Evaluation of biodegradable implants based on polymer blends: development, characterization and in vitro release studies

Implants prepared with polymer blends [poly (e-caprolactone)-poly(lactide), PCL-PLA] at different rates were developed from microspheres. Approximately 19% of dexamethasone acetate was encapsulated into the microspheres, and it was not dependent on polymer characteristics. DSC studies suggested that there is not any signal of interaction between the polymers and the drug and also no influence of any residual solvent in the microspheres. Infrared analysis indicated the chemical stability of the drug even in the blend matrix. The developed devices present low degradation rate. 34% and 21% of dexamethasone acetate was released from PLA and PCL alone implants at 10 weeks, respectively. Intermediate amounts were released from the devices prepared at different PLA-PCL ratios in such a way that the higher the amount of PCL, the slower was the drug release. This study demonstrates that polymeric drug delivery systems allowed to a prolonged release of dexamethasone acetate in vitro.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Bibliometric Analysis of Land Degradation Studies in Drylands Using Remote Sensing Data: A 40-Year Review

Drylands are vast and face threats from climate change and human activities. Traditional reviews cannot capture interdisciplinary knowledge, but bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights. Our study conducted bibliometric research of scientific production on climate change and land degradation in drylands using remote sensing. We examined 1527 Scopus-indexed publications to identify geographic and thematic hotspots, extracting leading authors, journals, and institutions. China leads in publications, followed by the US, Germany, and Australia. The US has the highest citation count. Collaboration networks involve the US, China, and European countries. There has been an exponential increase in remote sensing of land degradation in drylands (RSLDD) publications since 2011. Key journals include “International Journal of Remote Sensing” and “Remote Sensing of Environment”. The analysis highlights the growing interest in the field, driven by Australia, the US, and China. Key areas of study are vegetation dynamics and land use change. Future perspectives for this scientific field involve promoting collaboration and exploring emerging technologies for comprehensive land degradation and desertification research