Phase Separation Phenomenon in Non-ionic Surfactant TX-114 Micellar Solutions: Effect of Added Surfactants and Polymers

Clouding (or phase separation) in non-ionic surfactants is a well-known phenomenon. Clouding is to be avoided in some applications whereas in others it is preferred. Herein the results of CP (cloud point—the temperature at which solution separates into two phases) measurements of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) in the presence of surfactants and polymers are presented. Cationic and nonionic surfactants, in the absence and presence of the quaternary salt tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB), increase the CP of TX-114. Anionic surfactants, in the absence of TBAB, increase the CP; in the presence of TBAB, these surfactants decrease the CP. Polymers of PEG and PVP series have been found to decrease the CP. The results are discussed by taking into consideration the nature of the added surfactants and polymers.     

Effects of pharmaceutical excipients on cloud points of amphiphilic drugs

The clouding behavior, i.e., formation of phase separation at elevated temperature (the temperature being known as cloud point (CP)), of three amphiphilic drugs, amitriptyline (AMT), clomipramine (CLP) and imipramine (IMP) hydrochlorides in the presence of various additives, like cationic surfactants (conventional and gemini), nonionic surfactants, bile salts, anionic hydrotropes, sodium salts of fatty acids and cyclodextrin has been investigated. These additives are generally used as drug delivery systems. The drugs used are tricyclic antidepressants. All the surfactants increase the CP of mixed micelles formed by cationic (conventional and gemini) and nonionic surfactants. Hydrotropes, bile salts and fatty acid salts, when added in low concentrations, increase the CP, whereas at high concentrations, they decrease it. β-Cyclodextrin behaves as simple sugar and decreases the CP of the drug solutions.     

水溶液中两亲药物盐酸异丙嗪-表面活性剂体系的胶束化行为

The behavior of the mixed amphiphilic drug promethazine hydrochloride(PMT) and cationic as well as nonionic surfactants was studied by tensiometry.The cmc values of the PMT-surfactant systems decrease at a surfactant mole fraction of 0.1 and it then becomes constant.The critical micelle concentration(cmc) values are lower than the ideal cmc(cmc*) values for PMT/TX-100,PMT/TX-114,PMT/Tween 20,and PMT/Tween 60 systems.For the PMT/Tween 40,PMT/Tween 80,PMT/CPC,and PMT/CPB systems the cmc values are close to the cmc* values.This indicates that PMT forms mixed micelles with these surfactants by attractive interactions.The surface excess(Γmax) decreases in the presence of surfactants.The rigid structure of the drug makes adsorption easier and the contribution of the surfactant at the interface decreases.The interaction parameters βm(for the mixed micelles) and βσ(for the mixed monolayer) are negative indicating attraction among the mixed components.     

Involvement of Phytochemical-Encapsulated Nanoparticles’ Interaction with Cellular Signalling in the Amelioration of Benign and Malignant Brain Tumours

Brain tumours have unresolved challenges that include delay prognosis and lower patient survival rate. The increased understanding of the molecular pathways underlying cancer progression has aided in developing various anticancer medications. Brain cancer is the most malignant and invasive type of cancer, with several subtypes. According to the WHO, they are classified as ependymal tumours, chordomas, gangliocytomas, medulloblastomas, oligodendroglial tumours, diffuse astrocytomas, and other astrocytic tumours on the basis of their heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms. The present study is based on the most recent research trends, emphasising glioblastoma cells classified as astrocytoma. Brain cancer treatment is hindered by the failure of drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which is highly impregnableto foreign molecule entry. Moreover, currently available medications frequently fail to cross the BBB, whereas chemotherapy and radiotherapy are too expensive to be afforded by an average incomeperson and have many associated side effects. When compared to our current understanding of molecularly targeted chemotherapeutic agents, it appears that investigating the efficacy of specific phytochemicals in cancer treatment may be beneficial. Plants and their derivatives are game changers because they are efficacious, affordable, environmentally friendly, faster, and less toxic for the treatment of benign and malignant tumours. Over the past few years, nanotechnology has made a steady progress in diagnosing and treating cancers, particularly brain tumours. This article discusses the effects of phytochemicals encapsulated in nanoparticles on molecular targets in brain tumours, along with their limitations and potential challenges.