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Lightly crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol)-tethered, pH-responsive biomaterials
Significant effort has been spent on altering the pharmacokinetic profile of drugs
and identifying ways to slow down the GI transit of the therapeutic, especially that of the
small intestine, the location where the majority of absorption occurs. The two main areas
of thrust for research pertaining to increasing the bioavailability of drugs possessing
narrow absorption windows are retaining the dosage form in the stomach
(gastroretentive) and slowing down transit time in the small intestine (mucoadhesive).
Gastroretentive dosage forms maintain the drug delivery system above the absorption
window and release the drug accordingly. Mucoadhesion affords the ability to slow
upper GI transit by maintaining the dosage form at the site of absorption through some
type of interaction with the intestinal mucosa. The motility of the gastrointestinal tract
plays a major role in appropriately engineering a dosage form. The delivery system must
be designed so that it works with the digestive system to accomplish the goal of targeting the area where the narrow absorption window of the therapeutic exists and controlling the
release to enhance the pharmacokinetic profile.
Smart biomaterials composed of pH responsive polymers, poly((meth)acrylic
acid), were synthesized using a precipitation polymerization technique. The
microparticles were grafted with linear polymer chains (PEG) that are capable of
complexing with the hydroxyl groups of the polyacid and interpenetrating into the mucus
gel layer upon entry into the small intestine. Upon introduction of an alkaline solution,
these materials imbibe a significant amount of water and create a highly viscous solution.
The gelled materials serve as both a controlled release membrane and resist the inertial
forces associated with motility, thereby effectively slowing down the transit of the dosage
form. The amount and length of the linear chain were varied to investigate their effects
on the release behavior of a model compound.Chemical Engineerin
What Ukraine Taught NATO about Hybrid Warfare
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced the United States and its NATO partners to be confronted with the impact of hybrid warfare far beyond the battlefield. Targeting Europe’s energy security, Russia’s malign influence campaigns and malicious cyber intrusions are affecting global gas prices, driving up food costs, disrupting supply chains and grids, and testing US and Allied military mobility. This study examines how hybrid warfare is being used by NATO’s adversaries, what vulnerabilities in energy security exist across the Alliance, and what mitigation strategies are available to the member states.
Cyberattacks targeting the renewable energy landscape during Europe’s green transition are increasing, making it urgent that new tools are developed to protect these emerging technologies. No less significant are the cyber and information operations targeting energy security in Eastern Europe as it seeks to become independent from Russia. Economic coercion is being used against Western and Central Europe to stop gas from flowing. China’s malign investments in Southern and Mediterranean Europe are enabling Beijing to control several NATO member states’ critical energy infrastructure at a critical moment in the global balance of power. What Ukraine Taught NATO about Hybrid Warfare will be an important reference for NATO officials and US installations operating in the European theater.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1952/thumbnail.jp
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