Drug Research Articles

Vendor managed inventory under price-and-stock-dependent demand, buyer’s space limitations and preservation investment

Abstract This study explores a two-level vendor managed inventory model for deteriorating items facing demand dependent on stock and price, while operating under a consignment stock policy. It presents a joint vendor-buyer model that considers varying deterioration rate and preservation technology investment for both parties. The model is developed under the constraint of limited warehouse space at the buyer’s end. The study offers an analytical discourse on the model that aims to determine the optimal values for the selling price, preservation technology investment, and shipment time. An assessment is conducted to determine the optimal model for a specific business through a comparative analysis of the capacitated and uncapacitated models. The applicability and robustness of the proposed model are established through the inclusion of numerical illustration and sensitivity analysis. The proposed model is deemed suitable for industries that specializes in clothing, food and pharmaceutical products, provided that all underlying assumptions of the model are adequately met.

A Study of Performance-Based Incentive Systems on Employee Engagement in Pharmaceutical Companies in Bhopal

The study identified employee motivation along with performance levels and organizational culture and employee turnover and market competition as major contributors to declining employee engagement within Bhopal's pharmaceutical industries. The research investigated the relationship between work engagement and performance dynamics in pharmaceutical organizations operating in Bhopal through this study. Researchers built their investigation on the Two Factor Theory which Frederick Herzberg introduced in 1959. A survey research methodology allowed the study to analyze senior personnel working at 136 pharmaceutical production businesses operating within Bhopal. The analysis utilized Percentage method and Chi square method to validate the created hypotheses. Employee work engagement demonstrated a powerful positive association with performance-based incentive systems across Bhopal's pharmaceutical sector businesses. Workers exhibited higher engagement levels whenever receiving performance-based incentives and complementary benefits according to study results. Organizational regulation consistency depends on including performance-based incentives according to the research findings. A definition of performance-based evaluation standards needs to be established to determine employee qualification for incentives.

Methods to address functional unblinding of raters in CNS trials

Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) associated with the unique properties of a pharmaceutical product may functionally unblind clinician ratings, obscure true medication effects, and affect confidence about clinical trial results. Central nervous system studies are particularly susceptible to functional unblinding because they rely on relatively subjective symptom assessments. Two different methods were used to examine possible functional unblinding in pooled data from three recent five-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of xanomeline and trospium chloride (formerly known as KarXT) in participants with schizophrenia experiencing acute psychosis. Xanomeline/trospium is an M1/M4 muscarinic receptor agonist that may produce cholinergic side effects. First, we compared the scores of remote (site-independent) raters, blinded to TEAEs, who listened to audio recorded, site-based Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) interviews. Second, we conducted a post hoc analysis of participant subgroups with or without reported cholinergic-related TEAEs to ascertain whether cholinergic TEAEs influenced trial outcome. Remote ratings closely replicated 575 available “paired” site-based PANSS total scores at baseline and endpoint (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.88 and 0.93, respectively). Both site-based and remote PANSS scores yielded significant improvement favouring xanomeline/trospium over placebo (both p < 0.0001) and yielded significantly greater treatment response (≥30% improvement from baseline) than placebo (both p < 0.0001). The significant improvement of PANSS scores favouring xanomeline/trospium over placebo was comparable in magnitude for all subgroups regardless of whether participants reported cholinergic-related TEAEs, or any TEAEs at all (all p < 0.001). In sum, the two different methods used to assess functional unblinding in these studies found no impact of cholinergic TEAEs, or any TEAEs, on the trial results. These methods may have utility across all clinical trials.

Assessment of Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector in a Low-income Country: A Descriptive Study.

In high-income countries and emerging economies, pharmaceutical manufacturing is a driver for socioeconomic development. In sub-Saharan Africa, local pharmaceutical production is still fledgling largely because of historical economic and technological asymmetry. In Ethiopia alike, this environment has changed little despite six decades long operations and several support initiatives; access to essential medicines remained a persistent challenge. Despite a few fragmented reports on trends and profiles of the sector, in-depth investigations into underlying challenges remain limited. This study explores the perspectives and insights of upfront executives and technical personnel in the Ethiopian pharmaceutical industry on its current state, challenges and opportunities for enhancing local production capacity. The findings are triangulated with literature reports and provide valuable insights for developing intervention strategies and policy updates. A validated structured survey questionnaire was disseminated to professionals working in local pharmaceutical companies. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to study the effects of different factors on the performance of the local manufacturing sector. Over half of the professionals (55.1%) rated the current production technology as advanced while 68% described it as semi-automated. Close to one-third (31.6%) reported that the companies are operating at acceptable level of performance, and 51.5% reported low-capacity utilization in their companies. Most professionals (67.8%) viewed export market activities as poor and many identified weak research and development activities. Unplanned operations downtimes, limited physical infrastructure, inadequate access to foreign currency, shortage and highstaff turnover of qualified experts, lack of commitment from top management, absence of merit-based support system and limitations in compliance with regulatory and quality requirements were reported as major challenges. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that capacity utilization (α = 0.008), research and development capacity (α = 0.014) and export market activities (α = 0.027) have significant impact on the sector performance. Despite commendable efforts by the industry and government, limitations in financing, infrastructure, qualified workforce, and quality system implementation are affecting capacity utilization and performance. Absence of reliable staff attraction and retention system, lack of effective leadership and non-favourable working environment were identified as missing elements. Enhancing economies of scale and capacity utilization, addressing policy and infrastructure bottlenecks, providing merit-based support for R&D and quality management, and implementing staff attraction and retention strategies are key steps towards developing competent local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

Implementation of Legal Protection in the Field of Pharmacy in a Juridical Review of the Implementation of Law Number 30 of 2000 Concerning Trade Secrets

The protection of trade secrets in the pharmaceutical sector is very important. Various trade secret crimes in the pharmaceutical sector, such as theft of drug prescriptions and counterfeiting of medicines, continue to increase. Another impact of trade secret crimes in the pharmaceutical sector is the medical risk of counterfeiting drugs consumed by the public. However, on the one hand, victims who have trade secret rights in the pharmaceutical sector are still few to report allegations related to trade secret violations. In addition, law enforcement has not been optimal in responding to every complaint from the public regarding the theft of drug prescriptions, counterfeiting of various pharmaceutical products, and complaints from trade secret rights owners. For this reason, the existence of Law Number 30 of 2000 concerning Trade Secrets should provide legal protection for every owner of trade secrets in the pharmaceutical sector and also the public who are victims of trade secret crimes in the pharmaceutical sector

Comparative Metabolic Profiling and Biological Evaluation of Essential Oils from Conocarpus Species: Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Potential

Essential oils (EOs) are a diverse source of bioactive compounds with remarkable therapeutic potential. Despite their significance, Conocarpus EOs have been largely underexplored. This study provides a novel comparison of the metabolic profiles and biological activities of EOs from C. lancifolius, C. erectus green, and C. erectus silver leaves cultivated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering unique insights into their distinct bioactive properties and potential therapeutic applications. EOs were extracted via hydro-distillation, analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and subjected to chemometric analysis. Their antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assays), antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antimicrobial activities were assessed. A total of 92 metabolites were identified, with heptacosane and nonacosane as key species discriminants. C. lancifolius EO showed the strongest α-amylase (IC50 8.75 ± 0.54 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 22.31 ± 0.92 µg/mL) inhibitory activities, while C. erectus silver demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity (IC50 349.78 ± 8.26 µg/mL, DPPH assay). C. lancifolius EO exhibited the best antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 625 µg/mL). C. erectus silver EO inhibited E. coli and C. albicans (MIC 625 µg/mL). In contrast, C. erectus EOs showed no activity against Aspergillus niger. These findings highlight the potential of Conocarpus EOs as antioxidants and for managing diabetes that may be utilized either in nutraceuticals, dietary supplements or even in pharmaceutical formulations. Moreover, owing to significant antimicrobial activities, the EOs may be added to medical disinfectants and several pharmaceutical products. However, further, in vivo validation and pharmaceutical exploration is still needed.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) By-products in Food Processing and Health Promotion.

The edible and nonedible parts of the mango (Mangifera indica L.) contain vitamins, phytocompounds, fiber, and fatty acids. This review highlights the uses of mango by-products in the food industry and their effects on human health. The literature offers many new possibilities for the usage of mango secondary products in the food industry, such as the production of functional foods and bakery products, in addition to the potential for extraction of antioxidants and enzymes. Furthermore, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the consumption of various mango by-products, in the form of peel and leaf (powder or extract), can improve glycemia, plasma lipid levels, satiety, and endothelial function, suggesting that these compounds can prevent or improve various risk factors for cardiovascular complications and metabolic syndrome. Clinical trials show that the discarded parts of mango fruits and leaves can be used to treat diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, mango by-products can be utilized to improve the functional characteristics of foods, may be incorporated as fat replacers, and have the potential to leverage agribusiness and reduce environmental damage resulting from the disposal of discarded materials, in addition to reducing waste and the complex chain of environmental damage. Mango by-products also have the potential to produce nutraceutical food items. The use of new technologies can bring to light the production of numerous products made from by-products, contributing to the development of industrial functional foods. In addition, products for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries may also be developed. Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products could have lower prices and could, therefore, be used by low-income populations. The utilization of mango by-products meets the current trend and growing market for better and healthier products. However, more clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of mango by-products on human health, and new technologies can improve industrial applications.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, TOTAL PHENOLIC AND TOTAL FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF WHOLE PLANT EXTRACTS TORILIS LEPTOPHYLLA L

The study investigates the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of whole plant extracts of Torilis leptophylla L., a medicinal plant with potential therapeutic benefits. Extracts were prepared using various solvents to maximize the extraction of bioactive compounds. The antioxidant activity was assessed using standard assays such as DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. The TPC and TFC were quantified using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Results demonstrated significant antioxidant activity across all extracts, with ethanol extracts exhibiting the highest potency. The TPC and TFC analyses revealed a strong correlation between phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity. These findings highlight Torilis leptophylla L. as a promising source of natural antioxidants, supporting its potential use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize individual phenolic and flavonoid compounds responsible for the observed activities. This research explores the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of whole plant extracts from Torilis leptophylla L., an underutilized medicinal plant known for its health benefits. The study involved the extraction of bioactive compounds using solvents such as ethanol, methanol, and aqueous solutions to determine the most effective extraction method. Antioxidant activities were evaluated through multiple assays, including DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power). The TPC and TFC were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively. The results revealed that ethanol extracts displayed the highest antioxidant activity, with significant free radical scavenging abilities and reducing power. The TPC and TFC analyses indicated a robust correlation between phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity, suggesting that these compounds are major contributors to the plant's antioxidant properties. Specifically, the ethanol extract showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid concentrations, correlating with its superior antioxidant performance. These findings position Torilis leptophylla L. as a potent source of natural antioxidants, underscoring its potential for development into pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.

An alternative source of medicines: pharmaceutical utilization of animal-derived metabolites

Abstract Throughout history, various human civilizations have used raw materials obtained from the body parts, metabolic byproducts, or non-animal components of animals as medical resources for the treatment of numerous diseases and relief of symptoms. Protein structures, including hormones and enzymes, as well as various animal-derived metabolites including polysaccharides, lipids, and vitamins, have been used for the development of raw drugs. These chemicals include widely used substances including heparin, melatonin, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, bile acids, and coenzyme Q10. Additionally, they include materials such as snake, spider, and amphibian poisons, which are now undergoing therapeutic development. This review presents examples of animal-derived pharmaceutical raw materials that are being used as drugs and have potential in drug development research. Detailed descriptions of the chemical structures, original sources and effects of these raw materials are included. In general, the production method that was previously carried out by using animal organisms has been replaced by the utilization of recombinant technologies. The use of animals as a resource in the drug development process is expected to remain an interesting topic and further research in this area is expected. Nevertheless, it is essential not to disregard the suggestions against utilizing animals in pharmaceutical production, particularly in cases where alternative sources are accessible.

Pernicious liaisons: antibiotic-depressed immune response of a livestock micropredator, the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)

Abstract Antibiotics are pharmaceutical products with the potential to affect the immune performance of wildlife. Wildlife species might incorporate antibiotic residues in their system when feeding on livestock treated with these chemicals. One of the most studied interactions of livestock with wildlife is that established with the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), which predates on livestock. We tested the effect of clindamycin on the humoral and cellular acquired immune responses of common vampire bats captured in the wild in Mexico. We hypothesized that both cellular and humoral acquired immune responses would be negatively affected after bats were exposed to clindamycin for 15 days. We measured local inflammation (swelling index = SI) and serum immunoglobulin concentration (IgG) after the repeated application of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in bats treated with clindamycin and in a control group that did not receive the antibiotic. PHA is a plant lectin that induces mitosis in the effector cells of cellular-mediated immunity. We expected that antibiotic-exposed bats would present a weaker inflammatory response and that their IgG serum levels would not increase at the same rate after three consecutive injections of PHA than bats in the control group. Mean SI after the second injection of PHA was higher than that after the first injection only in bats in the control group. No significant difference was found in SI after the third injection with respect to the first injection in both the control and the experimental group. Mean IgG concentration was higher after the third injection than before the first injection only in vampire bats not treated with antibiotic. Our study shows the negative effect that exposure to anthropogenic chemicals generates on wildlife capacity to maintain a healthy immune system.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in Canadian municipal wastewater and biosolids: occurrence, fate, and time trends 2010-2013 to 2022.

The concentrations of 135 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were determined in raw influent, final effluent, and treated biosolids at Canadian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to evaluate the fate of PPCPs through liquid and solids trains of typical treatment types used in Canada and to assess changes in PPCP concentrations in wastewater matrices between 2010-2013 and 2022. PPCPs dominant in influent and effluent included the antidiabetic metformin, analgesics/anti-inflammatories (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen), caffeine and its metabolite (1,7 - dimethylxanthine), theophylline (a bronchodilator and metabolite of caffeine), an insect repellent (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, DEET), and iopamidol (a contrast media for X-rays). PPCPs dominant in biosolids differed from those in influent/effluent and included antibiotics (fluoroquinolones and doxycycline), antidepressants (sertraline, citalopram, and amitriptyline), a preservative and antimicrobial agent (triclosan), an antihistamine (diphenhydramine), and an antifungal (clotrimazole). These elevated concentrations in influent/effluent and biosolids reflected their use in Canadian communities. PPCPs dominant in influent/effluent had relatively low hydrophobicity whereas those in biosolids tended to be more hydrophobic, or electrostatic forces governed their sorption. Higher removal of PPCPs was generally observed at WWTPs that used biological treatment compared to primary physical/chemical treatment. PPCP concentration changes in wastewater matrices between 2010-2013 and 2022 were influenced by risk management measures, warnings, the development of new pharmaceuticals, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors. These time trends reflected the limited information available on PPCP use in Canada. Continued periodic monitoring of PPCPs is recommended to fill data gaps on community use and release to the environment.

Impact of Critical Process Parameters on the Dimensional, Mean Weight and Swelling Properties of 3D-Printed Intravaginal Rings: A Quality by Design approach

ABSTRACT 3D printing has been emerging as a transformative technology in pharmaceutical manufacturing, offering potential for personalized medicine and innovative dosage forms. It enables precise control over drug release profiles and dosage customization, addressing individual patient needs. Various 3D printing techniques, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), are being explored for pharmaceutical applications. The choice of polymers and their rheological properties are crucial for successful extrusion-based 3D printing of pharmaceuticals. While 3D printing shows promise in accelerating drug development and facilitating large-scale manufacturing, challenges remain in terms of quality and quality control. Quality-by-design (QbD) approaches for developing 3D-printed dosage forms are essential for assessing drug content, release profiles, and overall quality to ensure safe and effective pharmaceutical products. In this study we highlight the role of critical process parameters (CPPs), such as infill density and printing speed in the production of poly (lactic acid) based intravaginal rings. The effect of the CPPs on critical quality attributes (CQAs), i.e. ring dimensions, mean weight and swelling degree is studied. The study evaluated the influence of printing speed (25-100 mm/s) and infill density (0-20%) on the weight and dimensions of 3D-printed rings using ANOVA. The results showed that printing settings significantly impacted both weight and dimensions. Average weights ranged from 0.537 g to 0.629 g, with the highest weights found in samples with the highest infill density and lowest printing speed. Internal ring dimensions varied between 9.73 mm and 9.81 mm, while external dimensions ranged from 19.43 mm to 19.69 mm. In swelling tests, rings with the lowest printing speed and highest infill density showed the greatest swelling, up to 2.47%, after 3 hours in distilled water with a pH of 4.3. Infill density and printing speed produced a pivotal impact on dimensions, weight and swelling behavior of intravaginal rings. The results demonstrate that FDM offers a viable approach to producing cost-effective, patient-specific intravaginal rings, with statistical analysis confirming the reproducibility and effectiveness of the fabricated devices.

Pharmacokinetics and Chicken Meat Residue of Tilmicosin after Administration Through Drinking Water in Broiler Chicken

Background: Tilmicosin is an antimycoplasmic drug of great utility in controlling mycoplasmosis in chicken. The drug despite its efficacy, has a high residue impact leading to a long withdrawal period. In this study, an attempt has been made to rationalize the dosage to reduce the residue burden by adopting a lower dose. Methods: The dose of tilmicosin was arrived at based on a pilot study wherein different doses were administered, and the levels were checked in plasma and meat. In the main study, tilmicosin was administered to broiler chicken as a bolus oral dose or “in drinking water” at the dose rate of 25 mg. kg-1 body weight. Blood was collected at different time points for the study. A trial to assay drug residues in tissues was also carried out. The assay of tilmicosin in chicken plasma/tissues was done using a sensitive HPLC assay. Result: In both pharmacokinetics study groups, tilmicosin concentrations could be reasonably detected only in 4 of the eight birds tested. In the birds that responded, the mean plasma concentrations remained above the MIC values of 0.05 µg.ml-1. The residue level in the lung and muscle could be detected up to day 14, and no residue from 18th day, after administration of tilmicosin through drinking water. The lung, the organ of mycoplasma infection revealed high concentrations of tilmicosin up to 14 days after the last dose. The results show that the Tilmicosin administered at a reduced rate of 25 mg.Kg-1 can be useful therapeutically, with a reduced residue burden in broiler chicken.

Blockchain Non-Fungible Token for Effective Drug Traceability System with Optimal Deep Learning on Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management

In recent times, the number of fake drugs has increased dramatically, which has resulted in millions of victims severely affected by poisoning and treatment failures, resulting in a need for Drug Supply Chain (DSC) traceability. The DSC is generally reluctant to share traceability data and includes several parties having heterogeneous interests. Moreover, existing provenance and traceability systems for DSCs need more trust, data sharing transparency, and separated data storage. By realizing decentralized, trustless systems, a decentralized Blockchain (BC)-based solution is proposed to tackle these constraints. BC is an immutable, decentralized, shared network that allows management directly through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network without the necessity of a central authority to check transactions. This study proposes a new Blockchain Non-Fungible Token-based Drug Traceability with Enhanced Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management (BNFTDT-EPSCM) model. The proposed BNFTDT-EPSCM model presents transparent and more secure reporting of changes in the operating condition of transported pharmaceutical products to prevent drug recalls. The Ethereum BC enables transactions and computational services using the cryptocurrency Ether (ETH). Simultaneously, an enhanced Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus (RB-BFT) leverages a reputation system to address reliability issues of primary nodes and reduce communication complexity inherent in the Practical Byzantine algorithm (PBFT). The BNFTDT-EPSCM model presents a decentralized solution using Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to improve the traceability and tracking capabilities of the standard serialization process. In addition, the BNFTDT-EPSCM model employs a Deep Belief Network (DBN) approach to perform the inbound logistics task prediction process. Finally, the Tasmanian Devil Optimization (TDO) method is utilized to enhance the hyperparameter tuning of the DBN approach. A detailed set of simulations was executed to examine the effectiveness of the BNFTDT-EPSCM approach, demonstrating a higher throughput at the highest user count of 6000 and achieving 551.22 TPS, significantly outperforming existing models.

Revolutionising Neurological Therapeutics: Investigating Drug Repurposing Strategies.

Repurposing drugs (DR) has become a viable approach to hasten the search for cures for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). This review examines different off-target and on-target drug discovery techniques and how they might be used to find possible treatments for non-diagnostic depressions. Off-target strategies look at the known or unknown side effects of currently approved drugs for repositioning, whereas on-target strategies connect disease pathways to targets that can be treated with drugs. The review highlights the potential of experimental and computational methodologies, such as machine learning, proteomic techniques, network and genomics-based approaches, and in silico screening, in uncovering new drug-disease correlations. It also looks at difficulties and failed attempts at drug repurposing for NDs, highlighting the necessity of exact and standardised procedures to increase success rates. This review's objectives are to address the purpose of drug repurposing in human disorders, particularly neurological diseases, and to provide an overview of repurposing candidates that are presently undergoing clinical trials for neurological conditions, along with any possible causes and early findings. We then include a list of drug repurposing strategies, restrictions, and difficulties for upcoming research.

States, global power and access to medicines: a comparative case study of China, India and the United States, 2000–2019

BackgroundWhat constitutes state`s global power to shape access to medicines? How was it distributed between states and how did this change from 2000 to 2019? In this comparative case study, we explored the powers of China, India and the United States, and discuss whether our findings from the pre-pandemic era were reflected in the global COVID-19 response related to pharmaceuticals. We used an analytical framework from the international relations literature on structural power, and assessed the following power structures after adapting them to the context of access to medicines: finance, production, financial protection, knowledge, trade and official development assistance.ResultsWe found that from 2000 to 2019 there had been a power-shift towards China and India in terms of finance and production of pharmaceuticals, and that in particular China had increased its powers regarding knowledge and financial protection and reimbursement. The United States remained powerful in terms of finance and knowledge. The data on trade and official development assistance indicate an increasingly powerful China also within these structures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that the patterns from previous decades were continued in terms of cutting-edge innovation coming out of the United States. Trade restrictions from the United States and India contrasted our findings as well as the limited effective aid from the United States.Building on our findings on structural powers, we argue that both structural power and political decisions shaped access to medical technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined the roles and positions of the three states regarding developments in global health governance on the COVAX mechanism, the TRIPS Agreement waiver and the pandemic accord in this context.ConclusionFrom 2000-2019, China and India increased their structural powers to shape global access to medical technologies. The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that both structural power and political decisions shaped global access to COVID-19 technologies.

Stabilize the oxygen vacancies in ZnO via altering local electronic structure by Co and Ni doping: A novel strategy for achieving durable visible light driven photo-Fenton degradation of chloramphenicol

The build-up of antibiotics, harmful pollutants, and pharmaceutical products has led to the significant contamination of environmental water bodies. Hence, the advancement of oxidation methods such as light-induced photo-Fenton degradation has proven crucial for efficiently desolating these harmful pollutants. Herein, we report a novel photo Fenton catalyst, Co and Ni co-doped ZnO (Zn1-x-yCoxNiyO) nanorods (NRs) for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of chloramphenicol (CAP) under visible light irradiation. The NRs were synthesized via the ultrasonication-assisted solvothermal method. Among the different Co and Ni doping concentrations, Zn0.96Co0.03Ni0.01O NRs showed superior photodegradation efficiency of 94.2%. Here, •OH radicals were identified as predominant reactive oxygen species in photocatalytic degradation by electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis and scavenging assay. The effect of various environmental parameters such as nanoparticle dosage, CAP concentration, pH, and ions were investigated to understand the impact of these parameters on the degradation of CAP. Further, Zn0.96Co0.03Ni0.01O NRs were stable for six consecutive photodegradation cycles, which showed their excellent efficiency and reusability for prolonged usage. Photostability was further confirmed by XPS and XRD analysis of the used photocatalyst. Also, the photodegradation pathway of CAP was predicted by identifying the intermediate compounds via GC-MS analysis. This approach holds promise for the efficient visible-light-driven degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants including CAP and contributes to the advancement of sustainable water treatment technologies.

Multi-matrix HPLC investigation of preservatives employing a recent validated method: A Monte Carlo simulation approach to health risks in Bangladeshi processed foods and healthcare.

To determine the amounts of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, methylparaben, and propylparaben in an assortment of products, this study provides a validated HPLC-PDA method. Linearity, recovery, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, system suitability, and robustness were all examined throughout validation in compliance with ICH criteria. The method of measurement showed high reliability, precision, and linear calibration curves (5-50mg/L) with correlation values over 0.999, demonstrating that it is suitable for consistent analysis. Reliability across various matrices was validated by robustness testing. Goods such as fruit juices, ketchup, cakes, herbal goods, and pharmaceuticals were subjected to health risk assessments including CDI, THQ, and HI. Significant sorbate and high benzoate levels, in particular in herbal products (up to 6636mg/kg), were found in processed meals, while methylparaben surpassed the recommended limit in some herbal and pharmaceutical products. Levels of propylparaben remain low. Risk evaluations revealed that consumption of herbal products was the main cause of significant worry, especially for children with lower body weights. THQ levels below the threshold were found in Monte Carlo simulations (5th, median, and 95th percentiles), indicating that food preservatives provide little non-carcinogenic risk to the majority of the population.

Recent advances in polysaccharide-dominated extracellular polymeric substances from microalgae: A review.

Microalgae are an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative resource for future food and pharmaceutical production. Microalgal extracellular polymeric substances (EPMS) are polymers consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids secreted by microalgal cells. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of microalgal EPMS, including its composition, structure, formation, biological activity and application. The diversity of structural units and binding modes confers microalgal EPMS with unique structural and biological activity, which is species-specific. In addition to the polysaccharides with antioxidant, antiviral, and antitumor effects, extracellular vesicles isolated from microalgal EPMS are emerging as new drug carriers. However, challenges such as relatively low yields, complex separation techniques, intricate processing-secretion pathways, and unclear mechanisms of action still hinder the industrial application of microalgal EPMS. By scientifically summarizing the research progress and leveraging strategies such as metabolic regulation, genetic modification, and advanced separation and characterization technologies, microalgal EPMS is expected to see widespread applications in the food, cosmetics, and therapeutic industries.

Novel solid-phase extraction promotes simultaneous colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay of malachite green, leuco-malachite green, chloramphenicol, and semi-carbazone metabolites in aquatic products.

Solid phase extraction (SPE) using traditional column materials offers several advantages, but its ability to simultaneously extract and purify commonly used veterinary drugs, such as chloramphenicol, malachite green, leuco-malachite green and semi-carbazone, remains unproven.Therefore, in the present study, a rapid analytical method based on ultrasound-assisted SPE combined with colloidal gold test strips was developed and applied herein to determine the residues of these veterinary drugs in common aquatic products. Under optimized conditions, the method achieved a limit of detection in the range of 0.01-0.5μg/kg, inter-day RSDs of the spiked samples in the ranges of 0.99-5.58% and 1.6-7.2%, and absolute recoveries in the range of 84.2-112.9% using the colloidal gold immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively. The SPE column efficiently enriched the four veterinary drugs simultaneously, showing considerable potential for determining common veterinary drug residues in aquatic products.