Thermosensitive mucoadhesive gel formulation loaded with 5-Fu: cyclodextrin complex for HPV-induced cervical cancer

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections are the major cause of cervical cancers. To achieve a better therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance in the treatment for HPV-induced cervical cancers, anticancer agent 5-fluorouracil has been formulated in a vaginal gel using the thermosensitive polymer Pluronic^® F127 together with alternative mucoadhesive polymers e.g., hyaluronic acid, Carbopol 934 and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. To increase its aqueous solubility and to achieve the complete release of 5-FU from the gel, the drug was incorporated as its inclusion complex with 1:1 molar ratio with either β-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. Following the characterization of drug:CD complexes, thermosensitive gel formulations containing different mucoadhesive polymers and the drug in free or complexed form were characterized in vitro by determining the gelation temperature and the rheological behavior of different formulations along with the in vitro release profiles of these formulations in pH 5.5 citrate buffer. It was observed that complexation with cyclodextrin accelerated the release of 5-FU with the exception of formulation containing Carbopol 934 as mucoadhesive polymer. As far as rheological properties are concerned, favorable thermosensitive in situ gelling properties were obtained with formulations containing HPMC as mucoadhesive polymer. Complete release of 5-FU from gels were obtained with both complexes of β-CD and HP-β-CD and cytotoxicity studies against HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells demonstrated that 1% 5-FU:CD complexes were equally effective as 1% free 5-FU indicating better therapeutic efficacy with lower dose.     

Synthesis and determination of pKa values of some new 3,4-disubstituted-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-one derivatives in non-aqueous solvents

3-Alkyl(Aryl)-4-amino-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones (2) reacted with 2-furoyl chloride and thiophene-2-carbonyl chloride to afford the corresponding 3- alkyl(aryl)-4-(2-furoylamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones (3) and 3-alkyl(aryl)- 4-(2-thienylcarbonylamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones (4), respectively. The new compounds synthesized were characterized by using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and UV spectral data together with elemental analysis. In addition, to investigate the effects of solvents and molecular structure upon acidity, compounds 3 and 4 were titrated potentiometrically with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in four non-aqueous solvents (isopropyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, N,N-dimethylformamide and acetonitrile). The half-neutralization potential values and the corresponding pKa values were determined for all cases.     

The first bis(orotato–N,O) complex: Synthesis,crystal structure,spectroscopic and thermal characterization of (chaH)2[Cu(HOr–N,O)2(cha)] · 2H2O (cha = cyclohexylamine and HOr = orotate(2−))

The novel bis(cyclohexylaminium) cyclohexylaminebis(orotate–N,O)cuprate(II) dihydrate, (C₆H₁₅N)₂[Cu(C₅H₂N₂O₄)₂(C₆H₁₄N)] · 2H₂O, has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The Cu(II) complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. The copper atom in the five-coordinated (chaH)₂[Cu(HOr–N,O)₂(cha)] · 2H₂O is chelated by a deprotonated pyrimidine nitrogen atom and carboxylate oxygen atom as a bis(bidentate) ligand and the cyclohexylamine ligand completes the square-pyramidal coordination. The thermal decomposition of the complex has been predicted by the help of thermal analysis (TG, DTG and DTA).     

NONLINEAR DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A LAMINATED HYBRID COMPOSITE PLATE SUBJECTED TO TIME-DEPENDENT EXTERNAL PULSES

Nonlinear dynamic responses of a laminated hybrid composite plate subjected to time-dependent pulses are investigated. Dynamic equations of the plate are derived by the use of the virtual work principle. The geometric nonlinearity effects are taken into account with the von Kármán large deflection theory of thin plates. Approximate solutions for a clamped plate are assumed for the space domain. The single term approximation functions are selected by considering the nonlinear static deformation of plate obtained using the finite element method. The Galerkin Method is used to obtain the nonlinear differential equations in the time domain and a MATLAB software code is written to solve nonlinear coupled equations by using the Newmark Method. The results of approximate-numerical analysis are obtained and compared with the finite element results. Transient loading conditions considered include blast, sine, rectangular, and triangular pulses. A parametric study is conducted considering the effects of peak pressure, aspect ratio, fiber orientation and thicknesses.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Some 1-[(N,N-Disubstitutedthiocarbamoylthio)acetyl]-3,5-diaryl-2-pyrazolines

The increasing clinical importance of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial pathogens has lent additional urgency to microbiological research and new antimicrobial compound development. For this purpose, new pyrazoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antimicrobial activity.

Some 1-[(N, N-disubstitutedthiocarbamoylthio)acetyl]-3,5-diaryl-2-pyrazolines derivatives were synthesized by reacting 1-(chloroacetyl)-3,5-diaryl-2-pyrazolines with appropriate potassium salts of secondary amine dithiocarbamic acids. The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by IR, ¹ H-NMR, and FAB⁺-MS spectral data. Their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (B-767), Escherichia coli (B-3704), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Proteus vulgaris (NRLL B-123), and Candida albicans (NRRL-27077) were investigated. The results showed that some of the compounds have notable activity against S. aureus and C. albicans.     

Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of WO3 modified TiO2 nanorods

Pristine and WO₃ decorated TiO₂ nanorods (NRs) were synthesised to investigate n-n-type heterojunction gas sensing properties. TiO₂ NRs were fabricated via hydrothermal method on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO) substrates. Then, tungsten was sputtered on the TiO₂ NRs and thermally oxidised to obtain WO₃ nanoparticles. The heterostructure was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Fabricated sensor devices were exposed to VOCs such as toluene, xylene, acetone and ethanol, and humidity at different operation temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that the heterostructure has better sensor response toward ethanol at 200 °C. Enhanced sensing properties are attributed to the heterojunction formation by decorating TiO₂ NRs with WO₃.     

Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols

Phytosterols and tocopherols are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries for their health benefits. Current analysis methods rely on conventional liquid chromatography, using an analytical column, which can be tedious and time consuming. However, simple, and fast analytical methods can facilitate their qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study, a fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (FC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols. Omitting chromatography by employing flow injection analysis—mass spectrometry (FIA-MS) failed in the quantification of target analytes due to analyte-to-analyte interferences from phytosterols. These interferences arise from their ambiguous MS fingerprints that would lead to false identification and inaccurate quantification. Therefore, a C18 guard column with a 1.9 µm particle size was employed for FC-MS/MS under isocratic elution using acetonitrile/methanol (99:1 v/v) at a flow rate of 600 µL/min. Analyte-to-analyte interferences were identified and eliminated. The false peaks could then be easily identified due to chromatographic separation. In addition, two internal standards were evaluated, namely cholestanol and deuterated cholesterol. Both internal standards contributed to the observed analyte-to-analyte interferences; however, adequate shift in the retention time for deuterated cholesterol eliminated its interferences and allowed for an accurate quantification. The method is fast (1.3 min) compared to published methods and can distinguish false peaks observed in FIA-MS. Seven analytes were quantified simultaneously, namely brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol. The method was successfully applied in the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols present in the unsaponifiable matter of canola oil deodorizer distillate (CODD). β-sitosterol and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant phytosterols and tocopherols, respectively.     

Thermal and kinetic analyses of 2,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole

Thermal behavior and UV–Vis absorption properties of 2,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole were investigated in the present study. It was found that decomposition occurs in two stages which correspond to removal of both phenolic rings and degradation of remaining core structure, respectively. After the characterization of decomposition stages, apparent activation energy values of each stage were calculated using model-free isoconversional methods (FWO and KAS). Apparent activation energies of decomposition stages are determined by both methods. Their averages are calculated as 98.232 and 123.253 kJ mol^?1 in consecutive order. UV–Vis absorption properties of this compound have been determined with using different solvents.