Characterization of Chitosan/Alginate Self-Assembled Nanoparticles as a Protein Carrier

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the polymeric ratios on the characteristics of chitosan/alginate (ch/alg) self-assembled nanoparticles and their potential as protein delivery vehicle. The nanoparticles were prepared using proper mixing of polymers in presence or absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a protein model. Three formulations of nanoparticles comprising ch/alg ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 were prepared. Size, shape and zeta potential of the formulations were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nanosizer instruments. FTIR, and differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) studies were performed to investigate polymer-polymer or polymer-protein interactions. Release profiles and entrapment efficiencies of the nanoparticles were determined by calorimetric technique using appropriate techniques. Entrapment efficiency was 70% for ch/alg ratio of 1:1, 65% for 1:2, and 60% for 2:1. The z-average size of the nanoparticles were 403, 205, and 318 nm for ch/alg ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2, respectively. Average zeta potentials were ?47, +15, ?25 mV for 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 as well. Considering the favorable features required for protein delivery systems, ch/alg (1:1) due to its smallest size, highest loading, and most homogenous shape was regarded as the best ratio.     

Preparation of anionic polymerized polyamide 6 using internal mixer: The effect of styrene maleic anhydride as a macroactivator

The effect of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) on the anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam was investigated. Poly-caprolactam (PA6) was prepared at three levels of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the microactivator and three levels of SMA in an internal mixer at 200 °C. Then, the polymerization characteristics obtained from the mixing torque curves were compared. With increasing HDI content, reaction time decreased and the reaction rate increased. Final torque, which is attributed to the molecular weight of the synthesized polymer, showed a peak in the average level of HDI. In the presence of SMA, final torque had the same trend, but reaction time increased and reaction rate decreased. Monomer conversion increased by raising both the HDI and SMA contents. In solvent separation by formic acid, samples were found to behave differently. Anionic polymerized polyamides with no SMA formed a uniform and transparent solution, while SMA-containing samples turned into a canescent solution having a colloidal suspension part. The remaining small amount of SMA after solvent separation proved the attribution of SMA in the reaction.FTIR spectra of samples indicated that SMA acts as a macroactivator in the anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam. Also, samples containing SMA showed only one glass transition temperature which was higher than that of samples without SMA, suggesting the existence of a copolymer of SMA and PA6, which raises the Tg.     

Ciprofloxacin Loaded Alginate/Chitosan and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles,Preparation, and Characterization

The aim of the present study was to develop controlled drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology. Two different nanocarriers were selected, chitosan-alginate nanoparticles as hydrophilic and solid lipid nanoparticles as lipophilic carriers. Nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by evaluating particle size, zeta potential, SEM pictures, DSC thermograms, percentage of drug loading efficiency, and drug release profile. The particle size of SLNs and Chi/Alg nanoparticles was 291 ± 5 and 520 ± 16. Drug loading efficiency of Chi/Alg and SLN particles were 68.98 ± 5.5% and 88 ± 4.5%. The drug release was sustained with chitosan-alginate system for about 45 hours whereas for SLNs >98% of the drug was released in 2 hours. Release profile did not change significantly after freeze drying of particles using cryoprotector. Results suggest that under in vitro condition chitosan/alginate systems can act as promising carriers for ciprofloxacin and may be used as an alternative system in sustained delivery of ciprofloxacin.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel environmentally friendly shape memory polyurethanes based on poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diol/castor oil mixtures

A new category of polyurethane plastics (PUs) was obtained from poly (ε-caprolactone) diol/castor oil mixture as a dual-component of their soft segment and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the hard segment. The main aim of this study was to explore the effect of castor oil on content chemical structure, dynamic and mechanical properties and low temperature heat induced shape memory of the obtained polyurethane system. The chemical structure of samples was confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was carried out to study thermal transitions of synthesized polyurethanes. At 50 mol % of oil, the polyurethane showed the highest enhancement in tensile strength (54%) and Young’s modulus (23%) compared to PU-0. The PU containing 50 mol % of oil was nearly recovered by 99%.     

Investigation of polyethylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride presence as a compatibilizer on various properties of nanocomposite films based on polyethylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol/ nanoclay

High oxygen barrier films were prepared based on low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/ nanoclay and polyethylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride (LDPE‐g‐MA) as a compatibilizer. Box–Behnken statistical experiment design methodology was employed to study the effects of nanoclay, LDPE‐g‐MA, and EVOH presence and their contents on various properties of the final films. The R² parameter varied between 0.89 and 0.99 for all the obtained responses. The morphology of the samples was evaluated. Results of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) test indicated that the addition of EVOH up to 30 wt% to neat LDPE can decrease oxygen permeability significantly. The addition of nanoclay also decreased the permeability of resulting films but, LDPE‐g‐MA reduced the permeability of the films only at an optimal content. Elastic modulus was increased with the addition of nanoclay, EVOH, and LDPE‐g‐MA to the matrix. An increase in EVOH content in the samples improved the tensile strength. Effect of nanoclay on tensile strength was highly dependent on the presence of a compatibilizer. The addition of compatibilizer to the samples and increasing its content enhanced the tensile strength of the specimens. Incorporation of nanoclay, EVOH, and LDPE‐g‐MA to the LDPE matrix and increasing the amount of these components in the samples led to higher storage modulus, zero shear rate viscosity, and shear thinning exponent, but, lowered the terminal slope and the frequency of intersection point of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″). The only exception was that EVOH increment resulted in a lower shear thinning exponent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper‐Catalyzed N‐Arylation of Polysubstituted Pyridines Synthesized by the Novel Reaction of N‐Sulfonyl Ketenimine and Malononitrile‐Trichloroacetonitrile Adduct

In this study, we synthesized some new derivatives of N‐(4‐amino‐5‐cyano‐6‐(trichloromethyl)pyridin‐2‐yl)alkyl sulfonamides in the presence of a copper catalyst. A one‐pot reaction system was used, and four components participated in the process. These four components were sulfonyl azides, terminal alkynes, malononitrile, and trichloroacetonitrile. The reaction rate was increased by the use of copper (I) iodide as the catalyst and tetrahydrofuran was used as the solvent. We achieved the final compounds in moderate to good yields. Moreover, we converted “NH₂” side group to N‐aryl by the use of various aryl halide analogs in acetonitrile as the solvent, under mild reaction and at the room temperature.