Trans-scleral iontophoretic delivery of low molecular weight therapeutics.

The fundamental understanding of ocular drug delivery using iontophoresis is not at the same level as that for transdermal electrotransport. Research has therefore been undertaken to characterise the electrical properties of the sclera (charge, permselectivity, and isoelectric point (pI)) and to determine the basics of iontophoretic transport of model neutral, cationic, and anionic species (respectively, mannitol, timolol, and dexamethasone phosphate). Like the skin, the sclera supports a net negative charge under physiological pH conditions and has a pI between 3.5 and 4. Equally, the principles of trans-scleral iontophoretic transport of low molecular weight compounds are consistent with those observed for skin. Iontophoretic delivery of timolol and dexamethasone phosphate was proportional to applied current and drug concentration, and trans-scleral iontophoresis in rabbits led to enhanced intraocular levels of these compounds compared to passive delivery. The behaviour of higher molecular weight species such as peptide drugs and other biopharmaceuticals (e.g., proteins and oligonucleotides) has not been fully characterised. Further work has been undertaken, therefore, to examine the trans-scleral iontophoresis of vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic with a relatively high molecular weight of 1448 Da. It was indeed possible to deliver vancomycin by iontophoresis but trans-scleral transport did not increase linearly with either increasing current density or peptide concentration.

Activated sludge encapsulation in gellan gum microbeads for gasoline biodegradation.

A two-phase dispersion technique, termed emulsification-internal gelation, is proposed for encapsulation of activated sludge in gellan gum microbeads. The influence of emulsion parameters on size distribution of microbeads was investigated. Mean diameter of microbeads varied within a range of 34-265 microm as a descending function of emulsion stirring rate (1,000-5,000 rpm), emulsification time (10-40 min), and emulsifier concentration (0-0.1% w/w), and as an ascending function of disperse phase volume fraction (0.08-0.25). Encapsulated sludge expressed a high biodegradation activity compared with non-encapsulated sludge cultures even at 4.4 times lower level of overall biomass loading. Over 90% of gasoline at an initial concentration of 35 and 70 mg l(-1) was removed by both encapsulated and non-encapsulated sludge cultures in sealed serum bottles within 7 days. Encapsulation of activated sludge in gellan gum microbeads enhanced the biological activity of microbial populations in the removal of gasoline hydrocarbons. The results of this study demonstrated the feasibility of the production of size-controlled gellan gum-encapsulated sludge microbeads and their use in the biodegradation of gasoline.

Transport of gellan gum microbeads through sand: an experimental evaluation for encapsulated cell bioaugmentation.

Transport of 10-40 microm gellan gum microbeads was studied in horizontal sand columns to evaluate the feasibility of using gel-encapsulated bacteria for bioaugmentation of contaminated aquifers. Three 5.2 x 110 cm columns were packed with sand (column A: 0.5-2 mm, column B: 0.25-2 mm, and column C: 0.125-2 mm). Microbeads in artificial groundwater were injected at 0.5 l h(-1) during intermittent 12-h periods. Breakthrough of microbeads increased with injection time, varying as a descending function of travel distance. After 72 h of injection, about 75% of injected microbeads were dispersed across a 5-110 cm distance from the inlet in column A, compared to 78% across a 5-50 cm in column B, and 76% across a 5-20 cm in column C. The wider dispersion of microbeads across the length of column A, compared to those observed in columns B and C, suggests a higher potential for the formation of a uniform bioactive zone of encapsulated cells across a sandy aquifer with such grain size distribution and hydrodynamic properties.

Biodegradation of gasoline by gellan gum-encapsulated bacterial cells.

Encapsulated cell bioaugmentation is a novel alternative solution to in situ bioremediation of contaminated aquifers. This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of such a remediation strategy based on the performance of encapsulated cells in the biodegradation of gasoline, a major groundwater contaminant. An enriched bacterial consortium, isolated from a gasoline-polluted site, was encapsulated in gellan gum microbeads (16-53 microm diameter). The capacity of the encapsulated cells to degrade gasoline under aerobic conditions was evaluated in comparison with free (non-encapsulated) cells. Encapsulated cells (2.6 mg(cells) x g(-1) bead) degraded over 90% gasoline hydrocarbons (initial concentration 50-600 mg x L(-1)) within 5-10 days at 10 degrees C. Equivalent levels of free cells removed comparable amounts of gasoline (initial concentration 50-400 mg x L(-1)) within the same period but required up to 30 days to degrade the highest level of gasoline tested (600 mg x L(-1)). Free cells exhibited a lag phase in biodegradation, which increased from 1 to 5 days with an increase in gasoline concentration (200-600 x mg L(-1)). Encapsulation provided cells with a protective barrier against toxic hydrocarbons, eliminating the adaptation period required by free cells. The reduction of encapsulated cell mass loading from 2.6 to 1.0 mg(cells) x g(-1) bead caused a substantial decrease in the extent of biodegradation within a 30-day incubation period. Encapsulated cells dispersed within the porous soil matrix of saturated soil microcosms demonstrated a reduced performance in the removal of gasoline (initial concentrations of 400 and 600 mg x L(-1)), removing 30-50% gasoline hydrocarbons compared to 40-60% by free cells within 21 days of incubation. The results of this study suggest that gellan gum-encapsulated bacterial cells have the potential to be used for biodegradation of gasoline hydrocarbons in aqueous systems.