Fluid bed drying and agglomeration of phytopharmaceutical compositions

Electrospun Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Nanofibrous Mat Loaded with Green Propolis Extract, Chitosan and Nystatin as an Innovative Wound Dressing Material

Purposes

The objective of this work was to produce and characterise biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibre loaded with green propolis extract (GPE), chitosan (CS) and nystatin (NYS) alone and in mixtures as a potential wound dressing material.

Methods

The GPE, NYS and CS1% were loaded in electrospinning compositions based on PVA 7%, 8% and 12% solubilised in milli-Q water or a mixture of water and glacial acetic acid. The electrospinning compositions without actives (blank) and those loaded with actives were characterised by determining the pH, electrical conductivity and rheological properties. An image analysis procedure applied to photomicrographs obtained by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) allowed the determination of the nanofibres' diameter distribution and average surface porosity. The disintegration time and swelling ratio of the nanofibre mats were also determined.

Results

The physicochemical parameters of the electrospinning compositions (pH, electrical conductivity and rheology) and the incorporated active ingredients (GPE, CS and NYS) affected the electrospun nanofibre mats properties. The electrospun nanofibres' mean diameters and surface porosity ranged from 151.5 to 684.5 nm and from 0.29 ± 0.04 to 0.50 ± 0.05. The PVA/CS electrospun nanofibres fibres exhibited the smallest diameters, high surface porosity, water absorption capacity and disintegration time. The characteristics of the PVA/CS nanofibres mat associated with the biodegradability of the polymers make them a novel material with the potential to be applied as wound and burn dressings.

Encapsulation of Orange Oil Using Fluidized Bed Granulation

The primary objective of this research is to determine how granulation compares to spray drying/agglomeration for producing larger, more dense flavoring particles. Granulation can yield large, dense particles and thereby negate the need for a two-step process (spray drying followed by agglomeration) to achieve improved flow/handling properties of dry flavorings. In this study, a 55% solids slurry (blend of OSAn-modified starch and maltodextrin 15DE) was prepared and then single-fold orange peel oil was added at 20 or 25% of the carrier solids level. The 20% flavoring emulsion was spray dried (SD), and a portion of the resultant powder then agglomerated (Agg) in a bottom spray, fluidized bed. A second emulsion of the same carrier composition but using 25% orange oil based on carrier solids was prepared and subjected to fluidized bed granulation (FBG). Particle size, density, orange oil retention and oxidative stability on storage were determined. Overall, it is observed during this study that FBG produces orange oil encapsulates that possess better properties, such as more resistance to oxidation, a better retention of orange oil and a higher density than SD or SD/Agg powders.