Formulation and <i>In-Vitro</i>Release Pattern Study of Gliclazide Matrix Tablet

In current decade, pharmaceutical industries of Bangladesh are giving much emphasize on the formulation of time release preparation to treat various chronic diseases in order to decrease the frequency of administration and to improve patient compliance. Objectives: The objective of this investigation is to design and evaluate sustained release matrix tablet of Gliclazide by direct compression method employing polymers of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) derivatives (K15M CR and K4M CR) and to select the optimized formulations and compression process by performing a comparative release kinetic study with a reference product, Diamicron MR (one of the worldwide brand of Gliclazide sustain released tablet manufactured by Servier one of the French pharmaceutical company) tablet. Methods: Release kinetics of Gliclazide matrix tablets were determined using USP paddle method at Phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The release mechanism was explored and explained with zero order, first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer model. Result: It is found that formulation with lower polymeric concentration follows Higuchi release kinetics and that the formulation with higher concentration best fits with zero order release kinetics. Among the formulations, F1 and F6 show almost similar dissolution profile with Diamicron MR Tablet, which can be suitable candidates for further in-vivo bioequivalence study. Conclusion: Findings of this investigation suggest that F1 and F6 formulations are potential candidates for further bioequivalence study among other formulations.

Steady-State Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis of TRIGA Research Reactor

The COOLOD-N2 and PARET computer codes were used for a steady-state thermal hydraulic and safety analysis of the 3 MW TRIGA Mark-II research reactor located at Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The objective of the present study is to ensure that all important safety related thermal hydraulic parameters uphold margins far below the safety limits by steady-state calculations at full power. We, therefore, have calculated the hot channel fuel centreline temperature, fuel surface temperature, cladding surface temperature, the departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) heat flux and DNB ratio, axial fuel centreline temperature and compared. The comparison indicates that the calculated values are in satisfactory agreement between the codes. The data obtained in this investigation are largely far to compromise safety of the reactor. The results can also be used to upgrade the current core configuration of the TRIGA reactor.

Impact of industrial effluent on growth and yield of rice(Oryza sativa L.) in silty clay loam soil

Degradation of soil and water from discharge of untreated industrial effluent is alarming in Bangladesh. Therefore, buildup of heavy metals in soil from contaminated effluent, their entry into the food chain and effects on rice yield were quantified in a pot experiment. The treatments were comprised of 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% industrial effluents applied as irrigation water. Effluents, initial soil, different parts of rice plants and post-harvest pot soil were analyzed for various elements, including heavy metals. Application of elevated levels of effluent contributed to increased heavy metals in pot soils and rice roots due to translocation effects, which were transferred to rice straw and grain. The results indicated that heavy metal toxicity may develop in soil because of contaminated effluent application.Heavy metals are not biodegradable, rather they accumulate in soils, and transfer of these metals from effluent to soil and plant cells was found to reduce the growth and development of rice plants and thereby contributed to lower yield. Moreover, a higher concentration of effluent caused heavy metal toxicity as well as reduction of growth and yield of rice, and in the long run a more aggravated situation may threaten human lives,which emphasizes the obligatory adoption of effluent treatment before its release to the environment, and regular monitoring by government agencies needs to be ensured.

Hydrothermal synthesis of triangular CeCO3OH particles and photoluminescence properties

Ru/CeO_2[RC] and Ru/CeO_2/ethylene glycol（EG） [RCE] nanoparticles were produced by performing a simple hydrothermal reaction at 200℃ for 24 h and found to have two distinct morphologies. The RC nanoparticles are phase pureCeO_2; triangular highly crystallineCeCO_3OH nanoparticles are formed from the solution containing EG under the same hydrothermal reaction conditions at p H 8.5. EG plays an important role in the formation of the triangularCeCO_3OH nanoparticles. The polycrystallineCeCO_3OH nanoparticles retain their triangular structure even after calcination at 600℃in air but are transformed into a pureCeO_2 phase. The room temperature photoluminescence of the RC and RCE nanoparticles and of RCE calcined at 600℃[RCE-600] was also investigated. It was found that the high crystallinity triangular RCE-600 sample exhibits the highest photoluminescence intensity.