Electrochemical Detection of Cadmium Using a Bismuth Film Deposited on a Brass Electrode.

Cadmium is one of the most dangerous pollutants found in the environment, where it exists mainly due to human activities. High cadmium concentrations can cause serious problems, which is why the detection and determination of Cd is one of the most important tasks. Electroanalytical methods provide rapid and accurate results in the detection of cadmium in various solutions.

Sporopollenin Capsules as Biomimetic Templates for the Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite and β-TCP.

Pollen grains, with their resilient sporopollenin exine and defined morphologies, have been explored as bio-templates for the synthesis of calcium phosphate minerals, particularly hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP). Various pollen morphologies from different plant species (black alder, dandelion, lamb's quarters, ragweed, and stargazer lily) were evaluated. Pollen grains underwent acid washing to remove allergenic material and facilitate subsequent calcification.

3D printing of LEGO® like designs with tailored release profiles for treatment of sleep disorder.

3D printed LEGO®-like designs are an attractive approach for the development of compartmental delivery systems due to their potential for dose personalisation through the customisation of drug release profiles. Additive manufacturing technologies such as Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) are ideal for the printing of structures with complex geometries and various sizes. This study is a paradigm for the fabrication of 3D printed LEGO® -like tablets by altering the design of the modular units and the filament composition for the delivery of different drug substances.

Curcumin and Diclofenac Therapeutic Efficacy Enhancement Applying Transdermal Hydrogel Polymer Films, Based on Carrageenan, Alginate and Poloxamer.

Films based on carrageenan, alginate and poloxamer 407 have been formulated with the main aim to apply prepared formulations in wound healing process. The formulated films were loaded with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, as well as diclofenac and curcumin, as multipurpose drug, in order to enhance encapsulation and achieve controlled release of these low-bioavailability compounds. The obtained data demonstrated improved drug bioavailability (encapsulation efficiency higher than 90%), with high, cumulative in vitro release percentages (90.

pH-Responsive Hydrogel Beads Based on Alginate, κ-Carrageenan and Poloxamer for Enhanced Curcumin, Natural Bioactive Compound, Encapsulation and Controlled Release Efficiency.

Polyphenolic compounds are used for treating various diseases due to their antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, utilization of hydrophobic compounds is limited due to their low bioavailability. In order to achieve a greater application of hydrophobic bioactive compounds, hydrogel beads based on biopolymers can be used as carriers for their enhanced incorporation and controlled delivery.

Elucidation of the Controlled-Release Behavior of Metoprolol Succinate from Directly Compressed Xanthan Gum/Chitosan Polymers: Computational and Experimental Studies.

The development and evaluation of a controlled-release (CR) pharmaceutical solid dosage form comprising xanthan gum (XG), low molecular weight chitosan (LCS), and metoprolol succinate (MS) are reported. The research is, partly, based upon the utilization of computational tools: in this case, molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) and the response surface method (RSM) in order to underpin the design/prediction and to minimize the experimental work required to achieve the desired pharmaceutical outcomes. The capability of the system to control the release of MS was studied as a function of LCS (% w/w) and total polymer (LCS and xanthan gum (XG)) to drug ratio (P/D) at different tablet tensile strengths.

Overview of Erasmus+ NETCHEM project: ICT networking for overcoming technical and social barriers in instrumental analytical chemistry education.

The paper briefly presents goals, activities, challenges, and outcomes of the NETCHEM project ( http://www.netchem.ac.

Influence of 5-Chlorobenzotriazole on Inhibition of Copper Corrosion in Acid Rain Solution.

This paper aims to examine the efficiency of 5-chlorobenzotriazole (5Cl-BTA) as a copper corrosion inhibitor in acidic rain solutions with a pH value of 2.42 by the electrochemical polarization method. 5-Chlorobenzotriazole acts similar to a mixed type inhibitor, according to the potentiodynamic polarization measurements.

A novel micro-photogrammetric instrument for visualizing in 3D small objects applied to the quantitative study of the dissolution behavior of a pharmaceutical dosage form.

The work presented here proposes an innovative approach to 3D chemical mapping of solid formulations by microphotogrammetry. We present details of a novel microphotogrammetry apparatus and the first results for the application of photogrammetry to the dissolution analysis of solid pharmaceutical dosage forms. Unlike other forms of optical imaging, microphotogrammetry allows a true 3D model to be constructed that includes direct observation of the sides of the sample rather than only top-down topographic imaging.

A Direct Compression Matrix Made from Xanthan Gum and Low Molecular Weight Chitosan Designed to Improve Compressibility in Controlled Release Tablets.

The subject of our research is the optimization of direct compression (DC), controlled release drug matrices comprising chitosan/xanthan gum. The foregoing is considered from two main perspectives; the use of low molecular weight chitosan (LCS) with xanthan gum (XG) and the determination of important attributes for direct compression of the mixtures of the two polymers. Powder flow, deformation behaviour, and work of compression parameters were used to characterize powder and tableting properties.

Electrochemical and DFT studies of brass corrosion inhibition in 3% NaCl in the presence of environmentally friendly compounds.

The effects of adenine, salicylaldoxime and 4(5)-methylimidazole on brass corrosion in NaCl were investigated. The investigation comprised electrochemical techniques, scanning electron microscopy and quantum chemical calculation. The results obtained by polarization measurements show that the examined compounds successfully inhibited the corrosion of brass.

Ibuprofen as a corrosion inhibitor for copper in synthetic acid rain solution.

It is known that if unused drugs are improperly disposed, they can pollute the environment. Furthermore, researchers are still trying to find an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor. These factors lead to the possible application of unused pharmaceutical compounds as corrosion inhibitors.

Glassy state molecular mobility and its relationship to the physico-mechanical properties of plasticized hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) films.

Changes in tensile properties and the glass transition temperature (T) of plasticized polymer films are typically attributed to molecular mobility, often with no empirical data to support such an assertion. Herein solvent cast HPMC films containing varying amounts of PEG, as the plasticizer, were used to assess the dependence of tensile properties and the T on glassy state molecular mobility. Molecular mobility (molecular relaxation time and temperature) parameters were determined by Thermally Stimulated Current Spectroscopy (TSC).

Can emollients of similar composition be assumed to be therapeutically equivalent: a comparison of skin occlusivity and emulsion microstructure.

Introduction: Emollient therapy is the mainstay for treating skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. New emollients have been introduced recently and are assumed to be therapeutically interchangeable with the innovator products because, superficially, they appear to have similar compositions. This study compares a) the ex vivo human skin occlusion performance and b) the visual and microscopic properties of Isomol gel (IMG) and Doublebase gel (DBG).

Effect of Protonation State and N-Acetylation of Chitosan on Its Interaction with Xanthan Gum: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

Hydrophilic matrices composed of chitosan (CS) and xanthan gum (XG) complexes are of pharmaceutical interest in relation to drug delivery due to their ability to control the release of active ingredients. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) have been performed in order to obtain information pertaining to the effect of the state of protonation and degree of -acetylation (DA) on the molecular conformation of chitosan and its ability to interact with xanthan gum in aqueous solutions. The conformational flexibility of CS was found to be highly dependent on its state of protonation.

Removal of cationic pollutants from water by xanthated corn cob: optimization, kinetics, thermodynamics, and prediction of purification process.

The removal of Cr(III) ions and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions by xanthated corn cob (xCC) in batch conditions was investigated. The sorption capacity of xCC strongly depended of the pH, and increase when the pH rises. The kinetics was well fitted by pseudo-second-order and Chrastil's model.

Chemical Imaging by Dissolution Analysis: Localized Kinetics of Dissolution Behavior to Provide Two-Dimensional Chemical Mapping and Tomographic Imaging on a Nanoscale.

A new approach to achieving chemical mapping on a nanoscale is described that can provide 2D and tomographic images of surface and near-surface structure. The method comprises dissolving material from the surface of the sample by applying a series of aliquots of solvent, then analyzing their contents after removing them; in between exposures, the surface is imaged with atomic force microscopy. This technique relies on being able to compensate for any drift between images by use of software.

Molecular mobility of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) films characterised by thermally stimulated currents (TSC) spectroscopy.

Molecular mobility has long been established to relate to textural properties and stability of polymer films and is therefore an important property to characterise to better understand pharmaceutical film formulations. The molecular mobility of solvent cast hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) films has been investigated by means of thermally stimulated current (TSC) below the temperature at which the film was formed. Preliminary physical characterisation of the films was performed using XRPD, TGA, DSC and texture analysis (tensile properties).

Modified local diatomite as potential functional drug carrier--A model study for diclofenac sodium.

Diatomite makes a promising candidate for a drug carrier because of its high porosity, large surface area, modifiable surface chemistry and biocompatibility. Herein, refined diatomite from Kolubara coal basin, which complied with the pharmacopoeial requirements for heavy metals content and microbiological quality, was used as a starting material. Inorganic modification of the starting material was performed through a simple, one-step procedure.

Assessment of the quality of polluted areas based on the content of heavy metals in different organs of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cv Tamjanika.

In this study, the samples of the spatial soil and organs of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cultivar Tamjanika were collected from the selected zones near the Mining and Smelting Complex Bor (East Serbia). They were analyzed by ICP-OES to determine the content of Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cd, and Ni with the aim of ascertaining if these data may help in the assessment and improvement of the quality of environment in polluted areas such as Bor and its surrounding area. The results obtained from the calculated biological and enrichment factors, as well as from the Pearson correlation study and hierarchical cluster analysis confirmed that very useful information is recorded in plant organs: root, stem, leaves, and fruit.

The stress stability of olanzapine: studies of interactions with excipients in solid state pharmaceutical formulations.

Stress stability testing represents an important part of the drug development process. It is used as an important tool for the identification of degradation products and degradation pathways, as well as for the assessment of changes in physical form of drug molecules. The impact of excipients on the stability of olanzapine confirms that levels of impurities and degradants are limiting parameters and are therefore used for stability evaluation.