NIR and THz spectroscopy: An experimental investigation toward nicotine-related devices.

This study examined the content of nicotine-delivery products using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and breath ethylene investigated with CO laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (CO LPAS) system as a biomarker of oxidative stress after smoking. The THz-TDS method provided valuable information on the transmission spectra of tobacco and nicotine in smoking products. From the CO LPAS data it was observed that in cigarette (TC) smoking the mean breath ethylene was 687 parts per billion (ppb), while in electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating devices smoking the mean ethylene was 56 ppb and 48 ppb, respectively.

Nanomagnetite-embedded PLGA Spheres for Multipurpose Medical Applications.

We report on the synthesis and evaluation of biopolymeric spheres of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) containing different amounts of magnetite nanoparticles and Ibuprofen (PLGA-FeO-IBUP), but also chitosan (PLGA-CS-FeO-IBUP), to be considered as drug delivery systems. Besides morphological, structural, and compositional characterizations, the PLGA-FeO-IBUP composite microspheres were subjected to drug release studies, performed both under biomimetically-simulated dynamic conditions and under external radiofrequency magnetic fields. The experimental data resulted by performing the drug release studies evidenced that PLGA-FeO-IBUP microspheres with the lowest contents of FeO nanoparticles are optimal candidates for triggered drug release under external stimulation related to hyperthermia effect.