Because of its high electrical resistivity, low dielectric constant (j), high thermal neutron capture cross section, and robust chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties, amorphous hydrogenated boron carbide (a-B x C:H y) has garnered interest as a material for low-j dielectric and solid-state neutron detection applications. Herein, we investigate the relationships between chemical structure (atomic concentration B, C, H, and O), physical/mechanical properties (density, porosity, hardness, and Young's modulus), electronic structure [band gap, Urbach energy (E U), and Tauc parameter (B 1/2)], optical/dielectric properties (frequency-dependent dielectric constant), and electrical transport properties (resistivity and leakage current) through the analysis of a large series of a-B x C:H y thin films grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from ortho-carborane. The resulting films exhibit a wide range of properties including H concentration from 10% to 45%, density from 0.9 to 2.3 g/cm 3 , Young's modulus from 10 to 340 GPa, band gap from 1.7 to 3.8 eV, Urbach energy from 0.1 to 0.7 eV, dielectric constant from 3.1 to 7.6, and electrical resistivity from 10 10 to 10 15 X cm. Hydrogen concentration is found to correlate directly with thin-film density, and both are used to map and explain the other material properties. Hardness and Young's modulus exhibit a direct power law relationship with density above $1.3 g/cm 3 (or below $35% H), below which they plateau, providing evidence for a rigidity percolation threshold. An increase in band gap and decrease in dielectric constant with increasing H concentration are explained by a decrease in network connectivity as well as mass/electron density. An increase in disorder, as measured by the parameters E U and B 1/2 , with increasing H concentration is explained by the release of strain in the network and associated decrease in structural disorder. All of these correlations in a-B x C:H y are found to be very similar to those observed in amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H), which suggests parallels between the influence of hydrogenation on their material properties and possible avenues for optimization. Finally, an increase in electrical resistivity with increasing H at <35 at. % H concentration is explained, not by disorder as in a-Si:H, but rather by a lower rate of hopping associated with a lower density of sites, assuming a variable range hopping mechanism interpreted in the framework of percolation theory. V

The purpose of this study was to engineer a model anti-HIV microbicide (tenofovir) drug delivery system targeting HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 (HIV-1 g120) for the prevention of HIV sexual transmission. HIV-1 g120 and mannose responsive particles (MRP) were prepared through the layer-by-layer coating of calcium carbonate (CaCO) with concanavalin A (Con A) and glycogen. MRP average particle size ranged from 881.7 ± 15.45 nm to 1130 ± 15.72 nm, depending on the number of Con A layers. Tenofovir encapsulation efficiency in CaCO was 74.4% with drug loading of 16.3% (w/w). MRP was non-cytotoxic to Lactobacillus crispatus, human vaginal keratinocytes (VK2), and murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and did not induce any significant proinflammatory nitric oxide release. Overall, compared to control, no statistically significant increase in proinflammatory cytokine IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, MKC, IL-7, and interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP10) levels was observed. Drug release profiles in the presence of methyl α-d-mannopyranoside and recombinant HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 followed Hixson-Crowell and Hopfenberg kinetic models, indicative of a surface-eroding system. The one Con A layer containing system was found to be the most sensitive (∼2-fold increase in drug release vs control SFS:VFS) at the lowest HIV gp120 concentration tested (25 μg/mL). Percent mucoadhesion, tested ex vivo on porcine vaginal tissue, ranged from 10% to 21%, depending on the number of Con A layers in the formulation. Collectively, these data suggested that the proposed HIV-1 g120 targeting, using MRP, potentially represent a safe and effective template for vaginal microbicide drug delivery, if future preclinical studies are conclusive.

It is hypothesized that thiolated chitosan (TCS) core/shell nanofibers (NFs) can enhance the drug loading of tenofovir, a model low molecular weight and highly water-soluble drug molecule, and improve its mucoadhesivity and in vivo safety. To test this hypothesis, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) core with TCS and polylactic acid (PLA) shell NFs are fabricated by a coaxial electrospinning technique. The morphology, drug loading, drug release profiles, cytotoxicity and mucoadhesion of the NFs are analyzed using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, liquid chromatography, cytotoxicity assays on VK2/E6E7 and End1/E6E7 cell lines and Lactobacilli crispatus, fluorescence imaging and periodic acid colorimetric method, respectively. In vivo safety studies are performed in C57BL/6 mice followed by H&E and immunohistochemical (CD45) staining analysis of genital tract. The mean diameters of PEO, PEO/TCS, and PEO/TCS-PLA NFs are 118.56, 9.95, and 99.53 nm, respectively. The NFs exhibit smooth surface. The drug loading (13%-25%, w/w) increased by 10-fold compared to a nanoparticle formulation due to the application of the electrospinning technique. The NFs are noncytotoxic at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. The PEO/TCS-PLA core/shell NFs mostly exhibit a release kinetic following Weibull model (r = 0.9914), indicating the drug release from a matrix system. The core/shell NFs are 40-60-fold more bioadhesive than the pure PEO based NFs. The NFs are nontoxic and noninflammatory in vivo after daily treatment for up to 7 days. Owing to their enhanced drug loading and preliminary safety profile, the TCS core/shell NFs are promising candidates for the topical delivery of HIV/AIDS microbicides such as tenofovir.

It is hypothesized that novel thiolated chitosan-coated multilayer microparticles (MPs) with enhanced drug loading are more mucoadhesive than uncoated MPs and safe in vivo for vaginal delivery of topical anti-HIV microbicide. Formulation optimization is achieved through a custom experimental design and the alginate (AG) MPs cores are prepared using the spray drying method. The optimal MPs are then coated with the thiolated chitosan (TCS) using a layer-by-layer method. The morphological analysis, in situ drug payload, in vitro drug release profile, and mucoadhesion potential of the MPs are carried out using scanning electron microscopy, solid-state P NMR spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, fluorescence imaging and periodic acid Schiff method, respectively. The cytotoxicity and preclinical safety of MPs are assessed on human vaginal (VK2/E6E7) and endocervical (End1/E6E7) epithelial cell lines and in female C57BL/6 mice, respectively. The results show that the MPs are successfully formulated with an average diameter ranging from 2 to 3 μm with a drug loading of 7-12% w/w. The drug release profile of these MPs primarily follows the Baker-Lonsdale and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. The MPs exhibit high mucoadhesion (20-50 folds) compared to native AGMPs. The multilayer MPs are noncytotoxic. Histological and immunochemical analysis of the mice genital tract shows neither signs of damage nor inflammatory cell infiltrate. These data highlight the potential use of TCS-coated AG-based multilayer MPs templates for the topical vaginal delivery of anti-HIV/AIDS microbicides.

The dialysis method is classically used for drug separation before analysis, but, does not provide direct and real-time drug quantification and has limitations affecting the dialysis rate. In this study, a phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-qNMR) method is developed for the real-time quantification of therapeutic molecules in vitro. The release kinetics of model drug tenofovir (TFV: anti-HIV microbicide) was analyzed in vaginal fluid simulant (VFS), semen fluid simulant (SFS), and human plasma (HP) from chitosan nanofibers (size ~100–200nm) using the NMR (direct) method and compared with dialysis/UV-Vis (indirect) method. The assay was linear in VFS/SFS (0.20–5.0mM), HP (0.30–5.0mM) and specific (no drug 31P-qNMR chemical shift (~15ppm) interference with formulation/media components). LOD values were 0.075/0.10/0.20mM, whereas, LOQ values were 0.20/0.20/0.30mM in VFS/SFS/HP, respectively. The method was robust, precise (%RSE <2%), and accurate (%mean recovery: 90-110%). After 12h, ~75%/72%/70%w/w of TFV release was observed with 31P-qNMR, compared to ~47%/52%/52%w/w by dialysis method in VFS/SFS/HP, respectively. Approximately 20% decrease in %drug release observed with dialysis method suggested an interference with drug transport process due to the dialysis membrane and the Gibbs-Donnan effect. Overall, 31P-qNMR provides more accurate, real-time and direct drug quantification for effective in vitro/in vivo correlation.