Agricultural waste obtained from Elaeis guineensis mid ribs can provide a veritable source of materials which can be used as precursor materials for the production of pharmaceutical grade activated charcoal. The pore size and surface morphology of activated charcoal defines the types of molecules that could be adsorbed unto it, as surface morphology plays a significant role in determining the surface availability and areas of adsorption.The activated charcoal samples prepared from Elaeis guineensis via either physical or chemical activation was characterized via surface area using the BET method and subsequently pore structure and size analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Physically activated Elaeis guineensis fronds activated with nitrogen gas had wide spread microporosity with micropore volume of 0.232 cc/g compared to the chemically activated with 1M and 3M phosphoric acid respectively. The commercial activated charcoal/metronidazole combination in the in vitro-pharmacodynamic model reflected no re-growth after 4 hours, however for charcoal formulated from Elaeis guineensis via chemical activation with 3M phosphoric acid and metronidazole no regrowth was seen at the second hour and this was maintained throughout the duration of the experiment.Increased macroporosity enhanced bacterial adsorption and this was further facilitated by the presence of antibacterial metronidazole in the in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Activated charcoal produced from agricultural waste obtained from Elaeis guineensis dried mid ribs consisting of increased macroporosity with mixed meso/micro porosity and antibacterial metronidazole form the best model for bacterial adsorption and will be useful in the treatment of diarrhea caused by E. coli O157:H7.

Bone, skin and soft tissue chronic wounds emanating from burns or bacterial infections which persist due to prolonged tissue inflammation contribute to a delay in wound healing. Electrospun biomimetic scaffolds produced from biodegradable polymers have proven to be a better alternative due to their large surface area to volume ratio and ability to release the drug directly to the wound surface allowing fast and sustained absorbance over the affected wound area. In this study, poly lactic acid (PLA) (20% w/v) and collagen-based (PLA/C) fibrous scaffolds (electrospun at a voltage of 22 kV, flow rate of 0.1 mL/min) containing varying concentrations of silver sulphadiazine (1% w/w, 0.75% w/w) (Ag + S) and Aspalathus linearis (AL) fermented extract (0.025%, 0.1% and 0.5% w/w), were designed and fabricated to increase antimicrobial penetration and cellular biocompatibility. The elastic modulus of samples revealed that incorporating 1% Ag + S and A. linearis extract to PLA solution culminates in a fiber with the superlative stiffness of 2.1.1 GPa. The antimicrobial effect of the scaffolds was evaluated against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, MRSA and E. coli. PLA/C-Ag + S/AL scaffolds and showed antibacterial activity against both gram +ve and gram −ve bacteria. They were nontoxic to the cells and provided favorable substrates for the neonatal epidermal keratinocytes cells to undergo cell attachment and proliferation. PLA/C-Ag + S/AL scaffolds have a great potential for use in chronic wounds as well as in tissue and bioengineering applications.

Background Sexual transmission of HIV is the most common means of acquiring the disease. Topical microbicides have been investigated to prevent transmission. This study will use a specific entry inhibitor, maraviroc, and a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), tenofovir, a dual combination which will provide a synergist effect that can enhance the efficacy of HIV microbicides via a mucoadhesive dual compartment bigel. Bigel formulation via hydrogel organogel linkages were developed and evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, safety, and anti-HIV efficacy. In vitro diffusion studies were performed with Franz diffusion cells having effective diffusion surface area of 1.76cm2 and receiver chamber volume of 15mL. Result The bigel formulations showed a viscosity ranging from 14179 to 14560 cPs and had a good spreadability and acidic pH in the range of 4.0 ± 0.34 to 5.2 ± 0.18. The bigel formulations showed good anti-HIV activity at a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL. The in vitro release study of maraviroc from the bigel formulations showed a release rate ranging from 2.675 to 3.838 μg/cm2/min½ while the release rate for tenofovir ranged from 3.475 to 3.825 μg/cm2/min½. The bigel formulations were non-toxic to the human vagina as there was < 1 log10 change in Lactobacilli crispatus viability. Conclusion This study successfully developed a dual compartment bigel containing maraviroc and tenofovir. BG C was found to be stable and safe towards vaginal and rectal epithelium, and it actively prevented HIV transmission. This bigel has the potential for long-term pre-exposure prophylaxis prevention of HIV transmission.