Posted by admin on Jan 31, 2018 in |
Controlled release systems for protein and peptide vaccines based polymers have been considered for many applications in medical therapies. Chitosan is non-toxic and easily absorbed biopolymers and is often used in many researches to sustained release drugs and proteic vaccines. This study investigates the kinetics of release in vitro of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from chitosan microparticles and the effect of the preparation process of the microparticles in the release rate. Chitosan microparticles were design by a coacervation / precipitation method under different time’s sonication and different protein / chitosan ratio were used (0, 5 to 2 g. g-1). To the in vitro study of the protein release, the microparticles were resuspended in PBS pH 7.4 at 37 °C under stirring and the samples in different intervals were aliquoted to dosage of BSA release. The morphology of the chitosan microparticles was examined with Electron Microscopy, which showed particle size between 10 – 30 µm and porous structures. Studies were conducted to investigate the BSA stability during the process of...
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Posted by admin on Jan 31, 2018 in |
The concentration levels and human health risk of iron, cadmium, zinc, nickel, copper and lead were determined in 25 popularly consumed types of commercially available herbal drugs in Southern Nigeria. In each type, three brands were selected and analysed. The study area was divided into five sampling zones (A – E) and the herbal drugs were categorized into five clusters based on their advertised usage. The samples were digested using HNO3: HClO4 mixture in the ratio of (4:1) and metals analysis were carried out using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed the concentration of the metals in the ranges: Fe = 4.524 ± 0.011 to 70. 121 ± 0.002 µg/g; Cd = 0.012 ± to 0.620 ± 0.002 µg/g; Zn = 0.03 ± 0.01 to 42.010 ± 3.40 µg/g; Cu = 0.160 ± 0.000 to 66.21 ± 2.11 µg/g and Pb = BDL to 22.011 ± 0.850 µg/g. The provisional weekly intake (PWI) of the metals did not exceed the recommended provisional weekly tolerable intake (PTWI) except nickel in...
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Posted by admin on Jan 31, 2018 in |
Bisphenol A (BPA) is primarily used in the manufacture of plastics and resins. There are many scientific reports that point to the adverse effects of this chemical to different animal models. There has been an increase in use of plastic during the last couple of decades and this has increased human exposure to plasticizers like Bisphenol A. But since little is known on how these endocrine disruptors especially BPA promote cancer progression, the study investigated the effect of BPA on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep-G2 by evaluating the expression of molecules involved in the processes of inflammation, cancer and angiogenesis. Cell viability studies using MTT assay, RT-PCR studies and Western blotting studies were performed to check effect of Bisphenol A on liver cancer cells. Cell viability studies, RT-PCR studies and Western blotting studies showed a dose dependent increase in the expression of factors involved in cancer progression which decreased when the cells were treated with Meloxicam, a COX-2 inhibitor. The results indicate that BPA up-regulates the expression of factors...
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Posted by admin on Jan 31, 2018 in |
In the present study eight novel 2-pyrazoline – amino pyrimidine hybrids have been synthesized in order to search new chemical entities with increased pharmacological properties. The targeted analogues were synthesized in four steps; Claisen-schmidt condensation of 4-nitro acetophenone with different benzaldehydes in basic medium to yield precursor chalcone which was cyclised using hydrazine hydrates and acetic acid to form 1-acetyl-2-pyrazoline. These were condensed with substituted benzaldehydes to give corresponding pyrazolyl chalcones, which were cyclised using guanidine carbonate to obtain 2-pyrazoline-amino pyrimidine hybrids. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental and spectral (1H and 13C NMR, FTIR and Mass) analysis. All the compounds have been screened for their anti-bacterial activity against gram positive bacteria (Bacillus substilis, Streptococcus aureus), gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger comparable to reference standard ciprofloxacin and fluconazole by agar-well diffusion method. All compounds 4(a-h) exhibited moderate to high activity and showed more pronounced antibacterial activity than antifungal activity. 4h showed dual effect antibacterial as well as antifungal...
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Posted by admin on Jan 31, 2018 in |
Photochemoprotection has nowadays become inevitable to combat aging. Exposure to Ultraviolet radiations accelerates skin aging which eventually culminates in wrinkles, laxity, dyspigmentation, roughness and dryness. Though many active synthetic topicals have been used since years, the present era of treating an aged skin has been diverted towards natural biomaterials as these synthetic topicals pose health and safety risk on human health. In an effort to produce a promising natural anti-aging agent in contemporary cosmetics, this study has been aimed to formulate an anti-aging gel by blending three biopolymers namely Collagen (COL) 3%w/v, Chitosan (CS) 1.5% w/v and Aloe vera (AV) gel 0.21% w/v. The AV blended COL-CS gel was characterized by spreadability and moisture uptake test, which indicated good spreadability and increased hydrophyllicity of the gel. Cell culture studies on NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts cells were carried out using senescence- associated-β-gal [SA-β-gal] as a biomarker. The fibroblasts cells on incubation with AV blended COL-CS gel showed increased proliferation rate and the absence of blue stain indicated that the process of...
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