Faunal mortality associated with massive beaching and decomposition of pelagic Sargassum.

In 2018, the Mexican Caribbean coast received a massive influx of pelagic Sargassum spp. that accumulated and decayed on beaches producing organic decomposition products that made the water turbid and brown. Between May and September of the same year there were several reports of mass mortality of marine biota in this area. From these reports we estimate that organisms belonging to 78 faunal species died as result of this event, with demersal neritic fish and Crustacea being the most affected groups. The cause of mortality appears to be the combined effect of high ammonium and hydrogen sulfide concentrations, together with hypoxic conditions. If massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum spp. continues and algae is left to decay on the beach in large volumes then deterioration in water quality could affect coral reefs close to shore. Furthermore, barriers placed in lagoons to intercept the Sargassum spp. before it reaches the beach could impact reef fauna if the algae is left to die and sink on site.

A supercritical fluid-based coating technology. 3: preparation and characterization of bovine serum albumin particles coated with lipids.

Solvent-free microparticles, loaded with bovine serum albumin as a model protein, were produced using a novel supercritical (SC) fluid-based coating technology. Coating material consists either of trimyristin (Dynasan 114) or of Gelucire 50-02. Microparticles obtained were characterized as regards their morphology, protein content and in vitro release profile. A discontinuous coating made of micro-needles of trimyristin led to an initial burst release of approximately 70% in 30 min. However, a prolonged release of the BSA could be achieved in a phosphate buffer solution at 37 degrees C over a 24 h period from particles coated with Gelucire 50-02. Furthermore, it was shown that BSA does not undergo any degradation after SC CO(2) treatment under the conditions used in the coating process.

Microencapsulation of protein particles within lipids using a novel supercritical fluid process.

Solvent-free microparticles, loaded with a model protein (bovine serum albumin: BSA) have been produced using a novel coating process based on supercritical (SC) fluid technology. Coating material consists of either trimyristin (Dynasan114) or Gelucire50-02, two lipidic compounds having a high melting point. Microparticles were characterized as regards their morphology, protein content and in vitro release profile. A discontinuous coating made of crystalline micro-needles was obtained using Dynasan114. It led to particles with an initial burst release of about 70% in 30 min at 37 degrees C. However, a prolonged release of the protein has been achieved over a 24 h period from particles coated with Gelucire50-02, which produces a more homogeneous, film-forming coating. Furthermore, it was shown that BSA does not undergo any degradation after SCCO2 treatment under the SC conditions used in the coating process.

Properties of polyethylene glycol 660 12-hydroxy stearate at a triglyceride/water interface.

This study proposed a method to understand the surfactant role in the first step of the formulation of a novel generation of lipidic nanocapsules. A dynamic rheological protocol was applied using a pendant drop tensiometer in order to determine the interfacial properties of the initial mixture implied in the first formulation step. The response, in terms of interfacial elasticities, described how this mixture led to monodisperse nanometer size range structures after a physico-chemical constraint.

Development and characterization of solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with magnetite.

This paper describes the preparation of colloidal lipid particles containing magnetite from warm emulsions. A two step method was used to obtain the nanoparticles: (i) formulation of a transparent phase by heating a O/W emulsion (aqueous surfactant solution melted with a lipid phase, containing the ethyl oleate and soybean lecithin) in which modified lipophilic magnetite is incorporated, and (ii) preparation of the nanoparticles by dispersing the warm transparent phase in cold water (7 degrees C) under mechanical stirring. The latter method gives spherical nanoparticles of a mean size of 62 nm measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy and Transmission Electronic Microscopy. The magnetite entrapment efficiency was determined by use of a magnetophoretic sedimentation method.

Tensioactivity and supramolecular organization of the palmitoyl prodrug of timolol.

PURPOSE: To improve the bioavailability of the ocular drug timolol by facilitating its transport through the cornea, an amphiphilic prodrug was synthesized via the addition of a palmitic chain by esterification. The present study was undertaken to investigate the physicochemical and tensioactive properties of the prodrug. METHODS: The amphiphilic properties of the prodrug were firstly investigated by the Wilhelmy plate method. The textures generated by the supramolecular organizations of the ester were visualized by optical microscopy. RESULTS: The prodrug clearly decreased the surface tension. Optical microscopy provided excellent evidence for the existence of lyotropic liquid crystalline phases: two isotropic but organized phases and a birefringent lamellar phase. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the ensemble of studies undertaken to determine the amphiphilic properties of the prodrug were all in accord with its ability to form liquid crystalline phases. The liquid crystalline state of the prodrug is believed to introduce a delay in the drug pharmacological effect.

Preliminary evaluation of a series of amphiphilic timolol prodrugs: possible evidence for transscleral absorption.

A series of amphiphilic esters of timolol malonate (octanoyl, decanoyl, dodecanoyl, myristoyl and palmitoyl timolol) were tested in rabbits for their capacity to antagonise the isoproterenol-induced ocular hypotension, using timolol maleate as reference standard. The most active prodrug, palmitoyl timolol malonate (PTM) was also evaluated for its capacity: (a) to decrease IOP in a model of bethamethasone-induced ocular hypertension, and (b) to permeate "in vitro" through rabbit corneal tissues. PTM, the prodrug with the longest aliphatic chain and therefore the greatest amphiphilic/lipophilic character, showed "in vivo" significant activity differences with respect to timolol maleate: the beta-antagonism was more important at earlier and later experimental times, and the IOP decrease was more marked at longer times. The prodrug, however, showed "in vitro" an inferior corneal permeability when compared with timolol maleate. The significant differences observed for the beta-antagonism of PTM at earlier times of the test might be attributed to transscleral absorption, due to the physicochemical characteristics of the prodrug, while the prolonged action (also observed in the IOP-depression test) might be due to sustained release, resulting from accumulation of the prodrug in the corneal epithelium. The present preliminary results are indicative of the potentiality of amphiphilic properties in a prodrug molecule.