Cutaneous Crospovidone: A Newly Described Foreign Body Due to Illicit Drug Abuse

Crospovidone, a polymer of poly N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, is an inert insoluble disintegrant found in pharmaceutical tablets. This material has been encountered in the lungs of intravenous drug users and embolized with other components such as talc and microcrystalline cellulose. More recently, crospovidone has also been described in the gastrointestinal tract. We present 2 cases of cutaneous crospovidone deposition resulting from subcutaneous injection of crushed tablets, commonly known as "skin popping." Clinical presentation includes painful, inflamed papules, nodules, or ulcers with overlying eschar. Crospovidone has a distinct and reproducible histochemical staining profile. Histologic recognition of this material is important because it can guide clinicians in their diagnosis and management decisions.

Effect of PVP content and polymer concentration on polyetherimide (PEI) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based ultrafiltration membrane fabrication and characterization

In this study, four different membranes were fabricated by using polyetherimide and polyacrylonitrile polymers, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) via phase inversion method to improve the membrane performance in fruit juice wastewater (FJWW) treatment. The addition of PVP to the casting solution increased membrane hydrophilicity, water content, contact angle, porosity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy peaks, membrane thickness, average roughness and viscosity of cast solutions compared to the bare membrane. It can be said that the addition of a lower polymer concentration and PVP intensively increases the pure water flux of the membrane. However, as the flux increased, a small decrease in FJWW rejection was observed.

Trophic transfer of citrate, PVP coated silver nanomaterials, and silver ions in a paddy microcosm

We used replicated paddy microcosm systems to estimate the tropic transfer of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNP citrate), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNP (AgNP PVP), and silver ions (AgNO₃) for 14 days under two exposure regimes (a single high-dose exposure; 60 μg L^-1 and a sequential low-dose exposure at 1 h, 4 days and 9 days; 20 μg L^-1 × 3 = 60 μg L^-1). Most Ag ions from AgNO₃ had dispersed in the water and precipitated partly on the sediment, whereas the two Ag NPs rapidly coagulated and precipitated on the sediment. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of Ag from AgNPs and AgNO₃ in Chinese muddy loaches and biofilms were higher than those of river snails in both exposure conditions. These BCFs were more prominent for 14 days exposure (7.30 for Chinese muddy loach; 4.48 for biofilm) in the low-dose group than in the single high-dose group. Their retention of AgNPs and Ag ions differed between the two exposure conditions, and uptake and elimination kinetics of Ag significantly differed between AgNP citrate and AgNP PVP in the sequential low-dose exposure. Stable isotopes analyses indicated that the trophic levels between Chinese muddy loaches and biofilms and between river snails and biofilms were 2.37 and 2.27, respectively. The biomagnification factors (BMFs) of AgNPs and AgNO₃ between Chinese muddy loaches and biofilms were significantly higher than those between river snails and biofilms under both exposure settings. The BMFs of AgNP citrate and AgNO₃ between Chinese muddy loaches and biofilms were greater than those of AgNP PVP for 14 days in the single high-dose group, whereas the BMFs of AgNP PVP were greater than those of AgNP citrate and AgNO₃ in the sequential low-dose group. These microcosm data suggest that AgNPs have the potential to impact on ecological receptors and food chains.

Acute toxicity, bioaccumulation and effects of dietary transfer of silver from brine shrimp exposed to PVP/PEI-coated silver nanoparticles to zebrafish

The extensive use and release to the aquatic environment of silver nanoparticles (NPs) could lead to their incorporation into the food web. Brine shrimp larvae of 24h showed low sensitivity to the exposure to PVP/PEI-coated Ag NPs (5nm), with EC₅₀ values at 24h of 19.63mgAgL^-1, but they significantly accumulated silver after 24h of exposure to 100μgL^-1 of Ag NPs. Thus, to assess bioaccumulation and effects of silver transferred by the diet in zebrafish, brine shrimp larvae were exposed to 100ngL^-1 of Ag NPs as an environmentally relevant concentration or to 100μgL^-1 as a potentially effective concentration and used to feed zebrafish for 21days. Autometallography revealed a dose- and time-dependent metal accumulation in the intestine and in the liver of zebrafish. Three-day feeding with brine shrimps exposed to 100ngL^-1 of Ag NPs was enough to impair fish health as reflected by the significant reduction of lysosomal membrane stability and the presence of vacuolization and necrosis in the liver. However, dietary exposure to 100μgL^-1 of Ag NPs for 3days did not significantly alter gene transcription levels, neither in the liver nor in the intestine. After 21days, biological processes such as lipid transport and localization, cellular response to chemical stimulus and response to xenobiotic stimulus were significantly altered in the liver. Overall, these results indicate an effective dietary transfer of silver and point out to liver as the main target organ for Ag NP toxicity in zebrafish after dietary exposure.

Developmental and reproductive toxicity of PVP/PEI-coated silver nanoparticles to zebrafish

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of toxicity of silver nanoparticles (NPs) and their toxicity to fish embryos after waterborne exposure have been widely investigated, but much less information is available regarding the effect of Ag NPs on physiological functions such as growth or reproduction. In this work, the effects of waterborne exposure of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to PVP/PEI coated Ag NPs (~5nm) on reproduction (fecundity) were investigated. Moreover, the development of the embryos after parental exposure was compared with the development of embryos after direct waterborne exposure to the NPs. For this, two experiments were run: 1) embryos from unexposed parents were treated for 5days with Ag NPs (10μgAgL^-1-10mgAgL^-1) and development was monitored, and 2) selected breeding zebrafish were exposed for 3weeks to 100ngAgL^-1 (environmentally relevant concentration) or to 10μgAgL^-1 of Ag NPs, fecundity was scored and development of resulting embryos was monitored up to 5days. Waterborne exposure of embryos to Ag NPs resulted in being highly toxic (LC50 at 120h=50μgAgL^-1), causing 100% mortality during the first 24h of exposure at 0.1mgAgL^-1. Exposure of adults, even at the environmentally relevant silver concentration, caused a significant reduction of fecundity by the second week of treatment and resulting embryos showed a higher prevalence of malformations than control embryos. Exposed adult females presented higher prevalence of vacuolization in the liver. These results show that Ag NPs at an environmentally relevant concentration are able to affect population level parameters in zebrafish.

Determination of phosphate concentration and pH in artificial tear drops

OBJECTIVE

To determine phosphate concentration and pH in artificial tear eye drops commercially available in Spain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 71 examples of artificial tear preparations were identified in a search of Vademecum 2014 and the Spanish Medicines Agency website. In the 24 artificial tear products containing phosphates, quantification of these was performed by ultraviolet molecular absorption spectrophotometry, and the determination of pH was performed using scan image analysis algorithms of pH strips.

RESULTS

Of the 71 artificial tears tested, 24 contained phosphate among their excipients in the data sheet, three of which had a concentration level below detection limit (<0.1mM). The mean phosphate concentration was 17.91±23.87mM. The artificial tear sample containing a higher concentration was Colircusi Humectante (87.1mM). Lubricants based on hypromellose showed the highest phosphate concentration (41.59±32.1mM), showing statistically significant differences compared to povidone (P=.0196) and hyaluronate (P=.0067). Statistically significant differences were found between products containing preservatives (32.39±20.91mM), and preservative free ones (8.49±11.98mM) (P=.0498). However, no difference was found between multidose (20.21±26.91mM) and unidose (9.31±14.39mM) samples, or between brand name (15.44±23.3mM) and generic eye drops (20.81mM). The mean pH was 6.93±0.26 (6.2-7.22). No statistical correlation was detected between phosphate concentration and pH (Spearman's Rho -0.1089 and P=.6125).

CONCLUSION

A total of 24 (33.8%) of the 71 artificial tears contained phosphate. We believe identifying the phosphate concentration of artificial tears is useful information in order to avoid complications in high-risk patients.

Water chemistry controlled aggregation and photo-transformation of silver nanoparticles in environmental waters

The inevitable release of engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into aquatic environments has drawn great concerns about its environmental toxicity and safety. Although aggregation and transformation play crucial roles in the transport and toxicity of AgNPs, how the water chemistry of environmental waters influences the aggregation and transformation of engineered AgNPs is still not well understood. In this study, the aggregation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated AgNPs was investigated in eight typical environmental water samples (with different ionic strengths, hardness, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations) by using UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Raman spectroscopy was applied to probe the interaction of DOM with the surface of AgNPs. Further, the photo-transformation and morphology changes of AgNPs in environmental waters were studied by UV-visible spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy. The results suggested that both electrolytes (especially Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) and DOM in the surface waters are key parameters for AgNP aggregation, and sunlight could accelerate the morphology change, aggregation, and further sedimentation of AgNPs. This water chemistry controlled aggregation and photo-transformation should have significant environmental impacts on the transport and toxicity of AgNPs in the aquatic environments.

Environmental Fate of Silver Nanoparticles in Boreal Lake Ecosystems

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are currently the most commonly used nanoparticles in consumer products, yet their environmental fate in natural waters is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the persistence, transformations and distribution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and citrate (CT) coated AgNPs in boreal lake mesocosms dosed either with a 6-week chronic regimen or a one-time pulse treatment at environmentally relevant dosing levels. In the chronic treatments, total Ag (TAg) concentrations reached ∼40% of target concentrations by the end of the experiment, and in the pulsed mesocosms, TAg dissipated slowly, with a half-life of ∼20 days. Sediments and periphyton on the mesocosm walls were an important sink for Ag. We found little effect of AgNP loading and surface coating on the persistence of TAg. There were also no differences between treatments in the degree of agglomeration of AgNPs, as indicated by the accumulation and distribution of Ag in the particulate and colloidal fractions. The low ionic strength and relatively high dissolved organic carbon concentrations in the lake water likely contributed to the relative stability of AgNP in the water column. The low concentrations of dissolved Ag (<1 μg L(-1)) in the size fraction <3 kDaA reflect the importance of natural ligands in controlling the concentrations of Ag released by dissolution of AgNPs. Overall, these data indicate that AgNPs are relatively stable in the tested lake environment and appear to result in quantities of highly toxic ionic Ag(+) that are below our limit of detection.

Preparation and evaluation of carriers for detection of cholinesterase inhibitors

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to use methods of pharmaceutical technology, and prepare carriers in the form of pellets suitable as a filling of detection tubes for enzymatic detection of cholinesterase inhibitors. The enzymatic detection was based on enzymatic hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine iodide and the subsequent colour reaction of its hydrolysis product with Ellman's reagent. The suitable carriers should be in the form of white, regular and sufficiently mechanically resistant particles of about 1 mm allowing it to capture the enzyme during the impregnation process and ensuring its high activity for enzymatic detection.

METHODS

Carriers consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, povidone, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose were prepared using extrusion-spheronization method under three different drying conditions in either a hot air oven or a microwave oven. Subsequently, the carriers were impregnated with acetylcholinesterase and their size, shape, mechanical resistance, bulk, tapped and pycnometric density, Hausner ratio, intraparticular and total tapped porosity, and activity were measured and recorded.

RESULTS

In this procedure, carriers with different physical parameters and different acetylcholinesterase activity were evaluated. It was found that higher acetylcholinesterase activity was associated not only with a higher intraparticular porosity but also with more regular particles characterized by high sphericity and low total tapped porosity.

CONCLUSION

This unique finding is important for the preparation of detection tubes based on enzymatic detection which is still irreplaceable especially in the field of detection and analysis of super-toxic cholinesterase inhibitors.

Transport of carbon colloid supported nanoscale zero-valent iron in saturated porous media

Injection of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has recently gained great interest as emerging technology for in-situ remediation of chlorinated organic compounds from groundwater systems. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) is able to reduce organic compounds and to render it to less harmful substances. The use of nanoscale particles instead of granular or microscale particles can increase dechlorination rates by orders of magnitude due to its high surface area. However, classical nZVI appears to be hampered in its environmental application by its limited mobility. One approach is colloid supported transport of nZVI, where the nZVI gets transported by a mobile colloid. In this study transport properties of activated carbon colloid supported nZVI (c-nZVI; d50=2.4μm) are investigated in column tests using columns of 40cm length, which were filled with porous media. A suspension was pumped through the column under different physicochemical conditions (addition of a polyanionic stabilizer and changes in pH and ionic strength). Highest observed breakthrough was 62% of the injected concentration in glass beads with addition of stabilizer. Addition of mono- and bivalent salt, e.g. more than 0.5mM/L CaCl2, can decrease mobility and changes in pH to values below six can inhibit mobility at all. Measurements of colloid sizes and zeta potentials show changes in the mean particle size by a factor of ten and an increase of zeta potential from -62mV to -80mV during the transport experiment. However, results suggest potential applicability of c-nZVI under field conditions.

The effect of environmentally relevant conditions on PVP stabilised gold nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are a major product from the nanotechnology industry and have been shown to have a potentially large environmental exposure and hazard. In this study, sterically stabilised polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) 7 nm gold nanoparticles (NPs) were produced and characterised as prepared by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), size and aggregation, morphology and surface charge. Changes in these properties with changes in environmentally relevant conditions (pH, ionic strength, Ca concentration and fulvic acid presence) were quantified. These sterically stabilised NPs showed no aggregation with changes in pH or inorganic ions, even under high (0.1 M) Ca concentrations. In addition, the presence of fulvic acid resulted in no observable changes in SPR, size, aggregation or surface chemistry, suggesting limited interaction between the PVP stabilised nanoparticles and fulvic acid. Due to the lack of aggregation and interaction, these NPs are expected to be highly mobile and potentially bioavailable in the environment.

Comparative analysis of zaleplon complexation with cyclodextrins and hydrophilic polymers in solution and in solid state

The aim of this work was to investigate the potential synergistic effect of water-soluble polymers (hypromellose, HPMC and polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) on zaleplon (ZAL) complexation with parent β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and its randomly methylated derivative (RAMEB) in solution and in solid state. The addition of HPMC to the complexation medium improved ZAL complexation and solubilization with RAMEB (K(ZAL/RAMEB)=156±5M(-1) and K(ZAL/RAMEB/HPMC)=189±8M(-1); p<0.01), while such effect was not observed for βCD (K(ZAL/βCD)=112±2M(-1) and K(ZAL/βCD/HPMC)=119±8M(-1); p>0.05). Although PVP increased the ZAL aqueous solubility from 0.22 to 0.27mg/mL, it did not show any synergistic effects on ZAL solubilization with the cyclodextrins tested. Binary and ternary systems of ZAL with βCD, RAMEB and HPMC were prepared by spray-drying. Differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated a partial ZAL amorphization in spray-dried binary and ternary systems with βCD, while the drug was completely amorphous in all samples with RAMEB. Furthermore, inclusion complex formation in all systems prepared was confirmed by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro dissolution rate followed the rank order ZAL/RAMEB/HPMC>ZAL/RAMEB=ZAL/βCD/HPMC>ZAL/βCD≫ZAL, clearly demonstrating the superior performance of RAMEB on ZAL complexation in the solid state and its synergistic effect with HPMC on drug solubility. Surprisingly, when loaded into tablets made with insoluble microcrystalline cellulose, RAMEB complexes had no positive effect on drug dissolution, because HPMC and RAMEB acted as a binders inside the tablets, prolonging their disintegration. Oppositely, the formulation with mannitol, a soluble excipient, containing a ternary RAMEB system, released the complete drug-dose in only 5min, clearly demonstrating its suitability for the development of immediate-release oral formulation of ZAL.

Long-term transformation and fate of manufactured ag nanoparticles in a simulated large scale freshwater emergent wetland

Transformations and long-term fate of engineered nanomaterials must be measured in realistic complex natural systems to accurately assess the risks that they may pose. Here, we determine the long-term behavior of poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in freshwater mesocosms simulating an emergent wetland environment. AgNPs were either applied to the water column or to the terrestrial soils. The distribution of silver among water, solids, and biota, and Ag speciation in soils and sediment was determined 18 months after dosing. Most (70 wt %) of the added Ag resided in the soils and sediments, and largely remained in the compartment in which they were dosed. However, some movement between soil and sediment was observed. Movement of AgNPs from terrestrial soils to sediments was more facile than from sediments to soils, suggesting that erosion and runoff is a potential pathway for AgNPs to enter waterways. The AgNPs in terrestrial soils were transformed to Ag(2)S (~52%), whereas AgNPs in the subaquatic sediment were present as Ag(2)S (55%) and Ag-sulfhydryl compounds (27%). Despite significant sulfidation of the AgNPs, a fraction of the added Ag resided in the terrestrial plant biomass (~3 wt % for the terrestrially dosed mesocosm), and relatively high body burdens of Ag (0.5-3.3 μg Ag/g wet weight) were found in mosquito fish and chironomids in both mesocosms. Thus, Ag from the NPs remained bioavailable even after partial sulfidation and when water column total Ag concentrations are low (<0.002 mg/L).

Applying spectral peak area analysis in near-infrared spectroscopy moisture assays

Spectral peak area analysis has in this study been shown to be a viable method in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) moisture assays. The study also shows that the required number of calibration samples can be minimized, and the method is, therefore, especially suitable for moisture assays in early formulation development and in-situ process monitoring. Diffuse NIRS was utilized in the development of moisture assays for the model compounds polyvinylpyrrolidone and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and also for a lyophilized formulation. Reference data were obtained using coulometric Karl Fischer titration. The NIRS measurements were performed through the bottoms of the sample vials using either a Fourier Transform-Near-Infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer fitted with a diffuse reflectance probe or a dispersive single beam spectrometer. The ratios of the peak areas of a water peak at 5200 cm(-1) and a reference peak were evaluated using linear regression analysis. The spectral peak area analysis method was compared with a conventional partial least squares regression method. The moisture assays were verified using independent test sets. The investigated moisture range was 0-22% for the samples of PVP, 0-8.5% for the samples of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and 0.5-8.5% for the samples of the lyophilized formulation. The results of the spectral peak area analysis and the conventional partial least squares regression were similar, but the peak area method was more robust and could also make accurate predictions for lyophilized PVP samples, although the calibration set consisted of non-lyophilized samples. The peak area method required fewer calibration samples than the conventional partial least squares regression method.

Improved Sample Pre-treatment for Determination of Caffeine in Tea Using a Cartridge Filled with Polyvinylpolypyrroridone (PVPP)

We have improved sample pre-treatment for the effective removal of polyphenols and simple analysis of caffeine in tea using a cartridge filled with polyvinylpolypyrroridone (PVPP). Nearly 100% of catechins were removed from the green tea sample and caffeine was completely recovered in the range of 98.2-101.3% by sample pre-treatment with a PVPP cartridge. Reproducibility of preparing PVPP pre-treatment cartridges was sufficient for quantitative analysis, because RSDs of analytical values for caffeine obtained by using three individual pre-treatment cartridges filled with 10-200 mg PVPP were 0.60-2.8%. The PVPP pre-treatment cartridge also removed polyphenols perfectly and recovered caffeine faultlessly from oolong and black tea samples. Comparison with the conventional method without sample pre-treatment indicated that the present pre-treatment method with a PVPP cartridge was useful for the simple and precise analysis of caffeine in green, oolong and black tea samples.

Removal of pesticides from white wine by the use of fining agents and filtration

The effects of four clarification agents (bentonite, charcoal, PVPP and potassium caseinate) on the removal of residues of three fungicides (famoxadone, fluquinconazole and trifloxystrobin) applied directly to a racked white wine, elaborated from Airen variety grapes from the D.O. Region of Jumilla (Murcia, Spain) are studied. The clarified wines were filtered with 0.45 microm nylon filters to determine the influence of this winemaking process in the disappearance of fungicide residues. Hydro-alcoholic solutions with the three fungicides at concentrations of 1 and 2 ppm were then added through intense stirring to each of the containers. Two hours later, the corresponding clarifying agent was added with intense stirring for some minutes. The containers were then sealed and left to settle for five days. Once the clean wines had been racked, they were filtered through nylon 0.45 microm pore filters. All assays were performed three times. Analytical determination of fluquinconazole and trifloxystrobin was performed by gas chromatography with an electron captor detector (ECD), while that of famoxadone was made using an HPLC-DAD. For the three fungicides, the highest elimination is produced with the clarification by charcoal, reaching Levels of removal of 100% in all cases. For the four clarifying agents, the highest elimination is produced for the fluquinconazole residues. The fungicide which is retained most in the lees is famoxadone, since it has the lowest solubility of the three pesticides studied. The highest percentage of residues in the lees is obtained for the assay with charcoal. The filtration process of the clarified wines using the four agents studied is not effective, since the elimination percentage is generally lower than 10% of the initial residues in the non-clarified wines.

Allergic contact dermatitis to copolymers in cosmetics ? case report and review of the literature

Copolymers or heteropolymers are large molecules with high molecular weights (>1000 D). They have been underestimated for a long time as to their sensitizing capacities. Allergic contact dermatitis to 6 copolymers in cosmetics and 1 in a medical dressing has been described; however, the nature of the hapten is still unknown. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/hexadecene copolymer in a purple-colored lipstick and review the literature on allergic contact dermatitis to 7 copolymers: PVP/hexadecene, PVP/eicosene, PVP/1-triacontene, methoxy polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-22/dodecyl glycols, methoxy PEG-17/dodecyl glycols, phthalic anhydride/trimellitic anhydride/glycols, and polyvinyl methyl/maleic acid anhydride.

Surface analysis of powder binary mixtures with ATR FTIR spectroscopy

Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy (ATR FTIR) has been used for surface analysis of powder mixtures. The appearance of one component on the surface of the mixture in greater amounts than that expected from the mass or volume ratio was quantified. Coloured mixtures containing methyl orange were analysed. They contained proportions of components from 0% to 100% in steps of 10%. Mixtures of non-sieved powders of methyl orange and Povidone were dark red when containing only 20% of methyl orange, indicating that particles of methyl orange were present on the surface of the mixture in higher amounts than expected from the mass ratios. Mixtures of methyl orange and Mg stearate, on the other hand, were a light colour, showing the presence of more Mg stearate on the surface than expected. Visual observations correlated with semiquantitative surface concentration determination by ATR FTIR spectroscopy using specific peaks of each component. Quantitative determination of components on the surface of the mixture, using the Beer Lambert law, was possible when characteristic peaks for the first component did not overlap with those of the other component. A non-linear correlation between peak height and concentration of a component in a mixture was explained by distribution of the particle size of components. With a small component, the larger number of particles in the same volume allowed them to surround the larger particles of the second component. These conclusions were confirmed by preparing mixtures with non-coloured components (Povidone-Eudragit, NaCl-Povidone, NaCl-Eudragit. Results again correlated with the ATR FTIR spectroscopy measurements. It was additionally shown that a small proportion of finer particles can drastically influence the surface of powder mixtures, due to their large contribution to the specific surface area. ATR FTIR is thus demonstrated to be a useful method for studying surfaces of powder mixtures also in terms of process analytical technology (PAT).

Preparation and characterization of (PVP + NaClO4) electrolytes for battery applications

A sodium ion-conducting polymer electrolyte based on polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) complexed with NaClO(4) was prepared using the solution-cast technique. The cathode film of V(2)O(5) xerogel modified with polyvinyl pyrrolidone was prepared using the sol-gel method. Investigations were conducted using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity and transference number measurements were performed to characterize the polymer electrolyte for battery applications. The transference number data indicated that the conducting species in these electrolytes are the anions. Using the electrolyte, electrochemical cells with a configuration Na/(PVP + NaClO(4))/V(2)O(5) modified by (PVP) were fabricated and their discharge profiles studied.

Ternary amorphous composites of celecoxib, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and meglumine with enhanced solubility

The present study highlights the development of ternary amorphous composites to enhance the solubility of a poorly soluble crystalline drug, celecoxib (CEL). These systems comprised of an 'amorphous drug,' and its 'stabilizer' and 'solubilizer.' The ternary amorphous system of CEL, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and meglumine (MEG) (7:2:1 w/w) enhanced CEL solubility by approximately equal to 10.2-fold over that for the crystalline drug, and maintained the thermodynamic stability of the amorphous drug. However, MEG alone was unable to stabilize the amorphous CEL against thermally-induced crystallization, and so gave no solubility advantage. The PVP-MEG combination provided a 'synergistic' enhancement of CEL solubility, as compared to their use alone in the amorphous systems. Phase-solubility studies provided greater insight into molecular mechanisms underlying stability and solubility of these amorphous systems. MEG exhibited phase-specific interaction with CEL molecules, when stabilized by PVP in the amorphous state. The higher solubility of CEL from ternary amorphous systems was also thermodynamically favored, as analyzed by van't Hoff plots. A possible molecular level interaction of MEG with PVP-stabilized amorphous CEL seems to be responsible for the solubility advantage of the CEL-PVP-MEG ternary amorphous system.

Visualization of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes by fluorescent polymer wrapping

Manipulating optical properties of single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) is necessary for the development of nanoscale optical devices and probes for biomedical research. In life sciences it will make possible the direct observation of SWNTs inside living cells using optical microscopes. In the nanotechnology field it will enable the development of nanosensors with fluorescent reporting. However, the direct fluorescent labeling of SWNTs is obstructed by their strong light quenching qualities. Besides, chemical functionalization of SWNTs needed for the covalent attachment of fluorescent dyes could change favorable properties of nanotubes. Here we report that optical properties of SWNTs can be manipulated without their covalent modification by wrapping them with fluorescently labeled polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP-1300). Fluorescent PVP-1300 forms a monomolecular approximately 2.5 nm thick layer coiling around individual SWNTs and nanotube bundles. PVP casing is fluorescent although it is only several nanometers thick. This makes individual SWNTs observable by a fluorescent microscope. The spare polymer strands left over after wrapping around the relatively shorter nanotubes form junctions between SWNTs tying them together into new configurations, primarily Y- and psi-type junctions. The ability to use a single fluorescent polymer strand to fasten nanotubes together can be useful in assembly of nanotube-made devices. In PVP-covered SWNTs multiple fluorophores are attached to each single nanotube making them unique composite fluorophores attractive as parts of biological fluorescent probes and in the development of the new materials in photonics and nanotechnology.

Phase transfer identification of core-shell structures in Ag-Au bimetallic nanoparticles

The difference between the transfer of poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-protected Au and Ag nanoparticles from an aqueous solution to toluene was used to develop a simple experimental procedure that can positively identify the formation of bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles with the core-shell structure. The method was validated by UV-visible spectroscopy, EDX, and TEM measurements. Using this technique, we have found that core-shell nanoparticles of Ag-Au were formed by the seed-mediated growth method using Ag nanoparticles as the seeds. The reversed order of using Au nanoparticles as the seeds, on the contrary, could only produce a physical mixture of Ag-Au core-shell nanoparticles and isolated Ag nanoparticles.

Collecting electrospun nanofibers with patterned electrodes

Electrospinning is a simple, versatile, and useful technique for fabricating nanofibers from a rich variety of functional materials. The nanofibers are usually collected as nonwoven mats, in which the fibers are randomly oriented. We have recently demonstrated that the nanofibers can be uniaxially aligned by introducing an insulating gap into the conductive collector. To elucidate the mechanism of alignment, we have systematically studied the effect of the area and geometric shape of the insulating gap on the deposition of fibers. By modeling the electrostatic forces acting on the fiber, it was established that the fibers tended to be oriented along a direction such that the net torque of electrostatic forces applied to the two ends of a discrete segment of the fiber were minimized. By varying the design of electrode pattern, it was possible to control both alignment and assembly of the electrospun nanofibers.

Quantitation of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients in powder blends using designed multivariate calibration models by near-infrared spectroscopy

This research note demonstrates the simultaneous quantitation of a pharmaceutical active ingredient and three excipients in a simulated powder blend containing acetaminophen, Prosolv and Crospovidone. An experimental design approach was used in generating a 5-level (%, w/w) calibration sample set that included 125 samples. The samples were prepared by weighing suitable amount of powders into separate 20-mL scintillation vials and were mixed manually. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used in calibration model development. The models generated accurate results for quantitation of Crospovidone (at 5%, w/w) and magnesium stearate (at 0.5%, w/w). Further testing of the models demonstrated that the 2-level models were as effective as the 5-level ones, which reduced the calibration sample number to 50. The models had a small bias for quantitation of acetaminophen (at 30%, w/w) and Prosolv (at 64.5%, w/w) in the blend. The implication of the bias is discussed.

Ability of Polyvinylpyrrolidone and Polyacrylic Acid to Inhibit the Crystallization of Amorphous Acetaminophen

The inhibition of crystallization of amorphous acetaminophen (ACTA) by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) was studied using amorphous solid dispersions prepared by melt quenching. Co-melting with PVP and PAA decreased the average molecular mobility, as indicated by increases in glass transition temperature and enthalpy relaxation time. The ACTA/PAA dispersion exhibited much slower crystallization than the ACTA/PVP dispersion with a similar glass transition temperature value, indicating that interaction between ACTA and polymers also contributed to the stabilizing effect of these polymers. The carboxyl group of PAA may interact with the hydroxyl group of ACTA more intensely than the carbonyl group of PVP does, resulting in the stronger stabilizing effect of PAA. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy showed that the number of water molecules tightly binding to PVP per monomer unit was larger than that to PAA. Furthermore, a small amount of absorbed water decreased the stabilizing effect of PVP, but not that of PAA. These findings suggest that the stronger stabilizing effect of PAA is due to the stronger interaction with ACTA. The ability of PAA to decrease the molecular mobility of solid dispersion was also larger than that of PVP, as indicated by the longer enthalpy relaxation time.

Determination of polyvinylpyrrolidone using high-performance liquid chromatography

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is a versatile polymer with innate surface activity. It is very difficult to accurately assay due to its wide molecular weight range and amphiphilic nature. This study evaluated a reversed-phase HPLC method to separate and quantify PVP K15. The assay used a Hicrome C18 150 mm x 3 microm HPLC column in combination with an 80/20 propanol-1-ol: deionised water, 0.01% TFA mobile phase, which resolved the polymer as a single peak, tR = 10.69+/-0.17 min (n=120) at 243 nm. The column's performance was constant throughout the study, N (theoretical plates) = 1729+/-22 and the peak symmetry remained good (As ranged from 0.74 to 0.92, n=10 over the calibration range). The developed assay proved to be accurate, sensitive and capable of recovering PVP K15 from pharmaceutical formulations. The limits of quantification and detection were calculated statistically as 2.40 and 0.72 mg ml(-1), respectively. Assay reproducibility assessed at five concentrations gave an average coefficient of variance <3.5% and the accuracy of the analytical method was 102.62+/-2.04%. The recovery of PVP K15 from directly compressed tablets and Refresh eye drops was 98.02+/-2.73 and 108.35+/-6.52%, respectively.

A molecular dynamics simulation of reactant mobility in an amorphous formulation of a peptide in poly(vinylpyrrolidone)

The reaction pathways available for chemical decomposition in amorphous solids are determined in part by the relative mobilities of the potential reactants. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations of amorphous glasses of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) containing small amounts of water, ammonia, and a small peptide, Phe-Asn-Gly, have been performed over periods of up to 100 ns to monitor the aging processes and associated structural and dynamic properties of the PVP segments and embedded solutes. Glass transition temperatures, Tg, were detected by changes in slopes of the volume-temperature profiles and the internal energy-temperature profiles for the inherent structures upon cooling at different rates. Analyses of the molecular trajectories below Tg reveal both temporal and spatial heterogeneity in polymer and solute mobility, with each molecule or part of a molecule displaying quite different relaxation behaviors for translational, rotational, and/or conformational motions. Rotations of individual polymer segments on the time scale up to 100 ns, though far from complete, are described by the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts stretched exponential function with relaxation times tau on the order of 10-2.8 x 10(4) micros at an averaged stretching parameter beta of 0.39. The rotation rates are, on the average, faster for the side chains and for segments near the ends of the chains than for the backbones and segments near the middle of the chains. In contrast to their behavior in water, solute diffusive motions in the glassy polymer exhibit non-Einsteinian behavior over the time scale of the simulations characterized by two types of motion: (1) entrapments within relatively fluid microdomains surrounded by a matrix of relatively immobile polymer chains; and (2) jumps between microdomains with greater probability of hopping back to the solute's previous location. The average jump length and frequency are highly dependent on solute size, being much smaller for the tripeptide, Phe-Asn-Gly, than for water and ammonia. The diffusivities of water and ammonia, solutes capable of forming hydrogen bonds with the lactam residues within the polymer segments, are significantly reduced by strong electrostatic interactions. The conformational preferences of Phe-Asn-Gly were compared in the amorphous polymer and water to detect differences in the degree to which the tripeptide may be predisposed toward deamidation of the asparagine side chain in these environments. Although only minor differences are evident in peptide conformation, the conformational dynamics for the peptide embedded in the glassy polymer are characterized by a higher energy barrier between conformational states and 2.5-44-fold larger relaxation times for the dihedral angles of interest than in water. However, in the context of peptide deamidation, these differences may be of secondary importance in comparison to the more than two to three orders of magnitude reduction in the diffusivities of water, ammonia, and the tripeptide in PVP.

Evaluation of β-lactose, PVP K12 and PVP K90 as excipients to prepare piroxicam granules using two wet granulation techniques

The present investigation aimed at evaluating the use of different excipients, beta-lactose and polyvinylpyrrolidone of two molecular weights (PVP K12 and PVP K90), in the production of improved release piroxicam granules, by wet granulation using both water and steam as granulation liquid. The formulations examined were: piroxicam (Px)/beta-lactose; Px/PVP K12 and Px/PVP K90, each one at a 1:9 weight ratio. The most significant difference between beta-lactose and PVP is that, using the first excipient, both steam and water granules were produced while, when PVP were employed, only steam granules were obtained. Image analysis revealed that beta-lactose steam granules had a larger surface area with respect to water granules, whereas lower values of this parameter were observed in PVP-s granules, confirming the Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs and the fractal analysis results. As regards the enhancement of the dissolution profiles, the best result was obtained using beta-lactose steam granules followed by PVP K12 ones, even if the reactive dimension values indicated that during the dissolution process PVP K12 granules modified the surface more than beta-lactose granules. As regards PVP K90, this excipient was the one less influencing the granule morphology and the dissolution behaviour. Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis suggested the partial amorphisation of the drug in the granules containing the three excipients. This result was then confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. Therefore, beta-lactose and PVP K12 could be proposed as useful excipients to enhance the dissolution rate of Px from granules prepared using the steam granulation technique.

Combination of SEC/MALS experimental procedures and theoretical analysis for studying the solution properties of macromolecules

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with dual detection, i.e., employing refractive index (RI) and multiangle light-scattering (MALS) detectors, has been applied to study the solution properties of two very different polymer-solvent systems at 25 degrees C: poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) in an organic solvent THF that is a very good solvent and a system under theta conditions that is formed by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in water containing a 0.1 M concentration of NaNO(3). In both cases, the analysis of a single highly polydisperse sample obtained by free radical polymerization is enough for obtaining molecular weight and radius of gyration calibration curves, molecular weight distributions (MWD) (and thus, molecular weight averages), molecular dimensions, scaling laws coefficients and unperturbed dimensions. Extrapolation to theta conditions produces values of the characteristic ratio of the unperturbed dimensions C(n)=<r(2)>(o)/nl(2)=15.9 and 14, respectively, for PVCz and PVP. Unperturbed dimensions are also theoretically calculated with different models such as Kuhn equivalent chain, worm-like chain and rotational isomeric states model. Conformational parameters required for this last model were taken from the literature in the case of PVCz; however, they are calculated by molecular dynamics simulations in the case of PVP. Theoretical values obtained with the RIS model are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Reaction of a peptide with polyvinylpyrrolidone in the solid state

During stability studies at high temperature (70 degrees C) and low relative humidity ( approximately 0%), the recovery of an asparagine containing hexapeptide (VYPNGA) and its known deamidation products from solid polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrices was incomplete. To determine the causes of this mass loss, formulations were prepared by lyophilizing solutions containing PVP, glycerol, and the Asn-hexapeptide in pH 7.5 phosphate buffer, followed by storage at 70 degrees C and 0% relative humidity. Asn-hexapeptide loss was mono-exponential and reached a plateau at about 30% remaining. Total recovery of the peptide and its known deamidation products was approximately 30% of peptide load. Size exclusion chromatography with fluorescence detection indicated the formation of a PVP-peptide adduct that was stable in the presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. Similar stability studies using N-acetyl phenylalanine, phenylalanine ethyl ester, and N-acetyl tyrosine ethyl ester demonstrated that the reaction involves the peptide N-terminus. The adduct was disrupted in the presence of carboxypeptidase-A, suggesting the formation of an amide bond between the peptide and PVP. (15)N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using (15)N-labeled valine as a model of the peptide N-terminus showed different populations of (15)N, suggesting that noncovalent peptide-polymer interactions precede amide bond formation.

[Do polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) deposits still occur in internal organs at the turn of the millennium? Observations on three patients from the former USSR]

PVP had been used as a plasma expander following the end of world war II up to relatively recently but after its intracellular storage became known, it was withdrawn from use. Nevertheless, it was used as a retarding agent for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of drugs until the 1980s and as a consequence pseudotumors have been observed. Three patients from the former USSR are described with PVP storage in the gastric and duodenal mucosa as well as in lymph nodes. The reason for the administration in these patients and the substances applied remain obscure. It is known that PVP infusions are still performed in Taiwan and that it was also injected intraarticularly as an artificial joint lubricant in Russia in the early 1990s. Because cells with intracytoplasmic deposits of PVP can be misdiagnosed as tumor cells and for reasons of general health - "la maladie polyvinylique" [1] may develop - it is still necessary to retain knowledge of the histology of cellular PVP storage.

Recalcitrance of poly(vinylpyrrolidone): evidence through matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The aerobic biodegradability of an extensively used synthetic polymer was monitored the first time on a laboratory-scale fixed-bed bioreactor (FBBR) applying matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Polymeric poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was spiked at concentrations of 10 mg l(-1) onto the FBBR run with river water and the biodegradation monitored after lyophilization of aliquots of the test liquor applying MALDI-TOF-MS. The latter proved to be a powerful tool for qualitative screening purposes of PVP in a molecular mass range <20 kDa in particularly yielding a high sensitivity and shot-to-shot reproducibility. The sample-to-sample reproducibility was enhanced applying the anchor target device. Post-source decay-MALDI-TOF-MS fragmentation investigations determined the unknown end groups of PVP unambiguously. Poor biodegradability of PVP can be assumed, since even after 30 days, no oxidation of the terminal groups and no difference in the repeating units was observed. A decrease in the molecular mass distribution can be drawn back rather to adsorption of PVP in the FBBR other than to biodegradation. This was further investigated performing an adsorption experiment with sewage sludge as solid matrix and analyses of the aqueous phase and sludge samples. Extrapolating these results to the situation in wastewater treatment plants, it is highly likely that PVP is eliminated from the dissolved phase by adsorption onto sludge particles.

Qualitative determination of polyvinylpyrrolidone type by near-infrared spectrometry

Soluble polyvinylpyrrolidones are very useful and versatile pharmaceutical auxiliaries. The different types of povidone are characterised by their viscosity measured in water, expressed as a K-value. We have developed a rapid, accurate, reliable, and non-destructive near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy method for the determination of PVP type and consequently identification thereof. We have implemented chemometrics onto NIR spectra collected in diffuse reflectance mode using fibre optics to build a qualitative model that enables us to obtain useful analytical information. A principal component analysis and a modelling technique soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) were applied. An approach to validate the method was developed.

Quantitative analysis of povidone (PVP) in drug-PVP matrix using multicomponent analysis

A method for the quantification of povidone (PVP), in solid dispersions and physical mixtures of the polymer and a very slightly soluble drug substance, has been developed by multicomponent analysis using the concepts of chemometrics. Because the UV-absorbance spectra of PVP is completely overlapped by the UV-absorbance spectra of the drug substance, a direct spectrophotometric method of PVP is impossible. However, UV-spectrophotometric data were analyzed by the Quant + Perkin Elmer software for quantitative multicomponent analysis using chemometrics, and by the optimal method developed using a solvent of pH 7.4, a fast, reliable, and precise detection of PVP was obtained when the content of PVP in the powder sample exceeded 20% (m/m). Two methods were developed by the calibration procedure, using buffers of pH 7.4, respectively pH 8.5. By applying a solvent of pH 8.5, more sample could be taken into use because of the enhanced solubility of the drug substance, and hence it was believed that as more PVP was taken into use, a better prediction of PVP would be obtained. However, as more drug substance was taken into use the UV-absorbance spectrum of PVP was even more overlapped, and an inferior prediction was obtained.

'Mucoid dissolution' of bones and multiple pathologic fractures in a patient with past history of intravenous administration of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). A case report

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has been used in industry as well as in medicine for various purposes, e.g. as a component of hair-sprays, 'retardant' for subcutaneous injections, and given intravenously as a plasma expander. The latter usage results in deposition of PVP in the reticulo-endothelial system and other mesenchymal cells, including osteocytes. A middle aged woman in Taiwan, who for 10 years received repeated intravenous injections of PVP, suffered pathologic fractures of both femora and her right humerus with additional destructive lesions seen radiologically in other bones. Biopsies of the fracture sites showed both intracellular PVP deposits and mucoid changes in the involved cells, a characteristic secondary complication of PVP deposition. This phenomenon, if of sufficient severity, may cause, as in this case, a virtual 'melting down' of osseous tissue with pathological fractures as a consequence.

Ultrastructure, protein synthesis and secretion of day-6 rabbit blastocysts cultured in a chemically defined, protein-free medium

Day-6 rabbit blastocysts were cultured in Ham's F10 medium supplemented with polyvinylpyrrolidone as a macromolecular component, for 4 to 12 h. The integrity of the blastocyst cells was demonstrated by electron microscopy. Expansion and biosynthesis of proteins and of DNA were studied after culturing in the presence of 35S-methionine and 3H-thymidine. Polyvinylpyrrolidone did not interfere with the subsequent protein analysis, which was performed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining and fluorography. More than 600 labelled proteins were found in the blastocyst tissue, many of them were also present in the blastocyst fluid and in the blastocyst coverings. Several proteins seemed to be produced for incorporation into the blastocyst coverings; others, only detected in the culture medium, might have been synthesized for secretion into the environment.

The relationship between the glass transition temperature and water vapor absorption by poly(vinylpyrrolidone)

Water associated with amorphous solids is known to affect significantly the physical and chemical properties of dosage form ingredients. An analysis of water vapor absorption isotherms of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) measured in this and other laboratories, over the range -40 to 60 degrees C, along with the measurement of the glass transition temperature of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a function of water content is reported. It is observed that the amount of water vapor absorbed at a particular relative humidity increases with decreasing temperature, along with a significant change in the shape of the isotherm. It is also shown that at any temperature, along with a significant change in the shape of the isotherm. It is also shown that at any temperature the state of the solid changes from a highly viscous glass to a much less viscous rubber in the region where absorbed water appears to enter into a "solvent-like" state. Further, the apparent "tightly bound" state, observed at low relative humidities, appears to exist when the polymer enters into a very viscous glassy state. It is concluded that the apparent states of water and polymer are interrelated in a dynamic manner and, therefore, that they cannot be uncoupled by simple thermodynamic analyses based only on a water-binding model.

The interaction of papain with polycations

An investigation has been made of the interactions of the enzyme papain with the polycations protamine, polybrene, poly(L-lysine), spermine, spermidine and the neutral polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). At low concentrations, each behaves as an inhibitor of the enzyme. As their concentrations increased above a certain level, the activity of the systems increased, and their inhibition of the enzyme appeared to be less pronounced. When acting by themselves in the presence of the substrate haemoglobin, each of the polycations was a weak proteolytic catalyst with a ranking of catalytic effectiveness of protamine greater than polybrene greater than poly(L-lysine) greater than polyvinyl-pyrrolidone greater than spermidine greater than spermine. This effect could explain the anomalous inhibition of papain by these polycations. The interaction of papain with dansyl protamine (DNSP) and the extent of complex formation were studied using a fluorescence polarization technique and the results showed that there was a strong interaction occurred. The strength of binding was assessed by determination of the critical electrolyte concentration (0.2 M, NaNO3). The stoichiometry of the DNSP-papain complex was found to be 63 base moles of DNSP to one mole of papain.

[Preparation and testing of polymer drugs. 4. Water-soluble polymer drugs with a base of vinylpyrrolidone-maleic acid anhydride-copolymers]

Watersoluble polymeric drugs were synthesized on the basis of alternating copolymer of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and maleic anhydride. Benzocain served as model drug. The drug was bound directly as well as about epsilon-aminocapronic acid as spacer. The pancreatin catalyzed hydrolysis of these polymeric drugs was studied. No hydrolysis was noted, if the drug is directly bound on the copolymer. The polymeric drug with the epsilon-aminocapronic acid as spacer showed a small release. Possible reasons for these facts are discussed.

Interaction of povidone with aromatic compounds. VI: Use of partition coefficients (log Kd) to correlate with log P values and apparent Kd values to express the binding as a function of pH and pKa

The binding of neutral aromatic compounds onto povidone was studied. It was found that the binding depends on the lipophilic character of the compound and that a linear free relationship exists between the logarithm of the partition coefficients of the macromolecular pseudo-two-phase-aqueous phase, and the log partition coefficient of n-octanol-water (log P). For the ionized ligand molecules it was shown that the binding could be expressed in terms of the acid dissociation constant of the solute, Ka, and in terms of two partition coefficients, K1 = HAPVP/HAwater and K2 = APVP/Awater for the nondissociated and dissociated forms, respectively, resulting in the apparent partition coefficient Kdapp = (HAPVP + APVP)/(HAwater + Awater). An expression was derived, permitting one to determine K1 and K2 from measurable quantities. The apparent partition coefficients (Kdapp) were independent of both drug and povidone concentrations, indicating that the modes of povidone compound interactions were essentially invariant over the ranges of systematic variables studied. The method provides a simple means of evaluating ligand-macromolecule interaction as a function of pH of the solvent and pKa of the ligand.

Square-wave voltammetric determination of acetaldehyde in povidone

A rapid, precise, and accurate method is described for the determination of acetaldehyde in povidone (polyvinyl pyrrolidone). The sample is dissolved in a basic aqueous electrolyte and analyzed using square-wave voltammetry. The proposed method allows for direct measurement of acetaldehyde under gentle conditions, thus avoiding loss of analyte due to volatility of acetaldehyde. The method is specific for acetaldehyde in the presence of other aldehydes and povidone process impurities.

Chemical and microbiologic characteristics and toxicity of povidone-iodine solutions

The chemical, microbiologic, and toxic characteristics of povidone-iodine solution, a commonly used antiseptic agent, are addressed in a collective review of relevant works published from 1956 to the present. Interactions of this agent with the thyroid gland and the kidneys and its toxicity at the cellular and systemic level are discussed.

Intracellular mucoid changes in tumor cells of meningiomas: a manifestation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) effect on tissues with mesenchymal characteristics

In two cases of meningiomas in Taiwanese patients, extensive intracellular mucoid changes were found within tumor cells, together with deposits of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) granules. Both patients had in the past received intravenous PVP as a plasma expander. Recipients of PVP have previously been reported to develop a form of PVP thesaurismosis with concomitant mucoid changes in the cells storing this substance. Such changes, as a rule, were limited to cells of mesenchymal origin. By storing PVP granules and undergoing mucoid changes as a result, meningioma tumor cells behave as cells with mesenchymal characteristics.