Experimental Study and Numerical Modeling of Rheological and Flow Behavior of Xanthan Gum Solutions Using Artificial Neural Network

This study investigated effect of temperature, concentration, and shear rate on rheological properties of xanthan gum aqueous solutions using a Couette viscometer at temperatures between 25°C and 55°C and concentrations of 0.25 wt% to 1.0 wt%. The Herschel–Bulkley model described very well the non-Newtonian behavior of xanthan gum solutions. Shear rate, temperature, and concentration affected apparent viscosity and an equation was proposed for the temperature and concentration effect valid for each shear rate. This article also presents an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict apparent viscosity. Based on statistical analysis, the ANN method estimated viscosity with high accuracy and low error.     

Recent advancement and development of chitin and chitosan-based nanocomposite for drug delivery: Critical approach to clinical research

This review depicts the exposure of chitin and chitosan base multifunctional nanomaterial composites for promising applications in field of biomedical science structure, synthesis as well as potential application from a colossal angle. We elaborated critically each of the chitin and chitosan base nanomaterial with its potential application toward biomedical science. For different biomedical applications it use in form of hydrogels, microsphere, nanoparticles, aerogels, microsphere and in form of scaffold. Due to this it had been blended with different polymer such as starch, cellulose, alginate, lipid, hyaluronic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and caboxymethyl cellulose. In this review article, a comprehensive overview of combination of chitin and chitosan base nanomaterial with natural as well as synthetic polymers and their biomedical applications in biomedical field involving drug delivery system all the technical scientific issues have been addressed; highlighting the recent advancements.     

Exploration of an arabinogalactan isolated from Odina wodier Roxb.: Physicochemical,compositional characterisations and functional attributes

Exudate gum polysaccharides have a diverse range of functionalities in food, cosmetics, textiles, biomedical, pharmaceutical and other industries for centuries. The potentiality of gum odina as tablet binder, coacervates (chitosan‐gum odina complex) for colon‐targeted drug delivery system and also as prebiotic with immunomodulating properties was reported earlier. Since no detail study of the physicochemical, functional properties of the gum has been reported, the present investigation deals with physicochemical, compositional and functional characterisations of purified gum odina (PGO) for adopting in food and pharmaceutical industry. PGO, an arabinogalactan, was obtained by ethanol precipitation from exudates (gum odina) of tropical deciduous plant Odina wodier Roxb. Colour profiling of PGO including L* (87.74 ± 0.42), a* (1.73 ± 0.65) and b* (7.79 ± 0.58) was determined. Physicochemical parameters revealed good flow ability and compressibility desired for an excipient. Concentration‐dependent surface tension was measured by du Noüy ring method. Rheological study showed pseudoplastic behaviour of PGO dispersion. Sugar analysis by gas liquid chromatography indicated presence of arabinogalactan in PGO. Size exclusion chromatography of PGO revealed two high‐molecular‐weight components PGO‐I (95%, Arabinose:Galactose :: 1:1.6) and PGO‐II (5%, Arabinose:Galactose :: 1:4). Further characterisations of PGO by means of CHNS, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction, conductivity, pH, zeta potential analysis and antioxidant activity indicated typical polysaccharide characteristics. Collectively, this work established the fundamental properties of PGO and the results presented here will facilitate the applications of PGO as sustainable food additive, pharmaceutical excipient for commercial adoption.     

Electro-responsive polyacrylamide-grafted-gum ghatti copolymer for transdermal drug delivery application

An application of polyacrylamide-grafted-gum ghatti (PAAm-g-GGH) copolymer for transdermal delivery of an anti-psychotic drug, quetiapine fumerate triggered by electric stimulus was explored. The electro-responsive PAAm-g-GGH was prepared by free radical polymerization underneath nitrogen atmosphere subsequent to alkaline hydrolysis. The PAAm-g-GGH was used as drug reservoir gel and crosslinked films of GGH and PVA as rate controlling membranes (RCM). The reservoir gels were uniform and translucent; pH of gels was 6.56–7.06, which is in the pH range of skin and drug content was from 89.57% to 94.51%. The thickness of RCMs was 163–227?μ; thickness was increased with increased glutaraldehyde concentration and all the RCMs were permeable to water vapors. When electric stimulus was absent, a small amount of drug was permeated from the formulations, while drug conveyance was enhanced in the existence of stimulus. Drug permeation was increased with increase in electric stimulus from 2 to 8?mA. Over two fold increase in flux was observed after application of electric stimulus. Under “on–off” electric stimulus, faster drug permeation was seen under ‘on’ condition and permeation was decreased when stimulus was ‘off.’ Histopathology study confirmed reversible alteration of skin structure under electric stimulus.     

Bioactivity and chemical characterisation of Lophostemon suaveolens – an endemic Australian Aboriginal traditional medicinal plant

Lophostemon suaveolens is a relatively unexplored endemic medicinal plant of Australia. Extracts of fresh leaves of L. suaveolens obtained from sequential extraction with n-hexane and dichloromethane exhibited antibacterial activity in the disc diffusion and MTT microdilution assays against Streptococcus pyogenes and methicillin sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (minimum bactericidal concentration < 63 μg/mL). The dichloromethane extract and chromatographic fractions therein inhibited nitric oxide in RAW264.7 murine macrophages (IC₅₀ 3.7–11.6 μg/mL) and also PGE₂ in 3T3 murine fibroblasts (IC₅₀ 2.8–19.7 μg/mL). The crude n-hexane, dichloromethane and water extracts of the leaves and chromatographic fractions from the dichloromethane extract also showed modest antioxidant activity in the ORAC assay. GC–MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction showed the presence of the antibacterial compounds aromadendrene, spathulenol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and α-pinene and the anti-inflammatory compounds β-caryophyllene and spathulenol. Fractionation of the dichloromethane extract led to the isolation of eucalyptin and the known anti-inflammatory compound betulinic acid.     

Preparation of rapid (chain-stopped) alkyds by incorporation of gum rosin and investigation of coating properties

In this study, the synthesis, characterization, and properties of a short oil length chain–stopped(rapid) alkyd resin is investigated. Gum rosin modified alkyd resin (RA-GR) was prepared using soybean oil, phthalic anhydride, glycerin and gum rosin acid. An alkyd modified with benzoic acid (RA-BA) was also prepared for comparison. FTIR analyses and GPC measurements of the alkyds were used for characterization. Other properties such as the viscosity, acid value, and solid content of the final resins were determined. Separately, the synthesized resins were used in paint formulations without any changes in other parameters such as filler, airdrying agents, solvents, etc. Paints were applied to metal and glass surfaces and the effect of gum rosin was investigated by looking at touch and hard drying times, adhesion to metals and gloss changes. Compared to the benzoic acid modified resin (RA-BA), gum rosin modified resin (RA-GR) exhibited remarkable positive effects on the paint with a better adhesion to the metals, and short drying times without any loses in the glosses.     

Synthesis,characterization and evaluation of semi‐IPN hydrogels consisted of poly(methacrylic acid) and guar gum for colon‐specific drug delivery

The semi‐IPN hydrogels consisting of poly(methacrylic acid) and guar gum (GG) are prepared at room temperature using water as solvent. 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) is entrapped in the hydrogel in the synthesis of hydrogel and all entrapment efficiencies are found above 85%. The hydrogel shows excellent pH‐sensitivity. It exhibited minimum swelling in an acidic pH medium through the formation of a complex hydrogen‐bonded structure and maximal swelling due to the electrostatic repulsion due to the ionization of the carboxylic groups in pH 7.4 medium. The degradation in vitro shows that the degree of degradation (R%) depended on the concentration of cross‐linking agent and content of GG. The hydrogel shows a minimum release of 5‐ASA due to the complex hydrogen bonded structure of the hydrogels in the medium of pH 2.2. The enzymatic degradation of hydrogels by cecal bacteria can accelerate the release of 5‐ASA entrapped in the hydrogel in pH 7.4 medium. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一些聚合物地中相微乳液物性的影响

研究了水解聚安、黄原胶和木质素磺酸盐对中相微乳液相体积、粘度和界面张力的影响，实验结果表明：含有聚丙烯酰胺时，中相微乳液的相态、增溶参数、中相与下相间界面张力及中相粘度均无明显变化。生物聚合物对中相微乳液的物理影响也不大，木质素磺酸盐册对微乳液的形成产生明显影响；随着木质素磺酸盐浓度的增大，微乳液由中相转变为相，相应的物理参数亦有变化 。     

Surface Modification of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Gum Arabic

Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized and functionalized by coating the particle surfaces with gum arabic (GA) to improve particle stability in aqueous suspensions (i.e. biological media). Particle characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to analyze the morphology and quantify the size distribution of the nanoparticles, respectively. The results from DLS indicated that the GA-treated nanoparticles formed smaller agglomerates as compared to the untreated samples over a 30-h time frame. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated an average weight loss of 23%, showing that GA has a strong affinity toward the iron oxide surface. GA most likely contributes to␣colloid stability via steric stabilization. It was determined that the adsorption of GA onto magnetite exhibits Langmuir behavior.