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Conventional chemotherapy is ineffective for colorectal cancer as the drug moiety does not reach its intended site. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) microspheres aimed at colon-specific drug delivery have been developed by using the solvent evaporation technique in this study. The influence of utilizing different percentages of resistant starch-pectin polymer on the drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior of the drug was investigated. The characterization of prepared microspheres was done by shape, surface morphology, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release studies. Drug-polymer interactions and drug stability were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and FTIR spectroscopy. The 5-Fluorouracil polymeric microspheres that were formulated utilizing a resistant starch (RS) and pectin polymer displayed ideal physicochemical properties and spherical particles. The targeted microspheres demonstrated a high drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and a satisfactory drug release pattern over the time period of 8 hours. Studies on drug release conducted under conditions that simulate stomach to colon transit have demonstrated that the drug was prevented from being released in the physiological conditions of the stomach and small intestine. Creating a new multiparticulate system using RS-pectin microspheres in order to forecast the protection that the combination might provide to the dosage form that will ensure localized drug release in the colon. Finally, it was found that the 5-Fluorouracil polymeric microsphere is a suitable microcarrier for effective colon-specific drug delivery tools with increased chemotherapeutic efficacy. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 26(1): 36-44, 2023 (January)

Recyclable cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril (LCNF) coated wood flour composites were fabricated using a vacuum-filtration process for food serving applications. The coated cellulose nanofibril composites had excellent mechanical, and oil, and grease barrier properties compared to a commercial container. However, the composites with both LCNF and CNF coating layers had poor performance in wet conditions compared to the commercial container. The addition of 1 wt.% aluminum sulfate (alum) to the CNF and LCNF coating layer significantly improved the water-resistance of the composites. CNF +1% alum coated composites had inferior water resistance and lower mechanical strength in wet conditions compared to the commercial container. However, the LCNF +1% alum coated composites had comparable water resistance and higher wet mechanical properties than the commercial container. The recyclability of the composites was assessed through the disintegration of the samples in water and subsequent reformation, and it was found that the composites were fully recyclable. The composites could fully retain their mechanical and excellent oil and grease barrier properties after each recycling level. These recyclable fully bio-based nanocomposites can be an eco-friendly alternative for currently used food container systems that use harmful chemicals.

Introduction Due to the extended lockdown imposed for SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many people have experienced problematic sleep patterns and associated health issues worldwide. This study was conducted to assess the sleep quality and psychological states of the Bangladeshi population during the COVID-19 pandemic, respondent's behavioral traits as well as psychological or sleep-related problems induced self-medication practice among the respondents, along with the probability of development of drug dependency. Methods The survey was conducted among 2941 respondents from 25th November 2020 to 4th December 2020 where the responses were analyzed by SPSS V22. Results 10–29.5% experienced a significant degree of sleep problems whereas some experienced severe anxiety and depression. The associations between the behavioral traits and parameters concerning sleep quality, anxiety and depression showed 5% level of significance in all cases. Self-medication practice of sleep aids during this pandemic was reported by 7.14% of the respondents, with a greater percentage belonging to the female or senior age group. Tendency to repeatedly self-medication was observed in 18.86% of this self-medicating populace, and a greater number of male (10.26%) respondents displayed such tendency as opposed to their female (8.6%) equivalents. However, 48.10% of the respondents reported perceptions of improved physical and/or psychological health following self-medication, and this trait was predominant in men (52.14%). Conclusion Results showed a significant number of Bangladeshi populaces were suffering from psychological issues during this COVID-19 which also influenced a certain number of people towards self-medication practice where signs of drug dependency were observed in a significant number of respondents.

Cost-effective, eco-friendly, and oil and grease-resistant food serving containers were made from wood flour with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) or lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) coating layers on the surface and in the bulk. The multi-layer wet-on-wet cellulose nanofiber composites were developed using a vacuum filtration process. All composites showed excellent oil/grease resistivity according to the "kit" test passing #12, the highest possible. The surface free energy and water contact angle showed that the composites with LCNF coating were more hydrophobic than the ones coated with CNF made from bleached pulp fiber. All composites had higher flexural and tensile properties compared with commercial food containers where the mechanical properties increased with increasing binder content and had acceptable thermal stability. Overall, the cellulose nanofiber composites possess excellent mechanical and barrier properties and can be considered as a wood-flour-based (pulp-free) and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs)-free alternative for oil-resistant commercial food serving containers.