Eudragit ® FS 30 D polymeric films containing chondroitin sulfate as candidates for use in coating seeking modified delivery of drugs

ABSTRACT Polymeric films associating different concentrations of Eudragit(r) FS 30 D (EFS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) were produced by casting for the development of a new target-specific site material. Formed films kept a final polymer mass of 4% (w/v) in the following proportions: EFS 100:00 CS (control), EFS 95:05 CS, EFS 90:10 CS and EFS 80:20 CS. They were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, they were characterized by their water vapor permeability and degree of hydration at different conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract. No chemical interactions were observed between CS and EFS, suggesting only a physical interaction between them in the different combinations tested. The results suggest that EFS and CS, when combined, may form films that are candidates for coating processes seeking a modified drug delivery, especially due to the synergism between pH dependency and specific biodegradability properties by the colonic microbiota. EFS 90:10 CS proved to be the most suitable for this purpose considering hydration and permeability characteristics of different associations analyzed

A Ph/enzyme-responsive Polymer Film Consisting Of Eudragit® Fs 30 D And Arabinoxylane As A Potential Material Formulation For Colon-specific Drug Delivery System

Polymer film based on pH-dependent Eudragit® FS 30 D acrylic polymer in association with arabinoxylane, a polysaccharide issued from gum psyllium, was produced by way of solvent casting. Physical-chemical characterization of the polymer film samples was performed by means of thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, water-equilibrium swelling index (Is) and weight loss of the films in KCl buffer solution of pH 1.2, in KH 2PO 4 buffer solution of pH 5.0, or in KH 2PO 4 buffer solution of pH 5.0 consisting of 4% enzyme Pectinex® 3X-L (w/v) were also carried out for the film characterization. No chemical interactions between the Eudragit® FS 30 D and the arabinoxylane polymer chains were evidenced, thus suggesting that the film-forming polymer structure was obtained from a physical mixture of both polymers. The arabinoxylane-loader films showed a more pronounced weight loss after their immersion in buffer solution containing enzyme Pectinex® 3X-L. The introduction of the arabinoxylane makes the film more susceptible to undergo an enzymatic degradation. This meant that the enzyme-dependent propriety issued from the arabinoxylane has been imprinted into the film formulation. This type of polymer film is an interesting system for applications in colon-specific drug delivery system. © 2012 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.174429436Souto-Maior, J.F.A., Reis, A.V., Pedreiro, L.M., Cavalcanti, O.A., Phosphated crosslinked pectin as a potential excipient for specific drug delivery: Preparation and physicochemical characterization (2010) Polym. Int., 59, pp. 127-135Reddy, S.M., Sinha, V.R., Reddy, D.S., Novel oral colon-Specific drug delivery systems for pharmacotherapy of peptide and nonpeptide drugs (1999) Drugs Today, 35, pp. 537-580Sinha, V.R., Kumria, R., Microbially triggered drug delivery to the colon (2008) Eur. J. Pharm. Sci., 18, pp. 3-18Friend, D.R., New Oral delivery systems for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (2005) Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev., 57, pp. 247-265Rubistein, A., Colonic drug delivery (2005) Drug Discov. Today, 2, pp. 33-37Freire, A.C., Podczeck, F., Sousa, J., Veiga, F., Liberação específica de fármacos no cólon por via oral- O cólon como local de liberação de fármacos (2006) Rev. Bras. Cienc. Farm., 42, pp. 319-335Freire, A.C., Podczeck, F., Sousa, J., Veiga, F., Liberação específica de fármacos no cólon por via oral II - Tipos de sistemas utilizados (2006) Rev. Bras. Cienc. Farm., 42, pp. 337-355Sinha, V.R., Mittal, B.R., Bhutani, K.K., Kumria, R., Colonic drug delivery of 5-Fluorouracil: An in vitro evaluation (2004) Int. J. Pharm., 269, pp. 101-108Jain, A., Gupta, Y., Jain, S.K., Perspectives of biodegradable natural polysaccharides for site-specific drug delivery to the colon (2008) J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci., 10, pp. 86-128Pinto, J.F., Site-specific drug delivery systems within the gastrointestinal tract: From the mouth to the colon (2010) Int. J. Pharm., 395, pp. 44-52Chourasia, M.K., Jain, S.K., Pharmaceutical aproaches to colon targeted drug delivery systems (2003) J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci., 6, pp. 33-66McConnell, E.L., Short, M.D., Basi, A.W., An in vivo comparison of intestinal pH and bacteria as physiological trigger mechanisms for colonic targeting in man (2008) J. Control. Release, 130, pp. 154-160Sinha, V.R., Kumria, R., Polysaccharides in colon-Specific drug delivery (2001) Int. J. Pharm., 224, pp. 19-38Yang, L., Chu, J.S., Fix, J.A., Colon-Specific drug delivery: New approaches and in vitro/in vivo evaluation (2002) Int. J. Pharm., 235, pp. 1-15Akhgari, A., Farahmand, F., Garekania, H.A., Sadeghia, F., Vandamme, T.F., Permeability and swelling studies on free films containing inulin in combination with different polymethacrylates aimed for colonic drug delivery (2006) Eur. J. Pharm. Sci., 28, pp. 307-314Wei, H., Li-Fang, F., Bai, X., Chun-Lei, L., Qing D.Yong-Zhen, C., De-Ying, C., An investigation into the characteristics of chitosan/Kollicoat SR30D free films for colonic drug delivery (2009) Eur. J. Pharm. Sci., 72, pp. 266-274Grootaert, C., Delcour, J.A., Courtinb, C.M., Broekaertb, W.F., Verstraetea, W., Wiele, T.V., Microbial metabolism and prebiotic potency of arabinoxylan oligosaccharides in the human intestine (2007) Trends food sci. technol., 18, pp. 64-71Vandamme, T.F., Lenourry, A., Charrueau, C., Chaumeil, J.C., The use of polysaccharides to target drugs to the colon (2002) Carbohyd. Polym., 48, pp. 219-231Van Craeyveld, V., Delcour, J.A., Courtin, C.M., Extractability and chemical and enzymic degradation of psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk) seed husk arabinoxylans (2009) Food Chem., 111, pp. 812-819Saghir, S., Iqbal, M.S., Hussain, M.A., Koschella, A., Heinze, T., Structure characterization and carboxymethylation of arabinoxylan isolated from Ispaghula (Plantago ovata) seed husk (2008) Carbohyd.Polym., 74, pp. 309-317Singh, B., Psyllium as therapeutic and drug delivery agent (2007) Int. J. Pharm., 334, pp. 1-14Kaith, B.S., Kumar, K., In vacuum synthesis of psyllium and acrylic acid based hydrogels for selective water absorption from different oil-water emulsions (2008) Desalination, 229, pp. 331-341(2009) Eudragit® FS 30 D A Versatile Polymer for Controlled Release Aplications, , http://www.pharmapolymere.de/pharmapolymers/en/eudragitfs30d, Evonik Industries Available at Access: 3 Marc

Phosphate-solubilizing fungi isolated from a semiarid area cultivated with melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. gold mine)

Considering that little is known about the occurrence of phosphate-solubilizing fungi from areas cultivated with melon, the phosphate solubilization ability of filamentous fungi isolated in these areas was evaluated. Three hundred and eighteen filamentous fungal isolates belonging to 23 genera were evaluated, besides Aphyllophorales and Mycelia sterilia. From those, 52 were able to solubilize P: Aphyllophorales (2), Aspergillus (34), Penicillium (10) and Rhizopus (6). These results will contribute to subsidizing further research regarding the capacity of these fungi to solubilize other sources of phosphate applied to the melon crop, as well as indicate the need for a screening program to select those with higher capacity and potential for solubilization

Seroprevalence of HIV, HTLV-I/II and other perinatally-transmitted pathogens in Salvador, Bahia Soroprevalência do HIV, HTLV-I/II e outros patógenos de transmissão perinatal em Salvador, Bahia

Generation of epidemiological data on perinatally-transmitted infections is a fundamental tool for the formulation of health policies. In Brazil, this information is scarce, particularly in Northeast, the poorest region of the country. In order to gain some insights of the problem we studied the seroprevalence of some perinatally-transmitted infections in 1,024 low income pregnant women in Salvador, Bahia. The prevalences were as follow: HIV-1 (0.10%), HTLV-I/II (0.88%), T.cruzi (2.34%). T.pallidum (3.91%), rubella virus (77.44%). T.gondii IgM (2.87%) and IgG (69.34%), HBs Ag (0.6%) and anti-HBs (7.62%). Rubella virus and T.gondii IgG antibodies were present in more than two thirds of pregnant women but antibodies against other pathogens were present at much lower rates. We found that the prevalence of HTLV-I/II was nine times higher than that found for HIV-1. In some cases such as T.cruzi and hepatitis B infection there was a decrease in the prevalence over the years. On the other hand, there was an increase in the seroprevalence of T.gondii infection. Our data strongly recommend mandatory screening tests for HTLV-I/II, T.gondii (IgM), T.pallidum and rubella virus in prenatal routine for pregnant women in Salvador. Screening test for T.cruzi, hepatitis and HIV-1 is recommended whenever risk factors associated with these infections are suspected. However in areas with high prevalence for these infections, the mandatory screening test in prenatal care should be considered.<br>A obtenção de dados epidemiológicos é de fundamental importância para o estabelecimento de políticas em Saúde Pública. No Brasil, essas informações são escassas, principalmente na região Nordeste. Para se obter alguns destes dados, avaliamos a soroprevalência de algumas infecções de transmissão perinatal, em cerca de 1024 gestantes de baixa renda, em Salvador, Bahia. Os resultados encontrados foram os seguintes: HIV-1 (0,10%), HTLV-I/II (0,88%), T.cruzi (2,34%), T.pallidum (3,91%), vírus da rubéola (77,44%), IgM e IgG para T.gondii (2,87% e 69,34%, respectivamente), e antígenos e anticorpos de superfície (HBs Ag e anti-HBs) do vírus da hepatite B (0,6% e 7,62%, respectivamente). A prevalência de HTLV-I/II foi nove vezes maior do que aquela observada para o HIV-1. Constatou-se um decréscimo na prevalência das infecções causadas pelos T.cruzi e o vírus da hepatite B, em relação a anos anteriores, enquanto na infecção pelo T.gondii houve um aumento. Em função dos dados encontrados recomendamos que em Salvador, testes de triagem para HTLV-I, IgM, para T.gondii, T.pallidum e o vírus da rubéola, sejam feitos como rotina prenatal, e que triagens para T.cruzi, hepatite B e HIV-1 sejam feitas quando estiverem presentes fatores de risco associados a estas infecções. Entretanto, em áreas com altas taxas de prevalência para estas infecções, a triagem no prenatal deve ser considerada

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora