Recent Patents on Nanotechnology - Volume 18, Issue 1, 2024

Background: Sertraline hydrochloride is the most widely used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for treating several depressive disorders. The applicability of Sertraline hydrochloride is limited due to the extensive metabolism and poor oral bioavailability of 44%.Objective: The current research focused on improving the solubility and oral bioavailability of Sertraline in the form of microemulsion developed by a self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for significant antidepressant action.Methods: SMEDDS were developed by selecting appropriate proportions of oil, surfactant, and cosolvent, and out of them, isopropyl myristate, tween 80, and propylene glycol were selected. The emulsification zone was demonstrated by a ternary phase diagram, and the compatibility was confirmed with Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The formulated SMEDDS was characterized by the robustness to dilution, globule size (GS), polydispersity index (PDI), viscosity, in-vitro dissolution, diffusion study, and drug release kinetics study. The Patents US 9,770,509 B2, and US 2021/0236628 A1 were available for the SMEDDS.Results: All the batches (A1-A9) passed the quality test, and A3 was selected as an optimized batch that doesn't show phase separation and precipitation. The optimized batch A3 showed globule size (101 nm), PDI (0.319), drug content (99.14 ± 0.35%), viscosity (10.71 ± 0.02 mPa), self-emulsification time (46 sec), in-vitro drug release (98.25 ± 0.22%) within eight h, release kinetics (Higuchi), and the effective antidepressant action during in-vitro diffusion studies.Conclusion: An optimized batch A3 was observed, which was circular in shape and estimated by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), passing all the thermodynamic stability testing with a loss of 0.271 mg of the drug after 90 days, and showed marked antidepressant action with higher stability.

Background: In our study, a nanoparticle liposome molecule with patent application number TR2021004032 was used, and the Minimum Inhibitor Concentration (MIC) was found to be 1562 ppm. According to the ASTM F 1980 standard, it has been determined that the nanoparticle liposome solution kept at 37 days and 55 oC in return for one-year stability preserves its effectiveness. Our study aimed to show that the newly developed solution maintains its effectiveness for a long time.Methods: This study used a nanobubble ozone liposome solution containing 2% ZnCl2. The aging tests were conducted according to the ASTM F 1980 standards. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) level of the nanobubble ozone liposome solution with 2% ZnCl2 was determined as 1.562 ppm for strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) by the CLSI M07 A9 standard test method. The solution's efficiency at a concentration of 2000 ppm and for different time intervals was tested on strains of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (ATCC® 14028132;¢) and Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC® 7644132;¢) to assess the time-dependent antibacterial effect of the nanobubble liposome solution with 2% ZnCl2.Results: The results showed the antibacterial activity of the strains of S. enterica subsp. enterica started at the end of the 10th minute, and the solution was effective after 30 minutes. For strains of L. monocytogenes, it was observed that the activity started at the end of the 2nd minute, and the product was effective after the 10th minute. According to the ASTM F 1980 standards, it was found that the nanobubble ozone liposome solution retained its effectiveness in one-year stability tests.Conclusion: As a result, the nanoparticle liposome solution, a new product, does not lose its stability and effectiveness for a long time, contrary to what is known. Although the half-life of gaseous ozone is as short as 20 minutes, the stability in the nanoparticle liposome solution has been determined as at least one year. Since nanoparticle liposome solution is a natural and slow-release product, nanobubble ozone liposome solution with 2% ZnCl2 may be used as a newly developed agent against contaminations in food processing facilities caused by biofilm-forming microorganisms through the disinfection of surfaces that are in direct contact with food products.

Background: Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are the most promising lipid-based drug delivery to enhance poorly water-soluble molecules' solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy. Azelnidipine (AZN) is a calcium channel blocker widely recommended for treating high blood pressure, but its activity is restricted due to high lipophilicity and poor solubility in the GIT. The current research focused on developing the SLN of AZN and thereby improving the absorption, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy in hypertension which is a leading cause of death worldwide. Recent patents on SLN were available as U.S. Patent,10,973,798B2, U.S. Patent 10,251,960B2, U.S. Patent 2021/0069121A1, U.S. Patent 2022/0151945A1.Methods: SLN was developed by hot melt emulsification and ultrasonication method using glyceryl monostearate (GMS) as solid lipid and Poloxamer 188 as a surfactant to stabilize colloidal dispersion.Results: Box-Behnken model was utilized, which predicted 13 batches in which concentration of GMS (X1), Poloxamer 188 (X2) and sonication time (X3) were considered independent parameters. The particle size (Y1) and entrapment efficiency (Y2) were dependable parameters, and optimized batch F2 showed a particle size of 166.4 nm, polydispersity index of 0.40 and zeta potential of -13.7 mV. The entrapment efficiency was observed at 86.21%. FTIR spectra confirm the identity and compatibility with the formulation components. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the absence of melting point and interpreted that AZN was entirely incorporated in the lipid matrix and transformed from crystalline to amorphous. The ANOVA for the particle size (p-value: 0.0203), % EE (p-value: 0.0271) was found significant. The in-vitro drug release showed a sustained release pattern for about 12 h. The AZN-loaded SLN was lyophilized and intended for oral delivery.Conclusion: AZN-loaded SLN was developed by the hot melt emulsification method, which accelerated the solubility and bioavailability and was released sustainably for treating hypertension.

Background: Targeted nanoparticles' preparation can enhance local drug concentration and reduce the side effects of drugs in non-targeted organs. At present, many patents have been applied for in the field of bone-targeted nanoparticles' preparations. They play an important role in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases. In this experiment, nanoparticles with bone targeting function were prepared by poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer and tetracycline. These nanoparticles contain active ingredients in the Huangqi Sanxian decoction, a kind of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compound formula. These nanoparticles are predicted to be useful in the treatment of osteoporosis.Methods: Synthesis of tetracycline targeting groups was performed by acylation reaction, and PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by the Emulsification-solvent Evaporation Method. The appearance and particle size of the product were evaluated, and the effects of nanoparticles on the physiological activities of osteoblasts were observed. Finally, the bone-targeting ability of targeted nanoparticles in vivo and in vitro was investigated.Results: The average particle size of the nanoparticles was about 200 nm, and the average drug entrapment was 60%. In vitro evaluation of osteoblasts assay showed that the nanoparticles can be well taken by cells. Their good biocompatibility and sustained-release properties reduce the toxic side effects of drugs when they promote osteoblasts' physiological activities. The results of the in vitro and in vivo bone targeting ability assays showed that tetracycline modified nanoparticles could effectively accumulate in the bone, indicating the great bone-targeting ability of the nanoparticles. The use of PLGA to load active components in the TCM compound formulas and remodel targeting groups is expected to improve drug efficacy, reduce drug dosage, and effects on non- action sites. This may provide new ideas for the development of TCM compound dosage forms.Conclusion: In summary, we prepared PLGA nanoparticles of multiple TCM ingredients with bone targeting ability, and they had good morphological appearance, and a promoting effect on various physiological activities of osteoblasts.

Introduction: Applications of Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) range from flexible screens to disposable sensors, making them a prominent research issue in recent decades. A very accurate and exact pH sensing determination, including biosensors, is essential for these sensors.Methods: In this present research work, authors have proposed a nanomaterial-based OTFT for future pH monitoring and other biosensing applications. This work presents a numerical model of a pH sensor based on Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs). Sensing in harsh conditions may be possible with the CNTs due to their strong chemical and thermal resilience. This research work describes the numerical modeling of Bottom-Gate Bottom-Contact (BGBC) OTFTs with a Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (s-SWCNT) and C60 fullerene blended active layer.Results: The design methodology of organic nanomaterial-based OTFTs has been presented with various parameter extraction precisely its electrical characteristics, modeled by adjusting the parameters of the basic semiconductor technology. For an active layer thickness of 200 nm, the drain current of the highest-performing s-SWCNT:C60 -based OTFT structure was around 4.25 A. This demonstrates that it is better than previously reported patents and published works.Conclusion: This allows for an accurate representation of the device's electrical characteristics. Using Gold (Ag) Source/Drain (S/D) and back-gate electrodes as the medium for sensing, it has been realized how the thickness of the active layer impacts the performance of an OTFT for pH sensor applications.

Background: Metallic nanoparticles (NPs), in general, are able, due to the high surface area per unit volume, to absorb the maximum incoming light flux through the vicinity of plasmonic structures and then provide local heating. Thus, silver (Ag) NPs have been used to generate heat and increase the temperature of water from solar radiation energy. The optimal plasmonic heating generation can be obtained as soon as the wavelength of the light source is close to the plasmonic resonance wavelength of Ag NPs.Objective: Ag NPs have been fabricated through a straightforward, cheap, as well as environmentally friendly approach. In this study, Salix babylonica L., weeping willow leaf extract has been utilized as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent, without using any other toxic materials. The importance of this study lies in the generation of hot electrons, which can be obtained by collecting the solar spectrum near the infrared and infrared regions, which cannot be obtained by conventional photocatalytic devices.Methods: Numerous characterization techniques such as; UV-Vis, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were used to study the optical, chemical, structural, morphological, properties of the Ag NPs.Results: The impact of pH on the properties of Ag NPs and their performance to generate heat during solar irradiation have been investigated intensively. This study showed that the synthesized Ag NPs with pH value 12 is the optimum condition and can increase the temperature of water dramatically.Conclusion: An evaluation of the current patents displays that the field of green synthesis Ag NPs utilizing plant extracts is a vital field and produces rather stable, safe and effective Ag NPs. The novelty of this patent is that Ag NPs can be synthesized from a one-pot reaction without using any exterior stabilizing and reducing agent, which is not conceivable by means of the existing processes. This study, also, is rare and distinctive, and it demonstrates that even a slight quantity of the Ag NPs is significantly raising the temperature of water effectively.

Introduction: In the present article, the effect of the specimen geometry and the sample notch was studied on the high cycle fatigue lifetime and fracture behavior of the aluminum-based nanocomposite, which was registered as a patent in Iran (Patent No. 99513, 2020).Methods: For such an objective, rotary fully-reversed bending fatigue tests were performed on smooth and notched specimens, with the frequency of 100 Hz. Then, simulated results using the MSC Fatigue software were calculated and compared to the fatigue lifetime in the experiments for validation. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was utilized to observe the fracture surface of failed samples after testing.Results: Obtained results indicated that the fatigue lifetime increased by enhancing the sample diameter. However, the fatigue lifetime reduced when the stress concentration factor changed from 1.0 to 2.9.Conclusion: All samples with three geometries had a brittle fracture due to cleavage and quasicleavage marks on the fracture surface.