Introduction: Posaconazole is a class II BCS (Biopharmaceutical Classification System) antifungal drug. Current study objective is to enhance solubility by formulating SMEDDS guided by QbD via experimental design. Methods: Solubility studies in surfactants, oils, and co-surfactants were conducted. Critical quality attributes (CQA), emulsification time (R1) and drug release (R2) were taken as dependent factors. Formulations were prepared as per d-optimal mixture design and evaluated for physico-chemical parameters and dissolution studies. Results: Maximum solubility 6.953mg/ml in Tween 40, 1.630mg/ml in Transcutol & 0.187mg/ml in Capmul MCM were selected as surfactant, co-surfactant and oil phases. Excipient compatibility was confirmed by FTIR studies. Soluplus was used as Precipitation Inhibitor. Independent factors and dependent factors were mathematically co-related by Linear model and cubic model. From Overlay plots OF1 formulation (43.30ml Capmul MCM, 20ml Tween 40, 36.69ml Transcutol) with desirability co-efficient 0.991 was optimised. This formulation Globule size is 62.7nm, PDI 0.08 and Zeta-potential -0.19 mV. Discussion: Quality target product profile was postulated and CQA assessed by experimental design. Oil, Capmul MCM influenced rate of emulsification positively but decreased drug release. Surfactant and co-surfactant increased drug release but slowed emulsification time. D-Optimal mixture design was validated by correlation co-efficient of approx. 0.9 between predicted and actual responses. Formulations followed Fickian diffusion mechanism and were stable for one month at 40°C/75% RH. Conclusion: Posaconazole solubility as SMEDDS has been enhanced.
The standard prognostic assay for acute paraquat poisoning—plasma paraquat concentration—is frequently unavailable in resource-limited settings. While serum lactate and time-lagged composite models have been proposed as accessible alternatives, they lack robust external validation. To externally validate an established arterial lactate-time prognostic model using venous serum lactate, and evaluate its utility for predicting in-hospital mortality. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based observational study of 46 adults presenting with acute paraquat poisoning at a single center in Central India. Model discrimination was assessed using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) with bootstrap 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The cohort experienced a 78.26% in-hospital mortality rate. Admission serum lactate alone demonstrated excellent discrimination (AUC 0.963; 95% CI: 0.896–1.000). The externally validated lactate-time model yielded a lower point estimate (AUC 0.861; 95% CI: 0.718–0.966). An in-sample optimal serum lactate cut-off of 3.0 mmol/L predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 0.944. Time lag did not independently predict mortality in an exploratory multivariable model (p = 0.153). In this setting, complex composite models did not demonstrate a statistically significant discriminative advantage over unadjusted serum lactate. While a 3.0 mmol/L triage threshold shows promise, its in-sample derivation requires future multicenter validation.
Keratinases are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading keratinous proteins, which are highly resistant and insoluble structural proteins abundantly present in feathers, hair, wool, nails, and other biological materials. Unlike conventional proteases, keratinases possess the ability to attack the complex structure of keratin; however, most keratinases reported to date are unable to completely solubilize native keratin. The unique mechanism of keratin degradation therefore remains an intriguing and incompletely understood phenomenon in the field of proteolytic enzymes. Keratinases have gained considerable attention due to their wide range of potential applications in feed, detergent formulations, leather processing, pharmaceutical industries, waste management, and other biotechnological processes. Poultry feather waste is produced in large quantities by the poultry industry and represents a significant environmental concern because of its high keratin content, resistance to degradation, and accumulation in the environment. Microbial degradation of feather waste using keratinolytic microorganisms offers an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional disposal methods and may facilitate the conversion of feather waste into valuable products. The present investigation focuses on the isolation and characterization of keratinolytic bacteria capable of producing extracellular keratinase and their potential for keratin degradation. Soil samples collected from areas surrounding poultry farms in and around Vijayawada were screened for keratinase-producing bacteria. The selected isolates were evaluated for keratinase production and feather degradation efficiency, followed by biochemical and molecular characterization for identification. The study aims to identify efficient extracellular keratinase-producing bacterial strains with potential applications in sustainable poultry feather waste management and biotechnological processes.
Our aim is to study the properties and applications of okra gum in formulation development. Okra gum is obtained from okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus), a member of the Malvaceae family which is widely used as both a food ingredient and a traditional remedy. It is a natural polymer which has gained significant attention as a multifunctional pharmaceutical excipient. Its mucilage is rich in natural polysaccharides mainly composed of galactose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid, along with proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Different extraction methods produced okra polysaccharides are varied with molecular weights and chain structures, leads to unique rheological behaviors. This indicates that adjusting extraction methods allows the regulation of polysaccharide interactions to obtain desired functional properties. Water-extractable okra polysaccharides show high galacturonic acid content and concentration-dependent molecular and rheological behavior. Purified fractions exhibit higher viscosity and shear-thinning, elastic characteristics at higher concentrations, while behaving more viscously at lower levels. These properties highlight their strong potential as natural thickening agents in food applications. Physicochemical properties such as swelling ability, viscosity-building capacity, film-forming behavior, and biocompatibility make it a promising alternative to synthetic polymers. Okra mucilage exhibits several biological activities, including anti diabetic, anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial effects. Recent research also studied its potential in nanotechnology-based delivery systems and as a green, sustainable excipient in modern drug delivery. Overall, okra gum represents as a versatile, eco-friendly material in pharmaceutical science. This review highlights the extraction methods, and important functional applications of okra gum in formulation development, including its roles as a binder, disintegrant, suspending agent, and controlled-release modifier.
The objective of the present study was formulation and evaluation of Asenapine microspheres by using solvent evaporation technique. Asenapine is loaded with ethyl cellulose & HPMC 15 microspheres and it was prepared by solvent evaporation method. Asenapine used in the treatment of psychotric patients. The results of FTIR indicated the stable character of Asenapine microspheres loaded with ethyl cellulose, HPMC K15M there is no incompatability between drug & polymers. The Morphological characters of Asenapine microspheres is carried out by SEM. From the results it seem that formulation AM 8 was found to be the excellent Morphological properties, % yield of microsphere of best formulation was found to be AM 8 (86.92%), Entrapment efficiency of best formulation was found to be (75.6 %) , Drug loading efficiency of best formulation was found to be (88.1 %), Swelling index best formulation was found to be (1.3 sec), Particle size of best formulation was found to be (102 µm), Drug content determination of best formulation was found to be (97.4) and in vitro drug release was fitted with various Release kinetic studies of a sustained manner with constant fashion over extended period of time for 45 Mints. It was observed that concentration of Ethyl cellulose affected all the evaluation parameter significantly. Hence the prepared microspheres of Asenapine may prove to be potential candidate for safe and effective sustained drug delivery.
