Controlled Release Rate Research Articles

Synergistic enhancement of chlorophenols removal using eco-friendly alginate@montmorillonite hybrid bio-capsules: insights from encapsulation and kinetic release studies

This study investigates the synergistic effects of alginate@montmorillonite (Alg@Mt) hybrid microcapsules for enhancing water purification, focusing on improving the encapsulation of hydrophobic contaminants. Alg@Mt microcapsules were prepared through ionotropic gelation. Characterisation was performed using SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, and TGA. Encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC), and release behaviour were also examined. Alg@Mt microcapsules effectively removed phenol and its chlorinated derivatives from water. Incorporating Na-Mt improved structural and thermal properties, EE, and LC. Increasing the clay content to 60% (w/w) raised the EE of phenol and its more hydrophobic derivative, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, from 39.74 ± 3.1% (w/w) and 63.91 ± 2% (w/w) to 60.56 ± 1.6% (w/w) and 82.28 ± 2.3% (w/w), respectively, with more controlled release rates, following Fickian diffusion mechanism. EE increased with phenolic substances hydrophobicity, while LC and release rates were inversely related. This approach is promising for removing hydrophobic contaminants from water.

Effects of microencapsulated plant essential oils on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal health of weaned Tibetan piglets.

Plant essential oils (PEOs) have received significant attention in animal production due to their diverse beneficial properties and hold potential to alleviate weaning stress. However, PEOs effectiveness is often compromised by volatility and degradation. Microencapsulation can enhance the stability and control release rate of essential oils. Whether different microencapsulation techniques affect the effectiveness remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PEOs coated by different microencapsulation techniques on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal health of weaned Tibetan piglets. A total of 120 Tibetan piglets, aged 30 days, were randomly divided into five groups with four replicates, each containing six piglets. The experimental period lasted for 32 days. The groups were fed different diets: a basal diet without antibiotics (NC), a basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg tylosin and 50 mg/kg colistin sulfate (PC), 300 mg/kg solidified PEO particles (SPEO), 300 mg/kg cold spray-coated PEO (CSPEO), or 300 mg/kg hot spray-coated PEO (HSPEO). The results showed that supplementation with SPEO, CSPEO, or HSPEO led to a notable decrease in diarrhea incidence and feed to gain ratio, as well as duodenum lipopolysaccharide content, while simultaneously increase in average daily gain, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and the abundance of ileum Bifidobacterium compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Supplementation with SPEO, CSPEO, or HSPEO significantly elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and concurrently reduced serum lipopolysaccharide and interferon γ levels compared with the NC and PC groups (p < 0.05). Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in the SPEO and HSPEO groups significantly increased compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Additionally, CSPEO and HSPEO significantly reduced jejunum pH value (p < 0.05) compared with the NC and PC groups (p<0.05). Additionally, Supplementation with HSPEO significantly elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), abundance of ileum Lactobacillus, along with decreased serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels compared with both the NC and PC groups. Our findings suggest that different microencapsulation techniques affect the effectiveness. Dietary supplemented with PEOs, especially HSPEO, increased growth performance, improved immune function, and optimized gut microbiota composition of weaned piglets, making it a promising feed additive in piglet production.

Pickering emulsions of zein nanoparticles co-stabilized by Tween 20: An effective strategy to stabilize citral in low pH environment

The demand for surfactant-free emulsions is growing significantly in food industry. Herein, we report the fabrication of zein nanoparticles, modified their surface hydrophobicity with Tween 20, and used them to stabilize various formulations of Pickering emulsions designated as ZT0 %, ZT5 %, ZT10 %, ZT15 %, ZT20 %, and ZT25 %, for preventing the acid-catalysed degradation of citral at 25 °C. Our results suggest that, as the concentration of Tween 20 increases, the droplet size of the emulsions first increases and then decreases, whereas the mechanical strength continuously increases. Citral encapsulated in ZT25 % shows maximum physicochemical stabilization as determined by visual, olfactory and HPLC analysis, and when released in saline shows maximum antioxidant activity due to the favorable charge characteristics on Pickering emulsifiers, and the existence of hydrophobic ⇋ electrostatic interaction. As compared to prior literature, our work represents a significant advancement in fabrication of zein nanoparticles (ZNPs), their stabilization using Tween 20 and the formation of appropriate Pickering emulsions stabilized by Tween 20 modified ZNPs appropriate for modifying the interfacial characteristics of the emulsion for enhanced physicochemical stability, excellent aroma profile, controlled release rate, and improved antioxidant activity of encapsulated citral under harsh acidic conditions. Moreover, the novel Chemical Kinetic Method has been applied to analyze and interpret the citral stability as a function of interfacial parameters. The study, therefore presents a novel particle-surfactant complex interface, having great potential for the encapsulation, protection, and release of citral from the acidic food/pharmaceutical formulations.

Metal complex hydrogel loaded with paclitaxel for photocatalytic and fluorescence-responsive drug control on ampullary carcinoma by modulation of HHLA2

Despite accounting for only 0.2 % of gastrointestinal malignancies, ampullary carcinoma is the second most common malignant tumor in the peripelvic area after pancreatic head cancer, highlighting the need for new drug delivery systems, as pancreaticoduodenectomy remains the primary treatment. In this study, we synthesized a novel Cd(II) coordination polymer (CP1), {[Me4N]2[Cd3(4,4′-bpdc)4]}n (4,4′-H2bpdc = 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid), under hydrothermal conditions using tetramethylammonium cations as templates. The photocatalytic performance of CP1 was investigated under UV light irradiation. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) were chemically synthesized to retain the biocompatibility of natural polysaccharides, resulting in HA/CMCS hydrogels with a three-dimensional porous structure, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. This structure makes the hydrogel an excellent drug carrier. We recombined CP1 and the drug paclitaxel (PTX) within the hydrogel, constructing a HA/CMCS-CP1@PTX nanodrug platform. This platform exhibited excellent drug-loading performance and allowed effective temperature control through light sources, enabling controlled release rates. In vitro cell tests demonstrated that the system promoted apoptosis by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related factors and HHLA2, thereby inhibiting the progression of ampullary carcinoma.

Shelf Life of Minced Pork in Vacuum-Adsorbed Carvacrol@Natural Zeolite Nanohybrids and Poly-Lactic Acid/Triethyl Citrate/Carvacrol@Natural Zeolite Self-Healable Active Packaging Films.

Enhancing food preservation and safety using environmentally friendly techniques is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to develop food packaging films using biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) as biopolymer and carvacrol (CV) essential oil as an antioxidant/antibacterial agent for the replacement of chemical additives. CV was adsorbed onto natural zeolite (NZ) via a new vacuum adsorption method. The novel nanohybrid CV@NZ with a high CV content contained 61.7%wt. CV. Pure NZ and the CV@NZ nanohybrid were successfully dispersed in a PLA/triethyl citrate (TEC) matrix via a melt extrusion process to obtain PLA/TEC/xCV@NZ and PLA/TEC/xNZ nanocomposite films with 5, 10, and 15%wt CV@NZ or pure NZ content. The optimum resulting film PLA/TEC/10CV@NZ contained 10%wt. CV@NZ and exhibited self-healable properties, 22% higher tensile strength, 40% higher elongation at break, 45% higher water barrier, and 40% higher oxygen barrier than the pure PLA/TEC matrix. This film also had a high CV release content, high CV control release rate as well as 2.15 mg/L half maximal effective concentration (EC50) and 0.27 mm and 0.16 mm inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, respectively. This film not only succeeded in extending the shelf life of fresh minced pork, as shown by the total viable count measurements in four days but also prevented the lipid oxidation of fresh minced pork and provided higher nutritional values of the minced meat, as revealed by the heme iron content determination. It also had much better and acceptable sensory characteristics than the commercial packaging paper.

(3D) Bioprinting-Next Dimension of the Pharmaceutical Sector.

To create a review of the published scientific literature on the benefits and potential perspectives of the use of 3D bio-nitrification in the field of pharmaceutics. This work was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for reporting meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The scientific databases PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were used to search and extract data using the following keywords: 3D bioprinting, drug research and development, personalized medicine, pharmaceutical companies, clinical trials, drug testing. The data points to several aspects of the application of bioprinting in pharmaceutics were reviewed. The main applications of bioprinting are in the development of new drug molecules as well as in the preparation of personalized drugs, but the greatest benefits are in terms of drug screening and testing. Growth in the field of 3D printing has facilitated pharmaceutical applications, enabling the development of personalized drug screening and drug delivery systems for individual patients. Bioprinting presents the opportunity to print drugs on demand according to the individual needs of the patient, making the shape, structure, and dosage suitable for each of the patient's physical conditions, i.e., print specific drugs for controlled release rates; print porous tablets to reduce swallowing difficulties; make transdermal microneedle patches to reduce patient pain; and so on. On the other hand, bioprinting can precisely control the distribution of cells and biomaterials to build organoids, or an Organ-on-a-Chip, for the testing of drugs on printed organs mimicking specified disease characteristics instead of animal testing and clinical trials. The development of bioprinting has the potential to offer customized drug screening platforms and drug delivery systems meeting a range of individualized needs, as well as prospects at different stages of drug development and patient therapy. The role of bioprinting in preclinical and clinical testing of drugs is also of significant importance in terms of shortening the time to launch a medicinal product on the market.

Evaluation of the responsiveness pattern to caffeine through a smart data-driven ECG non-linear multi-band analysis

This study aimed to explore more efficient ways of administering caffeine to the body by investigating the impact of caffeine on the modulation of the nervous system's activity through the analysis of electrocardiographic signals (ECG). An ECG non-linear multi-band analysis using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) was employed to extract various features from healthy individuals exposed to different caffeine consumption methods: expresso coffee (EC), decaffeinated coffee (ED), Caffeine Oral Films (OF_caffeine), and placebo OF (OF_placebo). Non-linear feature distributions representing every ECG minute time series have been selected by PCA with different variance percentages to serve as inputs for 23 machine learning models in a leave-one-out cross-validation process for analyzing the behavior differences between ED/EC and OF_placebo/OF_caffeine groups, respectively, over time. The study generated 50-point accuracy curves per model, representing the discrimination power between groups throughout the 50 min. The best model accuracies for ED/EC varied between 30 and 70 %, (using the decision tree classifier) and OF_placebo/OF_caffeine ranged from 62 to 84 % (using Fine Gaussian). Notably, caffeine delivery through OFs demonstrated effective capacity compared to its placebo counterpart, as evidenced by significant differences in accuracy curves between OF_placebo/OF_caffeine. Caffeine delivery via OFs also exhibited rapid dissolution efficiency and controlled release rate over time, distinguishing it from EC. The study supports the potential of caffeine delivery through Caffeine OFs as a superior technology compared to traditional methods by means of ECG analysis. It highlights the efficiency of OFs in controlling the release of caffeine and underscores their promise for future caffeine delivery systems.

Cu2O/Biochar-Styrene acrylic double layer composite coatings modified by NaCl: Special surface and antifouling performance

In order to pursue optimize antifouling performance and protect the metal substrate from direct contact with external environment, the sodium chloride (NaCl) modified cuprous oxide (Cu2O)/Biochar (BC)/styrene-acrylic (SA)-SA double-layer coatings with the effective and controllable release rate of Cu2+ were prepared. The NaCl particles were dispersed and dissolved in the Cu2O/BC/SA layer (the functional layer) as the pore-forming agent, which can increase the contact between Cu2O/BC and external environment in order to control the release rate of Cu2+ of coatings. A large capacity photobioreactor was designed to conduct adhesion tests of marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica (N. oceanica) and fresh Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) on the coatings, aiming to evaluate the antifouling performance. Results show that the Cu2O/BC/SA-SA coating modified with 3 wt% NaCl possesses the best antifouling property, which is 63.7 % higher than that of unmodified coating and 92.8 % higher than that of pure SA membrane.

Mucoadhesive electrospun nanofibrous poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) matrices for the ocular delivery of moxifloxacin: a novel application of hyaluronic acid and xanthan gum blend as mucoadhesive coating agent

The use of ocular inserts (OS) as vehicles for the delivery of antimicrobial agents to the eye is rapidly growing. In fact, the intraOS can deliver the antibiotics to the ocular surface after ophthalmic surgeries i.e., cataract. This was a rational progress of pharmaceutical field given that the conventional dosage forms i.e., drops present many limitations. Considering this fact, in this study novel nanofibrous inserts based on poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(lactic acid) prepared via electrospinning process and used to load an antibiotic drug, moxifloxacin. The used aliphatic polyesters are biocompatible but do not present mucoadhesion which is essential for ocular drug delivery. Therefore, two known mucoadhesive agents, hyaluronic acid and xanthan gum, were blended in various concentrations (0.1 and 0.2%) and used for the coating of the fibers. The fibrous inserts have mean diameters in the range 500–1000 nm. The inserts showed stability over time, improved water uptake and improved mechanical properties. In vitro cytotoxicity studies revealed the biocompatibility of the structures. From in vitro release studies, a controlled release rate was depicted while the inserts demonstrated desirable antimicrobial properties. It can be concluded that the coated OS can be potent ocular delivery carriers of moxifloxacin battling against eye infections.

Encapsulation and characterization of ω-3 medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols microencapsulated with different proteins as wall materials

In this study, ω-3 medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCTs) microcapsules with excellent performance were obtained using soy protein as the wall component to address the oxidation-related problems of MLCTs. Additionally, the effect of soy, whey, or pea proteins on microcapsules in terms of the changes in their structure and physicochemical properties was investigated. The results showed that the small particle size, low PDI (polydispersity index) and zeta potential, fast adsorption rate, and low interfacial tension of these protein-based samples fabricated through the O/W template method were conducive to maintaining the integrity of microcapsules during spray-drying. The microcapsules, characterized by a spherical shape, exhibited superior encapsulation efficiency of 94.56%, surpassing the findings of previous investigations. Overall, these microcapsules exhibited long-term storage stability and low controllable release rates, which could be utilized as carriers for liposoluble actives.

Formulation of lactoferrin decorated dextran based chitosan-coated europium metal-organic framework for targeted delivery of curcumin

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HPTC) currently ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality, necessitating an advanced formulation strategy. Recently, lactoferrin (Lf) has been utilized as a specific targeting ligand in HPTC due to its high specificity towards the asialoglycoprotein receptor expressed in cancer cells. Therefore, we present the fabrication of an Lf-decorated carboxymethyl dextran-encased chitosan-coated europium metal-organic framework-based nanobioconjugate (Lf-CMD-CS-CUR@Eu-MOF) for targeted curcumin (CUR) delivery. Briefly, CUR was loaded into Eu-MOF, followed by coating cationic ‘CS’ on the CUR@Eu-MOF surface. Simultaneously, Lf-decorated CMD was prepared via an esterification reaction. Subsequently, Lf-CMD-CS-CUR@Eu-MOF was synthesized using the Maillard reaction. Various spectral characterizations, drug entrapment, drug content, in vitro drug release, biocompatibility and cell cytotoxicity studies were performed. It exhibited an entrapment efficiency of 88.87 ± 2.1 %, a drug content of 3.45 ± 0.98 %, and a drug loading rate of 34.85 ± 0.6 mg/g. Furthermore, the Lf-CMD-CS-CUR@Eu-MOF exhibits excellent biocompatibility with normal cells. The in vitro dissolution study confirmed a release of 78.12 % of ‘CUR’ in pH 5.8 phosphate buffer (over 120 h), attributed to the controlled release rate by the ‘CS’ coating on the surface of CUR@Eu-MOF. The BEL-7402 cell line showed concentration-dependent toxicity of nanobioconjugate to cancerous cells. Therefore, when ‘Lf’ is surface-decorated onto an appropriate polymeric material, it gains the capability to function as a carrier for transporting ‘CUR’ to the precise target site within HPTC. In conclusion, Lf-CMD incorporated CS-coated Eu-MOF can provide a promising approach for targeted drug delivery in HPTC management.

Multifunctional Biocompatible Nanoparticles: Surface Modification and Synthesis of Layered Double Hydroxides for Biomedical Applications

Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) are considered versatile materials owing to their distinctive features resulting from the isomorphous substitution of metal cations, namely M(II) and M(III), inside their octahedral locations. The LDH layer structure is characterized by a balanced arrangement of exchangeable hydrated or solvated anions within the interlayer and outer regions. This arrangement gives rise to a two-dimensional heterostructure with an ABAB pattern. Various metal cations have a role in LDHs composition, leading to their classification as hydrocalumites and hydrotalcite. Pristine-LDHs that include diverse inorganic anions have shown significant potential in biological applications. These substances have been investigated for their potential use in many applications, including but not limited to antacids, vaccination adjuvants, etc. The attainment of monodispersity in the size of LDHs is of utmost importance for their efficacy in biomedicine. This research emphasizes that the potential of LDHs is contingent upon effectively resolving difficulties, including those associated with size polydispersity. This study suggests using Surface Modified and Synthesized Layered Double Hydroxides for Biomedical Applications (SMS-LDH-BMA). The present study presents a novel approach that incorporates various enhancements, such as a decreased hydrodynamic diameter of 44.6 nm, a zeta potential of -23.86 mV, a high encapsulation efficiency of 91.2%, a substantial drug loading capacity of 14.6%, a favorable cell viability of 96.44%, and a controlled release rate of GLIB at 3.73 μg/mL/min. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of SMS-LDH-BMA in tackling these obstacles and augmenting the drug delivery capabilities and biomedical applications of LDHs.

Encapsulation of anthocyanin with gelatin‐alginate carrier by a specially designed ultrasonic encapsulator with adjustable frequency

AbstractAnthocyanins are of increasing interest for food applications due to their health benefits. However, their poor stability and susceptibility to unfavorable environmental conditions may limit their application. Microencapsulation offers enhanced stability and controlled release properties. The aim was designing an ultrasonic encapsulator with a variable frequency ultrasonic driver to encapsulate black carrot and mahaleb anthocyanins. First, a double‐channel variable frequency and power adjustable ultrasonic driver and atomizer head were designed. The cooled gelation technique was used to encapsulate anthocyanin in an alginate‐gelatin complex. Freeze‐drying and air‐drying techniques were used for drying of microcapsules. Encapsulation parameters were atomization frequency, alginate, and anthocyanin concentrations. The capsules were characterized by encapsulation efficiency, particle diameter, and controlled release rates. Controlled release tests were performed at two different temperatures and pH values. Encapsulation efficiency was 87%–95%, mean diameters were between 69 and 95 μm. Maximum release rates were obtained from freeze‐dried mahaleb anthocyanin capsules. Release rates increased with increasing temperature and pH values. In addition, the experimental results showed that the increase in the amount of alginate used in encapsulation decreased the release rate. Moreover, the results proved that the designed encapsulator can be used for encapsulation in fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, polymers, chemistry, and materials.

Novel Trend: Magic Bullet To Nanomedicine As Targeted Drug Delivery -Nanosponges

Effective medication delivery at a specific location has made it possible to carry out the intended task of controlling release rates and have better compliance with the healthcare system, but the chemistry's complex form has complicated things. However, the development of nanosponges has provided a key solution to this issue. Nanosponges are extremely tiny sponges that are roughly the size of a virus and can contain a range of medications. These sponges can move throughout the body until they interact with a particular target spot, attach to the surface, and begin to release drugs under regulated circumstances. Some cyclodextrin-based nanosponges have been proposed as nano-delivery systems, and they produce porous, insoluble nanoparticles with crystalline and amorphous natures. The solubility of these sponges in liquids is a crucial property.

Evaluating the potential of wax impregnated reactive components for long-term acenaphthene removal

The catalytic oxidation of acenaphthene (ANA) was investigated using a controlled-release persulfate candle (PSC) and Fe(II) candle (Fe(II)C) to provide long-lasting oxidation conditions during groundwater remediation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to compare the pseudo-first-order rate constant (kobs) and % removal of ANA oxidation using PSC/Fe(II)C, PS solution (PSaq)/Fe(II) solution (Fe(II)aq), PSC/Fe(II)aq, and PSaq/Fe(II)C systems. The kobs and % removal of ANA in the PSC/Fe(II)C system exceeded those in the other systems. The optimal degradation conditions used were 0.1 mM ANA; 3.08 mM equilibrium concentration of PS (Ce,PS) released from PSC (controlled-release rate constant, kcr = 7.731 day−1); 5.673 mM equilibrium concentration of Fe(II) (Ce,Fe(II)) released from Fe(II)C (kcr = 3.796 day−1); unadjusted pH (~7.0); and 25 °C. Radical scavenger studies and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra showed that sulfate (SO4•−) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals were involved in the ANA oxidation, but •OH was the dominant radical species in the PSC/Fe(II)C system. Cl−, SO42−, and HCO3− acted as radical scavengers. The introduction of hydroxylamine (HA) into the PSC/Fe(II)C system resulted in a notable enhancement of ANA removal efficiency, increasing it from 51.8 % to 82.6 % within 10 min. Additionally, the PSC/Fe(II)C + HA system exhibited a higher Fe(II) consumption efficiency of 96.6 %, surpassing that of the PSC/Fe(II)aq + HA system, which registered an efficiency of 88.6 %. Intermediate byproducts after 24 h of reaction were detected as non-toxic byproducts by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The PSC/Fe(II)C system would be beneficial for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater due to the continuous supply of Fe(II) and PS for a long time.

A Comprehensive Review on Role of Polymers in Transdermal Drug Delivery System

Transdermal drug delivery system has been emerged as one of the most effective controlled drug release system in topical formulation as it doesn’t undergo first pass metabolism in liver and can be directly absorbed into the systemic circulation. Polymers are used in TDDS as to increase its effectiveness in the control release of drug from the transdermal patch. Use of polymers in the TDDS has decreased the control release rate of drug from the patch. Use of polymers in combination has given more effectiveness of the drug release. This article gives a quality of information about the use of polymers in the Transdermal drug delivery system. Polymers also help in the adhesive nature of the drug to the skin and promote more extent of drug release from the dosage form. An advance in the use and amount of polymers used in the TDDS has been increased recently. This article provides the information about the use of Natural, semisynthetic and synthetic polymers in the TDDS. Use of natural polymers has been showed more impact in the TDDS and their use has showed fewer side effects like irritation, allergy, and this has been increased patient compliance and more effectiveness in drug release. Semisynthetic and synthetic polymers has been developed and used excessively in the TDDS for effective control release of the drug from the patches. A transdermal patch is defined as medicated adhesive patch which is placed above the skin to deliver a pre-determined dose of medication via skin with a predetermined rate of release to reach into the bloodstream. Article Details

Comparative Analysis of Mitoxantrone and Doxorubicin Interactions with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Cancer remains a significant global health concern, responsible for numerous deaths worldwide. Common treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, as well as biological therapies, and targeted therapies. The field of nanotechnology has made remarkable advancements in drug delivery systems, enabling improved drug penetration and direct delivery to specific areas. These systems, known as drug delivery systems (DDSs), aim to enhance drug efficacy and safety by controlling release rate, timing, and targeted location within the body. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as promising materials for DDSs due to their ability to target specific sites and regulate molecule release. Mitoxantrone (MTX) and doxorubicin (DOX) are widely used chemotherapy drugs. This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to compare the interactions between these drugs and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The simulation process was performed using BIOVA Materials Studio. The adsorption process of these drugs was observed in a non-aqueous simulation box to evaluate their compatibility with nanocarriers for biomedical applications. In addition, the interaction energies between drugs and nanotubes were investigated. The results indicated positively energetic interactions between anti-cancer drugs and SWCNTs, driven by π-π interactions and substantial interaction energies. While both mitoxantrone and doxorubicin effectively interacted with SWCNTs, doxorubicin demonstrated more efficient interaction.

Uncovering advances in final end-user applications, user acceptability, quality assurance, and digital technologies for 3D-printed oral drug delivery systems

The increasing demand for innovative drugs and personalized treatment is radically changing the pharmaceutical industry, where significant efforts in research and development (R&amp;D) are taking place. Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers interesting solutions for these demands, solving some of the limitations of current manufacturing processes. 3D-printed oral drug delivery systems can improve the delivery of pharmaceutical substances in the body, and the dynamic interaction between pharmaceutical ingredients, while providing personalized formulations, geometries, sizes, controlled release rates, and increasing time in the gastrointestinal tract. Advances in 3D printing for oral drug delivery systems have been investigated in terms of processes, materials, and effects. However, it is important to also consider other topics, such as the specific needs of the users to enhance drugs acceptability, the quality control processes due to the absence of approved guidelines, and the digitalization of the industry to respond to future challenges of the digital era; nevertheless, there are no studies that comprise these elements. To fill this gap, the aim of this research is to identify advances in terms of final end-user applications, quality assurance, user acceptability, and digital technologies for 3D-printed oral drug delivery systems. To accomplish this, a competitive technology intelligence (CTI) methodology was applied, where scientific literature was retrieved from the Web of Science covering the period from January 1, 1900, to May 1, 2023. For this task, a scientometric analysis was performed, and the main trends involving the previously mentioned elements were identified. In the first case, 3D-printed oral drug delivery systems are being designed for different purposes, including as anti-deterrent formulations to decrease the global problem of opioid abuse. For quality assurance, the results demonstrated the implementation of approaches like quality by design to increase the quality of the 3D-printed dosage forms. In the case of user acceptability, the interest in creating more attractive formulations was identified; for this, innovative technologies such as ColorJet 3D printing are being used. Lastly, regarding digital technologies, the importance of cyberattacks while sending the 3D-printed dosage form file to the 3D printer is highlighted; for this, cybersecurity systems are being studied. The outcomes of this study can add value to researchers, organizations, and investment firms interested in the R&amp;D of novel and personalized treatments, and the areas of 3D printing, pharmaceutical, medical, and health. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;

Real-time monitoring of urea slow release through fiber Bragg grating sensors

This research aimed at using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors for monitoring the slow release of urea. Urea granules were coated with ethyl cellulose for controlled-nitrogen release. The FBGs were fabricated using a 10 mm single-mode glass fiber optic, and silver nanoparticle coating was deposited on the partially removed cladding of the FBG using the electroless technique. The silver-coated FBGs at three operating wavelengths (FBG1: 1534 nm, FBG2: 1559 nm, and FBG3: 1565 nm) were used to monitor the slow release of urea in water and soil. The Bragg wavelength shift of FBG 1, 2, and 3 to the controlled-release rate in water was 0.028, 0.12, and 0.20 nm, respectively. In soil, the coated fertilizer responded to the FBG 1, 2, and 3 showing wavelength shifts of 0.028, 0.10, and 0.12 nm, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of FBG sensors in agricultural applications.

Polymer-Based Hydrogels Applied in Drug Delivery: An Overview.

Polymer-based hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks with crosslinks widely applied for drug delivery applications because of their ability to hold large amounts of water and biological fluids and control drug release based on their unique physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. Current trends in the development of hydrogel drug delivery systems involve the release of drugs in response to specific triggers such as pH, temperature, or enzymes for targeted drug delivery and to reduce the potential for systemic toxicity. In addition, developing injectable hydrogel formulations that are easily used and sustain drug release during this extended time is a growing interest. Another emerging trend in hydrogel drug delivery is the synthesis of nano hydrogels and other functional substances for improving targeted drug loading and release efficacy. Following these development trends, advanced hydrogels possessing mechanically improved properties, controlled release rates, and biocompatibility is developing as a focus of the field. More complex drug delivery systems such as multi-drug delivery and combination therapies will be developed based on these advancements. In addition, polymer-based hydrogels are gaining increasing attention in personalized medicine because of their ability to be tailored to a specific patient, for example, drug release rates, drug combinations, target-specific drug delivery, improvement of disease treatment effectiveness, and healthcare cost reduction. Overall, hydrogel application is advancing rapidly, towards more efficient and effective drug delivery systems in the future.