Development of a Wet-Granulated Sourdough Multiple Starter for Direct Use

The search for sourdough starters for the direct production of baked goods with all the advantages of biological sourdough fermentation is still a crucial issue. In this study, 43 Lactic Acid Bacteria strains isolated from mature sourdoughs were evaluated for features of technological interest and tested for fermentation ability. Three microbial combinations were selected and used to produce bread. Based on GC-MS and sensory analysis, bread made by using the three combinations of strains was characterized by a more complex aroma profile with the prevalence of VOCs typical of sourdough bread. To set up the best way to keep microbial viability upon drying, the three combinations were subject to freeze-drying and wet granulation, with the latter being used for the first time for food starters’ stabilization. Wet granulation ensured optimal strains’ viability. Surprisingly, the height attained by mature sourdoughs when inoculated with wet granulated starters was constantly higher than the height reached by sourdoughs made with the same starters as fresh cells. The microbial combination E75-B72 exhibited the best performances and may represent a starter able to ensure sourdough bread production in 16 h of fermentation at 28 °C

Farmaci oppioidi e Cannabis nella terapia del dolore

[English]:“Opioid and Cannabis in Pain Control” is the result of studies performed by the Pharmacy Department and the “Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Farmacoeconomia e Farmacoutilizzazione” (CIRFF) of the University of Naples, “Federico II”. This book is aimed to those who work in a pharmacy and who, scholars, teachers or students, are interested in delve into the issue. The text analyzes different topics with an interdisciplinary approach. A large part is devoted to the chemical and pharmacological aspects related to this topic. Subsequently, the text focuses the theme, still very debated, of using opioids and Cannabis in therapy through an exhaustive analysis of the entire existing legislation: from the first laws promulgated by the Kingdom of Italy until the last ministerial circulars by Italian republic. Finally yet importantly, an important part of the book focuses on medical and therapeutic interpretation with regard to the effects on pain control, where opioids and Cannabis are not only a fruitful frontier of research, but also a consolidated and effective tool to counteract some types of pain / [Italiano]: “Farmaci oppioidi e Cannabis nella terapia del dolore” rappresenta il frutto di alcuni studi, condotti per almeno tre lustri nel Dipartimento di Farmacia e nel Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Farmacoeconomia e Farmacoutilizzazione (CIRFF) della Federico II, e si rivolge sia a chi presta servizio ogni giorno in una farmacia, sia a chi, studioso, docente o studente, è interessato ad approfondire l’argomento. Il testo, utilizzando un approccio interdisciplinare, si muove su piani euristici differenti. Naturalmente, ampio spazio è stato dedicato alla parte farmaceutica, analizzando tutti gli aspetti chimici e farmacologici connessi a questo tema. Un secondo punto di rilievo riguarda la problematica normativa legata alla dibattuta questione dell’utilizzo in terapia degli oppioidi e della Cannabis. In tal senso, si è cercato di offrire una prospettiva chiara ed esauriente del complesso quadro legislativo vigente: a partire dalle prime leggi promulgate dal Regno d’Italia, fino ad arrivare alle ultime circolari ministeriali in materia, è stata rivista ed esaminata l’intera normativa sulle sostanze stupefacenti, spiegandone anche i passaggi più delicati e controversi. Infine, soprattutto per ciò che concerne le ricadute sulla terapia del dolore, una parte significativa del libro si è concentrata sull’interpretazione medica e terapeutica, dove i farmaci oppioidi e la Cannabis costituiscono non solo una feconda frontiera di ricerca, ma anche un consolidato ed efficace strumento per contrastare alcune tipologie di dolore

Cyclodextrins as smart excipients in polymeric drug delivery systems

A few years ago, it has been realized that cyclodextrins (CDs) can be used as aid-excipients in polymeric drug delivery systems (DDS) with the aim to increase drug loading and modify release properties. This effect has been mainly ascribed to their complexation ability toward poorly soluble drugs which improves dissolution properties inside a DDS. From a look to the literature produced so far, it is immediately clear that this concept has severely limited their application in drug delivery technologies, in some cases prompting toward an “evidence-based” rather than rationalized use. For example, it has been neglected, or at least poorly investigated, that several other physico-chemical properties of both the drug and the polymer can be altered in the presence of CDs. Thus, the achievement of a speeding up or slowing down effect on drug release rate upon CD addition has been fortuitous rather than designed “ab initio”. This approach, in our opinion, did not contribute to allow a systemic use of CDs in the engineering of DDS and likely hindered their great potential in the field. In this context, the aim of this chapter is to clarify the effect of CD introduction in different DDS on the basis of their possible interactions with both drug and polymer, thus providing a strong rationale to CD selection and proper use

Inhalable dry powders for chemically-modified human Cationic AntiMicrobial Peptides (CAMPs): moving toward in vivo application

Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides (CAMPs) are a valuable alternative to conventional antibiotics because they have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and low ability to induce the onset of resistant strains. Even if the protein nature of CAMPs makes difficult their use as systemic agents they are ideally suited for direct delivery to airways and lung. The main aim of this project is to develop inhalable dry powders for lung‐delivery of human CAMPs and CAMP‐releasing proteins (CAMP‐RPs) carrying simple chemical modifications which improve their antimicrobial activity.A wide panel of human CAMPs and CAMP‐RPs will be prepared by recombinant DNA procedures and chemical synthesis, modified by means of a method already developed by the proponents and assayed on clinical P. aeruginosa strains to evaluate their bactericidal activity.Moreover during the design and development of the particles we will be considered crucial parameters for transferability in vivo (such as aerodynamic properties, resistance to proteases, and so on). The analysis of the interactions between CAMPs and acidic polysaccharides, such as alginate and hyaluronic acid, will allow to design rationally the inhalable particles.The final result will be a panel of inhalable dry powder formulations containing CAMP(-RP)s suited for direct lung-delivery and able to fight Pseudomonas infection

Combined effect of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin on physicochemical and dissolution properties of celecoxib

Investigation on the influence of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) on solubility and dissolution properties of celecoxib/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin system was carried out, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the drug bioavailability. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy were first performed to elucidate the type of interactions between celecoxib (CEL) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). Then, solubility studies in the absence and in the presence of HPMC were carried out in aqueous solution. After heating in autoclave of CEL/HP-β-CD/HPMC suspensions a synergistic increasing effect on the aqueous solubility of CEL was observed. In fact, the presence of both HP-β-CD (0.05 M) and HPMC (0.25% w/v) gave rise to a 330-fold CEL solubility increase, whereas the cyclodextrin alone provided a 34-fold increase. Gibbs free energy values calculated from phase solubility data were all negative, indicating the spontaneous nature of CEL solubilization, and they decreased in the presence of HPMC, demonstrating that the solubilization conditions became more favorable. CEL/HP-β-CD and CEL/HP-β-CD/HPMC solid systems (physical mixtures and coevaporated products) were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy. Results suggested that the coevaporation method yields a high degree of amorphous entities and indicated the formation of a CEL/HP-β-CD complex in the coevaporated products. The positive effect of HPMC is particularly evident when looking at the CEL dissolution rate from the binary and ternary solid systems. Specifically, the percent of CEL dissolved after 10 min. resulted 84.21% for ternary coevaporated product and 50.18% for binary coevaporated product with respect to 13.10% for the drug alone

Spectrophotometric determination of polyethylenimine in the presence of an oligonucleotide for the characterization of controlled release formulations.

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer that can be associated to oligonuclotides to promote their transfection both in vitro and in vivo. The controlled release of oligonucleotide/polyethylenimine complexes from biodegradable systems can result in an increased cellular internalisation of the oligonucleotide and a reduced cytotoxicity of the complex. This effect strongly depends on the amount of PEI loaded in and released from the delivery system. In this work we describe a rapid, sensitive and reproducible spectrophotometric method for the quantitative analysis of PEI by itself or in the presence of an associated oligonucleotide. PEI does not possess chromophores, hence the determination by ordinary spectrophotometry is not possible. However, upon addition of copper (II) ions, PEI forms a dark blue cuprammonium complex that can be detected by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The optimum conditions in terms of optical parameters, copper (II) concentration required for a quantitative PEI complexation, and the most suitable medium for the reaction were ascertained. A linear relationship (r(2)=0.9997) between absorbance and amounts of PEI was found at lambda(max) of 285 nm over the concentration range 5.0-50.0 microg ml(-1). The detection limit (QOD) was 4.0 microg ml(-1). The method was validated for the quantitation of PEI in the presence of an oligonucleotide, which absorbs at 285 nm as well

Core-shell nanocarriers for cancer therapy. Part I: biologically oriented design rules

INTRODUCTION: The application of nanotechnologies to the cancer field for therapeutic, imaging or diagnostic purposes represents an advanced and very attractive approach to overcome the main limits related to conventional chemotherapy. In particular, core-shell nanocarriers can be engineered to provide adequate features to overcome the main biological barriers encountered by free anti-cancer drugs. AREAS COVERED: This review will try to summarise the design rules - as dictated by biological requirements - to take into account for proper nanocarrier design and to highlight the potential of administration routes other than intravenous. EXPERT OPINION: Although intravenous injection remains the most investigated route of administration for 'nanoncologicals', research interest towards less explored administration routes allowing localised chemotherapy or delivery in close proximity to the tumour site might change the way cancer is treated in the near future. Nevertheless, an experimental set-up more biologically oriented taking into account an in-depth evaluation of stability in complex media, protein interaction, and cell interaction of novel nanoconstructs could allow their successful translation in pre-clinical and clinical settings