Microspheres of essential oil in polylactic acid and poly(methyl methacrylate) matrices and their blends

This study is focussed on micro-encapsulation of essential oils in polylactic acid (PLA) and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix as well as blends of the same. Microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique and characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The encapsulation efficiencies and release profiles of the essential oils were studied by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and head-space solid-phase microextraction GC-MS, respectively. Furthermore, the microspheres were tested for antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains.

The results showed that the microspheres compositions (PLA/PMMA ratio) have significant effect on their characteristics. The process adopted for preparing the microspheres promoted formation of spherical particles at the sizes of 1.5–9.5?µm. The highest encapsulation efficiency of the prepared microspheres was observed in systems consisting of linalool (81.10?±?10.0?wt. % for PLA system and 76.0?±?3.3?wt. % for PMMA system). Confirmation was also made that the release rate of the microspheres was affected by the size of the same.     

Recent advances in preclinical in vitro approaches towards quantitative prediction of hepatic clearance and drug-drug interactions involving organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B transporters

Hepatic uptake mediated by organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 and 1B3 can serve as a major elimination pathway for various anionic drugs and as a site of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). This article provides an overview of the in vitro approaches used to predict human hepatic clearance (CL_h) and the risk of DDIs involving OATP1Bs. On the basis of the so-called extended clearance concept, in vitro–in vivo extrapolation methods using human hepatocytes as in vitro systems have been used to predict the CL_h involving OATP1B-mediated hepatic uptake. CL_h can be quantitatively predicted using human donor lots possessing adequate OATP1B activities. The contribution of OATP1Bs to hepatic uptake can be estimated by the relative activity factor, the relative expression factor, or selective inhibitor approaches, which offer generally consistent outcomes. In OATP1B1 inhibition assays, substantial substrate dependency was observed. The time-dependent inhibition of OATP1B1 was also noted and may be a mechanism underlying the in vitro–in vivo differences in the inhibition constant of cyclosporine A. Although it is still challenging to quantitatively predict CL_h and DDIs involving OATP1Bs from only preclinical data, understanding the utility and limitation of the current in vitro methods will pave the way for better prediction.     

Ethyl lactate as a potential green solvent to extract hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients simultaneously from fruit and vegetable by-products

Phytonutrients extracted from natural resources are receiving much attention among researchers due to their highly antioxidative characteristics which prevent several degenerative diseases including cardiovascular diseases and cancers. These nutraceutical compounds can be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products as natural antioxidants, preservatives, colourants and functional foods. Huge volume of food wastes are generated from the processing industry and these low-value food residues are rich in various phytonutrients worth recovering. This approach of valorisation reduces the generation of food wastes and is cost-effective considering the cheap feedstock, reduced waste management expenses and high market value of extracted compounds. In light of the health and safety risks posed by commonly used organic extraction solvents derived from the petrochemical industry, there is a need to recover the phytonutrients using green, sustainable and efficient solvents that are safe for human consumption. This work discusses ethyl lactate as a safe, green, efficient and potentially cheap solvent to recover phytonutrients from fruit and vegetable by-products. Ethyl lactate is compared with other organic solvents commonly used from the aspects of safety, environmental impacts and efficiency. Current challenges when employing ethyl lactate are also discussed.     

Investigation of non-linear Mate1-mediated efflux of trimethoprim in the mouse kidney as the mechanism underlying drug-drug interactions between trimethoprim and organic cations in the kidney

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the involvement of Mate1 in the tubular secretion of trimethoprim and saturation of Mate1-mediated efflux to address the mechanisms underlying the pharmacokinetic drug interactions with trimethoprim. Trimethoprim is a more potent inhibitor of MATE2-K than MATE1 with K_i values (μM) of 0.030–0.28 and 2.4–5.9, respectively. Trimethoprim is a substrate of human MATE1 and MATE2-K with K_m values of 2.3 ± 0.9 and 0.018 ± 0.004 μM, and mouse Mate1, but not human OCT2, mouse Oct1 and Oct2. Pyrimethamine significantly reduced the renal clearance (CL_R) of trimethoprim (mL/min/kg) from 40.0 ± 5.1 to 20.1 ± 3.7 (p < 0.05). Trimethoprim was given to mice at three infusion rates (150, 500, and 1500 nmol/min/kg). Together with an increase in the plasma concentrations of trimethoprim, the CL_R (mL/min/kg) of trimethoprim decreased to 25.9 ± 3.2, 13.5 ± 5.7, and 8.92 ± 1.50 at the respective rates. Trimethoprim decreased the CL_R of rhodamine 123 in an infusion rate-dependent manner: 11.5 ± 1.3 (control), 5.17 ± 1.55, 1.31 ± 0.50, and 0.532 ± 0.180. These results suggest that Mate1 mediates the tubular secretion of trimethoprim, and at therapeutic doses, MATEs-mediated efflux can be saturated, and thereby, cause drug interactions with other MATE substrates.     

吉非罗齐中有机溶剂残留量的顶空毛细管GC测定

建立了顶空毛细管GC法测定吉非罗齐中甲酸乙酯、THF和甲基环己烷3种有机溶剂的残留量。采用HP-1毛细管柱，溶剂DMA，内标乙酸乙酯。平均同收率分别为99．8％、100．3％、100．0％，RSD分别为0．71％、1．51％和1．76％。     

有机相脂肪酶催化合成技术在食品及相关领域的应用

对有机相脂肪酶催化合成技术的研究及其在食品、化妆品、医药、精细化工领域的应用进行了综述，表明有机相脂肪酶催化合成技术具有直接利用底物、反应条件温和、反应选择性高、产品容易分离纯化、产品具有绿色环保概念等优点。     

头孢西丁钠中甲醇残留量的顶空毛细管GC法测定

建立了顶空毛细管GC法测定头孢西丁钠中甲醇残留量，并探讨了药物结构中甲氧基对测定的影响。采用DM-624石英毛细管柱，检测器为FID。甲醇在0．02～5mg／ml浓度范围内，与峰面积线性关系良好（r=0．9999）。方法平均回收率为97．7％，RSD为1．8％。     

有机锗对环磷酸胺抗移植肝癌作用的影响

用有机锗（Ge－132）试验治疗荷移植肝癌小鼠。结果：De－132高剂量（12．5mg/次）治疗组的抑癌率为用31．0％，移植肝癌白细胞（WBC）浸润（＋＋＋）占72．7％、血清超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性为121Nu／ml，而生理盐水对照治疗组相应的后两项指标分别为用36．4％及81Nu／ml，两组比较有显著性差异（P＜0．05）；环磷酰胺（CTX）治疗组的抑癌率为37.0％，癌体WBC浸润（＋＋＋）为27.3％，血清SOD活性为102Nu／ml；ge-132高剂量与CTX2联合治疗组的抑癌率为45．0％，癌体WBC浸润（＋＋＋）为54．5％，血清SOD活性为142Nu/ml，两组比较，后二项指标有显著性差异（P＜0．05）。由此提示Ge-132高剂量能明显增强荷移植肝癌小鼠的细胞免疫及血清SOD活性，并有一定的抗移植肝癌作用。     

Occupational hydrocarbon exposure and chronic nephropathy

This review aims at discussing the questions raised by the hydrocarbon-related chronic nephropathy and its possible consequence, the hydrocarbon-related chronic renal failure. It has been attempted to adopt the point of view of the clinician. Therefore, the most important part of the review is devoted to a presentation and an analysis of the available data on humans. The main features of the available studies on human subjects are presented, their conclusions discussed in the light of the possible methodological flaws, and practical conclusions drawn. After a discussion of the main difficulties encountered for selecting the suitable exposure indicator, the studies are discussed in order of decreasing quality of the study design (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, and the case reports). It is concluded that a great deal of controversies about chronic hydrocarbon-related nephropathy is explained by differences in the study design and that hydrocarbon-induced nephropathy is probably more than a mere hypothesis, although a causal relationship has not yet been proven. Finally, some practical consequences for dealing with a hydrocarbon-exposed patient diagnosed with a kidney disease and the need for further research are discussed.     

饮水有机浓集物致突变活性影响因素的研究

本文探讨饮水有机物浓集流速及加氯量对致突变活性的影响。试验表明，饮水有机物浓集流速控制在每分钟２倍树脂柱床体积时，可获得最佳致突变效果。当加氯量≥２０ｍｇ／Ｌ时，对ＴＡ９８±Ｓ９和ＴＡ１００—Ｓ９菌株有致突变活性，≤２ｍｇ／Ｌ时对ＴＡ９８±Ｓ９和ＴＡ１００±Ｓ９菌株无致突变活性。为最大限度减少致突变效应，在净水过程中保证流行病学安全前提下，减少加氯量和加氯次数是十分必要的。