Patrick, I. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Sequence-dependent modulation of hepatorenal biochemical markers following Artemether-Lumefantrine and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine exposure in Wistar rats

Malaria remains one of the most pressing health problems, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Various antimalarial drugs, used to combat this debilitating illness, may directly or indirectly affect blood indices in humans. This study aims to evaluate the toxicological effects of sequential administration of Artemether-lumefantrine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in male Wistar rats. Thirty (30) mature male Albino Wistar rats weighing between 190-280g were randomly divided into five groups comprising six (6) rats each. Group 1 served as control, Group 2 received Artemether-lumefantrine (8 mg/kg/bw) for 3 days, Group 3 received sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (0.079 mg/kg/bw) for 1 day, Group 4 received a sequential dose of Artemether-Lumefantrine for 3days and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for 1 day, while Group 5 received a sequential dose of SP for 1 day and AL for 3 days. Sequential administration of AL and SP resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of ALT, AST, ALP, serum total and direct bilirubin levels, urea, creatinine, and HDL. There was a significant (pL0.05) decrease in the serum total protein and albumin. Notably, HDL levels increased significantly in the SP [->] AL group (p < 0.05), while other lipid parameters showed sequence-specific significant changes compared to the control. Sequential administration, particularly the SP [->] AL sequence, was observed to have more pronounced effects on hepatorenal biomarkers compared to independent administration. These findings are relevant, especially in malaria-endemic regions where unregulated self-medication and drug switching are rampant.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2026

Damping nonlinearity in agarose hydrogels under relative humidity: balancing network stiffness and energy dissipation

Sustainable, biodegradable elastomers are needed to replace fossil-based alternatives and reduce the environmental impact of traditional vibration damping materials. We investigate agarose-based hydrogels as eco-friendly vibration absorbers, examining the combined effects of polymer concentration (1-7 wt%), relative humidity (55-98%), and mechanical pre-stress on their dynamic mechanical properties. Frequency-dependent viscoelastic and vibration transmissibility tests, supported by Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), reveal that increasing agarose concentration enhances the storage modulus (E') by over an order of magnitude, reaching[~] 5 MPa depending on humidity and applied prestress. Remarkably, the damping efficiency--characterised by the loss factor (tan(d))--exhibits a highly non-monotonic trend. Maximum energy dissipation is observed at intermediate network densities, with tan(d) up to 0.21 and a loss modulus of[~] 515 kPa at 5 w% and 75% relative humidity, comparable to synthetic elastomers. GPR analysis shows that prestress controls nonlinear stiffening and transmissibility resonance behavior, while shifting peak damping from 5 wt% to 1 wt% agarose as prestress increases. These findings underscore the mechanical tunability and sustainability of agarose hydrogels, providing potential design guidance for biodegradable vibration mitigation materials.

bioengineering↗