Mohamed Awang

Leech Therapeutic Applications

Hematophagous animals including leeches have been known to possess biologically active compounds in their secretions, especially in their saliva. The blood-sucking annelids, leeches have been used for therapeutic purposes since the beginning of civilization. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek and Arab physicians used leeches for a wide range of diseases starting from the conventional use for bleeding to systemic ailments, such as skin diseases, nervous system abnormalities, urinary and reproductive system problems, inflammation, and dental problems. Recently, extensive researches on leech saliva unveiled the presence of a variety of bioactive peptides and proteins involving antithrombin (hirudin, bufrudin), antiplatelet (calin, saratin), factor Xa inhibitors (lefaxin), antibacterial (theromacin, theromyzin) and others. Consequently, leech has made a comeback as a new remedy for many chronic and life-threatening abnormalities, such as cardiovascular problems, cancer, metastasis, and infectious diseases. In the 20th century, leech therapy has established itself in plastic and microsurgery as a protective tool against venous congestion and served to salvage the replanted digits and flaps. Many clinics for plastic surgery all over the world started to use leeches for cosmetic purposes. Despite the efficacious properties of leech therapy, the safety, and complications of leeching are still controversial.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of oil from Thunnus tonggol head by optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology

Total oil was extracted from ground fish head of Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) at 20 to 40 MPa, 45 to 65 °C and 1 to 3 ml min−1. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the operating conditions of the SC-CO2 technique where the highest oil yield was obtained (35.6% on dry weight basis) at 40 MPa, 65 °C, and 3 ml min−1. The solubility of the oil in SC-CO2 increased from 2.9 to 14.2 g oil/100 g of CO2 with increasing pressure and temperature. The total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids obtained were 41.6, 24.7 and 26.8%, respectively, where the omega-3 fatty acids were found to be 22.3%. A correlation was developed determining the coefficients of the second-order polynomial equation where the extraction parameters of SC-CO2 method to extract fish oil from fish sample were successfully optimized using response surface methodology.

Preparation, characterization, and in vitro release studies of insulin-loaded double-walled poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres

The purpose of this study was to fabricate insulin-loaded double-walled and single-polymer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres using a fast degrading glucose core, hydroxyl-terminated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (Glu-PLGA), and a moderate degrading carboxyl-terminated PLGA polymers. A modified water-in-oil-in-oil-in-water (w/o/o/w) emulsion solvent evaporation technique was employed to prepare double-walled microspheres, whereas single-polymer microspheres were fabricated by a conventional water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion solvent evaporation method. The effect of fabrication techniques and polymer characteristics on microspheres size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, and insulin stability was evaluated. The prepared double-walled microspheres were essentially non-porous, smooth surfaced, and spherical in shape, whereas single-polymer microspheres were highly porous. Double-walled microspheres exhibited a significantly reduced initial burst followed by sustained and almost complete release of insulin compared to single-polymer microspheres. Initial burst release was further suppressed from double-walled microspheres when the mass ratio of the component polymers was increased. In conclusion, double-walled microspheres made of Glu-PLGA and PLGA can be a potential delivery system of therapeutic insulin.

Preparation, characterization and in vitro release study of BSA-loaded double-walled glucose-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres

Abstract The aim of this study was to prepare a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded double-walled microspheres using a fast degrading glucose core, hydroxyl-terminated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (Glu-PLGA) and a moderate-degrading carboxyl-terminated PLGA polymers to reduce the initial burst release and to eliminate the lag phase from the release profile of PLGA microspheres. The double-walled microspheres were prepared using a modified water-in-oil-in-oil-in-water (w/o/o/w) method and single-polymer microspheres were prepared using a conventional water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion solvent evaporation method. The particle size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, thermal properties, in vitro drug release and structural integrity of BSA were evaluated in this study. Double-walled microspheres prepared with Glu-PLGA and PLGA polymers with a mass ratio of 1:1 were non-porous, smooth-surfaced, and spherical in shape. A significant reduction of initial burst release was achieved for the double-walled microspheres compared to single-polymer microspheres. In addition, microspheres prepared using Glu-PLGA and PLGA polymers in a mass ratio of 1:1 exhibited continuous BSA release after the small initial burst without any lag phase. It can be concluded that the double-walled microspheres made of Glu-PLGA and PLGA polymers in a mass ratio of 1:1 can be a potential delivery system for pharmaceutical proteins.

Controlled Release of Lysozyme from Double-Walled Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide) (PLGA) Microspheres

Double-walled microspheres based on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) are potential delivery systems for reducing a very high initial burst release of encapsulated protein and peptide drugs. In this study, double-walled microspheres made of glucose core, hydroxyl-terminated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (Glu-PLGA), and carboxyl-terminated PLGA were fabricated using a modified water-in-oil-in-oil-in-water (w1/o/o/w2) emulsion solvent evaporation technique for the controlled release of a model protein, lysozyme. Microspheres size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, lysozyme in vitro release profiles, bioactivity, and structural integrity, were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that double-walled microspheres comprising of Glu-PLGA and PLGA with a mass ratio of 1:1 have a spherical shape and smooth surfaces. A statistically significant increase in the encapsulation efficiency (82.52 ± 3.28%) was achieved when 1% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 2.5% (w/v) trehalose were incorporated in the internal and external aqueous phase, respectively, during emulsification. Double-walled microspheres prepared together with excipients (PVA and trehalose) showed a better control release of lysozyme. The released lysozyme was fully bioactive, and its structural integrity was slightly affected during microspheres fabrication and in vitro release studies. Therefore, double-walled microspheres made of Glu-PLGA and PLGA together with excipients (PVA and trehalose) provide a controlled and sustained release for lysozyme.

A Highly Efficient Activated Carbon by Chemical Activation Method for Adsorption of Paraquat (Toxin)

The optimum condition for preparing a highly efficient activated carbon has been investigated in this work. The effects of different activation temperatures on the pore structure and surface morphology of highly efficient activated carbon (AC) derived from waste palm shell by chemical activation method using phosphoric acid as activating agent were studied. For activation, different activation temperatures in the range of 550 °C-650 °C were carried out. Activated carbon with well developed pore size were produced at activation temperature of 600 °C for 2 hours. At this temperature the Brunauer , Emmett and Teller (BET) surface areas are 1287 m2g-1, the total pore volume for adsorption and desorption are 0.742 cm3 g-1. Scanning Electron Microscope also confirmed the porosity of the highly efficient activated carbon. Finally it was tested in vitro to determine its adsorbing capacity for paraquat as a toxin. For optimum adsorption ability of activated carbon for paraquat, 0.9% NaCl solution is the most suitable solvent. The paraquat preferentially adsorbed onto the activated carbon in NaCl solution. The adsorption ability of the activated carbon (the amount adsorbed) for paraquat observed to be 99.9 mg g-1.

A Review on the Formulation and Analysis of Anti-Diabetic Agent: Gliclazide

Gliclazide is a second generation sulfonylurea, which is used as antidiabetics drug. It is orally administrated and used for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and has duration of action of 12 h or more. Beside its hypoglycaemic effects, gliclazide was reported to have many other important effects, such as: suppression of platelet functions, antithrombotic actions, decreased the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α by endothelial cells and other effects. The unique activities of gliclazide has open a new avenue for the drug development research. This work is aimed to provide comprehensive information about gliclazide and its current research activities.

Preparation of Pure Silica Oxide (SiO2) and Zeolite Y from Rice Husk as an Ion Exchanger for Emergency Water Treatment System Using in Flood Affected Area

Thermal and acid wash treatment of rice husk has been conducted 550 to 600 °C in air atmosphere and chemical treatments consisted of acid, H2SO4. Purity, pore size distribution, FT-IR and SEM micrographs of treated and non-treated samples are presented. In this study the acid treated rice husk ash was used as SiO2 source in the preparation of zeolite Y, a medium siliceous zeolite used as an ion exchanger in water treatment process. Obtained zeolite Y, BET Surface area 621.18 square meters per gram, pore volume is 0.33 cubic centimeters per gram and its average pore diameter is 21.222 Å. Ion-exchange capacities were tested through a column packed in zeolite Y by the artificially polluted water filtration, filtrate was analysed by ICP-MS and elements (As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Bi, Be, Pb Ni etc.) in filtered waters was found in negative amounts. Zeolite Y is found a highly efficient ion-exchange material. So, mini water filtering system is a good for water treatment, even water is highly polluted by toxic elements.