Carotenoids have been known to reduce the risk of several diseases including cancer and cardiovascular. However, carotenoids are unstable and susceptible to degradation. Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz (R. nasutus), a Chinese medicinal herb rich in carotenoids, was reported to possess vital biological activities such as anti-cancer. This study intends to isolate carotenoids from R. nasutus by co...

In the present work specific adsorption phenomena of metal ions at the water –oil interface are studied. Bicontinuous microemulsions were chosen as a model system because of their high specific surface between water and oil phases. Mixing an extremely hydrophobic extractant considered here as the co-surfactant with an extremely hydrophilic sugar surfactant we succeed to formulate microemulsion ...

Tungsten trioxide is the second most commonly used semiconducting metal oxide in gas sensors. Semiconducting metal oxide (SMOX)-based sensors are small, robust, inexpensive and sensitive, making them highly attractive for handheld portable medical diagnostic detectors. WO₃ is reported to show high sensor responses to several biomarkers found in breath, e.g., acetone, ammonia, carbon monoxide, h...

Flower-like WO(3) particles with high specific surface area were synthesized via a template/surfactant-free way. Scanning and transmission microscopies and X-ray diffraction were applied to investigate the formation mechanism of the morphology. Gas sensing characterization showed an enhanced sensitivity (70 Hz/ppm) to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) as compared with previously reported WO(3) ...

In topical administration of antifungals, the drugs should pass the stratum corneum to reach lower layers of the skin in effective concentrations. Thus, the formulation of antifungal agents into a suitable delivery system is important for the topical treatment of fungal infections. Nanosized colloidal carriers have gained great interest during the recent years to serve as efficient promoters of...

A qualified estimate for pretreatment of the macroalgae Chaetomorpha linum for ethanol production was given, based on the experience of pretreatment of land-based biomass. C. linum was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment (HTT), wet oxidation (WO), steam explosion (STEX), plasma-assisted pretreatment (PAP) and ball milling (BM), to determine effects of the pretreatment methods on the conversi...

Surfactants based on imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), including polymerizable surfactant ILs, have been synthesized and used to stabilize polymerizable microemulsions useful for producing polymer nanoparticles, gels, and open-cell porous materials.

Mixing two immiscible liquids (such as oil and water) using emulsifier and energy inputs has been the matter of study for decades. In early 1890’s extensive work have been carried out on macroemulsions (i.e. oil dispersed in water in the form of fine droplets or vice versa) (Becher, 1977) and several theories and methods of their formation have been vastly explored (Lissant 1976 and 1984). Howe...

BACKGROUND Rotigotine is a potent and selective D1, D2, and D3 dopaminergic receptor agonist. Due to an extensive first-pass effect, it has a very low oral bioavailability (approximately 0.5% in rats). PURPOSE The present investigation aimed to develop a microemulsion-based hydrogel for transdermal rotigotine delivery with lower application site reactions. METHODS Pseudoternary phase diagra...

BACKGROUND The increased incidence of inflammatory diseases has necessitated the need to search for new topical dosage form of dexamethasone. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was the preparation and evaluation of novel microemulsion as a topical delivery system for dexamethasone by mixing appropriate amount of surfactant including Tween 80 and Labrasol, cosurfactant such as capryol...