross-linking without the use of chemicals. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the applicability of our previously electrosprayed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)- soluplus (SOL®)-everolimus (RAD001) nanoparticles (NP) as a potential drug delivery system in brain tumours post freeze-thawing. The effects of several formulation variables post freeze-thawing (particle size, encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and % drug release) were investigated using the Box-Behnken (BBD) design of experiment. The optimal PVA-SOL®-RAD001 NP formulation contained 2%PVA-14%SOL®-0.6 % RAD001 with a gelation temperature of 37 °C ± 0.1 at pH 5.5. The average particle size, EE%, and release kinetics of the PVA-SOL®-RAD001 NP were (63.99 ± 0.1) nm, 99 %, and 93 % in 8 h respectively. For the in vitro cell viability tests, the NP were treated at 24h and 48h showing a significant reduction in cell viability at the higher dose treatments for the optimized formulation. Additionally, a comparison was made with our previously developed microspheres containing PVA-RAD001 alone, for the cell viability study. Electrosprayed protocol modifications were proposed to produce NP combining smaller particle size (<100 nm) with higher encapsulation efficiency and to ensure the optimum viscosity at body temperature highlighting the novelty of the freeze-thaw technique on the electrosprayed NP.

Optimization of the foam-mat drying process to develop high-quality tomato powder: A response surface methodology approach

This research aimed to estimate the optimum formulation of process parameters in making tomato powder with optimal physicochemical properties using foam-mat drying. The egg albumin (EA) concentration (1–5%), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) concentration (1–1.5%), and drying temperature (60–70 °C) were employed as independent variables in optimizing through Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in combination with Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD). Based on the total 17 runs of BBD, foam-mat dried powder showed physicochemical properties such as 0.18–0.33 g/cm3 foam density, 178.54–350% foam expansion, 40–94% foam stability, 46.80–62% water soluble index (WSI), 1.13–2.96 water absorption index (WAI), 1.51–2 °Brix TSS, 2.30–3.98 mg/100mL ascorbic acid, 0.22–0.38% titratable acidity, and color (L*: 29.26–48.07, a*: 9.73–16.86, and b*: 6.81–21.56). Furthermore, the ANOVA findings revealed the correlation of determination (R2) exceeding 85% for the models, suggesting that the interaction between the responses and the prediction of the implied model is suitable. The optimal formulation from RSM was 4.59% EA, 0.70% CMC, and 60 °C drying temperature. Under the optimized conditions, the experimental values were 0.19±0.03 g/cm3 foam density, 346.60±3.35% foam expansion, 89.05±2.80% foam stability, 55.56±3.22% WSI, 2.49±0.09 WAI, 1.84±0.15 °Brix TSS, 2.93±0.10 mg/100 mL ascorbic acid, 0.39±0.02% titratable acidity, 46.95±6.35 L*, 17.54±1.50 a*, and 21.85±0.74 b*. The optimized parameters were verified, and there was good agreement between the experimental results and the predicted values (residual standard error (RSE) ≤ 5).

Leaching Platinum Group Metals from Simulated Spent Auto-Catalyst Material Using Ozone and Hydrochloric Acid

This paper reports the development of a process for leaching Pt, Pd, and Rh from simulated spent auto-catalyst material using ozone and hydrochloric acid in order to produce a pregnant leach solution that could be fed to an industrial precious metal refinery. The effects of O3 mass flow, initial acid concentration, and temperature were investigated using a Box–Behnken experimental design with three centre-point runs and a total leach time of 6 h. Set points of 3.34, 5.01, and 6.68 g/h; 1.0 M, 3.0 M, and 5.0 M; and 30, 60, and 90 °C were used for O3 mass flow, hydrochloric acid concentration, and temperature, respectively. The optimal extractions for Pt, Pd, and Rh were 80%, 85%, and 42%, respectively, at 5.01 g/h O3, 5.0 M HCl, and 90 °C. Statistical analyses indicated high dependencies of Pd and Rh on hydrochloric acid concentration and temperature, with only Pt displaying a significant dependence on O3 mass flow.

Development of a green microextraction procedure for determining polyaromatic hydrocarbons in electronic equipment plastics

The global proliferation of electronic devices, driven by technological advancements, has led to the release of organic pollutants from the plastic components of these devices, particularly in indoor environments. Among these pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are emitted into the air from plastic components, play a critical role in the field of indoor environment pollution. Consequently, effectively monitoring the PAH content in plastics used in electronic equipment is crucial for preventing indoor contamination.In this study we aimed to develop a fast, inexpensive, easy, and environmentally friendly analysis method for determining PAH content in plastic equipment. A dispersive liquid liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with solidified organic drop (SFO) microextraction technique was developed.Considering the eleven number of parameters that can affect the signal in the DLLME-SFO method, Plackett Burmann's design was applied to select the most three impactful parameters for 18 PAH species. A Box-Behnken experimental design was also applied to optimize the identified parameters. The optimal conditions for the most influential parameters such as solvent type, pH, and the sample weight were identified as 1-dodecanol, 12 and 0.24 g, respectively.The proposed method was validated under these optimized conditions, yielding low detection limits ranging from 0.004 to 0.11 ng mL−1. The calibration curves were linear with correlation coefficients above 0.98 and relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranging from 2.4% to 20%. This method was successfully applied to analyze PAH content in the plastic components of electronic devices. The extraction technique developed in this study is a newly developed technique and has not been previously used to analyze organic pollutants that may be present in electronic equipment plastic.

Prediction and optimization of wet bulb efficiency in solar energy-based novel evaporative cooling system: Response Surface Method Approach

Abstract The wet bulb efficiency is an essential parameter in performance of Indirect evaporative cooling systems, as it impacts efficiently cool air while minimizing energy usage. This paper focuses on model and optimize multi tubular type wet channel for indirect evaporative cooler system. The optimized wet bulb efficiency based on Box-Behnken experimental design model and response surface method. The methodology included predicting and optimizing input process and working flow parameters of indirect evaporative cooling system to maximize wet bulb efficiency. A quadratic model of response surface method was used to evaluate influence of each factor on wet bulb efficiency, which was validated through analysis of variance results. The study found a maximum WBE of 89.65% under specific conditions, with a relative error of 3.25% between predicted and experimental result. This optimization process, governed by RSM, determined essential parameters for enhancing efficiency of system. These parameters include inlet process temperature of 28°C, working air velocity of 3.5 m/s, relative humidity of 45%, and inlet working air temperature of 24°C. These results demonstrate practical significance of current research, providing useful insights for optimal design and optimization of indirect evaporative cooling systems to fulfil cooling requirements while minimising energy consumption.

Formulation and Evaluation of Nano-particles Loaded with Salvia miltiorriza by Homogenization Method

Aims: The aim of the present study is to formulate and evaluate the Salvia miltorrhizaloaded Nano-structured lipid carriers(SM-NLC) in order to enhance the aqueous solubility and bioavailability as the efficacy of Salvia miltiorriza extract has been restricted due to less solubility and low bioavailability. Introduction: Salvia miltiorrhiza is a well-known Chinese herb that belongs to the family Labiatae. The herb has been widely used to treat various kinds of ailments, and its main phytochemical constituents are Tanshinone I, Tanshinone II, Miltirone, and Salvionolic acid, which are mainly found in the extract of roots. These Phytochemical constituents are responsible for several pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular diseases etc. Objective: Nano-lipid carriers are useful in enhancing the solubility of poor water-soluble drugs. The faulty lattice arrangement of Nano-lipid carriers (NLC) provides better entrapment, thus providing more space for the drug to incorporate in the lattice structure of NLC, improving the stability of the formulation and preventing the drug leakage from the matrix. Methods: SM-NLCs were prepared by using oleic acid and stearic acid as liquid and solid lipids, respectively and tween 80 as the surfactant by high-speed homogenization method. The optimization of SM- NLC was performed by applying the Box-Behnken experimental design. The independent variables were chosen as the amount of lipids, surfactant concentration, and sonication time, whereas dependent variables were opted as particle size and entrapment efficiency. The influence of different proportions of the lipids (Stearic acid and Oleic acid) and the surfactant (Tween 80) was analysed on the dependent variables. The optimized formulation was evaluated for Particle size (241.7nm±3), Polydispersity index (.249 ±0.05), Zeta Potential (-14.6±5), and entrapment efficiency (82.49%). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed to identify the surface morphology, and the entrapment of the drug into the nanostructured matrix was verified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The interaction between the formulations was confirmed by performing FTIR. The dialysis bag method was performed to calculate the in vitro drug release from the optimized formulation. Additionally, a stability study was performed for 1 month of duration. Result: The SM NLCs were successfully formulated based on the Box-Behnken design. Particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and EE demonstrated less than a 5% difference compared to the predicted value. The formulations did not show any possible interactions with the lipids. The optimized formulations were found stable after one month of stability studies. Conclusion: The above results confirmed that Salvia miltiorrhiza could be effectively formulated in the form of a nanostructured-lipid carrier system. The formulation and evaluation of nanoparticles have been performed successfully using the homogenization method.

Cell rupture of Tetradesmus obliquus using high-pressure homogenization at the pilot scale and recovery of pigments and lipids

Microalgae are promising sources of intracellular metabolites such as proteins, polysaccharides, pigments, and lipids. Thus, this study applied high-pressure homogenization (HPH) techniques on a pilot scale to disrupt the cells of Tetradesmus obliquus. The effects of pressure (P; 150, 250, and 350 bar), suspension concentration (Cs; 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 % w/v), and number of cycles (Nc; 5, 15, and 25) were evaluated in HPH via a Box–Behnken experimental design. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the recovery rate (dTr) of pigments and lipids. The specific energy consumption (SEC) and color change gradient (ΔE) of the biomass during HPH were also assessed. The optimal HPH conditions for pigment extraction with 1.5 % Cs (w/v) were as follows: P = 312 bar and Nc = 22 for chlorophyll-a (0.83 g/100 g; dTr = 69 %; SEC = 47.50 kJ/g dry matter); P = 345 bar and Nc = 24 for chlorophyll-b (0.63 g/100 g; dTr = 80 %; SEC = 57.30 kJ/g dry matter); P = 345 bar and Nc = 24 for total carotenoids (0.53 g/100 g; dTr = 79 %; SEC = 54.12 kJ/g dry matter); and P = 350 bar and Nc = 25 for β-carotene (299 µg/g; dTr = 58 %; SEC = 62.08 kJ/g dry matter). The optimal HPH conditions for lipid extraction were P = 350 bar and Nc = 23, with a lipid recovery rate of ≥28 %. Cell disruption during HPH caused a change in the color of the biomass (ΔE) due to the release of intracellular biocompounds. Increasing P and Nc led to higher SECs, ΔE gradients, and pigment and lipid contents. Thus, the levels of recovered pigments and lipids can be indicators of cell disruption in T. obliquus.

The effect of size concentration, lubricant and plasticizer agents contents on cold sizing process performance of cotton warp yarns: modelling and optimization studies

Cold sizing is the alternative to conventional hot sizing of cotton warp yarns due to this low-energy consuming character. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of size recipe ingredients on the cold sizing performance of cotton warp yarns. A three factors-three levels Box-Behnken experimental design and a response surface methodology were investigated to examine the effect of size concentration (40, 50, and 60 g/L), lubricant agent content (0%, 4%, and 8%), and plasticizer agent content (0%, 5%, and 10%) on sizing properties. In this work, the effect of experimental parameters was determined by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Therefore, a multi-objective optimization technique was used to optimize the output responses in terms of the maximum value of size cohesion power, the maximum value of size adhesion to cotton fibers, the maximum values of mechanical properties of sized cotton warp yarns, and the minimum value of hairiness of warp yarn after cold sizing. Finally, the experimental results are in good agreement with those obtained by SEM and FTIR analysis. In addition, desizing efficiencies and wettability results proved that the optimum size recipe was successfully removable from cotton fabrics by the desizing process in hot water.

CBD-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Optimization, Characterization, and Stability.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has demonstrated its potential to enhance depression treatment through various biological pathways. However, the application potential of CBD is significantly impeded by its polymorphic nature, limited water solubility, and hepatic first-pass metabolism. To improve chemical stability and water solubility, nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with CBD (CBD-NLCs) were developed using a hot-melt emulsification method and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The process parameters were optimized using a four-factor and three-level Box-Behnken experimental design consisting of 29 experiments. The CBD-NLCs were formulated and characterized, demonstrating desirable properties, including a mean particle size of 54.33 nm, a PDI value of 0.118, a zeta potential of -29.7 mV, and an impressive encapsulation efficiency rate of 87.58%. The nanoparticles were found to possess an approximately spherical shape, as revealed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The stability studies have demonstrated that CBD-NLCs effectively mitigated the photodegradation of CBD and exhibited a stable behavior for 42 days when stored. The CBD-NLCs displayed a biphasic release profile characterized by an initial burst release (over 50% of CBD released within 20 min) followed by a subsequent gradual and sustained release, aligned with first-order kinetics and Fickian diffusion. These findings demonstrate the potential suitability of this formulation as a carrier for CBD in food fortification and pharmaceutical applications.

Simultaneous Estimation of Pregabalin and Duloxetine Used to Treat Nerve Pain by Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method Using the QBD Approach

Objective: A novel stability indicating RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of Pregabalin and Duloxetine by using the QBD approach. Method: To determine the optimal parameters for the duloxetine and pregabalin study, we used Design Expert version 13.0 in this work. The mobile phase consisted of 0.8 ml/min of methanol: water (80:20, v/v) with o-phosphoric acid-adjusted pH 3.A 250 mm × 4.6 mm ID, 5 μm particle size Cosmosil C18 column was used. The UV-3000-M detector was used to detect at 218 nm. Results: Duloxetine's retention time was 7.153 ±0.1 min, whereas Pregabalin's was 4.481±0.1 min. The ICH parameters like linearity, accuracy, robustness, ruggedness, LOD and LOQ, and system suitability were determined. Likewise, the tailing factors were found to be 1.27 and 1.26, while the theoretical plates of duloxetine and pregabalin were found to be 8313 and 8549, respectively. The recovery study shows the results (99.37–99.84% for pregabalin and 99.03–99.74% for duloxetine), and the precision was obtained with a %RSD of less than 2%. The result of the assay was 99.92 % for pregabalin and 99.39% for duloxetine. The developed method was used for the forced degradation study. The Box-Behnken design experiment using Design Expert 13.0 was adopted for the QBD approach. Conclusion: All the values obtained for different parameters were within the acceptable range of ICH. The developed method can be routinely used for the simultaneous estimation of Pregabalin and Duloxetine by using the QBD approach.

Efficient Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles and miRNA-33a Via Cationic PEGylated Niosomal Formulation to MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

To overcome the challenges associated with the co-delivery of AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) and miRNA as an anti-breast cancer combination therapy, niosomal systems were developed using Span 60, cholesterol, and a cationic lipid (CTAB), and the formulations were optimized using Box-Behnken experimental design. The niosomal formulations with the smallest size were selected for further optimization of size, surface charge, entrapment efficiency, and stability. To achieve this, AuNPs and DSPE-PEG2000 (2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000)were added to the formulation. The optimized niosomal formulation could effectively encapsulate AuNPs with an entrapment efficiency of 34.49% ± 0.84 and a spherical particle size of 153.6 ± 4.62 nm. The incorporation of PEG and CTAB led to notable enhancements in the overall characteristics of the delivery system. To evaluate the effectiveness of the combination therapy, various assessments such as cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and gene expression properties were conducted. The results demonstrated that the combination delivery using the new C-PEG-Nio-AuNPs (cationic pegylated niosomal gold nanoparticles) system and miRNA had the lowest IC50, the highest apoptosis rate, and the most significant upregulation of miRNA and BAX/BCL2 expression in MCF-7 cell growth. In conclusion, this innovative co-delivery approach represents a promising breakthrough in the development of therapeutic agents for breast cancer treatment. By combining multiple therapeutic agents within a single delivery system, this method has the potential to enhance treatment efficacy, reduce side effects, and improve patient outcomes.Graphical

Application of Box-Behnken design in monoglycerides production via glycerolysis of palm oil using homogenizer reactor

The glycerolysis of triglycerides (TG) to produce monoglycerides (MG) is an important pathway for glycerol valorization. However, mass transfer resistance has significantly hindered the process efficiency because the reaction is a two-phase liquid-liquid reaction. In this study, a homogenizer was used as a high shear mixing reactor (HSM) to address such issue of mass transfer resistance, and was compared to a conventional mechanically stirred reactor (MS). The effects of the rotational speed, catalyst amount, molar ratio of Gly-to-TG, reaction temperature and reaction time on MG yield were investigated using NaOH as a homogeneous catalyst. Three reaction variables were investigated by statistical analysis using the Box-Behnken (BBK) experimental design, including Gly-to-TG molar ratio (2:1–4:1), catalyst loading (0.1–0.3 wt% TG), and reaction time (15–45 min). The results indicated that the predicted maximum MG yield of 63.4 % was achieved at a reaction time of 29 min, a Gly-to-TG molar ratio of 2.7:1, and a catalyst loading of 0.274 wt% of TG, which agreed with the experimental results. The yield efficiency of HSM was 1.27×10−4 g/J, which was 9.14-fold higher than that of MS at 1.39×10−5 g/J.