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This study aimed to examine the characteristics of H-K4M hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) films containing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with furosemide. A hot homogenization technique and an ultrasonic probe were used to prepare and reduce the size of the NLCs. Films were made using the casting technique. This study used a Box–Behnken design to evaluate the influence of three key independent variables, specifically H-K4M concentration (X1), surfactant Cremophor RH40 concentration (X2), and mixing speed (X3), on the physicochemical properties of furosemide-loaded NLCs and films. The furosemide-loaded NLCs had a particle size ranging from 54.67 to 99.13 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) ranging from 0.246 to 0.670. All formulations exhibited a negative zeta potential, ranging from −7.05 to −5.61 mV. The prepared films had thicknesses and weights ranging from 0.1240 to 0.2034 mm and 0.0283 to 0.0450 g, respectively. The drug content was over 85%. Film surface wettability was assessed based on the contact angle, ranging from 32.27 to 68.94°. Film tensile strength varied from 1.38 to 7.77 MPa, and their elongation at break varied from 124.19 to 170.72%. The ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the complete incorporation of the drug in the film matrix. Therefore, the appropriate selection of values for key parameters in the synthesis of HPMC films containing drug-loaded NLCs is important in the effective development of films for medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for gluten-free products has increased due to improved diagnoses and awareness of gluten-related issues. This study investigated the effect of HPMC, psyllium, and xanthan gum in gluten-free bread formulations. Three tests were conducted, varying the amount of these ingredients: in the first formulation, the amount of HPMC was increased to 4.4 g/100 g of flour and starch; in the second, psyllium husk fiber was increased to 13.2 g/100 g of flour and starch; and in the third formulation, xanthan gum was removed. Differences were observed among the formulations: increasing HPMC reduced extrusion force without affecting bread quality; adding psyllium increased dough elasticity but also crumb gumminess and crust hardness. Eliminating xanthan gum altered dough rheology, resulting in a softer and less gummy crumb, and a less reddish color in the final bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grinding of medical tablets is generally discouraged due to stability issues and various other issues. However, in specific scenarios directed by doctors, pharmacists may engage in grinding medical tablets, particularly to cater to pediatric or dysphagia patient populations as extra-label use. In the case of ground film-coated tablets, many film fragments arise in ground powder. Hence, the determination of the grinding endpoint for film-coated tablets is more challenging compared to uncoated tablets. The reports about grinding efficiency are limited because of the assumption that film-coated tablets are taken as tablets. The purpose of this report is to clarify how pharmaceutical excipients, particularly cellulose derivatives, utilized in film coating influence the grinding efficiency of film-coated tablets. Preliminary findings from the grinding of ten medical commercial tablets suggest that a higher concentration of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) correlated with increased difficulty in grinding film-coated tablets. Four film coating solutions with different HPMC-based components were used to coat model tablets prepared by the authors and their grindability was evaluated. The grinding of these film-coated tablets investigated those higher concentrations of HPMC resulted in increased tablet strength and larger residual film fragments. Moreover, the introduction of small quantities of additional plasticizer to the HPMC solution was found to decrease film strength, making the tablets more amenable to grind. It was shown that the components in the film coating solution affected the mechanical properties of the film and also the grinding characteristics of FC tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to optimize the production process of fermented gluten-free quinoa bread. To this end, the effect of different hydrocolloids on the technological, fermentative, and nutritional properties of quinoa-based gluten-free doughs and breads was evaluated. For this purpose, 3% of four different hydrocolloids (sodium alginate, k-carrageenan, xanthan gum, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) were used in gluten-free doughs composed of 50% quinoa flour, 20% rice flour, and 30% potato starch. The rheological and fermentative properties of the doughs were evaluated, as well as the chemical composition, specific volume, crust and crumb color, and alveolar structure profile of gluten-free breads. The results highlighted the differences in dough rheology during mixing and fermentation of the doughs. In particular, HPMC showed a good gas retention (93%) during the fermentation of quinoa dough by registering the highest maximum dough development height (Hm). The gluten-free quinoa breads obtained were characterized by significantly different quality parameters (p < 0.05). The use of 3% HPMC resulted in breads with the lowest baking loss, the highest volume, and the most open crumb structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioadhesive vaginal film is becoming a more effective and convenient dosage form compared to suppositories and gel for vaginal application as a method for the treatment of vaginal infections. This study aimed to prepare and characterize bioadhesive films of tinidazole to be used for vaginal delivery over a prolonged period to treat local infections. Fourteen formulas of tinidazole films were prepared by solvent evaporation method. Each film was composed of 10 mg tinidazole with different ratios and concentrations of a polymeric combination of polyvinyl alcohol/ polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) or polyvinyl alcohol/ hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (PVA/HPMC) for formulas A1-A7 and B1-B7, respectively. The prepared films were evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, content uniformity, swelling, mucoadhesive strength, mucoadhesive time, and drug release. All the prepared films were transparent, had a uniform thickness (0.1-0.15 mm), and exhibited sufficient flexibility with drug content uniformity. The mucoadhesive strength of films was in the range of 28 ± 0.2 to 75 ± 0.01 g. Films containing PVA/HPMC showed higher swelling and lower mucoadhesive strength than those containing PVA/PVP polymeric combination. The in vitro drug release study showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among films containing PVA/PVP or PVA/HPMC polymeric combinations. Formulas A3 and B4 were considered as the optimal bioadhesive films containing 3% of PVA: PVP (4:1) and 4% of PVA: HPMC (2:1), respectively as they showed complete flexibility, acceptable mucoadhesive strength and time (43 ± 0.1, 45 ± 0.23 g and 30 ± 0.02, 34 ± 0.01 min, respectively) and prolonged drug release rate. In conclusion, films of formulas A3 and B4 possess the potential as a delivery system for tinidazole for the treatment of vaginal infections at the site of application.

The most used viscosity-modifying agents (VMAs) in 3D concrete printing (3DCP) are typically in powder form, which may pose challenges in dispersion and handling due to their low concentration and dust generation. This study explores the viability of using microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) in suspension and paste forms as a VMA in 3D-printable Portland cement mortars. The performance of these developed mortars was compared to a cement mortar containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in powder form. The mortars containing MFC in suspension and paste forms showed slightly higher workability, mechanical strength, and denser microstructure than those with HPMC. The MFC samples showed a higher viscosity and yield stress than the ones containing HPMC. A large-scale concrete 3D printer was used for the printability test. The HPMC mortars showed slightly superior extrudability and printability; however, the shape stability was inferior to that of the MFC mortars. The compressive strength of the 3D-printed samples was 40% lower compressive strength than the mold-cast samples; however, the flexural strength was comparable. Overall, the MFC in paste form outperformed the other VMAs studied here, providing better shape stability, while maintaining acceptable printability.

Abstract Aims Thymus plant is a very useful herbal medicine with various properties such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Therefore, the properties of this plant have made this drug a suitable candidate for wound healing. In this study, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) gel containing Zataria multiflora volatile oil nanoemulsion (neZM) along with polycaprolactone/chitosan (PCL-CS) nanofibrous scaffold was used, and the effect of three experimental groups on the wound healing process was evaluated. The first group, HPMC gel containing neZM, the second group, PCL-CS nanofibers, and the third group, HPMC gel containing neZM and bandaged with PCL-CS nanofibers (PCL-CS/neZM). Wounds bandaged with common sterile gas were considered as control. Methods The nanoemulsion was synthesized by a spontaneous method and loaded into a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) gel. The DLS test investigated the size of these nanoemulsions. A PCL-CS nanofibrous scaffold was also synthesized by electrospinning method then SEM and contact angle tests investigated morphology and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of its surface. The animal study was performed on full-thickness skin wounds in rats, and the process of tissue regeneration in the experimental and control groups was evaluated by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining. Results The results showed that the nanoemulsion has a size of 225±9 nm and has an acceptable dispersion. The PCL-CS nanofibers synthesized by the electrospinning method also show non-beaded smooth fibers and due to the presence of chitosan with hydrophilic properties, have higher surface hydrophobicity than PCL fibers. The wound healing results show that the PCL-CS/neZM group significantly reduced the wound size compared to the other groups on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. The histological results also show that the PCL-CS/neZM group could significantly reduce the parameters of edema, inflammation, and vascularity and increase the parameters of fibrosis, re-epithelialization, and collagen deposition compared to other groups on day 21. Conclusion The results of this study show that the PCL-CS/neZM treatment can effectively improve wound healing.

Aims: Thymus plant is a very useful herbal medicine with various properties such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Therefore, the properties of this plant have made this drug a suitable candidate for wound healing. In this study, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) gel containing Zataria multiflora volatile oil nanoemulsion (neZM) along with polycaprolactone/chitosan (PCL-CS) nanofibrous scaffold was used, and the effect of three experimental groups on the wound healing process was evaluated. The first group, HPMC gel containing neZM, the second group, PCL-CS nanofibers, and the third group, HPMC gel containing neZM and bandaged with PCL-CS nanofibers (PCL-CS/neZM). Wounds bandaged with common sterile gas were considered as control. Methods: The nanoemulsion was synthesized by a spontaneous method and loaded into a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) gel. The DLS test investigated the size of these nanoemulsions. A PCL-CS nanofibrous scaffold was also synthesized by electrospinning method then SEM and contact angle tests investigated morphology and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of its surface. The animal study was performed on full-thickness skin wounds in rats, and the process of tissue regeneration in the experimental and control groups was evaluated by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: The results showed that the nanoemulsion has a size of 225±9 nm and has an acceptable dispersion. The PCL-CS nanofibers synthesized by the electrospinning method also show non-beaded smooth fibers and due to the presence of chitosan with hydrophilic properties, have higher surface hydrophobicity than PCL fibers. The wound healing results show that the PCL-CS/neZM group significantly reduced the wound size compared to the other groups on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. The histological results also show that the PCL-CS/neZM group could significantly reduce the parameters of edema, inflammation, and vascularity and increase the parameters of fibrosis, re-epithelialization, and collagen deposition compared to other groups on day 21. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the PCL-CS/neZM treatment can effectively improve wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of H-K4M hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) films containing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with furosemide. A hot homogenization technique and an ultrasonic probe were used to prepare and reduce the size of the NLCs. Films were made using the casting technique. This study used a Box–Behnken design to evaluate the influence of three key independent variables, specifically H-K4M concentration (X1), surfactant Cremophor RH40 concentration (X2), and mixing speed (X3), on the physicochemical properties of furosemide-loaded NLCs and films. The furosemide-loaded NLCs had a particle size ranging from 54.67 to 99.13 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) ranging from 0.246 to 0.670. All formulations exhibited a negative zeta potential, ranging from −7.05 to −5.61 mV. The prepared films had thicknesses and weights ranging from 0.1240 to 0.2034 mm and 0.0283 to 0.0450 g, respectively. The drug content was over 85%. Film surface wettability was assessed based on the contact angle, ranging from 32.27 to 68.94°. Film tensile strength varied from 1.38 to 7.77 MPa, and their elongation at break varied from 124.19 to 170.72%. The ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the complete incorporation of the drug in the film matrix. Therefore, the appropriate selection of values for key parameters in the synthesis of HPMC films containing drug-loaded NLCs is important in the effective development of films for medical applications.

The demand for gluten-free products has increased due to improved diagnoses and awareness of gluten-related issues. This study investigated the effect of HPMC, psyllium, and xanthan gum in gluten-free bread formulations. Three tests were conducted, varying the amount of these ingredients: in the first formulation, the amount of HPMC was increased to 4.4 g/100 g of flour and starch; in the second, psyllium husk fiber was increased to 13.2 g/100 g of flour and starch; and in the third formulation, xanthan gum was removed. Differences were observed among the formulations: increasing HPMC reduced extrusion force without affecting bread quality; adding psyllium increased dough elasticity but also crumb gumminess and crust hardness. Eliminating xanthan gum altered dough rheology, resulting in a softer and less gummy crumb, and a less reddish color in the final bread.

Gluten-free bread is a new option for a population unable to digest gliadins and glutenins. This study compared the texture and color of four formulations, each containing varying amounts of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), psyllium, xanthan gum, and water. It was found that removing xanthan gum reduced the hardness and gumminess of the breadcrumbs. Increasing the amount of psyllium increased gumminess and redness. Interestingly, increasing the amount of HPMC in the formulation did not show significant differences. This suggests that HPMC may not have a pronounced effect on texture and color compared to the control formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since filling slurry is a cement-based material, viscosity-enhancing admixture exerts a significant effect on its rheological performance and mechanical properties. Viscosity-enhancing admixture can improve pipeline transportation performance and reduce pipeline wear during the filling process of a kilometer-deep mine by changing the plastic viscosity and yield stress of high-concentration filling slurries. In order to reveal the influence mechanism of viscosity-enhancing admixture on rheological performance in slurry, the influence of viscosity-enhancing admixture on the rheological performance of slurry is explored by adjusting viscosity-enhancing admixture dosage and conducting bleeding test, liquidity test, and rheological performance test. The extended DLVO theory is employed to analyze the mechanism of HPMC on the stability of filling slurry. The results show that compared with ordinary slurry, after adding HPMC and XG, the particles of filling slurry are prone to link to form a mesh structure. Besides, the increasing frictional force between particles results in a significant decrease in the bleeding rate and liquidity of the slurry. Such an effect becomes more obvious with the increase of viscosity-enhancing admixture dosage. Meanwhile, the overall effect of HPMC molecules is better than that of XG molecules since HPMC can reduce inter-particle repulsion and facilitate particle aggregation. The optimal dosage is about 0.1%, at which time the yield stress of the filling slurry increases from 89.236 to 160.06 Pa, the plastic viscosity increases from 0.296 to 1.063 Pa·s, and the compressive strength increases from 2.58 to 3.59 MPa in 28 days. The study reveals the influence of viscosity-enhancing admixture on the rheological performance of filling slurry and its evolution characteristics, which provides theoretical support for the development of filling resistance and wear reduction technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) on the rheology and viscoelasticity of cement-limestone paste were evaluated, as was the mechanism of HPMC from the viewpoint of zeta potential and adsorption amount. The results revealed that the greater the content of HPMC or the viscosity of its aqueous solution, the lower the fluidity of the composite paste and therefore the higher the rheological parameters. The relation between torque and rotational velocity of cement-limestone paste is linear; nevertheless, the shear thickening degree of paste increased following the addition of HPMC, demonstrating typical viscoelastic properties. The addition of HPMC prolonged the induction duration and delayed the emergence of the exothermic peak of hydration, decreased zeta potential and conductivity, and increased the propensity of suspension particles to agglomerate. The adsorption amount of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) decreased with increasing aqueous solution viscosity and HPMC concentration due to the winding effect of HPMC’s high molecular chain structure and the competing adsorption of HPMC and PCE.

The aim of this research was to optimize the production process of fermented gluten-free quinoa bread. To this end, the effect of different hydrocolloids on the technological, fermentative, and nutritional properties of quinoa-based gluten-free doughs and breads was evaluated. For this purpose, 3% of four different hydrocolloids (sodium alginate, k-carrageenan, xanthan gum, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) were used in gluten-free doughs composed of 50% quinoa flour, 20% rice flour, and 30% potato starch. The rheological and fermentative properties of the doughs were evaluated, as well as the chemical composition, specific volume, crust and crumb color, and alveolar structure profile of gluten-free breads. The results highlighted the differences in dough rheology during mixing and fermentation of the doughs. In particular, HPMC showed a good gas retention (93%) during the fermentation of quinoa dough by registering the highest maximum dough development height (Hm). The gluten-free quinoa breads obtained were characterized by significantly different quality parameters (p < 0.05). The use of 3% HPMC resulted in breads with the lowest baking loss, the highest volume, and the most open crumb structure.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a painful disorder that commonly appears as ulcers on the oral mucosa, lasting ∼two weeks (minor) to months (major and herpetiform). Current treatment often necessitates the use of topical steroids in the form of pastes, mouthwashes, or gels, but these forms are often ineffective due to inadequate drug contact time with the ulcers. In this study, the performance of novel bilayer mucoadhesive buccal films loaded with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) has been evaluated for targeted drug delivery. Experimental mucoadhesive films of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared by the solvent casting method, and ethyl cellulose (EC) was applied as the backing layer. The films were characterized for their physical properties, including swelling index (SI), folding endurance, adhesion force with porcine buccal mucosa, residence time and in-vitro drug release. The data showed that the films were flexible with folding endurance> 300 times. With porcine buccal mucosa i) suitable adhesion forces were obtained (between 2.72 and 4.03 N), ii) residence times of> 24 h, and iii) surface pH between 6.8 and 7.1 indicating they would be non-irritant. All films released 100% TA over 6 h, but with varying profiles. The release of TA (over 6 h) from PVP-free films followed Fickian diffusion kinetics (diffusion-controlled release of drug), whereas the mechanism of release from PVP-containing films was found to be a superposition of diffusion-controlled and erosion-controlled release (anomalous). The developed films hold great promise for potentially treating RAS and other oral conditions. • Oral bilayer-mucoadhesive films with triamcinolone acetonide for treating RAS. • Films presented with appropriate characteristics for oral mucosal application. • Polymer films with improved residence time and adhesion force on porcine mucosa. • Sustained drug release (6 h) from films with Fickian and/or anomalous diffusion. • HPMC films show potential for oral, topical triamcinolone acetonide delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper performed the research on the autogenous shrinkage mitigation mechanism and mechanical properties of alkali-activated high strength mortar (AAHSM) incorporating hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The increase in HPMC content causes the lower slump flow and the longer setting time of AAHSM due to the flocculation effect of HPMC. Because of strong interaction between the hydroxyls of HPMC and water, the higher internal relative humidity is achieved, leading to the much lower capillary pressure. The unreacted precursors and reaction products are wrapped by the HPMC molecular network, causing that the depolymerization-polymerization reaction is prevented, which leads to the lower reaction degree. The increase in HPMC content promotes less generation of C(N)-A-S-H gels and more generation of hydrotalcite. The adhesion forces between reaction products particles are enhanced by the flocculation effect caused by the HPMC molecular network, indicating that the AAHSM containing HPMC has larger resistance to the deformation. Adding HPMC has a slight effect on the element compositions of reaction products and the pore types and a slight adverse effect on the Yang's modulus of reaction products micro region. Thus, the 56 days autogenous shrinkage of AAHSM is reduced by 22.2 % when the HPMC content is 2.0 wt%. Although the proportion of meso pore is increased by adding HPMC, the higher porosity and coarser pore structure are achieved, thus the autogenous shrinkage is still reduced. The lower reaction degree and generation of C(N)-A-S-H gels caused by adding HPMC lead to the higher porosity, which is related to the lower compressive and flexural strength. When the HPMC content is 2.0 wt%, the 28 days compressive and flexural strength of AAHSM are 89.2 MPa and 8.2 MPa, which are decreased by 17.3 % and 16.3 % compared to that of AAHSM without HPMC. At longer curing age, the reaction degree is improved and more Ca-rich C(N)-A-S-H gels are generated regardless of with or without HPMC, causing the lower porosity and higher Yang's modulus of reaction products micro region, which leads to the improvement of mechanical properties. ● Alkali-activated high-strength mortar (AAHSM) with strength of over 90 MPa was prepared. ● Autogenous shrinkage mitigation mechanism of HPMC for AAHSM was revealed. ● Mechanical properties effects of HPMC for AAHSM was studied. ● Compressive strength of AAHSM was slight reduced and the flexural strength and toughness were improved by HPMC. ● Autogenous shrinkage of AAHSM was reduced due to the lower capillary pressure and stronger adhesive force between gel particles caused by HPMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Portland cement mortars containing microfibrillated cellulose or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose exhibit good extrudability and printability. • Adding microfibrillated cellulose to Portland cement increases the viscosity more than hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. • 3D-printed mortars exhibit better shape stability with microfibrillated cellulose than with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. • 3D-printed mortars have lower mechanical strength than cast mortars due to a more porous structure. The most used viscosity-modifying agents (VMAs) in 3D concrete printing (3DCP) are typically in powder form, which may pose challenges in dispersion and handling due to their low concentration and dust generation. This study explores the viability of using microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) in suspension and paste forms as a VMA in 3D-printable Portland cement mortars. The performance of these developed mortars was compared to a cement mortar containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in powder form. The mortars containing MFC in suspension and paste forms showed slightly higher workability, mechanical strength, and denser microstructure than those with HPMC. The MFC samples showed a higher viscosity and yield stress than the ones containing HPMC. A large-scale concrete 3D printer was used for the printability test. The HPMC mortars showed slightly superior extrudability and printability; however, the shape stability was inferior to that of the MFC mortars. The compressive strength of the 3D-printed samples was 40% lower compressive strength than the mold-cast samples; however, the flexural strength was comparable. Overall, the MFC in paste form outperformed the other VMAs studied here, providing better shape stability, while maintaining acceptable printability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gluten-free bread is a new option for a population unable to digest gliadins and glutenins. This study compared the texture and color of four formulations, each containing varying amounts of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), psyllium, xanthan gum, and water. It was found that removing xanthan gum reduced the hardness and gumminess of the breadcrumbs. Increasing the amount of psyllium increased gumminess and redness. Interestingly, increasing the amount of HPMC in the formulation did not show significant differences. This suggests that HPMC may not have a pronounced effect on texture and color compared to the control formulation.

Since filling slurry is a cement-based material, viscosity-enhancing admixture exerts a significant effect on its rheological performance and mechanical properties. Viscosity-enhancing admixture can improve pipeline transportation performance and reduce pipeline wear during the filling process of a kilometer-deep mine by changing the plastic viscosity and yield stress of high-concentration filling slurries. In order to reveal the influence mechanism of viscosity-enhancing admixture on rheological performance in slurry, the influence of viscosity-enhancing admixture on the rheological performance of slurry is explored by adjusting viscosity-enhancing admixture dosage and conducting bleeding test, liquidity test, and rheological performance test. The extended DLVO theory is employed to analyze the mechanism of HPMC on the stability of filling slurry. The results show that compared with ordinary slurry, after adding HPMC and XG, the particles of filling slurry are prone to link to form a mesh structure. Besides, the increasing frictional force between particles results in a significant decrease in the bleeding rate and liquidity of the slurry. Such an effect becomes more obvious with the increase of viscosity-enhancing admixture dosage. Meanwhile, the overall effect of HPMC molecules is better than that of XG molecules since HPMC can reduce inter-particle repulsion and facilitate particle aggregation. The optimal dosage is about 0.1%, at which time the yield stress of the filling slurry increases from 89.236 to 160.06 Pa, the plastic viscosity increases from 0.296 to 1.063 Pa·s, and the compressive strength increases from 2.58 to 3.59 MPa in 28 days. The study reveals the influence of viscosity-enhancing admixture on the rheological performance of filling slurry and its evolution characteristics, which provides theoretical support for the development of filling resistance and wear reduction technology.

The purpose of this research was to see how the physicochemical properties and porosity of matrix tablets containing various types of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K series affected the release of propranolol hydrochloride (PNL). PNL is a class I drug (high solubility and permeability) according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), making it an excellent model drug used for studying extended-release drug products. The direct compression method was used to prepare the HPMC-based matrix tablets. PNL and the excipients were found to be compatible using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surfaces of all the compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets were rough, with accumulated particles and small holes. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablet porosity was also determined by using mercury porosimetry. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets made of low viscosity HPMC had tiny pores (diameter < 0.01 μm). The shorter polymeric chains are more prone to deformation, resulting in a small pore proportion. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets sustained the release of PNL for over 12 h. The release exponent values (n), which reflect the release mechanism of the drug from the tablets, ranged from 0.476 to 0.497. These values indicated that the release was governed by anomalous transport. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets have the potential for a sustained release of PNL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of two emulsifiers, lecithin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), into emulsions is an interesting strategy to design fat replacers in food matrices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of HPMC type and concentration on the formation, stability, and microstructure of conventional emulsions and nanoemulsions. Two different types of HPMC with low and high content of methyl and hydroxypropyl groups (HPMC-L and HPMC-H) were evaluated. The results showed that the molecular structure and concentration of HPMC play a major role in the viscoelastic behaviour, the gelation temperature, and the strength of gel formed. The firmness and work of shear of HPMC solutions increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing concentration. HPMC-L illustrated a more stable gel structure than the HPMC-H solution. Nanoemulsions showed lower moduli values, firmness, and work of shear than conventional emulsions due to the influence of high-pressure homogenization. A combination of lecithin and HPMC improved the physical and lipid oxidative stability of the emulsions, presenting a lower creaming index and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). In conclusion, HPMC-L at 2% w/w could be a suitable type and concentration combined with lecithin to formulate a saturated fat replacer that could mimic butter technological performance during food manufacturing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxyresveratrol (Oxy) has attracted much attention by employing it as an antibrowning agent in fruits and vegetables. In this study, the formation of cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion exhibited a certain protective effect on Oxy oxidative degradation, while hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP–β-CD) inclusion complex showed stronger stabilizing effects than those of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The combined use of CD and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) greatly improved the stability of Oxy–CD inclusion complexes, with approximately 70% of the trans-Oxy retained after 30 days of storage under light conditions at 25 °C. The results of the interaction between CD and Oxy determined by phase solubility studies and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis showed that the binding strength of CD and Oxy increased in the presence of HPMC. Moreover, Oxy combined with ascorbic acid and HPMC showed an excellent antibrowning effect on fresh-cut apple slices during the 48 h test period, indicating that adding HPMC as the third component will not influence the antibrowning activity of Oxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) get retained in the stomach for a long time, thus facilitating the absorption of drugs in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, drugs that are difficult to dissolve or unstable in an acidic environment are not suitable for GRDDS. The current study designs GRDDS combined with a self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for drugs with solubility or stability problems in the stomach. The model drug fenofibrate was formulated into the optimized liquid SMEDDS composed of 50 w/w% Capryol® PGMC, 40 w/w% Kolliphor® RH40, and 10 w/w% Transcutol® HP and solidified through adsorption on several porous adsorbents. In a dissolution medium at pH 1.2, the powdered SMEDDS using Fujicalin® dissolved quickly and achieved higher drug dissolution than other adsorbents. Based on these results, a gastroretentive bilayer tablet consisting of a drug release layer and a swelling layer was designed. The drug release layer was formulated with the powdered SMEDDS and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as a release modifier. HPMC was also added to the swelling layer as a water-swellable polymer. The dissolution rate depended on the viscosity of the HPMC in the drug release layer. The time for 90% drug release was extended from 3.7 to 12.0 h by increasing the viscosity grade of HPMC from 0.1 to 100 K. Moreover, the tablet swelled and maintained a size comparable to a human pylorus diameter or more for at least 24 h. This GRDDS could apply to a broader range of drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to prepare methotrexate-loaded transdermal patches with different blends of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers (Eudragit S-100 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) at different concentrations. The polymers employed in transdermal patches formulations served as controlled agent. Transdermal patches were prepared using the solvent casting technique. The suitable physicochemical properties were obtained from the formulation F5 (HPMC and Eudragit S-100 (5:1). Various penetration enhancers were employed in different concentrations to investigate their potential for enhancing the drug permeation profile from optimized formulations. A preformulation study was conducted to investigate drug–excipient compatibilities (ATR-FTIR) and the study showed greater compatibility between drug, polymers and excipients. The prepared patches containing different penetration enhancers at different concentrations were subjected for evaluating different physicochemical parameters and in vitro drug release studies. The obtained data were added to various kinetic models, then formulated patch formulations were investigated for ex vivo permeation studies, in vivo studies and skin drug retention studies. The prepared patches showed elastic, smooth and clear nature with good thickness, drug content, % moisture uptake and weight uniformity. The prepared transdermal patches showed % drug content ranging from 91.43 ± 2.90 to 98.37 ± 0.56, % swelling index from 36.98 ± 0.19 to 75.32 ± 1.21, folding endurance from 61 ± 3.14 to 78 ± 1.54 and tensile strength from 8.54 ± 0.18 to 12.87 ± 0.50. The formulation F5, containing a greater amount of hydrophilic polymers (HPMC), showed increased drug release and permeation and drug retention when compared to other formulated transdermal patch formulations (F1-F9). No significant change was observed during a stability study for a period of 60 days. The rabbit skin samples were subjected to ATR-FTIR studies, which revealed that polymers and penetration enhancers have affected skin proteins (ceramides and keratins). The pharmacokinetic profiling of optimized formulation (F5) as well as formulations with optimized concentrations of penetration enhancers revealed Cmax ranged 167.80 ng/mL to 178.07 ± 2.75 ng/mL, Tmax was 8 h to 10 h, and t1/2 was 15.9 ± 2.11 to 21.49 ± 1.16. From the in vivo studies, it was revealed that the formulation F5-OA-10% exhibited greater skin drug retention as compared to other formulations. These results depicted that prepared methotrexate transdermal patches containing different blends of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers along with different penetration enhancers could be safely used for the management of psoriasis. The formulated transdermal patches exhibited sustained release of drug with good permeations and retention profile. Hence, these formulated transdermal patches can effectively be used for the management of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, the number of cases of hypersensitivity to insect bites increases. Thus, particular attention needs to be paid to the treatment of insect allergy in children, as scratching the bites can complicate the healing process and lead to infection. Therefore, a topical issue for modern medicine and pharmacy is the development of a gel of combined anti-allergic, reparative and anti-inflammatory action for the treatment of local manifestations of allergic skin reactions. Rheological studies are one of the stages of pharmaceutical development of soft dosage forms. In this study, we perform rheological studies of hydrogels containing 0.1% dimethindene maleate and 3.0% dexpanthenol made on different carriers of dispersed structures: Carbopol™ Polymers carbomer Ultrez 10 NF, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) of brand Metolose SR-90SH-100000SR, Ziboxan F200 xanthan gum. The rheological studies were undertaken using a rheometer in controlled shear rate mode CSR. Basic structural and mechanical indices of the dispersed systems were determined. These included: yield stress, structural viscosity, viscosity at infinite shear rate, the hysteresis loop area. Moreover, dynamic liquefaction coefficients have been calculated. Based on the rheological studies of hydrogels containing 0.1% dimethindene maleate and 3.0% dexpanthenol prepared with various carriers, the use of 1.8% and 2.0% HPMC hydrogels, 2.0% and 2.5% xanthan gum hydrogels, 0.5% and 0.75% carbomer gels is recommended for further biopharmaceutical studies. The application of one of these formulations as the final composition, provides adhesion and will not complicate the scaling-up of the process.

This study attempted to develop and evaluate controlled-release matrix-type transdermal patches with different ratios of hydrophilic polymers (sodium carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) for the local delivery of methotrexate. Transdermal patches were formulated by employing a solvent casting technique using blends of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) polymers as rate-controlling agents. The F1 formulated patch served as the control formulation with a 1:1 polymer concentration. The F9 formulation served as our optimized formulation due to suitable physicochemical properties yielded through the combination of CMC-Na and HPMC (5:1). Drug excipient compatibilities (ATR-FTIR) were performed as a preformulation study. The ATR-FTIR study depicted great compatibility between the drug and the polymers. Physicochemical parameters, kinetic modeling, in vitro drug release, ex vivo drug permeation, skin drug retention, and in vivo studies were also carried out for the formulated patches. The formulated patches exhibited a clear, smooth, elastic nature with good weight uniformity, % moisture uptake, drug content, and thickness. Physicochemical characterization revealed folding endurance ranging from 62 ± 2.21 to 78 ± 1.54, tensile strength from 9.42 ± 0.52 to 12.32 ± 0.72, % swelling index from 37.16 ± 0.17 to 76.24 ± 1.37, and % drug content from 93.57 ± 5.34 to 98.19 ± 1.56. An increase in the concentration of the CMC-Na polymer (F9) resulted in increased drug release from the formulated transdermal patches. Similarly, drug permeation and retention were found to be higher in the F9 formulation compared to the other formulations (F1–F8). A drug retention analysis revealed that the F9 formulation exhibited 13.43% drug retention in the deep layers of the skin compared to other formulations (F1–F8). The stability study indicated that, during the study period of 60 days, no significant changes in the drug content and physical characteristics were found. ATR-FTIR analysis of rabbit skin samples treated with the formulated transdermal patches revealed that hydrophilic polymers mainly affect the skin proteins (ceramide and keratins). A pharmacokinetic profile revealed Cmax was 1.77.38 ng/mL, Tmax was 12 h, and t1/2 was 17.3 ± 2.21. In vivo studies showed that the skin drug retention of F9 was higher compared to the drug solution. These findings reinforce that methotrexate-based patches can possibly be used for the management of psoriasis. This study can reasonably conclude that methotrexate transdermal matrix-type patches with CMC-Na and HPMC polymers at different concentrations effectively sustain drug release with prime permeation profiles and better bioavailability. Therefore, these formulated patches can be employed for the potential management of topical diseases, such as psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the mechanism of anti-washout performance of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) in seawater-mixed cement paste. Using seawater as concrete mixing water can reduce the consumption of freshwater resources. The ionic environment of seawater can promote hydrogen bonds formation of HPMC, and PAM. The viscosity of the solution increased with the numbers of hydrogen bonds, thus, the viscosity of seawater-mixed cement paste increased by incorporating HPMC and PAM. The viscosity of admixtures (AWA) solution is a major determinant of the viscosity and washout resistance of cement paste. Incorporating HPMC can significantly reduce underwater seawater-mixed cement paste washout loss from 59.8 to 0%, while incorporating PAM can reduce it from 59.8 to 2.8%. Compared with PAM, HPMC has better anti-washout effect because of its high viscosity in seawater-mixed solution. This research reports an effective method to improve the washout resistance performance of seawater-mixed cement paste through polymer doping and illustrates the feasibility of using seawater instead of freshwater applied in the underwater anti-washout cement paste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxyresveratrol (Oxy) has attracted much attention by employing it as an antibrowning agent in fruits and vegetables. In this study, the formation of cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion exhibited a certain protective effect on Oxy oxidative degradation, while hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP–β-CD) inclusion complex showed stronger stabilizing effects than those of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The combined use of CD and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) greatly improved the stability of Oxy–CD inclusion complexes, with approximately 70% of the trans-Oxy retained after 30 days of storage under light conditions at 25 °C. The results of the interaction between CD and Oxy determined by phase solubility studies and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis showed that the binding strength of CD and Oxy increased in the presence of HPMC. Moreover, Oxy combined with ascorbic acid and HPMC showed an excellent antibrowning effect on fresh-cut apple slices during the 48 h test period, indicating that adding HPMC as the third component will not influence the antibrowning activity of Oxy.

The combination of two emulsifiers, lecithin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), into emulsions is an interesting strategy to design fat replacers in food matrices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of HPMC type and concentration on the formation, stability, and microstructure of conventional emulsions and nanoemulsions. Two different types of HPMC with low and high content of methyl and hydroxypropyl groups (HPMC-L and HPMC-H) were evaluated. The results showed that the molecular structure and concentration of HPMC play a major role in the viscoelastic behaviour, the gelation temperature, and the strength of gel formed. The firmness and work of shear of HPMC solutions increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing concentration. HPMC-L illustrated a more stable gel structure than the HPMC-H solution. Nanoemulsions showed lower moduli values, firmness, and work of shear than conventional emulsions due to the influence of high-pressure homogenization. A combination of lecithin and HPMC improved the physical and lipid oxidative stability of the emulsions, presenting a lower creaming index and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). In conclusion, HPMC-L at 2% w/w could be a suitable type and concentration combined with lecithin to formulate a saturated fat replacer that could mimic butter technological performance during food manufacturing operations.

The purpose of this research was to see how the physicochemical properties and porosity of matrix tablets containing various types of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K series affected the release of propranolol hydrochloride (PNL). PNL is a class I drug (high solubility and permeability) according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), making it an excellent model drug used for studying extended-release drug products. The direct compression method was used to prepare the HPMC-based matrix tablets. PNL and the excipients were found to be compatible using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surfaces of all the compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets were rough, with accumulated particles and small holes. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablet porosity was also determined by using mercury porosimetry. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets made of low viscosity HPMC had tiny pores (diameter < 0.01 μm). The shorter polymeric chains are more prone to deformation, resulting in a small pore proportion. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets sustained the release of PNL for over 12 h. The release exponent values (n), which reflect the release mechanism of the drug from the tablets, ranged from 0.476 to 0.497. These values indicated that the release was governed by anomalous transport. The compressed HPMC-based matrix tablets have the potential for a sustained release of PNL.

Every year there is an increase in the number of cases of hypersensitivity to bites from various insects. A local allergic reaction to bites occurs within a few minutes and is accompanied by acute pain at the site of the bite, severe itching, hyperemia, the appearance of papules, tissue edema, and sometimes a small-point rash around. Considering the small number of drugs for local therapy of allergic manifestations and the unidirectional nature of their action, it is urgent to develop a drug containing the antihistamine dimethindene maleate and dexpanthenol, which plays the role of an antiinflammatory, reparative and dermatoprotective substance. The aim. The aim of the study is to substantiate the delivery system of dimethindene maleate and dexpanthenol based on biopharmaceutical and rheometric research methods. Materials and methods. To determine the component composition of the active ingredient delivery system, the type of dimetindene maleate administration was substantiated by studying its solubility. As a delivery system for active pharmaceutical ingredients, hydrogels were considered, which were made using high-molecular compounds of various origins: a natural substance - xanthan gum, a semi-synthetic substance - gyroxypropyl methylcellulose, and a synthetic substance - carbomer. The rate of release of dimethindene maleate from hydrogels was estimated by studying the kinetics of release through a semipermeable membrane. The assessment of the viscoelastic properties of hydrogels was carried out by performing an oscillatory rheometry test, which makes it possible to quantitatively determine the viscous and elastic components, as well as to characterize the bioadhesive properties. Results. Based on the results of studying the solubility of dimethindene maleate in hydrophilic non-aqueous solvents, it was determined that propylene glycol is optimal for ensuring the introduction of a substance into hydrogel bases as a solution. As a result of studying the kinetics of the release of dimethindene maleate from hydrogels, it was found that the use of carbomer as a delivery system provides the release of 28.33 % of dimethindene maleate, xanthan gum - 25 %, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose - 7.33 %. When studying the viscoelastic properties by determining the values of the storage modulus G', the loss modulus G" and the damping (attenuation) factor tg d, it was found that the carbomerbased hydrogel is a viscoelastic solid, the xanthan gum and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based hydrogels are a viscoelastic liquid. Bioadhesion on the surface of the skin during use has the advantage of carbomer hydrogel. Conclusions. Based on the combination of biopharmaceutical and rheometric methods for substantiating the composition of the delivery system for dimetindene maleate and dexpanthenol, it is rational to use carbomer for further pharmacological and microbiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to prepare methotrexate-loaded transdermal patches with different blends of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers (Eudragit S-100 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) at different concentrations. The polymers employed in transdermal patches formulations served as controlled agent. Transdermal patches were prepared using the solvent casting technique. The suitable physicochemical properties were obtained from the formulation F5 (HPMC and Eudragit S-100 (5:1). Various penetration enhancers were employed in different concentrations to investigate their potential for enhancing the drug permeation profile from optimized formulations. A preformulation study was conducted to investigate drug–excipient compatibilities (ATR-FTIR) and the study showed greater compatibility between drug, polymers and excipients. The prepared patches containing different penetration enhancers at different concentrations were subjected for evaluating different physicochemical parameters and in vitro drug release studies. The obtained data were added to various kinetic models, then formulated patch formulations were investigated for ex vivo permeation studies, in vivo studies and skin drug retention studies. The prepared patches showed elastic, smooth and clear nature with good thickness, drug content, % moisture uptake and weight uniformity. The prepared transdermal patches showed % drug content ranging from 91.43 ± 2.90 to 98.37 ± 0.56, % swelling index from 36.98 ± 0.19 to 75.32 ± 1.21, folding endurance from 61 ± 3.14 to 78 ± 1.54 and tensile strength from 8.54 ± 0.18 to 12.87 ± 0.50. The formulation F5, containing a greater amount of hydrophilic polymers (HPMC), showed increased drug release and permeation and drug retention when compared to other formulated transdermal patch formulations (F1-F9). No significant change was observed during a stability study for a period of 60 days. The rabbit skin samples were subjected to ATR-FTIR studies, which revealed that polymers and penetration enhancers have affected skin proteins (ceramides and keratins). The pharmacokinetic profiling of optimized formulation (F5) as well as formulations with optimized concentrations of penetration enhancers revealed Cmax ranged 167.80 ng/mL to 178.07 ± 2.75 ng/mL, Tmax was 8 h to 10 h, and t1/2 was 15.9 ± 2.11 to 21.49 ± 1.16. From the in vivo studies, it was revealed that the formulation F5-OA-10% exhibited greater skin drug retention as compared to other formulations. These results depicted that prepared methotrexate transdermal patches containing different blends of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers along with different penetration enhancers could be safely used for the management of psoriasis. The formulated transdermal patches exhibited sustained release of drug with good permeations and retention profile. Hence, these formulated transdermal patches can effectively be used for the management of psoriasis.

Purpose: To formulate novel transdermal patches of ropivacaine (RPV) and enhance its anesthetic activity using iontophoresis technique. Methods: Solvent casting method was used for the development of the transdermal patches with the aid of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymers. The patches were characterized for appearance, clarity, smoothness, thickness, average weight of patches, folding endurance, RPV uniformity, moisture absorption and tensile strength. The anesthetic effect of ropivacaine patches were evaluated in a healthy pediatric population divided into two groups. One group was merely applied with the patch while the other group received the patch using LidoSite applicator. The anesthetic effect was assessed based on hot pain, cool sensation and warm sensation. Results: The patches were smooth and transparent, about 0.29 mm in thickness, having a tensile strength of 0.51 kg/cm2 and showed in-vitro drug release of 68.94 to 96.83 %. The formulation did not exert any undesirable local skin effects, and produced minimum pain intensity. The depth of anesthesia was higher for the patch formulation with iontophoresis than for the conventional system. Conclusion: The findings point to the superiority of RPV transdermal patches when applied with iontophoretic device as against the conventional application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to develop and evaluate controlled-release matrix-type transdermal patches with different ratios of hydrophilic polymers (sodium carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) for the local delivery of methotrexate. Transdermal patches were formulated by employing a solvent casting technique using blends of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) polymers as rate-controlling agents. The F1 formulated patch served as the control formulation with a 1:1 polymer concentration. The F9 formulation served as our optimized formulation due to suitable physicochemical properties yielded through the combination of CMC-Na and HPMC (5:1). Drug excipient compatibilities (ATR-FTIR) were performed as a preformulation study. The ATR-FTIR study depicted great compatibility between the drug and the polymers. Physicochemical parameters, kinetic modeling, in vitro drug release, ex vivo drug permeation, skin drug retention, and in vivo studies were also carried out for the formulated patches. The formulated patches exhibited a clear, smooth, elastic nature with good weight uniformity, % moisture uptake, drug content, and thickness. Physicochemical characterization revealed folding endurance ranging from 62 ± 2.21 to 78 ± 1.54, tensile strength from 9.42 ± 0.52 to 12.32 ± 0.72, % swelling index from 37.16 ± 0.17 to 76.24 ± 1.37, and % drug content from 93.57 ± 5.34 to 98.19 ± 1.56. An increase in the concentration of the CMC-Na polymer (F9) resulted in increased drug release from the formulated transdermal patches. Similarly, drug permeation and retention were found to be higher in the F9 formulation compared to the other formulations (F1–F8). A drug retention analysis revealed that the F9 formulation exhibited 13.43% drug retention in the deep layers of the skin compared to other formulations (F1–F8). The stability study indicated that, during the study period of 60 days, no significant changes in the drug content and physical characteristics were found. ATR-FTIR analysis of rabbit skin samples treated with the formulated transdermal patches revealed that hydrophilic polymers mainly affect the skin proteins (ceramide and keratins). A pharmacokinetic profile revealed Cmax was 1.77.38 ng/mL, Tmax was 12 h, and t1/2 was 17.3 ± 2.21. In vivo studies showed that the skin drug retention of F9 was higher compared to the drug solution. These findings reinforce that methotrexate-based patches can possibly be used for the management of psoriasis. This study can reasonably conclude that methotrexate transdermal matrix-type patches with CMC-Na and HPMC polymers at different concentrations effectively sustain drug release with prime permeation profiles and better bioavailability. Therefore, these formulated patches can be employed for the potential management of topical diseases, such as psoriasis.

The aims of this study were to prepare and characterize hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/polycarbophil (PC) mucoadhesive blend films saturated with propranolol hydrochloride (PNL)-loaded nanoparticles to improve permeability of drugs that undergo first-pass metabolism. An ionic cross-linking method and film casting technique was used to prepare nanoparticles and mucoadhesive blend films, respectively. Increasing concentrations of PNL (70, 80, 90 mg/film) in HPMC/PC blend films containing PNL-loaded nanoparticles (PN-films) and HPMC/PC blend films containing PNL (80 mg/film) without nanoparticles (PP-films) were prepared to test swelling, mucoadhesiveness, release, permeation and physicochemical properties. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed a partially smooth surface with a wrinkled occurrence and spherically shaped, well-dispersed nanoparticles on the surface of PN-films containing PNL 80 mg/film (PN-films-80). The size of the nanoparticles on the surface of PN-films-80 was around 100 nm, which was similar to the nanoparticle size observed using light scattering technique. The swelling index (SI) of all PN-films and PP-films increased greatly in the first period time (10–20 min) and reached swelling equilibrium at 20 min and 30 min, respectively. For the PN-films, the concentration of PNL influenced the mucoadhesive properties and tended to be higher when the amount of PNL increased. Immediate release of all blend film formulations was found in early time points (10–30 min). After 120 min, the release of PN-films-70 was lower than the other PN-films. Permeation studies using porcine buccal mucosa showed that inclusion of nanoparticles in the films increased the permeability of PNL compared to PP-films. Therefore, buccal administration of mucoadhesive blend films containing PNL-loaded nanoparticles could be a promising approach for drugs that undergo first-pass metabolism.

Capsule-based dry powder inhaler (DPI) products can be influenced by a multitude of interacting factors, including electrostatic charging. Tribo-charging is a process of charge transfer impacted by various factors, i.e., material surface characteristics, mechanical properties, processing parameters and environmental conditions. Consequently, this work aimed to assess how the charging behavior of capsules intended for inhalation might be influenced by environmental conditions. Capsules having different chemical compositions (gelatin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) and distinct inherent characteristics from manufacturing (thermally and cold-gelled) were exposed to various environmental conditions (11%, 22% and 51% RH). Their resulting properties were characterized and tribo-charging behavior was measured against stainless steel and PVC. It was observed that all capsule materials tended to charge to a higher extent when in contact with PVC. The tribo-charging of the thermally gelled HPMC capsules (Vcaps® Plus) was more similar to the gelatin capsules (Quali-G™-I) than to their HPMC cold-gelled counterparts (Quali-V®-I). The sorption of water by the capsules at different relative humidities notably impacted their properties and tribo-charging behavior. Different interactions between the tested materials and water molecules were identified and are proposed to be the driver of distinct charging behaviors. Finally, we showed that depending on the capsule types, distinct environmental conditions are necessary to mitigate charging and assure optimal behavior of the capsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of drug load and polymer molecular weight on the structure of tablets three-dimensionally (3D) printed from the binary mixture of prednisolone and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Three different HPMC grades, (AFFINISOL TM HPMC HME 15LV, 90 Da (HPMC 15LV); 100LV, 180 Da (HPMC 100LV); 4M, 500 Da (HPMC 4M)), which are suitable for hot-melt extrusion (HME), were used in this study. HME was used to fabricate feedstock material, i.e., filaments, at the lowest possible extrusion temperature. Filaments of the three HPMC grades were prepared to contain 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 % (w/w) prednisolone. The thermal degradation of the filaments was studied with thermogravimetric analysis, while solid-state properties of the drug-loaded filaments were assessed with the use of X-ray powder diffraction. Prednisolone in the freshly extruded filaments was determined to be amorphous for drug loads up to 10%. It remained physically stable for at least 6 months of storage, except for the filament containing 10% drug with HPMC 15LV, where recrystallization of prednisolone was detected. Fused deposition modeling was utilized to print honeycomb-shaped tablets from the HME filaments of HPMC 15LV and 100LV. The structural characteristics of the tablets were evaluated using X-ray microcomputed tomography, specifically porosity and size of structural elements were investigated. The tablets printed from HPMC 15LV possessed in general lower total porosity and pores of smaller size than tablets printed from the HPMC 100LV. The studied drug loads were shown to have minor effect on the total porosity of the tablets, though the lower the drug load was, the higher the variance of porosity along the height of the tablet was observed. It was found that tablets printed with HPMC 15LV showed higher structural similarity with the virtually designed model than tablets printed from HPMC 100LV. These findings highlight the relevance of the drug load and polymer molecular weight on the microstructure and structural properties of 3D printed tablets., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Featured Application: The green tribology film is ideal for use in low-load environments, such as anti-wear layers on electronic printed circuit boards. This film is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. It does not cause damage to the environment before or after use and is representative of the next generation of environmentally friendly films. Green tribology film comprising hydroxypropyl methylcellulose modified with nanoparticles and molybdenum disulfide was prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The nanoparticle additives were Al, Cu, Al2O3, and CuO. The tribological behavior of nanoparticles and MoS2 was investigated using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The surface morphologies and worn surfaces were observed through scanning electron microscopy. The preferred orientation and crystallographic structure of MoS2 and nanoparticles in the composites were studied via X-ray diffraction. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to analyze the transfer film formed on the counterball. The surface profile, wear depth, wear width, and wear volume were studied by a 3D optical profiler. The synergistic effect of micro-platelet MoS2 and nanoparticles contributed to the excellent wear resistances. It was found that the wear volume of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/MoS2 composites decreased dramatically when Al, Cu, and CuO were used as fillers, and it decreased slightly with Al2O3. The optimal wear resistance was obtained with 3 wt.% additives. These filled composites had a lower coefficient of friction lower than that of unfilled HPMC/MoS2. The optimal result was observed for the HPMC/MoS2/CuO 3 wt.% composite coating, which reduces the wear and friction coefficient by 90% and 84%, respectively, as compared to coatings without additives. Nanoparticles existed in the wear track as the third particles improved the load capacity of the composites. The wear mechanism of the composites is discussed in terms of the worn surfaces and the analysis of transfer film with a third-body approach. The dissipation energy theory is used to evaluate the dominant wear mechanism of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Monosodium phosphate (MP), sodium citrate (SC), sodium lactate (SL) and magnesium citrate (MC) can be blended with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to make photophobic (white) films at lower drying temperatures. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whiteness determination, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and texture analysis were adopted to study the variation of microstructures and properties. These four kinds of HPMC/salt films showed decreased crystallinity and increased compactness and smoothness of the self-similar structures in larger scale ranges. HPMC/MP, HPMC/SC and HPMC/SL film showed coarser and porous morphologies, lower mechanical parameters and higher whiteness than pure HPMC film. HPMC/MC film showed smoother morphologies, higher tensile strength, elongation and whiteness than pure HPMC film. Porous structures and more compact self-similar structures might contribute to the photophobic property of these films, and relatively smooth morphology might dominate the increasing mechanical parameters of HPMC/MC film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose can play an anti-dispersion role in alkali-activated materials (Na2O: 3%, 5%). • Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose fails in alkali-activated materials (Na2O: 7%, 9%). • The synergetic effect of hydration and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose has great influence on rheology. • The hydration reaction of alkali-activated materials is delayed by hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. To explore the feasibility of applying alkali-activated materials (AAM) to underwater engineering. The effects of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) on the anti-dispersion and rheological properties of AAM were investigated. NaOH was selected as the activator, and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and fly ash (FA) were used as precursors. The characteristics of anti-dispersion, rheology, and hydration heat change of alkali-activated slurry with 6 kinds of HPMC content (0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1%) and 4 kinds of alkali content (Na 2 O: 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%) were discussed. The anti-dispersion was characterized by turbidity. The fluidity, gel time, yield stress and plastic viscosity were obtained from rheological tests. The hydration heat was measured by isothermal calorimetry. The results show that HPMC can improve the anti-dispersion of alkali-activated slurry with alkali content (Na 2 O: 3%, 5%), and the effect was good when the content exceeded 0.6%. Compared with that without HPMC, the turbidity was reduced by 98.4% at 1% HPMC content. With the increase of HPMC, the fluidity and gel time decreased, and the yield stress and plastic viscosity increased at the initial stage. The fluidity of alkali-activated slurry decreased by 23% and the plastic viscosity increased by 916%. It is due to the thickening effect of HPMC, which can change the anti-dispersion and rheology of slurry. The mechanism of HPMC can increase the attraction between raw material particles, and the molecular chains overlap to form a network structure that can wrap the alkali-activated slurry. The evolution of shear stress and hydration heat show that HPMC can delay the hydration reaction of AAM. When the alkali content is high (Na 2 O: 7%, 9%), HPMC has no obvious improvement in the anti-dispersion of alkali-activated slurry. The increase of HPMC content has no effect on the yield shear stress and plastic viscosity at the initial stage. It shows that HPMC fails at high Na 2 O content, which leads to loss of thickening effect. The paper is expected to guide for using HPMC in underwater engineering to improve the anti-dispersion and workability of AAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a study on the effect of cellulose derivative hydrocolloids on the rheological behavior of gluten-free (GF) formulations suitable for bread production. A comprehensive rheological study, based on small amplitude oscillations at different temperatures, was performed with the aim of better understanding the interactions among the components (flours and hydrocolloids). A whole-wheat flour recipe was used as a control. A mixture of rice and buckwheat flour was used in GF products and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were added to the formulation and used separately at four different percentages (0.1-1.5% on flour basis). The effect of water content on the rheological properties of dough was investigated for samples prepared at 1% of hydrocolloids and it was observed that high water levels lead to doughs more similar to the benchmark. The potential results, in bread production, were investigated, in a preliminary way for few formulations, through the qualitative analysis of bread samples obtained by lab scale baking tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is a method used in fiber production in which an electric force is applied to create jets of charged polymer solutions. The objective of this study was to obtain homogeneous nanofibers from lentil flour and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) blend by using electrospinning method. Distilled water was used as solvent. The effects of pH (7, 10 and 12), lentil flour concentration (1% and 2% (w/v)) and HPMC concentration (0.25%, 0.5% and 1% (w/v)) on solution properties and fiber morphology were investigated. When the pH was increased, the viscosity of the solutions containing 1% and 2% lentil flour decreased. Increasing the pH values caused an increase in the electrical conductivity. At pH value of 7, homogeneous nanofibers could not be obtained whereas fibers were perfectly homogeneous at alkaline pH values. Nanofiber diameter decreased with increase in pH when 2% lentil flour was used. On the other hand, diameter of fibers did not show any significant change with pH for 1% lentil flour. When the lentil flour concentration was increased, viscosity and fiber diameter increased at pH 10. When HPMC concentration was increased, both viscosity and fiber diameter increased but electrical conductivity did not show any significant change. Average fiber diameters ranged between 198 ± 4 and 254 ± 5 nm for solutions prepared with different lentil flour and HPMC concentrations at different pH values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel composite polymer-amended bentonite is developed. • PAC-HPMC mass ratio for bentonite amendment is optimized. • Amended bentonite possesses superior k when exposed to Cd(NO 3) 2 solution. • Yield stress is a viable indicator for evaluating polymer stability in amended bentonite. This study developed a novel composite polymer-amended bentonite consisting of two linear polymers (i.e., polyanionic cellulose (PAC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) for use as an engineered barrier material in environmental containment applications. Several series of laboratory experiments were conducted on bentonite and polymer-amended bentonites with different PAC-HPMC mass ratios to evaluate free swell index and liquid limit using deionized water and 20 mM cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO 3) 2) as a typical contaminant. Hydraulic conductivity of bentonite and polymer-amended bentonite filter cakes was determined via modified fluid loss (MFL) tests using 20 mM Cd(NO 3) 2 solution under increasing pressure conditions. Rheological properties, such as apparent viscosity and shear stress, were measured, and yield stresses were estimated using the Bingham plastic and Herschel–Bulkley models to evaluate polymer stability. The results showed that exposure to 20 mM Cd(NO 3) 2 solution reduced both free swell index and liquid limit of bentonites with and without polymer-amendment. The bentonite amended with PAC-HPMC mass ratio of 7 (i.e., (P7H1)B) possessed the lowest hydraulic conductivity among the bentonites tested. Its hydraulic conductivity was one to two orders of magnitude lower than that of unamended bentonite. The ultraviolet absorption spectra analyses revealed the value of the wavelength of maximum absorption bands for (P7H1)B slurry was 11.9% greater than that for PAC-amended bentonite slurry, indicating stronger hydrogen bonding strength of (P7H1)B slurry. The total organic carbon in the filtrate for HPMC-amended bentonite slurries was 64.0–67.7% lower than that for PAC-amended bentonite slurries in the MFL tests. In addition, the total organic carbon in the filtrate decreased with increasing yield stress of polymer-amended bentonite slurries, indicating yield stress can be used as a good indicator for evaluating polymer stability in the polymer-amended bentonite filter cakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green tribology film comprising hydroxypropyl methylcellulose modified with nanoparticles and molybdenum disulfide was prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The nanoparticle additives were Al, Cu, Al2O3, and CuO. The tribological behavior of nanoparticles and MoS2 was investigated using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The surface morphologies and worn surfaces were observed through scanning electron microscopy. The preferred orientation and crystallographic structure of MoS2 and nanoparticles in the composites were studied via X-ray diffraction. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to analyze the transfer film formed on the counterball. The surface profile, wear depth, wear width, and wear volume were studied by a 3D optical profiler. The synergistic effect of micro-platelet MoS2 and nanoparticles contributed to the excellent wear resistances. It was found that the wear volume of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/MoS2 composites decreased dramatically when Al, Cu, and CuO were used as fillers, and it decreased slightly with Al2O3. The optimal wear resistance was obtained with 3 wt.% additives. These filled composites had a lower coefficient of friction lower than that of unfilled HPMC/MoS2. The optimal result was observed for the HPMC/MoS2/CuO 3 wt.% composite coating, which reduces the wear and friction coefficient by 90% and 84%, respectively, as compared to coatings without additives. Nanoparticles existed in the wear track as the third particles improved the load capacity of the composites. The wear mechanism of the composites is discussed in terms of the worn surfaces and the analysis of transfer film with a third-body approach. The dissipation energy theory is used to evaluate the dominant wear mechanism of the system.

Over the past few decades, the amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) technique has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the in vitro/in vivo characteristic of hydrophobic drugs. The low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability of atorvastatin calcium (ATO), a lipid-lowering drug, present challenges for effective drug delivery. The objective of this work was to improve the aqueous solubility, in vitro dissolution, and oral absorption of ATO with amorphous solid dispersion technique prepared by spray-drying method. The optimized ternary formulation comprising of ATO; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), as a hydrophilic polymer; and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), as a surfactant, at a weight ratio of 1/1/0.1, showed significant improvement in aqueous solubility by ~18-fold compared to that of the free drug, and a cumulative release of 94.09% compared to a release of 59.32% of the free drug. Further, physicochemical studies via scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction revealed a change from the crystalline state of the free drug to its amorphous state in the ASD. Pharmacokinetic analysis in rats demonstrated 1.68- and 2.39-fold increments in AUC and Cmax, respectively, in the ASD over the free drug. Altogether, hydrophilic carrier-based ASDs prepared by the spray-drying technique represent a promising strategy to improve the biopharmaceutical performance of poorly soluble drugs.

A novel 3D printing material based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)—improved sulphoaluminate cement (SAC) for rapid 3D construction printing application is reported. The hydration heat, setting time, fluidity of paste and mortar, shape retainability, and compressive strength of extruded SAC mortar were investigated. HPMC dosage, water-to-cement (W/C) ratio, and sand-to-cement (S/C) ratio were studied as the experimental parameters. Hydration heat results reveal HPMC could delay the hydration of SAC. The initial and final setting time measured using Vicat needle would be shortened in the case of W/C ratio of 0.3 and 0.35 with HPMC dosage from 0.5% to 1.5%, W/C ratio of 0.40 with HPMC dosage of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.5%, and W/C ratio of 0.45 with HPMC dosage of 0.45, or be extended in the case of W/C ratio of 0.4 with HPMC dosage of 1.0% and W/C ratio of 0.45 with HPMC dosage from 0.75% to 1.5%. Fluidity measurement shows HPMC significantly improves the shape retainability. Furthermore, the addition of HPMC remarkably increased the compressive strength of extruded mortar. The results showed that HPMC could be used to prepare 3D printing SAC having satisfactory shape retainability, setting time and compressive strength.