Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient.

Seagrass beds can trap large amounts of marine debris leading to areas of accumulation, known as 'sinks', of anthropogenic particles. While the presence of vegetation can enhance accumulation, less is known about how the trapping effect changes from vegetated to less vegetated patches. To test this, vegetation and sediment were sampled along a vegetation percent cover gradient from the centre of seagrass beds to nearby less vegetated patches. To determine whether trapped particles can lead to increased accumulation in associated fauna, gastropods were also collected from the transects laid across this gradient. Extracted anthropogenic particles were counted and characterised. Particles were detected in all sample types and reached quantifiable limits in at least 50% of sediment and gastropod samples. There was no significant difference in the distribution of particles found in seagrass beds compared to less vegetated patches, suggesting other factors contribute to the trapping efficiency of biogenic habitats besides simply the presence or absence of vegetation.

Properties of An Oral Nanoformulation of A Molecularly Dispersed Amphotericin B Comprising A Composite Matrix of Theobroma Oil and Bee'S Wax.

An amphotericin B-containing (AmB) solid lipid nanoparticulate drug delivery system intended for oral administration, comprised of bee's wax and theobroma oil as lipid components was formulated with the aim to ascertain the location of AmB within the lipid matrix: (a) a homogenous matrix; (b) a drug-enriched shell; or (c) a drug enriched core. Both the drug-loaded and drug-free nanoparticles were spherical with AmB contributing to an increase in both the z-average diameter (169 ± 1 to 222 ± 2 nm) and zeta potential (40.8 ± 0.9 to 50.3 ± 1.0 mV) of the nanoparticles. A maximum encapsulation efficiency of 21.4% ± 3.0%, corresponding to 10.7 ± 0.4 mg encapsulated AmB within the lipid matrix was observed. Surface analysis and electron microscopic imaging indicated that AmB was dispersed uniformly within the lipid matrix (option (a) above) and, therefore, this is the most suitable of the three models with regard to modeling the propensity for uptake by epithelia and release of AmB in lymph.