Nagib Ali Elmarzugi

Spectroscopic Characterization of PEG-DNA Biocomplexes by FTIR

Understanding the mode involved in the binding of certain molecules to DNA is of prime importance, and PEG offers wide-ranging applications in biological, medical and pharmaceutical contexts. FTIR spectroscopy has been used to characterize how the formed biocomplexes bind or dissociate to/from each other between PEG400-ctDNA under different conditions. Characterization and investigation of the effect of incubation time on PEG400-ctDNA biocomplexes formation were studied through spectroscopic technique FTIR. The influence of time duration and incubation on intermolecular interaction was analysed at three different selected times (Zero, 1hr, and 48 hrs.) at 1:1 PEG400-ctDNA monomer to nucleotide ratio. The experiment was carried out at room temperature 22 °C, with prior vortex stirrer of biocomplex for 10 min to improve homogeneity of sample. The results showed that the binding reaction of PEG400-ctDNA proceeds rapidly through DNA base pairs and phosphate DNA backbone, and complexation was reached after a maximum 1hr after mixing PEG400 and ctDNA at 1:1 ratio. FTIR spectroscopy results suggest that PEG400 binds with ctDNA by weak to moderate biocomplexes formation, with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic contact through DNA base pairs, with minor binding preference towards phosphate backbone of DNA helix. The mode of interaction most likely referred to an interaction through outside groove binding or electrostatic binding modes. FTIR highlighted the significant effect of incubation time on the stable biocomplexes of non-ionic PEG400 and ctDNA. Moreover, FTIR spectroscopy technique was rapid, showed good stability, and is a valuable tool for studying the biological properties of biocomplexes of PEG400 and ctDNA.

The preparation and evaluation of self-nanoemulsifying systems containing Swietenia oil and an examination of its anti-inflammatory effects

There is an increasing trend among pharmaceutical industries to use natural bioactive materials as medicinal agents and to use new technologies such as self-nanoemulsifying systems. The solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs can be enhanced by self-nanoemulsifying systems. Swietenia oil is frequently used because of its antimicrobial, antimutagenic, and anticancer bioactive medical properties. This study was conducted to develop self-nanoemulsifying systems for Swietenia oil that will enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of the oil. The self-emulsifying systems developed for Swietenia oil in this study were constructed using ternary phase diagrams and contained the nonionic surfactants Labrasol®, Tween 20, Capmul®, and Labrafil®. The effect of these surfactants on the formulation was examined. The mean droplet size of Swietenia oil as well as their distribution, appearance, viscosity, and spreading times were studied to find the optimum formula, which contained droplets that were less than 200 nm. The next step was to test the anti-inflammatory properties of the optimum formula using a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test. The results from this test were compared to the oil solution. Different oil/surfactants mixtures had various emulsification properties that were related to the size of their droplets. Tween 20 is a good surfactant to use in self-emulsifying systems because it produces droplets of nano-size. Mixtures of Capmul/Labrasol at a ratio of 2:1 and Labrafil/Tween 20 at a ratio of 1:2 were able to produce self-nanoemulsifying formulations containing Swietenia oil concentrations that ranged from 20%–50%. Nanoemulsion occurred when the size of the droplets fell below 200 nm with low size distribution (<0.3) after being gently mixed with water. It was found that the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance value affected the ternary phase diagram behavior of Swietenia oil and surfactants. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of Swietenia oil were greater in the self-nanoemulsifying systems than in the oil solution.

Peg-calf thymus dna interactions: conformational, morphological and spectroscopic thermal studies

The main aim of this study is to provide understanding for the interaction modes and the binding affinity based on the study of PEG 400 that binds to ctDNA. The effects of the PEG-400-to-ctDNA ratio, pH, incubation time and thermal stability of ctDNA on PEG-ctDNA biocomplex formation were studied. UV-vis-NIR absorption analysis indicated that PEG forms a complex with ctDNA via a mechanism other than intercalation. The results of thermal denaturation studies showed that the PEG-ctDNA biocomplex helix was stabilised, with a resulting increase in the PEG-ctDNA melting temperature. FTIR analysis indicated that the PEG binds to ctDNA through weak to moderately strong hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions with the base pairs of ctDNA. TEM micrographs showed that the addition of PEG to ctDNA caused ctDNA to condense with PEG molecules into an irregular aggregate structure. These results demonstrate that the PEG-ctDNA biocomplex has potential applications in biomedical sciences.

Awareness of Libyan Students and Academic Staff Members of Nanotechnology

At the present time, nanotechnology is involved in every aspect of scientific life and its applications are being integrated into the economy, industry, trade and medicine. The world will require a skilled work force of more than two million nanotechnologists by 2015. The rapid advance in all fields of nanotechnology has led to integrate nanotechnology courses in high schools, institutes and university curricula all over the world. However, nanotechnology has not as yet been integrated within the Libyan curricula at any level. Thus, this study focuses and explores the awareness of the academic staff and students in Tripoli (Alfateh) University about nanotechnology and nanoscience. Moreover their readiness to integrate the basics and applications into Libyan education curricula. The results show that education level and work place have an effect on the knowledge of the participants on nanotechnology, where about 65% of PhD degree holders knew about nanotechnology and were keen to learn and integrate this technology in the education system. Around 40 % of the participants’ information about Nanotechnology were gained from the internet while only 17% had obtained information from their own readings. The majority of the participants (60%) supported the idea of introducing nanotechnology studies to the curricula at pre-graduate stage. However, 29% believed that it should be integrated only in postgraduate studies, and only a few of the participants (11.3%) advised that a continuing education program would be the proper way to study nanotechnology. This study showed that relatively little awareness about nanotechnology is seen among Libyan staff members and students. However, the majority of the participants have realized the importance of the field of nanotechnology and its application, and were eager to learn more about this advanced technology. Based on the preliminary study regarding the opinion and readiness of participants of the current study, it is believed that the integration of nanotechnology and nanosciences in Libyan curricula at different levels of education is an inevitable step to meet the very rapid advances in the field of nanotechnology and its applications.

A Review on the Cosmeceutical and External Applications of Nigella sativa

It is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that most of the worlds population depends on herbal medicine for their health care. Nigella sativa (N. sativa), also known as black-caraway and as “Kalonji,” is a well-known seed all over the world. It is one of the most common medicinal plants worldwide and contains many useful chemical constituents that we can find in its fixed oil, such as thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, thymol, nigellicine, carvacrol, nigellimine, nigellicine, nigellidine, and alpha-hederin. Due to these numerous important ingredients it was found that it affects different areas of our body and has many pharmacological effects as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing effect and also for acne vulgaris, skin cancer, pigmentation, and many cosmeceutical applications. Based on the folklore usage of N. sativa seeds and oil, they are used in various systems of food and medicines. The aim of this article is to provide a detailed survey of the literature of cosmeceutical and external applications of N. sativa which is expected to stimulate further studies on this subject.

Development of avocado oil nanoemulsion hydrogel using sucrose ester stearate

Article history: Received on: 17/06/2013 Revised on: 23/07/2013 Accepted on: 07/08/2013 Available online: 31/12/2013 Nanoemulsion is submicron sized emulsion typically in the range of 20-200 nm. Avocado oil is often used in herbal skin care. The aim of this study was to characterize nanoemulsion hydrogel prepared using avocado oil and sucrose ester stearate as surfactant. The nanoemulsion hydrogel were prepared by nanophase emulsification technique. These formulations were examined using zetasizer to determined the mean diameter of dispersed oil droplets, polydispersibility index (PDI) and zeta potential. Moreover viscosity of the prepared nanoemulsion hydrogel were studied. The results reveled that nanoemulsion prepared with 60% w/w oil, 24% w/w glycerol and 16% w/w surfactant showed droplets size below 200 nm with good polydispersibility index and zeta potential < 30 mV. The optimum formulation of nanoemulsion was prepared in the form of nanoemulsion hydrogel using carbopols 934 and 940. The results of the viscometer for the nanoemulsion hydrogel showed that the storage modulus (G’) which describes the elasticity of the component were greater than the loss modulus (G”) values which reveals the viscosity of the component.

Formulation and Evaluation of Ketoconazole Polymeric Films for Topical Application

The objective of the current paper was to prepare and evaluate various polymeric films for fungal infection treatment and its impact on volunteer patients. Different Eudragit polymeric films containing Ketoconazole as antifungal drug were prepared by solvent casting technique. The prepared films were tested for their physico-mechanical properties as tensile strength, physical endurance, elasticity, water vapor permeation and water loss. The release of ketoconazole from the prepared medicated films was examined. It is involved 20 volunteers suffering from legs fungal infection. Ten of the patients used the films and a follow up study was carried out for 14 days, in comparison with other patients who applied ketoconazole medicated ointment, cream gel and Emulgel. The results revealed that films prepared with Eudragit RL 100 containing glyceryl triacetate produced maximum release of ketoconazole both in vitro and in vivo as compared with other topical dosage forms as ointment, cream, gel and Emulgel. Moreover, the films constitute a simple and convenient method for treatment of various fungal infections. As conclusion, the use of antifungal drugs such as Ketoconazole incorporated in polymeric films, the output results provided promised evidence in the treatment of dermatophytosis.