The polymer-surfactant mixture has usages in numerous industries mainly in the production of daily used materials. Herein, the micellization and phase separation nature of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and TX-100 along with a synthetic water-soluble polymer-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) have been conducted using conductivity and cloud point (CP) measurement tools. In the case of micellization study of SDS + PVA mixture by conductivity method, the CMC values were obtained to be dependent on the categories and extent of additives as well as temperature variation. Both categories of studies were performed in aq. solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium acetate (NaOAc), and sodium benzoate (NaBenz) media. The CP values of TX 100 + PVA were decreased and enhanced in simple electrolytes and sodium benzoate media respectively. In all cases, the free energy changes of micellization (∆Gm0) and clouding (∆Gc0) were obtained as negative and positive respectively. The enthalpy (∆Hm0) and entropy (∆Sm0) changes for SDS + PVA system micellization was negative and positive respectively in aq. NaCl and NaBenz media, and in aq. NaOAc medium the ∆Hm0 values were found negative while ∆Sm0 were found negative except at the highest studied temperature (323.15 K). The enthalpy-entropy compensation of both processes was also assessed and described clearly.
The present study aimed to provide an insight of C. jejuni ATCC 33560 phenotype profiles (carbon sources and sensitivity to osmolytes and pH) using Phenotypic MicroArray (PM) system in response to optimal and suboptimal temperature. C. jejuni ATCC 33560 showed utilization carbon sources from amino acids and carboxylates but not from sugars. C. jejuni ATCC 33560 is sensitive to NaCl at 2% and above but showed survival in a wide range of food preservatives (sodium lactate, sodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, ammonium sulphate and sodium nitrate). When incubated at suboptimal temperature, no phenotype loss was observed in carbon source plates. Phenotype loss of C. jejuni ATCC 33560 was observed in sodium chloride (1%), sodium sulphate (2-3%), sodium formate (1%), sodium lactate (7-12%), sodium phosphate pH7 (100mM and 200mM), ammonium sulphate pH8 (50mM), sodium nitrate (60mM, 80mM and 100mM), sodium nitrite (10mM), and growth in pH5. The phenotypic profile from present study will provide a better insight related to survival of C. jejuni ATCC 33560.
Low aqueous solubility is a major problem faced during formulation development of new drug molecules. Lurasidone HCl (LRD) is an antipsychotic agent specially used in the treatments of schizophrenia and is a good example of the problems associated with low aqueous solubility. Lurasidone is practically insoluble in water, has poor bioavailability and slow onset of action and therefore cannot be given in emergency clinical situations like schizophrenia. Hence, purpose of this research was to provide a fast dissolving oral dosage form of Lurasidone. This dosage form can provide quick onset of action by using the concept of mixed hydrotropy. Initially, solubility of LRD was determined individually in nicotinamide, sodium citrate, urea and sodium benzoate at concentration of 10, 20, 30 and 40% w/v solutions using purified water as a solvent. Highest solubility was obtained in 40% sodium benzoate solution. In order to decrease the individual hydrotrope concentration mixed hydrotropic agents were used. Highest solubility was obtained in 15:20:5 ratio of Nicotinamide + sodium benzoate + sodium citrate. This optimized combination was utilized in the preparation of solid dispersions by using distilled water as a solvent. Solid dispersions were evaluated for X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared to show no drug-hydrotropes interaction has occurred. This solid dispersion was compressed to form fast dissolving tablets. Dissolution studies of prepared tablets were done using USP Type II apparatus. The batch L3 tablets show 88% cumulative drug release within 14 min and in vitro dispersion time was 32 min. It was concluded that the concept of mixed hydrotropic solid dispersion is novel, safe and cost-effective technique for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. The miraculous enhancement in solubility and bioavailability of Lurasidone is clear indication of the potential of mixed hydrotropy to be used in future for other poorly water-soluble drugs in which low bioavailability is a major concern.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder with obscure etiology and no disease-modifying therapy to date. Hence, novel, safe, and low cost-effective approaches employing medicinal plants are currently receiving increased attention. A growing body of evidence has revealed that cinnamon, being widely used as a spice of unique flavor and aroma, may exert neuroprotective effects in several neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. In vitro evidence has indicated that the essential oils of Cinnamomum species, mainly cinnamaldehyde and sodium benzoate may protect against oxidative stress-induced cell death, reactive oxygen species generation, and autophagy dysregulation, thus acting in a potentially neuroprotective manner. In vivo evidence has demonstrated that oral administration of cinnamon powder and sodium benzoate may protect against dopaminergic cell death, striatal neurotransmitter dysregulation, and motor deficits in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse models of PD. The underlying mechanisms of its action include autophagy regulation, antioxidant effects, upregulation of Parkin, DJ-1, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, as well as modulation of the TLR/NF-κB pathway and inhibition of the excessive proinflammatory responses. In addition, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that cinnamon extracts may affect the oligomerization process and aggregation of α-synuclein. Herein, we discuss recent evidence on the novel therapeutic opportunities of this phytochemical against PD, indicating additional mechanistic aspects that should be explored, and potential obstacles/limitations that need to be overcome, for its inclusion in experimental PD therapeutics.