Development and Optimization of Ciprofloxacin HCl-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Box–Behnken Experimental Design

Various chitosan (CS)-based nanoparticles (CS-NPs) of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CHCl) have been investigated for therapeutic delivery and to enhance antimicrobial efficacy. However, the Box–Behnken design (BBD)-supported statistical optimization of NPs of CHCl has not been performed in the literature. As a result, the goal of this study was to look into the key interactions and quadratic impacts of formulation variables on the performance of CHCl-CS-NPs in a systematic way. To optimize CHCl-loaded CS-NPs generated by the ionic gelation process, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used. The BBD was used with three factors on three levels and three replicas at the central point. Tripolyphosphate, CS concentrations, and ultrasonication energy were chosen as independent variables after preliminary screening. Particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency (EE), and in vitro release were the dependent factors (responses). Prepared NPs were found in the PS range of 198–304 nm with a ZP of 27–42 mV. EE and drug release were in the range of 23–45% and 36–61%, respectively. All of the responses were optimized at the same time using a desirability function based on Design Expert^® modeling and a desirability factor of 95%. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the improved formula against two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, was determined. The MIC of the optimized NPs was found to be decreased 4-fold compared with pure CHCl. The predicted and observed values for the optimized formulation were nearly identical. The BBD aided in a better understanding of the intrinsic relationship between formulation variables and responses, as well as the optimization of CHCl-loaded CS-NPs in a time- and labor-efficient manner.     

Vibrational analysis,conformational stability,force constants,internal rotation barriers,MP2=full and DFT calculations of 1,3-dimethyluracil tautomers

The molecular structure of 1,3-dimethyluracil (C₆H₈N₂O₂; 1,3-DMU) is studied theoretically and experimentally using Gaussian 98 calculations and different spectroscopic techniques. The vibrational spectrum for 1,3-DMU in the solid phase is recorded in the IR range 4000-400 cm^–1. Initially, in order to get the most stable structure, twelve structures were proposed for the titled compound as a result of the internal rotation of CH₃ around C–N bonds and keto-enol tautomerism. The single point energy and frequency calculations are obtained by MP2 (Full) and DFT/B3LYP methods with the 6-31G(d) basis set using the Gaussian 98 computation package. After the complete relaxation of twelve isolated isomers, the (diketo) tautomer was the only favored structure owing to its low energy relative to the other isomers and the prediction of real frequencies. This interpretation is supported by the recorded infrared spectrum that shows the presence of only the diketo tautomer. Aided by the normal coordinate analysis and potential energy distributions, a confident vibrational assignment of the fundamental frequencies is calculated. The results are discussed herein and compared with similar molecules whenever possible.     

Chemistry of Phosphorus Ylides. Part 34 Synthesis of Chromenone Phosphanylidene and Cyclobutylidene Derivatives

Abstract

The reaction of nucleophilic phosphacumulene ylides with visnaginone and khellinone afforded the corresponding phosphanylidene and furochromene derivatives. Moreover, pyranochromenes were obtained from the reaction of chromene carbaldehydes with phosphacumulenes. On the other hand, the phosphanylidene-cyclobutylidenes and their dimers were produced from the reaction of furochromene carbaldehydes with the same phosphonium reagents.     

Synthesis of some new pyrimidine derivatives and evaluation of their anticancer and antibacterial activities

Starting from the reaction of ethyl cyanoacetate with thiourea and the appropriate aldehydes, a series of new pyrimidine derivatives were prepared. Ten selected pyrimidine derivatives were subjected to a screening system for the investigation of their antitumor potency against liver (HEPG2) cell line. The antitumor activity results indicated that most of the selected pyrimidine derivatives showed moderate growth inhibition activity against the tested cell line, but with varying intensities in comparison to the known anticancer drugs: 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin. Some of the synthesized compounds were also tested for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria as well as fungal isolates.     

Formulation of Risperidone as Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System in Form of Effervescent Tablets

Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia. This study aims to formulate risperidone as effervescent tablets to improve patient compliance. Different nanoemulsion combinations were loaded with risperidone to improve its poor water solubility then adsorbed on Aeroperl. The formula showing highest drug dissolution was formulated as effervescent tablets. Factorial design was applied for different tablet formulation variables and the prepared formulae were tested for different criteria in comparison with their corresponding formulae containing drug without nanoemulsion formulation. Statistical analysis was used to determine the most desirable tablet formula considering its Carr index, effervescence time, and drug release.     

Chelate Compounds of a Selected Non-Transition and Transition Metal Ions with Some Salicylic Acid Derivatives

A series of binary complexes of Zn(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), La(III), Ce(III), Th(IV) and UO₂(II) with 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid and 5-sulphosalicylic acid have been isolated and characterized. The solution equilibria of these complexes have been studied pH-metrically. The formation constants (log K) at 25±1°C and ionic strength of 0.2M NaClC₄ have been calculated. Stability of the complexes formed in relation to ligand molecular structure and nature of the metal ion has been examined and discussed.     

Dosimetric investigations on radiation-induced Ag nanoparticles in a gel dosimeter

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Radiation-induced Ag° nanoparticles (NPs) in silver nitrate gel dosimeter incorporating various components was investigated in the dose range...     

Application of <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript>-INAA for the determination of essential and toxic elements in medicinal plants from West Pokot County,Kenya

Rapid determination of gross alpha and beta emitters in urine by liquid scintillation counting is discussed. This method is based on direct addition of urine into scintillation cocktail. ²⁴¹Am, ²³⁹Pu and ⁹⁰Sr were selected as model radionuclides. The LSA Hidex 300 SL equipped with Triple-Double-Coincidence-Ratio technique was used for sample measurement. The work focused on optimizing the LSC cocktail to urine volume ratio with respect to the model radionuclides. The overall efficiencies for ²⁴¹Am, ²³⁹Pu and ⁹⁰Sr were greater than 92 %; therefore, this method would be suitable for rapid determination of gross alpha/beta activity.     

A highly distorted hexacoordinated silver(I) complex: synthesis,crystal structure,and DFT studies

A new highly distorted hexacoordinated silver(I) complex [AgL₂NO₃] with 2-(bis(methylthio)methylene)-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione (L) as ligand is synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, and X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. The ligand (L) and the nitrate group act as bidentate ligands. The geometry around the silver ion has an intermediate configuration between a trigonal prism (TP) and an octahedron (OCT). Continuous shape measure (CShM) analysis indicated a closer configuration to TP than OCT. Experimentally and theoretically, the Ag–S bonds are shorter than any of the Ag–O bonds, indicating a stronger interaction between Ag⁺ (soft metal) and S-atom as a softer site than oxygen. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses showed higher interaction energies between the S-atom lone pairs and the Ag–antibonding NBO (8.61–31.39 kcal/mol) than LP(O)→Ag (3.48–11.46 kcal/mol). The acceptor antibonding NBO of the Ag atom has mainly s-orbital character. The Ag atom has a natural charge of +0.7579 e at the experimental structure, suggesting that negative charge was transferred from the ligand (0.0666 e) and nitrate (0.1090 e) to the Ag ion. Using Hirshfeld surface analysis, the important intermolecular interactions between molecular units within the crystal lattice of the ligand and its Ag-complex were analyzed and compared.     

Long-term optimal operation of series parallel reservoirs for critical period with specified monthly generation and average monthly storage

We present in this paper an efficient approach for solving the problem of planning the long-term (multiyear) operation of a multireservoir hydroelectric power system for the critical period with a monthly variable load. This load is equal to a certain percentage of the total generation at the end of the year, subject to satisfying a number of constraints on the hydrosystem, using the minimum norm formulation.The proposed method is efficient in computing time and in calculating the total expected benefits from the system during the critical period. Numerical results are reported for a real system in operation consisting of two rivers. Each river has two series reservoirs.This work was supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Grant No. A4146.