Thermally produced biodegradable scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering

A novel process was developed to fabricate biodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering applications, without using organic solvents. Solvent residues in scaffolds fabricated by processes involving organic solvents may damage cells transplanted onto the scaffolds or tissue near the transplantation site. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) powder and NaCl particles in a mold were compressed and subsequently heated at 180 degrees C (near the PLLA melting temperature) for 3 min. The heat treatment caused the polymer particles to fuse and form a continuous matrix containing entrapped NaCl particles. After dissolving the NaCl salts, which served as a porogen, porous biodegradable PLLA scaffolds were formed. The scaffold porosity and pore size were controlled by adjusting the NaCl/PLLA weight ratio and the NaCl particle size. The characteristics of the scaffolds were compared to those of scaffolds fabricated using a conventional solvent casting/particulate leaching (SC/PL) process, in terms of pore structure, pore-size distribution, and mechanical properties. A scanning electron microscopic examination showed highly interconnected and open pore structures in the scaffolds fabricated using the thermal process, whereas the SC/PL process yielded scaffolds with less interconnected and closed pore structures. Mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed that the thermally produced scaffolds had a much more uniform distribution of pore sizes than the SC/PL process. The utility of the thermally produced scaffolds was demonstrated by engineering cartilaginous tissues in vivo. In summary, the thermal process developed in this study yields tissue-engineering scaffolds with more favorable characteristics, with respect to, freedom from organic solvents, pore structure, and size distribution than the SC/PL process. Moreover, the thermal process could also be used to fabricate scaffolds from polymers that are insoluble in organic solvents, such as poly(glycolic acid). Cartilage tissue regenerated from thermally produced PLLA scaffold.     

Studies on solid state reactions of coordination compounds. LXIII. Solid state synthesis of a series of tetranuclear Mo(W)—Ag mixed-metal clusters. Crystal structures of [(n-Bu)4N]3[MoOS3Ag3Br4] and [(n-Bu)4N]3[WS4Ag3Cl4]

A series of tetranuclear Mo(W)-Ag mixed-metal clusters have been synthesized by making use of the solid state reactions of [NH₄]₂[MYS₃](M= Mo, W; Y= O, S), AgX(X= Cl, Br, I) and (n-Bu)₄NX' (X' =Cl, Br), two of which [(n-Bu)₄N]₃[MoOS₃Ag₃Br₄] (1) and [(n-Bu)₄N]₃[WS₄Ag₃Cl₄] ( 2 ) have been structurally characterized by X-ray analysis. The crystal data: 1 , cubic, P4 3m, αequals;12.093(4) Å, Z=1, R =0.076; 2 , cubic, P4 3m, αequals;12.059(2) Å, Z =1, R =0.075. The cluster anion core [Ag₃MS₃X'] of the two compounds can be viewed as a cube in which the four metal atoms and the four non-metal atoms are statistically distributed, respectively. Substitution reaction with PPh₃ ligand is also discussed for this type of tetranuclear clusters.     

Highly sensitive and simple fluorescence staining of proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide-based gels by using hydrophobic tail-mediated enhancement of fluorescein luminescence

Fluorescein has an extremely low luminescence intensity in acidic aqueous media. However, when it was bound to proteins, subsequent increase of luminescence intensity took place. Furthermore, when a hydrophobic tail, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, was introduced to fluorescein, more dramatic increase of luminescence intensity was observed upon binding to proteins. In the present study, by utilizing this luminescence enhancement, three hydrophobic fluorescein dyes (5-dodecanoyl amino fluorescein, 5-hexadecanoyl amino fluorescein, and 5-octadecanoyl amino fluorescein) were examined as noncovalent fluorescent stains of protein bands in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Effective incorporation of the dyes to proteins in gels was accomplished either simply by adding dyes at the protein fixation step, or by treating gels with a staining solution after the fixation. The sensitivity of this staining method using the fluorescein derivatives was approximately 1 ng/band for most proteins. For some cases, protein bands containing as low as 0.1 ng were successfully visualized. In addition, the detection sensitivity showed much less protein-to-protein variation than silver staining. This new staining method was also successfully applied to two-dimensional electrophoresis of rat brain proteins. Its overall sensitivity was comparable to that of silver staining.     

ZIP8 exacerbates collagen-induced arthritis by increasing pathogenic T cell responses

Zinc is a trace element that is essential for immune responses. Therefore, changes in cellular zinc levels in specific immune cells may influence inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the regulation of zinc mobilization in immune cells and its role in the pathogenesis of RA are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated the roles of zinc transporters in RA pathogenesis. We demonstrated that ZIP8 was specifically upregulated in CD4⁺ T cells that infiltrated the inflamed joint and that ZIP8 deficiency in CD4⁺ T cells abrogated collagen-induced arthritis. ZIP8 deficiency dramatically affected zinc influx in effector T cells and profoundly reduced T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling, including NF-κB and MAPK signaling, which are pathways that are involved in T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ZIP8 depletion in CD4⁺ T cells attenuates TCR signaling due to insufficient cellular zinc, thereby reducing the function of effector CD4⁺ T cells, including Th17 cells. Our results also suggest that targeting ZIP8 may be a useful strategy to inhibit RA development and pathogenesis.Subject terms: Autoimmunity, Immunological disorders     

Kinetics of thermal depolymerization of trimethylsiloxy end-blocked polydimethylsiloxane and polydimethylsiloxane-N-phenylsilazane copolymer

The thermal degradation of Me₃SiO end-blocked polydimethylsiloxane (eb-PDMS) and polydimethylsiloxane-N-phenylsilazane (eb-PDMS–NPhSz) copolymer was studied. For both polymers relative degree of polymerization (DP /DP ₀) as a function of conversion (1 – W/W₀) data were obtained. For eb-PDMS the results were consistent with a mechanism involving a rate determining random siloxane bond cleavage initiation step followed by a rapid and complete depropagation of the active fragments evolving volatile cyclic oligomers. Rate constants (k) for initiation were obtained at four temperatures from plots of DP ^?1 vs. time. An Arrhenius activation energy of approximately 80 kcal/mol was determined and is consistent with a SiOSi scission transition state. The degradation of eb-PDMS–NPhSz appears to follow the same depolymerization process evolving cyclic oligomers. Although DP /DP ₀ vs. C data suggest a random cleavage–complete depolymerization mechanism, an Arrhenius plot suggests a more complex degradation mechanism. The role of impurities as degradation catalysts is discussed.     

Asymmetric cationic coordination environments in new oxide materials: synthesis and characterization of Pb(4)Te(6)M(10)O(41) (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+))

Two new isostructural tellurites, Pb(4)Te(6)M(10)O(41) (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+)), have been synthesized by standard solid-state techniques using PbO, Nb(2)O(5) (or Ta(2)O(5)), and TeO(2) as reagents. The structures of Pb(4)Te(6)Nb(10)O(41) and Pb(4)Te(6)Ta(10)O(41) were determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The materials exhibit a three-dimensional framework consisting of layers of corner-shared NbO(6) octahedra connected by TeO(3) and PbO(6) polyhedra. The Nb(5+), Te(4+), and Pb(2+) cations are in asymmetric coordination environments attributable to second-order Jahn-Teller effects. The Nb(5+) cations undergo an intraoctahedral distortion either toward a face or a corner, whereas the Te(4+) and Pb(2+) cations are in distorted environments attributable to their lone pair. In addition, the TeO(3) polyhedra strongly influence the direction of the Nb(5+) intraoctahedral distortion. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dielectric measurements are also presented. Crystal data: Pb(4)Te(6)Nb(10)O(41), monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12), with a = 23.412(3) A, b = 20.114(3) A, c = 7.5008(10) A, beta = 99.630(4) degrees, V = 3482.4(8) A(3), and Z = 4; Pb(4)Te(6)Ta(10)O(41), monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12), with a = 23.340(8) A, b = 20.068(5) A, c = 7.472(2) A, beta = 99.27(3) degrees, V = 3453.8(2) A(3), and Z = 4.     

煤中15种微量元素在燃烧产物中的分配

建立了燃煤中１５种向量元素在悄灰和底灰中含量分布的经验公式，该公式可以估算煤中微量元素在燃烧产物中的分配及传输通量。煤中非挥发性元素大部分存在于底灰和飞灰中，挥发性元素进入大气的量较高。     

Phosphanimin- und Phosphaniminato-Komplexe von Eisen. Die Kristallstrukturen von [FeCl3(Me3SiNPEt3)], [FeCl2(Me3SiNPEt3)]2, [FeCl2(NPEt3)]2 und [Fe(O2C?CH3)2(NPEt3)]2

Phosphanimine and Phosphoraneiminato Complexes of Iron. The Crystal Structures of [FeCl₃(Me₃SiNPEt₃)], [FeCl₂(Me₃SiNPEt₃)]₂, [FeCl₂(NPEt₃)]₂, and [Fe(O₂C? CH₃)₂(NPEt₃)]₂ The phosphanimine complexes [FeCl₃(Me₃SiNPEt₃)] (red-orange) and [FeCl₂(Me₃SiNPEt₃)]₂ (colourless) have been prepared by reactions of Me₃SiNPEt₃ with FeCl₃ and FeCl₂, respectively, in CH₂Cl₂ suspensions. Thermal decomposition of these donor-acceptor complexes in boiling toluene leads to the phosphoraneiminato complex [FeCl₂(NPEt₃)]₂ (black), whereas [Fe(O₂C? CH₃)₂(NPEt₃)]₂ (brown) is formed from iron(II) acetate and Me₃SiNPEt₃ in boiling acetonitrile. The complexes are characterized by IR spectroscopy and by crystal structure determinations. [FeCl₃(Me₃SiNPEt₃)] (1) : Space group P2₁/c, Z = 8, structure determination with 4 673 unique reflections, R = 0.033. Lattice dimensions at ?15°C: a = 1 607.8, b = 1 602.0, c = 1 417.2 pm, β = 106.56°. 1 forms monomeric molecules with tetrahedrally coordinated iron atoms. Bond lengths in average: Fe? N = 196.9 pm, Fe? Cl = 219.7 pm. [FeCl₂(Me₃SiNPEt₃)]₂ (2) : Space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, structure determination with 4 992 unique reflections, R = 0.048. Lattice dimensions at 20°C: a = 1 457.9, b = 1 685.4, c = 1 507.3 pm, β = 116.74°. 2 forms dimeric molecules, which are associated by chloro bridges. The iron atoms are tetrahedrally coordinated with trans positions of the phosphanimine ligands. Both lengths in average: Fe? N = 202.2 pm, Fe? Cl_terminal = 224.7 pm, Fe? Cl bridge = 241.0 pm. [FeCl₂(NPEt₃)]2 (3): Space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, structure determination with 2763 unique reflections, R = 0.039. Lattice dimensions at ?70°C: a = 799.1, b = 1009.0, c = 1441.9 pm, β = 93.45°. 3 forms centrosymmetric dimeric molecules, in which the tetrahedrally coordinated iron atoms are associated by the nitrogen atoms of the phosphoraneiminato ligands. Bond lengths in average: Fe? N = 191.4 pm, Fe? Cl = 222.7 pm. [Fe(O₂C? CH₃)₂(NPEt₃]2 (4): Space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, structure determination with 3005 observed unique reflections, R = 0.034. Lattice dimensions at -65°C: a = 886.4, b = 1444.6 pm, β = 90.60°. 4 forms centrosymmetric dimeric molecules, in which the octahedrally coordinated iron atoms are associated by the nitrogen atoms of the phosphoraneiminato ligands with bond lengths Fe? N of 191.9 and 195.0 pm. The acetate groups are coordinated in a chelating fashion.     

Characterization of amiodarone metabolites and impurities using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Using the high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS/MS) technique, together with established trends from the literature, the structures of metabolites and impurities of amiodarone, an anti-arrhythmic drug, have been assigned. By comparing analyses of products of incubation with rat liver microsomes with controls in which glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was omitted, metabolites could be distinguished from impurities. Structures for the two proposed metabolites and four impurities are proposed.     

Determination of lutetium by fluorimetry, using BPMPHD and CTMAB

Lutetium(III) forms an association compound with a new synthetic reagent, 1,6-bi(1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone-4)hexandione (BPMPHD), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB). The compound enhances the natural fluorescence of BPMPHD remarkably, upon which a new fluorescence method was developed for determining lutetium in rare earth (RE) samples. The determination range was 1.80 × 10^–7–8.8 × 10^–6 g/ml. The determination limit was 29 ng/ml. The composition of the ion associate was [Lu(BPMPHD)₂]–CTMAB⁺.