Influência de tratamentos termo-mecânicos na estrutura e microestrutura da liga Ti-10%pNi obtida por fusão a arco

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Lithium intercalation into double rare earth chromates

Lithium intercalation into double rare earth chromates was carried out. It was found that the compounds NaxLi1-xLa(CrO4)2 belong to the NaLa(CrO4)2 structural type and may be recommended as fast ionic conductors. At small values of x a third polymorphous modification of LiLa(CrO4)2 can be stabilized. Attempts to intercalate lithium into CsLa(CrO4)2 lead to collapse of the lamellar network with the formation of LaCrO4 and alkaline chromates. Ion exchange Li+/H+ data are consistent with these considerations. © 1994.

Maturidade pulmonar e fetal de bezerros da raça holandesa preta e branca tecém-nascidos, a termo e hígidos: análise do líquido amniótico

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo histomorfométrico do processo de cicatrização óssea em defeitos cirúrgicos de camanho crítico em calvárias de ratos preenchidos com polímero de mamona

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the polymer histomorphometrically castor during the healing process of defects of critical size calvarial preparations in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty animals underwent a surgical procedure that was to be held in the calvaria of each animal a critical defect of 8 mm in diameter with a drill trephine. The rats were divided into two groups according to the following procedures: group C received no treatment and the bone defect site was filled with blood clot, group M, the bone defect was filled with castor oil polymer particles. The animals were sacrificed 180 days after the surgical procedures. After routine laboratory procedures the specimens were subjected to analysis histomorphometric. Results: In groups C the newly formed bone tissue was well developed, with adjacent areas of osteoid matrix rich in osteoblasts, and restricted to the vicinity of the edges of the defect. In animals of group M was observed newly formed lamellar bone tissue restricted to the vicinity of the defect edges and particles of polymer Castor distributed throughout the defect. There was a higher percentage of newly formed bone area was statistically significant in group C compared to animals in group M. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study can conclude that the castor oil polymer is biocompatible and had kept the area during the healing of critical size defects in surgically prepared rat calvariae.

Estudo histomorfométrico do processo de cicatrização óssea em defeitos cirúrgicos de tamanho crítico em calvárias de ratos preenchidos com polímero de mamona

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the polymer histomorphometrically castor during the healing process of defects of critical size calvarial preparations in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty animals underwent a surgical procedure that was to be held in the calvaria of each animal a critical defect of 8 mm in diameter with a drill trephine. The rats were divided into two groups according to the following procedures: group C received no treatment and the bone defect site was filled with blood clot, group M, the bone defect was filled with castor oil polymer particles. The animals were sacrificed 180 days after the surgical procedures. After routine laboratory procedures the specimens were subjected to analysis histomorphometric. Results: In groups C the newly formed bone tissue was well developed, with adjacent areas of osteoid matrix rich in osteoblasts, and restricted to the vicinity of the edges of the defect. In animals of group M was observed newly formed lamellar bone tissue restricted to the vicinity of the defect edges and particles of polymer Castor distributed throughout the defect. There was a higher percentage of newly formed bone area was statistically significant in group C compared to animals in group M. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study can conclude that the castor oil polymer is biocompatible and had kept the area during the healing of critical size defects in surgically prepared rat calvariae

Atividade antioxidante do extrato seco de cacau orgânico (Theobroma cacao): estudo de estabilidade e teste de aceitação de cremes acrescidos deste extrato

Conselho Nacional de Desevolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Development and in vitro skin delivery of dexamethasone acetate-loaded surfactant-based systems

Topical corticosteroids, e.g., dexamethasone acetate (DMA), are extensively used to treat cutaneous inflammatory disorders even though their use is correlated with potential local and systemic side effects. The objective of this study was to develop and test the topical delivery of DMA-loaded surfactant based systems in vitro; these studies could guarantee a suitable delivery and therapeutic efficacy, as well as minimize DMA's side effects. A phase diagram was constructed using polyoxypropylene (5) polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl alcohol as the surfactant (S), isopropyl myristate as the oil phase (O) and water (W). The systems were characterized using polarization light microscopy (PLM), as well as rheological and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. Depending on the concentration of the constituents, it was possible to obtain microemulsions (MEs) and liquid crystalline mesophases (lamellar and hexagonal). These types of arrangement were verified using PLM measurements. The SAXS results revealed that increasing the W/S ratio led to ME, as well as lamellar (LAM) and hexagonal (HEX) arrangements. The MEs displayed typical Newtonian behavior while the LAM and HEX phases exhibited pseudoplasticity and plasticity, respectively. The MEs displayed excellent drug solubilization that was approximately 10-fold higher than was observed with the individual components. The in vitro cutaneous permeation studies using pig ear skin and analysis of the mechanical parameters (hardness, compressibility, cohesiveness and adhesiveness) were carried out with a HEX phase and O/W emulsion. The HEX phase achieved better drug permeation and retention in the skin while its mechanical properties were suitable for skin administration. PPG-5-CETETH-20-based systems may be a promising platform delivering DMA and other topical corticosteroids through the skin.

Análise da influência do agente umectante na estabilidade reológica e avaliação de cristais líquidos em formulações cosméticas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Surfactant-based transdermal system for fluconazole skin delivery

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Parâmetros oftálmicos em cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous, Linnaeus, 1766)

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Produção de biodiesel etílico utilizando óxidos mistos derivados de hidróxidos duplos lamelares como catalisadores

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência de elementos terras raras nas propriedades catalíticas de óxidos derivados de hidrotalcitas para produção de biodiesel etílico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Temperature-Dependence of Cationic Lipid Bilayer Intermixing: Possible Role of Interdigitation

In this work, we investigated the properties of a fusogenic cationic lipid, diC14-amidine, and show that this lipid possesses per se the capacity to adopt either an interdigitated structure (below and around its transition temperature) or a lamellar structure (above the transition temperature). To provide experimental evidence of this lipid bilayer organization, phospholipids spin-labeled at different positions of the hydrocarbon chain were incorporated into the membrane and their electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra were recorded at different temperatures. For comparison, similar experiments were performed with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, a zwitterionic lipid (DMPC) which adopts a bilayer organization over a broad temperature range. Lipid mixing between diC14-amidine and asolectin liposomes was more efficient below (10-15 degrees C) than above the transition temperature (above 25 degrees C). This temperature-dependent "fusogenic" activity of diC14-amidine liposomes is opposite to what has been observed so far for peptides or virus-induced fusion. Altogether, our data suggest that interdigitatiori is a highly fusogenic state and that interdigitation-mediated fusion occurs via an unusual temperature-dependent mechanism that remains to be deciphered.

Liquid Crystal Nanodispersions Enable the Cutaneous Delivery of Photosensitizer for Topical PDT: Fluorescence Microscopy Study of Skin Penetration

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been applied to almost all types of nonmelanoma skin cancer and numerous superficial benign skin disorders. Strategies to improve the accumulation of photosensitizer in the skin have been studied in recent years. Although the hydrophilic phthalocyanine zinc compound, zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (ZnPcSO4) has shown high photodynamic efficiency and reduced phototoxic side effects in the treatment of brain tumors and eye conditions, its use in topical skin treatment is currently limited by its poor skin penetration. In this study, nanodispersions of monoolein (MO)-based liquid crystalline phases were studied for their ability to increase ZnPcSO4 uptake by the skin. Lamellar, hexagonal and cubic crystalline phases were prepared and identified by polarizing light microscopy, and the nanodispersions were analyzed by dynamic light scattering. In vitro skin penetration studies were performed using a Franz's cell apparatus, and the skin uptake was evaluated in vivo in hairless mice. Aqueous dispersions of cubic and hexagonal phases showed particles of nanometer size, approximately 224 +/- 10 nm and 188 +/- 10 nm, respectively. In vitro skin retention experiments revealed higher fluorescence from the ZnPcSO4 in deeper skin layers when this photosensitizer was loaded in the hexagonal nanodispersion system when compared to both the cubic phase nanoparticles and the bulk crystalline phases (lamellar, cubic and hexagonal). The hexagonal nanodispersion showed a similar penetration behavior in animal tests. These results are important findings, suggesting the development of MO liquid crystal nanodispersions as potential delivery systems to enhance the efficacy of topical PDT.

Effects of extrusion, lipid concentration and purity on physico-chemical and biological properties of cationic liposomes for gene vaccine applications

We developed cationic liposomes containing DNA through a conventional process involving steps of (i) preformation of liposomes, (ii) extrusion, (iii) drying and rehydration and (iv) DNA complexation. Owing to its high prophylactic potentiality against tuberculosis, which had already been demonstrated in preclinical assays, we introduced modifications into the conventional process towards getting a simpler and more economical process for further scale-up. Elimination of the extrusion step, increasing the lipid concentration (from 16 to 64 mM) of the preformed liposomes and using good manufacturing practice bulk lipids (96-98% purity) instead of analytical grade purity lipids (99.9-100%) were the modifications studied. The differences in the physico-chemical properties, such as average diameter, zeta potential, melting point and morphology of the liposomes prepared through the modified process, were not as significant for the biological properties, such as DNA loading on the cationic liposomes, and effective immune response in mice after immunisation as the control liposomes prepared through the conventional process. Beneficially, the modified process increased productivity by 22% and reduced the cost of raw material by 75%.