Rapid and Sensitive HPTLC Method for Determination of Epalrestat in Human Plasma

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Epalrestat is a new drug for diabetic neuropathy. A new, simple, rapid very sensitive, and accurate high performance thin-layer...     

Encapsulation of cyclodextrin complexed simvastatin in chitosan nanocarriers: A novel technique for oral delivery

The purpose of the present work was to design and investigate the potential of novel hydroxylpropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and chitosan nanocarriers (NCs) for effective delivery of model, poorly water soluble drug simvastatin. The prepared system was characterized for particle size, particle size distribution (PDI), zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetery, x-ray diffraction, encapsulation efficiency and drug release studies. The results revealed that among the selected ratios of tripolyphosphate/chitosan, ratio 1:4 and 1:5 proved to be optimum in terms of particle size, particle distribution and drug release profile. The average size of nanoparticles increased from 516 to 617 and 464 to 562 nm for ratio 1:4 and 1:5 with increase in drug/HP-β-CD amount. To assess interactions and whether the simvastatin was incorporated in the NCs in its crystalline or amorphous form DSC and XRD were performed. These results suggest that the encapsulation process produces a marked decrease in crystallinity of simvastatin and/or confers to a nearly amorphous state of drug in NCs. Results reveled that with increase in the amount of HP-β-CD/drug the final loading of the NCs increased due to increased solubilization of simvastatin in the presence of HP-β-CD. The in vitro release profile of prepared NCs showed initial fast release (burst effect) followed by a delayed release pattern. In conclusion, these nanocarriers constitute a novel and efficient system for encapsulation and oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs.     

Morphology of PbI2 Crystals Grown by Gel Method

The single crystals of Lead Iodide have been grown by gel method. X‐ray diffraction studies on these crystals shows that the lattice parameters of grown crystals are almost matching with reported values. The results of detailed studies made on the microstructures of Lead Iodide crystals, have been described. The observations of the faces of these crystals revealed that they have grown by layer as well as spiral mechanisms. The probable role of these parameters is explained along with the surface microstructures on these various shaped crystals.     

Viscoelastic behavior of polymerizing systems

Experimental data of the dynamic viscoelastic properties, storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G′′), and phase shift (δ) as well as of the viscosity, η, are reported for the polymerization of a free radical polymerization system (methyl methacrylate) which exhibits the Trommsdorff effect. A rheometer-reactor assembly developed in our laboratory is used for this purpose. It is observed that in the early stages of reaction, data lie in the terminal zone. As the polymerization progresses, the Trommsdorff effect leads to a sharp increase in both the polymer concentration and the weight average molecular weight, and the viscoelastic properties then lie in the entanglement zone. A modulus crossover point (when G′ = G′′) is identified that could be used as an identification of the point where the Trommsdorff effect starts assuming significance. Received: 17 September 1998 Accepted: 9 December 1998     

Comparative qualitative analysis of different classes of compounds in selected Australian and Indian Eucalyptus and Corymbia species: a convenient de-replication method for the eucalypts

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Eucalypts are a large group of woody trees with about 900 taxa in 3 genera: Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora. The secondary...     

Synthesis of Naturally Occurring Pyranonaphthoquinones: (±) 9-Demethoxyeleutherin, (±) 9-Demethoxyisoeleutherin,and Pentalongin via Nef Reaction

The article describes alternative method for the synthesis of (±) 9-demethoxyeleutherin and (±) 9-demethoxyisoeleutherin, the analogs of naturally occurring pyranonaphthoquinones antibiotics eleutherin and isoeleutherin. This methodology has provided the target molecules using a shorter route involving five simple chemical transformations with Nef reaction as a key step. All the intermediates and target molecules were completely characterized by spectral techniques and confirmed by comparison with literature data. Further we have extended Nef protocol toward formal synthesis of naturally occuring pyranonaphthoquinone pentalongin. We accomplished synthesis of of 2-(1,4-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)acetic acid devoid of very toxic cyanide intermediates, which has been converted into pentalongin.     

Measurement of the Dynamic Bulk and Shear Response of Soft Human Tissues

Traditionally, Kolsky bars are used to study the dynamic response of hard materials in uniaxial compression, tension or torsion. We present modifications to the technique that allow loading of a soft tissue specimen in (a) hydrostatic compression and (b) simple shear. The first modification is designed to determine the pressure vs. volume behavior of each material, and thence to extract a measure of the dynamic compressibility or equivalently of the bulk modulus. The second modification is designed to develop the shear stress versus shear strain behavior for a near-simple shear experiment. The critically important questions of the proper acquisition of human tissue samples and protocols for appropriate experimentation have also been addressed. The experimental techniques and the results are discussed in detail and the results compared to finite element simulations. We present examples of the dynamic response of typical tissue simulants as well as human liver and stomach tissues.