Permeation study of indomethacin from polycarbazole/natural rubber blend film for electric field controlled transdermal delivery.

Transdermal drug delivery is an alternative route to transport the drug into the blood system. This method has been continuously developed to overcome limitations and is now suitable for a wide variety of drug molecules. In this work, the influences of electric field and conductive polymer were investigated for developing a unique drug delivery system from double-centrifuged natural rubber (DCNR) matrix. Indomethacin (IN) was loaded into polycarbazole (PCz) as a conductive polymer drug host to promote the efficient transportation of the drug. The IN-loaded PCz was blended with DCNR to form a transdermal patch. The permeation of IN through the PCz/NR film and pig skin was carrried out by a modified Franz diffusion cell. The IN diffused from DCNR film by the diffusion controlled combined with erosion mechanism depending on the pore formation period. The drug permeation increased with decreasing cross-link ratio because of more accessible pathways for the drug permeation. Moreover, an electric field and the inclusion of PCz as the drug carrier dramatically improved the diffusion of the drug from the membrane by through the electrorepulsive force and electro-reduced PCz expansion. Thus, the PCz/DCNR films are shown here as a potential transdermal patch under applied electric field.

A model for osmotic pressure driven release from cylindrical rubbery polymer matrices.

Osmotic pressure-driven drug release from rubbery polymer matrices in a cylindrical geometry has been shown to produce a period of nearly constant release. In order to explain this behavior and in an effort to produce a tool for device design, a mathematical model of the release was developed. The model was tested by application to literature data of the release of NaI from poly(dimethylsiloxane) cylinders and found to provide good agreement with the data. The model demonstrates that, although there is a decrease in solute concentration as one moves from the exterior to the center of the cylinder, a period of nearly constant release is produced, lasting until about 60% of the initial drug load has been released.

An in vitro study of biological safety of condoms and their additives.

The use of condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV, is widely encouraged. Condoms contain latex, nonspermicidal lubricants (such as dimethylsiliconium) and other nonspecified compounds, such as colorants and flavorings. Latex causes allergy reaction in susceptible individuals but little is known regarding the cytotoxic effects of other additives. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive in vitro system to determine the toxic effects of condom material. The modified L929 FDA method and a more specific cell type, such as the cervical epithelial tumor cell line HeLa, was used. Lubricated (LC), lubricated and flavored (LFC), and lubricated, flavored and colored condoms (LFCC) were evaluated. Washings containing condom surface material were prepared by washing condom fragments in medium for different time intervals. Changes in cell number, viability and lysosome integrity in the L929 and HeLa cell lines was determined using the Crystal Violet, MTT and Neutral Red assays, respectively. The condom type affected cell viability and lysosome integrity, with LC inducing an increase in cell viability and LFC a decrease in lysosome integrity. The HeLa cell line in combination with the MTT and NR assay was themost sensitive in vitro system to determine the toxic effects of condom material.

Recuperaçäo elástica de elastômeros em funçäo da idade e da ordem de deformaçäo / Elastic recovery of elastomers as a function of time and order of deformation

A pesquisa teve o propósito de determinar o grau de recuperaçäo elástica de elastômeros em funçäo da idade, desde o início da mistura, e da ordem de deformaçäo, por meio do elasticímetro de Muench. As deformaçöes foram de 12 por cento, mantidas por 90 segundos. As deformaçöes iniciais ocorrerem desde a idade de 1 min até 9 min, de minuto em minuto. As deformaçöes subseqüentes no mesmo corpo-de-prova ocorreram de 2 em 2 minutos. Os resultados mostraram que: em idades menores, a magnitude de recuperaçäo elástica depende da deformaçäo prévia; até 3 a 4 min, geralmente, näo se manisfesta recuperaçäo elástica na primeira deformaçäo, mas, na segunda, nessas idades, já se manifesta grande recuperaçäo elástica; o polissulfeto apresentou a pior recuperaçäo elástica e a silicona de adiçäo, a melhor

Empirical modelling of chemical exposure in the rubber-manufacturing industry.

As part of a study of working conditions chemical exposure was assessed in 10 rubber-manufacturing plants in The Netherlands. Personal exposures to airborne particulates, rubber fumes and solvents, and also dermal contamination, were measured. To identify factors affecting exposure the personal exposure levels and information on tasks performed, ventilation characteristics and production variables were used in multiple linear regression models. The exposure was generally very variable. The specific circumstances in each department of each plant determined the actual levels of exposure to a large extent. The factors affecting exposure turned out to be different for each of the types of exposure considered. The model for exposure to airborne particulates explained 40% of the total variability and incorporating the actual time spent on a task only slightly improved the model (R2 = 0.42). The handling of chemicals in powder form was the main factor affecting exposure, forced ventilation having a negligible effect. The model for exposure to curing fumes (measured as the cyclohexane-soluble fraction of the particulate matter) explained 50% of the variability. Both curing temperature and pressure determined the level of rubber fumes. Local exhaust ventilation showed a significant exposure reducing effect. The effect of curing different elastomers was not statistically significant. Dermal exposure to cyclohexane-soluble matter could only be explained to a limited extent (R2 = 0.22). Tasks with frequent contact with (warm) compound and maintenance tasks in the engineering services departments resulted in high dermal exposure. Tasks in which solvents were directly used explained 56% of the variation in solvent exposures. Exposure data, together with information on tasks, methods of work, ventilation and production throughout a branch of industry, can be used to derive empirical statistical models which occupational hygienists can apply to study factors affecting exposure. These determining factors are of crucial importance, whenever hazard control or epidemiological research is the ultimate goal.

Protective gloves of polymeric materials. Experimental permeation testing and clinical study of side effects.

In the occupational use and handling of hazardous chemicals and infectious materials, exposure must be minimized. To diminish the risk of direct skin contact and percutaneous toxicity, the use of protective gloves is one of the most important measures to consider. For effective protection, the selection process must include evaluation of permeation test data as well as the risk of side effects possibly caused by the glove materials. In permeation testing (in vitro), breakthrough time and permeation rate are key values measured. Test conditions such as size and design of the permeation test cell, flow rate of the collecting medium through the test cell, measurement systems, testing procedures and analytical equipment can vary and can have crucial influence on the test results. In the present investigation, five permeation test cells of different sizes and design were used, the collecting gas flow rate was varied between 60 and 120 ml/min and 120 to 500 ml/min, the ASTM F 739 and ISO/DIS standard test procedures were performed using two different measurement systems, and in vitro versus in vivo testing techniques were studied. Gloves and glove materials of neoprene were exposed to four organic solvents. The breakthrough times (in vitro) for the test chemicals were slightly influenced by variations in cell size and design, flow rate and test procedure. The only significant influence on the breakthrough time values was between the two measurement systems, direct flow and automatic sampling. On the other hand, the permeation rate values were affected to a much greater extent, in most cases significantly. The test conditions in the in vitro and in vivo procedures differed in many ways and the test results were therefore compared on a relative basis. The breakthrough time values for the solvents through gloves of vinyl, natural rubber and butyl rubber were in the same rank order in both in vitro and in vivo testing. There was no evident correlation between the relative permeation rate values (in vitro) and the relative absorption rate values (in vivo). Disposable gloves of latex or plastic materials are also commonly used in health care as protection against microorganisms. Therefore contact with disinfectants is frequent. The resistance of gloves made of natural rubber latex, vinyl (PVC) and polyethylene to permeation by ethanol, isopropanol, m-chlorocresol and glutaraldehyde-based disinfectant was studied mainly according to the ISO/DIS permeation test procedure. In addition, glove pieces exposed to isopropanol and ethanol were studied with the scanning electron microscope (SEM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)