Microencapsulation of Coenzyme Q10 and bile acids using ionic gelation vibrational jet flow technology for oral delivery

Developing new delivery dosage forms with robust delivery and safety profiles remains a challenge to the pharmaceutical industry in terms of optimum gut absorption, consistent dosing and bioavailability; particularly for orally administered drugs that are poorly water soluble. Coenzyme Q10 is an example of a poorly water-soluble compound with low bioavailability, and significant inter-individual variation after oral administration; limiting its optimum efficacy, as a powerful antioxidant with significant promise in treating hearing disorders. Microencapsulation technology is one way to optimize drug bioavailability and absorption profile. One example is Ionic Gelation Vibrational Jet Flow techniques, using new encapsulating parameters to determine the nature of formed capsules. Bile acids are an example of an excipient that can be used to improve membrane permeability; and will be examined. This review addresses the applications of microencapsulation technology on oral delivery and efficacy profiles of poorly water-soluble drugs, focusing on Coenzyme Q10.

β-cyclodextrin improve the tolerant of freshwater algal Spiny Scenedesmus to chiral drugs venlafaxine and its metabolite

This study based on the freshwater algae Spiny scenedesmus (S. scenedesmus) with tolerance to venlafaxine aiming to investigate algae removal abilities. Here presented for the first time to evaluate the effect of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on reduce toxicity and enhance removal ability of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine to S. scenedesmus. Based on dose-response results, the toxicity of R-venlafaxine (EC₅₀ = 6.81 mg·L ^-1) and R-O-desmethylvenlafaxine (EC₅₀ = 3.36 mg·L ^-1) to algae were more than two times than those in the presence of β-CD treatment (10.64 mg L ^-1 for R-venlafaxine and 11.87 mg L ^-1 for R-O-desmethylvenlafaxine). The significant differences were observed between S-venlafaxine (11.07 mg L ^-1) and S-O-desmethylvenlafaxine (10.24 mg L ^-1), which were more toxic than R-forms. The half-lives of R- and S-venlafaxine were 0.8 d and 0.5 d in the presence of β-CD, which were obvious shorter than those in alone treatments. In addition, our experiments not only demonstrated that β-CD performed particularly well for removal of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine, it significantly reduces the toxicity of venlafaxine to alga. These results highlight advantages of β-CD relevant to chiral drugs removal and protection of aquatic organisms, which may have a better application for environmental and ecological safety in future.

Inclusion Complexes of Concentrated Orange Oils and β-Cyclodextrin: Physicochemical and Biological Characterizations

Concentrated orange oils (5x, 10x, 20x) are ingredients used in different industries as components of flavors and aromas due to their great organoleptic qualities. This research focuses on the search for alternative uses for their application through encapsulation in inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Inclusion complexes of concentrated orange oils (COEO) and β-CD were developed by the co-precipitated method in ratios of 4:96, 12:88, and 16:84 (w/w, COEO: β-CD). The best powder recovery was in the ratio 16:84 for the three oils, with values between 82% and 84.8%. The 20x oil in relation 12:88 showed the highest entrapment efficiency (89.5%) with 102.3 mg/g of β-CD. The FT-IR analysis may suggest an interaction between the oil and the β-CD. The best antioxidant activity was observed in the ratio 12:88 for the three oils. The antifungal activity was determined for all the inclusion complexes, and the 10x fraction showed the highest inhibition at a concentration of 10 mg/mL in ratios 12:88 and 16:84. Antibacterial activity was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and was found at a concentration of 1.25 mg/mL in ratios 12:88 and 16:84 for 5x and 20x oils.

Salivary and Nasal Detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus After Antiviral Mouthrinses (BBCovid): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

- To describe the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 salivary viral load of patients infected with Covid-19, performing 7 days of tri-daily mouthwashes with and without antivirals. - To compare the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 nasal and salivary viral load according to the presence or absence of antivirals in the mouthwash.

TRIAL DESIGN

This is a multi-center, randomised controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel arms (1:1 ratio).

PARTICIPANTS

Inclusion criteria - Age: 18-85 years old - Clinical diagnosis of Covid-19 infection - Clinical signs have been present for less than 8 days - Virological confirmation - Understanding and acceptance of the trial - Written agreement to participate in the trial Exclusion criteria - Pregnancy, breastfeeding, inability to comply with protocol, lack of written agreement - Patients using mouthwash on a regular basis (more than once a week) - Patient at risk of infectious endocarditis - Patients unable to answer questions - Uncooperative patient The clinical trial is being conducted with the collaboration of three French hospital centers: Hospital Center Emile Roux (Le Puy en Velay, France), Clinic of the Protestant Infirmary (Lyon, France) and Intercommunal Hospital Center (Mont de Marsan, France).

INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR

Eligible participants will be allocated to one of the two study groups. Intervention group: patients perform a tri-daily mouthwash with mouthwash containing antivirals (β-cyclodextrin and Citrox®) for a period of 7 days.

CONTROL GROUP

patients perform a tri-daily mouthwash with a placebo mouthwash for a period of 7 days.

MAIN OUTCOMES

Primary Outcome Measures: Change from Baseline amount of SARS-CoV-2 in salivary samples at 4 and 9 hours, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days. Real-time PCR assays are performed to assess salivary SARS-CoV 2 viral load.

SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Change from Baseline amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasal samples at 6 days. Real-time PCR assays are performed to assess nasal SARS-CoV-2 viral load.

RANDOMISATION

Participants meeting all eligibility requirements are allocated to one of the two study arms (mouthwash with β-cyclodextrin and Citrox® or mouthwash without β-cyclodextrin and Citrox®) in a 1:1 ratio using simple randomisation with computer generated random numbers.

BLINDING (MASKING)

Participants, doctors and nurses caring for participants, laboratory technicians and investigators assessing the outcomes will be blinded to group assignment.

NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE)

Both the intervention and control groups will be composed of 103 participants, so the study will include a total of 206 participants.

TRIAL STATUS

The current protocol version is 6, August 4^th, 2020. Recruitment began on April 6, 2020 and is anticipated to be complete by April 5, 2021. As of October 2, 2020, forty-two participants have been included.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered on 20 April 2020 at www.clinicaltrials.gov with the number NCT04352959 .

FULL PROTOCOL

The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol." The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines (Additional file 2)."

Dexamethasone-loaded β-cyclodextrin for osteogenic induction of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells and bone regeneration

Dexamethasone (DEX) is a glucocorticoid commonly used as an in vitro osteogenic inducer of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (abbreviated MSCs). However, several studies investigating the effects of glucocorticoids on bone regeneration through systemic injections have demonstrated negative impacts of the drugs at high concentration on the healing of hard tissues. These contrasting evidences suggest that application of glucocorticoids should be limited to low dosages but at the same time a long enough treatment period is preferred, which prompted us to evaluate the effects of different local release systems of DEX on MSC differentiation and bone repair. Two types of DEX-loaded β-cyclodextrin (CD) complexes, including CD/DEX and CD/AD-DEX, were fabricated via host-guest interactions and characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, MS-ESI, and UV-vis. The results demonstrated that these CD-based assemblies released DEX in differentiated profiles, with CD/DEX releasing significantly faster than CD/AD-DEX. Although CD/DEX were slightly more powerful than CD/AD-DEX in inducing rat bone marrow MSCs (rBMSCs) into osteogenic lineage in vitro, CD/AD-DEX was advantageous over CD/DEX in accelerating bone regeneration over a time period of 4 weeks in a rat tibia defect model. The results suggest that DEX-loaded assemblies via host-guest interactions are flexible in modulating DEX release patterns and have great potential in bone tissue engineering.

A β-cyclodextrin Modified Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Au Co-Catalyst for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production has attracted considerable attention as a renewable and environment-friendly method to replace other traditional production techniques. The performance of H2O2 production remains limited by the inertness of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) towards the adsorption and activation of O2. In this work, a photocatalyst comprising of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified CN with supporting Au co-catalyst (Au/β-CD-CN) has been utilized for effective H2O2 production under visible light irradiation. The static contact angle measurement suggested that β-CD modification increased the hydrophobicity of the CN photocatalyst as well as its affinity to oxygen gas, leading to an increase in H2O2 production. The rate of H2O2 production reached more than 0.1 mM/h under visible-light irradiation. The electron spin resonance spectra indicated that H2O2 was directly formed via a 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) over the Au/β-CD-CN photocatalyst.

Preparation and characterization of β-cyclodextrin-oregano essential oil microcapsule and its effect on storage behavior of purple yam

BACKGROUND

Natural plant essential oils have antimicrobial properties; however, essential oils are difficult to maintain in a system because of their volatile nature. First, we prepared microcapsules from β-cyclodextrin and oregano essential oil and characterized their properties. Second, the effect of microcapsules on the preservation of freshly cut purple yam was studied using an edible coating technique. Purple yams immersed in distilled water were used as control, and their characteristics were compared with yams coated with citric acid, citric acid + sodium alginate, and citric acid + sodium alginate + β-cyclodextrin-oregano essential oil microcapsules (CA-SA-MC) and stored at 4 °C for 5 days.

RESULTS

Microcapsules of oregano essential oil and β-cyclodextrin solution were successfully prepared via the inclusion method, with an optimal encapsulation efficiency of 55.14%. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis showed strong bonds between β-cyclodextrin and oregano essential oil. All edible coatings, particularly CA-SA-MC, significantly (P ≤ 0.05) maintained firmness, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid content, and anthocyanin content compared with control treatment. This treatment also prevented browning and extended the shelf life of purple yam.

CONCLUSION

Oregano essential oil can be successfully encapsulated into cyclodextrin microcapsules. It has a great impact on the shelf life extension of purple yam and could be successfully applied to other fresh produce. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Supramolecular Complexes of β-Cyclodextrin with Clomipramine and Doxepin: Effect of the Ring Substituent and Component of Drugs on Their Inclusion Topologies and Structural Flexibilities

Depression is a global threat. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are still efficacious in treating depression, albeit with more side effects. Cyclodextrins (CDs) with a suitable nanocavity are potential drug carriers and can enhance the drug bioavailability. Aiming for an atomistic understanding of the CD encapsulation facilitating the improvement of drug stability and the reduction of side effects, a comprehensive study series of the β-CD-TCA inclusion complexes through single crystal X-ray diffraction and density functional theory (DFT) calculation was undertaken. This work reports the supramolecular complexes of β-CD with two pivotal TCAs, clomipramine (CPM; 1) and doxepin (DXP; 2). The different inclusion topologies of the β-CD-TCA complexes were notable. X-ray analysis revealed that, in 1, the CPM B-ring (without chloro group) was entrapped in the β-CD cavity, whereas, in 2, the E-DXP A-ring and the Z-DXP B-ring were disordered in the cavity, yielding energetically favorable complexes primarily maintained by intermolecular C-H⋯π interactions, as indicated by DFT calculation. Because both wings of TCAs were similar, an alternative inclusion scenario of the A-ring was evidenced crystallographically in four other TCA complexes. The enhanced TCA thermodynamic stabilities via CD inclusion complexation helped to reduce the side effects and to increase the bioavailability. Moreover, the scrutinization of six TCAs in different lattice circumstances revealed the greater TCA structural flexibilities for their optimum pharmacological activity while binding with proteins.

Degree of crosslinking in β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges and their effect on piperine encapsulation

Piperine (PIP) is an alkaloid which is potent as a therapeutic agent. However, its applications are restricted by its poor water solubility. Nanosponges (NS) derived from polymers are versatile carriers for poor water-soluble substances. The aim of this work was to synthesize β-cyclodextrin NS, by microwave-assisted fusion, for the encapsulation of PIP. Different formulations of NS were synthesized by varying the molar ratio of β-cyclodextrin:diphenyl carbonate (β-CD:DPC; 1:2, 1:6 and 1:10). NS specimens derived from 1:2, 1:6 and 1:10 β-CD:DPC molar ratios exhibited degree of substitution values of 0.345, 0.629 and 0.878, respectively. The crystallinity of NS was enhanced by increasing diphenyl carbonate concentration. A high degree of crosslinking in the NS increased the loading efficiency due to increased surface area available for bioactive inclusion. This study demonstrated the feasibility of synthesizing NS derived from β-cyclodextrin of high crystallinity for the encapsulation of PIP at high loading capacity.

Supramolecular Hydrogels with Chiral Nanofibril Structures Formed from β-Cyclodextrin and a Rosin-Based Amino Acid Surfactant

The rational combination of natural molecules is expected to provide new soft material building blocks. Herein, a rosin-based amino acid surfactant was synthesized using dehydroabietic acid and l-serine as the starting materials (denoted as R-6-Ser). Supramolecular hydrogels were formed when β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was mixed with R-6-Ser at molar ratios of over 0.5:1 and above certain concentrations. The hydrogels were investigated using rheometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, CD spectroscopy, and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The β-CD associated with the isopropyl benzyl group of the dehydroabietic acid unit in R-6-Ser and formed R-6-Ser@β-CD complexes. The complexes and R-6-Ser self-assembled to form elongated right-handed rigid fibers with a diameter of approximately 7-8 nm, which were responsible for the elasticity of the hydrogels. This work demonstrated the feasibility of preparing supramolecular hydrogels from a diterpenoid-based surfactant and β-CD and provides a new means of utilizing the secretions of pine trees.

TiO2 microspheres with cross-linked cyclodextrin coating exhibit improved stability and sustained photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in secondary effluent

Photocatalytic water treatment has significant potential to disinfect and degrade recalcitrant organic pollutants while minimizing the need to add chemicals, but current approaches have poor energy efficiency due, in part, to inefficient utilization of photo-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Organic coatings such as cyclodextrin (CD) can adsorb target contaminants and bring them close to the photocatalyst surface to enhance ROS utilization efficiency, but the coatings themselves are susceptible to ROS attack. Here, we report an ROS-resistant fluorinated CD polymer (CDP) that can both adsorb contaminants and resist degradation by ROS, yielding a more efficient material for "trap and zap" water treatment. We produced the CDP through condensation polymerization of β-cyclodextrin and tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile, resulting in a cross-linked, covalently bound CD film that is much more stable than prior approaches involving physi-sorption. We optimized the coating thickness on TiO₂ microspheres to improve the efficiency of contaminant degradation, and found that increasing the CDP content enhanced BPA adsorption but also occluded photocatalytic sites and hindered photocatalytic degradation. The optimum content of CDP was 5% by weight, and this optimal CDP-TiO₂ composition had a BPA adsorption capacity of 36.9 ± 1.0 mg g^-1 compared with 24.1 ± 1.1 mg g^-1 for CD-coated TiO₂ (CD-TiO₂) and 21.9 ± 1.5 mg g^-1 for bare TiO₂. CDP-TiO₂ exhibited minimal photoactivity loss after 1000 h of repeated use in DI water under UVA irradiation (365 nm, 3.83 × 10^-6 E L^-1s^-1), and no release of organic carbon from the coating was detected. Photocatalytic treatment using CDP-TiO₂ only showed a small decrease in BPA removal efficiency in secondary effluent after four 3-h cycles, from 80.2% to 71.7%. In contrast, CD-TiO₂ and P25 removed only 29.8% and 6.2% of BPA after 4 cycles, respectively. Altogether, the CDP-TiO₂ microspheres represent promising materials for potential use in photocatalytic water treatment.

β-Cyclodextrin/Isopentyl Caffeate Inclusion Complex: Synthesis, Characterization and Antileishmanial Activity

Isopentyl caffeate (ICaf) is a bioactive ester widely distributed in nature. Our patented work has shown promising results of this molecule against Leishmania. However, ICaf shows poor solubility, which limits its usage in clinical settings. In this work, we have proposed the development of an inclusion complex of ICaf in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), with the aim to improve the drug solubility, and thus, its bioavailability. The inclusion complex (ICaf:β-CD) was developed applying three distinct methods, i.e., physical mixture (PM), kneading (KN) or co-evaporation (CO) in different molar proportions (0.25:1, 1:1 and 2:1). Characterization of the complexes was carried out by thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular docking. The ICaf:β-CD complex in a molar ratio of 1:1 obtained by CO showed the best complexation and, therefore, was selected for further analysis. Solubility assay showed a marked improvement in the ICaf:β-CD (CO, 1:1) solubility profile when compared to the pure ICaf compound. Cell proliferation assay using ICaf:β-CD complex showed an IC50 of 3.8 and 2.7 µg/mL against L. amazonesis and L. chagasi promastigotes, respectively. These results demonstrate the great potential of the inclusion complex to improve the treatment options for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases.

First Class of Phosphorus Dendritic Compounds Containing β-Cyclodextrin Units in the Periphery Prepared by CuAAC

A new class of phosphorus dendritic compounds (PDCs) having a cyclotriphosphazene (P₃N₃) core and decorated with six β-cyclodextrin (βCD) units, named P₃N₃-[O-C₆H₄-O-(CH₂)_n-βCD]₆, where n = 3 or 4 was designed, and the synthesis was performed using copper (I) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC). To obtain the complete substitution of the P₃N₃, two linkers consisting of an aromatic ring and an aliphatic chain of two different lengths were assessed. We found that, with both linkers, the total modification of the periphery was achieved. The two new obtained dendritic compounds presented a considerably high water solubility (>1 g/mL). The compounds comprised in this new class of PDCs are potential drug carrier candidates, since the conjugation of the βCD units to the P₃N₃ core through the primary face will not only serve as surface cover but, also, provide them the faculty to encapsulate various drugs inside the βCDs cavities.

A Polyethylene Base Moisture Activating Oxygen Scavenging Film Co-Extruded with Tea Polyphenols-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

Antioxidant packaging is an effective method to protect oxygen-sensitive food from oxidation. In order to concurrently obtain a storage stability and excellent oxygen scavenging of antioxidant film for the high moisture food, a moisture activating oxygen scavenging film was prepared by using tea polyphenols as the oxygen scavenger. The moisture activating function was achieved by introducing the β-cyclodextrin embedding technology, and the tea polyphenols–β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was co-extruded with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to improve the storage stability. The results indicate that the tea polyphenols is well embedded by β-cyclodextrin according to the Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), and a relatively homogeneous dispersion of oxygen scavenger is observed while the oxygen scavenger content is less than 5%. The oxygen scavenging increases with the increase of oxygen scavenger from 1% to 5%, and a maximal oxygen absorption of 0.0150 mol/m² is exhibited at oxygen scavenger content value of 5%. Then, the oxygen scavenging significantly decrease under the oxygen scavenger content of 7% and 10%. Moreover, the oxygen scavenging amount sharply increase after steeping in water or storage in extremely high humidity of RH 84% while the oxygen scavenging is restrained under RH 32–75%, indicating that the moisture activating oxygen scavenging is functioning. The oxygen scavenging is obvious restrained under low temperature of 4 °C while the oxygen scavenging is activated at 23 °C and 50 °C with similar oxygen scavenging amount. Besides, both of the tensile and heat-sealing strength deteriorative with the increase of oxygen scavenger content, while they are acceptable at oxygen scavenger content of 5%. Finally, the prepared oxygen scavenging film was used for packaging orange juice and received a good antioxidant effect. Thus, the acquired moisture activating oxygen scavenging film has a good stability under regular storage condition, and shows a potentially application for oxygen-sensitive food with high moisture content.

The effective removal of phenol from aqueous solution via adsorption on CS/β-CD/CTA multicomponent adsorbent and its application for COD degradation of drilling wastewater

The 3-chloro-2 hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride was successfully introduced into the β-cyclodextrin-modified chitosan to create the multicomponent adsorbent O-HTACC-g-CD. The structure of sorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption capacity of O-HTACC-g-CD toward phenol was investigated as a function of pH, temperature, contact time as well as adsorbent dosage. The Box-Behnken response surface methodology was employed to optimize the effects of experimental parameters including adsorbent dose, pH, and time on the adsorption of phenol at 298.15 K. The obtained optimal values for adsorbent dose, pH, and time were 0.06 g, 6, and 200 min, respectively. The obtained experimental data follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters such as free energy change, enthalpy change, and entropy change were calculated, revealing that adsorption of phenol on O-HTACC-g-CD is a spontaneous and exothermic process. The prepared O-HTACC-g-CD displayed high adsorption capacity (39.98 mg g-1) and excellent removal rate (96%) for phenol from the aqueous solution at 288.15 K. The gained removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) were in the range of 60.6-61.2%. Considerable results of sorption could be attributed to the multicomponent structure of the adsorbent with more active sites including the cavities, amino, and carboxyl functional groups which provided better sites for the phenolic pollutant to adsorb on the adsorbent via Van der Waals force, hydrogen bond, and the inclusion effect. Therefore, the results obtained strongly suggest that O-HTACC-g-CD could be an effective adsorbent for the removal of phenol and CODcr from drilling wastewater.

Simultaneous and rapid determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by facile and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles as effective SERS substrate

A green synthesis method for nanoscale silver using β-cyclodextrin as both reducing agent and stabilizer was developed. β-cyclodextrin was used not only as a reducing agent but also a stabilizing agent for nano-silver, and is also an excellent detection substrate due to its special structure (inner hydrophobic and outer hydrophilic ring structure). Then, the green synthesized silver nanoparticles were used as Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enhanced substrates to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as: anthracene, pyrene, chrysene and triphenylene. The SERS substrate can be used for both quantitative detection of the four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and qualitative identification of mixtures of these hydrocarbons. This synthesis method is simple and convenient, having great potential in simultaneous and rapid detection of environmental organic pollutants.

Highly sensitive determination of amanita toxins in biological samples using β-cyclodextrin collaborated molecularly imprinted polymers coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

In this work, a β-cyclodextrin functional vinyl monomer was synthesized and the common moiety of five amanita toxins was used as the template for preparing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). Chemical calculation was used to evaluate and describe the binding interactions between the template and the functional monomer. The preparation conditions were optimized and the resultant MIPs were characterized and employed as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents. The SPE conditions including the amount of sorbent, extraction solution, and eluting solution were also optimized for the enrichment of the five toxins. Using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), detection limits ranging from 0.34-0.42 µg/L, 0.16-0.33 µg/L, and 0.035-0.056 µg/kg were achieved for the five toxins in serum, urine and liver samples, respectively. The proposed method was further applied to the determination of the amanita toxins in suspected samples and showed great potential in the diagnosis of mushroom poisoning.

Development and Characterization of Orally Disintegrating Tablets Containing a Captopril-Cyclodextrin Complex

Captopril is the first angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor widely used for the treatment of hypertension. Based on the well-known benefits of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, the present study investigated the ability of β-cyclodextrin to include captopril. Solid inclusion complexes of captopril with β-cyclodextrin in a 1:2 molar ratio were prepared by using the paste method of complexation. For comparison purposes, a simple physical mixture with the same molar ratio was also prepared. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analysis were used to characterize the raw materials, physical mixture and solid inclusion complex. In order to provide the drug in a more accessible and patient-compliant form following masking its bitter taste, as well as ensuring the appropriate release kinetics, the investigated complex was formulated as orally disintegrating tablets. The study of captopril dissolution in both compendial and simulated saliva media suggested the Noyes Whitney model as the best mathematical model to describe the release phenomena. A clinical study on healthy volunteers also highlighted the taste improvement of the new formulation as compared to conventional tablets.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Mycophenolate Mofetil: An Attempt to Control the Release of an Immunosuppressant

Introduction

Organ transplantation is a critically important procedure, which requires immune modulation by using immunosuppressants. Development of nanoparticles is an emerging and beneficial engineering process to increase the dissolution rate of poorly soluble immunosuppressants as well as to provide controlled release for better therapeutic outcomes.

Method

Currently, the nanoprecipitation method was employed to fabricate β-cyclodextrin (βCD) facilitated mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs). The prime objectives of the study included, improvement of the dissolution profile of poorly aqueous soluble drug and controlled release from the SLNs to provide steady state drug concentration. Drug release from the prepared SLNs was assessed in two different media, ie, acidic buffer at pH 1.2 and phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 using USP dissolution apparatus for 12 h, followed by the evaluation of drug release mechanism and pattern by applying kinetic models.

Results

Justifiably, in acidic medium, the release was found to be 12% more (68%) in comparison to that in basic medium (56%). However, in both dissolution media, drug release was independent of initial concentration (R²>0.95) with non-Fickian type of diffusion mechanism. The outcomes of the study have exhibited that prepared formulations were in nanosized range (80–170 nm) with a net charge of ±23 charge on their surface. They possessed fairly uniform surface with acceptable polydispersity index (0.23±0.09). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis illustrated that the nanoparticles had uniform particle size and shape.

Discussion

The findings show potential applications of the nanoparticles and the method for the development of SLNPs in controlled release of MMF for better therapeutic outcomes. Conclusively, the prepared SLNPs were well designed in nanosized ranges and justifying the once daily controlled release formulation dose of MMF to enhance patient compliance.

Feature-Based Molecular Networking Analysis of the Metabolites Produced by In Vitro Solid-State Fermentation Reveals Pathways for the Bioconversion of Epigallocatechin Gallate

Dark teas are prepared by a microbial fermentation process. Flavan-3-ol B-ring fission analogues (FBRFAs) are some of the key bioactive constituents that characterize dark teas. The precursors and the synthetic mechanism involved in the formation of FBRFAs are not known. Using a unique solid-state fermentation system with β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexation as well as targeted chromatographic isolation, spectroscopic identification, and Feature-based Molecular Networking on the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking web platform, we reveal that dihydromyricetin and the FBRFAs, including teadenol A and fuzhuanin A, are derived from epigallocatechin gallate upon exposure to fungal strains isolated from Fuzhuan brick tea. In particular, the strains from subphylum Pezizomycotina were key drivers for these B-/C-ring oxidation transformations. These are the same transformations seen during the fermentation process of dark teas. These discoveries set the stage to enrich dark teas and other food products for these health-promoting constituents.

Effect of Hydrophilic Polymers on Complexation Efficiency of Cyclodextrins in Enhancing Solubility and Release of Diflunisal

The effects of three hydrophilic polymers, namely, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poloxamer-188 (PXM-188) on the solubility and dissolution of diflunisal (DIF) in complexation with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) or hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), were investigated. The kneading method was used at different drug to cyclodextrin weight ratios. Increases in solubility and drug release were observed with the DIF/βCD and DIF/HPβCD complexes. The addition of hydrophilic polymers at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0% w/w markedly improved the complexation and solubilizing efficiency of βCD and HPβCD. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) showed that DIF was successfully included into the cyclodextrin cavity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) confirmed stronger drug amorphization and entrapment in the molecular cage of cyclodextrins. The addition of PVA, CMC-Na or PXM-188 reduced further the intensity of the DIF endothermic peak. Most of the sharp and intense peaks of DIF disappeared with the addition of hydrophilic polymers. In conclusion, PXM-188 at a weight ratio of 10.0% w/w was the best candidate in enhancing the solubility, stability and release of DIF.

Mechanochemical green synthesis of hyper-crosslinked cyclodextrin polymers

Cyclodextrin nanosponges (CD-NS) are nanostructured crosslinked polymers made up of cyclodextrins. The reactive hydroxy groups of CDs allow them to act as multifunctional monomers capable of crosslinking to bi- or multifunctional chemicals. The most common NS synthetic pathway consists in dissolving the chosen CD and an appropriate crosslinker in organic polar aprotic liquids (e.g., N,N-dimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide), which affect the final result, especially for potential biomedical applications. This article describes a new, green synthetic pathway through mechanochemistry, in particular via ball milling and using 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole as the crosslinker. The polymer obtained exhibited the same characteristics as a CD-based carbonate NS synthesized in a solvent. Moreover, after the synthesis, the polymer was easily functionalized through the reaction of the nucleophilic carboxylic group with three different organic dyes (fluorescein, methyl red, and rhodamine B) and the still reactive imidazoyl carbonyl group of the NS.

β-Cyclodextrin-Mediated Beany Flavor Masking and Textural Modification of an Isolated Soy Protein-Based Yuba Film

The application of β-cyclodextrin (CD) to remove unattractive volatile compounds has been applied in various food products. This study investigated the effect of CD concentration (1–4%) on the beany flavor masking and textural modification of yuba film prepared by isolated soy protein (ISP) in the presence of (+CD), or after removing, the flavor-entrapped CD (−CD). Based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), the addition of CD caused a decrease in 1-octen-3-ol, benzaldehyde, hexanal, and 2-heptanone, which are characterized as the major beany flavor compounds. Regardless of presence or removal, the use of CD was effective in reducing beany flavor in yuba film. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation indicated that the CD present in yuba film was distributed on the lower surface and matrices of the films. In yuba film containing 4% CD, the CD crystals were concentrated on both the upper and lower surfaces of the film. The textural properties of the yuba film were affected by the presence or removal of CD, and better puncture strength was obtained when yuba was made after removing the CD. Therefore, this study indicates that the addition of CD was a good approach to mask the beany flavor of soy protein-based products, and textural properties could be improved by removing CD from the product formulation.

Understanding Surface Interaction and Inclusion Complexes between Piroxicam and Native or Crosslinked β-Cyclodextrins: The Role of Drug Concentration

Drug concentration plays an important role in the interaction with drug carriers affecting the kinetics of release process and toxicology effects. Cyclodextrins (CDs) can solubilize hydrophobic drugs in water enhancing their bioavailability. In this theoretical study based on molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods, the interactions between β-cyclodextrin and piroxicam, an important nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, were investigated. At first, both host–guest complexes with native β-CD in the 1:1 and in 2:1 stoichiometry were considered without assuming any initial a priori inclusion: the resulting inclusion complexes were in good agreement with literature NMR data. The interaction between piroxicam and a β-CD nanosponge (NS) was then modeled at different concentrations. Two inclusion mechanisms were found. Moreover, piroxicam can interact with the external NS surface or with its crosslinkers, also forming one nanopore. At larger concentration, a nucleation process of drug aggregation induced by the first layer of adsorbed piroxicam molecules is observed. The flexibility of crosslinked β-CDs, which may be swollen or quite compact, changing the surface area accessible to drug molecules, and the dimension of the aggregate nucleated on the NS surface are important factors possibly affecting the kinetics of release, which shall be theoretically studied in more detail at specific concentrations.

Synthesis of photoluminescent glycodendrimer with terminal β-cyclodextrin molecules as a biocompatible pH-sensitive carrier for doxorubicin delivery

In the present research, we prepared new glycodendrimer containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in three steps. At first, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) synthesized through pyrolysis of the citric acid (CA). Then the polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer was grown from the surface of the modified GQDs (GQDs-PAMAM). Finally, the prepared GQDs-PAMAM was functionalized with β-CD to obtain the glycodendrimer (GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD). The synthesized glycodendrimer characterized using several techniques. The phenol-sulfuric acid test obtained the amount of the β-CD about 30.37 %. 61.2 % of doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded in the prepared glycodendrimer. DOX@GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD displayed the pH-sensitive drug release profile, which fitted the Higuchi kinetic model. The biological test outcomes showed that the GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD is a safe carrier with good capability in penetration to the cancer cells. Moreover, DOX@GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD exhibited more efficiency in the killing of the cancer cells compared to neat DOX. Obtained results suggested that prepared glycodendrimer could be a potential nanosystem for breast cancer treatment.