Pore-covered thermoresponsive membranes for repeated on-demand drug release

Reversible on/off-switching of bovine serum albumin (BSA) permeation through a thermoresponsive composite membrane with negligible permeation in the off-state is demonstrated. UV-photografting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) onto a poly(ethylene terephthalate) microfiltration membrane results in a hydrogel graft layer on the irradiated side of the membrane only. The amount of hydrogel grafted onto the membrane can be controlled by the amount of crosslinker. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the hydrogel (on-state), the shrunken state of the graft layer appears to only partially cover the membrane, allowing BSA permeation through the uncovered pores. Provided the grafting degree is high enough, the swollen hydrogel covers the membrane completely below the LCST (off-state), thus preventing BSA permeation. The on-demand release mechanism proposed here is based on switching the membrane surface coverage rather than previously reported switches based on effective pore size or hydrogel mesh size. The main advantage of our mechanism is that higher fluxes can be achieved in the on-state, since permeation is not limited by pore-narrowing.     

Photoluminescence from water-soluble BSA-protected gold nanoparticles

The photoluminescence from water-soluble gold nanoparticles, each composed of a 5.1 nm gold core and a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-protected layer, has been observed. The maximal excitation and the maximal emission wavelength are at 320 and 404 nm, respectively. The photoluminescence quantum yield is estimated as 0.053+/-0.0070, at room temperature. The mechanism of the luminescence is hypothesized to be associated with interband transitions between the filled 5d(10) band and 6(sp)(1) conduction band. The photoluminescence is sensitive to pH, organic solvents and metal ions. These observations suggest that this nanoparticles are a viable alternative to organic fluorophores or semiconductor nanoparticles for biological labeling and imaging.     

The Influence of Crosslinking Amylose-Methacrylic Acid Graft Copolymers on the Release of BSA

Summary: One of the biggest challenges in the drug delivery field is to obtain oral systems for the release of peptides and proteins, enabling their use as therapeutic agents for clinical applications. The aim of this work is to obtain biodegradable copolymers suitable for the development of matrices which offer controlled release of proteins to be administered orally.Graft copolymers of amylose-methacrylic acid were synthesized using different amounts of the crosslinker N, N′-methylenediacrylamide. The influence on the release profiles of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was researched.     

长波敏化发光铕配合物纳米粒子的制备与表征

以牛血清白蛋白(BSA)为保护剂, 利用沉淀法制备了平均粒径为35 nm的Eu(tta)3dpbt (dpbt = 2-(N,N-二乙基苯胺-4-基)-4,6-二(3,5-二甲基吡唑-1-基)-1,3,5-三嗪, tta = 噻吩甲酰三氟丙酮负离子)荧光纳米粒子. BSA保护Eu(tta)3dpbt纳米粒子在水中分散稳定性高, 光稳定性好, 长波敏化发光性能优良. 其在可见光区激发峰位于415 nm, 激发峰尾部延展至470 nm, 发光量子产率为0.20 (λex=415 nm, 25 ℃). 在近红外双光子激发下可发出纯正的红光, Eu(tta)3dpbt纳米粒子最大双光子激发作用截面为2.4×10⁵ GM (λex=830 nm, 1 GM=10^-50 cm⁴·s·photo^-1·particle^-1).     

WAVELENGTH-DEPENDENT QUANTUM YIELD FOR Z →E ISOMERIZATION OF BILIRUBIN COMPLEXED WITH HUMAN SERUM ALBUMIN

The quantum yield, phi ZE, for configurational photoisomerization (4Z,15Z----4Z,15E) of bilirubin bound non-covalently to human serum albumin was determined (at 23 +/- 2 degrees C) by laser excitation and chromatographic analysis of products. Values obtained for photoexcitation at 465 nm were about one-half those previously reported. The quantum yield was dependent on excitation wavelength, decreasing from a value of 0.109 +/- 0.010 for excitation at 457.9 nm to a value of 0.054 +/- 0.005 for excitation at 514.5 nm. The wavelength dependence is consistent with rapid transfer of excitation energy between the two non-identical pyrromethenone chromophores of bilirubin in the singlet excited state. Since the quantum yields for photoisomerization and luminescence of bilirubin bound to serum albumin at room temperature are both low, internal conversion processes, rather than Z----E configurational isomerizations, are probably the major pathways for deactivation of photo-excited bilirubin.     

Narrowband Pure Near-Infrared (NIR) Ir(III) Complexes for Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) with External Quantum Efficiency Over 16 %

Highly efficient near-infrared (NIR) emitters have significant applications in medical and optoelectronic fields, but the development stays a great challenge due to the energy gap law. Here, we report two NIR phosphorescent Ir(III) complexes which display emission peaks around 730 nm with a narrow full width at half maximum of only 43 nm. Therefore, pure NIR luminescence can be obtained without having a very long emission wavelength, thus alleviating the restriction of the energy gap law, and obtaining impressively high photoluminescence quantum yield up to 0.70. More importantly, the pure NIR organic light-emitting diode (OLED) fabricated by the solution-processed mothed shows outstanding device performance with the highest external quantum efficiency of 16.43 %, which sets a new record for solution-processed NIR-OLEDs based on different emitters. This work sheds light on the development of Ir(III) complexes with narrowband emissions as highly efficient pure NIR-emitters.     

New diode laser-excitable green fluorescent label and its application to detection of bovine serum albumin via microchip electrophoresis

A novel amino-reactive fluorescent label is presented that is based on a yellow daylight chromophore and fluorophore. Its absorption band is wide and peaks at 431 nm in water solution, thus well matching the lines of either the 375-nm and the 431-nm diode lasers and of many frequency-variable dye lasers. When conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA), the fluorescence peaks at 501 nm with a quantum yield of 0.21. Its large Stokes' shift of 70 nm facilitates the discrimination of undesired excitation light which is particularly important for sensitive detection in miniaturized separation techniques such as microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE). Unlike several other fluorophores, the fluorescence intensity of the new label is independent of pH over a broad range (3 to 9). The applicability of the label is demonstrated by labeling the amino acid lysine and the 66 kD protein BSA, and by separating BSA from the free label via MCE within 90 s. The limit of detection is in the order of 12 nM at an optically active path length of 20 µm.

     

Cerenkov light as a source of photochemical reactions in irradiated solutions of nitrile of malachite green

Experimental data on photochemical activity of Cerenkov light are presented. Malachite green leucocyanide (MGCN) was used to detect the photochemical effects. The G value of Cerenkov light from the region 200–300 nm (number of quanta normed per 100 eV absorbed energy of ionizing radiation) in ethanol was estimated to be in the range 0.0027–0.049.     

Enhancing hydrophilicity and protein resistance of silicone hydrogels by plasma induced grafting with hydrophilic polymers

<正>The hydrophilicity of silicone hydrogels used as soft corneal contact lens plays an important role in wearing comfort.In order to enhance hydrophilicity and protein resistance,silicone hydrogel membranes were modified by atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma(APGDP) induced surface graft polymerization of N-vinyl pyrrolidone(NVP) and poly(oligoethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate)(PEGMA) in this paper.XPS analysis demonstrated the success of graft polymerization of NVP and PEGMA onto the surface of silicone hydrogel membranes.The hydrophilicity of silicone hydrogels was characterized by the measurement of water contact angle(WCA).The result showed that NVP grafted silicone hydrogel has the WCA of about 68°and PEGMA grafted silicone hydrogel has the lowest WCA of about 62°,while the pristine silicone hydrogel is hydrophobic with the WCA of about 103°.Protein resistance of silicone hydrogels was investigated by the method of bicinchoninic acid assay using bovine serum albumin(BSA) as a model.It's found that the grafted silicone hydrogel has a significant improvement of protein resistance,and PEGMA grafting is more efficient for the reduction of protein adsorption than NVP grafting.The silicone hydrogel membranes grafted with NVP and PEGMA are good candidates of soft corneal contact lenses.     

Encapsulation of L-dopa and catechol in bovine serum albumin nanocarrier using desolvation method and their in vitro release studies

In the current study, the interaction between L-dopa and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as well as catechol and BSA is investigated separately. In order to achieve the optimum values for encapsulated efficiency (EE), the content of crosslinker/BSA, organic/aqueous phase, drug/BSA, stirring rate, and pH were closely studied taking the advantage of Taguchi method. Particle characterization was carried out using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques. The most appropriate catechol and L-dopa nanoparticles in the size range of 100 nm and 65 nm, respectively, and at optimized conditions of drug/BSA = 0.1, pH = 7.4, crosslinker/BSA = 0.084, organic/aqueous phase = 4 and stirring rate 400 rpm were obtained. The most favorable EE (encapsulation efficiency) and LC (loading capacity) for L-dopa and catechol was estimated to be 88.1% and 83.6%, respectively, and the calculated LC% was achieved 93.4% and 89.7% for L-dopa and catechol, respectively. The chromatographic analyses results were also found to be in a good agreement with the obtained data for the calculated EE% and LC% values. in vitro release of loaded drugs from nanoparticles in phosphate-buffered saline (pH = 7.4, incubated at 37 ± 0.5°C under stirring rate of 100 rpm) showed the release of 78% catechol and 89% L-dopa during 480 min and 510 min, respectively.     

Photoreactivation of alloxanthine-inhibited xanthine oxidase

Alloxanthine-inhibited xanthine oxidase (XOD) was found to be photoreactivated by irradiation of light of wavelengths in the range of 340-430 nm. The enzyme activity can be fully controlled to be on or off by many dark-light cycles. Electron spin resonance measurement shows the appearance of the molybdenum (V) ion and the reduced form of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH.) radical signals after irradiation of the alloxanthine-XOD complex. Electronic-absorption spectrum also shows the bleaching of Fe/S and flavin adenine dinucleotide chromophores at 375 and 450 nm as well as broad-band absorption of FADH. in the range of 500-700 nm. The quantum yield of photoreactivation of the enzyme activity is approximately 0.06. A photoinduced intraenzyme electron-transfer model is proposed to rationalize the photoreactivation process.     

Light Harvesting and White‐Light Generation in a Composite of Carbon Dots and Dye‐Encapsulated BSA‐Protein‐Capped Gold Nanoclusters

Several strategies have been adopted to design an artificial light‐harvesting system in which light energy is captured by peripheral chromophores and it is subsequently transferred to the core via energy transfer. A composite of carbon dots and dye‐encapsulated BSA‐protein‐capped gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) has been developed for efficient light harvesting and white light generation. Carbon dots (C‐dots) act as donor and AuNCs capped with BSA protein act as acceptor. Analysis reveals that energy transfer increases from 63 % to 83 % in presence of coumarin dye (C153), which enhances the cascade energy transfer from carbon dots to AuNCs. Bright white light emission with a quantum yield of 19 % under the 375 nm excitation wavelength is achieved by changing the ratio of components. Interesting findings reveal that the efficient energy transfer in carbon‐dot–metal‐cluster nanocomposites may open up new possibilities in designing artificial light harvesting systems for future applications.     

A heterobimetallic ruthenium-gadolinium complex as a potential agent for bimodal imaging

Trinuclear heterobimetallic Ln(III)-Ru(II) complexes (Ln = Eu, Gd) based on a 1,10-phenanthroline ligand bearing a diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) core have been synthesized and fully characterized by a range of experimental techniques. The (17)O NMR and proton nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) measurements of Gd(III)-Ru(II) show that, in comparison to the parent Gd-DTPA, this complex exhibits improved relaxivity, which is the result of an increase of the rotational correlation time. Relaxometry and ultrafiltration experiments indicate that the 1,10-phenanthroline ligand has a high affinity for noncovalent binding to human serum albumin, which results in a high relaxivity r(1) of 14.3 s(-1) mM(-1) at 20 MHz and 37 °C. Furthermore, the Ln(III)-Ru(II) complexes (Ln = Eu, Gd) show an intense light absorption in the visible spectral region due to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. Upon excitation into the MLCT band at 440 nm, the complexes exhibit a bright-red luminescence centered at 610 nm, with a quantum yield of 4.7%. The luminescence lifetime equals 540 ns and is therefore long enough to exceed the fluorescent background. Monometallic lanthanide complexes have also been synthesized, and the Eu(III) analogue shows a characteristic red luminescence with a quantum yield of 0.8%. Taking into account the relaxometric and luminescent properties, the developed Gd(III)-Ru(II) complex can be considered as a potential in vitro bimodal imaging agent.     

Incorporation of a designed ruthenium nitrosyl in PolyHEMA hydrogel and light-activated delivery of NO to myoglobin

A ruthenium nitrosyl with 4-vinylpyridine (4-vpy) as one ligand, namely, [Ru(Me2bpb)(NO)(4-vpy)](BF4) (1), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. This diamagnetic {Ru-NO}6 nitrosyl is photoactive and readily releases NO upon exposure to low-intensity (5-10 mW) UV light (quantum yield at 300 nm = 0.18). Radical-induced copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of 1 has afforded a 1-pHEMA, a transparent hydrogel in which 1 is covalently attached to the polymer backbone. Exposure of 1-pHEMA to UV light (5-10 mW) results in rapid release of NO (detected by NO electrode) that can be delivered to biological targets such as myoglobin. The photoactivity of 1-pHEMA is strictly dependent on exposure to UV light.     

Gel network photodisruption: a new strategy for the codelivery of plasmid DNA and drugs

In the last 5 years, we have gained further insight on the physical/chemical field of DNA gels. Our expertise on the gel swelling behavior, compaction of DNA by cationic entities, as lipids and surfactants, as well as on the assembly structures of these complexes allow us for the development of novel systems to be used in a variety of biomedical applications. In our previous reports, the physicochemical characterization has been well-established, and now one can evolve to the challenge of using DNA-based carriers in the biological area. Moreover, a new plasmid DNA (pDNA) hydrogel that is porous, is able to swell in the presence of additives, is biocompatible and, thus, is suitable to be used therapeutically was prepared. Here, the dual release of pDNA and solutes with pharmaceutical interest was the main challenge, and thus, we report on the photodisruption of plasmid DNA (pDNA) gels cross-linked with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) as a strategy for this simultaneous release. The disruption over time, after the irradiation of the gel with ultraviolet light (400 nm), was characterized through the cumulative plasmid DNA release, the evolution in dry weight, the extent of swelling, and also the variations in the gel mesh size. The controlled release of different molecular weight solutes from plasmid DNA gels was investigated, and the influence of both the hydrogel degradation and cross-linker density on the release kinetics were addressed. While the release of lysozyme follows a Fickian process, the release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fluoresceinisothiocyanato-dextran (FITC-dextran) is characteristic of a Super Case II release phenomena. In addition, the size of the three solutes partially influences the release behavior; polymer chain mobility and the degree of swelling also play a role. To gain a fundamental understanding of drug release profile from pDNA matrices, in vitro release studies were evaluated using several anti-inflammatory drugs. The quantification of the release mechanism indicates a Super Case II release profile, which can be related with the gel swelling degree. A correlation between the drug release trend and the drug hydrophobicity can be found, with more hydrophobic drugs showing a slower release rate. In brief, this new pDNA gel system is biocompatible, is degradable upon light irradiation, and allows for the controlled and sustained release of plasmid DNA and incorporated solutes. This codelivery of pDNA and drugs would find relevant clinical uses due to the possibility of gene and nongene therapy combination in order to improve the therapeutic efficiency.     

Synthesis of cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose and poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) hydrogel for sustained drug release optimized by Box-Behnken Design

This research aims to fabricate and characterize chemically crosslinked CMC/PVP-co-poly (AMPS) based hydrogel for the sustained release of model drug metoprolol tartrate through the free radical polymerization technique. Box-Behnken Design was used to optimize CMC/PVP-co-poly (AMPS) hydrogel by varying the content of reactants such as; polymers (CMC and PVP), monomer (AMPS), and crosslinker (EGDMA). Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was crosslinked chemically with AMPS with a constant ratio of PVP by the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the crosslinker in the presence of sodium hydrogen sulfite (SHS)/ammonium peroxodisulfate (APS) as initiators. After developing CMC-based hydrogels using different polymers, monomer, and crosslinker concentrations, this study encompassed dynamic swelling, sol–gel fraction, drug release and chemical characterizations such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. In vitro drug release and swelling were performed at 1.2 and 6.8 pH to determine the sustained release pattern and pH-responsive behavior. These parameters depended on the crosslinker, polymer, and monomer ratios used in the formulation development. XRD, SEM, and FTIR showed the successful grafting of constituents resulting in the formation of a stable hydrogel. DSC and TGA confirmed the thermodynamic stability of the hydrogel. Hydrogel swelling was increased with an increase in the ratio of monomer; however, an increase in the ratio of polymer and crosslinker decreased the hydrogel swelling. In vitro gel fraction and drug release also depended on polymer, monomer, and crosslinker ratios. The fabricated CMC/PVP-co-poly (AMPS) hydrogels constituted a potential system for sustained drug delivery.     

Comprehensive Examination of Mechanical and Diffusional Effects on Cell Behavior Using a Decoupled 3D Hydrogel System

Hydrogels possess several physical and chemical properties suitable for engineering cellular environments for biomedical applications. Despite recent advances in hydrogel systems for cell culture, it is still a significant challenge to independently control the mechanical and diffusional properties of hydrogels, both of which are well known to influence various cell behaviors when using hydrogels as 3D cell culture systems. Controlling the crosslinking density of a hydrogel system to tune the mechanical properties inevitably affects their diffusional properties, as the crosslinking density and diffusion are often inversely correlated. In this study, a polymeric crosslinker is demonstrated that allows for the adjustment of the degree of substitution of reactive functional groups. By using this polymeric crosslinker, the rigidity of the resulting hydrogel is controlled in a wide range without changing the polymer concentration. Furthermore, their diffusional properties, as characterized by their swelling ratios, pore diameters, and drug release rates, are not significantly affected by the changes in the degree of substitution. 3D cell studies using this hydrogel system successfully demonstrate the varying effects of mechanical properties on different cell types, whereas those in a conventional hydrogel system are more significantly influenced by changes in diffusional properties.     

WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE OF THE QUANTUM YIELD FOR THE STRUCTURAL ISOMERIZATION OF BILIRUBIN

The quantum yield and the relative photochemical yield for lumirubin formation from bilirubin bound to human albumin were determined at eight wavelengths from 410 to 520 nm. The quantum yield averaged 0.0015 for irradiation between 450 and 490 nm. At 410 and 430 nm the quantum yield was slightly lower. At the long wavelength end of the absorption band, from 500 to 520 nm, the quantum yield averaged 0.003. The relative photochemical yield, normalized to constant fluence, was greatest at 500 nm.     

Photodissociation quantum yield of NO2 in the region 375 to 420 nm

The absolute absorption cross section and photodissociation quantum yield of NO₂ were determined over the wavelength region 375 to 420 nm at a temperature of 296 K. The quantum yield measurements were made at 1 nm intervals over this frequency range with an accuracy of ± 7%. The data show a significant decrease in the quantum yield between 380 and 390 nm indicating the possibility of a non-dissociating NO₂ excited state in this region.     

New semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels: synthesis, characterization and properties

Amphiphilic hydrogels composed of aliphatic polyesters and poly(ethylene glycol) have potential applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering and other biomedical devices due to their advantageous biological properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, they also exhibit some shortcomings in terms of their reactivity, swelling and mechanical properties. To address these limitations, new semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) diacrylate macromer and hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPGG) were prepared by a low intensity ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation method, and characterized by FT-IR, DSC and WAXD analysis. Their properties were evaluated by investigating the swelling kinetics, dynamic mechanical rheology and the release behavior for bovine serum albumin (BSA). It was found that the introduction of the semi-IPN structure and HPGG decreased the crystallinity of PEG segments in the hydrogel, and improved the swelling and mechanical properties of the hydrogel, as well as lowered the release percentage of BSA from the hydrogel. Such hydrogel materials may have more advantages as a potentially interesting platform for the design of medical devices.The elastic modulus (G') and viscous modulus (G') as a function of frequency for various hydrogel samples.