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.     

Polyphenolics with Strong Antioxidant Activity from Acacia nilotica Ameliorate Some Biochemical Signs of Arsenic-Induced Neurotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Neurotoxicity is a serious health problem of patients chronically exposed to arsenic. There is no specific treatment of this problem. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathological process of neurotoxicity. Polyphenolics have proven antioxidant activity, thereby offering protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we have isolated the polyphenolics from Acacia nilotica and investigated its effect against arsenic-induced neurotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice. Acacia nilotica polyphenolics prepared from column chromatography of the crude methanol extract using diaion resin contained a phenolic content of 452.185 ± 7.879 mg gallic acid equivalent/gm of sample and flavonoid content of 200.075 ± 0.755 mg catechin equivalent/gm of sample. The polyphenolics exhibited potent antioxidant activity with respect to free radical scavenging ability, total antioxidant activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Administration of arsenic in mice showed a reduction of acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain which was counteracted by Acacia nilotica polyphenolics. Similarly, elevation of lipid peroxidation and depletion of glutathione in the brain of mice was effectively restored to normal level by Acacia nilotica polyphenolics. Gallic acid methyl ester, catechin and catechin-7-gallate were identified in the polyphenolics as the major active compounds. These results suggest that Acacia nilotica polyphenolics due to its strong antioxidant potential might be effective in the management of arsenic induced neurotoxicity.     

Assessment of thermo-hydraulic performance of MXene-based nanofluid as coolant in a dimpled channel: a numerical approach

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The present study numerically investigates the optimization of thermal performance in a dimpled channel using a promising genre of nanofluid which is...     

Binder-less and free-standing Co–Fe metal nanoparticles-decorated PVdF-HFP nanofiber membrane as an electrochemical probe for enzyme-less glucose sensors

Co–Fe bimetallic nanoparticles-affixed polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) nanofiber membrane is fabricated using the electrospinning and chemical reduction techniques. The semicrystalline polymeric backbone decorated with the highly crystalline Co–Fe bimetallic nanoparticles enunciates the mechanical integrity, while the incessant and swift electron mobility is articulated with the consistent dissemination of bimetallic nanoparticles on the intersected and multi-layered polymeric nanofibers. The diffusion and adsorption of glucose are expedited in the extended cavities and porosities of as-formulated polymeric nanofibers, maximizing the glucose utilization efficacy, while the uniformly implanted Co⁴⁺/Fe³⁺ active centers on PVdF-HFP nanofibers maximize the electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation under alkaline regimes. Thus, the combinative sorts including nanofiber and nanocomposite strategies of PVdF-HFP/Co–Fe membrane assimilate the enzyme-less electrochemical glucose detection concerts of high sensitivity (375.01 μA mM^?1 cm^?2), low limit of detection (0.65 μm), and wide linear range (0.001 to 8 mM), outfitting the erstwhile enzyme-less glucose detection reports. Additionally, the endowments of high selectivity and real sample glucose-sensing analyses of PVdF-HFP/Co–Fe along with the binder-less and free-standing characteristics construct the state-of-the-art paradigm for the evolution of affordable enzyme-less electrochemical glucose sensors.

     

Amphiphilic liquid‐crystalline 4‐miktoarm star copolymers with a siloxane junction leading to cylindrically nanostructured templates for a siloxane‐based nanodot array

Well‐defined A₃B‐, A₂B₂‐, and AB₃‐type 4‐miktoarm star copolymers (M_n = 10,500–16,200, M_w/M_n = 1.16–1.18) consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polymethacrylate bearing an azobenzene mesogen (PMA(Az)) as the arms and cyclotetrasiloxane as the core unit were synthesized using a combined route composed of a thiol‐ene click reaction and atom transfer radical polymerization. Microphase‐separated structures of the star copolymers in thin films with a thickness of approximately 100 nm were investigated by GISAXS and TEM. The A₃B‐type star‐(PEO)₃[PMA(Az)]₁ copolymer formed a more highly ordered PEO cylinder array with perpendicular alignment in the PMA(Az) matrix than that of the corresponding linear‐type block copolymer. The center‐to‐center distance of the PEO cylinders and the cylinder diameter were 13 and 4 nm, respectively. The highly ordered star‐(PEO)₃[PMA(Az)]₁ thin film was directly transferred to a siloxane‐based nanodot array by oxygen reactive ion etching. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1175–1188     

Highly active polymeric organocatalyst: Chiral ionic polymers prepared from 10,11‐didehydrogenated cinchonidinium salt

Since few examples of 10,11‐didehydrogenated (3‐ethynyl) cinchona alkaloids have been utilized as organocatalysts in asymmetric reaction, we synthesized 10,11‐didehydrogenated cinchonidine. The 3‐vinyl group of cinchonidine was transformed into a 3‐ethynyl functionality. Based on the resulting 10,11‐didehydrogenated cinchonidine, the corresponding quaternary ammonium salt and its dimers were prepared. The ion‐exchange reaction between the quaternary ammonium salt and sodium sulfonate produced the quaternary ammonium sulfonate as a stable ionic compound. Chiral ionic polymers were then synthesized by the ion‐exchange polymerization of the 10,11‐didehydrogenated cinchonidinium salt dimer and a disulfonate. The chiral ionic polymers were found to be capable of efficiently catalyzing the asymmetric alkylation of N‐(diphenylmethylene)glycine tert‐butyl ester. The enantioselectivities obtained with the polymeric catalysts were higher than those obtained with the corresponding monomeric catalyst. Dimers of 10,11‐didehydrogenated cinchonidinium salts were prepared. Treatment of the dimer with disodium disulfonate gave the chiral ionic polymers, which showed high catalytic activity in asymmetric benzylation of N‐(diphenylmethylen)glycine tert‐butyl ester. The polymeric catalysts were reused several times without the loss of catalytic activity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 621–627     

Versatile host for metallo anions and cations

The crystal structures of two metallo oxides, perrhenate and dichromate, are reported with a diprotonated tetraamido/diamino-based macrocycle, L, in which the floppy ligand assumes a folded conformation. When the four amides are deprotonated, this same ligand binds transition-metal ions in its tetraanionic form, H-4L. For the divalent metal ions Cu2+ and Ni2+, H-4L again folds and dinuclear complexes are formed. With trivalent metal ions Co3+ and Fe3+, the ligand wraps about the metal ions, resulting in mononuclear complexes.     

Development of honey hydrogel dressing for enhanced wound healing

Radiation at 25 and 50 kGy showed no effect on the acidic pH of the local honey, Gelam, and its antimicrobial property against Staphylococcus aureus but significantly reduced the viscosity. Honey stored up to 2 years at room temperature retained all the properties studied. Radiation sterilized Gelam honey significantly stimulated the rate of burn wound healing in Sprague-Dawley rats as demonstrated by the increased rate of wound contraction and gross appearance. Gelam honey attenuates wound inflammation; and re-epithelialization was well advanced compared to the treatment using silver sulphadiazine (SSD) cream. To enhance further the use of honey in wound treatment and for easy handling, Gelam honey was incorporated into our hydrogel dressing formulation, which was then cross-linked and sterilized using electron beam at 25 kGy. Hydrogel with 6% of honey was selected based on the physical appearance.     

Micellization and mixed micellization of cationic gemini (dimeric) surfactants and cationic conventional (monomeric) surfactants: Conductometric,dye solubilization,and surface tension studies

In the present study, we have investigated the self-association, mixed micellization, and thermodynamic studies of a cationic gemini (dimeric) surfactant, hexanediyl-1,6-bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide (16-6-16)) and a cationic conventional (monomeric) surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of pure (16-6-16 and CTAB) and mixed (16-6-16+CTAB) surfactants was measured by electrical conductivity, dye solubilization, and surface tension measurements. The surface properties (viz., C₂₀ (the surfactant concentration required to reduce the surface tension by 20 mN/m), Π_CMC (the surface pressure at the CMC), Γ_max (maximum surface excess concentration at the air/water interface), A_min (the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface), etc.) of micellar (16-6-16 or CTAB) and mixed micellar (16-6-16+CTAB) surfactant systems were evaluated. The thermodynamic parameters of the micellar (16-6-16 and CTAB) and mixed micellar (16-6-16+CTAB) surfactant systems were also evaluated.