Bi-polymeric Spongy Matrices Through Cross-linking Polymerization: Synthesized and Evaluated for Solubility Enhancement of Acyclovir.

In this study, two hydrophilic polymers hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and beta-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) are used to synthesize highly responsive and spongy polymeric matrices. Porous and stimulus-responsive polymeric network was developed to improve the solubility of acyclovir (ACV) at significant level. Grafting was successfully carried out by free radical polymerization technique. Spongy matrices were characterized by percentage entrapment efficiency, drug loading, solubility studies, FTIR, powder X-ray diffraction, TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, swelling studies, and in vitro studies. Acute oral toxicity studies were conducted to determine the safety of oral administration of prepared HPMC-ßCD-g-poly(AMPS) formulation. Porous and spongy structures were depicted in SEM images. Complex formation and thermal stability of constituents and drug (ACV) were analyzed by FTIR, TGA, and DSC spectra. XRD analysis revealed reduction in acyclovir crystallinity in spongy matrices. Particle size of optimized formulation was found in the range of 197 ± 2.55 nm. The momentous difference with reference product committed that drug solubility and release characteristics were markedly enhanced by the developed spongy matrices. Toxicity studies endorsed that developed spongy matrices were non-toxic and compatible to biological system. The efficient method of preparation, enhanced solubility, excellent physico-chemical characteristics, high dissolution, and non-toxic HPMC-ßCD-g-poly(AMPS) spongy matrices may be a promising approach for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs.

Synthesis of modified potato starches for aqueous solubilization of benzo[a]pyrene.

For soil rehabilitation, the surfactant-enhanced remediation has emerged as a promising technology. For this purpose, starch derivatives were difunctionalized by 1,4-butane sultone (BS) and 2-octen-1-ylsuccinic anhydride (OSA). Eight distinct products were obtained under different synthesis conditions. The chemical structural characteristics were investigated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The compounds were evaluated for their apparent aqueous solubility and their ability to increase the solubility of a hydrophobic pollutant such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), used as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon model. In comparison with native starch, the best obtained compound increased starch apparent aqueous solubility by a factor of 10 (up to 3.50g/L) and also stimulated 77-fold BaP aqueous solubilization (up to 232.97µg/L) underlining its very high surfactant property. In this study, the right balance between hydrophobic character (octenyl succinate group (OS) grafted) of starch derivatives and starch apparent aqueous solubility (BS grafted) was highlighted.

Simulation and pre-feasibility analysis of the production process of alpha-methyl ester sulfonates (alpha-MES).

alpha-Methyl esters sulfonates (alpha-MES) are anionic surfactants that are derived from biorenewable resources, offering interesting environmental and chemical properties for application in the detergent industry. A simulation of their production process was conducted using a commercial production process currently used for palm oil. Results, prices of raw materials were submitted to economic analysis, and final MES price was compared with available data for linear alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) prices. The results for substances properties and product streams obtained from simulation were reliable in agreement to real values. It was found that increasing methyl ester national price by 20%, 50% and the equivalent to linear alkyl benzene price, the final price of alpha-methyl ester sulfonates was lower than the current price of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates. The capital cost and payout period for a production capacity of 49,000tons of surfactant per year were obtained. Results indicate that the process is economically feasible and can be applied to palm oil-based industries in Colombia.

Synthesis and antitumor effect of new biological alkylating agents, isethionic acid esters.

New hydrophilic alkylating agents, isethionic acid esters, are proposed for use as synthetic biological alkylating agents. Methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl esters of isethionic acid were synthesized starting from isethionate and the corresponding alkyl bromides or iodides in good yields. This synthetic procedure might be generally applicable to syntheses of alkyl isethionates. The derivatives thus prepared were water-soluble, as expected, and their alkylating abilities were very similar to those of the corresponding methanesulfonates. Hence, isethinonic acid esters might be suitable for use as hydrophilic biological alkylating agents in place of methanesulfonates. In order to determine the effectiveness of isethionates as anticancer alkylating agents, 1,4-butanediol diisethionate was prepared as a model compound and its anticancer activities against adenocarcinoma 755, sarcoma 180, L1210, and P388 were compared with those of the corresponding methanesulfonate, busulfan. The isethionate was superior to busulfan in all the assay systems employed. 1,5-Pentanediol diisethionate was also prepared and assayed. The results were similar to those for the 1,4-butanediol analog. In conclusion, in the design of molecules for use as cancer chemotherapeutics, the isethionic acid ester group is worth considering, and may be preferable to other commonly used leaving groups, including methanesulfonic acid ester.