Effectiveness of hospital-based oral dextrose gel in prevention and treatment of asymptomatic newborns at risk of hypoglycemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of using hospital-based 40% dextrose gel (DG) in preventing and treating asymptomatic hypoglycemia in infants of diabetic mothers (IDM), large for gestational age (LGA), and macrosomic neonates. METHODS: A medical chart review was conducted to compare data between before (April 2018 to March 2019, epoch 1) and after (September 2020 to November 2021, epoch 2) 40% DG implementation. DG, prepared by the hospital pharmaceutical unit, was applied within 30-45 min after birth, and three additional doses could be repeated during the first 6 h of life in combination with early feeding. The primary outcome was the rate of intravenous dextrose administration. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of hypoglycemia, first capillary blood glucose concentrations, and the length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Six hundred forty-three at-risk newborns were included (320 before and 323 after implementation of DG). Maternal and neonatal baseline characteristics were not different between the two epochs. The incidence of hypoglycemia was not different (17.8% in before versus 14.6% in after implementation, p = 0.26). The rate of intravenous dextrose administration after DG implementation was significantly lower than that before DG implementation (3.4% versus 10.3%, p < 0.001, risk reduction ratio = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.17-0.64). The length of hospital stay was not different between the two epochs. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a protocol for administration of hospital-based 40% DG can reduce the need of intravenous dextrose administration among IDM, LGA and macrosomic neonates.

Compounded Pain Formulations: What is the Evidence?

Pain syndromes are among the most widespread, costly, and debilitating of all neurological disorders. The number of patients living with chronic pain is expected to increase with the aging population and with the rise in obesity and diabetes across the nation. This type of pain is often insensitive to the traditional pain pharmacopeia or surgical intervention. Over the last 10 years the number of prescriptions that have been compounded by pharmacists has increased dramatically. There are a number of drugs in the area of pain management that have been formulated and compounded by pharmacists to treat conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, postherpetic neuralgia, joint pain, arthritis, and a variety of other conditions. A significant portion of these compounded analgesic preparations is made up of topical/transdermal dosage forms such as gels and creams. While the efficacy and doses of these drugs in systemic dosage forms have been widely established, little is known about the permeation and efficacy of these compounds from topical/transdermal gels. This review will provide an overview of chronic pain as a disease, the mechanisms of chronic pain, current treatment approaches to chronic pain, and a discussion of the drugs that are typically compounded into these topical formulations and studied in clinical trials.

Treatments for Moderate-to-Severe Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple treatment options exist for the management of moderate-to-severe acne. However, the comparative effectiveness (efficacy/safety) of moderate-to-severe acne treatments has not been systematically examined. METHODS: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials of ≥4 weeks of treatment (topical, oral, physical, or combinations) for moderate-to-severe facial acne in patients aged ≥9 years. Efficacy outcomes included: percentage of patients achieving ≥2-grade reduction from baseline and “clear” or “almost clear” for global severity score (treatment success); absolute change in inflammatory (ILs reduction); and noninflammatory lesion counts (NILs reduction). A random-effects network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted for the efficacy outcomes. Treatments were ranked with posterior rank plots and surface under cumulative ranking values.  Results: Eighty-five studies were included in the SLR/NMA. Topical triple-agent fixed-dose combination (FDC) gel (clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%) and combinations of double-agent fixed-dose topical treatments with oral antibiotics (TOA3) consistently ranked in the top 3 treatments. Topical triple-agent FDC gel was numerically superior to TOA3 for treatment success (log-odds ratios: 1.84 [95% credible interval (CrI) 1.36 to 2.29]) and 1.69 (95% CrI: 1.01 to 2.32) vs placebo/vehicle). TOA3 was numerically superior to topical triple-agent FDC gel for reduction of ILs (mean difference: -8.21 [-10.33 to -6.13]) and -10.40 [-13.44 to -7.14] vs placebo/vehicle) and NILs (mean difference: -13.41 [-16.69 to -10.32] and -17.74 [-22.56 to -12.85] vs placebo/vehicle). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this SLR/NMA, topical triple-agent FDC gel was the most efficacious and safe treatment for moderate-to-severe acne. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(4):     doi:10.36849/JDD.8148.

Effect of Addition of Tannin Extract from Underutilized Resources on Allergenic Proteins, Color and Textural Properties of Egg White Gels.

Tannins, present in numerous plants, exhibit a binding affinity for proteins. In this study, we aimed to exploit this property to reduce the concentration of allergenic egg white proteins. Tannins were extracted, using hot water, from the lyophilized powder of underutilized resources, such as chestnut inner skin (CIS), young persimmon fruit (YPF), and bayberry leaves (BBLs). These extracts were then incorporated into an egg white solution (EWS) to generate an egg white gel (EWG). Allergen reduction efficacy was assessed using electrophoresis and ELISA. Our findings revealed a substantial reduction in allergenic proteins across all EWGs containing a 50% tannin extract. Notably, CIS and BBL exhibited exceptional efficacy in reducing low allergen levels. The addition of tannin extract resulted in an increase in the total polyphenol content of the EWG, with the order of effectiveness being CIS > YPF > BBL. Minimal color alteration was observed in the BBL-infused EWG compared to the other sources. Additionally, the introduction of tannin extract heightened the hardness stress, with BBL demonstrating the most significant effect, followed by CIS and YPF. In conclusion, incorporating tannin extract during EWG preparation was found to decrease the concentration of allergenic proteins while enhancing antioxidant properties and hardness stress, with BBL being particularly effective in preventing color changes in EWG.

Superelastic carbon aerogels with anisotropic and hierarchically-enhanced cellular structure for wearable piezoresistive sensors.

Elastic carbon aerogels have promising applications in the field of wearable sensors. Herein, a new strategy for preparing carbon aerogels with excellent compressive strength and strain, shape recovery, and fatigue resistance was proposed based on the structure design and carbonization optimization of nanocellulose-based precursor aerogels. By the combination of directional freezing and zinc ion cross-linking, bacterial cellulose (BC)/alginate (SA) composite aerogels with high elasticity and compressive strength were first achieved. The existance of zinc ions also significantly improved the carbon retention rate and inhibited structural shrinkage, thus making the carbon aerogels retain ultra-high elasticity and fatigue resistance after compression. Moreover, the carbon aerogel possessed excellent piezoresistive pressure sensing performance with a wide detection range of 0-7.8 kPa, high sensitivity of 11.04 kpa-1, low detection limit (2 % strain), fast response (112 ms), and good durability (over 1,000 cycles). Based on these excellent properties, the carbon aerogel pressure sensors were further successfully used for human motion monitoring, from joint motion to and speech recognition.

Radiolysis of myoglobin concentrated gels by protons: specific changes in secondary structure and production of carbon monoxide.

While particle therapy has been used for decades for cancer treatment, there is still a lack of information on the molecular mechanisms of biomolecules radiolysis by accelerated ions. Here, we examine the effects of accelerated protons on highly concentrated native myoglobin, by means of Fourier transform infrared and UV-Visible spectroscopies. Upon irradiation, the secondary structure of the protein is drastically modified, from mostly alpha helices conformation to mostly beta elements at highest fluence. These changes are accompanied by significant production of carbon monoxide, which was shown to come from heme degradation under irradiation. The radiolytic yields of formation of denatured protein, carbon monoxide, and of heme degradation were determined, and found very close to each other: G+denatured Mb ≈ G+CO ≈ G-heme = 1.6 × 10-8 ± 0.1 × 10-8 mol/J = 0.16 ± 0.01 species/100 eV. The denaturation of the protein to a beta structure and the production of carbon monoxide under ion irradiation are phenomena that may play an important role in the biological effects of ionizing radiation.

A two-phase thin-film model for cell-induced gel contraction incorporating osmotic effects.

We present a mathematical model of an experiment in which cells are cultured within a gel, which in turn floats freely within a liquid nutrient medium. Traction forces exerted by the cells on the gel cause it to contract over time, giving a measure of the strength of these forces. Building upon our previous work (Reoch et al. in J Math Biol 84(5):31, 2022), we exploit the fact that the gels used frequently have a thin geometry to obtain a reduced model for the behaviour of a thin, two-dimensional cell-seeded gel. We find that steady-state solutions of the reduced model require the cell density and volume fraction of polymer in the gel to be spatially uniform, while the gel height may vary spatially. If we further assume that all three of these variables are initially spatially uniform, this continues for all time and the thin film model can be further reduced to solving a single, non-linear ODE for gel height as a function of time. The thin film model is further investigated for both spatially-uniform and varying initial conditions, using a combination of analytical techniques and numerical simulations. We show that a number of qualitatively different behaviours are possible, depending on the composition of the gel (i.e., the chemical potentials) and the strength of the cell traction forces. However, unlike in the earlier one-dimensional model, we do not observe cases where the gel oscillates between swelling and contraction. For the case of initially uniform cell and gel density, our model predicts that the relative change in the gels' height and length are equal, which justifies an assumption previously used in the work of Stevenson et al. (Biophys J 99(1):19-28, 2010). Conversely, however, even for non-uniform initial conditions, we do not observe cases where the length of the gel changes whilst its height remains constant, which have been reported in another model of osmotic swelling by Trinschek et al. (AIMS Mater Sci 3(3):1138-1159, 2016; Phys Rev Lett 119:078003, 2017).

Injectable Dynamic ROS-Responsive COF-Modified Microalgae Gels for In Vivo bFGF Delivery to Treat Diabetic Wounds.

Hypoxia, chronic inflammation, and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by hyperglycemia pose formidable challenges to the healing of diabetic chronic wounds, often resulting in impaired recovery. Currently, sustainable and eco-friendly therapeutic approaches targeting this multifaceted problem remain uncharted. Herein, we develop a unique three-functional covalent organic framework (COF)-modified microalgae gel designed for the preparation and treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. The gel comprises an oxygen-releasing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) microalgae matrix, augmented by an ROS-responsive COF. Although two of these components have been reported to be used in wound healing, the combination of all three functions represents an innovative approach to synergize the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. Therefore, we propose a new concept of "ligand interlocking" with three functional synergistic effects. Specifically, the COF has a similar effect to the "double Excalibur", which binds bFGF to promote angiogenesis and proliferation and inhibit the inflammatory response of chronic wounds and binds live microalgae to eliminate ROS and release dissolved oxygen to alleviate the hypoxia of wounds. Moreover, in vivo experiments and RNA sequencing analyses similarly demonstrated that the COF-modified microalgae gel reduced the inflammatory cascade cycle in the wound site and promoted vascular and tissue regeneration. We posit that the COF-modified microalgae gel represents a promising strategy for the active in vivo delivery of therapeutics to the wound body in intensive care unit settings.

The protective effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on the ocular surface during general anaesthesia surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the change in tear production associated with general anesthesia and the protective effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on the ocular surface during general anesthesia. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial included patients undergoing non-ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia who randomly received vitamin A palmitate eye gel and taping for one eye (Group A, n = 60) or taping alone for the other eye (Group B, n = 60). Symptom assessment in dry eye (SANDE) score, tear film break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, and Schirmer tear test I (STT-1) were analyzed under a hand-held slit lamp before anesthesia (T0), 0.5 h postoperatively (T1), and 24 h postoperatively (T2). RESULTS: At 0.5 h postoperatively, an increase in CFS score was observed in both groups (P < 0.05 in Group A and P < 0.01 in Group B), and the participants in Group A had less corneal abrasions than those in Group B. STT-1 significantly increased in Group A (P < 0.05), while it significantly decreased in Group B (P < 0.001). The changes between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). At 24 h postoperatively, both CFS score and STT-1 almost returned to baseline levels in the two groups. In both groups, the SANDE score and TBUT showed little change at 0.5 h and 24 h postoperatively (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin A palmitate eye gel effectively protected the ocular surface and aqueous supplementation during general anesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052140) on 20/10/2021.

Formulation of Metoclopramide Hydrochloride-Loaded Lipid Carriers by QbD Approach for Combating Nausea: Safety and Bioavailability Evaluation in New Zealand Rabbit.

The focus of the research was to overcome the limitations of metoclopramide (MTC) when administered intranasally. The aim was to improve its bioavailability, increase patient compliance, and prolong its residence time in the nasal cavity. MTC-loaded liposomes were prepared by applying the film hydration method. A study was conducted to determine how formulation variables affected encapsulation efficiency (EE %), mean particle size (MPS), and zeta potential (ZP). The MTC-liposomes were further loaded into the in situ gel (gellan gum) for longer residence times following intranasal administration. pH, gelling time, and in vitro release tests were conducted on the formulations produced. In vivo performance of the MTC-loaded in situ gels was appraised based on disparate parameters such as plasma peak concentration, plasma peak time, and elimination coefficient compared to intravenous administration. When the optimal liposome formulation contained 1.98% of SPC, 0.081% of cholesterol, 97.84% of chloroform, and 0.1% of MTC, the EE of MTC was 83.21%, PS was 107.3 nm. After 5 h, more than 80% of the drug was released from MTC-loaded liposome incorporated into gellan gum in situ gel formulation (Lip-GG), which exhibited improved absorption and higher bioavailability compared to MTC loaded into gellan gum in situ gel (MTC-GG). Acceptable cell viability was also achieved. It was found out that MTC-loaded liposomal in situ gel formulations administered through the nasal route could be a better choice than other options due to its ease of administration, accurate dosing, and higher bioavailability in comparison with MTC-GG.

Keratin Formed Bioadhesive Ophthalmic Gel for the Bacterial Conjunctivitis Treatment.

Keratin has the potential to function as the gel matrix in an ophthalmic formulation for the encapsulation of the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin. The quality of this formulation was thoroughly evaluated through various analyses, such as in vitro release assessment, rheological examination, intraocular retention studies in rabbits, assessment of bacteriostatic efficacy, and safety evaluations. It is worth mentioning that the gel demonstrated shear thinning properties and exhibited characteristics of an elastic solid, thereby confirming its structural stability. The gel demonstrated a notable affinity for mucosal surfaces in comparison to traditional azithromycin aqueous solutions. In vitro release testing revealed that drug release transpired via diffusion mechanisms, following a first-order kinetic release pattern. Additionally, the formulated gel exhibited remarkable antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bacteriostatic evaluations. Lastly, safety assessments confirmed that the gel eye drops induced minimal irritation and displayed no apparent cytotoxicity, indicating their good safety and biocompatibility for ocular application. Thus, these findings indicated that the prepared azithromycin gel eye drops complied with the requisite standards for ophthalmic preparations.

Legume milk-based yogurt mimetics structured using glucono-δ-lactone.

The potential to produce protein-structured vegan yogurts with legumes was explored to offer an alternative to conventional polysaccharide-based varieties. Glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) was employed as a slow acidifying agent and was investigated for its ability to generate cold-set, yogurt-like gels using soy and lentil milks made using minimal processing steps. Soy (5.3 % protein) and lentil (6.1 % protein) milks were successfully gelled by GDL at concentrations of 0.5 % and 1 % w/w. Soy and lentil milks experienced similar acidification profiles and demonstrated good fits with double-exponential decay models. The physical properties of these legume gels were evaluated and compared to a commercial stirred dairy yogurt. Penetration tests were carried out on intact gels, then repeated after stirring. All intact soy samples demonstrated significantly stronger gel structures compared to the commercial yogurt, and most experienced greater amounts of brittleness. Results showed that the stirring of gels caused a notable decrease in firmness and brittleness in the soy gels, making them more similar to the control. Power-law modelling of viscosity curves demonstrated that all samples experienced non-Newtonian flow behavior (n < 0.29). Susceptibility to syneresis was measured by the degree of liquid loss following centrifugation. The optimization of protein type and GDL concentration to replicate the physical properties of dairy-based yogurts can enhance their consumer acceptance and provide a more customizable and controlled approach alternative to traditional fermentation methods.

O1/W/O2 double emulsion gels based on nanoemulsions and Pickering particles for co-encapsulating quercetin and cyanidin: A functional fat substitute.

An O1/W/O2 double emulsion gel, as a functional fat substitute and based on nanoemulsions and hydrophobic Pickering particles, is prepared by two-step emulsification to co-encapsulate hydrophilic cyanidin and hydrophobic quercetin. Nanoemulsions loading quercetin are fabricated by Tween-80 and combining high-speed and high-pressure emulsification. Phytosterol nanoparticles stabilize the W-O2 interface of the secondary emulsion to load cyanidin in the W phase. The concentration of Tween-80 is optimized as 0.3% by the droplet size and viscosity of nanoemulsions. The structural stability of double emulsion gels will be weakened along with the increase of nanoemulsions, showing lower modulus and encapsulation efficiency (EE) and bigger droplets. In double emulsion gels, the EE of quercetin and cyanidin reaches 93% and 85.6%, respectively. Analysis of molecular interaction indicates that Tween-80 would decrease the in-situ hydrophobicity of phytosterol nanoparticles by hydrogen bonding adsorption, thereby weakening the emulsification. The pH-chromic 3D printing of double emulsion gels is designed according to the pH sensitivity of cyanidin. Texture profile analysis is performed to test the textural properties of 3D-printed objects. The simulated digestion is conducted on double emulsion gels. The double emulsion gel with fewer nanoemulsions is beneficial for protecting quercetin and improving the delivery due to the higher structural stability, while that with more nanoemulsions is conducive to the digestion of cyanidin and camellia oil due to weakened semi-solid properties. This double emulsion gel further simulates fat tissues by co-encapsulating hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances, promoting the application of fat substitutes in the food industry.

Oral administration of PEDV-dissolved Alg-CS gel induces high and sustained mucosal immunity in mice.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a serious disease in piglets that leads to high mortality. An effective measure that provides higher IgA levels in the intestine and milk is required to decrease losses. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was dissolved in calcium alginate (Alg) and combined with chitosan (CS) via electrostatic interactions between cationic chitosan and anionic alginate to create a porous gel (Alg-CS+PEDV). The gel was used to immunize mice orally or in combination with subcutaneous injections of inactivated PEDV vaccine. At 12 and 24 days after immunization, levels of IgA and IgG in Alg-CS+PEDV were higher than with normal PEDV oral administration. At 24 days after immunization, the concentration of IFN-γ in Alg-CS+PEDV was higher than with normal PEDV oral administration. Furthermore, oral administration combining subcutaneous immunization induced higher levels of IgG and IgA than oral administration alone. Our study provides a new method for the preparation and administration of oral vaccines to achieve enhanced mucosal immunity against PEDV.

Characterization of gelling agents in callus inducing media: Physical properties and their effect on callus growth.

In plant tissue culture, callus formation serves as a crucial mechanism for regenerating entire plants, enabling the differentiation of diverse tissues. Researchers have extensively studied the influence of media composition, particularly plant growth regulators, on callus behavior. However, the impact of the physical properties of the media, a well-established factor in mammalian cell studies, has received limited attention in the context of plant tissue culture. Previous research has highlighted the significance of gelling agents in affecting callus growth and differentiation, with Agar, Phytagel, and Gelrite being the most used options. Despite their widespread use, a comprehensive comparison of their physical properties and their subsequent effects on callus behavior remains lacking. Our study provides insights into optimizing plant tissue culture media by analyzing the physical properties of gelling agents and their impact on callus induction and differentiation. We compared the phenotypes of calli grown on media composed of these different gelling agents and correlated them to the physical properties of these media. We tested water retention, examined pore size using cryo-SEM, measured the media mechanical properties, and studied diffusion characteristics. We found that the mechanical properties of the media are the only quality correlated with callus phenotype.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and auto-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel complex for treatment of intrauterine adhesion.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells generated from human umbilical cord (hUC-MSCs) when utilized in conjunction with auto-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel (HA-gel) for the management of intrauterine adhesion (IUA). The goal was to see how this novel therapy could enhance healing and improve outcomes for IUA patients. METHODS: In this study, models of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) were established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, which were then organized and divided into hUC-MSCs groups. The groups involved: hUC-MSCs/HA-gel group, control group, and HA-gel group. Following treatment, the researchers examined the uterine cavities and performed detailed analyses of the endometrial tissues to determine the effectiveness of the interventions. RESULTS: The results indicated that in comparison with to the control group, both HA-gel, hUC-MSCs, and hUC-MSCs/HA-gel groups showed partial repair of IUA. However, in a more notable fashion transplantation of hUC-MSCs/HA-gel complex demonstrated significant dual repair effects. Significant outcomes were observed in the group treated with hUC-MSCs and HA-gel, they showed thicker endometrial layers, less fibrotic tissue, and a higher number of endometrial glands. This treatment strategy also resulted in a significant improvement in fertility restoration, indicating a profound therapeutic effect. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that both HA-gel, hUC-MSCs, and hUC-MSCs/HA-gel complexes have the potential for partial repair of IUA and fertility restoration caused by endometrium mechanical injury. Nonetheless, the transplantation of the hUC-MSCs/HA-gel complex displayed exceptional dual healing effects, combining effective anti-adhesive properties with endometrial regeneration stimuli.

QbD Based Formulation Development and Optimisation of Ozenoxacin Topical Nano-Emulgel and Efficacy Evaluation Using Impetigo Mice Model.

To formulate and optimize Ozenoxacin nano-emulsion using Quality by Design (QbD) concept by means of Box-Behnken Design (BBD) and converting it to a gel to form Ozenoxacin nano-emulgel followed by physico-chemical, in-vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo evaluation. This study demonstrates the application of QbD methodology for the development and optimization of an effective topical nanoemulgel formulation for the treatment of Impetigo focusing on the selection of appropriate excipients, optimization of formulation and process variables, and characterization of critical quality attributes. BBD was used to study the effect of "% of oil, % of Smix and homogenization speed" on critical quality attributes "globule size and % entrapment efficiency" for the optimisation of Ozenoxacin Nano-emulsion. Ozenoxacin loaded nano-emulgel was characterized for "description, identification, pH, specific gravity, amplitude sweep, viscosity, assay, organic impurities, antimicrobial effectiveness testing, in-vitro release testing, ex-vivo permeation testing, skin retention and in-vivo anti-bacterial activity". In-vitro release and ex-vivo permeation, skin retention and in-vivo anti-bacterial activity were found to be significantly (p < 0.01) higher for the nano-emulgel formulation compared to the innovator formulation (OZANEX™). Antimicrobial effectiveness testing was performed and found that even at 70% label claim of benzoic acid is effective to inhibit microbial growth in the drug product. The systematic application of QbD principles facilitated the successful development and optimization of a Ozenoxacin Nano-Emulsion. Optimised Ozenoxacin Nano-Emulgel can be considered as an effective alternative and found to be stable at least for 6 months at 40 °C / 75% RH and 30 °C / 75% RH.

Development and characterization of a topical gel, containing lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oil loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.

Gels loaded with nanocarriers offer interesting ways to create novel therapeutic approaches by fusing the benefits of gel and nanotechnology. Clinical studies indicate that lavender oil (Lav-O) has a positive impact on accelerating wound healing properly based on its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Initially Lav-O loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (Lav-SLN) were prepared incorporating cholesterol and lecithin natural lipids and prepared SLNs were characterized. Next, a 3% SLN containing topical gel (Lav-SLN-G) was formulated using Carbopol 940. Both Lav-SLN and Lav-SLN-G were assessed in terms antibacterial effects against S. aureus. Lav-SLNs revealed a particle size of 19.24 nm, zeta potential of -21.6 mv and EE% of 75.46%. Formulated topical gel presented an acceptable pH and texture properties. Minimum Inhibitory/Bactericidal Concentration (MIC/MBC) against S. aureus for LAv-O, Lav-SLN and Lav-SLN-G were 0.12 and 0.24 mgml- 1, 0.05 and 0.19 mgml- 1 and 0.045, 0.09 mgml- 1, respectively. Therefore, SLN can be considered as an antimicrobial potentiating nano-carrier for delivery of Lav-O as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent in topical gel.

Determination of ROS Generated by Arabidopsis Xanthine Dehydrogenase1 (AtXDH1) Using Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) and 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine (DAP).

Plants generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) during different metabolic processes, which play an essential role in coordinating growth and response. ROS levels are sensitive to environmental stresses and are often used as a marker for stress in plants. While various methods can detect ROS changes, histochemical staining with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) is a popular method, though it has faced criticism. This staining method is advantageous as it enables both the quantification and localization of ROS and the identification of the enzymatic origin of ROS in plants, cellular compartments, or gels. In this protocol, we describe the use of NBT and DAP staining to detect ROS generation under different stresses such as nitrogen starvation, wounding, or UV-C. Additionally, we describe the use of NBT staining for detecting enzymatic generation of ROS in native and native SDS PAGE gels. Our protocol also outlines the separation and comparison of the origin of ROS generated by xanthine dehydrogenase1 (XDH1) using different substrates.