Molecular interactions in human nail plate analysed by dielectric spectroscopy

Real-time microwave sensor system for detection of polluting substances in pure water

In the present work, a real-time coaxial sensor for detecting foreign substances in aqueous solutions was developed and tested. This tool, based on a coaxial propagation line for determining the electromagnetic parameters of materials, was updated into a liquid permittivity monitoring sensor of continuous flow. A few solutions of different nature were tested, and while adding a liquid or electrolyte substance, named "pollutant," variations in the base solution were documented. Ethanol and water mixtures were used as reference, while the ability of the system to detect emulsions (such as oil in water solutions) was also evaluated. The system shows great potential for the quantification and qualification of liquid mixtures, having a threshold of reduced volume/volume fractions of foreign substances or pollutants, a property which is shown to be extremely useful in an analogue of high glycaemia (diabetes disease)-thus, opening the possibilities of monitoring biological liquids.

Structural and component mining of nails using bioengineering techniques

The human nail is one of the challenging membranes for the scientists to target and to improve the clinical efficacy of ungual formulations. The understanding of nail physiology, impact of hydration on its properties and presence of trace elements in nails as biomarkers has been explored by various researchers in clinical studies. Despite the importance of biophysical techniques for the assessment of structure and physiology of nail, minimum literature analyses biophysical, biochemical and bioanalytical approaches. However, nowadays scientists in bioengineering field are keen in developing non-invasive, reliable and reproducible techniques for the assessment of different anatomical and functional parameters of nails for testing of ungual products.

The human nail--barrier characterisation and permeation enhancement

The human nail remains one of the most challenging membranes for formulation scientists to target and for clinicians to heal. Its formidable barrier properties are the primary reason that oral therapy remains the primary approach to manage ungual infections. This article considers the major structural properties underlying the excellent barrier function of the nail, with particular emphasis on the role of biophysical methods in advancing our knowledge of this appendage. Formulations currently available for management of ungual disease are discussed and their therapeutic efficacy is assessed. Finally, experimental strategies to enhance ungual permeation are reviewed and prospects for future developments in the field are considered.

Diabetes mellitus effect on rat corneal dielectric properties

In the course of the study, we carried out a dielectric examination to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on the rat corneal function. Measurements were performed over the frequency range of 500 Hz-100 kHz in air and at the temperatures from 25 to 150°C. The frequency dependencies of the loss tangent for the healthy and the diabetic cornea exhibit two peaks at 2 kHz and 16 kHz in the α-dispersion region. The amplitude of these both peaks is smaller for the diabetic cornea than that for the healthy one. The temperature dependencies of the loss tangent for the healthy and the diabetic cornea reveal β-relaxation in the range of 30-70°C and 50-90°C, respectively. The present study exhibits that the dielectric spectroscopy is useful in detection of the effect of diabetes mellitus on the corneal molecular behavior.