Full Factorial Design Research Articles

Co-combustion strategy of waste energetic materials with pine sawdust for efficient NOx emissions reduction

Excessive NOx emissions during incineration of waste energetic materials (EMs) is harmful to the environment. Co-combustion technologies with biomass have demonstrated remarkable advantages in reducing NOx emissions. Herein, the co-combustion characteristics and NOx emission behaviors of waste double-base propellant (DP) and pine sawdust (PS) were investigated via thermogravimetric (TG) and fixed-bed experiments firstly. Meanwhile, the general full factorial design (GFFD) was performed to explore the effects of different factors on the NOx emissions of co-combustion. The interaction mechanism between DP and PS was discussed as well. Moreover, the interaction of three other typical waste EMs (RDX, TNT, and triple-base propellant) co-combustion with PS in NOx emissions was studied utilizing orthogonal experiments. The kinetics under air atmosphere indicated that the mixing of PS slightly diminished the combustion reactivity of DP, conversely, the remaining residue of DP combustion promoted the combustion of PS. Oxygen concentration, temperature and mixing ratio all had significant effects on NOx emissions of co-combustion between DP and PS, the degree of effect decreased in turn. Overall, the mixing of PS all suppressed the NOx emissions with significant synergistic effects, optimal synergistic effect at 20 wt% of PS mixing. The synergistic effect in oxygen environment was lower than that in oxygen-free environment. Meanwhile, increasing temperature contributed to enlarging the synergistic effect. Additionally, there was synergistic effect of TNT and PS co-combustion, whereas RDX, TP exerted inhibition effect of co-combustion with PS. Therefore, the co-combustion strategy of waste EMs with PS provides reliable data support and guidance for the control of NOx emissions during the incineration of waste EMs.

DEVELOPMENT OF ACECLOFENAC LOADED MICROSPONGE GELS: A STATISTICAL QUALITY BY DESIGN (QBD) APPROACH TOWARDS OPTIMIZATION AND EVALUATION

Objective: The current research aims to deliver Aceclofenac in a controlled manner through a microsponges-loaded drug delivery system for the treatment of inflammation. Methods: The formulations were prepared by the Quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method and characterized for particle size and drug entrapment efficiency. For the optimization of the formulation through the Quality by Design (QbD) approach, Quality target product profiles (QTPP) were set up considering various key factors that affect the quality of the formulation. Further optimization of the important factors in relation to the major Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) was conducted by applying full factorial design using the Design of Expert Software (11.0 software, Stat-Ease, Inc., USA). The optimized formulation was incorporated into the gel, and characterized for morphological analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), drug content, and ex-vivo permeation studies (DD solver, Version 2.0). Results: It was found that process parameters such as drug-to-polymer ratio, the volume of the internal phase, and concentration of the emulsifier and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), played a crucial role in improving the drug entrapment efficiency and particle size. On the other hand, stirring time did not significantly affect the particle size. Through Design of Expert (DOE) analysis, a PVA concentration of 0.641 mg/ml and an internal phase volume of 12.5 ml were identified to be the ideal concentrations to obtain the optimized microspongal gel formulation (MS4). Characterization studies were carried out on MS4, which displayed a drug encapsulation of 94%, with a Cmax of 81.62 mg/ml, and a Tmax of 12 h. Stability studies carried out as per the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines confirmed no noticeable change in physical appearance and drug content. Conclusion: Overall, this study focused on optimizing the formulation of microsponges for efficient dermal drug delivery, considering various critical variables and process parameters. The resulting optimized formulation demonstrated promising drug release and potential for the effective management of inflammation disorders.

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NANOPARTICLE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION

Objective: The aim of the current research is to formulate and evaluate Trandolapril loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for the management of high blood pressure. Methods: SLNs were formulated using Glyceryl monostearate and poloxamer 188 by hot homogenisation and ultrasonication method. Different concentrations of lipid and surfactant were used for the preparation adopting 32 full factorial design. The prepared formulations were initially evaluated for particle size, PDI, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency to obtain the optimised formulation. Results: The optimised formulation TF 6 reported the particle size of 212.6±5.39 nm and entrapment efficiency of 91.02±0.57%; this was further characterised for FT-IR, DSC and scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro release of drug for the prepared formulations was performed for 24 h and the optimised formulation showed better-controlled drug release compared to other formulations. Conclusion: The pure Trandolapril solution was collated with the optimised formulation TF 6 and the result concluded that the formulation showed controlled drug release compared to pure drug. This study proves that Trandolapril SLNs can be prepared for increasing the release of drug for prolonged period.

Optimisation of the Manufacturing Process of Organic-Solvent-Free Omeprazole Enteric Pellets for the Paediatric Population: Full Factorial Design.

Liquid formulations are mostly used in the paediatric population. However, with certain active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), it is very difficult to guarantee quality and stability; this is the case, for example, with omeprazole. Omeprazole is used as a model drug due to the lack of a paediatric formulation meeting gastro-resistance requirements, which remains a challenge today. In this experimental study, the development of enteric polymer-coated pellets is proposed. It is proposed to use aqueous coating dispersions without the use of organic solvents, which are commonly used in fluidised bed coatings. To do this, the design of experiments method is used as a statistical tool for experiment creation and the subsequent analysis of the responses. In particular, this study uses a randomised full factorial design. The mean weight increases of the protective layer and the enteric coating are chosen as factors. Each factor is assigned two levels. Therefore, the design of the used experiments is a 22 + 1 central point. Overall, the obtained pellets can be an alternative to the compounding formulas of omeprazole that are currently used in the paediatric population, which do not meet the gastro-resistance specifications necessary to guarantee the therapeutic efficacy of this active ingredient.

Wire Electrical Discharge Machining of AISI304 and AISI316 Alloys: A Comparative Assessment of Machining Responses, Empirical Modeling and Multi-Objective Optimization

This research investigates the multi-response of both material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) for the wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) of two stainless steel alloys: AISI 304 and AISI 316. Experimental results are utilized to compare the machining responses obtained for AISI 316 with those obtained for AISI 304, as previously reported in the literature. The experimental work is conducted through a full factorial experimental design of five running parameters with different levels: applied voltage, transverse feed, pulse-on/pulse-off times and current intensity. The machined workpieces are analyzed using an image processing technique in order to evaluate the size of cut slots to allow the calculation of the MRR. Followed by the characterization of the surface roughness along the side walls of the slots. Different mathematical regression techniques were developed to represent the multi-response of both materials using the MATLAB regression toolbox. It was found that WEDM process parameters have a fuzzy influence on the responses of both material models. This allowed for multi-objective optimization of the regression models using four different techniques: multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA), multi-objective pareto search algorithm (MOPSA), weighted value grey wolf optimizer (WVGWO) and osprey optimization algorithm (OOA). The optimization results reveal that the optimal WEDM parameters of each response are inconsistent to the others. Hence, the optimal results are considered a compromise between the best results of different responses. Noteworthily, the multi-objective pareto search algorithm outperformed the other candidates. Eventually, the optimal results of both materials share the high voltage, high transverse feed rate and low pulse-off time parameters; however, AISI 304 requires low pulse-on time and current intensity levels while AISI 316 optimal results entail higher pulse-on time and current levels.

Modeling of Ca/P and deposit size responses of electrodeposited calcium-phosphate coating using full factorial design

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effect of electrodeposition parameters (i.e. time and voltage) on the properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) coating fabricated on Ti6Al4V surface.Design/methodology/approachA full factorial design along with response surface methodology was utilized to evaluate the main effect of independent variables and their relative interactions on response variables. The effect of electrodeposition voltage and deposition time on HA coatings Ca/P molar ratio and the size of deposited HA crystals were examined by structural equation modeling (SEM). The formation of plate-like and needle-like HA crystals was observed for all experiments.FindingsThe results obtained showed that the higher electrodeposition voltage leads to lower Ca/P values for HA coatings. This is more significant at lower deposition times, where at a 20-minute deposition time, the voltage increased from 2 to 3 V and the Ca/P decreased from 2.27 to 1.52. Full factorial design results showed that electrodeposition voltage has a more significant effect on the size of the deposited HA crystal. With increasing the voltage from 2 to 3 V at a deposition time of 20 min, the HA crystal size varied from 99 to 36 µm.Originality/valueThe investigation delved into the impact of two critical parameters, deposition time and voltage, within the electrodeposition process on two paramount properties of HA coatings. Analyzing the alterations in coating characteristics relative to variations in these process parameters can serve as a foundational guide for subsequent research in the domain of calcium-phosphate deposition for implants.

Acitretin-loaded nanoethosomal gel for the treatment of psoriasis: Formulation, optimization, in vitro, and in vivo assessment

Acitretin (ACT) is a second-generation systemic retinoid used to treat severe psoriasis. However, its poor aqueous solubility and systemic adverse effects make it impractical for oral administration. The primary objective of this research is to prepare, optimize, and evaluate a nanogel consisting of acitretin-loaded ethosomes (ACT-ETH) for its anti-psoriatic potential. A 32 full factorial design was employed for optimization. Thin-film hydration was adopted to prepare ACT-ETH, and then their physicochemical characteristics were tested. The optimized ACT-ETH was converted into a carbopol gel and then evaluated for cytotoxicity, skin irritation, and anti-psoriatic properties. The vesicle size, zeta potential (ZP), and percent entrapment efficiency (% EE) of the optimal ACT-ETH are 147 ± 2.15 nm, −11.5 ± 0.25 mV, and 90.70 ± 0.89%, respectively. The fluorescence microscopy study has shown that ethosomes may go deeper into the skin layers. Compared to plain gel, ACT-ETH gel greatly increased skin permeability and deposition in the ex-vivo skin permeation and deposition tests. The in vitro cytotoxicity investigation revealed that the cytotoxicity of ACT against normal cells (L-929) was significantly reduced by ACT-ETH gel compared to plain ACT gel. The skin irritation study proved that ACT-ETH gel was well tolerated and safe for use on the skin. The in vivo anti-psoriatic study showed that using ACT-ETH gel to treat psoriasis on the skin led to a significant improvement in the therapeutic response. Based on these results, ACT-ETH gel has the potential to increase the topical anti-psoriatic action of ACT by mitigating its known drawbacks.

Anti-CD4 antibody and dendrimeric peptide based targeted nano-liposomal dual drug formulation for the treatment of HIV infection

AimsDevelopment and characterization of LAM and DTG loaded liposomes conjugated anti-CD4 antibody and peptide dendrimer (PD2) to improve the therapeutic efficacy and to achieve targeted treatment for HIV infection. Main methodsA 2-level full factorial design was used to optimize the preparation of dual drug loaded liposomes. Optimized dual drug loaded ligand conjugated liposomes were assessed for their cytotoxicity and cell internalization on TZM-bl cells. Anti-HIV efficiency of the dual drug loaded liposomes were screened for their inhibitory potential in TZM-bl cells and the activities were confirmed using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). Key findingsThe particle size of the optimized dual drug-loaded liposomes was 133.7 ± 4.04 nm, and the spherical morphology of the liposomes was confirmed by TEM analysis. The entrapment efficiency was 34 ± 4.9 % and 54 ± 1.8 % for LAM and DTG, respectively, and a slower in vitro release of LAM and DTG was observed when entrapped into liposomes. The cytotoxicity of the dual drug loaded liposomes was similar to the cytotoxicity of free drug solutions. Conjugation of anti-CD4 antibody and PD2 did not significantly influence the cytotoxicity but it enhanced the uptake of liposomes into the cells. Conjugated dual drug loaded liposomes exhibited better HIV inhibition with lower IC50 values (0.0003 ± 0.0002 μg/mL) compared to their free drug solutions (0.002 ± 0.001 μg/mL). The liposomal formulations have shown similar activities in both screening and confirmatory cell-based assays. SignificanceThe results demonstrated the cell targeting ability of dual drug loaded liposomes conjugated with anti-CD4 antibody and peptide dendrimer. Conjugated liposomes also improved anti-HIV efficiency of LAM and DTG.

A novel reverse micelle based cationic double nanoemulsion as a potential nanoplatform for enhancing the anitglucomal activity of betaxolol hydrochloride; formulation, in vitro characterization, ex vivo permeation and in vivo pharmacodynamic evaluation in glaucomatous rabbits’ eyes

Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide. The hydrophilic nature of the anti-glaucoma drug Betaxolol hydrochloride (BH) limits its ocular permeation necessitating repeated dosing. This can reduce patient compliance and increase the risk of experiencing adverse side effects. Our research is the first to encapsulate BH into reverse micelle-based cationic double W1/O/W2 nanoemulsions (RM-CDNEs) as a new platform capable of enhancing both the corneal permeability and IOP lowering efficacy of this drug. BH-loaded RM-CDNEs were prepared by a modified two-step emulsification method using sonication technique and applying 24 full factorial design to assess the impact of formulation variables and select the optimal delivery system. The in vitro drug-release, ex vivo permeation and in vivo performance of this novel nanocarrier were also assessed. The optimal delivery system (RM-CDNE 10) has mean DS, PDI, ZP and entrapment efficiency of 46.53 ± 1.30 nm, 0.217 ± 0.02, +40.9 ± 5.04 mV and 95.1 ± 2.44 %, respectively. A 90.77 % of drug was released over 7h. RM-CDNE 10 showed 2.5-fold increase in ex vivo corneal BH permeation with a prolonged IOP reduction of 58.77 % ± 1.18 % and AUC0-48 of 2537.82 ± 12.8%h. While, the marketed product (Epitaxol®) had only 33.63 ± 1.54 % IOP reduction with AUC0–48 h of 823.14 ± 3.67%h when tested in rabbits (P ≤ 0.05). Histopathological and Draize irritation studies confirmed that RM-CDNEs were non-irritant. These findings proved that the novel BH-loaded RM-CDNEs system improved the outcomes for patients suffering from glaucoma and thus decreasing the liability for disease progression into blindness.

Toward automated instructor pilots in legacy Air Force systems: Physiology-based flight difficulty classification via machine learning

The United States Air Force (USAF) is struggling to train enough pilots to meet operational requirements. Technology has advanced rapidly over the last 70 years but USAF pilot training has not. Modern operational requirements demand a change and, for this reason, USAF senior leadership has advocated for innovation. The automation of instructor and evaluator pilots in select bottlenecks (e.g., simulators) is one such measure. However, to implement this vision, numerous technical issues must be mitigated. Accurate classification of flight difficulty is a foundational problem underpinning many of these technical issues, which requires either the acquisition of new systems or the development of new procedures. Therefore, given this need and the costly nature of purchasing new equipment, physiological-based classification of flight difficulty is our focus herein. Leveraging multimodal data from a designed experiment of pilots landing a simulated aircraft, we develop a high-quality machine learning pipeline for classifying flight difficulty, called the Multi-Modal Functional-based Decision Support System (MMF-DSS). MMF-DSS distills a tabular set of features from our multimodal and functional data through the use of functional principal component analysis, summary statistics, and BorutaSHAP. In this manner, information is derived from the time-series data via the generation of hundreds of features, of which a small subset having the most predictive capability is discerned. Four full factorial designs are used to perform hyperparameter tuning on a set of classifiers. In so doing, a superlative technique is identified. Impacts on executive decision making are examined as well as associated policymaking implications. Alternative classifiers are considered for use within our pipeline that trade predictive accuracy for cost efficiency, and recommendations for choosing among these alternatives is provided.

Synthesis and design of NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode materials for long-life sodium-ion batteries

To enable the widespread adoption of residential energy storage, sustainable, low-cost, long-life, and energy-dense battery technologies are required. Sodium-ion offers many of these characteristics, however often the system is tailored for energy rather than cycle life. In this work, the effect of synthesis conditions upon the primary and agglomerated secondary particle size and shape of the sodium-ion cathode material NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 was investigated for optimization of energy and cycle life. A two-level full factorial experimental design was utilized to examine how the synthesis parameters (pH, molar ratio of ammonia/metal precursor salt, and stirring speed) affect the physical and electrochemical properties. This approach enabled a comprehensive investigation of the main effects and interactions of these parameters. The data from multiple synthesis runs were analyzed using statistical methods and regression analysis. This experimental design provided valuable insights into the relationship between synthesis parameters and material properties. Statistical analysis indicates that both physical and electrochemical properties are mainly controlled through pH and NH4OH, while the effects of stirring speed are less pronounced. The optimal synthetic conditions producing the highest cycling performance were extrapolated from the statistical analysis. A validation experiment showed that particles synthesized with optimum parameters displayed a threefold increase in cycling performance together with uniformly distributed particle size and a high tap density.

A design of experiment approach for optimized production of encapsulated trypsin using nano spray drying: Comparative physicochemical and kinetic characterization

Enzymes are challenging to formulate due to their inherent instability, particularly in solution. This study aims to use the design of experiment (DOE) approach to develop spray-dried encapsulated trypsin nano-powder (TrySP) with maximum activity and stability using a Büchi B-90 nano spray dryer. A 53 full factorial design with 26 randomly ordered experiments was created to study the impact of process variables on the quality attributes of TrySP. The additive concentration (%), mesh cap size (μm), inlet temperature (T inlet) (°C), trypsin concentration (%), and additive type (Mannitol or trehalose) were selected as the independent variables. The dependent parameters were yield value, particle size, residual enzyme activity, and moisture content. Further, comparative physicochemical and kinetic characterization of TrySP was performed. TrySP had diverse qualities (yield value 60.2–96.8%, residual activity >90–50%, particle size 314–1030 nm, and moisture content 0.7–2.2%). Optimized TrySP exhibited 89% yield value and 95% residual activity in the presence of 8% (w/w) mannitol. Kcat of TypSP increased from 22.5/s to 25.6/s with improved operational and storage stabilities. The half-life (t 1/2) of TrySP showed 6 folds increase. Furthermore, TrySP activation energy increased from 45,918 J/mol to 94,491 J/mol. The sustainable model presented in this study enables the development of a thermostable, encapsulated trypsin nano-powder with physical and chemical properties that are optimized for various biotechnological industrial applications.

Preparation of Metformin Biodegradable Polymeric Microparticles by O/O Emulsion Solvent Evaporation: A 32 Full Factorial Design Approach

Background: Sustained release of synthetic polymeric microparticles has gained more attention as drug delivery carriers because of their properties such as good stability, low toxicity, dosing frequency, and simple and mild preparation method. The present work was envisaged to reduce the dosing frequency by preparing drug loaded biodegradable microspheres by the O/O emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Objective: The objective behind microspheres’ preparation is to sustain the metformin release by using ethyl cellulose as a synthetic polymer. The model drug metformin having a low biological half-life (1.5-3 hours) is selected. Methods: As the metformin is highly water soluble in nature, the oil-in-oil solvent evaporation techniques are used and span 80 is utilized as surfactant. The effect of stirring rate and surfactant concentration on the characteristics of encapsulation efficiency and drug release from the microsphere are investigated. Results: The results show that the drug-polymer (1:1) ratio gives better sustained release results. The obtained microparticles are characterized by X-RD analysis and Fe-SEM, and release behavior is checked for release patterns. A 32 full factorial design is employed for the responses. The free-flowing spherical microspheres show high drug entrapment efficiency. Conclusion: The data obtained suggest that microspheres can be successfully designed with sustained release for diabetic treatment.

Parametric investigation and optimization in laser based directed energy deposition of tungsten carbide-cobalt

Cemented carbide (WC-Co), the widely used tool-die material, is difficult to be machined by conventional and nonconventional techniques. This inspired exploring additive manufacturing (AM) of this material. However, porosity, brittleness due to cobalt depletion, etc. have been reported in the literature with rare success. For the AM of WC-Co, the current work focuses on directed energy deposition, which can be implemented with existing laser cutting-welding workstations, with modifications. To ensure the retention of cobalt even after inevitable vaporization of some of its initial content during deposition, 20 wt. % of Co was mixed with WC powder by low-energy ball milling. Laser power, scan speed, and powder flow rate were varied following a full-factorial design of experiments. The analysis of variance revealed that the experimental model and most of the parameters were significant. Only the laser power came out to be insignificant for the contact angle. The track height and width increased with the laser power and reduced with the scan speed. The contact angle increased with the scan speed and reduced with the powder flow rate. Cross sections of the deposited track showed no pores or cracks. Multiobjective optimization with gray relational analysis was conducted to get the parameter combination giving high values of the contact angle, track height, and width simultaneously. The optimum parameter combination, thus, obtained is 700 W laser power, 5 mm/s scan speed, and 5 g/min powder flow rate. This yielded 305 ± 40 μm track height, 2132 ± 33 μm width, and 152° ± 2° contact angle.

Quantifying interactions between slope gradient, slope length and rainfall intensity on sheet erosion on steep slopes using Multiple Linear Regression

Understanding the interactions between influencing factors on sheet erosion is crucial for model development and mechanism elucidation. Simulation rainfall tests using a full-factorial design were conducted in 0.4 m wide flumes with five slope lengths (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, and 2 m), five slope gradients (17.63, 26.79, 36.40, 46.63 and 57.74 %) and five rainfall intensities (48.0, 62.4, 102.0, 148.5, and 170.1 mm·h−1) to quantity interactions between these factors on sheet erosion and runoff rate by using Multiple Linear Regression. The results revealed that adding all two-way interaction terms into the equation, such as Rainfall intensity ∗ Slope length (IL), Slope gradient ∗ Rainfall intensity (SI) and Slope gradient ∗ Slope length (SL), significantly improved the interpretation of erosion and runoff rate. Under various slope gradients, the interaction item IL had a negative impact on erosion rate with an average slope of −0.86, but a positive impact on runoff rate with an average slope of 4.33, which improved the interpretation of regression equations for erosion and runoff rate by 0.86 %–1.83 % and 0.21 %–0.47 %. SI exhibited a positive effect on both erosion and runoff rate with an average slope of 4.36 and 8.44, and enhanced the interpretation for erosion and runoff rate by 0.70 %–3.54 % and 0.02 %–0.32 % under various slope lengths. SL had a negative effect on both erosion and runoff rate with an average slope of −3.55 and −6.93, and increased the interpretation of erosion and runoff rate by 1.15 %–6.84 % and 0.10 %–2.26 % under various rainfall intensities. The roles of I and S on erosion and runoff are both mutually promoting, of S and L are both mutually hindering, and of I and L on erosion are mutually hindering but on runoff are mutually promoting. Additionally, the interactions between I, L and S were even higher than that of a single influencing factor in some cases. Our findings highlight the need to consider the two-way interactions between influencing factors when predicting soil loss and provide methodological guidance for quantifying the interactions on soil erosion.

Experimental Development of an Innovative Approach to Enhance the Strength of Early Age Cemented Paste Backfill: A Preliminary Investigation of Microwave-Assisted Curing

In underground mining, the application of mine backfill has evolved into a standard practice. Mine backfill typically consists of tailings, water, and hydraulic binders. However, the high cost of binders has prompted scholars to research alternatives to reduce this cost while maintaining or even improving the properties of the backfill. One potential alternative is leveraging microwave irradiation. In this study, an innovative approach was developed to increase the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of early age cemented paste backfill (CPB). Microwave treatment was applied to CPB samples at various curing ages for varying durations. The UCS and ultrasonic pulse velocities were measured and analyzed in an experiment with a full factorial design. Moreover, the microstructural properties of the CPB were investigated using mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results indicate a significant potential to increase the UCS of CPB by up to 25% when microwave-treating samples for 8 min after 7 days of curing. This approach could shorten mining cycle times and improve productivity, presenting a promising method to enhance CPB strength.

Formulation and In Vivo Evaluation of Biofilm Loaded with Silver Sulfadiazine for Burn Healing.

Infected burned skin is a life-threatening condition, which may lead to sepsis. The aims of this work are to formulate a biofilm composed of silver sulfadiazine (SSD), chitosan (CS), and sodium alginate (SA), and to evaluate its wound-healing effectiveness. A full factorial design was used to formulate different matrix formulations. The prepared biofilm was tested for physicochemical, and in vitro release. The optimized formulation is composed of 0.833% of CS and 0.75% of SA. The release of SSD almost reached 100% after 6 h. The mechanical properties of the optimized formula were reasonable. The antibacterial activity for the optimized biofilm was significantly higher than that of blank biofilm, which is composed of CS and SA, p = 1.53922 × 10-12. Moreover, the in vivo study showed a 75% reduction in wound width when using the formulated SSD biofilm compared to standard marketed cream (57%) and the untreated group (0%).

Germination performance of alien and native species could shape community assembly of temperate grasslands under different temperature scenarios

Rising temperatures due to climate change are expected to interplay with biological invasions, and may enhance the spread and growth of some alien species upon arrival in new areas. To successfully invade, a plant species needs to overcome multiple biological barriers. Among the crucial life stages, seed germination greatly contributes to the final species assembly of a plant community. Several studies have suggested that alien plant success is related to their high seed germination and longevity in the soil. Hence, our aim is to test if the germination potential of alien seeds present in the seed bank will be further enhanced by future warming in temperate dry grasslands, an ecosystem that is among those most prone to biological invasions. We designed a laboratory germination experiment at two temperatures (20 and 28 °C), to simulate an early or late heat wave in the growing season, using seeds from nine common grassland Asteraceae species, including native, archaeophyte and neophyte species. The test was performed on both single and mixed pools of these categories of species, using a full-factorial orthogonal design. The warmer germination temperature promoted neophyte success by increasing germination probability and germination speed, while negatively impacting these parameters in seeds of native species. The co-occurrence of native and archaeophyte seeds at the lower temperature limited the invasiveness of neophytes. These results provide important information on future management actions aimed at containing alien plant invasions, by improving our knowledge on the possible seed-bank response and interaction mechanisms of common species occurring in disturbed natural areas or restored sites.Graphical abstractSummary of the experimental results. The colour of the flowers represent the status, divided as native (blue), neophyte (red) and archaeophyte (green). Each flower symbol represents the species pool for each plant category (i.e. NA = Buphthalmum salicifolium, Carlina vulgaris, Centaurea scabiosa; NE = Artemisia annua, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Senecio inaequidens; AR = Centaurea cyanus, Cichorium intybus, Tripleurospermum inodorum). The number of flowers represent the germination percentage of the various category assembly. In the columns are divided the various combination. From up to bottom the trend of germination percentage at 20 and 28 °C are shown.

Application of Response Surface Methodology to Improve the Tableting Properties of Poorly Compactable and High-Drug-Loading Canagliflozin Using Nano-Sized Colloidal Silica.

Designing a robust direct compression (DC) formulation for an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with poor flow and compaction properties at a high API load is challenging. This study tackled two challenges: the unfavorable flow characteristics and tableting problems associated with a high-drug-loading canagliflozin (CNG), facilitating high-speed DC tableting. This was accomplished through a single-step dry coating process using hydrophilic nano-sized colloidal silica. A 32 full-factorial experimental design was carried out to optimize the independent process variables, namely, the weight percent of silica nanoparticles (X1) and mixing time (X2). Flow, bulk density, and compaction properties of CNG-silica blends were investigated, and the optimized blend was subsequently compressed into tablets using the DC technique. A regression analysis exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence of both X1 and X2 on the characteristics of CNG with a predominant effect of X1. Additionally, robust tablets were produced from the processed powders in comparison with those from the control batch. Furthermore, the produced tablets showed significantly lower tablet ejection forces than those from the control batch, highlighting the lubrication impact of the silica nanoparticles. Interestingly, these tablets displayed improved disintegration time and dissolution rates. In conclusion, a dry coating process using silica nanoparticles presents a chance to address the poor flow and tableting problems of CNG, while minimizing the need for excessive excipients, which is crucial for the effective development of a small-sized tablet and the achievement of a cost-effective manufacturing process.

Formulation, Optimization and Evaluation of Nutraceutical Effervescent Granules Containing Curcumin and Ascorbic Acid by Fusion Technique Using Full Factorial Design

Recent studies suggest that curcumin has potent immunological activity in combination with ascorbic acid. Hence, research was carried out to formulate effervescent granules of curcumin and ascorbic acid as preventive measures for COVID-19. Thirteen formulas (F1 to F13) were prepared by applying 32 full factorial designs by applying the fusion method using Stat-Ease Design-Expert v7.0.0 software. Here, a complex of hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin and curcumin was prepared by lyophilization technique to improve the solubility of curcumin. Citric acid, tartaric acid, sodium bicarbonate, polyethylene glycol, and sorbitol were used in the formulation of effervescent granules. Evaluation studies were carried out for all 13 formulas, including compatibility study, flowability study and effervescence time. The results show that granules have excellent flow property with an appropriate bulk density and tapped density for the uniting dose. The FTIR study also indicates that there is no interaction between excipients. The effervescence time is less than 3 minutes for all the batches. Formula 4 shows the best effervescence. This research article covers the development of effervescent granules containing curcumin, which has antiviral properties (both through direct movement on viruses and through modulating the immune system). With the pandemic of coronavirus that we are facing, curcumin and ascorbic acid can provide us protection against COVID-19 by keeping our immunity up and protecting against the onslaught of infections.