Particle Size Determination Research Articles

Analytical expression for the model that describes the heterogeneous reaction-diffusion process with immobilized enzyme (penicillin G acylase)

This research article examines the reaction-diffusion process in an immobilized enzyme batch reactor. The model incorporates strongly non-linear factors that are associated with standard Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The non-linear reaction-diffusion equations for substrate and product concentrations have been approximated analytically. Employing two different semi-analytical methods, Akbari-Ganji's method (AGM) and the modified Adomian decomposition method (MADM), to compute the dimensionless steady-state solutions to the system of non-linear differential equations for all values of reaction parameters. In addition, the dynamics of the mean integrated effectiveness factor of penicillin acylase in porous spherical particles have been presented for the determination of the local effectiveness factor. In order to gauge the potency of our proposed solution, we compare two semi-analytical results with a numerical result that are in good agreement across the whole concentration range. The proposed formulation aims to simulate the dynamic performance of the system utilizing the parameters and would enhance the determination of the optimum particle size for enzyme catalysts.

Microbiological Status and Pharmaceutical Evaluation of Commercially Available Herbal Medicinal Products in Lagos, Nigeria

Some herbal products were sourced from traditional medicine practitioners purposely to evaluate their microbial and pharmaceutical qualities. These products were 15 in number and were of different dosage forms. Phytochemical tests were carried out to determine their phyto-constituents. Also, the microbial qualities were determined and the pharmaceutical evaluation carried out through tablet disintegration of powders, crushing and friability. The powdered formulations were subjected to particle size determination and angle of repose. The density of the suspensions and solutions were taken. Results indicated presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, tannins and cardenolides. The microbial load of the products varies. Seven (46.67%) of the products were contaminated with Salmonella, ten (66.67%) were contaminated with fungi, ten (66.67%) were contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus and nine (9) were contaminated with E.coli.(60%). The angle of repose for the powder dosage forms were high, this indicate that the powdered products were not free flowing and not highly cohesive. Also, acceptable crushing strength and friability was shown by the tablet formulation but it failed the disintegration time. Out of the fifteen products, two of the products were registered with NAFDAC (13.33%), all the products indicated their manufacturing and expiry dates while ten (66.67%) have their contents stated. All the products have their therapeutic claims indicated on their containers. In conclusion, there should be control of standards of herbal medicine in Nigerian markets as well as constant evaluation and monitoring of the various products.

Green synthesis and evaluation of anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities of silver nanoparticles from Argyreia nervosa leaf extract: An invitro study

The aim of the study is to develop an environmentally friendly development of isolating silver nanoparticles using Argyreia nervosa plant leaves and examine their potential pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic activities. Various analytical techniques were employed to examine the isolated silver nanoparticles, encompassing UV spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, zeta potential measurement, and particle size determination. Furthermore, Argyreia nervosa-mediated silver nanoparticles exhibited strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, and good anti-diabetic activity. Argyreia nervosa-mediated nanoparticles showed a significant antibacterial activity against selected pathogens. The findings indicate that Argyreia nervosa demonstrates encouraging pharmacological properties. However, additional in vivo research focusing on molecular-level investigations is necessary to substantiate these findings and explore the potential of Argyreia nervosa-mediated silver nanoparticles as a viable drug for antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-diabetic purposes.

Modeling the particle size of nanomaterials synthesized in a planetary ball mill

Planetary ball milling (PBM) synthesis of nanoparticles involves conducting several trials to obtain the desired size. Mathematical modeling of the PBM process is a tool to tackle the issue of PBM synthesis. In this study, a conceptual model was proposed by integrating the kinematics of the PBM process along with the breakage mechanism of a material to determine particle size at different milling parameters and hence be able to select appropriate milling parameters for PBM synthesis. The conceptual model was tested for hydroxyapatite, zeolite and fly ash material. The conceptual model successfully simulated the size-reduction mechanism in PBM and predicted the particle size of the tested material with good accuracy. The most sensitive milling parameters were found to be the milling speed followed by the vial volume, milling time, and ball to powder ratio. The material properties input parameters were observed to be less sensitive than the milling parameters. The PBM model may be used as a prediction tool for determining the appropriate milling parameters needed in synthesizing any nanomaterial by knowing the material properties.

Taste Masking Cetirizine Hydrochloride using Ion-exchange Resins

Aim: The scope of the study is to determine the exact drug content present in the dry resinate and the utilization of ion-exchange resin in taste masking highly bitter cetirizine hydrochloride (CTZ). The Amberlite® IRP-69 cross-linked polystyrene was used. Objective: The objectives of this study are drug loading, drug–resin ratios, effect of particle size determination, and qualitative evaluation of taste masking ion-exchange resins. Background: The resinate (drug–resin complex) preparation process was completed by batch method in the ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. The loaded drug amount in the resin was evaluated spectrophotometrically by measuring the remaining drug to be loaded in the solution at 278nm. Different sieve sizes of Amberlite® IRP-69 resins were employed to determine the effect of the particle size in drug loading and drug releasing profiles in simulated gastric fluid without enzymes. The X-ray diffractograms of cetirizine hydrochloride, Amberlite® IRP-69, and a mixture of cetirizine hydrochloride with resins (resinate) were obtained by using an X-ray diffractometer. Results: Resinates were developed by using single-batch and double-batch methods. Both of them are giving almost the same results of drug loading into ion-exchange resins. We selected 1:1 drug–resin ratio to see the effect of the particle size on the rate and extent of drug loading and drug releasing from the complex. In the 1:1 drug-to-resin ratio, almost 78% of the drug was involved in the complex after 24 hours; in the case of 2:1 and 3:1 ratios, only 49% and 25% of the drug were involved in the complex, respectively. Conclusion: Among many taste masking methods, the formation of resinates with an ion-exchange resin is simple and inexpensive. The present work reveals that the degree of bitterness of cetirizine hydrochloride is reduced to zero by strong cation-exchange resin. The present study deals on the scope of utilizing ion-exchange resins in taste masking cetirizine hydrochloride (CTZ), a highly bitter drug.

Enhancing lithium-air battery performance through CoPc@CNT composites: Electrochemical analysis and insights

Cobalt-phthalocyanine (CoPc) catalysts have shown great promise for enhancing the performance of lithium‑oxygen (Li-O2) batteries, offering benefits such as efficient lithium storage, high reversible capacity, improved cycle performance, and enhanced charge and discharge capacity. In this study, we focused on the synthesis of CoPc‑carbon nanotube (CNT) composites with porous structure. The composites were prepared by synthesizing CoPc compounds and interacting them with CNTs using a 3D ball mill shaker. Comprehensive spectroscopic techniques including NMR, FTIR, and UV were employed to characterize the newly synthesized phthalonitrile and phthalocyanine compounds. The surface morphologies of the composite materials were investigated using SEM, EDX, mapping and TEM analysis, enabling the determination of particle sizes and chemical compositions. XRD and XPS analyses confirmed that the composite structures were consistent with the existing literature. BET analysis revealed multilayer isotherm for the composites, indicating their favorable properties. The composite catalysts were incorporated into batteries and their performance was evaluated through various electrochemical tests. Notably, the CoPc1-CNT composite exhibited a remarkable discharge capacity of 3400 mAh g−1catalyst in the prepared battery.

Characterization and Application in Natural Rubber of Leucaena Leaf and Its Extracted Products.

Leucaena is a fast-growing tree in the legume family. Its leaf contains a significant amount of protein and is thus widely used as fodder for cattle. To broaden its application in the rubber field, the effects of Leucaena leaf powder and its extracted products on the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber were investigated. The extraction of Leucaena leaf was carried out by using a proteolytic enzyme at 60 °C. The digested protein was separated from the residue by centrifugation. Both digested protein and residue were then dried and ground into powder, namely digested protein powder and residual powder, respectively, before being characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size determination, and protein analysis. After being added to natural rubber at 3 parts per hundred rubber, they significantly reduced both the scorch time and the optimum cure time of the rubber compounds, probably due to the presence of nitrogen-containing substances, without a significant sacrifice of the mechanical properties. For instance, the optimum cure time decreased by approximately 25.5, 35.4, and 54.9% for Leucaena leaf powder, residual powder, and digested protein powder, respectively. Thus, they can be used as green and sustainable fillers with a cure-activation effect in rubber compounding.

Development and Evaluation of Phytosomes Containing Callistemon citrinus Leaf Extract: A Preclinical Approach for the Treatment of Obesity in a Rodent Model.

Callistemon citrinus has several biological effects; it is anti-inflammatory, anti-obesogenic, antioxidant, hepatoprotection, and chemoprotective. Its bioactive compounds include terpenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids which have low oral bioavailability and absorption. This study aimed at developing phytosomes of C. citrinus to improve oral bioavailability and absorption. Phytosomes were formulated with soybean phosphatidylcholine and C. citrinus leaf extract using the thin layer sonication method. Phytosomes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), entrapment efficiency, solubility, and particle size determination. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic, flavonoid, and terpenoid contents were also measured. The in vivo anti-obesogenic activity was evaluated. Phytosomes loaded with C. citrinus (P C.c) extract had small spherical shapes. The average particle size was 129.98 ± 18.30 nm, encapsulation efficiency 80.49 ± 0.07%, and solubility 90.00%; the stability study presented no significant changes in the average particle size at 20 °C. P C.c presented high antioxidant capacity. For the first time, ellagic acid is reported in this plant. The in vivo obesity study showed a strong anti-obesogenic activity of phytosomes with C. citrinus to reduce 40% body weight as well as morphometric and biochemical parameters.

Influence of cobalt doping on chemical and green synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic evaluation, adsorption studies, antimicrobial analysis and corrosion inhibition study

In this study, Cobalt-doped magnesium oxide nanoparticles (Co-MgO-Nps) were successfully synthesized using two different methods: co-precipitation via chemical synthesis and co-precipitation via a green synthesis approach. The originality of this research lies in the diverse applications that were explored using these nanoparticles. The study investigated various potential uses of Co-MgO-Nps, thereby highlighting their versatility and broad range of applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, UV–Vis Diffusion Reflectance Spectroscopy, BET adsorption isotherm, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Photoluminescence (PL), Zeta potential and particle size determination were used to investigate and characterize the synthesizedCo-MgO-Nps. The photocatalytical degradationability of Co-MgO-Npsunder UV light irradiation wasstudied on potentially dangerous malachite green dye. The synthesizedCo-MgO-Nps showed outstanding photocatalytic performance in various ppm concentrations. Adsorption studies using malachite green dye at numerous ppm levels revealed that the Co-MgO-Nps synthesized by green approach degraded the dye more quickly than those synthesized chemically. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated against E. coli with different concentrations; the findings confirmed that the Co-MgO-Nps produced from green synthesis approach showed superior antimicrobial activity than the chemically synthesized Co-MgO-Nps. The synthesized Co-MgO-Nps showed good efficiency for inhibiting corrosion of maraging steel by hydrochloric acid.

Influence of Particle Size on the Flammability and Explosibility of Biomass Dusts: Is a New Approach Needed?

AbstractThe influence of particle size on the flammability and explosion severity has been widely demonstrated for coals along the years: the thinner the particle size, the more flammable is the dust and more severe are the explosions. Later, the increase on the use of biomass led to using the same resources and techniques for both groups of materials, considering them similar enough. However, there are basic differences between biomass and coal dust particles that leads to different behaviours when focusing on industrial fire safety. This difference is the starting point of this review, where a study on the existing knowledge in relation to the size and shape of biomass dust is presented. The methodologies and parameters used to determine particle size are described and discussed, showing the inconvenience of using only one parameter (d50) to describe dust, as well as the need of a standardized methodology to homogenise the results. The biomass data gathered from scientific literature and the following analysis carried out has also highlighted the importance of identifying samples in an accurate way and the strong necessity of further research on these materials and on the interdependence between particle size and the experimental procedures for flammability and explosibility properties.

Improving the Safety of Clinical Management of COVID-19 Patients Receiving Aminoglycosides and Parenteral Nutrition: Y-site Compatibility Studies

PurposeAminoglycosides (AMGs) are broad-spectrum bactericidal antibiotics that can resolve bacterial infections co-existing with COVID-19 or exploit their potential antiviral activities. Patients presenting the most severe forms of COVID-19 due to escalating catabolism and significant lean body mass loss often require the concomitant administration of parenteral nutrition (PN) and antibiotics. The Y-site administration is one of the approaches allowing the co-administration of two intravenous medications in patients with limited vascular access. Our study aimed to investigate the compatibility of AMGs and selected commercial PN admixtures enriched in omega-3 fatty acids. MethodsGentamycin (GM), amikacin (AM), and tobramycin (TM) solutions for infusion were combined with Nutriflex Omega Special (NOS) and Smofkabiven (SFK). Three different volume ratios were investigated: 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, simulating Y-site administration. Samples underwent visual examination and determination of the lipid emulsion particle size, zeta potential, and pH immediately after preparation and after four hours of storage at room temperature (22 ± 2 °C) with sunlight exposure. ResultsGM and AM combined with NOS in all studied ratios met the set-up acceptance criteria. The addition of TM to NOS in a 2:1 volume ratio and all tested AMGs to SFK in all studied combinations significantly influenced the stability of the oil-water system leading to the appearance of globules larger than 5 µm exceeding the pharmacopeial limit of 0.05% immediately after preparation or after four hours of storage. ConclusionIn conclusion, our study showed that NOS was less prone to destabilization of oil-in-water systems by AMGs than SFK. In justified clinical cases, due to the lack of appearance of precipitate or enlarged lipid droplets, the combined administration of GM and AM with the NOS could be considered, provided tested volume ratios of the drug and MCB in the infusion line are maintained. However, it should be noted that such an infusion may be associated with the risk of changes in the pharmacokinetics of the drug.

Ethanol, not water, should be used as the dispersant when measuring microplastic particle size distribution by laser diffraction

Size distribution is a crucial characteristic of microplastics (MPs). A typical method for measuring this property is wet laser diffraction. However, when measuring size distributions of MPs, despite it being a poor dispersant for many MPs, water is commonly selected, potentially limiting the reliability of reported measurements. To evaluate dispersant suitability, different aqueous concentrations of ethanol (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100 wt%) and aqueous solutions of 0.001 wt% Triton X-100 and a mixture comprising 10 wt% sodium pyrophosphate and 10 wt% methanol were used as dispersants in a laser granulometer (Mastersizer 2000) to determine particle size distributions (PSDs) of granular polyethylene MP35, MP125 and MP500 particles (nominally <35, <125 and, < 500 μm in size). The reliability of the PSDs depended on the dispersant used and size of primary MPs. With increasing ethanol concentrations, PSD curves of MP35 particles shifted from multi-modal to mono-modal distributions. The measured size distribution reduced from 1588.7 to 4.5 μm in water to 39.9 to 0.1 μm in 100 wt% ethanol. Generally, as ethanol concentration increased, uncertainty associated with the PSD parameters decreased. Although Triton X-100 and the mixed solution also showed better dispersion than water, measured particle sizes and coefficient of variation (COV, %) were notably larger than those for 100 wt% ethanol. Similar trends were observed for larger-sized MP125 and MP500 particles, but differences in PSD curves, PSD parameters, and COV (%) among dispersants were less pronounced. In all dispersants, the volume weighted mean diameters (VWMD) in 100 wt% ethanol (MP35: 14.1 μm, MP125: 102.5 μm, MP500: 300.0 μm) were smallest and close to diameters determined from microscope observations (MP35: 14.6 μm, MP125: 109.0 μm, MP500: 310.6 μm). Therefore, for accurate determinations of the PSDs of MP by wet laser diffraction, ethanol rather than water should be used as the dispersant.

Determination of Hansen Parameters of Nanoparticles: A Comparison of Two Methods Using Titania, Carbon Black, and Silicon/Carbon Composite Materials

AbstractHansen solubility parameters (HSPs), for particles understood as Hansen similarity parameters, can provide valuable information about the surface behavior of nanoparticles. In the past years, several methodologies are developed for scoring and ranking of probe liquids for HSP determination. Two methods available to carry out this determination in a structured way are based on integral extinctions (IE) by Süß et al. and particle size determinations by Anwar et al., respectively. In this study, these two methods of HSP determination are applied on titania, carbon black, and silicon/carbon composites. The differences in scoring and subsequent ranking of a probe liquid list are compared between both methods. Comparable HSPs from both methods are reported as a best‐practice example and additional considerations that need to be considered to properly derive HSPs from the IE‐based method are emphasized.

A novel diagnostic for dust particle size in a low-pressure nanodusty plasma based on the decay of the electron density released by laser-induced photodetachment

One of the key parameters in low-pressure nanodusty plasmas is the dust particle size. In this work, we introduce a new method for the determination of the dust particle size in a nanodusty plasma, created in a mixture of argon and hexamethyldisiloxane. To this end, an ultraviolet (λ=266 nm) pulsed laser was used to release plasma-collected electrons from the nanoparticles. Subsequently, the response of the free electron density of the plasma was measured using microwave cavity resonance spectroscopy. Using a stochastic model for particle charging using orbital-motion limited (OML) theory, the predicted charging timescale can be directly compared to the experimentally measured decay timescale of the photo-released electron density. Good agreement was found between the experimentally predicted dust particle size and ex situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the OML model to its input parameters was assessed. Finally, reversing the method can yield an estimate for the positive ion density based on the dust particle size from SEM.

Advanced Particle Size Analysis in High-Solid-Content Polymer Dispersions Using Photon Density Wave Spectroscopy.

High-solid-content polystyrene and polyvinyl acetate dispersions of polymer particles with a 50 nm to 500 nm mean particle diameter and 12-55% (w/w) solid content have been produced via emulsion polymerization and characterized regarding their optical and physical properties. Both systems have been analyzed with common particle-size-measuring techniques like dynamic light scattering (DLS) and static light scattering (SLS) and compared to inline particle size distribution (PSD) measurements via photon density wave (PDW) spectroscopy in undiluted samples. It is shown that particle size measurements of undiluted polystyrene dispersions are in good agreement between analysis methods. However, for polyvinyl acetate particles, size determination is challenging due to bound water in the produced polymer. For the first time, water-swelling factors were determined via an iterative approach of PDW spectroscopy error (Χ2) minimization. It is shown that water-swollen particles can be analyzed in high-solid-content solutions and their physical properties can be assumed to determine the refractive index, density, and volume fraction in dispersion. It was found that assumed water swelling improved the reduced scattering coefficient fit by PDW spectroscopy by up to ten times and particle size determination was refined and enabled. Particle size analysis of the water-swollen particles agreed well with offline-based state-of-the-art techniques.

English

Starch fillers were extracted from three plant sources namely amora tuber, Tacca lentopeteloides; sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas; yam starch, Dioscorea rotundata and their particle size, pH, amylose, and amylopectin percentage decomposition determined accordingly. The starch was introduced into natural rubber in liquid phase (through gelatinization) by the latex compounding method and compounded according to standard method. The prepared starch/natural rubber composites was characterized by Instron Universal testing machine (UTM) for tensile mechanical properties. The composites was further characterized by x-ray diffraction and crosslink density analysis. The particle size determination showed that amora starch granules has the smallest particle size (156 &times; 47 &mu;m) followed by yam starch (155 &times; 40 &mu;m) and then sweet potato starch (153 &times; 46 &mu;m) with the biggest particle size. The pH test also revealed that amora starch has a near neutral pH of 6.9, yam 6.8, and sweet potato 5.2 respectively. Amylose and amylopectin determination showed that yam starch has a higher percentage of amylose (29.68), followed by potato (22.34) and then amora starch with the lowest value (14.86) respectively. The tensile mechanical properties testing revealed that yam starch produced the best tensile mechanical properties followed by amora starch and then sweet potato starch. The structure, crystallinity/amorphous nature of the product composite was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, while the nature of crosslinking was confirmed by swelling test in toluene solvent using the Flory-Rehner approach. The increasing values of crosslink density in the starch/rubber composite is a clear evidence of good interfacial adhesion between the starch fillers and the rubber, hence good dispersion of starch fillers in the rubber. This research has rendered a workable strategy for enhancing interfacial interaction between a hydrophilic filler (Starch) and hydrophobic polymeric matrix (natural rubber) yielding moderately good tensile mechanical properties with prospects for the rubber processing industry. The studied fillers can partially replace carbon black as natural rubber fillers with reduced cost, no risk to human health and also an environment friendly approach. Key words: Natural rubber, fillers, starch, amylose, amylopectin, crosslink density, mechanical properties.

An automated algorithm for the determination of oil absorption strategy of magnetic nanoparticles from SEM images

In recent years, the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) are employed as efficient absorbents for oil removal from water. In this research, the particle size (diameter) obtained from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of MNPs, before and after oil-absorption, are utilized to determine the oil-absorption capacity. However, the manual evaluation of the particle size and particle size distribution (PSD) are highly time-consuming and needs expertised people for accurate analysis. Hence, an image processing algorithm is employed for the determination of particle size and PSD from the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The key objective revolves with the preparation of the Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polypropylene anchored Magnetic Nanoparticles (MAPP-a-MNPs) to absorb crude oil from the marine water. The shape, size, and size distribution of MAPP-a-MNPs were assessed by both manual and automated analysis. For this purpose, expertise people help with the manual analysis and Threshold Adaptive-Canny Edge Detection (TA-CED) and Accumulator Updated-Circular Hough Transform (AU-CHT) method is employed for automated analysis. All the automated process were conducted in MATLAB and the measurements were taken for both before and after the oil absorption images. These measurements aid us to determine the quantity of oil absorbed by MAPP-a-MNPs. The results demonstrates excellent oil removal capacity of MAPP-a-MNPs.

Size Uncertainty in Individual Nanoparticles Measured by Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry has been used for size measurements of individual nanoparticles (NPs). Here, uncertainties in size analysis based upon two calibration approaches were evaluated: (i) the use of particle size standard and (ii) the use of ion standard solution. For particle size standard approach, the source of uncertainty to determine the target NP diameter was related to the variation in the signal intensities of both target NPs and particle size standard, and the size distribution of the particle size standard. The relative uncertainties of the 50 nm silver NP as the target were 15.0%, 9.9%, and 10.8% when particle size standards of 30 nm, 60 nm, and 100 nm silver NPs were used, respectively. As for the ion standard solution approach, the sources of uncertainty were the concentration of working standard solution, sample flow rate, transport efficiency, slope of calibration curve, and variation in the signal intensity of the ion standard solution and of the target NPs. The relative uncertainties for the 50 nm silver NP were 18.5% for 1 ng/g, 7.6% for 10 ng/g, and 4.7% for 100 ng/g solutions. The lower uncertainty obtained with a high concentration working standard solution is recommended to improve precision on particle size determinations by spICP-MS.

Sustainable, economical and rapid treatment of multiple lung diseases using therapeutic potential of curcumin nanoparticles

The study was designed to prepare pure curcumin nanoparticles in rapid and simple way for target specific drug delivery to kill bacteria lying deep down within the alveoli of lungs via inhaler. Three different methods including evaporation precipitation of nanosuspension (ENP), solid dispersion (SD) and anti-solvent precipitation (ASP) were selected to prepare nanocurcumin in pure form in very simple way. This was done to compare their efficiency in terms of particle size obtained and water solubility and bacterial toxicity of as prepared curcumin nanoparticles. In this comparative study, curcumin NPs obtained from three different methods having particles size 65.3 nm, 98.7 nm and 47.4 nm respectively. The NPs were characterized using various techniques like SEM, XRD, UV–Visible and FTIR for their particle size determination and solubility evaluation. These particles were screened off against five bacterial strains causing lung diseases. AB3 prepared by ASP method, being smallest sized nanostructures, showed maximum solubility in water. These nanoparticles can be used as drug directly via inhaler to the target area without using any support or nano-carrier. In this way minimum dose formulation is required to target bacteria.

Designing Vitamin D3 Formulations: An In Vitro Investigation Using a Novel Micellar Delivery System

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient with important immunomodulatory properties. As a fat-soluble compound, Vitamin D (and its D3 form) is immiscible with water, which presents challenges to absorption. In an in vitro setting, the current study characterizes novel micellar formulations of Vitamin D3 designed to improve absorption. Techniques used to evaluate and compare the micellar formulations against a non-micellar formula include the following: cryo-SEM to determine morphology; laser diffraction to determine particle size and distribution; zeta potential to determine stability of the particles; solubility assays to determine solubility in water and gastrointestinal media; and Caco-2 cell monolayers to determine intestinal permeability. Results show advantageous features (particle size range in the low micrometres with an average zeta potential of −51.56 ± 2.76 mV), as well as significant improvements in intestinal permeability, in one optimized micellar formula (LipoMicel®). When introduced to Caco-2 cells, LipoMicel’s permeability was significantly better than the control (p &lt; 0.01; ANOVA). Findings of this study suggest that the novel micellar form of Vitamin D3 (LipoMicel) has the potential to promote absorption of Vitamin D3. Thus, it can serve as a promising candidate for follow-up in vivo studies in humans.