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.
New (pentulose-?-lactone-2,3-enedibenzoate barbituric acid) (L) have been synthesized by reaction of (5-C-dimethyl malonyl-pentulose-?-lactone-2,3-enedibenzoate) with urea in alkaline media (sodium methoxide). (Ca+2, Co+2, Ni+2, Cu+2, Zn+2, Cd+2 and Hg+2) complexes of (pentulose-?-lactone-2,3-enedibenzoate barbituric acid) (L) have been prepared and characterized by (1H and 13CNMR), FTIR, (U.V-Vis) spectroscopy, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (A.A.S), Molar conductivity measurements and Magnetic moment measurements, and the following general formula has been given for the prepared complexes [MLCl2(H2O)].XH2O, where M = (Ca+2, Co+2, Ni+2, Cu+2, Zn+2, Cd+2, Hg+2), X = five molecules with (Cd+2) complex, L = (pentulose-?-lactone-2,3
... Show MoreThe reaction of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PV A) with Urea in (DMSO) resulted in uerthanised oxim, wr,ich reacted with diacetylmonoxime in a (DY.ISOfmethanol) to give anew type (N2) polymeric bidentate imine oxime ligand [HL], The ligand was reacted with MCh (where M= Co, Cu, and Hg). Under reflux in a (DMF/Methanol) mixture with (I:1) ratio to give Complexes of the general formula [M (T.)2]X, (where M= Co,Hg, Cu). All .:ompouncs have been characterized by spectroscopic methods [IR, U.V.-Vis, A tomi<;absorption] microanalysis along with conductivity measurements, from the above:: data the proposed molecular structure for Co,Cu, and Hg is a distorted. Tetrahedml
To assess the biochemical, mechanical and structural characteristics of retained dentin after applying three novel bromelain‑contained chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) formulations in comparison to the conventional excavation methods (hand and rotary) and a commercial papain‑contained gel (Brix 3000). Seventy‑two extracted permanent molars with natural occlusal carious lesions (score > 4 following the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS‑II)) were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 12) according to the excavation methods: hand excavation, rotary excavation, Brix 3000, bromelain‑contained gel (F1), bromelain‑chloramine‑T (F2), and bromelain chlorhexidine gel (F3). The superficial and deepe
... Show MoreNew twin compounds having four-, five-, and seven- membered heterocyclic rings were synthesized via Schiff bases (1a,b) which were obtained by the condensation of o-tolidine with two moles of 4- N,N-dimethyl benzaldehyde or 4- chloro benzaldehyde. The reaction of these Schiff bases with two moles of phenyl isothiocyanate, phenyl isocyanate or naphthyl isocyanate as in scheme(1) led to the formation of bis -1,3- diazetidin- 2- thion and bis -1,3- diazetidin -2-one derivatives (2-4 a,b). While in scheme (2) bis imidazolidin-4-one (5a,b) ,bistetrazole (6a,b) and bis thiazolidin-4-one (7a,b) derivatives were produced by reacting the mentioned Schiff bases(1a,b)with two moles of glycine, sodium azide or thioglycolic acid, respectively. The new b
... Show MoreThe present study discusses the significant role of the historical memory in all the Spanish society aspects of life. When a novelist takes the role and puts on the mask of one of the novel’s protagonists or hidden characters, his memory of the events becomes the keywords of accessing the close-knit fabric of society and sheds lights on deteriorating social conceptions in a backwards social reality that rejects all new progressive ideas and modernity. Through concentrating on the society flawing aspects and employing everything of his stored memory, the author uses sarcasm to criticize and change such old deteriorating reality conceptions.
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... Show MoreThe important factor in the success of construction projects is its ability to objective estimate of the cost of the project and adapt to the changes of the external environment, which is affected by a lot of elements and the requirements of the competitive environment. The faces of those projects are several problems in order to achieve particular goals. To overcome these difficulties has been the development of research in the last two decades and turn the focus on the role of the cost of project management, by providing information and assist management in planning and control of the budget among the main elements of the project, namely, (time-cost-quality),The research aims at the possibility of developing and implementing mechanisms
... Show MoreIn addition to the primary treatment, biological treatment is used to reduce inorganic and organic components in the wastewater. The separation of biomass from treated wastewater is usually important to meet the effluent disposal requirements, so the MBBR system has been one of the most important modern technologies that use plastic tankers to transport biomass with wastewater, which works in pure biofilm, at low concentrations of suspended solids. However, biological treatment has been developed using the active sludge mixing process with MBBR. Turbo4bio was established as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment plants in the early 1990s and ran on minimal sludge, and is easy to maintain. This
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