Functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for oral delivery of budesonide

Non-functionalized and amino-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle were loaded with anti-inflammatory drug budesonide and additionally post-coated with bioadhesive polymer (carbopol). TEM images showed spherical shape of the nanoparticles and slightly higher polydispersity after coating with carbopol. Nitrogen physisorption and thermogravimetic analysis revealed that more efficient loading and incorporation into the pores of nanoparticles was achieved with the amino-functionalized silica carrier. Infrared spectra indicated that the post-coating of these nanoparticles with carbopol led to the formation of bond between amino groups of the functionalized carrier and carboxyl groups of carbopol. The combination of amino-functionalization of the carrier with the post-coating of the nanoparticles sustained budesonide release. Further, an in vitro model of inflammatory bowel disease showed that the cytoprotective effect of budesonide loaded in the post-coated silica nanoparticles on damaged HT-29 cells was more pronounced compared to the cytoprotection obtained with pure budesonide

First survey on the invasive Pond slider (Trachemys scripta) in Bulgaria: historic development and current situation

Crvenouha kornjača (Trachemys scripta) postala je popularni ljubimac u Bugarskoj od 1990. Kroz godine sve veći broj jedinki zabilježen je i u divljini. Iako su negativni učinci na izvornim kornjače su opsežno studirao negdje drugdje, nema posebne studije (osim kratkih izvješća) obratili invaziju T. scripta u Bugarskoj. Ova studija se temelji na više od 25 godina praćenja na terenu i predstavlja prvi izvor detaljne informacije o raspodjeli Pond klizača u Bugarskoj. Ukupno 293 UTM (10 × 10 km) kvadrata sa staništa pogodna za slatkovodne kornjače ispitano. Prikupili smo 64 zapisa za 173 osoba, od 19 UTM kvadrata. Od svih promatranih osoba, samo dvije su od nominirati podvrste - ostatak pripada T. Š. elegans. U našem istraživanju je uočeno samo jednoga djeteta. Do danas nije uspješno leženja zabilježena, iako su registrirani uspješni overwinterings. Mi smo razgovarali o raznim mjere ublažavanja koje se moraju brzo pokrenut ograničiti buduće izdanje Ribnjak klizača i za uklanjanje ne-izvornih uzoraka s bugarskim ekosustava. Akcije su zahtijevali posebno da se izbjegne potencijalne epidemiološko događaja uzrokovanih parazitima s vrlo smrtonosnim učinkom na autohtonim vrstama. Takve pojave potencijalno mogu imati veći utjecaj na autohtone vrste kornjača jezerce od raznih oblika natjecanja s T. scripta.Pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) have become a popular pet in Bulgaria since 1990. Through the years a number of released specimens were observed in the wild. Although the negative effects on native turtles have been studied extensively elsewhere, no specific studies (besides brief reports) have addressed the invasion of T. scripta in Bulgaria. The present study is based on over 25 years of field monitoring and represents the first source of detailed information on the distribution of the Pond slider in Bulgaria. A total of 293 UTM (10×10 km) squares with habitats suitable for freshwater turtles were surveyed. We collected 64 records for 173 individuals, from 19 UTM squares. From all observed individuals, only two were from the nominate subspecies – the rest belong to T. s. elegans. In our study only one subadult was observed. To date no successful hatching has been recorded, although successful overwinterings have been registered. We discuss various mitigation measures that must be rapidly initiated to limit future release of Pond sliders and to remove the non-native specimens from the Bulgarian ecosystems. Actions are demanded especially to avoid the potential epizootic events caused by parasites with highly lethal effect on native species. Such outbreaks might potentially have greater impact on the native pond turtle species than various forms of competition with T. scripta

Indometacin loading and in vitro release properties from novel carbopol coated spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Spherical MCM-41 silica nanosized particles were synthesized and post synthesis modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in order to prepare amino-functionalized carrier. Both types of silica particleswere loaded with indometacin and further coated with carbopol. The preservation of morphology and pore structure of the particles was observed by XRD, TEM and N2 physisorption. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed the interaction between carboxyl groups of indometacin and the amino groups of the functionalized MCM-41. Amino-functionalization of the carrier resulted in higher degree of indometacin loading in comparison to the parent MCM-41, 39% vs. 30%, respectively. The coating of drug loaded amino-MCM-41 silica particles with carbopol significantly reduced the initial burst release of indometacin. Both silica carriers demonstrated no cytotoxicity on HL-60 (acute myeloid leukemia) and K-562 (chronic myeloid leukemia) cell lines

Process optimization of preparation of pentoxifylline – extended release tablets

The possibilities for correction of the rate of drug release by minimal changes in the technology process and by maintaining the quantitative and qualitative composition of the product pentoxifylline – extended release tablets were explored. Correction was made by addition of different quantity of HPMC (4000 cPs) to a granulating solution of PEG 6000. The main characteristics of the granules (compressibility index and density) were established. The swelling of the hydrogel tablets in water was determined in order more information on the release process to be obtained. Dissolution profiles of produced tablets were determined

Study on the influence of technological factors on drug loading of poorly water-soluble drug on MCM-41 mesoporous carrier

The present study explored solvent impregnation drug loading process of the poorly soluble non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin on MCM-41 type mesoporous silica carrier. Different technological factors that can influence drug-loading process as time of reaction, temperature, use of non-solvent as well as different ratios between drug and MCM-41 were studied. TEM and DLS were used to characterize physicochemical properties of obtained particles. The influence of drug-loading rate on dissolution process were studied using in-vitro release tests. Our results established that changes in explored technological factors could lead to different indomethacin loading. Moreover, the in-vitro release tests proved that drug loading rate had a direct influence on indomethacin release from MCM-41 particles. Our finding suggested that by tuning the main technological factors it would be possible different drug delivery systems with different drug loading rate to be obtained

Study on the influence of technological factors on drug loading of poorly water-soluble drug on MCM-41 mesoporous carrier

The present study explored solvent impregnation drug loading process of the poorly soluble non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin on MCM-41 type mesoporous silica carrier. Different technological factors that can influence drug-loading process as time of reaction, temperature, use of non-solvent as well as different ratios between drug and MCM-41 were studied. TEM and DLS were used to characterize physicochemical properties of obtained particles. The influence of drug-loading rate on dissolution process were studied using in-vitro release tests. Our results established that changes in explored technological factors could lead to different indomethacin loading. Moreover, the in-vitro release tests proved that drug loading rate had a direct influence on indomethacin release from MCM-41 particles. Our finding suggested that by tuning the main technological factors it would be possible different drug delivery systems with different drug loading rate to be obtained

Data from: A revised taxonomy of crested newts in the Triturus karelinii group (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae), with the description of a new species

We present a taxonomic revision of the crested newt Triturus karelinii sensu lato. Based on the presence of discrete nuclear DNA gene pools, deep genetic divergence of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, and no indication of gene flow, we interpret this taxon as comprising two species: one covering the southern Caspian Sea shore, the Caucasus and the Crimea, i.e. the eastern part of the total range and another covering northern Asiatic Turkey and western Asiatic Turkey plus the south-eastern Balkan Peninsula, i.e. the central and western part of the total range. We acknowledge that the central/western species should likely be further subdivided into a central and a western taxon, but we prefer to await a more detailed genetic analysis of the putative contact zone, positioned in northwestern Asiatic Turkey. The name T. karelinii (Strauch, 1870) applies to the eastern species as the type locality is positioned along the coast of the Gulf of Gorgan, Iran. The name T. arntzeni has been applied to the central/western species with Vrtovać, Serbia as the type locality. We show that not T. karelinii sensu lato but T. macedonicus occurs at Vrtovać. Hence, the name T. arntzeni Litvinchuk, Borkin, Džukić and Kalezić, 1999 (in Litvinchuk et al., 1999) is a junior synonym of T. macedonicus (Karaman, 1922) and should not be used for the central/western species. We propose the name T. ivanbureschi sp. nov. for the central/western species and provide a formal species description

Contributions to the functional morphology of caudate skulls: kinetic and akinetic forms

A strongly ossified and rigid skull roof, which prevents parietal kinesis, has been reported for the adults of all amphibian clades. Our μ-CT investigations revealed that the Buresch’s newt (Triturus ivanbureschi) possess a peculiar cranial construction. In addition to the typical amphibian pleurokinetic articulation between skull roof and palatoquadrate associated structures, we found flexible connections between nasals and frontals (prokinesis), vomer and parasphenoid (palatokinesis), and between frontals and parietals (mesokinesis). This is the first description of mesokinesis in urodelans. The construction of the skull in the Buresch’s newts also indicates the presence of an articulation between parietals and the exocipitals, discussed as a possible kind of metakinesis. The specific combination of pleuro-, pro-, meso-, palato-, and metakinetic skull articulations indicate to a new kind of kinetic systems unknown for urodelans to this date. We discuss the possible neotenic origin of the skull kinesis and pose the hypothesis that the kinesis in T. ivanbureschi increases the efficiency of fast jaw closure. For that, we compared the construction of the skull in T. ivanbureschi to the akinetic skull of the Common fire salamander Salamandra salamandra. We hypothesize that the design of the skull in the purely terrestrial living salamander shows a similar degree of intracranial mobility. However, this mobility is permitted by elasticity of some bones and not by true articulation between them. We comment on the possible relation between the skull construction and the form of prey shaking mechanism that the species apply to immobilize their victims

Wielstra_Triturus_taxonomy_Online_appendix5

Online Appendix 5 – Pictures of the ventral side of the holotype and paratypes of Triturus ivanbureschi sp. nov

Wielstra_Triturus_taxonomy_Online_appendix6

Online Appendix 6 – X-ray photographs of the holotype and paratypes of Triturus ivanbureschi sp. nov