Informatics Publishing Limited

Sunil K. Jain ¹, Ashok K. Sahoo ¹, Mukesh Gupta ¹, Aditya Nath Pandey ¹, Amrish Kumar ¹, Akhlesh K. Jain ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmaceutics, SLT Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (a Central University), Bilaspur 495 009, IN

Abstract

The main aim of this work is to develop and thoroughly evaluate resin-based multiparticles of repaglinide for effective management of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Repaglinide was complexed with cholestyramine resin; later the resin complexed drug was encapsulated in ethylcellulose microspheres. The microspheres were characterized for micromeritic properties, SEM analysis, entrapment efficiency, percentage yield, IR spectroscopy, buoyancy behaviour and in vitro drug release in simulated gastric fluid. Microparticles showed regular shape and spherical morphology with entrapment efficiency in the range 51-69%. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed that there was no chemical interaction between the polymer and the drug. Resin-based microspheres showed good buoyancy behaviour (P < 0.05) due to the presence of bicarbonate ions and sustained release compared to plain drug microspheres (P < 0.05). Finally, the effectiveness of the formulations was evaluated in vivo for blood glucose lowering effect in both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose lowering effect induced in diabetic rats by the repaglinide- loaded microspheres was significantly greater (P < 0.05) and prolonged (∼8 h) compared to plain drug microspheres. In a nutshell, floating microspheres containing drug resin complex were able to sustain the drug release in an effective manner for prolonged periods of time and proven in vivo effectiveness by reducing blood glucose level for a longer duration.

Keywords

Cholestyramine, Diabetes Mellitus, Ethylcellulose, Microspheres, Repaglinide.

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Sunil K. Jain ¹, Mukesh Gupta ¹, Ashok K. Sahoo ¹, Aditya N. Pandey ¹, Akhlesh K. Jain ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmaceutics, SLT Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur 495 009, IN

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori mainly exists deep inside the gastric mucosae and adheres to epithelial cells of the stomach. In the present work, concanavalin-A (Con-A) conjugated gastro-retentive microspheres of amoxicillin trihydrate (AMT) were formulated and thoroughly evaluated. Eudragit S100 microspheres were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion method and characterized for micromeritic properties, per cent drug entrapment, per cent yield, surface morphology, buoyancy behaviour and in vitro drug release in simulated gastric fluid. The microspheres were then conjugated with Con-A and conjugation was verified by IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, Con-A conjugated microspheres were further characterized for zeta potential, mucoadhesiveness to gastric mucosae and Con-A conjugation efficiency. The microparticles were found to be regular and spherical in shape with a size range 106.4-192.4 μm depending on drug to polymer ratio (1:1 to 1:3). All the microsphere formulations showed noteworthy drug entrapment from 62.3% to 70.2%. In vitro floating test clearly showed that most of the microspheres were floating even after 12 h of testing period. Zeta potential of optimized formulation and Con-A conjugated microspheres was found to be 5.6 and 18.7 mV respectively. Attachment of lectin to the Eudragit microspheres significantly increases the muco-adhesiveness (83.7%) compared to non-conjugated microspheres (16.7%) and also controlled the release of drug in simulated GI fluids. The results suggest that these carriers can be used to incorporate other antibiotic agents and could provide better therapeutic effect against H. pylori infection.

Keywords

Amoxicillin, Concanavalin-A, Helicobacter pylori, Microspheres.

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Mukesh Gupta ¹, Pramod Sharma ¹, Sandeep Varshney ¹, Rakesh Khandelwal ¹, Girish Sharma ¹, K. K. Meena ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Pediatrics, Regional Institute of Maternal and Child Health, S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur - 342 001, IN

Abstract

Human baby is born with a readymade food supply and breast feeding has, for ages, been considered natural and instinctive. Successful nursing depends upon the presence of a strongly motivated mother and father, a healthy suckling infant and an encouraging doctor. Although various factors affect a woman's decision to breast feed her baby, the inspiration and support provided by her husband plays a vital role.

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Mukesh Gupta ¹

Affiliations
1 Université catholique de Louvain, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Life Institute, Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Place Louis Pasteur 3, SC10-L4.03.08, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, BE

Abstract

A rapidly changing sea-ice regime in the Arctic demands an index that could provide a priori information to icebreakers for hazard-free navigation through ice across the Arctic. This study presents a new sea-ice navigability index, solely based on daily available remote-sensing products. The index has a numerical scale from 0 to 100 that represents the navigability of icebreakers through sea ice. High mobility of sea ice implies that there may be fragmented ice floes that are susceptible to quick displacement, thus allowing an icebreaker to navigate through the ice.

Keywords

Icebreakers, navigability index, remote sensing, sea ice, shipping routes.

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