A terpolymer gel, Gellan gum-graft-poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide) and its composite with the clay, Montmorillonite, was prepared by free-radical polymerization and crosslinking reactions in solution. The terpolymer gel and the clay composite were characterized using FTIR, TGA, SEM, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Swelling studies were carried out in different pH and salt solutions. The gel showed maximum swelling capacity in alkaline medium, while the composite showed higher swelling in neutral medium. The swelling of the gel and the composite followed second kinetics model and water transport is found to be a less Fickian diffusion process. The terpolymer gel and the composite were evaluated for the adsorption of rhodamine B (RhB) and chromotrope 2R (C2R) dyes. Rhodamine B is found to be adsorbed to a higher extent than chromotrope 2R and the adsorption isotherm studies suggested that adsorption of both RhB and C2R on the terpolymer gel was best explained by Langmuir model, while the adsorption on the Composite fitted best into Freundlich model. Similarly, the adsorption kinetics data for both RhB and C2R dyes followed the second-order kinetics.

Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the suitability of triclosan (TCS) and flurbiprofen (FLB) with poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), chitosan (CS), and Kolliphor® P188 (KP) for possible application in the design of nano-formulations. Results Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the physical characteristics of the various sample compositions without any apparent interaction. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)’s spectra of the physical mixtures showed their characteristic absorption bands with broadening and overlapping of bands in some instances, but no appearance of new bands was observed. Conclusion The study revealed the physical form stability of the evaluated components after the storage period and lack of definite pharmaceutical incompatibility between them. Thus, the selected drugs and excipients could be used for the development of pharmaceutical nano-formulations.

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Aim: The potency of trona against fungi associated with dermatophytes isolated from children in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) local farming community was investigated. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry and Department of Pharmacognosy, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, between January 2017 and September 2017. Methodology: The samples were collected from errand children within UDUS, and the organisms were isolated and identified microscopically using standard methods. Elemental analysis of the two types of trona (red and white) was also determined using standard Analytical methods. The sensitivity test was carried out using agar well diffusion method. Results: In the two types of trona (red and white) Sodium was found to have the highest concentration of 9500 mg/kg and 8300 mg/kg, and the lowest was 0.15 and 0.10 mg/kg. Potassium was reported to have a concentration of 4400 mg/kg and 1800 mg/kg for the white and red trona respectively. Some of the organisms identified were Microsporum Canis, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes etc. Highest mean zone of inhibition of 20.7 and 23.3 mm was recorded for the red and white trona respectively. The least zone of inhibition recorded was 2.7 and 4.7 mm for the red and white trona respectively. Increased activity was recorded when the concentration of the trona was increased. Conclusion: The results revealed promising potentials of trona in the treatment of fungi associated with dermatophytoses. However, further studies should be done to determine the mechanism of action of trona on these organisms.

A graft copolymer gel composite made up of locust bean gum (LBG), diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and bentonite (BNT) was prepared using methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker via microwave irradiation and characterised using FTIR, FESEM/EDS and XRD techniques. The graft ted copolymer composite was evaluated for its adsorption towards methylene blue (MB) dye. The LBG-g-poly (DADMAC-co-AMPS)/BNT showed a maximum adsorption of 70.89 mg/g compared to 65.09 mg/g showed by LBG-g-poly (DADMAC-co-AMPS). The adsorption data were subjected to two different isotherm Original Research Article

Phytochemical screening remains the most effective method for identifying and screening medically active components of plant. This research work studied the phytochemical screening, toxicity profile and antibacterial activity of the stem bark of Andira inermis using four different extracts by varying the polarity of the solvents; n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetateand methanol. The screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and carbohydrates in all extracts, tannins and saponins were not detected in chloroform and n-hexane extract, glycoside was also not detected in the chloroform extract. The toxicity profile in vivo studies using the Lorke’s method revealed no significance changes in the body weight of the albino rats, and the LD50 was higher than 5000mg/kg. However, there was a significant changes in behavior of the albino rats such as, fatigue, diarrhea, restlessness etc at 1600 mg/kg, 2900mg/kg and 5000mg/kg doses of the extracts respectively. Antimicrobial studies was evaluated with four (4) each of different bacteria and fungi. The results revealed ethylacetate and chloroform (moderately polar solvents) extracts to be more active against both bacteria and fungi but the methanol (highly polar) and hexane (highly non polar) extracts possessed less activities as compared with the other extracts at 15, 20, 30 and 40% concentrations.

Attempt to save the planet from numerous environmental challenges has been an on-going activity for many decades, through the use of sustainable materials and processes. These have necessitated researches in materials science driven by sustainable chemical approach to derive sustainable materials that do not depend on fossil resources for industrial feedstock, and these materials do not have a negative outcome on the environment. This study investigated the physical and intermolecular interaction of Mango starch derived bioplastic plasticised with sucrose, and reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Water uptake (WU) were observed to decrease significantly as the molar concentration of HCl or sucrose increases independently, and increase in WU was observation when CMC was increased (p ≤ 0.05). Increasing the molar concentration of HCl or the percentage amount of sucrose as plasticiser has no effect on the oil-uptake (OU), while increasing the percentage of CMC resulted to a decrease, which shows no effect as the CMC amount increases (p > 0.05). Vapour absorption index (VAI) showed a similar trend to WU but significantly, higher outcomes were observed (p ≤ 0.05). The FTIR results also indicate that a physical interaction has occurred between the blends increase in sucrose showed a change in the FTIR peaks especially in the broader peaks observed in the O-H regions of 3500-3200 cm-1 compared to unplasticized native mango starch.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional crosslinked polymers with several uses in the administration and loading of drugs as well as the capacity to hold enormous amounts of water or biological fluids. Using carboxymethyl cellulose, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulphonic acid (AMPS), N,N-bisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker, and potassium persulate (KPS) as an initiator, the CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS) was created. FTIR spectroscopy was used to characterize the CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS). In distilled water, KOH, and HCl, the CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS)'s swelling capability was assessed. CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS has the largest swelling ratio in KOH, followed by HCl, while pure water has the lowest swelling ratio. Various salt solutions (FeCl3.6H2O, CuCl2, and NaCl) were used at predetermined times in distilled water to test the effect of ionic strength on CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS). The swelling of CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS) increased with the increase in salt solution concentration, and the ionic strength of a solution is the measure of the concentration of ions in salt solutions. In salt solutions (CuCl2, NaCl, and FeCl3.6H2O), the maximal swelling ratio of CMC-g-poly(DMA-co-AMPS) is 10.5g, 10.0g, and 9.5g, respectively.