Thin Film Analysis by Nanomechanical Infrared Spectroscopy.

There is a fundamental need for techniques for thin film characterization. The current options for obtaining infrared (IR) spectra typically suffer from low signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs) for sample thicknesses confined to a few nanometers. We present nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy (NAM-IR), which enables the measurement of a complete infrared fingerprint of a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) layer as thin as 20 nm with an SNR of 307.

Theoretical Importance of PVP-Alginate Hydrogels Structure on Drug Release Kinetics.

Background: The new concepts of personalized and precision medicine require the design of more and more refined delivery systems. In this frame, hydrogels can play a very important role as they represent the best surrogate of soft living tissues for what concerns rheological properties. Thus, this paper focusses on a global theoretical approach able to describe how hydrogel polymeric networks can affect the release kinetics of drugs characterized by different sizes.

Combined Used of Rheology and LF-NMR for the Characterization of PVP-Alginates Gels Containing Liposomes.

Purpose: This paper is based on the characterization of the rheological and Low Field NMR (LF-NMR) properties of an interpenetrated hydrogel made up by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) and sodium alginate. The final aim is to use the hydrogel as a delivery matrix for liposomes, widely used tools in the drug delivery field.

Methods: Rheology, LF-NMR, TEM, cryo-TEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy and release test were employed to characterize the interpenetrated hydrogel.

From concept to in vivo testing: Microcontainers for oral drug delivery.

This work explores the potential of polymeric micrometer sized devices (microcontainers) as oral drug delivery systems (DDS). Arrays of detachable microcontainers (D-MCs) were fabricated on a sacrificial layer to improve the handling and facilitate the collection of individual D-MCs. A model drug, ketoprofen, was loaded into the microcontainers using supercritical CO impregnation, followed by deposition of an enteric coating to protect the drug from the harsh gastric environment and to provide a fast release in the intestine.

Recent advances in smart biotechnology: Hydrogels and nanocarriers for tailored bioactive molecules depot.

Over the past ten years, the global biopharmaceutical market has remarkably grown, with ten over the top twenty worldwide high performance medical treatment sales being biologics. Thus, biotech R&D (research and development) sector is becoming a key leading branch, with expanding revenues. Biotechnology offers considerable advantages compared to traditional therapeutic approaches, such as reducing side effects, specific treatments, higher patient compliance and therefore more effective treatments leading to lower healthcare costs.

Chemical Engineering in the "BIO" World.

Modern Chemical Engineering was born around the end of the 19th century in Great Britain, Germany, and the USA, the most industrialized countries at that time. Milton C. Whitaker, in 1914, affirmed that the difference between Chemistry and Chemical Engineering lies in the capability of chemical engineers to transfer laboratory findings to the industrial level.

Polymer-filled microcontainers for oral delivery loaded using supercritical impregnation.

In the last years a large variety of drug delivery systems have been developed to improve bioavailability of therapeutics in oral administration. An increasing interest has arisen in reservoir-based microdevices designed for active ingredients like water insoluble compounds and fragile biomolecules. Such microdevices are designed to protect the active ingredient against degradation and deactivation, and to allow cytoadhesion and unidirectional drug release.