Interactions between Sodium Cholate or Sodium Deoxycholate and Nonionic Surfactant (Tween 20 or Tween 60) in Aqueous Solution

Self-assembly of bile salts and their mixed aggregates as building blocks for smart aggregates

The present communication offers a comprehensive overview of the self-assembly of bile salts emphasizing their mixed smart aggregates with a variety of amphiphiles. Using an updated literature survey, we have explored the dissimilar interactions of bile salts with different types of surfactants, phospholipids, ionic liquids, drugs, and a variety of natural and synthetic polymers. While assembling this review, special attention was also provided to the potency of bile salts to alter the size/shape of aggregates formed by several amphiphiles to use these aggregates for solubility improvement of medicinally important compounds, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and also to develop their smart delivery vehicles. A fundamental understanding of bile salt mixed aggregates will enable the development of new strategies for improving the bioavailability of drugs solubilized in newly developed potential hosts and to formulate smart aggregates of desired morphology for specific targeted applications. It enriches our existing knowledge of the distinct interactions exerted in mixed systems of bile salts with variety of amphiphiles. By virtue of this, researchers can get innovative ideas to construct novel nanoaggregates from bile salts by incorporating various amphiphiles that serve as a building block for smart aggregates for their numerous industrial applications.

Conductometric and Fluorescence Probe Analysis to Investigate the Interaction between Bioactive Peptide and Bile Salts: A Micellar State Study

The present work deals with the micellar state study of sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate in the aqueous solution of a bioactive peptide, namely glycyl dipeptide, having different concentrations through conductivity and fluorescence methods at different temperatures. The data obtained from conductivity is plotted against the concentration of Bile salts, and CMC (critical micelle concentration) values are calculated. The results realized have been elucidated with reference to Glycyl dipeptide-bile salts hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions existing in solution. In addition, the CMC values converted to mole fraction (Xcmc) values have been used to evaluate the standard thermodynamic factors of micellization viz., enthalpy H, free energy ΔGm0, and entropy (ΔSm0) which extract information regarding thermodynamic feasibility of micellar state, energy alteration, and the assorted interactions established in the existing (bile salts-water-glycyl dipeptide) system. Furthermore, the pyrene fluorescence spectrum has also been utilized to study the change in micro polarity induced by the interactions of bile salts with glycyl dipeptide and the aggregation action of bile salts. The decrease in modification in the ratio of intensities of first and third peaks i.e., (I1/I3) for the pyrene molecules in aqueous bile salts solution by the addition of dipeptide, demonstrates that the micelle polarity is affected by glycyl dipeptide. This ratio has also been utilized to determine CMC values for the studied system, and the results have been found to be in good correlation with observations made in conductivity studies.

Co-encapsulation of Curcumin and Boswellic Acids in Chitosan-Coated Niosome: An In-vitro Digestion Study

AIM

In this study chitosan-coated niosome (ChN) was utilized for bioavailability enhancement of curcumin (Cn) and boswellic acids (BAs).

METHODS

The bare niosome (BN) was prepared by the heating method and optimized by using the mixture design procedure. Physicochemical stability, as well as the in vitro release, and bioavailability of Cn and BAs in BN and ChN were studied.

RESULTS

The optimized BN had a mean diameter of 70.00 ± 0.21 nm and surface charge of -31.00 ± 0.25 mv, which changed to 60.01 ± 0.20 nm and +40.00 ± 0, respectively, in ChN. In-vitro digestion study revealed chitosan layer augmented the bioavailability of Cn and BAs to 79.02 ± 0.13 and 81 ± 0.10, respectively. The chitosan layer obviously improved the physical stability of Cn and BA in the niosome vehicle, by means of vesicle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency.

CONCLUSION

The Chitosan-coated niosome was considered to be promising delivery system for increasing the bioavailability of Cn and BAs.

Synergism and properties of binary mixtures based on an arginine dodecyl ester surfactant

The properties of binary mixtures of new cationic amino acid surfactant arginine dihydrochloride dodecyl ester (ADDE) with alkyl poly glycosides (APGs) were studied systematically by evaluating surface tension, conductivity, dynamic...

Systematic Optimisation of Microtiter Plate Lectin Assay to Improve Sialic Acid Linkage Detection

AIMS

We aimed to develop a high-throughput lectin assay with minimized background signals to investigate the interactions of lectins and sialic acid glycans, focusing on prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

BACKGROUND

High background signals resulting from nonspecific binding are a significant concern for microtiter plate-based enzyme-linked lectin sorbent assays (ELLSAs), as they can mask specific binding signals and cause false-positive results.

METHODS

In this study, we constructed an ELLSA based on different washing step parameters, including the number of washing cycles, NaCl and Tween-20 concentrations, and the type of blocking agent and evaluated the effects on both specific and nonspecific binding signals. Furthermore, we performed a PSA binding assay using the optimized ELLSA.

RESULTS

The optimal washing parameters based on the highest specific binding signal proposed four cycles of washing steps using a washing buffer containing a high salt concentration (0.5 M NaCl) and mild detergent (0.05% Tween-20). The utilization of the optimized washing parameters in this assay was shown to be sufficient to obtain the optimal binding signals without the use of any blocking agent. Binding assays performed using the optimized ELLSA revealed that the glycan of the PSA sample used in this study mainly consists of terminal α2,6-linked sialic acid, as strongly recognized by Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) with a KD value of 12.38 nM.

CONCLUSION

The ELLSA reported in this study provides a simple yet sensitive assay for sialic acid linkage recognition.

Encapsulating bacteria in alginate-based electrospun nanofibers

Encapsulation technologies are imperative for the safe delivery of live bacteria into the gut where they regulate bodily functions and human health. In this study, we develop alginate-based nanofibers that could potentially serve as a biocompatible, edible probiotic delivery system. By systematically exploring the ratio of three components, the biopolymer alginate (SA), the carrier polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and the FDA approved surfactant polysorbate 80 (PS80), the surface tension and conductivity of the precursor solutions were optimized to electrospin bead-free fibers with an average diameter of 167 ± 23 nm. Next, the optimized precursor solution (2.8/1.2/3 wt% of SA/PEO/PS80) was loaded with Escherichia coli (E. coli, 108 CFU mL-1), which served as our model bacterium. We determined that the bacteria in the precursor solution remained viable after passing through a typical electric field (∼1 kV cm-1) employed during electrospinning. This is because the microbes are pulled into a sink-like flow, which encapsulates them into the polymer nanofibers. Upon electrospinning the E. coli-loaded solutions, beads that were much smaller than the size of an E. coli were initially observed. To compensate for the addition of bacteria, the SA/PEO/PS80 weight ratio was reoptimized to be 2.5/1.5/3. Smooth fibers with bulges around the live microbes were formed, as confirmed using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. By dissolving and plating the nanofibers, we found that 2.74 × 105 CFU g-1 of live E. coli cells were contained within the alginate-based fibers. This work demonstrates the use of electrospinning to encapsulate live bacteria in alginate-based nanofibers for the potential delivery of probiotics to the gut.

Transfersomes: The Ultra-Deformable Carrier System for Non-Invasive Delivery of Drug

Vesicular systems have many advantages like prolonging the existence of the drug in the systemic circulation, minimizing the undesirable side-effects and helping the active moieties to reach their target sites using the carriers. However, the main drawback related to transdermal delivery is to cross stratum corneum, which can be overcome by the utilization of novel carrier systems e.g., transfersomes, which are ultra-deformable carrier systems composed of phospholipid (phosphatidylcholine) and edge activators (surfactants). Edge activators are responsible for the flexibility of the bilayer membranes of transfersomes. Different edge activators used in transfersomes include tween, span, bile salts (sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate) and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate. These activators decrease the interfacial tension, thereby, increasing the deformability of the carrier system. Transfersomes can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs into a vesicular structure, which consists of one or more concentric bilayers. Due to the elastic nature of transfersomes, they can easily cross the natural physiological barriers i.e., skin and deliver the drug to its active site. The main benefit of using transfersomes as a carrier is the delivery of macromolecules through the skin by non-invasive route thereby increasing the patient's compliance. The transfersomal formulations can be used in the treatment of ocular diseases, alopecia, vulvovaginal candidiasis, osteoporosis, atopic dermatitis, tumor, leishmaniasis. It is also used in the delivery of growth hormones, anaesthesia, insulin, proteins, and herbal drugs. This review also focuses on the patents and clinical studies for various transfersomal products.

Synergistic interaction between exogenous and endogenous emulsifiers and its impact on in vitro digestion of lipid in crowded medium

Control of lipid digestibility by various food components has received great attention in recent decades. However, there is limited literature on investigating the synergistic effect of exogenous emulsifiers and endogenous sodium cholate (SC) on lipid digestion in a simulated physiological crowded medium. In this work, the synergistic interaction of Tween80 and SC according to the regular solution theory, and the hydrolysis of lipid emulsions containing tricaprylin, glyceryltrioleate or soybean oil in crowding medium was studied. The results show that emulsions stabilized by a combination of Tween80 and SC showed higher digestion rate and transformation than those with Tween80 or SC. The digestion rate could be increased by polyethylene glycols (PEGn) with varying crowding degree. The denaturation temperature of the lipase was increased in macromolecular crowded medium. This work allows for better understanding of the interaction between the amphiphiles and the macromolecular crowding effect on lipase digestion in the physiological environment.

Effect of Maltodextrin and Temperature on Micellar Behavior of Bile Salts in Aqueous Medium: Conductometric and Spectrofluorimetric Studies

Conductivity and fluorescence probe techniques have been employed to study the micellar behavior of bile salts i.e. sodium cholate (1–20 mmol⋅kg−1) and sodium deoxycholate (0.5–10.0 mmol⋅kg−1) in aqueous solutions of maltodextrin (0.0, 0.5, 1.1, and 1.6 mmol⋅kg−1) at different temperatures. The influence of maltodextrin on the micellization behavior of bile salts has been determined in terms of critical micelle concentration (CMC) values obtained from conductivity measurement. The variation in CMC values has been discussed by considering the alteration in the hydrophobic environment of maltodextrin-sodium cholate/sodium deoxycholate complex imparted by the carbohydrate molecules. In order to substantiate the CMC values determined from conductivity method, the fluorescence probe study of aqueous sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate solutions in presence of fluorescent, pyrene has also been carried. The CMC values obtained from both techniques are in full agreement with each other. Moreover, application of charged pseudo-phase separation model has been made to discuss the thermodynamics of the system.

Physicochemical characterization of solid lipid nanoparticles comprised of glycerol monostearate and bile salts

Successful applications of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) rely on their physicochemical properties which are mainly governed by their comprising materials (e.g., lipids, emulsifiers) and preparation methods. We have prepared biocompatible solid lipid nanoparticles with glycerol monostearate as lipid and varying combinations of bile salts sodium deoxycholate and sodium cholate (bile salts to lipid ratio 8% w/w) as emulsifiers. The detailed characterization of solid lipid nanoparticles was performed using a combination of light scattering, microscopic, calorimetric, and spectroscopic techniques. It was seen that different compositions of bile salts yield nanoparticles with different sizes. The use of only sodium deoxycholate (8% w/w) produces nanoparticles with average sizes ∼487 nm. The average particle size increases with increasing cholate fraction. A higher average particle size around ∼652 nm is obtained with 8% (w/w) sodium cholate. All the SLNs show good physical stability at room temperature and do not show polymorphic transformation during the storage. In order to study the microenvironments, solid lipid nanoparticles are loaded with an external fluorescent-probe fisetin (probe to lipid ratio 1% w/w). Photophysical properties of fisetin loaded SLNs indicate the micro-heterogenicity inside the nanoparticles.

Studies on the interactions between bile salts and food emulsifiers under in vitro duodenal digestion conditions to evaluate their bile salt binding potential

During the last decade a special interest has been focused on studying the relationship between the composition and structure of emulsions and the extent of lipolysis, driven by the necessity of modulate lipid digestion to decrease or delay fats absorption or increase healthy fat nutrients bioavailability. Because bile salts (BS) play a crucial role in lipids metabolism, understanding how typical food emulsifiers affect the structures of BS under duodenal conditions, can aid to further understand how to control lipids digestion. In the present work the BS-binding capacity of three emulsifiers (Lecithin, Tween 80 and β-lactoglobulin) was studied under duodenal conditions. The combination of several techniques (DLS, TEM, ζ-potential and conductivity) allowed the characterization of molecular assemblies resulting from the interactions, as modulated by the relative amounts of BS and emulsifiers in solution.

Effect of Surfactant-Bile Interactions on the Solubility of Hydrophobic Drugs in Biorelevant Dissolution Media

Biorelevant dissolution media (BDM) methods are commonly employed to investigate the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. Despite the significant progress in this area, the effect of commonly employed pharmaceutical excipients, such as surfactants, on the solubility of drugs in BDM has not been characterized in detail. The aim of this study is to clarify the impact of surfactant-bile interactions on drug solubility by using a set of 12 surfactants, 3 model hydrophobic drugs (fenofibrate, danazol, and progesterone) and two types of BDM (porcine bile extract and sodium taurodeoxycholate). Drug precipitation and sharp nonlinear decrease in the solubility of all studied drugs is observed when drug-loaded ionic surfactant micelles are introduced in solutions of both BDM, whereas the drugs remain solubilized in the mixtures of nonionic polysorbate surfactants + BDM. One-dimensional and diffusion-ordered ¹H NMR spectroscopy show that mixed bile salt + surfactant micelles with low drug solubilization capacity are formed for the ionic surfactants. On the other hand, separate surfactant-rich and bile salt-rich micelles coexist in the nonionic polysorbate surfactant + bile salt mixtures, explaining the better drug solubility in these systems. The nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants show intermediate behavior. The large dependence of the drug solubility on surfactant-bile interactions (in which the drug molecules do not play a major role per se) highlights how the complex interplay between excipients and bile salts can significantly change one of the key parameters which governs the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs, viz. the drug solubility in the intestinal fluids.

Adsorption and Aggregation Properties of Some Polysorbates at Different Temperatures

Measurements of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of polysorbates (Tween 20, Tween 60 and Tween 80) at 293, 303 and 313 K were made. On the basis of the obtained results the Gibbs surface excess concentration of the Tweens at the water–air interface and critical micelle concentrations were determined. Knowing the Gibbs surface excess concentration and taking into account the difference between the limiting area occupied by water and Tween molecules at the water–air interface, the fraction occupied by Tween molecules was established. The limiting area occupied by the Tween molecule was calculated by applying the Joos equation. The area determined in such a way was confirmed by the calculations of cross section of Tween molecules based on the bond lengths and the angles between them as well as the average distance between the molecules, taking into account their different conformations. This area was used for calculation of the standard Gibbs energy of adsorption using the Langmuir equation. The standard Gibbs energy of Tweens adsorption at the water–air interface was also calculated from the hydrophobic part of Tween molecule–water interface tension and that of hydrophobic part. Using the determined values of standard Gibbs energy of adsorption at different temperatures, the standard enthalpy and entropy values were deduced. The standard thermodynamic functions of micellization were also determined and compared to the Gibbs energy of Tween molecules interactions through the water phase.

Macroscopic and Microscopic Properties of Some Surfactants and Biosurfactants

The adsorption of surfactants at the water-air and solid-water interfaces and their wetting properties decide their practical applications. Therefore the adsorption of monorhamnolipid, surfactin, n-octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, n-dodecyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, n-dodecyl-β-d-maltoside, sucrose monodecanoate, sucrose monododecanoate, Tween 20, Tween 60, and Tween 80 at the water-air, polytetrafluoroethylene-water, polyethylene-water, poly(methyl methacrylate)-water, polyamide-water, and quartz-water interfaces, their tendency to form micelles as well as their wetting properties, were considered in the light of their microscopic properties. For this purpose, the components and parameters of the surfactant tail and head, water and solids surface tension, and surfactant contactable area with adherent medium were applied for prediction of surfactant-surfactant and surfactant-solid interactions through the water phase with regard to their adsorption, micellization, and wetting processes. Next, the Gibbs free energy of interactions was compared to the Gibbs free energy of surfactant adsorption at the water-air and solid-water interfaces as well as the micellization. It appeared that from the surfactant-surfactant and surfactant-solid interactions through the water phase determined on the basis of the tail and head of surfactant surface tension, it is possible to predict the surfactant tendency to adsorb at the water-air and solid-water interfaces, as well as to form micelles.

High Throughput Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) Formulation Screening with Complementary Dyes to Assess Protein Unfolding and Aggregation in Presence of Surfactants

PURPOSE

The purpose was to evaluate DSF for high throughput screening of protein thermal stability (unfolding/ aggregation) across a wide range of formulations. Particular focus was exploring PROTEOSTAT® - a commercially available fluorescent rotor dye - for detection of aggregation in surfactant containing formulations. Commonly used hydrophobic dyes (e.g. SYPRO™ Orange) interact with surfactants, complicating DSF measurements.

METHODS

CRM197 formulations were prepared and analyzed in standard 96-well plate rT-PCR system, using SYPRO™ Orange and PROTEOSTAT® dyes. Orthogonal techniques (DLS and IPF) are employed to confirm unfolding/aggregation in selected formulations. Selected formulations are subjected to non-thermal stresses (stirring and shaking) in plate based format to characterize aggregation with PROTEOSTAT®.

RESULTS

Agreement is observed between SYPRO™ Orange (unfolding) and PROTEOSTAT® (aggregation) DSF melt temperatures across wide range of non-surfactant formulations. PROTEOSTAT® can clearly detect temperature induced aggregation in low concentration (0.2 mg/mL) CRM197 formulations containing surfactant. PROTEOSTAT® can be used to explore aggregation due to non-thermal stresses in plate based format amenable to high throughput screening.

CONCLUSIONS

DSF measurements with complementary extrinsic dyes (PROTEOSTAT®, SYPRO™ Orange) are suitable for high throughput screening of antigen thermal stability, across a wide range of relevant formulation conditions - including surfactants -with standard, plate based rT-PCR instrumentation.

Niosomes Consisting of Tween-60 and Cholesterol Improve the Chemical Stability and Antioxidant Activity of (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate under Intestinal Tract Conditions

In order to improve the chemical stability and antioxidant activity of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the gastrointestinal tract, niosomes composed of Tween-60 and cholesterol were developed to encapsulate EGCG in this investigation. EGCG loaded niosomes with encapsulation efficiency around 76% exhibited a small Z-average diameter about 60 nm. Compared to free EGCG, the EGCG remaining in dialysis tubes was significantly improved for niosomes at pH 2 and 7.4. Meanwhile, the residual EGCG for niosomes increased from 3% to 49% after 2 h incubation in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Pancreatin was found to impact the stability of niosomes in SIF mainly. Furthermore, the results from ferric reducing antioxidant power and cellular antioxidant activity tests indicated that EGCG loaded niosomes exhibited stronger antioxidant ability than free EGCG during intestinal digestion. Thus, we can infer that niosomal encapsulation might be a promising approach to improve the oral bioavailability of EGCG in the body.

Multiphase ferrofluid flows for micro-particle focusing and separation

Ferrofluids have demonstrated great potential for a variety of manipulations of diamagnetic (or non-magnetic) micro-particles/cells in microfluidics, including sorting, focusing, and enriching. By utilizing size dependent magnetophoresis velocity, most of the existing techniques employ single phase ferrofluids to push the particles towards the channel walls. In this work, we demonstrate a novel strategy for focusing and separating diamagnetic micro-particles by using the laminar fluid interface of two co-flowing fluids-a ferrofluid and a non-magnetic fluid. Next to the microfluidic channel, microscale magnets are fabricated to generate strong localized magnetic field gradients and forces. Due to the magnetic force, diamagnetic particles suspended in the ferrofluid phase migrate across the ferrofluid stream at the size-dependent velocities. Because of the low Reynolds number and high Péclet number associated with the flow, the fluid interface is sharp and stable. When the micro-particles migrate to the interface, they are accumulated near the interface, resulting in effective focusing and separation of particles. We investigated several factors that affect the focusing and separation efficiency, including susceptibility of the ferrofluid, distance between the microfluidic channel and microscale magnet, and width of the microfluidic channel. This concept can be extended to multiple fluid interfaces. For example, a complete separation of micro-particles was demonstrated by using a three-stream multiphase flow configuration.

Solubilization and Interaction Studies of Bile Salts with Surfactants and Drugs: a Review

In this review, bile salt, bile salt-surfactant, and bile salt-drug interactions and their solubilization studies are mainly focused. Usefulness of bile salts in digestion, absorption, and excretion of various compounds and their rare properties in ordering the shape and size of the micelles owing to the presence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces are taken into consideration while compiling this review. Bile salts as potential bio-surfactants to solubilize drugs of interest are also highlighted. This review will give an insight into the selection of drugs in different applications as their properties get modified by interaction with bile salts, thus influencing their solution behavior which, in turn, modifies the phase-forming behavior, microemulsion, and clouding phenomenon, besides solubilization. Finally, their future perspectives are taken into consideration to assess their possible uses as bio-surfactants without side effects to human beings.

Adsorption and Micellization Behavior of Mixtures of Amphiphilic Drugs with Small Amounts of Bile Salts

Bile acid salts are the most important biological surfactant-like molecules. These compounds play an active role in the cholesterol and lipid solubilization. They are also used as drug carriers. The salts give anionic amphiphilic moiety in aqueous solution and will interact strongly when mixed with cationic amphiphiles. With this aim we have investigated mixed systems of three bile acid salts (sodium cholate (NaC), sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) and sodium taurocholate (NaTC)) with two cationic drugs (adiphenine hydrochloride (ADP) and clomipramine hydrochloride (CLP)) by surface tension measurements. It was found that the two components mix nonideally, i.e., the cmc values of the mixtures decrease with the stoichiometric mole fraction (α1) of bile salts and are lower than cmc* values (cmc at ideal mixing condition). The interaction parameters, βm and βσ, come out to be negative and large in magnitude which is obvious from the fact that the two components are of opposite charge and would experience attractive interactions. The results suggest that the contribution of bile salts in the mixed micelles (X1m) is greater than both the α1 and X1id (the contribution in ideal mixing condition). These components also form mixed interface where the contribution of bile salts is more than α1 (i.e., X1σ > α1). The minimum area occupied by a monomer decreases with increase in the content of bile salts in the solution. This confirms that the opposite charges on the two components decrease the repulsion among the head groups. All the evaluated thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ΔG0m, ΔGex, ΔG°ads and Gmin) support the above explanations.

The Nutraceutical Bioavailability Classification Scheme: Classifying Nutraceuticals According to Factors Limiting their Oral Bioavailability

The oral bioavailability of a health-promoting dietary component (nutraceutical) may be limited by various physicochemical and physiological phenomena: liberation from food matrices, solubility in gastrointestinal fluids, interaction with gastrointestinal components, chemical degradation or metabolism, and epithelium cell permeability. Nutraceutical bioavailability can therefore be improved by designing food matrices that control their bioaccessibility (B*), absorption (A*), and transformation (T*) within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This article reviews the major factors influencing the gastrointestinal fate of nutraceuticals, and then uses this information to develop a new scheme to classify the major factors limiting nutraceutical bioavailability: the nutraceutical bioavailability classification scheme (NuBACS). This new scheme is analogous to the biopharmaceutical classification scheme (BCS) used by the pharmaceutical industry to classify drug bioavailability, but it contains additional factors important for understanding nutraceutical bioavailability in foods. The article also highlights potential strategies for increasing the oral bioavailability of nutraceuticals based on their NuBACS designation (B*A*T*).

Effects of bile salts and divalent cations on the adsorption of norfloxacin by agricultural soils

The effects of bile salts (sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate, 0-20 mmol/L), divalent cations (Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+), 0-20 mmol/L) or pH (3.0-10.0) on the adsorption of norfloxacin by three selected soils (Paddy_H, Paddy_G and Red_J) were systematically studied. Soil adsorption of norfloxacin follows a pseudo second-order kinetics model, and the maximum adsorption capacity has been determined from the nonlinear fit of the Langmuir isotherm model to be 88.8, 88.1 and 63.0 μmol/g for the adsorption onto Paddy_H, Paddy_G and Red_J, respectively. The results indicate that norfloxacin has a high adsorption affinity for the agricultural soils tested and that the organic content of these soils have at least a slight influence on this adsorption. The adsorption of norfloxacin to soils was strongly dependent on pH and exhibited a maximum at approximately pH 6. The presence of divalent cations prominently suppressed the adsorption of norfloxacin by paddy soils, which followed an order of Cu(2+) > Mg(2+) > Ca(2+) > Zn(2+), and by red soil, which followed an order of Cu(2+) > Zn(2+) > Ca(2+) > Mg(2+). The adsorption of norfloxacin (by the soils studied) sharply decreased as the amount of bile salts was increased. For uncharged norfloxacin at environmentally relevant pH values, such factors as soil type, exogenous divalent cations and macromolecules significantly altered the environmental fate and transport of norfloxacin between aquatic and soil interfaces.

Excipient foods: designing food matrices that improve the oral bioavailability of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals

The oral bioavailability of many lipophilic bioactive agents (pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals) is limited due to various physicochemical and physiological processes. Excipient foods can be designed to improve the oral bioavailability of these bioactive agents.

Effect of Oil/Water Mass Ratios on the Composition and Solubilization of Microemulsion Systems Containing Tween/Alcohol/Alkane/NaCl Solution

The composition and solubilization ability of microemulsion systems Tween (Tween 20, Tween 60, Tween 80)/1-butanol/decane/7.5 % NaCl solution at various oil/water mass ratios were studied. As oil/water mass ratios (α) increase, the solubility of the alcohol increases, and for the system containing Tween 60 or Tween 80, the mass fractions of the alcohol in the interfacial layer, AS , increase, whereas for the system containing Tween 20, the mass fractions of the alcohol in the interfacial layer, AS , decrease. Also, the solubilization ability (SP∗) of the microemulsion systems decreases. The solubilization ability of the microemulsion systems containing different Tween surfactants in descending order is Tween 60 > Tween 80 > Tween 20. The effects of alcohols and alkanes on the composition and solubilization abilities of microemulsion systems Tween/alcohol/alkane/NaCl solution were also investigated.