This study investigates the adsorption of sodium diclofenac (SDF) onto Alginate/Pozzolan (Alg@PZ) microcapsules to address pharmaceutical contamination in aquatic systems. The Alg@PZ composite was synthesised via CaCl2 cross-linking by varying the Sodium Alginate (S-Alg)/Pozzolan (PZ) mass ratio from 0.625 to 3.25. Successful PZ incorporation into the S-Alg matrix was confirmed by FTIR, XRD and SEM analyses, revealing hydrogen and electrostatic bonding alongside a near-uniform spherical porous morphology of 1.73 mm diameter. TGA revealed optimal PZ encapsulation of 63.87% at a S-Alg/PZ ratio of 0.625, with high thermal stability. Adsorption experiments in a shallow-bed system demonstrated rapid SDF removal, best described by a PSO kinetic model reaching equilibrium after 45 minutes, with a qmax= 21.85 mg.g - 1. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the reaction was spontaneous and exothermic. However, Alg@PZ0.625 represents a scalable, eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional adsorbents for removing persistent pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous systems.
Curcumin and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) are lipophilic antioxidants limited by poor stability. To overcome this, both compounds were co-encapsulated in tannic acid-crosslinked gelatine-sodium alginate microcapsules via complex coacervation, comparing Ultra-Turrax (UT) and ultrasonication (US) homogenisation across core-to-wall ratios (1/1, 1/2, 1/3). Ultrasonication at a 1/3 ratio yielded the highest encapsulation efficiencies (94.3% curcumin, 91.0% vitamin E, vs. ∼41-44% untreated). These US microcapsules were smaller (227 nm), less porous (36.7%), and demonstrated progressive pH-dependent release over 72 h without an initial burst. Antioxidant activity was fully retained during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Overall, ultrasonication-assisted complex coacervation provides an effective route for developing robust gelatine-alginate delivery systems for food and pharmaceutical formulations.
Quercetin and β-sitosterol were successfully co-encapsulated in a transethosomal nanovesicular system to improve drug delivery and produce an enhanced anticancer effect for the treatment of skin cancer. This study aimed to develop and optimise a quercetin and β-sitosterol co-loaded transethosomal and evaluate its physicochemical characteristics and in vitro anticancer potential against melanoma. Box-Behnken design was used for optimisation, with vesicle size and zeta potential chosen as important response parameters and Tween 80, Soy Lecithin, and Ethanol used as independent variables. Franz diffusion cells were used to confirm the improved formulation experimentally and assess its in vitro drug release and skin retention. The optimised formulation showed a vesicle size of 92.84 nm, PDI of 0.198, and zeta potential of -16.5 mV. Significant skin retention and sustained 24-hour release were observed, reaching 68.02% for quercetin and 72.09% for β-sitosterol. Non-irritancy and isotonicity were verified by HET-CAM analysis.
BACKGROUND:Diabetic burn wounds are challenging comorbid conditions to heal, hence shikonin, a traditional phytoconstituent was nanofabricated in the present study. This study is the continuation of our previously published work including shikonin-loaded nanoemulsion against wound pathogens. OBJECTIVE:Current work aims to further prepare electrospun scaffolds to promote wounded skin regeneration. METHODS:Studies including DLS, ATR, XRD, SEM were used to assess pharmaceutical stability of system. In vivo model, western blotting (protein expression of MMP-9), soluble collagen and MMP-9 ELISA kit assays, molecular docking and simulations studies were used to evaluate pharmacodynamic stability. RESULTS:The developed scaffolds exhibited chemical stability, improved aqueous solubility with average diameter of 235 ± 23 nm. The wound area got remarkably decreased (4.923 ± 0.935%) with high collagen content (88.515 ± 2.23%) and lower MMP-9 content (6.726 ± 0.820%) than the comparable groups. CONCLUSION:The present study displayed the developed system with remarkable wound healing potential.
