An okra polysaccharide (Abelmoschus esculentus) reinforced green hydrogel based on guar gum and poly-vinyl alcohol double network for controlled release of nanocurcumin.

A novel green hydrogel (PGCO) of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) mucilage-reinforced poly-vinyl alcohol-guar gum (PG) cross-linked by citric acid containing nanocurcumin (NC) as a model drug is reported. The citric acid (CA) cross-linked hydrogel (PGC) without okra is also prepared. The hydrogels are characterized using FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and TGA techniques. Okra reinforced green hydrogel (PGCO) provided comparable swelling behaviour with better mechanical and thermal properties compared to the neat PGC hydrogel. Network parameters of PGC and PGCO hydrogels are estimated using Flory-Rehner equation and strong correlation between the cross-link density and swelling behaviour is established. 45.68 % NC loading in the PGCO hydrogel is achieved. Release study in phosphate buffer (PB) of pH 7.4 provided sustained release of NC over a period of 100 h. The release study of NC followed primarily the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with less-Fickian diffusional character (n < 0.5). The average diffusion coefficients of NC and curcumin are found to be 3.52 × 10-5 cm2 s-1, and 3.43 × 10-5 cm2 s-1 respectively demonstrating the quick release of NC in early time, which is a pre-requisite in drug delivery. The study provides initial evidence of the usefulness of okra mucilage in green hydrogel development and drug delivery applications.

Evaluation of diffusion coefficient of thiocholine in enzyme-loaded polypyrrole composite film through different methods and electrode polarization.

In this work, the diffusion of thiocholine ion into an enzyme-loaded polypyrrole film was evaluated by different methods, and the results were compared to identify the most suitable method. The enzyme-loaded polypyrrole film was coated with a thin layer of gelatin and gluteraldehyde so as to prevent enzyme leaching. Diffusion coefficients under normal and prepolarized conditions were calculated by five different methods, namely, the Cottrell method, the method of Peerce and Bard, the theoretical impedance model, the electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation (ESCR) method, and the direct impedance measurement method. The theoretical model of Vortynstev was used to calculate the parameters from the impedance spectra using simplex technique in MATLAB. The results indicate that under normal unpolarized condition the ESCR method gives a diffusion coefficient close to that given by Vortynstev method, but under polarized conditions the Cottrell method can provide a better value of diffusion coefficient than ESCR. The diffusion coefficient of thiocholine in PPy composite film from an electrolytic background of phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 was found to be 1.00 × 10(-8) cm(2) s(-1) based on Vortynstev method. The mechanism of thiocholine diffusion into the positively charged/polarized matrix is attributed to be through the formation of a dinegative ion between thiocholine and phosphate anion via electrostatic attraction.

Amperometric biosensing of organophosphate and organocarbamate pesticides utilizing polypyrrole entrapped acetylcholinesterase electrode.

The work presented here describes a novel, easy and low-cost method of fabrication of a highly sensitive acetylcholinesterase biosensor and its application to detect organophosphate and organocarbamate pesticides. Acetylcholinesterase was electro-immobilized into a thick conducting layer of polypyrrole. Porcine skin gelatin and gluteraldehyde mixture was used for stabilizing the system. Acetylthiocholine chloride was used as the substrate. Polypyrrole catalyzed the electrochemical oxidation of thiocholine and promoted the electron transfer, thus lowering the oxidation potential and increasing the detection sensitivity. Electro oxidation of thiocholine in polypyrrole matrix occurred at 0.1 V under low potential scan rate. The thiocholine sensitivity of the electrode was found to be 143 mA/M. The sensor was applied to detect the sample organophosphate pesticide ethylparaoxon and organocarbamate pesticide carbofuran. The detection limit for paraoxon was found to be 1.1 ppb and that for carbofuran is 0.12 ppb. The sensor showed good intra and inter state precision with relative standard deviation (RSD) 0.742% and 6.56% respectively. Both dry and wet storage stability were studied. The sensor stored at 0°C in dry condition had a good storage stability retaining 70% of its original activity for 4 months. During wet storage, the activity decrease followed the same trend, however, the operational stability at the end of the storage period was found to be less compared to the dry storage case. The developed biosensor is as a promising new tool for analysis of cholinesterase inhibitors.