Thermosensitive chitosan-based hydrogel containing liposomes for the delivery of hydrophilic molecules.

A novel injectable in situ gelling thermosensitive chitosan-beta-glycerophosphate (C-GP) formulation has been recently proposed for tissue repair and drug delivery. The system can sustain the release of macromolecules over a period of several hours to a few days. However, with low-molecular-weight hydrophilic compounds, the release is generally completed within 24 h. In this study, liposomes were added to the C-GP solution and their effect on the viscoelastic properties of the system and release kinetics of encapsulated carboxyfluorescein was investigated. The gelation rate and gel strength were slightly increased by the presence of the liposomes. The in vitro release profiles demonstrated controlled delivery over at least 2 weeks. The release rate strongly depended on the liposome size and composition (i.e. addition of cholesterol), and on the presence of phospholipase in the release medium. The kinetics was not substantially modified when using liposomes prepared with a negatively-charged lipid or a lipid having a high phase transition temperature. These results indicate that the liposome-C-GP system rapidly gels at body temperature, and can sustain the delivery of low-molecular-weight hydrophilic compounds. A mathematical model was proposed to characterize the release kinetics.

Characterization of thermosensitive chitosan gels for the sustained delivery of drugs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the physical properties of a chitosan/glycerophosphate (GP) thermosensitive solution which gels at 37 degrees C and evaluate the in vitro release profiles of different model compounds. The gelation rate was dependent on the temperature and on the chitosan deacetylation degree. The solution containing 84%-deacetylated chitosan could be stored 3 months at 4 degrees C without apparent change in viscosity. The in vitro release profiles of the model compounds depended on the presence of GP in the chitosan solution, on their molecular weight and on the presence of lysozyme in the release media. They were not affected by the electrostatic charge of the model compound when present at low concentrations. During the first 4 h, the release was accompanied by a substantial loss of the gel weight which was mainly attributed to the leaching of water and excess GP. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the solutions yield gels with a highly porous structure after 24 h of exposure to a continuous flow of phosphate buffered saline. These results indicate that the chitosan/GP thermosensitive solutions gel rapidly at body temperature, can remain in the sol state at 4 degrees C and can sustain the delivery of macromolecules.

[Structuring action from using a model for planning health promotion programs]. / L'action structurante de l'utilisation d'un modèle pour la planification de programmes en promotion de la santé.

The aim of this paper is to present results which illustrate the role of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model in the program planning process. Based on the results of an implementation evaluation of the EMPOWER software which supports health programming efforts, we have developed a metaphor to illustrate the use of the model. The following four functions of the model were identified: direction, coordination, articulation and transmission. Analysis of these functions demonstrated the structuring action of the model on planning. It would be interesting to further study how these four functions operate with or without the support of the software, to explore the influence of other health promotion models in their natural settings and to see in which way the same or other functions might be identified.

Modification of etching patterns in bovine dental enamel.

It is presumed that the etching pattern is controlled by the residual organic content of dental enamel. Pretreatment with 1.ON NaOH sould remove the organic material and modify the etching pattern. SEM studies and other tests for physical and chemical properties show that the predicted modification of the etching pattern, when the tooth surface is pretreated with NaOH solution, occurs apparently without other changes or properties.