Viscoelasticity,mechanical properties,and in vivo biocompatibility of injectable polyvinyl alcohol/bioactive glass composite hydrogels as potential bone tissue scaffolds

Abstract

An injectable composite hydrogel composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and bioactive glass (BG) particles were synthesized by a physical crosslinking approach. The morphology, mechanical properties, and viscoelasticity of the PVA/BG composite hydrogel were characterized. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) showed uniform and homogeneous distribution of BG particles throughout the composite hydrogel. The incorporation of 2.5?wt% of BG particles in the composite hydrogel formulations, enhanced the static compressive strength and static elastic modulus by 325% and 150%, respectively. The storage molds (G′) was greater than the loss modules (G′′) at all the frequency range studied, which revealed a self-standing elastic composite hydrogel with a smooth injectability. The PVA/BG composite hydrogel was also implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region of adult male rats. After 4?weeks of implantation, no inflammatory cells were seen within and around the implant, which indicated that the composite hydrogel was biocompatible. The properties of the synthesized injectable PVA/BG composite hydrogel demonstrate its capability toward bone regeneration.     

Extraction of Nitric,Perchloric, and Hydrochloric Acid by N,N-dibutyl Diethyl Carbamyl Phosphonate

Extraction of nitric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acid by N,N-dibutyl diethyl carbamyl phosphonate in carbon tetrachloride was investigated. The data obtained are treated in terms of stepwise neutralization of the acid with the formation of species y · HA and y · 2HA in the organic phase, where y stands for the extractant and HA for the acid. The equilibrium constants, K?₁ and K?₂ for nitric acid were found to equal 0.24 ± 0.02 and 0.017 ± 0.005, respectively. In case of HClO₄ and HCl K?₁ were found to equal 0.031 ± 0.003 and 0.0039 ± 0.0005, respectively. A third phase was observed when extraction of HClO₄ was performed using acid concentration higher than 3.5 molar. The preference for partition of different acids was discussed on the light of the competition of the proton between the acid anion, water and the basic extractant as well as the degree of the ionization of different acids.     

Low coordinate germanium and tin compounds (ArO)2ME and (ArO)2MM′Ln M=Ge, Sn; E=S, Se, –NSiMe3 M′=Cr, W, Fe, Pt [Ar=2,4,6-tris((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl-]

The reactions of the divalent species (ArO)₂M (Ar=2,4,6-[(CH₃)₂NCH₂]₃C₆H₂; M=Ge, Sn) with either Me₃SiN₃, elemental S₈, Se or transition metal complexes M′(CO)_n+1 (M′=Fe, n=4; M′=Cr, W; n=5) (Ph₃P)₂Pt·C₂H₄ have resulted in the isolation of either the new stable formal metallanimines (ArO)₂M=N–SiMe₃, germanethione, -selone (ArO)₂Ge=E (E=S, Se) (the expected formations of the stannanethione and -selone were not observed), or the (ArO)₂M=M′(CO)_n, (ArO)₂M=Pt(PPh₃)₂ complexes, respectively. The direct oxidation of the (ArO)₂M species with various oxidizing agents led to the formation of the corresponding metalloxanes [(ArO)₂M–O–]₂. All of the chalcogenido- and transition metal–metal 14 complexes have been physicochemically and chemically characterized. The reactions of the (ArO)₂Ge=E (E=S, Se) compounds with 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone produced, by extrusion of sulfur or selenium, the dioxametalloles corresponding to the formal addition of the divalent species (ArO)₂M to the benzoquinone. A substitution reaction of chalcogen (S/Se) has been observed permitting to go from germaneselone to germanethione.     

Ate complexes of Ge(II) and Sn(II) with bidentate ligands [LiE(OCH2CH2NMe2)3]2 (E=Ge, Sn): synthesis and structure

The reaction of equimolar quantities of LiOCH₂CH₂NMe₂ and E¹⁴(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂ (E¹⁴=Ge, Sn) in ether yielded new ate complexes [LiE¹⁴(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₃]₂ (E¹⁴=Ge (1), Sn (2)) with bidentate ligands. The compounds 1 and 2 are white crystalline substances which are highly soluble in THF and pyridine and very sensitive to the traces of oxygen and moisture. The structures of these compounds are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ate complexes 1 and 2 are powerful nucleophiles and may be employed as ligands (neutral) in the coordination chemistry of the transition metals. The electronegative O-substituents at the divalent E¹⁴ atoms render them less oxidizable than alkyl- or aryl-substituted derivatives, and the bidentate ligands, owing to intramolecular donor-acceptor interactions, make them more thermodynamically stable compared to monodentate ligands.     

AgOTf‐catalyzed transesterification of β‐keto esters

AgOTf proved to be an effective catalyst for the transesterification of β‐keto esters with primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The products were obtained in high yield within a reasonable reaction time period. The kinetics of the transesterification reaction were also studied and the reaction was found to follow second‐order kinetics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development,Validation, and Application of the UPLC-DAD Methodology for the Evaluation of the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Phenolic Compounds in the Fruit of American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton)

Phenolic compounds in the fruit of American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other biological effects. The berries are used in the production of medicinal preparations and food supplements, which highlights the importance of qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in cranberry fruit raw material. The aim of our study was to develop and validate an efficient, cost-effective, reproducible, and fast UPLC-DAD methodology for the evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in raw material and preparations of American cranberry fruit. During the development of the methodology, chlorogenic acid and the following flavonols were identified in cranberry fruit samples: myricetin-3-galactoside, quercetin-3-galactoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-α-L-arabinopyranoside, quercetin-3-α-L-arabinofuranoside, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, myricetin, and quercetin. The developed and optimized UPLC-DAD methodology was validated according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization (ICH), evaluating the following parameters: range, specificity, linearity (R² > 0.999), precision (%RSD < 2%), LOD (0.38–1.01 µg/mL), LOQ (0.54–3.06 µg/mL), and recovery (80–110%). The developed methodology was applied to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in fruit samples of cranberry cultivars ‘Baifay’, ‘Bergman’, ‘Prolific’, and ‘Searles’, as well as ‘Bain-MC’ and ‘BL-12′ clones. In the tested samples, the majority (about 70%) of the identified flavonols were quercetin derivatives. The greatest amount of quercetin-3-galactoside (1035.35 ± 4.26 µg/g DW) was found in fruit samples of the ‘Searles’ cultivar, and the greatest amount of myricetin-3-galactoside (940.06 ± 24.91 µg/g DW) was detected in fruit samples of the ‘Woolman’ cultivar.     

Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered as a major cause of death worldwide. Therefore, identifying and developing therapeutic strategies to treat and reduce the prevalence of CVDs is a major medical challenge. Several drugs used for the treatment of CVDs, such as captopril, emerged from natural products, namely snake venoms. These venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive molecules, which, among other physiological networks, target the cardiovascular system, leading to them being considered in the development and design of new drugs. In this review, we describe some snake venom molecules targeting the cardiovascular system such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2), natriuretic peptides (NPs), bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), disintegrins, fibrinolytic enzymes, and three-finger toxins (3FTXs). In addition, their molecular targets, and mechanisms of action—vasorelaxation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, cardioprotective activities—are discussed. The dissection of their biological effects at the molecular scale give insights for the development of future snake venom-derived drugs.     

Green luminescence from triphenylphosphine functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes

In a simple wet chemical process, purified single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are treated with triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P) at room temperature. The functionalized material is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. HRTEM micrograph clearly reveals that triphenylphosphine nanocrystals of nearly uniform size are attached to the surfaces of SWCNTs. The hybrid structure shows remarkable green luminescence with peak emission at around 500 nm, under UV excitation. The photoluminescence may be attributed to charge transfer from the electron-donating phosphorous atoms to the carbon nanotubes.