Methylene blue-loaded niosome: preparation, physicochemical characterization, and in vivo wound healing assessment.

Following skin injury, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the inflammatory phase can cause tissue damage and delay in wound healing. Methylene blue (MB) decreases mitochondrial ROS production and has antioxidant effects. The authors aimed to prepare MB-loaded niosomes using the ultra-sonication technique as a green formulation method. A Box-Behnken design was selected to optimize formulation variables. The emulsifier to cholesterol ratio, HLB of mixed surfactants (Span 60 and Tween 60), and sonication time were selected as independent variables. Vesicle size, zeta potential (ZP), and drug entrapment capacity percentage were studied as dependent variables. The optimized formulation of niosomes showed spherical shape with optimum vesicle size of 147.8 nm, ZP of - 18.0 and entrapment efficiency of 63.27%. FTIR study showed no observable interaction between MB and other ingredients. In vivo efficacy of optimized formulation was evaluated using an excision wound model in male Wistar rat. Superoxide dismutase (SOD, an endogenous antioxidant) and malondialdehyde (MDA, an end product of lipid peroxidation) levels in skin tissue samples were evaluated. After 3 days, MDA was significantly decreased in niosomal gel-treated group, whereas SOD level was increased. Histological results indicate rats that received niosomal MB were treated effectively faster than other ones. Graphical abstract.

Preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of novel hyaluronan containing niosomes tailored by Box-Behnken design to co-encapsulate curcumin and quercetin.

Designing novel drug delivery systems to improve drug efficiencies have gained great interests in recent years. In this study, a new vesicular system has been prepared using thin film hydration method with slight modifications, hydrophobic drugs have been used in both lipophilic and hydrophilic phases and dry film was hydrated by hyaluronan polymeric solution, to overcome curcumin and quercetin formulation drawbacks. Briefly, different formulations were prepared according to Box-Behnken design to assess the effect of HLB value, cholesterol and hyaluronan contents on the properties of niosomes. Then, the best formulation was selected for further studies and compared with conventional niosomes. The results showed that both niosomes had spherical shapes according to Transmission Electron and Atomic Force Microscopic images. Results also showed that hyaluronan containing niosomes had smaller size and higher values of zeta potential and entrapment than conventional niosomes. The average size of hyaluronan containing niosomes was 260.37 ±â€¯6.58 nm, the zeta potential was -34.97 ±â€¯1.50 mv and the entrapment for curcumin and quercetin were 98.85 ±â€¯0.55% and 93.13 ±â€¯1.22%, respectively. The release kinetic of quercetin was best fitted to Peppas model for both conventional niosome and hyaluronan containing niosomes; while, the release kinetic of curcumin was best fitted with non-conventional order 2 and three second roots of mass for hyaluronan containing niosomes and conventional niosomes, respectively. Hyaluronan containing niosomes showed higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in comparison with conventional niosomes.

The relationship between quality of life and coping strategies in polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: There are many factors that affect the quality of life, for example, stress and the coping strategies. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder leading to menstrual disorders, hirsutism, acne, obesity, infertility and abortion. In such cases, the patients suffer from a variety of stresses and face problems in their coping strategies with life's problems which can affect the quality of life and cause psychological distress and low the quality of life. The quality of life is a descriptive term which points to health and emotional, social and physical promotion of individuals as well as their ability to perform daily living tasks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between quality of life and coping strategies in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To perform this study, randomly 200 women who had inclusion criteria and were referred to Ali Shariati Hospital in Isfahan were selected and responded DLQI questionnaire and Carver coping strategies and form of demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The mean score of quality of life in the patients was 4.14 ± 5.57. It was shown that acne has no effective role on quality of life and coping strategies in contrast in hirsute and non-hirsute patients; there was a significant difference in quality of life P value < 0.001). Also there is a significant relationship between the quality of life and coping strategies (problem solving, cognitive, emotional and social support) (P < 0.05) and quality of life has the highest correlation with emotional strategies (r = 0.46). CONCLUSION: According to results of this study, patients with PCOS are at risk pcychologicla disorders that may be led to decrease of quality of life. Thus this patients need to support by oppositions strategies. Also not only physical treatment but also psychological surveillance especially social support must be done for them.

A Box-Behnken design for determining the optimum experimental condition of the fungicide (Vapam) sorption onto soil modified with perlite.

In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to investigate the effects of the different operating conditions on the removal of the fungicide (Vapam) onto soil modified with perlite using sorption process. The process parameters such as pH of the fungicide solution (2, 5 and 8), temperature (15, 25 and 35°C), shaking time (2, 13 and 24 h) and the percentage of perlite in the modified soil (0, 2 and 4 %) were investigated using a four-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design at an initial fungicide concentration of C(0) = 1.6 mg/L as a fixed input parameter. A second-order quadratic model suggested the optimum conditions to be as follows: fungicide solution pH of 3.57, temperature of 15°C, shaking time of 3.5 h and 4% of perlite in the modified soil which resulted in the improvement of Vapam sorption. Under optimum conditions, the fungicide (Vapam) removal was predicted 12.88 µg/g by BBD. The confirmatory experiments were conducted and the results revealed that the fungicide removal was 13.14 µg/g which indicated that the predicted and the observed values of response (Vapam removal) were in close agreement. Therefore, the soil modified with perlite holds good potential for Vapam sorption. This is the first report on fungicide Vapam sorption onto soil modified with perlite using statistical experimental design employing response surface methodology.

Parameter optimization of the fungicide (Vapam) sorption onto soil modified with clinoptilolite by Taguchi method.

This study employs the Taguchi optimization methodology to optimize the effective parameters for the pesticide (Vapam) sorption onto soil modified with natural zeolite (clinoptilolite). The experimental factors and their ranges chosen for determination of the effective parameters were: initial Vapam concentration (0.4-1.6 mg/L), initial pH of the pesticide solution (2-12), the percentage of clinoptilolite in the modified soil (0-6 %), temperature (15-35°C) and shaking time (2-24 h). The orthogonal array (OA) L(16) and the bigger the better response category of the Taguchi method were selected to determine the optimum conditions: initial Vapam concentration (1.2 mg/L), initial pH of the pesticide solution (2), the percentage of clinoptilolite in the modified soil (4 %), temperature (15°C) and shaking time (2 h). The results showed that in comparison with other parameters, the initial Vapam concentration was the most effective one for the sorption of this pesticide onto soil, modified with clinoptilolite. Moreover, after determining the optimum levels of the sorption process parameters, confirmation experiments were performed to prove the effectiveness of the Taguchi's experimental design methodology.