Introduction: Methadone hydrochloride (MDN) is an effective pharmacological substitution treatment for opioids dependence, adopted in different countries as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programmes. However, MDN can exacerbate the addiction problem if it is abused and injected intravenously, and the frequent visits to the MMT centres can reduce patient compliance. The overall aim of this study is to develop a novel extended-release capsule of MDN using the sol-gel silica (SGS) technique that has the potential to counteract medication-tampering techniques and associated health risks and reduce the frequent visits to MMT centres. Methods: For MDN recrystallisation, a closed container method (CCM) and hot-stage method (HSM) were conducted, and MDN crystals were characterised using the polarised light microscope (PLM). MDN crystal thickness was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy (CM) to establish a relationship between MDN crystals thickness and their birefringence colours using the Michel-Levy Birefringence Colour Chart. The experimental series was continued to produce novel silica-based MDN formulations A and B capsules by adding MDN powder at the end and beginning of the SGS process, respectively. The silica-based MDN formulations were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), SEM, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PLM and mean grey value (MGV) analyses. The in vitro release studies (n=3) for the silica-based MDN formulations and pure MDN capsules were conducted in a phosphate buffer solution (pH= 7.2) for 7 days. Stability studies were conducted for 1 month by keeping the silica-based MDN capsules under 25°C and 57% RH. Results: The optimal method to produce large numbers of MDN crystals was the CCM, and MDN crystals were characterised as diamond shaped with an intrinsic angle of 62o. The SEM surpassed the CM in measuring MDN crystal thickness, and Mann-Whitney U Test showed statistically significant differences between SEM and confocal thickness measurements (U= 1283, p < 0.05) as the SEM exhibited thinner diamond crystals (6.62 ± 2.9 µm) than the CM measurements (9.6 ± 4.6µm). According to the Michel-Levey birefringence colour chart (using the SEM mean thickness of MDN crystals and their retardation value of 428 nm), most of MDN crystals demonstrated a yellow colour. The FT-IR, SEM, DSC, MGV and PLM analyses of both silica-based MDN formulations revealed that MDN was successfully incorporated inside the silica network producing amorphous material (with no appearance of the melting peak of pure MDN at 233.4°C) with evidence of no physical or chemical interaction between sol-gel silica and MDN. However, the TGA analysis revealed a significantly greater amount of MDN was loaded inside the silica-based MDN formulation B compared to A (t = 2.80, p = 0.009, n=6), as 28.3 ± 0.6 mg of MDN was loaded in the former while 25.6 ± 0.7 mg in the latter. In addition, the silica-based MDN formulation B released 10% more MDN after 7 days than formulation A, and both formulations were stable when stored for 1 month under 57% RH and 25°C. Conclusion: The novel combined use of SEM and PLM techniques shows a potential for the identification of MDN in forensic science as it established a range of birefringence colours of MDN crystals. Moreover, the new silica-based MDN formulation B can help to deter MDN abuse and increase patient adherence to MMT due to its potential to sustain MDN release and reduce the frequent visits to MDN treatment centres.
This study includes the preparation of the ferrite nano ferrite CuxAl0.3-XNi0.7Fe2O4 (where: x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3) M using the auto combustion method (sol-gel), and citric acid was used as fuel for auto combustion. The ferrite samples were checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopes (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). They showed that the prepared compound has a face-centered cubic structure (FCC). The lattice constant increases with an increase in the percentage of doping of the copper ions, and a decrease for the aluminum ion and that the compound is porous and its grains are spherical, and there are no other
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Background: Bilastine is a non-sedating, second-generation antihistamine used to treat urticaria and allergic conjunctivitis. Objective: to formulate and test bilastine as a mucoadhesive ophthalmic in situ gel in order to extend its presence at site for longer time and help treat conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Methods: We prepared formulations using different concentrations of poloxamers (Poloxamer 407 (P407) and Poloxamer 188 (P188)) in combination with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The prepared formulas were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, sol-gel transition temperature, viscosity, mucoadhesive strength, drug release, and kinetic modeling. Results: The prepared in situ gels were clear and transparen
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This research involves an indirect Fluorophotometric method for the determination of microgram amount of oxymetazoline hydrochloride in the concentration range 0.1-5.0 g/ml. The method is based on the oxidation of the drug by cerium sulphate solution which is acidic medium where Ce IV is reduced to Ce III which can be excited at 259 nm to give an emitted light at 377 nm which is directly proportional to the concentration of Ce III which is equivalent to Ce IV that is needed to oxidize the studied drug. The average recovery of the method is 100.19% and relative standard deviation (RSD) < 0.37% . The method have been successfully applied to the determination of the studied drug in its pure and pharmaceutical preparations and it wa
... Show MoreBackground: Frovatriptan succinate (FVT) is an effective medication used to treat migraines; however, available oral formulations suffer from low permeability; accordingly, several formulations of FVT were prepared. Objective: Prepare, optimize, and evaluate FVT-BE formulation to develop enhanced intranasal binary nano-ethosome gel. Methods: Binary ethosomes were prepared using different concentrations of phospholipid PLH90, ethanol, propylene glycol, and cholesterol by thin film hydration and characterized by particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. Furthermore, in-vitro, in-vivo, ex-vivo, pharmacokinetics, and histopathological studies were done. Results: Regarding FVT-loaded BE, formula (F9) demonstrated the best paramet
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This paper describes the synthesis of ?- Fe2O3 nanoparticles by sol-gel route using carboxylic acid(2-hydroxy benzoic acid) as gelatin media and its photo activity for degradation of cibacron red dye . Hematite samples are synthesized at different temperatures: 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 ?C at 700 ?C the ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are formed with particle size 71.93 nm. The nanoparticles are characterized by XRD , SEM, AFM and FTIR . The 0.046 g /l of the catalyst sample shows high photo activity at 3x10-5M dye concentration in acidic medium at pH 3.
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Ciprofloxacin is a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone, effective in the treatment of a wide range of infections, including genitourinary tract infections.In this study, bioadhesive vaginal tablets of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride were prepared by direct compression method using a combination of bioadhesivepolymers carbopol 934P(Cp), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (SA) in different ratios.The prepared tablet formulations were characterized by measuring their swelling capacity, surface pH, bioadhesive properties, and in-vitro drug dissolution. It was found that the bioadhesive force was directly proportional to carbopol 934P content in different formulae and was further enhanced by the inclusion of carboxymethylcellulose.
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Titanium dioxide nanorods have been prepared by sol-gel template
method. The structural and surface morphology of the TiO2 nanorods was
investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy
(AFM), it was found that the nanorods produced were anatase TiO2 phase.
The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 nanorods was evaluated by the
photo degradation of methyl orange (MO). The relatively higher
degradation efficiency for MO (D%=78.2) was obtained after 6h of exposed
to UV irradiation.
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Sol-gel derived CuCo-oxide coatings as solar selective surfaces, synthesized onto aluminium substrates at various annealing temperatures, are analysed by correlating their structural, chemical bonding states, and surface morphological topographies. As the annealing progressed, all the coatings displayed a Cu0.56Co2.44O4 (ICSD 78-2175) phase with preferential orientation along (400) reflection plane. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicate that residual stress and microstrains developed around the coating surfaces are reduced resulting in mechanically stable thin films. Enhancement of the crystallite size and preferred orientation of the surface were confirmed via XRD, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM),
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