Design and evaluation of fluorescent chitosan-starch hydrogel for drug delivery and sensing applications.

Composite bio-based hydrogels have been obtaining a significant attention in recent years as one of the most promising drug delivery systems. In the present study, the preparation of composite chitosan-starch hydrogel using maleic acid as a cross-linker was optimized with the help of response surface methodology. The synthesized hydrogel was fluorescent owing to clustering of large number of functional groups.

Chitosan based hybrid superabsorbent for controlled drug delivery application.

In the present study, a hybrid chitosan-alginate superabsorbent is prepared using maleic acid as a cross-linker and acrylamide as a grafting agent using the free radical mechanism. The composite hydrogel shows good swelling capacity along with hemocompatibility and biocompatibility and hence it is utilized as a drug delivery device. The characterization techniques including x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermal analysis indicate the successful synthesis of stable hydrogel with rich functionalities.

A review of modern and Vedic practices on use of umbilical cord.

Stromal cells possess unique properties to regenerate themselves and cure various chronic illnesses. An easily available and ethical source for procurement of stromal cells is umbilical cord blood which is now being stored for future use. Vedic texts also describe the cord blood as a source of life.

Study of a cross-linked hydrogel of Karaya gum and Starch as a controlled drug delivery system.

A cross-linked hydrogel was synthesized using a hybrid backbone of karaya gum starch and grafted with polyacrylic acid. It showed a maximum swelling ratio (SR) of 30.5 g/g at pH 10 and was explored as an oral drug delivery carrier using paracetamol and aspirin as model drugs.

Validation of enhanced stabilization of municipal solid waste under controlled leachate recirculation using FTIR and XRD.

Leachate recirculation at neutral PH accompanied with buffer/nutrients addition has been used successfully in earlier stabilization of municipal solid waste in bioreactor landfills. In the present study, efforts were made to enhance the stabilization rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) and organic solid waste (OSW) in simulated landfill bioreactors by controlling the pH of recirculated leachate towards slightly alkaline side in absence of additional buffer and nutrients addition. Enhanced stabilization in waste samples was monitored with the help of analytical tools like Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).