Paediatric and geriatric populations, as well as other special patient populations with swallowing problems, require patient-tai-lored dosage forms. One promising dosage form for these specific populations is orodispersible films. When preparing orodispersible films using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as the film-forming polymer and glycerine as the plasticizer, it is essential to determine the optimal mixing time and mixing speed of the casting solution to achieve the desired transparency/opacity of the orodispersible films. In this paper, the primary focus is on mixing time and mixing speed, and determining how these two parameters can influence optical characteristics. All tested parameters are supported by FTIR anal - ysis. The obtained results show that either a mixing speed of 7000 rpm on a high-shear mixer for 15 min or a mixing speed of 9000 rpm for 5 min can produce films with optimal optical characteristics.

Solvent and substitution effects on the UV/Vis spectroscopic and fluorescence behaviour of seven synthesized 3-substituted 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives were tested. The tested compounds were dissolved in ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Absorption and emission spectra were recorded in the range of 200–800 nm. All tested 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives showed good absorption in a wide range of 200–550 nm, depending on the properties of the substituents on the benzene ring of the cinnamoyl moiety and the type of solvent. In comparison to the unsubstituted analogue, compounds with an electron-donating group exhibited bathochromically shifted UV/Vis absorption and emission spectra. The highest fluorescence quantum yield was observed for compounds with dimethylamino and acetamido groups as substituents at the benzene ring. Considering that both substitution and solvent affect the absorption and emission spectra of the tested compounds, it can be concluded that judiciously selecting these parameters can improve their absorption and fluorescence properties, making them suitable for various analytical uses.

Skin sensitization is a crucial endpoint in the safety assessment of chemicals, with the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) emerging as a valuable in chemico method for evaluating a substance's sensitization potential. This review delves into the principles, applicability, and limitations of the DPRA within the context of the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework for skin sensitization. We examine the DPRA'srole in addressing the molecular initiating event of skin sensitization, its integration into Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA), and its performance in predicting sensitizers. The review also highlights the challenges in testing certain categories of chemicals and the importance of considering the DPRA's results alongside other complementary methods. By providing a comprehensive overview of the DPRA, this review aims to inform researchers, regulators, and clinicians about its utility and limitations in the context of skin sensitization testing.

Plant-derived products are frequently found as ingredients in cosmetics. However, the current data show non-neglectable skin sensitizing potential of these preparations suggesting an urgent need for data regarding their health safety profile. The aim of this study was to assess the skin sensitization potential of commercial essential oils by selected Lamiaceae species (Lavandula angustifolia, Melissa officinalis, Mentha longifolia, Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, and Rosmarinus officinalis) using a chemistry-based Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) in order to predict their potential allergic properties. In the DPRA assay, nucleophile-containing synthetic peptides (cysteine peptide and lysine peptide) were incubated with the test substance for 24 h. Depletion of the peptide in the reaction mixture was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using UV detection and the average peptide depletion data for cysteine and lysine was then calculated. Menthae longifoliae aetheroleum showed no or minimal reactivity with 4.48% cysteine depletion, Rosmarini aetheroleum and Salviae aetheroleum showed low reactivity with the 12.79% and 15.34% of cysteine depletion, respectively, while the other analyzed essential oils showed moderate reactivity with the cysteine depletion between 23.21 and 48.43%. According to DPRA predictive analysis, only Menthae longifoliae aetheroleum can be classified as negative, while all other essential oils may be classified as positive, thus having the potential to cause skin sensitization.

Benzophenone (BP) type UV filters are common environmental contaminants that are posing a growing health concern due to their increasing presence in water. Different studies have evidenced the presence of benzophenones (BP, BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-4, BP-9, HPB) in several environmental matrices, indicating that conventional technologies of water treatment are not able to remove them. It has also been reported that these compounds could be associated with endocrine-disrupting activities, genotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. This review focuses on the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of benzophenone-type UV filters and their degradation products (DPs) under UV and solar irradiation and in UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as UV/H2O2, UV/persulfate, and the Fenton process. The effects of various operating parameters, such as UV irradiation including initial concentrations of H2O2, persulfate, and Fe2+, on the degradation of tested benzophenones from aqueous matrices, and conditions that allow higher degradation rates to be achieved are presented. Application of nanoparticles such as TiO2, PbO/TiO2, and Sb2O3/TiO2 for the photocatalytic degradation of benzophenone-type UV filters was included in this review.

Anti-aging cosmetics are often sought after in order to slow down the aging process. Free radicals are one of the main causes of skin aging, and therefore antioxidants are used in anti-aging cosmetics. The aim of this study was to investigate which method is the most suitable for determining the antioxidant capacity of these products. Having samples extracted, the antioxidant capacity of the extracts obtained was determined by the following spectrophotometric methods: DPPH, Folin-Ciocalteu, FRAP, the ABTS method and the ferroion chelation method with ferrosine. The antioxidant capacity of the samples varied depending on the extract type and the method used. DPPH and ferroion chelation measurements with ferrosine were carried out in the part of the spectrum where plant pigments absorb. These pigments are often found in anti-aging products affecting these methods measurement results. The Folin-Ciocalteu method is suitable for researching the antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic extracts, but not lipophilic ones, where turbidity and the formation of a gelled ring occur. The FRAP method revealed similar results for all the samples and proved to be less sensitive than the others. The ABTS method for both types of extracts has proven to be the most suitable and sensitive method for determining the antioxidant capacity of anti-aging products.