I. Pedagogy

本研究では, 慣性を例にして物理学習観が実験や解説への興味・関心, 事後テストにどのように影響しているのかを共分散構造分析でモデル化した。その結果, 「実験への興味」が「解説への関心」に強く影響し, 「事後テストの成績」にも影響していた。また, 解き方よりも答えを重視したり, 公式を丸暗記したりする「過程無視」という学習観が, 「実験への興味」に負の影響を及ぼしていることが明らかになった。これらのことから, 従来から取り組まれてきた実験開発に加えて, 「過程無視」のような物理学習観を見直させることにより, 物理学習への興味・関心を引き, 成績も改善させる可能性があることを示唆した

Microneedle assisted transdermal delivery of zolmitriptan: effect of microneedle geometry, in vitro permeation experiments, scaling analyses and numerical simulations

Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of salient microneedle (MN) geometry parameters like length, density, shape and type on transdermal permeation enhancement of Zolmitriptan (ZMT). Methods: Two types of MN devices viz. AdminPatch® arrays (ADM) (0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5mm lengths) and laboratory fabricated polymeric MNs (PM) of 0.6mm length were employed. In the case of PMs, arrays were applied thrice at different places within a 1.77cm2 skin area (PM-3) to maintain the MN density closer to 0.6mm ADM. Scaling analyses was done using dimensionless parameters like concentration of ZMT (Ct/Cs), thickness (h/L) and surface area of the skin (Sa/L2). Results: Micro-injection moulding technique was employed to fabricate PM. Histological studies revealed that the PM, owing to their geometry/design, formed wider and deeper microconduits when compared to ADM of similar length. Approximately 3.17 and 3.65 fold increase in ZMT flux values were observed with 1.5mm ADM and PM-3 applications when compared to the passive studies. Good correlations were observed between different dimensionless parameters with scaling analyses. Numerical simulations, using MATLAB and COMSOL software, based on experimental data and histological images provided information regarding the ZMT skin distribution after MN application. Discussion: Both from experimental studies and simulations, it was inferred that PM were more effective in enhancing the transdermal delivery of ZMT when compared to ADM. Conclusion: The study suggests that MN application enhances the ZMT transdermal permeation and the geometrical parameters of MNs play an important role in the degree of such enhancement

Effect of microneedle type on transdermal permeation of rizatriptan

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of salient microneedle (MN) geometry parameters like length, density, shape and type on transdermal permeation of rizatriptan (RIZ). Studies were carried out using two types of MN devices viz. AdminPatch® arrays (ADM) (0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 mm lengths) and laboratory-fabricated polymeric MNs (PMs) of 0.6 mm length. In the case of the PMs, arrays were applied three times at different places within a 1.77-cm2 skin area (PM-3) to maintain the MN density closer to 0.6 mm ADM. Histological studies revealed that PM, owing to their geometry/design, formed wider and deeper microconduits when compared to ADM of similar length. Approximately 4.9- and 4.2-fold increases in the RIZ steady-state flux values were observed with 1.5 mm ADM and PM-3 applications when compared to the passive studies. A good correlation between different dimensionless parameters like the amount of RIZ permeated (Ct/Cs), thickness (h/L) and surface area (Sa/L2) of the skin was observed with scaling analyses. Numerical simulations provided further information regarding the distribution of RIZ in MN-treated skin after application of different MNs. Overall, the study suggests that MN application enhances the RIZ transdermal permeation and the geometrical parameters of MNs play an important role in the degree enhancement

Application of microneedle arrays for enhancement of transdermal permeation of Insulin: in vitro experiments, scaling analyses and numerical simulations

The aim of this investigation is to study the effect of donor concentration and microneedle (MN) length on permeation of insulin and further evaluating the data using scaling analyses and numerical simulations. Histological evaluation of skin sections was carried to evaluate the skin disruption and depth of penetration by MNs. Scaling analyses was done using dimensionless parameters like concentration of drug (Ct/Cs), thickness (h/L) and surface area of the skin (Sa/L2). Simulation studies were carried out using MATLAB and COMSOL software to simulate the insulin permeation using histological sections of MN treated skin and experimental parameters like passive diffusion coefficient. A 1.6 fold increase in transdermal flux and 1.9 fold decrease in lag time values were observed with 1.5mm MN when compared with passive studies. Good correlation (R2>0.99) was observed between different parameters using scaling analyses. Also, the in vitro and simulated permeations profiles were found to be similar (f2≥50). Insulin permeation significantly increased with increase in donor concentration and MN length (p<0.05). The developed scaling correlations and numerical simulations were found to be accurate and would help researchers to predict the permeation of insulin with new dimensions of MN in optimizing insulin delivery. Overall, it can be inferred that the application of MNs can significantly enhance insulin permeation and may be an efficient alternative for injectable insulin therapy in humans

Ultrasound and insertion force effects on microneedles based drug delivery: experiments and numerical simulation

Ultrasound and insertion force effects on microneedles based drug delivery: experiments and numerical simulatio

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Mathematical modelling, simulation and optimisation of microneedles for transdermal drug delivery: trends and progress

In the last two decades, microneedles (MNs) have received significant interest due to their potential for painless transdermal drug delivery (TDD) and minimal skin damage. MNs have found applications in a range of research and development areas in drug delivery. They have been prepared using a variety of materials and fabrication techniques resulting in MN arrays with different dimensions, shapes, and geometries for delivery of a variety of drug molecules. These parameters play crucial roles in determining the drug release profiles from the MNs. Developing mathematical modelling, simulation, and optimisation techniques is vital to achieving the desired MN performances. These will then be helpful for pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries as well as professionals working in the field of regulatory affairs focusing on MN based TDD systems. This is because modelling has a great potential to reduce the financial and time cost of both the MNs’ studies and manufacturing. For example, a number of robust mathematical models for predicting the performance of the MNs in vivo have emerged recently which incorporate the roles of the structural and mechanical properties of the skin. In addressing these points, this review paper aims to highlight the current status of the MN modelling research, in particular, the modelling, simulation and optimisation of the systems for drug delivery. The theoretical basis for the simulation of MN enhanced diffusion is discussed within this paper. Thus, this review paper provides a better understanding of the modelling of the MN mediated drug delivery process.<br

RMSF of the complex.

(A) AKT1–curcumin. (B) NF-κB–curcumin. (C) STAT3–curcumin. (D) TNF–curcumin. (E) TP53–curcumin.</p

Fig 5 -

(A) PPI network diagram. (B) Curcumin–pathway–target network diagram. The green quadrilateral represents the KEGG pathway, the purple oval represents the target gene, and the pink hexagon represents curcumin.</p

The top 20 pathways of KEGG enrichment analysis.

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