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Enrofloxacin (ENR), a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, is widely used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections. Like many antibiotics, ENR has limited water solubility and low bioavailability. To address these challenges, drug formulations using solid dispersions, nanosuspensions, surfactants, cocrystal/salt formation, and inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins may be employed. The approach described herein proposes the development of ENR formulations by co-electrospinning ENR with custom-prepared cyclodextrin–oligolactide (CDLA) derivatives. This method benefits from the high solubility of these derivatives, enabling polymer-free electrospinning. The electrospinning parameters were optimized to incorporate significant amounts of ENR into the CDLA nanofibrous webs, reaching up to 15.6% by weight. The obtained formulations were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy methods and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study indicates that the presence of CDLA derivative does not inhibit the antibacterial activity of ENR, recommending these formulations for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The current studies entail quality by design (QbD)-enabled development of a simple, rapid, precise, accurate, and cost-effective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for estimation of metformin hydrochloride (M-HCl). Design of experiments (DoE) was applied for multivariate optimization of the experimental conditions of the HPLC method. Risk assessment was performed to identify the critical method parameters (CMPs) using Ishikawa diagram. The factor screening studies were performed using a two-factor three-levels design. Two independent factors, buffer pH and mobile phase composition, were used to design mathematical models. Central composite design (CCD) was used to study the response surface methodology and to study in depth the effects of these independent factors, thus evaluating the critical analytical attributes (CAAs), namely, retention time, peak area, and symmetry factor as the parameters of method robustness. Desirability function was used to simultaneously optimize the CAAs. The optimized and predicted data from contour diagram consisted of 0.02 M acetate buffer pH = 3/methanol in a ratio of 70/30 (v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate 1 mL/min. The separation was made on a Thermoscientific ODS HypersylTM chromatographic column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with oven temperature 35 °C and UV detection at 235 nm. The optimized assay conditions were validated according to ICH guidelines. Hence, the results clearly showed that QbD approach could be successfully applied to optimize HPLC method for estimation of M-HCl. The method was applied both for the evaluation of M-HCl content in tablets, and for in vitro dissolution studies of M-HCl from conventional and prolonged-release tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the total resistance and investigate the flow around a full-scale kayak. Utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), it was determined how the presence of a rudder affects the kayak’s hydrodynamic performance. To analyse the flow, computational fluid dynamics based on the RANS-VOF solver were employed. The fluid volume approach and the k-ω turbulence model were used in two-phase steady flow simulations around the kayak hulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A polyphenol-rich diet protects against chronic pathologies by modulating numerous physiological processes, such as cellular redox potential, enzymatic activity, cell proliferation and signaling transduction pathways. However, polyphenols have a low oral bioavailability mainly due to an extensive biotransformation mediated by phase I and phase II reactions in enterocytes and liver but also by gut microbiota. Despite low oral bioavailability, most polyphenols proved significant biological effects which brought into attention the low bioavailability/high bioactivity paradox. In recent years, polyphenol metabolites have attracted great interest as many of them showed similar or higher intrinsic biological effects in comparison to the parent compounds. There is a huge body of literature reporting on the biological functions of polyphenol metabolites generated by phase I and phase II metabolic reactions and gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation. In this respect, the review highlights the pharmacokinetic fate of the major dietary polyphenols (resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, rutin, genistein, daidzein, ellagitannins, proanthocyanidins) in order to further address the efficacy of biometabolites as compared to parent molecules. The present work strongly supports the contribution of metabolites to the health benefits of polyphenols, thus offering a better perspective in understanding the role played by dietary polyphenols in human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The technological achievements of the past decades have allowed the development of the pharmaceutical form of tablet both in terms of formulation and preparation technologies, and in terms of quality parameter evaluation. The aim of our article is to continue to analyze the development of this pharmaceutical dosage form by describing the methods for preparing the tablets and the quality assessment tests in accordance with the pharmacopoeial specifications. The technology of the compression process has evolved from the simple pressing of a powder mixture into a cylinder by hammering to rotary compressing machines with a productivity of over 200,000 tablets/minute. The quality control of the tablets involves establishing some physical-chemical and pharmacotechnical parameters in order to assess the production process and also the pharmaco-technical and therapeutic performance of the tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacist.ro is the property of MEDICHUB MEDIA, S.R.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nowadays, European Pharmacopoeia defines tablets as solid dosage forms containing one or more active substances obtained by compressing a volume of powder or by extrusion, moulding or lyophilization techniques. This pharmaceutical form has experienced a spectacular evolution over the years. The first patents for some tablet formulations were registered at the beginning of the 19th century and we are currently witnessing their formalization of a large number of conventional or modified release tablets in many quality normatives. The first editions of the Romanian Pharmacopoeia formalized pills as oral solid forms. The first general monograph “Comprimata” (or Tablettae, Compressa) was published in the 5th edition of Romanian Pharmacopoeia (1943) and defines tablets as solid pharmaceutical forms presenting various forms obtained by compressing powdered drugs. After various approaches regarding their classification and names, in the 10th edition of Romanian Pharmacopoeia we find all types of compressed tablet in the monograph “Compressi”. This monograph includes tablets for oral administration, while tablets for other routes of administration are presented in the four supplements of the 10th edition of Romanian Pharmacopoeia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wax represents an important group of ingredients used for the implementation of cosmetic and decorative products. From a chemical point of view, waxes are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons and fatty acids combined with esters. They have a long-lasting consistency and are highly resistant to moisture, oxidation and microbial attack. The paper aims to present a series of waxes used in cosmetics and not only. There are briefly presented the characteristics, the methods of obtaining and the uses of wax in the cosmetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the antioxidant, antihyperglycemic and antimicrobial effects of both ethanolic and hydromethanolic extracts of the fruiting bodies of wild edible mushrooms Boletus edulis (penny bun) and Cantharellus cibarius (golden chanterelle) sampled in Poiana Stampei (Suceava county, Romania). The total phenolic contents of extracts were also determined. Boletus edulis hydromethanolic extract showed the highest total phenolic content (72.78±0.29 mg/g). This extract was also the most active as scavenger of DPPH and ABTS radicals (EC50=151.44±0.85 and 65.4±0.4 μg/mL, respectively) and reducing agent (EC50=46.77±0.34 μg/mL). Cantharellus cibarius ethanolic extract showed high ferrous ion chelating (EC50=82.9±0.6 μg/mL), 15-lipoxygenase (EC50=236.7±1.5 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (EC50=9.77±0.06 μg/mL) inhibitory activities. For both mushrooms, the ethanolic extracts were more active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 than the hydromethanolic ones. The antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects revealed in this study support further investigations for a possible valorization of both mushrooms in the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the development of novel PVA composite electrospun nanofibers containing anti-inflammatory drugs like Ketoprofen complexed with β-cyclodextrin. PVA- drug solution with an average molecular weight between 50,000 and 124,000 g/mol was electrospun at a voltage of 20-30 kV. The resulting fibers were mechanically tested at stretch, for thermal degradation, and fiber drug release rate was established. The results indicate that the ketoprofen-β-cyclodextrin particles were distributed uniformly in the PVA fibers and these nanofibers have diameters between 100 to 500 nm. For PVA fiber, glass transition temperature was observed at about 79°C. The degradation temperature for ketoprofen was about 89°C and for PVA fibers was about 262°C. Following mechanical tests, the fiber length ranges from 2.0 to 2.5 mm and the stretching speed was 0.2 mm per minute. The dissolution tests showed a drug release in 30 minutes. These properties recommend them as suture fibers for tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crataegus pentagyna (CP) and Viburnum opulus (VO) are known for their beneficial effects in cardiovascular diseases, but limited data is reported regarding their bioavailability. The purpose of the present study was to to determine the total phenolic content of the extracts obtained from these species, their antioxidant capacity and their permeability through sublingual porcine and chicken skin membranes. CPleaf extract had a higher concentration of polyphenols compared to VO fruit extract (901.12±3.23 vs. 231.15±1.53 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents/g extract), but both extracts had strong antioxidant activity (IC50=15.56±0.03 and 47.18±0.12 µg/mL, respectively). The permeation and penetration studies were performed in Franz diffusion cells and revealed that polyphenols of bothextract had higher permeability coefficient (4.85±0.51x10-3 and 3.65±0.21 x10-3 cm.h-1) through sublingual membrane compared to skin membrane (3.92±0.45x10-3 and2.87±0.33x10-3 cm.h-1). In terms of penetration, the skin membrane retained a high percentage of the polyphenols from VO extract (27.50±2.91%). These results highlight that the extracts can be used for the development of dosage forms intended for transmucosal or percutaneous absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is a growing global health crisis that requires effective therapeutic strategies to optimize treatment outcomes. This study aims to address this challenge by developing and characterizing extended-release polymeric matrix tablets containing metformin hydrochloride (M-HCl), a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, and honokiol (HNK), a bioactive compound with potential therapeutic benefits. The objective is to enhance glycemic control and overall therapeutic outcomes through an innovative dual-drug delivery system. Methods: The tablets were formulated using hydrophilic polymers, such as Carbopol ® 71G NF and Noveon ® AA-1. The release kinetics of M-HCl and HNK were investigated through advanced mathematical models, including fractal and multifractal dynamics, to capture the non-linear and time-dependent release processes. Traditional kinetic models (zero-order, first-order, Higuchi equations) were also evaluated for comparison. In vitro dissolution studies were conducted to determine the release profiles of the active ingredients under varying polymer concentrations. Results: The study revealed distinct release profiles for the two active ingredients. M-HCl exhibited a rapid release phase, with 80% of the drug released within 4-7 h depending on polymer concentration. In contrast, HNK demonstrated a slower release profile, achieving 80% release after 9-10 h, indicating a greater sensitivity to polymer concentration. At shorter intervals, drug release followed classical kinetic models, while multifractal dynamics dominated at longer intervals. Higher polymer concentrations resulted in slower drug release rates due to the formation of a gel-like structure upon hydration, which hindered drug diffusion. The mechanical properties and stability of the matrix tablets confirmed their suitability for extended-release applications. Mathematical modeling validated the experimental findings and provided insights into the structural and time-dependent factors influencing drug release. Conclusions: This study successfully developed dual-drug extended-release matrix tablets containing metformin hydrochloride and honokiol, highlighting the potential of hydrophilic polymers to regulate drug release. The findings emphasize the utility of advanced mathematical models for predicting release kinetics and underscore the potential of these formulations to improve patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes in diabetes management.

Background : This study explored the potential of MCM-48 mesoporous silica matrices as a drug delivery system for metformin hydrochloride, aimed at improving the therapeutic management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objectives included the synthesis and characterization of MCM-48, assessment of its drug loading capacity, analysis of drug release profiles under simulated physiological conditions, and the development of a multifractal dynamics-based theoretical framework to model and interpret the release kinetics. Methods : MCM-48 was synthesized using a sol-gel method and characterized by SEM-EDX, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption techniques. Drug loading was performed via adsorption at pH 12 using metformin hydrochloride solutions of 1 mg/mL (P-1) and 3 mg/mL (P-2). In vitro dissolution studies were conducted to evaluate the release profiles in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. A multifractal dynamics model was developed to interpret the release kinetics. Results : SEM-EDX confirmed the uniform distribution of silicon and oxygen, while TEM images revealed a highly ordered cubic mesoporous structure. Nitrogen adsorption analyses showed a high specific surface area of 1325.96 m²/g for unloaded MCM-48, which decreased with drug loading, confirming efficient incorporation of metformin hydrochloride. The loading capacities were 59.788 mg/g (P-1) and 160.978 mg/g (P-2), with efficiencies of 99.65% and 89.43%, respectively. In vitro dissolution studies showed a biphasic release profile: an initial rapid release in gastric conditions followed by sustained release in intestinal fluids, achieving cumulative releases of 92.63% (P-1) and 82.64% (P-2) after 14 hours. The multifractal dynamics-based theoretical release curves closely matched the experimental data. Conclusions : MCM-48 mesoporous silica effectively enhanced metformin delivery, offering a controlled release profile well-suited for type 2 diabetes management. The multifractal theoretical framework provided valuable insights into drug release dynamics, contributing to the advancement of innovative drug delivery systems.