Development of Sustained Release Baricitinib Loaded Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles with Improved Oral Bioavailability

Baricitinib (BTB) is an orally administered Janus kinase inhibitor, therapeutically used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Recently it has also been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. In this study, four different BTB-loaded lipids (stearin)-polymer (Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)) hybrid nanoparticles (B-PLN1 to B-PLN4) were prepared by the single-step nanoprecipitation method. Next, they were characterised in terms of physicochemical properties such as particle size, zeta potential (ζP), polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL). Based on preliminary evaluation, the B-PLN4 was regarded as the optimised formulation with particle size (272 ± 7.6 nm), PDI (0.225), ζP (−36.5 ± 3.1 mV), %EE (71.6 ± 1.5%) and %DL (2.87 ± 0.42%). This formulation (B-PLN4) was further assessed concerning morphology, in vitro release, and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats. The in vitro release profile exhibited a sustained release pattern well-fitted by the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model (R² = 0.879). The in vivo pharmacokinetic data showed an enhancement (2.92 times more) in bioavailability in comparison to the normal suspension of pure BTB. These data concluded that the formulated lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles could be a promising drug delivery option to enhance the bioavailability of BTB. Overall, this study provides a scientific basis for future studies on the entrapment efficiency of lipid-polymer hybrid systems as promising carriers for overcoming pharmacokinetic limitations.     

Development and validation of HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of piperine and guggulsterones in compound Unani formulation (tablets) and a nanoreservoir system

An attempt has been made to develop and validate a simultaneous HPLC method for novel approach of drug release via oil‐in‐water (o/w) nanoemulsion formulation and Habb‐e‐Khardal Unani tablet containing piperine and guggul sterones E and Z as main ingredients. Nanoemulsion was prepared by titration method using sefsol‐218 as an oily phase, cremophor‐EL as a surfactant, transcutol as a co‐surfactant and distilled water as an aqueous phase. The formulation was optimized on the basis of thermodynamic stability and dispersibilty test. The nanoformulation was evaluated for particle size, surface morphology, electrical conductivity and viscosity determination. The in vitro dissolution was carried out by dialysis bag method. Drugs were quantified using an HPLC method developed in‐house with a C₁₈ column as stationary phase and acetonitrile and water as mobile phase at λ_max of 240 nm. The optimized formulation showed higher drug release, lower droplet size and less viscosity as compared with the conventional Habb‐e‐Khardal Unani tablet. The present study illustrated the potential of nanoemulsion dosage form in improving biopharmaceutic performance of piperine and guggul sterone. The HPLC method was also found to be quite sufficient for the routine quality control of formulations containing piperine and guggul sterone E and Z as ingredients and also for in vitro drug release studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of Microcracks on Flow and Storage Capacities of Gas Shales at Core Scale

Transport in Porous Media - This work investigates the interplay of gas transport in the microcracks and matrix of shale using He and $$\hbox {CO}_2$$ via transient upstream pressure-pulse-decay...     

A terahertz polarization insensitive dual band metamaterial absorber

Metamaterial absorbers have attracted considerable attention for applications in the terahertz range. In this Letter, we report the design, fabrication, and characterization of a terahertz dual band metamaterial absorber that shows two distinct absorption peaks with high absorption. By manipulating the periodic patterned structures as well as the dielectric layer thickness of the metal-dielectric-metal structure, significantly high absorption can be obtained at specific resonance frequencies. Finite-difference time-domain modeling is used to design the structure of the absorber. The fabricated devices have been characterized using a Fourier transform IR spectrometer. The experimental results show two distinct absorption peaks at 2.7 and 5.2?THz, which are in good agreement with the simulation. The absorption magnitudes at 2.7 and 5.2?THz are 0.68 and 0.74, respectively.     

Tailoring the optical and magnetic properties of La-BaM hexaferrites by Ni substitution

We investigate the impact of Ni insertion on the structural,optical,and magnetic properties of Ba_0.8La_0.2Fe_12-xNi_xO₁₉hexaferrites(Ni substituted La-BaM hexaferrites).Samples were prepared using the conventional co-precipitation method and sintered at 1000℃for 4 hours to assist the crystallization process.An analysis of the structure of the samples was carried out using an x-ray diffraction(XRD)spectrometer.The M-type hexagonal structure of all the samples was confirmed using XRD spectra.The lattice parameters a and c were found to be in the ranges of 5.8925±0.001 nm–5.8952±0.001 nm and 23.2123±0.001 nm–23.2219±0.001 nm,respectively.The M-type hexagonal nature of the prepared samples was also indicated by the presence of corresponding FT-IR bands and Raman modes in the FT-IR and Raman spectra,respectively.EDX results confirmed the successful synthesis of the samples according to the required stoichiometric ratio.A UV-vis spectrometer was used to record the absorption spectra of the prepared samples in the wavelength range of 200 nm–1100 nm.The optical energy bandgap of the samples was found to be in the range of 1.21 eV–3.39 eV.The M–H loops of the samples were measured at room temperature at an applied magnetic field range of 0 kOe–60 kOe.A high saturation magnetization of 99.92 emu/g was recorded in the sample with x=0 at a microwave operating frequency of 22.2 GHz.This high value of saturation magnetization is due to the substitution of La3+ions at the spin-up(12k,2a,and 2b)sites.The Ni substitution is proven to be a potential candidate for the tuning of the optical and magnetic parameters of M-type hexaferrites.Therefore,we suggest that the prepared samples are suitable for use in magneto-optic applications.     

An efficient synthesis of pyrazole chalcones under solvent free conditions at room temperature

An easy,safe,solvent free and effective method for the synthesis of pyrazole-substituted chalcones has been achieved by grinding pyrazole aldehydes and acetophenones in the presence of activated barium hydroxide(C-200) in high yield within short span of time.All reactions were carried out just by grinding the two reactants in the presence of activated barium hydroxide(C-200). Results are also compared with sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.     

Indirect spectrophotometric determination of chromium(VI)

A new simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of chromium(VI) is established. It relies upon the oxidation of iron(II) with the titled ion, in acidic medium, to form iron(III) which is complexed with tiron to form a stable blue color with maximum absorption at 650 nm. Adherence to Beer's law is observed in the range 10–100 μg of chromium(VI) per 25 ml, with a molar absorptivity of 5.6 × 10³ liters mol^?1 cm^?1, sensitivity index of 0.0093 μg cm^?1, relative error of ?5.0 to +0.3%, and relative standard deviation of 0.3–4.0%, depending on the concentration level. Furthermore, the reaction needs neither temperature control nor an extraction step.     

Inhibition efficiency and adsorption mechanism of 4-aminobenzoic acid for copper corrosion in nitric acid medium: a combined experimental and theoretical investigation

Structural Chemistry - A combined experimental and theoretical study is presented to predict and analyze the inhibition efficiency and adsorption mechanism of 4-aminobenzoic acid molecule for...