Polymeric microparticles for modified release of NPK in agricultural applications.

The aim of this work was to synthesize polymeric microparticles as carriers for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK fertilizer) for agricultural applications, using polyglycerol (PG) to improve the synthesis procedure. Multivariate experimental designs were employed to obtain a satisfactory synthesis. The desirability function identified the best conditions for preparation of the microparticles as being 100.00 mg of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), 825.00 mg of PG, 9.25 mL of chloroform, and 0.9% w/v of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This resulted in average encapsulation rates of 94.23% for N, 99.80% for P, and 65.00% for K. The profile of release from the microparticles was according to diffusion following Fick?s Law. These observations confirmed the capacity of the proposed microparticles to sustain a continuous and prolonged release of NPK for the purpose of plant fertilization

The polymorphism rs17782313 near MC4R gene is related with anthropometric changes in women submitted to bariatric surgery over 60 months.

Objective: Evaluate whether the polymorphism rs17782313 near MC4R gene influences long-term outcomes after bariatric surgery. Methods: The rs16782313 polymorphism was genotyped in 217 individuals undergoing bariatric surgery and analyzed in detail in 141 women. Data for comorbidities, BMI, excess weight loss (EWL), and body composition were obtained before and during 60 months after surgery. Results: The risk allele was found in 65 (47%) of the 141 women. Pre-surgical body weight and BMI were higher in carriers of the rs17782313 polymorphism (CC ? CT group) than in non-carriers (TT group) (p ? 0.039 and 0.047, respectively). The number of women who acquired surgical success (EWL > 50%), was lower in CC ? CT group compared to TT group (p ? 0.015). The minimum BMI seen during the 60 months of follow-up was higher in CC ? CT group compared to TT group (p ? 0.028). The number of women who presented BMI < 30 kg/m2 (no longer classified as obesity) after 24 months of surgery was inferior in CC ? CT group (6 out 35 patients e 17%) than in TT group (19 out 49 patients e 37%, p ? 0.043). Moreover, the number of patients maintaining BMI > 35 kg/m2 were higher carriers (18 out 35 patients e 51%) compare to non-carriers (16 out 49 patients e 32%, p ? 0.045). Conclusion: Women with extreme obesity carrying rs17782313 MC4R polymorphism present a higher pre-surgical BMI, are more unlikely to reach non-obesity BMI (<30 kg/m2) and tend to maintain a BMI > 35 kg/m2 that characterize treatment failure

Development of a novel nano-biomaterial for biomedical applications.

The technological development of biodegradable nanoparticles for drug delivery in medical diagnostics and therapies is addressing increasing efforts to make safer, affordable and more bio-efficient polymeric materials. The preparation via the solvent displacement method of a novel polymeric nanomaterial with new spherical and narrow sizes dispersion is described. It was achieved by choosing the best amount of PLDLA-co-TMC, PEO-PPO-PEO and an adequate acetone:methanol volume ratio, using the factorial design 23 and Box-Behnken experiment design. This new material was loaded with finasteride, the chosen drug model, and its delivery dynamic was determined by the HPLC method. Results revealed that an optimal formulation of PLDLA-co-TMC nanoparticles was found to be composed of 20 mg PLDLA-co-TMC; 37.5 mg PEO-PPO-PEO and a volume acetone:methanol ratio 2.2:0.3. The formulation of this novel biomaterial showed a high encapsulation efficiency of finasteride, controlled release profile along 24 h, without burst effect in the first 4 h, nanometric sizes, spherical shapes, close polydispersity, negative surface charge, unimodal particle size distribution and relatively high thermal stability of the polymer matrix PEO-PPO-PEO/PLDLA-co-TMC. These results support the fabrication of technologically advanced nanoparticles based on high molecular weight PLDLA-co-TMC and their use in the nano-controlled drug release in biomedical applications