RESUMEN
Osteoarthritis is a disease associated with articular cartilage degradation, intra-articular area inflammation, and subchondral bone replacement. Cytokine IL-1ß has a prominent function in the inflammations process that passes in the joints. The 70% ethanol extracts of deer antler (250 and 500 mg/kg BW) and glucosamine sulfate (250 kg/BW) were evaluated for four weeks in reducing cytokine IL-1ß to rat model OA-induced Monosodium iodoacetate. Measurements of joint diameter in rat's knee and hyperalgesia were performed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The presence of a significant difference in the stimulation thermal latency (p = 0.00) and the resulting increase in swelling of joint diameter (p = 0.00) are evidence that MIA has successfully induced the rat modeling of OA. A significant decrease in cytokine IL-Iß levels was shown on week 3 after MIA injection (p = 0.00). Both concentrations of deer extracts significantly reduced knee joint diameter (p = 0.00), latency thermal stimulation (p = 0.00), and cytokine IL-1ß levels (p = 0.00). Based on the results, it can be concluded that the 70% ethanol extract of deer antler is a potential medicine for OA therapy.
RESUMEN
Microencapsulation of a hydrophilic active (gentamicin sulphate (GS)) and a hydrophobic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen) in alginate gel microparticles was accomplished by molecular diffusion of the drug species into microparticles produced by impinging aerosols of alginate solution and CaCl(2) cross-linking solution. A mean particle size in the range of 30-50 µm was measured using laser light scattering and high drug loadings of around 35 and 29% weight/dry microparticle weight were obtained for GS and ibuprofen respectively. GS release was similar in simulated intestinal fluid (phosphate buffer saline (PBS), pH 7.4, 37°C) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF) (HCl, pH 1.2, 37°C) but was accelerated in PBS following incubation of microparticles in HCl. Ibuprofen release was restricted in SGF but occurred freely on transfer of microparticles into PBS with almost 100% efficiency. GS released in PBS over 7 h, following incubation of microparticles in HCl for 2 h was found to retain at least 80% activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis while Ibuprofen retained around 50% activity against Candida albicans. The impinging aerosols technique shows potential for producing alginate gel microparticles of utility for protection and controlled delivery of a range of therapeutic molecules.