Amorphous solid dispersions of amphiphilic polymer excipients and indomethacin prepared by hot melt extrusion.

Improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs is essential for enhancing bioavailability, formulation flexibility and reducing patient-to-patient variability. The preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) is an attractive strategy to formulate such drugs, leading to higher apparent water solubility and therefore higher bioavailability. For such ASDs, water-soluble polymer excipients, such as poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) or poly(vinyl pyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (P(VP-co-VA)), are employed to solubilize and stabilize the drug against crystallization.

Adsorption study on the formation of interfacial layers based on birch glucuronoxylans.

Glucuronoxylans (GX), particularly crude fractions obtained by pressurized hot water extraction of birch wood, act as potent emulsifiers and stabilizers against physical separation and lipid oxidation. Herein, we studied the adsorption of GX on hydrophobic interfaces to correlate their multicomponent character towards the formation of interfacial layers in emulsions. Dynamic interfacial tension (DIFT) and quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) were applied to various GX fractions and the results compared with those from cellulose-based emulsifiers.

Fabrication of hydrogel microspheres microfluidics using inverse electron demand Diels-Alder click chemistry-based tetrazine-norbornene for drug delivery and cell encapsulation applications.

Microfluidic on-chip production of polymeric hydrogel microspheres (MPs) can be designed for the loading of different biologically active cargos and living cells. Among different gelation strategies, ionically crosslinked microspheres generally show limited mechanical properties, meanwhile covalently crosslinked microspheres often require the use of crosslinking agents or initiators with limited biocompatibility. Inverse electron demand Diels Alder (iEDDA) click chemistry is a promising covalent crosslinking method with fast kinetics, high chemoselectivity, high efficiency and no cross-reactivity.

Solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of crystalline cellulosic materials using a direct dissolution ionic liquid electrolyte.

Owing to its high sustainable production capacity, cellulose represents a valuable feedstock for the development of more sustainable alternatives to currently used fossil fuel-based materials. Chemical analysis of cellulose remains challenging, and analytical techniques have not advanced as fast as the development of the proposed materials science applications. Crystalline cellulosic materials are insoluble in most solvents, which restricts direct analytical techniques to lower-resolution solid-state spectroscopy, destructive indirect procedures or to 'old-school' derivatization protocols.

Efficient Isolation Method for Highly Charged Phosphorylated Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Phosphorylation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) has remained a marginal activity despite the undisputed application potential in flame-retardant materials, sustainable high-capacity ion-exchange materials, or substrates for biomineralization among others. This is largely due to strenuous extraction methods prone to a combination of poor reproducibility, low degrees of substitution, disappointing yields, and impractical reaction sequences. Here, we demonstrate an improved methodology relying on the modification routines for phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers and hydrolysis by gaseous HCl to isolate CNCs.

Highly selective recovery of Ni(II) in neutral and acidic media using a novel Ni(II)-ion imprinted polymer.

In this work, an original ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) was synthetized for the highly selective removal of Ni(II) ions in neutral and acidic media. First a novel functional monomer (AMP-MMA) was synthetized through the amidation of 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (AMP) with methacryloylchloride. Following Ni(II)/AMP-MMA complex formation study, the Ni(II)-IIP was produced via inverse suspension polymerization (DMSO in mineral oil) and characterized with solid state C CPMAS NMR, FT-IR, SEM and nitrogen adsorption/desorption experiments.

Exposure-response analyses for the MET inhibitor tepotinib including patients in the pivotal VISION trial: support for dosage recommendations.

Purpose: Tepotinib is a highly selective MET inhibitor approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring METex14 skipping alterations. Analyses presented herein evaluated the relationship between tepotinib exposure, and efficacy and safety outcomes.

Methods: Exposure-efficacy analyses included data from an ongoing phase 2 study (VISION) investigating 500 mg/day tepotinib in NSCLC harboring METex14 skipping alterations.

Practical scale modification of oleogels by ultrasonic standing waves.

Lipid-based materials, such as substitutes for saturated fats (oleogels) structurally modified with ultrasonic standing waves (USW), have been developed by our group. To enable their potential application in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, practical and economical production methods are needed. Here, we report scale-up of our procedure of structurally modifying oleogels via the use of USW by a factor of 200 compared to our previous microfluidic chamber.

Thermo-Reversible Cellulose Micro Phase-Separation in Mixtures of Methyltributylphosphonium Acetate and γ-Valerolactone or DMSO.

We have identified cellulose solvents, comprised of binary mixtures of molecular solvents and ionic liquids that rapidly dissolve cellulose to high concentration and show upper-critical solution temperature (UCST)-like thermodynamic behaviour - upon cooling and micro phase-separation to roughly spherical microparticle particle-gel mixtures. This is a result of an entropy-dominant process, controllable by changing temperature, with an overall exothermic regeneration step. However, the initial dissolution of cellulose in this system, from the majority cellulose I allomorph upon increasing temperature, is also exothermic.

CO Capture and Low-Temperature Release by Poly(aminoethyl methacrylate) and Derivatives.

Poly(aminoethyl methacrylate) (PAEMA), poly(ethylene oxide)--(aminoethyl methacrylate) (PEO-PAEMA), and their guanidinylated derivates, poly(guanidine ethyl methacrylate) (PGEMA) and poly(ethylene oxide)--(guanidine ethyl methacrylate) (PEO-PGEMA), were prepared to study their capabilities for CO adsorption and release. The polymers of different forms or degree of guanidinylation were thoroughly characterized, and their interaction with CO was studied by NMR and calorimetry. The extent and kinetics of adsorption and desorption of N and CO were investigated by thermogravimetry under controlled gas atmospheres.

Thermocontrolled Reversible Enzyme Complexation-Inactivation-Protection by Poly(-acryloyl glycinamide).

A prospective technology for reversible enzyme complexation accompanied with its inactivation and protection followed by reactivation after a fast thermocontrolled release has been demonstrated. A thermoresponsive polymer with upper critical solution temperature, poly(-acryloyl glycinamide) (PNAGA), which is soluble in water at elevated temperatures but phase separates at low temperatures, has been shown to bind lysozyme, chosen as a model enzyme, at a low temperature (10 °C and lower) but not at room temperature (around 25 °C). The cooling of the mixture of PNAGA and lysozyme solutions from room temperature resulted in the capturing of the protein and the formation of stable complexes; heating it back up was accompanied by dissolving the complexes and the release of the bound lysozyme.

Dual-Crosslinked Dynamic Hydrogel Incorporating {Mo } with pH and NIR Responsiveness for Chemo-Photothermal Therapy.

Polyoxometalates are an emerging class of molecular clusters, with well-defined structures and chemical compositions that are produced through simple, low-cost, and highly reproducible methods. In particular, the wheel-shaped cluster {Mo } is a promising photothermal agent due to its intervalence charge transfer transitions. However, its toxicity hinders its systemic administration, being the development of a localized delivery system still incipient.

Clinical management of voice and breathing problems in two patients with vagus nerve stimulation therapy.

We report two cases highlighting the diversity of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS)-related effects on voice and breathing in patients with refractory epilepsy. The patients had both implantation and stimulation-related side effects, which lasted for several months, impacting on their quality of life. The adverse effects appear to be due to recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis-related vocal cord hypofunction and stimulation-related vocal fold spasms, however, their inter-relationship is complex.

Phase Transition Behavior and Catalytic Activity of Poly(-acryloylglycinamide--methacrylic acid) Microgels.

Poly(-acryloyl glycinamide) is a well-known thermoresponsive polymer possessing an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in water. By copolymerizing -acryloyl glycinamide (NAGA) with methacrylic acid (MAA) in the presence of a crosslinker, poly(-acryloyl glycinamide--methacrylic acid) [P(NAGA-MAA)] copolymer microgels with an MAA molar fraction of 10-70 mol % were obtained. The polymerization kinetics suggests that the copolymer microgels have a random structure.

Luminescent Gold Nanocluster-Methylcellulose Composite Optical Fibers with Low Attenuation Coefficient and High Photostability.

Because of their lightweight structure, flexibility, and immunity to electromagnetic interference, polymer optical fibers (POFs) are used in numerous short-distance applications. Notably, the incorporation of luminescent nanomaterials in POFs offers optical amplification and sensing for advanced nanophotonics. However, conventional POFs suffer from nonsustainable components and processes.

Polyzwitterions with LCST Side Chains: Tunable Self-Assembly.

Manipulation of self-assembly behavior of copolymers via environmental change is attractive in the fabrication of smart polymeric materials. We present tunable self-assembly behavior of graft copolymers, poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)--poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)--di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (PSBM--P(OEGMA--DEGMA)). Upon heating the aqueous solutions, the graft copolymers undergo a transition from micelles with PSBM cores to unimers (i.

Urea-Based Low-Molecular-Weight Pseudopeptidic Organogelators for the Encapsulation and Slow Release of ()-Limonene.

Low-molecular-weight compounds containing alkylurea fragments attached to the amino end of different miminalistic pseudopeptidic structures have been shown to be excellent organogelators in a variety of organic solvents and liquid organic compounds of different nature. The formation of gels in this work is defined through rheological measurements for those cases where ' > ''. Both the topology and the symmetry of the corresponding urea compounds play a role in defining their organogelator behavior.

Stimuli-Responsive Nanodiamond-Polyelectrolyte Composite Films.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) can considerably improve the mechanical and thermal properties of polymeric composites. However, the tendency of NDs to aggregate limits the potential of these non-toxic, mechanically- and chemically-robust nanofillers. In this work, tough, flexible, and stimuli-responsive polyelectrolyte films composed of cross-linked poly(butyl acrylate--dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (P(BA--DMAEMA)) were prepared by photopolymerization.

UV-Triggered On-Demand Temperature-Responsive Reversible and Irreversible Gelation of Cellulose Nanocrystals.

We show ionically cross-linked, temperature-responsive reversible or irreversible hydrogels of anionic cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and methacrylate terpolymers by mixing them homogeneously in the initially charge-neutral state of the polymer, which was subsequently switched to be cationic by cleaving side groups by UV irradiation. The polymer is a random terpolymer poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)--poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)--poly(2-((2-nitrobenzyl)oxycarbonyl)aminoethyl methacrylate), that is, PDEGMA--POEGMA--PNBOCAEMA. The PDEGMA and POEGMA repeating units lead to a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior.

Glucose and Maltose Surface-Functionalized Thermoresponsive Poly(-Vinylcaprolactam) Nanogels.

Soft nanoparticles are interesting materials due to their size, deformability, and ability to host guest molecules. Surface properties play an essential role in determining the fate of the particles in biological medium, and coating of the nanoparticles (and polymers) with carbohydrates has been found to be an efficient strategy for increasing their biocompatibility and fine-tuning other important properties such as aqueous solubility. In this work, soft nanogels of poly(-vinylcaprolactam), PNVCL, were surface-functionalized with different glucose and maltose ligands, and the colloidal properties of the gels were analyzed.

Molecular Mass Affects the Phase Separation of Aqueous PEG-Polycation Block Copolymer.

Mechanisms of the phase separation and remixing of cationic PEG-containing block copolymers have been investigated in aqueous lithium triflate solutions. The polycation was poly(vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium triflate). We have previously reported on one such block copolymer, which upon cooling of a hot clear solution first underwent phase separation into a turbid colloid and, later, partially cleared again with further cooling.