• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 1996

The sustained release dosage form which delivers melatonin (MT) in a circadian fashion over 8 h is of clinical value for those who have disordered circadian rhythms because of its short halflife. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gelling properties and release characteristics of alginate beads varying multivalent cationic species $(Al^{+++}, \; Ba^{++}, \; Ca^{++}, \; Mg^{++}, \; Fe^{+++}, \; Zn^{++})$. The surface morphologies of Ca- and Ba-alginate beads were also studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). MT, an indole amide pineal hormone was used as a model drug. The $Ca^{++}, \; Ba^{++}, \; Zn^{++}, \; Al^{++}\; and\; Fe^{+++}\; ions\; except\; Mg^{++}$ induced gelling of sodium alginate. The strength of multivalent cationic alginate beads was as follows: $Al^{+++}\llFe^{+++} the induced hydrogel beads were very fragile and less spherical. Fe-alginate beads were also fragile but stronger compared to Al-alginate beads. Ba-alginate beads had a similar gelling strength but was less spherical when compared to Ca-alginate beads. Zn-alginate beads were weaker than Ca- and Ba-alginate beads. Very crude and rough crystals of Ba- and Ca-alginate beads at higher magnifications were observed. However, the type and shape of rough crystals of Ba- and Ca-alginate beads were quite different. No significant differences in release profiles from MT-loaded multivalent cationic alginate beads were observed in the gastric fluid. Most drugs were continuously released upto 80% for 5 h, mainly governed by the passive diffusion without swelling and disintegrating the alginate beads. In the intestinal fluid, there was a significant difference iq the release profiles of MT-loaded multivalent cationic alginate beads. The release rate of Ca-alginate beads was faster when compared to other multivalent cationic alginate beads and was completed for 3 h. Ba-alginate beads had a very long lag time (7 h) and then rapidly released thereafter. MT was continuously released from Feand Zn-alginate beads with initial burstout release. It is assumed that the different release rofiles of multivalent cationic alginate beads resulted from forces of swelling and disintegration of alginate beads in addition to passive diffusion, depending on types of multivalent ions, gelling strength and drug solubility. It was estimated that 0.2M $CaCl_2$ concentration was optimal in terms of trapping efficiency of MT and gelling strength of Ca-alginate beads. In the gastric fluid, Ca-alginate beads gelled at 0.2 M $CaCl_2$ concentration had higher bead strength, resulting in the most retarded release when compared to other concentrations. In the intestinal fluid, the decreased release of Ca-alginate beads prepared at 0.2 M $CaCl_2$ concentration was also observed. However, release profiles of Ca-alginate beads were quite similar regardless of $CaCl_2$ concentration. Either too low or high $CaCl_2$ concentrations may not be useful for gelling and curing of alginate beads. Optimal $CaCl_2$ concentrations must be decided in terms of trapping efficiency and release and profiles of drug followed by curing time and gelling strength of alginate beads.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1991

The sustained-release beads containing terbutaline sulfate (TBS) were prepared by rotogranulation method. The drug was dusted on the non-pareil seeds in a CF-granulator. The sustained-release beads were obtained by coating the active beads with ethylcellulose or $Eudragits^{(R)}$, using in any case the same granulator employed for active beads preparation. The release characteristics of sustained-release beads were examined in vitro by rotating basket method applied to $Bricanyl^{(R)}$ durules which is a sustained-release TBS matrix tablet. The release of terbutaline from the beads in vitro was first-order, and the release rate was dependent on both the coat weight ratio and membrane hydrophilicity. Both surfaces of the beads before and after dissolution were smooth. The drug release pattern from the beads could be thought the diffusion through the polymer membrane. The release rate and the surface of the beads stored for 3 years at room temperature were the same with those of the initial beads.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.414-422
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• 2006

Before applying PVA bio-beads to practical biological treatment of nitrate-containing wastewater, their characteristics were examined. PVA bio-beads could steadily produce nitrogen gas from nitrate for 28 batches with 0.04 ml/l/h of the maximum gas production rate; however, the maximum gas production rate dropped remarkably thereafter with apparent deformation of beads. Addition of 2.2% solution containing 1% casamino acid, 1% yeast extract, 0.1% mineral solution, and 0.1% vitamin solution to the culture medium resulted in not only recovery of activity of deactivated beads, but also a higher rate of gas production. Calculation of economic benefit for the use of bio-beads in a long-run operation indicated that reactivation of bio-beads by chemicals had economical advantages over packing new bio-beads in the system. The continuously stirred bioreactor exhibited a satisfactory performance at HRT of 20.0 h. With a 9.5 mg $NO_{3}^{-}N/l/h$ nitrate removal rate, nitrate could completely be removed without nitrite accumulation. The use of PVA bio-beads in nitrate removal appears very promising.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.423-428
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• 2019

Visibility of road-surface markings is one of the critical issues that should be secured for self-driving cars as well as human drivers. Glass beads are taking on the role of retroreflectors, and therefore are considered a necessity in modern pavements. In this context, retroreflectance is sensitively dependent not only on the refractive index of glass beads but also on that of the surrounding medium. This implies that the optimum refractive index of glass beads immersed in water, i.e. under wet conditions, is different from that of glass beads surrounded by air, i.e. under dry conditions. A refractive index of approximately 1.9, which is known to maximize retroreflectance under dry conditions, actually exhibits much poorer retroreflectance under wet conditions. This suggests that glass beads with optimal refractive index for wet conditions need to be installed together with those for dry conditions. We propose a facile but practical model capable of calculating retroreflectance of glass beads surrounded by an arbitrary medium, here water in particular, and experimentally verify its capability of assessing the refractive index of commercial glass beads. Changes in retroreflectance according to the mixing ratio of glass beads with different refractive indices are also discussed, in an effort to propose the proper use of glass beads produced for dry and wet conditions.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.74.1-74.15
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• 2023

Background: Antibiotic beads are used to treat local bacterial infections by delivering high drug concentrations to infected tissue. Objectives: This study examined the elution characteristics of metronidazole from metronidazole-calcium sulfate (MCa) and metronidazole-calcium-potassium sulfate (MCaK) beads over 20 days and the antibacterial efficacy of the beads after storage. Methods: The MCa and MCaK beads were prepared by mixing 250 mg of metronidazole and 10 g of calcium sulfate hemihydrate with water and a 3% potassium sulfate solution, respectively. The beads were placed in phosphate-buffered saline for the elution study. The metronidazole eluents were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. The microstructures were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by a microbioassay. Results: For the 20-day study, the total amount of metronidazole released was greater in the MCa beads than in the MCaK beads by 6.61 ± 0.48 mg (89.11% ± 3.04%) and 4.65 ± 0.36 mg (73.11% ± 4.38%), respectively. The amounts of eluted drugs from the MCa and MCaK beads were higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration at 0.5 ㎍/mL against anaerobic bacteria at both 20 days and 14 days. SEM showed that calcium crystals on the outer surface had dissolved after elution, and thinner calcium crystals were prominent in the MCaK beads. The MCa and MCaK beads exhibited antibacterial activity after setting, followed by storage at room temperature or 4℃ for 21 days. Conclusions: The MCa beads could release more drug than the MCaK beads, but all eluted metronidazole amounts were effective in controlling bacterial infections. Both metronidazole beads could be stored at ambient temperature or in a refrigerator.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 1995

Polymeric reinforcement and coatings of alginate beads were carried out to control the release rate of drug from alginate beads. A poorly water-soluble ibuprofen (IPF) was selected as a model drug. A commercially available $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 was also used as a polymer. Effects of polymeric contents, the presence of plasticizers and amount of drug loading on the release rate of drug were investigated. The release rate of drug from alginate beads in the simulated gastric fluid did not occur within 2 h but released immediately when dissolution media were switched to the simulated intestinal fluid. No significant difference of release rate from polymer-reinforced alginate bead without plasticizers was observed when compared to plain (simple) beads. However, the release rate of drug from polymer-reinforced alginate beads was further sustained and retarded when aluminium tristearate (AT) as a plasticizer was added to polymer. However, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) did not change the release rate of drug from alginate beads although PEG400 was used to improve dispersion of polymer and sodium alginate, and plasticize $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 polymer. The presence of plasticizer was crucial to reinforce alginate gel matrices using a polymer. As the amount of drug loading increased, the release rate of drug increased as a result of decreasing effects of polymer contents in matrices. The significantly sustained release of drug from polymer-coated alginate beads occurred as the amount of polymer increased because the thickness of coated membrane increased so that cracks and pores of the outer surface of alginate beads could be reduced. The sustained and retarded action of polymer-reinforced and coated beads may result from the disturbance of swelling and erosion (disintegration) of alginate beads. From these findings, polymeric-reinforcement and coatings of alginate gel beads can provide an advanced delivery system by retarding the release rate of various drugs.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.325-332
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• 2006

A novel series of polystyrene (PS) beads containing various sulfonamide groups was prepared, and their chemical stabilities in an aqueous solution were tested in order to determine their ability to inactivate microbes. By reacting aminomethyl polystyrene (AM PS) beads or carboxy polystyrene beads with various benzenesulfonic acid derivatives, the sulfonamide groups were introduced on the PS beads. The characteristics of the product beads were analyzed by elementary analysis after the substitution of various sulfonamide groups. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and FT-IR analysis were used to analyze the elemental functional group composition, respectively. The hydrolytic stabilities of the PS beads containing various sulfonamide groups along with the relationship between the swelling ratio and their hydrophilicity were investigated. The antibacterial activity of the beads was determined by their ability to inactivate E. coli. This study reports that PS beads containing sulfonamide groups had lasting antibacterial efficacy over a satisfactory period, whilst maintaining their chemical stabilities against hydrolysis. The 8 synthesized polymer beads exhibited antibacterial ability.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.66-70
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• 2014

In order to the feasibility of silk materials as protein delivery system, silk beads incorporated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared by dropping silk fibroin extract into dope solution composed of ethanol and dichloromethane. Structural and morphological characteristics of silk beads were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrometry, and X-ray diffractometry. Swelling ratio of silk beads was also measured. Release behavior of prototypical protein, BSA, was studied by observing the electropheretic phenomenon and release profile. SEM showed that silk beads are spherical with porous interior structure. Infrared spectrometry and X-ray diffraction confirm that the silk beads have a ${\beta}$-sheet conformation. The swelling capability of silk beads increased with the incorporation of the protein. The protein was released from the beads with slow release following an initial burst release. Therefore, silk beads show promise as materials for encasing protein drugs to be delivered to targets in the human body.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2019

The roles of polypropylene (PP) beads and pH on membrane fouling and treatment efficiency were investigated in a hybrid advanced water treatment process of tubular carbon fiber membranes (ultrafiltration (UF) or microfiltration (MF)) and PP beads. The synthetic feed including humic acid and kaolin flowed inside the membrane, and the permeated contacted the PP beads fluidized in the space between the membrane and the module with UV irradiation and periodic water back-flushing. In the hybrid process of UF ($0.05{\mu}m$) and PP beads, final resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) after 180 min increased as PP beads increased. The turbidity treatment efficiency was the maximum at 30 g/L; however, that of dissolved organic matters (DOM) showed the highest at PP beads 50 g/L. The $R_f$ strengthened as pH of feed increased. It means that the membrane fouling could be inhibited at low alkali condition. The treatment efficiency of turbidity was almost constant independent of pH; however, that of DOM showed the maximum at pH 5. For MF ($0.1{\mu}m$), the final $R_f$ was the minimum at PP beads 40 g/L. The treatment efficiencies of turbidity and DOM were the maximum at PP beads 10 g/L.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.175-176
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• 2004

To develope of efficient method for decontaminating of lead ions from industrial wastewater, treatment of aqueous lead solution with magnetic beads was investigated. Immobilization of carboxyl groups on tile surface of magnetic beads was carried out to introduce chelate effect between lead ions and beads. Experiments were performed with lead solutions and magnetic beads at pH 6. Lead ions were extracted during 1 hour, After extraction, magnetic beads were separated from water by outer magnetic force and the solution was analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Over 90 % of lead ions could be removed from aqueous solution after beads application. This result indicate that magnetic beads can be used as a efficient method for removing lead ions from industrial wastewater.