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We present a data-driven approach to unveil the pharmaceutical technologies of cyclodextrins (CDs) by analyzing a dataset of CD pharmaceutical patents. First, we implemented network science techniques to represent CD patents as a single structure and provide a framework for unsupervised detection of keywords in the patent dataset. Guided by those keywords, we further mined the dataset to examine the patenting trends according to CD-based dosage forms. CD patents formed complex networks, evidencing the supremacy of CDs for solubility enhancement and how this has triggered cutting-edge applications based on or beyond the solubility improvement. The networks exposed the significance of CDs to formulate aqueous solutions, tablets, and powders. Additionally, they highlighted the role of CDs in formulations of anti-inflammatory drugs, cancer therapies, and antiviral strategies. Text-mining showed that the trends in CDs for aqueous solutions, tablets, and powders are going upward. Gels seem to be promising, while patches and fibers are emerging. Cyclodextrins’ potential in suspensions and emulsions is yet to be recognized and can become an opportunity area. This is the first unsupervised/supervised data-mining approach aimed at depicting a landscape of CDs to identify trending and emerging technologies and uncover opportunity areas in CD pharmaceutical research.

The goal of the present innovation is to give engineering students an innovative educational experience through their natural engagement with mobile devices. It aims to motivate the integration of technology in the teaching-learning process where students design, develop and use a mobile app in order to build up knowledge in Thermodynamics. It also enhances their level of domain of soft skills such as teamwork, creativity, self-management, analytical, abstract and critical thinking. This work suggests the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to develop Open Educational Resources (OERs), which could be helpful in the teaching-learning process of Equilibrium Thermodynamics (ET). During 2016, chemical and biotechnology engineering students from ITESM CEM developed a mobile app to facilitate the comprehension of physicochemical phenomena of phase equilibria. Its design and implementation was the result of a four-step process: 1. Selection of the technologic platform; 2. Definition of thematic content; 3. Creative process for the design and information setup; and 4. Development of the app. Results of this study show quantitatively that implementing technology-based learning experiences as a learning tool has a positive impact on the educational performance and skills development of students. It was learnt that the student’s performance was influenced by the type of technology selected and promoted the development of distinct skills and the construction of knowledge in different levels of domain.

One of the primary challenges in teaching basic undergraduate engineering courses is to design and implement educational experiences that enable students to understand elemental concepts and apply them in real-world problems. In Mexico, Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey campus Estado de Mexico (ITESM-CEM) implemented a research-based learning experience as part of a sophomore year course for students reading for chemical and biotechnology engineering degrees. By engaging undergraduate students in a research project, we have successfully completed the academic objectives of the course, students developed research skills and transformed their attitude and perception towards a traditional course, into a novel and attractive approach by linking fundamental knowledge with state-of-the-art research. The findings of this study will redound to the benefit of universities and institutions teaching all types of engineering degrees by providing researchers and lecturers with some ideas to engage undergrad students in research projects; and to students, to motivate them to explore career options through an early research experience that enables them to make informed decisions about pursuing, or not, a career in research.

We herein disclose how global cyclodextrin-based pharmaceutical technologies have evolved since the early 80s through a 1998 patents dataset retrieved from Derwent Innovation Index. We used text-mining techniques based on the patents semantic content to extract the knowledge contained therein, to analyze technologies related to the principal attributes of CDs: solubility, stability, and taste-masking enhancement. The majority of CDs pharmaceutical technologies are directed toward parenteral aqueous solutions. The development of oral and ocular formulations is rapidly growing, while technologies for nasal and pulmonary routes are emerging and seem to be promising. Formulations for topical, transdermal, vaginal, and rectal routes do not account for a high number of patents, but they may be hiding a great potential, representing opportunity research areas. Certainly, the progress in materials sciences, supramolecular chemistry, and nanotechnology, will influence the trend of that, apparently neglected, research. The bottom line, CDs pharmaceutical technologies are still increasing, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. Patent monitoring allows the identification of relevant technologies and trends to prioritize research, development, and investment in both, academia and industry. We expect the scope of this approach to be applied in the pharmaceutical field beyond CDs technological applications., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • The evolution of cyclodextrins pharmaceutical technologies is analyzed. • Patent database used as the technical source. • Patents analyzed through a text-mining approach based on semantic content. • Formulations containing cyclodextrins for all administration routes are discussed. • Technological trends and research opportunity areas are detected.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to suggest the joint use of computer-aided design (CAD) and additive manufacturing (AM) technology for the fabrication of custom-made moulds, designed for the manufacture of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) implants for cranio-maxillofacial reconstruction to reduce their fabrication time. Even though tailor-made skull prostheses with a high technological level and state-of-the-art materials are available in the market, they are not always accessible to the general population in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – Computed tomography data were handled to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the injury of the patient, by reconstructing Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images into an Standard Tessellation Language (STL) file that was further used to design the corresponding implant using CAD software. Accordingly, a two-piece core and cavity moulds that replicated the implant geometry was also CAD designed. The 3D-CAD data were sent to an AM machine (fused deposition modelling) and the moulds were fabricated using polycarbonate as thermoplastic material. A reacting mixture to produce PMMA was poured directly into the fabricated moulds, and left to polymerise until cure. Finally, a clear bubble-free case of study PMMA implant was obtained. Findings – The fabrication of CAD-designed moulds with AM, replacing the production of the injury model, resulted in the reduction of the lead-time in the manufacturing of PMMA around 45 per cent. Additionally, the implant showed better fit than the one produced by conventional process. The use of AM moulds for the fabrication of PMMA implants has demonstrated the reduction in lead-time, which potentially can reduce the waiting time for patients. Social implications – Currently, the demand of cranio-maxillofacial implants at only the Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga” (HGM) is 4,000 implants per year, and the average waiting time for each patient is between 5 and 10 weeks, including third-party services’ delays and the time needed to obtain the economical resources by the patient. Public hospitals in Mexico lack manufacturing facilities, so patients have to make use of laboratories abroad and most of the population have no access to them. The implementation of this suggested procedure in public hospitals may improve the accuracy of the implant, increase the number of patients attended per year (up to 83 per cent) and the reduction in waiting time can also reduce mortality and infection rates. Originality/value – The authors of this paper suggest the joint use of CAD and AM technologies to significantly reduce the production time of PMMA implants by producing moulds rather than the injury model, maintaining the general terms and known steps of the process already established for PMMA implants.

Pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) is a fast analytical technique used to characterize different lignocellulosic materials. Additionally, cheminformatics allows processing the vast amount of information obtained from Py-GC/MS for the classification of such materials. Here we characterized the lignocellulosic matrix of the spines in species of Cactaceae by Py-GC/MS; omic tools were used for processing the mass spectra in order to classify the species and identify chemical characters with taxonomic value. Fresh spines samples were collected from mature individuals belonging to 15 species of Cactaceae with known phylogenies. All samples were cleaned by ultrasonication and sequential Soxhlet extraction. Milled samples were analysed by Py-GC/MS and mass spectra were deconvoluted, identified, aligned and annotated using omic tools before the multivariate analysis. A total of 451 compounds were identified and aligned: ketones, esters, alcohols, furans and hydrocarbons were the main classes. Furan, furfural, butane and ethylene oxide were the main derivatives produced from carbohydrates, while the p-hydroxyphenyl (H) and guaiacyl (G) derivatives, as well as catechols, were the only compounds produced from lignin. Abundance patterns shared by different clusters of species were identified, obtaining a good resolution at the genus level. Lignin derivatives were preponderant for the identification of some groups of species, such as those of Cacteae, Selenicereus-Deamia and Opuntia. An incongruent clustering for Disocactus and Echinocereus species was found; environmental effects and characters convergence are evoked as the probable causes. A good taxonomic correspondence was obtained by combining the clustering and factorization analyses.

This article analyses how the concept of sustainability is being incorporated into global research of higher education. This study utilizes different scientometric reviews of global research between 1991 and 2018 using text mining techniques in order to generate first and second-generation bibliometric indicators, the latter are displayed in science maps. A total of 6724 articles and conference proceedings were collected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases to generate this research. From the results obtained, it was possible to build a canvas of the main institutions that have significantly contributed to the topic of sustainability in higher education, and it was found that 40.58% of the records originated in institutions from the United States, China, United Kingdom, and Australia. This study also provides an insight into emerging trend themes, and patterns of research in the area of sustainability worldwide. Terms such as regional planning and environmental protection inside the top keywords found, suggest a greater interest in issues of sustainable planning and social awareness and that higher education is becoming the cornerstone of environmental awareness, innovation, and guidance to achieve sustainability goals in higher education institutions, as well as in society and government.