The role of ionic liquid in asphaltene dissolution is
studied using
experimental characterization techniques, such as optical microscopic
imaging analysis, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),
and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, along with molecular
insights achieved using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
The dissolution behavior of the asphaltenes in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium
hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) ionic liquid along with
organic solvents, i.e., toluene and hexane, is investigated using
optical images. The behavior of asphaltene aggregates in the solvent
plus ionic liquid mixture is probed using FTIR and 13C
NMR spectroscopic techniques. The structural and dynamical properties
of the asphaltene aggregates mainly end-to-end distance, the diffusion
coefficient of the asphaltene molecules, and the trajectory density
contour of the asphaltene in the solvent plus ionic liquid mixture
are probed using MD simulations. It is concluded from our combined
experimental–MD study that the ionic liquid plays a key role
in asphaltene separation from organic solvents under study.
Prednisolone, a popular glucocorticoid (GC) known for its ability to inhibit cytokine release, is also employed extensively in cancer therapy. GCs have been used to treat brain tumors to reduce tumor-associated edema. They are known to exhibit different effects on different cell lines and in some cases are known to be neurotoxic. In this study, we have investigated and compared the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of prednisolone and prednisolone encapsulated Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) on C6 cells that are cancerous but are known for their similarity to astrocyte cells. Design expert software was used to analyze the effect of different variables for NP formulation. By varying different parameters, NPs were synthesized and characterized using particle size analyzer and zeta potential. The surface morphology of the NPs was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Lipopolysaccharide activated C6 glial cells witnessed significantly lower cell proliferation in the presence of the drug during the 48 hours of incubation and the prednisolone encapsulated NPs were able to attenuate pro-inflammatory cytokines like Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide substantially even after the 72 hours of incubation when compared with the free drug. The results suggested that prednisolone was more effective as an anti-inflammatory drug in the PLGA nanoformulation.
Background: Glucocorticoids are employed for their anti-inflammatory effects in treatingglioma, whose cells are known to overexpress the folate receptors. Some glucocorticoids haveshown inhibitory effects, but the efficacy of prednisolone when delivered via folate receptormediateduptake, has not been attempted. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of targeteddelivery of prednisolone on glioma cell lines like C6 and U87 via the folate receptors. Methods: Targeted delivery of prednisolone was achieved by initially conjugating folic acid (FA)to the di-block copolymer of polylactic acid (PLA) – polyethylene glycol (PEG). This moietycarrying di-block copolymer was incorporated on the surface of the drug-loaded poly lactic-coglycolicacid (PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) by employing the Interfacial Activity Assisted SurfaceFunctionalization (IAASF) technique. The NPs were evaluated for size, zeta potential, and drugloading. It was characterized using particle size analyser, SEM, 1H-NMR, and XRD. cell uptake,cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activities were studied for various formulations. Results: The cytotoxicity assay indicated a high cell growth inhibitory effect of drug encapsulatedNPs with FA moiety as compared to free drug and NPs without the moiety for an incubationperiod of three, five, and six days. The growth-inhibitory effect of the free drug was short-lived,whereas FA functionalized NPs showed higher uptake and sustained inhibitory effect, and werealso able to significantly control the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumour necrosisfactor-alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO). Conclusion: Uptake, attenuation of pro-inflammatory signals, and the inhibitory effect ofprednisolone on the cells were more effective when targeted with the FA moiety on the surfaceof NPs as compared to free drug and NPs without the moiety.
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