ABSTRACT
The increasing devolution of healthcare towards community care has meant that the management of many conditions is conducted within the home either by community nurses or by the patients themselves. The administration of medicines within home healthcare scenarios can however be problematic—especially when considering the delivery of medicines through injection. The possibility of needlestick injury (NSI) has become an ever-present hazard within healthcare settings, with a significant proportion of percutaneous injuries occurring during the handling and disposal of the needle. The emergence of transdermal microneedle systems, however, offers a potentially revolutionary advance and could dramatically improve safety—particularly within home healthcare where there are mounting concerns over the use and disposal of sharps. A mini-review of the advantages proffered by microneedle drug delivery technologies is presented and the potential impact on delivery of medicines within the home is critically appraised.
ABSTRACT
Monitoring pH within microbial reactors has become an important requirement across a host of applications ranging from the production of functional foods (probiotics) to biofuel cell systems. An inexpensive and scalable composite sensor capable of monitoring the pH within the demanding environments posed by microbial reactors has been developed. A custom designed flavin derivative bearing an electropolymerisable phenol monomer was used to create a redox film sensitive to pH but free from the interferences that can impede conventional pH systems. The film was integrated within a composite carbon-fibre-polymer laminate and was shown to exhibit Nernstian behaviour (55â¯mV/pH) with minimal drift and robust enough to operate within batch reactors.
Subject(s)
Bioreactors , Biosensing Techniques , Flavins/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Phenol/chemistry , Batch Cell Culture Techniques , Carbon/chemistry , Carbon Fiber , Electrodes , Enzymes, Immobilized/chemistry , Kefir , Oxidation-Reduction , Platinum/chemistryABSTRACT
The pain relief capabilities of methyl salicylate are well established and a multitude of over-the-counter products populate pharmacy shelves. Over-application of the topical preparation containing the drug, or its accidental ingestion, invariably result in salicylate poisoning and in severe cases can be fatal. The drug has been a regular feature of the US National Poison Database Survey over the past decade and continues to pose a risk to children and adults alike. The aim of the review has been to cast a spotlight on the drug and assess why its use remains problematic, how technology could offer more efficacious delivery regimes, and minimise the possibility of accidental or intentional misuse.
