Properties of aspirin modified enteric polymer prepared by hot-melt mixing.

Melt mixing in batch equipment or continuous extruders is a technique that recently gained the attention of the pharmaceutical industry. The present work has employed hot-melt mixing to prepare a modified enteric matrix, as a delayed-release dosage form. Different concentrations of aspirin (ASP) ranging from 10 to -30% (w/w) were melt-mixed with a plasticized methacrylic acid copolymer, Eudragit(®) L100-55 in a batch mixer for 5 min at 100 °C which is above the plasticized polymer's glass transition temperature and below the ASP's melting point.

Recycling of the #5 polymer.

Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used plastic with consumer applications ranging from food packaging to automotive parts, including car battery casings. To differentiate it from other recyclable plastics, it is designated as #5. Here, the factors contributing to PP recycling rates are briefly reviewed.

Drug release characteristics from nanoclay hybrids and their dispersions in organic polymers.

This study establishes and compares structure-property-processing relationships on three drug delivery systems containing an anionic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the following excipient carriers: (a) an inorganic anionic nanoclay, (b) pH responsive acrylic polymers, and (c) combinations thereof. The effects of the excipients on the APIs dissolution rate were studied from their release profile in simulated body fluids (SBFs) with different pH. In the API-nanoclay system, calcination of the clay followed by its reconstitution in an API solution was successfully used to intercalate the API in its amorphous state in the clay.

In vitro bioactivity and degradation of polycaprolactone composites containing silicate fillers.

In spite of numerous publications on the potential use of combinations of polycaprolactone (PCL)/bioactive fillers for bone regeneration, little information exists on the assessment of solid, nonporous composites prepared via solventless routes and consisting of unmodified, slowly degrading homopolymer with relatively low amounts of reactive fillers such as bioglass or calcium silicate (CS). Thus, composites of PCL with commercial CS and a bioactive glass (BG45S5) at 30wt.% were produced by melt mixing in a twin screw extruder.

Evolution and kinetics of volatile organic compounds generated during low-temperature polymer degradation.

A method using direct flame ionization detector (FID) measurement was developed to study total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during thermal degradation of polymers. This method was used to estimate organic emissions from different polymers, such as low-density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and commingled postconsumer streams, such as recycled carpet residue and auto shredder residue (ASR). The effects of process parameters, such as temperature, heating rate, and residence time, were also studied.