2.1. Results of Core Formulation Screening
Based on the information provided in
Table 2-1, the core materials from various formulations were pour into the automatic pill-making machine. The weight of the pills produced by the machine in one minute, as well as the quality and integrity of the pills, were recorded and evaluated. Additionally, the core particles were subjected to texture analysis using a Texture Analyzer.
As indicated in
Table 2-1 and
Figure 2-1, when compared to the other experimental groups, the particle morphology of A3 was superior, exhibiting higher integrity and a faster discharge rate. Corroborating this, the textural data provided in
Table 2-2 revealed that A3 particles possessed strong springiness and cohesiveness, along with an average hardness. Consequently, the particles formed were of better quality and less prone to breakage, aligning with the experimental findings presented Table 2-1 and Figure 2-1. Therefore, A3 was chosen as the core material.
Table 2-1.
Minute Yield and Sensory Evaluation of Different Formulation Drug Cores.
Table 2-1.
Minute Yield and Sensory Evaluation of Different Formulation Drug Cores.
Sample Names |
Yield Rate (g/min) |
Sensory Evaluation |
A1 |
26.62±7.93bc |
Extrusion difficulties |
A2 |
40.53±5.63b |
Poorly formed and broken pills |
A3 |
60.70±3.26a |
Good ball formation, partially sticking to the knife |
A4 |
56.54±4.68a |
Sticky knife, fluffy balls |
A5 |
23.93±13.01c |
Extrusion difficulties |
Table 2-2.
Differential Analysis of Texture Parameters for Different Formulation Drug Cores.
Table 2-2.
Differential Analysis of Texture Parameters for Different Formulation Drug Cores.
Sample Names |
Hardness/g |
Springiness/g·s |
Cohesiveness |
A1 |
267.198±16.819c |
0.986±0.037a |
0.493±0.048a |
A2 |
394.755±30.142a |
0.047±0.003c |
0.049±0.001c |
A3 |
361.108±10.692ab |
1.008±0.111a |
0.460±0.069a |
A4 |
284.864±10.533c |
0.569±0.131b |
0.081±0.038c |
A5 |
335.023±22.560b |
1.008±0.014a |
0.281±0.141b |
2.2. Intermediate Layer Shell Formulation Screening Results
The softening point of Pentaerythrityl Tetrarastearate (PETS) is 63.8 °C, while the softening point of Polyethylene Glycol Stearate (PEG400MS) is 34.1 °C. Pentaerythrityl Tetraoleate and Polyethylene Glycol Monooleate are in liquid form at room temperature. Thus it is possible to adjust the ratio of PETS, PETO and PEG400 to act as a temperature response.
The softening points and DSC absorption peaks of the oil phase samples with different ratios are presented in
Table 2-3, and the thermal behaviors of the oil phase samples during the DSC and TGA analyses are depicted in
Figure 2-2 and
Figure 2-3. As shown in
Figure 2-2(a), it can be observed that the softening point gradually decreases with the increasing addition of PEG400MS, and the DSC absorption peaks also progressively shift towards lower temperatures as the amount of PEG400MS with a low melting point increases. The effect of adding PEG400MO, as shown in
Figure 2-2(b), is consistent with that of PEG400MS.From
Figure 2-2, it can be observed that the melting point of PETS is at 51.42 °C. With the addition of PEG400, a clear decreasing trend in the melting point can be observed. The DSC plots of the sample groups M1-1~M1-6 all exhibit two heat-absorption peaks, which could be attributed to the shock-cooling treatment (60℃-0℃ice/water bath) that the samples underwent. During this process, the low melting point of unsaturated PEG400MS inhibited the crystallization behavior of PETS, potentially resulting in the formation of partially crystallized amorphous solids with a lower softening point [
17].As a result, formulations M1-4 and M2-1 were initially chosen for the composition of the grease material shell. The TGA results depicted in Figures 2-3 reveal that the components including PETS, PETO, PEG400MS, PEG400MO, as well as the formulations M1-4 and M2-1 under consideration, are thermally stable within the temperature range corresponding to the DSC results.
Figure 2-2.
DSC Analysis Chart of Outer Shells with Different Ratios of Fat Materials.
Figure 2-2.
DSC Analysis Chart of Outer Shells with Different Ratios of Fat Materials.
Figure 2-3.
TGA Analysis Chart of Outer Shells with Different Ratios of Fat Materials.
Figure 2-3.
TGA Analysis Chart of Outer Shells with Different Ratios of Fat Materials.
Table 2-3.
The Softening Point Determination Results of Fat Material Shell Formulation.
Table 2-3.
The Softening Point Determination Results of Fat Material Shell Formulation.
Sample Names |
Softening Points (°C) |
Endothermic Peaks in DSC (°C) |
M1-1 |
30.7 |
22.76, 52.90 |
M1-2 |
31.2 |
24.12, 54.16 |
M1-3 |
31.8 |
29.87, 50.84 |
M1-4 |
32.7 |
31.36, 53.96 |
M1-5 |
35 |
31.72, 54.04 |
M1-6 |
44.1 |
31.76, 54.43 |
M2-1 |
32.8 |
34.48 |
M2-2 |
35.4 |
40.22 |
M2-3 |
37.2 |
41.16 |
M2-4 |
38.2 |
42.19 |
M2-5 |
39.2 |
42.51 |
M2-6 |
40.2 |
43.87 |
Examining
Figure 2-4(a), it becomes evident that the pill pellets containing PEG400MS exhibit dissolution cracking of the core after 15 days of immersion in water, with particularly severe cracking observed at 30 and 35 °C. This phenomenon may be attributed to the fact that both PEG400MS and PEG400MO are effective amphiphilic compounds, and a moderate addition of these compounds can provide some humidity response to the temperature-sensitive material shells. PEG400MS, being a long-chain fatty acid, possesses various hydrophilic groups like aldehyde (-CHO) and carboxyl (-COOH), which offer superior hydrophilicity when compared to PEG400MO with its hydrophobic oleic acid chains. This increased hydrophilicity may make it more likely for moisture to penetrate into the core, causing the kernel to dissolve, resulting in the observed dissolution cracking [
18,
19].On the other hand, PEG400MS, being a long-chain fatty acid, possesses a more rigid molecular structure, which may render the shell layer more brittle and prone to cracking when used as an oil shell material. In contrast, PEG400MO is softer and can better encapsulate the pill’s core, preventing cracking due to water absorption and swelling.
Figure 2-6 shows the pills after soaking in water, highlighting the differences in their conditions.
In
Figure 2-5, a temperature-sensitive material shell containing beet red is formed into a small ball and placed in 35℃ water. It can be observed that M2-6, without the addition of PEG400MO, does not release beet red, while the addition of PEG400MO results in increased release of beet red, indicating that the presence of a hydrophilic and pliable material is necessary to facilitate drug release. Therefore, M2-1 is deemed more suitable as a grease shell material.
Figure 2-4.
Condition of Soaking M1-4(a) and M2-1(b) at Different Temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 °C) for 15 Days.
Figure 2-4.
Condition of Soaking M1-4(a) and M2-1(b) at Different Temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 °C) for 15 Days.
Figure 2-5.
M2-1~M2-6 Temperature-Sensitive Material Shell Releases Beetroot Red.
Figure 2-5.
M2-1~M2-6 Temperature-Sensitive Material Shell Releases Beetroot Red.
Figure 2-6.
The image of pill M1-4(a) and M2-1(b) after soaking in water.
Figure 2-6.
The image of pill M1-4(a) and M2-1(b) after soaking in water.
2.3. Outer Shell Formulation Screening Results
Figure 2-5 displays the morphology of outer shells with various ratios before water soaking (a) and after water soaking (b) at 35℃for 30 days. In this figure, numbers 1-5 correspond to HE1-HE6 respectively, while numbers 6-7 correspond to HE1-HE6 after water soaking. Upon observing
Figure 2-5, it becomes evident that after 30 days, samples 4 and 5, which contain a higher proportion of EC, and samples 9 and 10, with an equal proportion, appear to be curled and possess a rough texture that is hard to touch. They are also prone to breakage upon extrusion, especially in the case of samples 4 and 5 without water soaking. Conversely, samples 1, 2, and 3, with a lower proportion of EC, and samples 6, 7, and 8, with the same proportion, have smoother textures that are tough and less prone to folding. However, samples 1, 2, 6, and 7 have thinner textures on the entire surface and lack springiness.
Figure 2-5.
Morphology of different ratios of outer shells (HE1-HE6 arranged from left to right) after 30 days at 35 °C without immersion (a) and after immersion (b).
Figure 2-5.
Morphology of different ratios of outer shells (HE1-HE6 arranged from left to right) after 30 days at 35 °C without immersion (a) and after immersion (b).
Observing
Figure 2-5(c), it can be noted that the viscosity of the outer shell increases with the rise in HPMC content. Since the production of tetracycline delayed-release granules requires the use of a motorized spray gun to uniformly apply the outer shell. Excessive viscosity can make it challenging to spray the shell uniformly, leading to uneven coating of the pill. As shown in Figure 2-4(a) and Figure 2-4(b), the hardness of the shell also increases with higher HPMC content, while optimal springiness is achieved at an EC:HPMC mass ratio of 5:1.
In Figure 2-4(d), it can be observed that the toughness and resilience of the shell decrease with increasing HPMC content. These findings are consistent with the observations in Figure 2-5. The primary role of the outer shell is to encapsulate the pill while providing some humidity response. Good springiness ensures that the pill does not dissolve or rupture due to water absorption, moderate hardness prevents easy breakage, and the water-soluble nature of HPMC allows the shell to expand when in contact with water, enlarging the pore channels. Excessive HPMC addition can lead to excessively rapid drug release [
20]. Therefore, the EC:HPMC mass ratio of 5:1 was selected as the formulation for the shell material, as it offers good toughness, resilience, and suitability for the pill shell.
Figure 2-6.
Analysis of the Amount of Added HPMC on the Texture Parameters of outer shells.
Figure 2-6.
Analysis of the Amount of Added HPMC on the Texture Parameters of outer shells.
2.5. Observation of the Microstructure of the Shell Layer Using SEM
The surface microstructure of the HPMC-EC membrane before and after soaking in water is depicted in
Figure 2-8(a) and Figure 2-8(b). In Figure 2-8(b)(a), the surface of the outer shell before water soaking appears relatively smooth, with larger blocks and fewer pores. However, in Figure 2-8(b), the surface of the shell after water soaking has become uneven and fractured, with more pores. This structure can enhance the encapsulation of sustained and controlled-release particles while providing some humidity responsiveness without affecting drug release at the corresponding temperature.
Figure 2-8.
Scanning Electron Microscope Images of outer shells Before Soaking (a) and After Soaking (b).
Figure 2-8.
Scanning Electron Microscope Images of outer shells Before Soaking (a) and After Soaking (b).
Observing
Figure 2-9, several observations can be made:a. In Figure 2-9(a), the surface appears relatively flat and tightly adhered, demonstrating good compatibility between PETS, PETO, and PEG400MO, as they are miscible with each other.b. In Figure 2-9(b), the surface remains relatively flat, but there are some small holes, likely caused by the hydrophilicity of PEG400. This allows a small amount of water to penetrate the temperature-sensitive material, resulting in some drug release with the water.c. In Figure 2-9(c), as the temperature approaches the melting point of the temperature-sensitive material, the surface starts to dissolve, creating a terraced appearance.d. Figure 2-9 (d) shows unevenness on the surface and the emergence of several holes when exposed to high temperature and high humidity conditions. In this scenario, moisture can penetrate the core, dissolve the drug, and increase the pressure gradient inside the core, pushing the drug to pass through the shell for release.
From Figure 2-9, it can be concluded that the temperature-sensitive material shell can exhibit temperature responsiveness. In conditions of elevated temperature and humidity, the pill does not crack, allowing for controlled drug release. This results in a slow release process for drug diffusion.
Figure 2-9.
Scanning Electron Microscopy Images of Temperature-Sensitive Material Carriers at Various Temperature and Humidity Level. (a. 20 °C without water immersion; b. 20 °C with water immersion; c. 35 °C without water immersion; d. 35 °C with water immersion).
Figure 2-9.
Scanning Electron Microscopy Images of Temperature-Sensitive Material Carriers at Various Temperature and Humidity Level. (a. 20 °C without water immersion; b. 20 °C with water immersion; c. 35 °C without water immersion; d. 35 °C with water immersion).
2.6. Drug Release Characterization
Observing
Figure 2-10(b), it’s evident that some evaporative drug release occurred from the pill particles in an open environment at room temperature. At 35 days, the release rate reached 34.20%. This indicates that the drug release in Figure 2-9(a) wasn’t solely due to drug evaporation. In Figure 2-10(a), the overall release rate of the pill particles was lower under low humidity conditions compared to high humidity conditions. Specifically, the high-temperature and high-humidity environment (30% moisture, 35 °C) exhibited the fastest release, with a rate of 96.24% at 35 days. In contrast, the low-temperature and low-humidity environment (10% moisture, 20 °C) showed the slowest release, with a rate of 57.19% at 35 days. This trend aligns with the desired temperature and humidity response for this study.
Although the high-humidity groups demonstrated faster release at high temperatures and slower release at low temperatures, there wasn’t a significant difference in the 35-day release rate (94.54% vs. 96.24%). This may be attributed to the damage to the outer shell when exposed to water, resulting in increased porosity, which This prevents a good slow release of the drug.
Figure 2-10.
Release Curves of Pellets from Tablets under Different Temperature and Humidity Conditions (a) and Open Storage Release Curves of Pellets at Room Temperature (b).
Figure 2-10.
Release Curves of Pellets from Tablets under Different Temperature and Humidity Conditions (a) and Open Storage Release Curves of Pellets at Room Temperature (b).
The experiments mentioned above have demonstrated that Tetramycin slow-controlled release pill granules exhibit a certain temperature and humidity response capability, meeting the requirements for controlling Ralstonia solanacearum in the field. In general, the drug release rate was initially rapid and steep, gradually becoming smoother over time. This behavior can be attributed to the drug release process through the dissolution of HPMC within the outer shell, leading to the formation of several holes in the shell. The high temperature caused the grease material shell to melt, allowing moisture to penetrate into the inner core of the drug, leading to drug dissolution. As a result, internal pressure increased, and the drug gradually diffused outward under the combined influence of concentration and pressure gradients. During this process, in the early stages, the drug concentration in the surrounding soil is low, while the drug concentration within the drug core is high, resulting in a sudden release and a faster release rate. However, as the drug in the core is dissolved, the drug concentration within the core gradually decreases, leading to a weakening of the release force. Consequently, the entire release process enters a stage of reduced drug release [
21,
22].
The relationship between the release rate and time of the pill particles under different temperature and humidity conditions can be accurately modeled by a first-order kinetic equation. The key kinetic parameters, such as the maximum release rate (No), kinetic rate (k), correlation coefficient (R2), and standard deviation (Se) of the release mechanism, are summarized in
Tables 2-4. It is noteworthy that the correlation coefficients (R2) for all the experimental groups are quite high, ranging from 0.9738 to 0.9981, indicating an excellent fit of each equation to the release data. Additionally, the standard deviations of Se are relatively small, ranging from 0.0286 to 0.0492, further confirming the goodness of fit. Concerning the maximum release rate (No) of the drug, it was significantly higher under high humidity conditions compared to low humidity environments. Moreover, N0 generally increased with rising temperature. Similarly, the kinetic rate (k) exhibited a similar trend, indicating that the drug release was influenced by both temperature and humidity [
23,
24].
Table 2-4.
First-order Kinetic Parameters for Pellet Release from Tablets under Different Temperature and Humidity Conditions.
Table 2-4.
First-order Kinetic Parameters for Pellet Release from Tablets under Different Temperature and Humidity Conditions.
Temperature |
Humidness |
The First-Order Kinetics Equation Nt = No(1 − e−kt) |
|
k |
R2
|
Se |
20℃ |
10% |
57.5474 |
0.1890 |
0.9738 |
0.0286 |
25℃ |
10% |
60.5647 |
0.2263 |
0.9847 |
0.0247 |
30℃ |
10% |
64.6938 |
0.2521 |
0.9884 |
0.0233 |
35℃ |
10% |
69.9371 |
0.2581 |
0.9813 |
0.0300 |
20℃ |
30% |
92.3197 |
0.4497 |
0.9964 |
0.0251 |
25℃ |
30% |
91.9658 |
0.6134 |
0.9960 |
0.0383 |
30℃ |
30% |
92.9348 |
0.7548 |
0.9959 |
0.0492 |
35℃ |
30% |
94.0467 |
0.7408 |
0.9981 |
0.0331 |
2.7. Analysis of Simulated Field Release Experiments
The release rate of the pill particles varies in different environmental conditions due to their temperature and humidity response properties, as shown in
Figure 2-11. Groups A and B exhibit different degrees of stepwise slow release, especially in Group A. This group cycles between high-temperature and high-humidity and low-temperature and low-humidity environments, resulting in a pronounced ladder-like release pattern. In 21 days, Group A achieves a release rate of 96.43%. This behavior demonstrates that the pill particles do not undergo a one-time, uniform, and equal release. Instead, they adjust their release rate in response to changes in the environment. This adaptive behavior helps prevent the premature release of the drug due to sudden high-temperature and high-humidity weather, ensuring that the drug remains effective for longer and meets subsequent demand.Group C, on the other hand, does not exhibit a stepwise slow release pattern. This is likely because the release rate of the pill is faster in both high-temperature and high-humidity and high-temperature and low-humidity environments, resulting in a parabolic release curve. Groups D and E, which serve as blank control groups, show a lower rate of slow release, with release rates of 30.27% and 30.86% at 21 days, respectively. This release behavior is similar to what was observed in Figure 2-10(b) and is likely due to drug evaporation from the pills exposed to air.
Figure 2-11.
Simulated Field Release Curves.
Figure 2-11.
Simulated Field Release Curves.
2.8. Soil Defense Effectiveness and Disease Index Statistics
Observing
Figure 2-12(a), it can be seen that at 72 days, both the blank group and the experimental group had similar disease onset rates (6.17% vs. 5.60%), and the disease index of the experimental group was slightly lower than that of the blank group. This result may be attributed to the fact that, at the end of May and the beginning of June, the local weather had not yet reached the high-temperature conditions conducive to the high incidence of Tobacco. Consequently, the temperature-responsive pills had not begun to release the drug significantly, and the difference in disease index between the two groups was not substantial.
However, by 90 days, the disease index of the blank group was slightly higher than that of the test group (6.43% vs. 4.97%). During this period, the test group gradually started to release the drug as the temperature rose, leading to a gradual improvement in disease incidence. The preventive effect reached 20.67%, as shown in Figure 2-10(b).By 106 days, which was in the month of July when the temperature and humidity conditions for the high incidence of Ralstonia solanacearum were met, accompanied by heavy rainfall, the blank group experienced a significant outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum. The experimental group’s pill particles had also reached the temperature and humidity response conditions, gradually releasing the drug. As a result, the disease incidence in the blank group was much more severe than that in the experimental group (43.97% vs. 19.90%), with a relative preventive effect of 54.74%. As shown in
Figure 2-13, the blank group had more tobacco plants withered, and there were more Ralstonia solanacearum plants. In contrast, the test group remained in relatively good condition, with fewer diseased plants, and the leaves appeared healthier. These experiments demonstrated that the pill had a positive and effective control effect in practical application.
Figure 2-12.
Disease Index (a) and Control Efficacy (b) of Tobacco Bacterial Wilt in Blank Group and Experimental Group.Data are presented as the mean±SD based on three biological replicates, Different letters represent significant difference(p<0.05).
Figure 2-12.
Disease Index (a) and Control Efficacy (b) of Tobacco Bacterial Wilt in Blank Group and Experimental Group.Data are presented as the mean±SD based on three biological replicates, Different letters represent significant difference(p<0.05).
Figure 2-13.
Field Experiment Results at 106 Days for Blank Group (a) and Experimental Group (b).
Figure 2-13.
Field Experiment Results at 106 Days for Blank Group (a) and Experimental Group (b).
2.9. Structural Flora Analysis of Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities
Figure 2-14(a) reveals that at the phylum classification level, the dominant flora in the soil at different depths of both the blank group and the test group were primarily Pseudomonas (32.61%~48.26%). At the class classification level, the soil flora were mainly distributed within the order Alphaproteobacteria (21.49%~32.30%). At the phylum classification level, the soil bacterial groups were primarily found in the orders Hyphomicrobiales (6.93%~10.63%) and Sphingomonadales (5.08%~11.11%). At the family classification level, the primary bacterial groups were from the family Sphingomonadaceae (4.80%~10.76%). At the genus classification level, the primary bacterial groups in the soil were from the genus Sphingomonas (4.47%~10.50%).
Ralstonia solanacearum belongs to the genus Ralstonia in the family Ralstoniaceae. As shown in Figure 2-14, at the genus classification level, the relative content of Ralstonia in the soil of the experimental group was lower than that in the blank group (0.47% vs. 1.07%). Similarly, at the species level, the content of Ralstonia solanacearum in the experimental group was also lower than that in the blank group (0.32% vs. 0.91%). These experimental results suggest that Tetramycin inhibited the growth of Ralstonia solanacearum to some extent, reducing its presence in the soil. This reduction can potentially help tobacco seedlings resist Ralstonia solanacearum infestation, leading to fewer cases of tobacco plant wilting and death caused by Ralstonia solanacearum.
As indicated in Figure 2-14(b), at the phylum level, the predominant soil flora in different depths of the blank group and the test group mainly belonged to Ascomycota (29.02%~54.07%). At the class level, the flora was primarily represented by Sordariomycetes (19.11%~43.68%). When classified by order, the primary components of the flora were Mortierellales (5.97%~40.92%) and Trechisporales (1.28%~44.40%). Moving to the family level, the dominant families were Mortierellaceae (5.98%~40.92%) and Hydnodontaceae (1.16%~44.10%). Finally, at the genus level, the prominent genera included Trechispora (0.21%~15.19%) and Chaetomium (1.00%~12.93%).
There were no significant shifts in the major fungal classes between the treatment and control groups. However, the fungal community structure showed higher consistency in the early stages in different deep soil layers of the treatment group compared to the control, indicating that the Tetramycin controlled-release pellet treatment had a certain effect on the soil fungal community structure. The diversity differences between different soil layers in the treatment group were restored in the later period (106 days), suggesting that the impact of the pharmaceutical treatment began to diminish towards the end of the production season.
Figure 2-14.
Genus-level (a) and species-level (b) distribution frequency chart of soil bacteria.
Figure 2-14.
Genus-level (a) and species-level (b) distribution frequency chart of soil bacteria.
Figure 2-15.
Genus-level (a) and species-level (b) distribution frequency chart of soil fungi.
Figure 2-15.
Genus-level (a) and species-level (b) distribution frequency chart of soil fungi.
The dilution curves are depicted in
Figure 2-16 (a) and (b), and they show that the dilution curves for both bacteria and fungi tend to level off. This indicates that the sequencing depth used in the current study is adequate to accurately represent the microbial composition of the soil in the tobacco plant.
Figure 2-16.
Bacterial (a) and Fungal(b) Dilution Curves.
Figure 2-16.
Bacterial (a) and Fungal(b) Dilution Curves.