Introduction: Methadone hydrochloride (MDN) is an effective pharmacological substitution treatment for opioids dependence, adopted in different countries as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programmes. However, MDN can exacerbate the addiction problem if it is abused and injected intravenously, and the frequent visits to the MMT centres can reduce patient compliance. The overall aim of this study is to develop a novel extended-release capsule of MDN using the sol-gel silica (SGS) technique that has the potential to counteract medication-tampering techniques and associated health risks and reduce the frequent visits to MMT centres. Methods: For MDN recrystallisation, a closed container method (CCM) and hot-stage method (HSM) were conducted, and MDN crystals were characterised using the polarised light microscope (PLM). MDN crystal thickness was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy (CM) to establish a relationship between MDN crystals thickness and their birefringence colours using the Michel-Levy Birefringence Colour Chart. The experimental series was continued to produce novel silica-based MDN formulations A and B capsules by adding MDN powder at the end and beginning of the SGS process, respectively. The silica-based MDN formulations were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), SEM, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PLM and mean grey value (MGV) analyses. The in vitro release studies (n=3) for the silica-based MDN formulations and pure MDN capsules were conducted in a phosphate buffer solution (pH= 7.2) for 7 days. Stability studies were conducted for 1 month by keeping the silica-based MDN capsules under 25°C and 57% RH. Results: The optimal method to produce large numbers of MDN crystals was the CCM, and MDN crystals were characterised as diamond shaped with an intrinsic angle of 62o. The SEM surpassed the CM in measuring MDN crystal thickness, and Mann-Whitney U Test showed statistically significant differences between SEM and confocal thickness measurements (U= 1283, p < 0.05) as the SEM exhibited thinner diamond crystals (6.62 ± 2.9 µm) than the CM measurements (9.6 ± 4.6µm). According to the Michel-Levey birefringence colour chart (using the SEM mean thickness of MDN crystals and their retardation value of 428 nm), most of MDN crystals demonstrated a yellow colour. The FT-IR, SEM, DSC, MGV and PLM analyses of both silica-based MDN formulations revealed that MDN was successfully incorporated inside the silica network producing amorphous material (with no appearance of the melting peak of pure MDN at 233.4°C) with evidence of no physical or chemical interaction between sol-gel silica and MDN. However, the TGA analysis revealed a significantly greater amount of MDN was loaded inside the silica-based MDN formulation B compared to A (t = 2.80, p = 0.009, n=6), as 28.3 ± 0.6 mg of MDN was loaded in the former while 25.6 ± 0.7 mg in the latter. In addition, the silica-based MDN formulation B released 10% more MDN after 7 days than formulation A, and both formulations were stable when stored for 1 month under 57% RH and 25°C. Conclusion: The novel combined use of SEM and PLM techniques shows a potential for the identification of MDN in forensic science as it established a range of birefringence colours of MDN crystals. Moreover, the new silica-based MDN formulation B can help to deter MDN abuse and increase patient adherence to MMT due to its potential to sustain MDN release and reduce the frequent visits to MDN treatment centres.
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This study involves the design of 24 mixtures of fiber reinforced magnetic reactive powder concrete containing nano silica. Tap water was used for 12 of these mixtures, while magnetic water was used for the others. The nano silica (NS) with ratios (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3) % by weight of cement, were used for all the mixtures. The results have shown that the mixture containing 2.5% NS gives the highest compressive strength at age 7 days. Many different other tests were carried out, the results have shown that the carbon fiber reinforced magnetic reactive powder concrete containing 2.5% NS (CFRMRPCCNS) had higher compressive strength, modulus of rupture, splitting tension, str
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The current research is attempt to test the reflection of the lean management on the human resources management practices of two of the most important communication companies operating in Iraq (`Zain & Asia cell), The research aims to Determine the extent of adoption of the lean management approach in the two researched companies, as it improving human resource management practices. The research problem represented in the existence of lack of in some aspects of the application the lean management approach in service sector and neglecting the impact of its tools on the human resource management practices. For this purpose three principle research hypotheses has been formulated, first there is a correlation rel
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Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is practically insoluble in water. It is associated with gastrointestinal side effects at high doses on long term treatment. The aim of this investigation to formulate and evaluate gellified nanoemulsion of meloxicam as a topical dosage form to enhance meloxicam therapeutic activity and reduce systemic side effect.
The pseudo ternary phase diagrams were made, including the oil mixture which is composed of almond oil and peppermint oil at a ratio (1:2), variable surfactant mixture (S mix) which are tween 80 and ethanol at ratios of (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1) and double distilled water. Slow dripping of double distilled water to the combination of the oil mixtu
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“Orodispersible Tablet†a tablet that is to be placed in oral cavity where it disperses rapidly by saliva with no need for water before swallowing. Zaltoprofen (ZLP) is one of NSAIDs which is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as to relieve inflammation and pain after surgery, injury and tooth extraction. The present study was aimed to prepare rapidly dissolved lyophilized Zaltoprofen tablet with different pharmaceutical excipients and studying the factors affecting pharmaceutical properties like (solubility, disintegration time DT, dissolution, etc.) of tablets. The lyophilized disintegrating tablets (LDTs) were prepared using Zydis technique by lyophilization an aqueous
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Darifenacin hydrobromide (DH) is the more recent uroselective M3 receptor antagonist for treating uncomplicated overactive bladder (OAB). This study was aimed to formulate DH as fast dissolving buccal films (FDBFs) using a solvent casting method to enhance patient’s compliance.
Films were prepared by using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a film forming polymer. Different types and concentrations of superdisintegrants (croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate, indion 414) were used to select the best formula by studying the physicochemical properties of the films, disintegration time (DT) and percent drug release.
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Bioavailability is the objective for an optimum formulation. The target of the analysis is to maximize both the fluidity and disintegration profile of class II weakly compounds that are water-soluble. Anti-dyslipidemia drug rosuvastatin calcium (RC) (bioavailability 20%) through formulating as nanofibers (NFs) using electrospinning (ES) technology. Twenty formulas were prepared, and different polymers and polymer combinations with various concentrations were used such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVPK-30), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Three distinct groups of maximum parameters, including polymeric solution, electrospinning method, and ambient parameter, are capable of influencing the creation alon
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