Jivaldo R. Matos

Thermal analysis of the antiretroviral zidovudine (AZT) and evaluation of the compatibility with excipients used in solid dosage forms.

Modern thermal analysis techniques are frequently used because of their ability to provide detailed information about both the physical and the energetic properties of a substance. In the present work, the thermal decomposition of zidovudine (AZT) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). Thermal analysis was supplemented using elemental analysis (C, H, and N), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction to characterize the solid intermediates products. Volatile products of the thermal decomposition of AZT were studied by a system composed of the TG/DTA coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The physical-chemical properties and compatibilities of several commonly used pharmaceutical excipients with AZT were evaluated using thermal methods. The results showed that the product originated from the first thermal decomposition stage corresponds to the cleavage followed by elimination of the azide group and consequent formation of thymine. The second event corresponds to thermal decomposition of thymine. TG/DTA-GC/MS system identified thymines decomposition products as furan and 2-furanmethanol like volatile species. Comparison of the thermoanalytical profiles of the mixtures with individual compounds did not give any evidence of interactions.

Evaluation of a carbon paste electrode modified with organofunctionalised SBA-15 nanostructured silica in the simultaneous determination of divalent lead, copper and mercury ions

The performance of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with SBA-15 nanostructured silica organofunctionalised with 2-benzothiazolethiol in the simultaneous determination of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions in natural water and sugar cane spirit (cachaça) is described. Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) were pre-concentrated on the surface of the modified electrode by complexing with 2-benzothiazolethiol and reduced at a negative potential (-0.80 V). Then the reduced products were oxidised by DPASV procedure. The fact that three stripping peaks appeared on the voltammograms at the potentials of -0.48 V (Pb2+), -0.03 V (Cu2+) and +0.36 V (Hg2+) in relation to the SCE, demonstrates the possibility of simultaneous determination of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+. The best results were obtained under the following optimised conditions: 100 mV pulse amplitude, 3 min accumulation time, 25 mV s(-1) scan rate in phosphate solution pH 3.0. Using such parameters, calibration graphs were linear in the concentration ranges of 3.00-70.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Pb2+), 8.00-100.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Cu2+) and 2.00-10.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) (Hg2+). Detection limits of 4.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (Pb2+), 2.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Cu2+) and 4.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Hg2+) were obtained at the signal noise ratio (SNR) of 3. The results indicate that this electrode is sensitive and effective for simultaneous determination of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ in the analysed samples.

Immunological parameters related to the adjuvant effect of the ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15

In 2006, the first report of a nanostructured material as adjuvant was described establishing the effectiveness of the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 silica as an immune adjuvant. The present study evaluated the SBA-15 capacity to modulate the immune responsiveness of High and Low responder mice immunized with BSA encapsulated/adsorbed in SBA-15 by the intramuscular or oral route and the adjuvant effect was compared with the responsiveness induced by BSA in aluminum hydroxide salts or emulsified in Incomplete Freund adjuvant. These results demonstrate the ability of the non-toxic SBA-15 nanoparticles to increase the immunogenicity and repair the responsiveness of the constitutively low responder individuals inducing both the IgG2a and the IgG1 isotypes, independently of the immune cell committed and conditioning the low phenotype. This new adjuvant may reveal novel therapeutic targets for immune modulation and vaccine design.

CONTRIBUTION OF THERMAL ANALYSIS FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF ASPHALTENES FROM BRAZILIAN CRUDE OIL

The thermal decomposition of asphaltenes is mainly responsible for the formation of coke in petroleum processing. Phenomena involved are not clearly understood, because of the difficulties to characterize such heavy components. This paper reports the application of thermal analysis techniques to study the thermal behavior of asphaltenes from Brazilian oil. The approach involves kinetic studies of the thermal decomposition of asphaltenes under controlled conditions by thermogravimetry (TG), characterization of volatile fractions by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TG-DTA/GC/MS) and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the volatile recovered. The coke formed was also studied after being decomposed into smaller molecules using selective oxidation.

Effect of experimental heat treatment on mechanical properties of resin composites

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of an experimental heat treatment (170 masculineC/10 min) using a casting furnace on the mechanical properties (hardness and flexural strength) of 2 commercial direct resin composites (TPH Spectrum and Filtek P60) compared to a commercial indirect resin system (BelleGlass). Heat treatment temperature was determined after thermal characterization by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Data was analyzed by ANOVA and Tukeys test at 5% significance level. There was statistical significance for the main factor heat treatment (p=0.03) and composite (p=0.02), for flexural strength. For Knoop hardness, only the main factor composite was statistically significant (p=0.00). P60 presented higher hardness than TPH. No statistically significant correlation between mechanical properties tested was detected. Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that heat treatment influenced flexural strength of direct composites, while it was not observed for hardness. The association of direct composites with a simple post-cure heat treatment may be an alternative for current indirect composite systems, although more studies are needed to verify other properties of the composites for this application.

Synthesis and photophysical study of highly luminescent coordination compounds of rare earth ions with thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and AZT.

This work presents the study of the interaction between zidovudine (AZT) and rare earth (RE) ions with thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (TTA). The complexes [RE(TTA)(3) x (AZT)(2)] (where RE(III)=Eu and Gd) were prepared by reaction between the [RE(TTA)(3) x (H(2)O)(2)] precursors and AZT dissolved in acetone in the molar ratio 1:2. The obtained luminescent materials were characterized by microanalyses (C, H, N), complexometric titration, IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis (DSC and TG/DTG). The luminescence data indicate that the substitution of the two water molecules by AZT in the europium complex causes an intensification of luminescence corresponding to the (5)D(0) -->(7)F(J) (J=0-4) transitions associated with one of the site symmetries. Based on the luminescence spectrum of the Eu(III)-compound the Omega(lambda) experimental intensity parameters (lambda=2 and 4) were calculated for the electronic transitions (5)D(0)-->(7)F(2, 4). The Omega(2) intensity parameter for this new compound is higher than for the precursor compound, suggesting an effective interaction between the AZT and the chemical environment of the Eu(III) ion. Luminescence data confirm that the AZT complex and precursor compound have a comparable emission quantum efficiency.

Análise térmica aplicada à cosmetologia

This paper presents the thermal analysis for the studies of the physical and chemical properties of compounds and their mixtures in the cosmetic area. The authors relate some papers in wich different thermoanalytic techniques have been used for characterization of raw material, cosmetic product and samples of hair.

Physical-Chemical Characterization and Polymorphism Determination of Two Nimodipine Samples Deriving from Distinct Laboratories

Knowing the characteristics of raw materials in pharmaceutical practice is both important and useful. Firstly, evaluating the physical-chemical properties of the substances that will be used must be the primary step for quality control in the pharmacy industry. This work aims at analyzing the physical-chemical characteristics of two nimodipine samples I and II derived from distinct laboratories through thermal analysis (DSC and TG/DTG), HPLC, crystallography, and microscopy. Thermal analysis showed that sample II was more unstable than I. Morphological differences concerning shape, size, and crystallinity of particles were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction. To sum up, the techniques used in this study can be said to have been efficient in the characterization and evaluation of quality control of the raw material.

Study of thermal behavior of phytic acid

O acido fitico e um composto natural muito utilizado como despigmentante em emulsoes cosmeticas magistrais. No entanto, observou-se experimentalmente que o acido fitico, quando aquecido a 150 °C durante cerca de uma hora, mostra evidencias de decomposicao termica e que poucos estudos envolvendo essa especie, isoladamente quanto a sua estabilidade, estao disponiveis na literatura. Esse fato motivou o estudo de caracterizacao e de comportamento termico dessa especie, empregando a analise termica (TG/DTG e DSC) e associando os resultados obtidos com aqueles de analise elementar (AE) e espectroscopia de absorcao na regiao do infravermelho. As curvas TG/DTG e DSC permitiram avaliar o comportamento termico da amostra de acido fitico e, com isso, foi possivel estudar, pelo metodo termogravimetrico nao isotermico, a cinetica dos tres principais eventos de perda de massa, o de desidratacao I, desidratacao II e de decomposicao termica. A associacao das tecnicas de espectroscopia de absorcao no infravermelho e analise elementar permitiu avaliar os produtos intermediarios da decomposicao termica do acido fitico. Os espectros no infravermelho de amostras isoladas durante o aquecimento evidenciaram a diminuicao de intensidade da banda de absorcao relativa ao estiramento do grupo O-H como consequencia do processo de desidratacao. Tambem, os resultados de analise elementar indicaram que nas temperaturas de 95, 150 e 263 oC houve aumento no teor de carbono e diminuicao do teor de hidrogenio. Visualmente, observou-se o escurecimento do material a 150 oC, indicando que a decomposicao termica do material iniciou-se nessa temperatura. Na temperatura de 380 oC, a diminuicao do teor de carbono e hidrogenio foi devido ao avanco do processo de decomposicao termica. Os resultados da termogravimetria juntamente com aqueles da analise elementar permitiram concluir que ha concordância entre as percentagens de acido fitico encontrado na solucao aquosa. O estudo cinetico pelo metodo termogravimetrico nao isotermico mostrou que o processo de desidratacao ocorreu em duas etapas. Na etapa I da desidratacao ocorreu um processo de vaporizacao de agua (ordem de reacao igual a zero). Na etapa II da desidratacao foi encontrada uma ordem de reacao igual a cinco. Essa mudanca na ordem de reacao foi atribuida a perda de moleculas de agua quimicamente ligada, ao acido fitico ou a presenca de substâncias volateis. Finalmente, na etapa de decomposicao termica foi observado que a ordem da reacao foi igual a um. Para as outras etapas de perda de massa nao foi possivel a realizacao do estudo cinetico.

Pressure and temperature effects on intermolecular vibrational dynamics of ionic liquids

Low frequency Raman spectra of ionic liquids have been obtained as a function of pressure up to ca. 4.0 GPa at room temperature and as a function of temperature along the supercooled liquid and glassy state at atmospheric pressure. Intermolecular vibrations are observed at ~20, ~70, and ~100 cm(-1) at room temperature in ionic liquids based on 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations. The component at ~100 cm(-1) is assigned to librational motion of the imidazolium ring because it is absent in non-aromatic ionic liquids. There is a correspondence between the position of intermolecular vibrational modes in the normal liquid state and the spectral features that the Raman spectra exhibit after partial crystallization of samples at low temperatures or high pressures. The pressure-induced frequency shift of the librational mode is larger than the other two components that exhibit similar frequency shifts. The lowest frequency vibration observed in a glassy state corresponds to the boson peak observed in light and neutron scattering spectra of glass-formers. The frequency of the boson peak is not dependent on the length scale of polar∕non-polar heterogeneity of ionic liquids, it depends instead on the strength of anion-cation interaction. As long as the boson peak is assigned to a mixing between localized modes and transverse acoustic excitations of high wavevectors, it is proposed that the other component observed in Raman spectra of ionic liquids has a partial character of longitudinal acoustic excitations.