Biofabrication of gold and silver nanoparticles for pharmaceutical applications

Biofabrication by using fungi is an exciting recent interest to develop an eco-friendly production of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) for pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize gold (Au) and silver (Ag) NPs by using Penicillium simplisimum. The fungus was grown in fluid czapek dox broth on shaker at 28 ºC and 200 rpm for ten days. Then the supernatant was separated from the mycelia to convert HAuCl4 and AgNO3 solution into Au and Ag NPs separately. After 24 hours, synthesized Au and Ag NPs were characterized by using UV-Visible Spectroscopy as well as Photon Correlation spectroscopy (PCS) involves Polydispersity Index (PDI) and zeta potential. The UV-Visible Spectroscopy analysis revealed a plasmon bond peak around 533 nm and 400 nm suggesting formation of Au and Ag NPs, respectively. Furthermore, the PCS analysis showed an average diameter of 68 nm and 76 nm with PDI value of 0.2 and 0.23 for Au and Ag NPs, successively, which demonstrated that the nanoparticles formed with fairly well-defined dimensions and good monodispersity. Besides, a negative zeta potential were found for nanoparticles indicating their stability in the solution. The current approach suggests that the rapid synthesis of nanoparticles would be suitable for developing a green process for mass scale production. Besides, we believe that development of eco-friendly process for the formulation of metallic NPs is an important step in the field of application of nanotechnology and its optimization may make it a potential procedure for industrial production of NPs

Optimization of Finasteride Nano-Emulsion Preparation Using Chemometric Approach

Purpose: To study the effect of some factors on the size of finasteride nano-emulsion by chemometric approach which could predict the size of nano-emulsion droplets under different conditions. Methods: Nano-emulsions were prepared using spontaneous emulsification method which occurs when organic and aqueous phases are mixed. The organic phase was a homogeneous solution of oil (finasteride as a lipophilic drug) and water–miscible solvent with or without lipophilic surfactant (Span® 80), while the aqueous phase consisted of water with or without hydrophilic surfactant (Tween® 80). Chemometric approach was applied for optimizing the size of the nano-emulsion droplets. For this purpose, the effect of three experimental parameters on size was investigated by multivariant analysis. The experiments were performed according to Box-Behnken experimental design. The factors considered were sonication time (0 – 5 min), and contents of Span-80 (0 - 0.16 %) and Tween-80 (0 - 0.26 %). Results: The regression model obtained was characterized by both descriptive and predictive ability. The method was optimized with respect to average diameter as a response, based on a defined equation Conclusion: The Box-Behnken experimental design is a suitable tool for optimizing and testing the robustness of the method for preparing finasteride nano-emulsion

Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications Using Chemometric Technique

Purpose: To study the effect of process conditions on the size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by chemometric technique. Methods: AuNPs were prepared by adding 5 ml of 5 mM of gold (III) chloride hydrate HAuCl4 (2 mg/mL) to 85 ml of filtered deionized water, then refluxed in a 250 mL flask over a hot plate and heated to boiling point. Five milliliters of sodium citrate solution of varying concentrations were quickly added to the boiling solution and stirred for 30 min until the color turned to wine red. Chemometric approach, based on multivariant analysis, was applied to the optimization of iron oxide nanoparticle size in respect of three parameters, viz, concentration of sodium citrate solution, stirrer speed and ionic strength of the medium. The experiments were performed according to Box-Behnken experimental design. Results: The regression model obtained was characterized by both descriptive and predictive ability. The method was optimized with respect to average diameter as a response. The average diameter of the nanoparticles produced under different conditions were between 17.7 up to 168.8 nm. The criteria for the evaluation of the descriptive capability of a polynomial were R2 = 0.974, standard error = 13.994 and F-ratio = 18.4. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Box-Behnken experimental design provides a suitable approach for optimizing and testing the robustness of gold nanoparticle preparation method

The effect of chitosan molecular weight on the properties of alginate/ chitosan microparticles containing prednisolone

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chitosan molecular weight on size, size distribution, release rate, mucoadhesive properties and electrostatic bonding of alginate/chitosan microparticles containing prednisolone Methods: Three mucoadhesive alginate/chitosan microparticle formulations, f1, f2 and f3, were prepared using low, medium and high chitosan molecular weight (MW) chitosan, respectively, by directly spraying alginate solution into a solution of chitosan and calcium chloride at optimum conditions. Prednisolone was incorporated in the alginate solution prior to spraying. The microparticles were then evaluated for prednisolone content, size, release rate, and mucoadhesive properties using appropriate methods. The formation of electrostatic and hydrogen bonds between chitosan and alginate was assessed by differential scanning calorimetetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Results: The results indicate that high MW chitosan microparticles were significantly (p<0.05) smaller and more uniform in size, with better mucoadhesive properties and lower release rate than the other formulations. FTIR and DSC studies indicate that stronger hydrogen and electrostatic bonding in the formulation containing high MW chitosan than inthe other formulations Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of chitosan-alginate microparticles are dependent on the molecular weight of chitosa

Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications Using Chemometric Technique

Purpose: To study the effect of process conditions on the size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by chemometric technique. Methods: AuNPs were prepared by adding 5 ml of 5 mM of gold (III) chloride hydrate HAuCl4 (2 mg/mL) to 85 ml of filtered deionized water, then refluxed in a 250 mL flask over a hot plate and heated to boiling point. Five milliliters of sodium citrate solution of varying concentrations were quickly added to the boiling solution and stirred for 30 min until the color turned to wine red. Chemometric approach, based on multivariant analysis, was applied to the optimization of iron oxide nanoparticle size in respect of three parameters, viz, concentration of sodium citrate solution, stirrer speed and ionic strength of the medium. The experiments were performed according to Box-Behnken experimental design. Results: The regression model obtained was characterized by both descriptive and predictive ability. The method was optimized with respect to average diameter as a response. The average diameter of the nanoparticles produced under different conditions were between 17.7 up to 168.8 nm. The criteria for the evaluation of the descriptive capability of a polynomial were R2 = 0.974, standard error = 13.994 and F-ratio = 18.4. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Box-Behnken experimental design provides a suitable approach for optimizing and testing the robustness of gold nanoparticle preparation method

The effect of chitosan molecular weight on the properties of alginate/ chitosan microparticles containing prednisolone

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chitosan molecular weight on size, size distribution, release rate, mucoadhesive properties and electrostatic bonding of alginate/chitosan microparticles containing prednisolone Methods: Three mucoadhesive alginate/chitosan microparticle formulations, f1, f2 and f3, were prepared using low, medium and high chitosan molecular weight (MW) chitosan, respectively, by directly spraying alginate solution into a solution of chitosan and calcium chloride at optimum conditions. Prednisolone was incorporated in the alginate solution prior to spraying. The microparticles were then evaluated for prednisolone content, size, release rate, and mucoadhesive properties using appropriate methods. The formation of electrostatic and hydrogen bonds between chitosan and alginate was assessed by differential scanning calorimetetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Results: The results indicate that high MW chitosan microparticles were significantly (p<0.05) smaller and more uniform in size, with better mucoadhesive properties and lower release rate than the other formulations. FTIR and DSC studies indicate that stronger hydrogen and electrostatic bonding in the formulation containing high MW chitosan than inthe other formulations Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of chitosan-alginate microparticles are dependent on the molecular weight of chitosa

Optimization of Finasteride Nano-Emulsion Preparation Using Chemometric Approach

Purpose: To study the effect of some factors on the size of finasteride nano-emulsion by chemometric approach which could predict the size of nano-emulsion droplets under different conditions. Methods: Nano-emulsions were prepared using spontaneous emulsification method which occurs when organic and aqueous phases are mixed. The organic phase was a homogeneous solution of oil (finasteride as a lipophilic drug) and water–miscible solvent with or without lipophilic surfactant (Span® 80), while the aqueous phase consisted of water with or without hydrophilic surfactant (Tween® 80). Chemometric approach was applied for optimizing the size of the nano-emulsion droplets. For this purpose, the effect of three experimental parameters on size was investigated by multivariant analysis. The experiments were performed according to Box-Behnken experimental design. The factors considered were sonication time (0 – 5 min), and contents of Span-80 (0 - 0.16 %) and Tween-80 (0 - 0.26 %). Results: The regression model obtained was characterized by both descriptive and predictive ability. The method was optimized with respect to average diameter as a response, based on a defined equation Conclusion: The Box-Behnken experimental design is a suitable tool for optimizing and testing the robustness of the method for preparing finasteride nano-emulsion

Decontamination of water polluted with phenol using Raphanus sativus root

Abstract Plant materials have been found useful in decontamination of water polluted with phenolic compounds. The detoxification effect is due to peroxidases contained in plant tissue. Enzyme mediated oxidative coupling of phenol is followed by precipitation of the formed polymer and its removal from the aqueous phase. A synthetic wastewater buffered at pH = 7.4 containing 0.9 mM phenol was treated in this research with cut Raphanus sativus root and its juice. Cut Raphanus or Raphanus juice were added separately as enzyme source to phenol solution in buffer and in tap water in two series of experiments. The reaction was initiated by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. After three hours stirring the phenol content of the mixtures was determined. More than 90% of phenol was removed in both cases