Ascorbic acid as serine protease inhibitor in lung cancer cell line and human serum albumin.

Serine proteases (SPs) are distributed among all living cells accounting for almost one-third of all proteases. Dysregulation of SPs during inflammation and/or infection can result in devastating consequences, such as skin and lung inflammation, neuroinflammation, arthritis, as well as metastasis of cancerous cells. Such activities are tightly regulated by various inhibitors known as serine protease inhibitors (SERPIN).

Nanolevel of detection of ascorbic acid using horse-radish peroxidase inhibition assay.

Ascorbic acid plays a significant role in regulation of various bodily functions with high concentrations in immune cells and being involved in connective tissue maintenance. Commonly it is detected through various colorimetric methods. In this study, we propose a one-step simple method based on the inhibitory activity of ascorbic acid on horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide.

Quantitative analysis of povidone-iodine thin films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and their physicochemical properties.

In this study, povidone-iodine (PVP-I) has been formulated as a topical spray to produce a thin film for the controlled release of I2. By means of experimental design, 27 formulations containing glycerol, ethanol, PEG 400, copovidone and HFA 134a as a propellant were prepared. The pH values of all formulations were in the range of 6-7.

Factors Affecting Enhanced Permeation of Amphotericin B Across Cell Membranes and Safety of Formulation.

The aim of this study was to determine amphotericin B (AmB) permeation across lipid bilayer membranes mounted on Transwell® and to observe the phagocytosis of the AmB and the AmB-lipid formulations by alveolar macrophage (AM) cell lines using a fluorescence microscope. The lipid bilayer membranes were prepared from phospholipid and ergosterol as well as phospholipid and cholesterol in a ratio (67:33 mol%). AmB-lipid formulations were prepared from AmB incorporated with four lipid derivatives during a lyophilization process.

Phase behavior of rifampicin in cholesterol-based liquid crystals and polyethylene glycol.

The phase behavior of rifampicin in cholesteryl-based carbonate esters (CCEs), cholesterol and polyethylene glycol4000 (PEG4000) was determined to evaluate their potential in the formulation of dry powder inhalation dosage forms. To guide the identification of the most suitable liquid crystalline system for the solubilization of rifampicin, the dielectric constants were evaluated. Thereafter, the phase behavior of various mixtures were characterized by polarized light microscope (PLM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).