Curcumin is utilized extensively as Chinese medicine in Asia due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and inflammatory activities. However, its use has the challenges of low oral bioavailability and high heat sensitivity. The aim of this research was to produce flexible nano-liposomes containing curcumin using an innovative approach of ethanol injection and Tween 80 to enhance the stability and preservation of curcumin. The mean particle size, encapsulation efficiency, thermal degradation, storage stability, and curcumin release in flexible nano-liposomes were also investigated. We found that the mean particle size of curcumin-loaded flexible nano-liposome decreased from 278 nm to 27.6 nm. At the same time, the Tween 80 concentration increased from 0 to 0.15 wt%, which corresponded with the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphology analyses, and particle size decreased with an enhancement in Tween 80 concentration. Further, pure curcumin was quickly released within one hour at 37 °C, and first-order kinetics matched with its release curve. However, curcumin encapsulated in flexible nano-liposomes showed a slow release of 71.24% within 12 h, and a slower release pattern matched with the Higuchi model over 24 h, ultimately reaching 84.63% release. Hence, flexible nano-liposomes of curcumin made by a combination of ethanol injection and Tween 80 addition prevented the thermal degradation of curcumin, and enhanced its storage stability and preservation for future drug delivery applications.

Planning of sewer systems typically involves limitations and problems, regardless of whether traditional planning methods or optimization models are used. Such problems include non-quantifiability, fuzzy objectives, and uncertainties in decision-making variables which are commonly applied in the planning of any process. Particularly, uncertainties have prevented the inclusion of these variables in models. Consequently, the theoretical optional solution of the mathematical models is not the true optimum solution to practical problems. In this study, to solve the above problems for regional sewer system planning, multi-objective programming (MOP), nonlinear programming, mixed-integer programming, and compromise fuzzy programming were used. The objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) determination of the necessary decision-making variables or parameters, such as the optimum number of plants, piping layout, size of the plant, and extent of treatment; (2) establishment of a framework and methodology for optimal planning for designing a regional sewer system, matching demanded targets with the lowest cost, which would achieve the aim of lower space and energy requirements as well as consumption and high treatment efficiency for the purpose of meeting effluent standards. The findings of this study revealed that individual regional sewage treatment plants could be merged to form a centralized system. Land acquisition was difficult; thus, reducing the number of plants was required. Therefore, the compromise-fuzzy-based MOP method could effectively be used to build a regional sewer system plan, and the amount of in-plant establishment reached its maximized value with a minimized cost.