Stable Liquid Research Articles

Improved Transdermal Delivery of Anti-hypertensive Drug Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Statistical Design, Optimization, Depiction and Pharmacokinetic Assessment

Background: The vasoselective calcium-channel blocker lercanidipine hydrochloride (LCH) is poorly absorbed orally (only 10% bioavailability) owing to its low solubility and hepatic metabolism. Because of the LCH's poor solubility and permeability, bioavailability is low and very variable, stable aqueous liquid formulations are challenging to create, and a uniform distribution of the medication is almost impossible to produce. Objective: The purpose of this research was to see whether an approach involving the development of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) might be used to create an effective, innovative oral formulation of LCH. The efficacy of several synthetic and natural liquid lipids was compared using a hot homogenization-ultrasonication strategy. Methods: Following initial improvements with hot homogenization and ultrasonication, the LCHloaded NLCs formulation was fine-tuned by Box-Behnken statistical analysis. The optimal LCHNLCs composition includes the lipid phase (2-4% w/v) of stearic acid and oleic acid, the surfactants poloxamer 188 (1%) and Tween 80(1%), and other ingredients. Results: The optimized NLCs formulation was found to have mean vesicle sizes of 128.72 ± 1.59 nm, polydispersity indices of 0.169 ± 0.06, zeta potentials of -36.81 ± 0.42 mV, and entrapment efficiencies of 79.84 ± 0.11%. The optimized NLCs formulation released much more LCH (88.74 ± 4.62) than the LCH-suspension (36.84 ± 0.37%) in in-vitro drug release experiments lasting up to 24 hours. Ex vivo studies on the ability of LCH-NLCs to pass through the gut showed that drug permeation was much better than it was with plain LCH-solution. The in vivo pharmacodynamic analysis demonstrated that, compared to conventional LCH-suspension, NLCs released LCH more slowly and steadily over a longer time period. Conclusion: These findings provide additional evidence that NLCs have great promise as a drug delivery technology for the treatment of hypertension, just as they show promise as a controlled release formulation for the treatment of LCH.

A novel quantitative method for the determination of 10B-carrier boronophenylalanine in rat plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS and comparison with ICP-MS

L-Boronophenylalanine (BPA), a widely used 10B carrier for clinical boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), was quantified in rat plasma through a simple, effective and stable ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method. Chromatographic separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) column with the mobile phase of 0.5 % formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile. For the detector, the m/z ion pairs used for quantification were 209.1→120.1 for BPA and 210.1→120.1 for internal standard in a positive mode by electrospray ionization (ESI) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The method is specific and robust with rare affection by endogenous substances in the matrix. A good linear relationship was observed over 80–80000 ng/mL (r2 = 0.9993). The values of inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision were within the acceptance criteria of ±15 %. BPA was found to be stable under different experimental conditions. This developed method was successfully applied on a pharmacokinetic experiment on Sprague-Dawley rats (intravenous injection, 125 mg/kg) and a comparation between UHPLC-MS/MS and ICP-MS for BPA was carried out.

Elevated Circulating Levels of Gut Microbe-Derived Trimethylamine N-Oxide Are Associated with Systemic Sclerosis.

Background/Objectives: Alterations in fecal microbial communities in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are common, but the clinical significance of this observation is poorly understood. Gut microbial production of trimethylamine (TMA), and its conversion by the host to trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), has clinical and mechanistic links to cardiovascular and renal diseases. Direct provision of TMAO has been shown to promote fibrosis and vascular injury, hallmarks of SSc. We sought to determine levels of TMAO and related metabolites in SSc patients and investigate associations between the metabolite levels with disease features. Methods: This is an observational case:control study. Adults with SSc (n = 200) and non-SSc controls (n = 400) were matched for age, sex, indices of renal function, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Serum TMAO, choline, betaine, carnitine, γ-butyrobetaine, and crotonobetaine were measured using stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Median TMAO concentration was higher (p = 0.020) in SSc patients (3.31 [interquartile range 2.18, 5.23] µM) relative to controls (2.85 [IQR 1.88, 4.54] µM). TMAO was highest among obese and male SSc participants compared to all other groups. Following adjustment for sex, BMI, age, race, and eGFR in a quantile regression model, elevated TMAO levels remained associated with SSc at each quantile of TMAO. Conclusions: Patients with SSc have increased circulating levels of TMAO independent of comorbidities including age, sex, renal function, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. As a potentially modifiable factor, further studies examining the link between TMAO and SSc disease severity and course are warranted.

Numerical evidence for the existence of three different stable liquid water structures as indicated by local order parameter.

Structures of liquid water are controversial not only in supercooled polyamorphism but also in stable bulk liquids in the high temperature and pressure range. Several experimental studies in bulk liquid have assumed the existence of three different liquid water structures. If indeed the three liquid water structures are different, they should be clearly distinguished by some measure other than density that characterizes the difference in structural order. In this study, whether the three different bulk liquid water structures are real or not is numerically verified based on molecular simulations using a reliable water molecular model. Since these liquid water structures have been suggested to be related to three different crystal structures (i.e., ice Ih, III, and V), liquid structures are sampled from the vicinity of the ice Ih-liquid coexistence point, the ice III-V-liquid triple point, and the ice V-VI-liquid triple point, respectively. An attempt is made to introduce local order parameters (LOPs) as an indicator to distinguish these structures. A fast and exhaustive LOP search is performed by the molecular assembly structure learning package for Identifying order parameters. The selected LOP distinguishes the molecular structures of three different stable liquid waters with high accuracy, providing numerical evidence that these structural orders differ from each other. Furthermore, regions of the liquid water structures are drawn on a phase diagram using the LOP, demonstrating their consistency with experimental studies.

Rigidity‐Driven Structural Isomers in the NaCl–Ga2S3 System: Implications for Energy Storage

Alternative energy sources require the search for innovative materials with promising functionalities. Systems with unusual chemical properties represent an insufficiently explored domain, concealing unexpected features. Using diffraction and Raman spectroscopy over a wide temperature range, supported by first‐principles simulations, a rare phenomenon is unveiled: phase‐dependent chemical interactions between binary components in the NaCl–Ga2S3 system. In this unique occurrence, previously intact binary crystalline species transform upon melting into mixed liquid structural isomers, forming bonds with new partners. The chemical combinatorics appears to be fully reversible for stable crystals and liquids. Despite this, rapidly frozen glasses out of thermodynamic equilibrium remain in a metastable isomeric state, offering remarkable properties, particularly a high room‐temperature Na+ conductivity, comparable to the best sodium halide superionic conductors and therefore encouraging for sodium solid‐state batteries and energy applications. A rigidity paradigm is responsible for the observed phenomenon, as the extremely constrained Ga2S3 crystal lattice does not survive viscous flow, breaking up at a short‐range level. The removal of rigidity constraints and dense packing leads to a significant increase in empty space, which is the origin of high sodium diffusivity. Broadly, the rigidity‐driven structural isomerism opens up an inspiring path to the discovery of atypical materials.

Nanoscale inhomogeneities in undercooled benzoic acid: A molecular dynamics study

The dynamics of undercooled organic liquids is very complex and still far from being fully understood. A major problem is the lack of general algorithms to recognize nanoscale inhomogeneities that exploit different inner structures with respect to the bulk liquid. We show that a geometry-independent energy criterion, coupled with the requirement that the cluster must survive for times longer than thermal fluctuations, can be consistently used to individuate persistent and recognizable (meta)stable inhomogeneities or, possibly, subcritical clusters in benzoic acid. The algorithm applies to all organic liquids, regardless of their ability to form hydrogen bonds. We show that undercooled benzoic acid becomes granular with respect to the thermodynamically stable liquid, hosting medium size inhomogeneities composed of up to 17 molecules for durations on the order of hundreds of picoseconds. These correlate with the predicted increase of density and viscosity upon undercooling. Most important, the inner structure of these inhomogeneities is intermediate between the liquid and the crystal. Stacking interactions, analogue to those present in the crystal, begin to develop in the largest persistent clusters. The pros and cons of the method are discussed in the context of non-classical nucleation theories.

Evaluating the potential of stabilised betacyanins from fermented red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) drink: Sustainable colouration and antioxidant enhancement of stirred yoghurt

Nowadays, the wide use of synthetic food colourant, Allura Red has elevated negative perceptions among consumers. As food industry players strive towards satisfying consumers’ demands, exploring new sustainable natural colourants with multifunctional properties (like betacyanins) has emerged as a novel concept. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a functional fruit drink, Improved-FRDFD-dH2O [contained betacyanins of fermented red dragon fruit drink stabilised by 0.4 % xanthan gum and 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose hydrocolloid mixture solution and 0.2 % citric acid] to serve as a sustainable and stable functional liquid colourant in yoghurt. The 8-week refrigerated storage study revealed the betacyanins content in the yoghurt added with E162 experienced the lowest stabilities in terms of betacyanins content (>30 % degradation), viscosity (>15 % reduction), pH, LAB viability and antioxidant activity. In contrast, the Improved-FRDFD-dH2O was able to maintain the yoghurt's viscosity, syneresis, pH and LAB viability without any significant change. The betacyanins of Improved-FRDFD-dH2O had excellent stability in the yoghurt (<5 % degradation), showing only a minimal difference (ΔE<1.5) in total colour changes and being able to retain >86 % of the initial antioxidant activity by the end of storage. These findings support the Improved-FRDFD-dH2O as a sustainable functional colourant with antioxidant properties for producing beneficial yoghurt.

Stable hierarchical ionic liquid nanochannels for highly efficient CO2 adsorption, separation and conversion

Constructing stable nanochannels and nanoconfined environments for ionic liquids holds significant application value in gas separation, ion channels, and related fields. The functional polyionic liquid synthesized in this study exhibits a controllable assembly structure and demonstrates liquid crystal properties. Through heating and water treatment, the polyionic liquids crosslink to form multi-hierarchical nanopores, including sub-nanochannels with pore sizes similar to CO2, without the need for a catalyst. The specific surface area and pore size of the polyionic liquid network (PILC) were adjusted by regulating the self-assembly of polyionic liquids in water. The unique PILC, combining ionic liquid nanopores and liquid crystal structure properties, shows high CO2 adsorption performance and excellent CO2/N2 selectivities, surpassing commonly reported ionic liquid porous materials. Furthermore, PILC-2 exhibits good catalytic performance for CO2 cycloaddition, and its catalytic activity and selectivity did not significantly decrease after five cycles. This study successfully introduces hierarchical ionic liquid nanochannels into porous networks without involving any inorganic ordered nanomaterials. This provides a simple and effective approach for the highly selective adsorption and separation of CO2, as well as for the preparation of catalytic materials.

Functional Group-Driven Competing Mechanism in Electrochemical Reaction and Adsorption/Desorption Processes toward High-Capacity Aluminum-Porphyrin Batteries.

Nonaqueous organic aluminum batteries are considered as promising high-safety energy storage devices due to stable ionic liquid electrolytes and Al metals. However, the stability and capacity of organic positive electrodes are limited by their inherent high solubility and low active organic molecules. To address such issues, here porphyrin compounds with rigid molecular structures present stable and reversible capability in electrochemically storing AlCl2 +. Comparison between the porphyrin molecules with electron-donating groups (TPP-EDG) and with electron-withdrawing groups (TPP-EWG) suggests that EDG is responsible for increasing both highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels, resulting in decreased redox potentials. On the other hand, EWG is associated with decreasing both HOMO and LUMO energy levels, leading to promoted redox potentials. EDG and EWG play critical roles in regulating electron density of porphyrin π bond and electrochemical energy storage kinetics behavior. The competitive mechanism between electrochemical redox reaction and de/adsorption processes suggests that TPP-OCH3 delivers the highest specific capacity ~171.8 mAh g-1, approaching a record in the organic Al batteries.

Functional Group‐Driven Competing Mechanism in Electrochemical Reaction and Adsorption/Desorption Processes toward High‐Capacity Aluminum‐Porphyrin Batteries

AbstractNonaqueous organic aluminum batteries are considered as promising high‐safety energy storage devices due to stable ionic liquid electrolytes and Al metals. However, the stability and capacity of organic positive electrodes are limited by their inherent high solubility and low active organic molecules. To address such issues, here porphyrin compounds with rigid molecular structures present stable and reversible capability in electrochemically storing AlCl2+. Comparison between the porphyrin molecules with electron‐donating groups (TPP‐EDG) and with electron‐withdrawing groups (TPP‐EWG) suggests that EDG is responsible for increasing both highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels, resulting in decreased redox potentials. On the other hand, EWG is associated with decreasing both HOMO and LUMO energy levels, leading to promoted redox potentials. EDG and EWG play critical roles in regulating electron density of porphyrin π bond and electrochemical energy storage kinetics behavior. The competitive mechanism between electrochemical redox reaction and de/adsorption processes suggests that TPP‐OCH3 delivers the highest specific capacity ~171.8 mAh g−1, approaching a record in the organic Al batteries.

Effect of Triterpenoid Saponins as Foaming Agent on Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Foam Concrete.

Geopolymer foam concrete (GFC), an emerging thermal insulation material known for its environmentally friendly and low-carbon attributes, has gained prominence for its use in bolstering building energy efficiency. A critical challenge in GFC production is foam destabilization by the alkaline environment in which foam is supersaturated with salt. In this study, GFC was prepared by using triterpene saponin (TS), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as blowing agents, with fly ash as the precursor and calcium carbide slag (CA) combined with Glauber's salt (GS, Na2SO4 ≥ 99%) as the activator. The effect of GFC on mechanical properties was analyzed by examining its fluidity, pore structure, dry density, and compressive strength. The results show that TS has a stable liquid film capable of adapting to the adverse effects of salt supersaturation and alkaline environments. TS is highly stable in the GFC matrix, and so the corresponding pore size is small, and the connectivity is low in the hardened GFC. In addition, the hydration products of GFC exhibit different morphologies depending on the surfactant used. TS has better water retention due to hydrogen bonding, which facilitates the hydration process.

Highly Stable Liquid Metal‐Based Electronic Textiles by Adaptive Interfacial Interactions

Highly Stable Liquid Metal‐Based Electronic Textiles by Adaptive Interfacial Interactions

Electrically‐Triggered Oblique Helicoidal Cholesterics with a Single‐Layer Architecture for Next‐Generation Full‐Color Reflective Displays

AbstractElectrically‐induced oblique helicoidal cholesterics (ChOH) are attractive for use in reflective displays due to tunable photonic band gap (PBG) in a broad spectral range and natural eye‐friendly feature. However, the lack of a stable liquid crystal (LC) material system with a wide temperature range and unknown driver architecture hinder the implementation of the ChOH‐based reflective displays. Here, a prototype for a full‐color reflective display device based on electrically‐tunable ChOH‐LC is demonstrated. In the comparison of ChOH‐S1, S2 and S3 samples, the electric‐field‐induced ChOH in the ChOH‐S3 exhibits intense Bragg reflection and a tunable PBG in the extended temperature range from 19.5 °C to 30 °C. Particularly, the resulting device exhibits a lower driving voltage and a relatively larger color gamut for the full‐color reflective displays. On this basis, the display patterns with variable colors are demonstrated via the direct addressing mode. Furthermore, a proof‐of‐concept of the full‐color reflective display is demonstrated with red‐green‐blue pixeled images serving as the active panels. Ultimately, by regulating the electric field strength dependent on the ambient temperature, a stable and vivid effect of the ChOH device on the actual environment is shown. This work provides valuable insight for the development of ChOH‐based reflective displays.

Evolution of cracks in laser powder bed fused AA2024 and its processing parameter dependence

Hot cracking is one of the most hideous issues in the fabrication of high-strength aluminum alloys via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). This study investigated the evolution of hot cracking in LPBFed AA2024 and explored its processing parameter dependence. Results showed that most cracks distribute along continuous eutectic phases residing at grain boundaries. At the last stage of solidification, the eutectic composition with low melting point exists as a liquid film, which can be easily ruptured under stress caused by thermal contraction. This leads to the formation of cracks along grain boundaries. This cracking process is also related to the misorientation angle of grains, where higher angle results in more stable liquid films. Furthermore, increasing the laser power transforms the grain structure from fine columnar grains to coarse columnar grains, which eventually transform to a mixture of columnar and equiaxed grains. This grain structure transition results in the decrease followed by increase of critical stress for the rupture of liquid film. On the other hand, decreasing the scanning speed increases the eutectic phase content, which could enhance the permeability of mushy zone and thus reduce the cracking susceptibility. These findings could provide guidance for the fabrication of crack-free high-strength aluminum alloys via LPBF.

Quantification of amino acids secreted by yeast cells by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Monitoring the levels of amino acids (AAs) in biological cell cultures provides key information to understand the regulation of cell growth and metabolism. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can naturally excrete AAs, making accurate detection and determination of amino acid levels within the cultivation medium pivotal for gaining insights into this still poorly known process. Given that most AAs lack ultraviolet (UV) chromophores or fluorophores necessary for UV and fluorescence detection, derivatization is commonly utilized to enhance amino acid detectability via UV absorption. Unfortunately, this can lead to drawbacks such as derivative instability, labor intensiveness, and poor reproducibility. Hence, this study aimed to develop an accurate and stable hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analytical method for the separation of all 20 AAs within a short 17-min run time. The method provides satisfactory linearity and sensitivity for all analytes. The method has been validated for intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect, and stability. It has been successfully applied to quantify 20 AAs in samples of yeast cultivation medium. This endeavor seeks to enhance our comprehension of amino acid profiles in the context of cell growth and metabolism within yeast cultivation media.

Hyperbranched, Functional Polyethoxysiloxanes: Tunable Molecular Building Blocks.

Functional silanes are multifaceted cross-linkers, compatibilizers, coupling agents, and surface modifiers. Herein, we present organofunctional polysiloxane building blocks that offer great versatility in terms of molecular weight, degree of condensation, and the choice and loading of organic substituent groups. The organofunctional polyethoxysilanes (funPEOS) are prepared in a one-pot, two-step process: synthesis of the PEOS carrier/substrate, followed by grafting a functional silane "shell", both based on condensation with acetic anhydride. The reaction was optimized at the lab scale and scaled up to a 7 L reactor. The acetylation, condensation, and hyperbranched structure of the carrier were confirmed by 29Si NMR, while 29Si-29Si 2D INADEQUATE NMR provides strong evidence for the grafting of functional silanes onto the carrier (Q-T coupling). IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy demonstrate that the functional groups remain intact. The molar mass can be tailored by stoichiometric control of the acetic anhydride to silane monomer ratio (M n 3500-20,000 g/mol). The compounds are stable organic liquids with a long shelf life. Selected applications are presented: scratch-resistant coatings with water contact angles of ∼90°, stable water emulsions, and surfactant-free, mesoporous silica foams.

Improved Reversible and Selective SO2 Absorption by a Stable Phosphonium Carboxylate Ionic Liquid

Improved Reversible and Selective SO₂ Absorption by a Stable Phosphonium Carboxylate Ionic Liquid

Human Activity Recording Based on Skin-Strain-Actuated Microfluidic Pumping in Asymmetrically Designed Micro-Channels.

The capability to record data in passive, image-based wearable sensors can simplify data readouts and eliminate the requirement for the integration of electronic components on the skin. Here, we developed a skin-strain-actuated microfluidic pump (SAMP) that utilizes asymmetric aspect ratio channels for the recording of human activity in the fluidic domain. An analytical model describing the SAMP's operation mechanism as a wearable microfluidic device was established. Fabrication of the SAMP was achieved using soft lithography from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Benchtop experimental results and theoretical predictions were shown to be in good agreement. The SAMP was mounted on human skin and experiments conducted on volunteer subjects demonstrated the SAMP's capability to record human activity for hundreds of cycles in the fluidic domain through the observation of a stable liquid meniscus. Proof-of-concept experiments further revealed that the SAMP could quantify a single wrist activity repetition or distinguish between three different shoulder activities.

Pandemic Unveils Transportation Sector's Financial Resilience

This study investigates the financial performance of transportation and logistics companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during the period of 2017-2022, specifically focusing on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Analyzing key financial ratios including Return On Assets (ROA), Current Ratio (CR), Debt To Equity Ratio (DER), and Total Asset Turnover (TATO), the research aims to identify differences in performance before and during the pandemic. Utilizing a comparative research design and employing the Wilcoxon signed rank test for data analysis, findings reveal a significant decrease in Total Asset Turnover during the pandemic, indicating decreased asset efficiency. However, no significant differences were observed in ROA, CR, and DER, suggesting relatively stable profitability, liquidity, and solvency ratios despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. These results offer valuable insights for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors, aiding in strategic decision-making and resilience planning for future crises. Highlight: Examines financial performance of transportation companies during Covid-19 pandemic. Significant decrease in Total Asset Turnover (TATO) during pandemic. Stability observed in ROA, CR, and DER despite pandemic challenges. Keyword: Transportation industry, Financial performance, Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), Comparative research.

Xylitol is prothrombotic and associated with cardiovascular risk.

The pathways and metabolites that contribute to residual cardiovascular disease risks are unclear. Low-calorie sweeteners are widely used sugar substitutes in processed foods with presumed health benefits. Many low-calorie sweeteners are sugar alcohols that also are produced endogenously, albeit at levels over 1000-fold lower than observed following consumption as a sugar substitute. Untargeted metabolomics studies were performed on overnight fasting plasma samples in a discovery cohort (n = 1157) of sequential stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic cardiac evaluations; subsequent stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses were performed on an independent, non-overlapping validation cohort (n = 2149). Complementary isolated human platelet, platelet-rich plasma, whole blood, and animal model studies examined the effect of xylitol on platelet responsiveness and thrombus formation in vivo. Finally, an intervention study was performed to assess the effects of xylitol consumption on platelet function in healthy volunteers (n = 10). In initial untargeted metabolomics studies (discovery cohort), circulating levels of a polyol tentatively assigned as xylitol were associated with incident (3-year) major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) risk. Subsequent stable isotope dilution LC-MS/MS analyses (validation cohort) specific for xylitol (and not its structural isomers) confirmed its association with incident MACE risk [third vs. first tertile adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.57 (1.12-2.21), P < .01]. Complementary mechanistic studies showed xylitol-enhanced multiple indices of platelet reactivity and in vivo thrombosis formation at levels observed in fasting plasma. In interventional studies, consumption of a xylitol-sweetened drink markedly raised plasma levels and enhanced multiple functional measures of platelet responsiveness in all subjects. Xylitol is associated with incident MACE risk. Moreover, xylitol both enhanced platelet reactivity and thrombosis potential in vivo. Further studies examining the cardiovascular safety of xylitol are warranted.