Active release coating of multilayer assembled branched and ionic ß-cyclodextrins onto poly(ethylene terephthalate).

Branched ionic cyclodextrins multilayers were assembled onto the surface of previously aminolyzed poly(ethylene terephthalate) in order to construct local drug delivery tailored platforms with potential applicability as materials for indwelling medical devices. The construction of the multilayers took place by the alternate deposition of ionic cyclodextrin derivatives and was characterized by surface zeta-potential measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and, after fluorescent labeling of anionic branched cyclodextrins, by UV-vis spectroscopy and confocal fluorescence spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy is used for the first time to show the deposited coating, and an average thickness of ∼270nm for 20 bilayered covering was measured. Contact angle measurements showed great differences in the films as the number of cyclodextrin layers was increased, and highly hydrophilic (19.7±1.5° for 10 bilayers) surfaces were obtained. The loading and release capacity of the antimicrobial triclosan, as hydrophobic model molecule, from PET coated surfaces was also studied.

Branched and ionic ß-Cyclodextrins multilayer assembling onto polyacrylonitrile membranes for removal and controlled release of triclosan.

The present study summarizes the formation and characterization of multilayers of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes with ß-cyclodextrin derivatives in order to be potentially interesting for triclosan (TR) controlled delivery with antibacterial purposes, as well as, for the removal of TR from wastewater. With this object, cationic and anionic branched ß-cyclodextrins (bßCDs) were incorporated by layer-by-layer (LbL) process onto previously synthesized and hydrolyzed PAN membranes. FTIR, XPS and labelling with fluoresceinamine (FA) let to study the formation and stability of the prepared multilayered systems. TR is a widely used antibacterial and antifungal agent with proven ability to inhibit bacterial growth that, however, recently has shown a potential toxicity. The ability of obtained bßCDs/PAN multilayered membranes to retain TR in water was evaluated by two different loading procedures. The delivery kinetic profile of TR from loaded membranes was also analyzed showing the maximum release in the first 24h.

Preparation and characterization of soluble branched ionic ß-cyclodextrins and their inclusion complexes with triclosan.

This study aims to synthesize, characterize and investigate the water solubility and cytotoxicity of branched anionic/cationic ß-cyclodextrins (bßCDs) obtained by reaction with epichlorohydrin and chloroacetic acid or choline chloride, respectively, by a single step polycondensation reaction. Obtained ionic bßCDs were investigated as an attempt to comparatively study anionic and cationic bßCDs. Water solubility of both ionic derivatives was similar (400 mg/mL) at neutral and basic pHs and remarkably higher than that of their neutral homologues. Additionally, a pH-dependent solubility of anionic bßCDs was observed. Cytotoxicity of ionic bßCDs was evaluated on Human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cells and high cell viability (>99%) was observed in the range of 0-100 mg/mL for anionic and cationic samples, in the same range of that of neutral and parent ß-CDs. Additionally, complexes formation capacity with triclosan, a poor water soluble antimicrobial agent, was confirmed by several techniques observing a complexation limit around 4 mg/mL for both systems and higher stability constant for anionic bßCDs than cationic derivatives.

Accelerating to Zero: Strategies to Eliminate Malaria in the Peruvian Amazon.

AbstractIn February 2014, the Malaria Elimination Working Group, in partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MoH), hosted its first international conference on malaria elimination in Iquitos, Peru. The 2-day meeting gathered 85 malaria experts, including 18 international panelists, 23 stakeholders from different malaria-endemic regions of Peru, and 11 MoH authorities. The main outcome was consensus that implementing a malaria elimination project in the Amazon region is achievable, but would require: 1) a comprehensive strategic plan, 2) the altering of current programmatic guidelines from control toward elimination by including symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals for antimalarial therapy and transmission-blocking interventions, and 3) the prioritization of community-based active case detection with proper rapid diagnostic tests to interrupt transmission. Elimination efforts must involve key stakeholders and experts at every level of government and include integrated research activities to evaluate, implement, and tailor sustainable interventions appropriate to the region.