A combined spectroscopic and ab initio study of the transmetalation of a polyphenol as a potential purification strategy for food additives

Curcumin- β-Cyclodextrin Molecular Inclusion Complex: A Water-Soluble Complex in Fast-dissolving Tablets for the Treatment ofNeurodegenerative Disorders

BACKGROUND

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) have become an excellent choice for delivering drugs as their palatability is greatly improved. In this work, β-cyclodextrin has been used to improve the solubility of curcumin by encapsulating it into the hydrophobic cavity for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to present the design, formulation, and optimisation of fastdissolving oral tablets of curcumin- β-cyclodextrin molecular inclusion complex using a 32-factorial design.

METHODS

The drug-excipient compatibility was studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The inclusion complex of curcumin-β-cyclodextrin was prepared using solvent casting and confirmed using XRD studies. Powder blends were evaluated for flow properties. Tablets prepared by direct compression were evaluated for post-compression parameters. Further, the effect of formulation variables, such as sodium starch glycolate (X1) and Neusilin® ULF2 (X2), on various responses, including disintegration time and dissolution at 2 hours, was studied using statistical models.

RESULTS

Post-compression parameters, i.e., hardness (4.4-5 kg/cm2), thickness (3.82-3.93 mm), weight variation (±7.5%), friability (< 1%), wetting time (51-85 seconds) and drug content (96.28- 99.32%) were all found to be within the permissible limits and the disintegration time of tablets with super-disintegrants ranged between 45-58 seconds. The in-vitro dissolution profile of tablets showed that higher SSG and Neuslin® ULF2 levels promoted drug release. For statistical analysis, the 2FI model was chosen. Optimised variables for formulation have been determined and validated with the experimental findings based on the significant desirability factor.

CONCLUSION

The current study reveals the validated curcumin-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex fastdissolving tablets with SSG and Neusilin® ULF2 to be an ideal choice for effectively treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Paper-based plasmonic nanosensor monitors environmental lead pollution in real field

Development of a low-cost portable colorimetric nanosensor for real field pollution monitoring.

Effects of Metal Ions on the Precipitation of Penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose by Protein

In this study, the effects of metal ions (Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺) on precipitation of a purified gallotannin 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose (PGG) by bovine serum albumin (BSA) were quantitatively analyzed. The stoichiometric ratios of the complexation of metal ions to PGG and methyl gallate (MeG) which can be defined as gallotannins monomer were also explored. The results showed that the addition of metal ions could reduce the solubility of PGG-protein complex and increase the PGG-protein precipitation. Precipitation studies showed that Al³⁺ and Fe²⁺ with a higher stoichiometric ratio to PGG and MeG had greater effects on PGG-protein precipitation than Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The results of this study suggested that metal ions could combine with PGG to form PGG-metal complex and interact with protein to form PGG-metal-protein ternary complexes, which resulted in the increase of PGG-protein precipitation. Consequently, a model of interaction between metal ions and PGG-protein precipitation was proposed.