Hybrid Curdlan Poly(γ ‐Glutamic Acid) Nanoassembly for Immune Modulation in Macrophage

A nanoformulation composed of curdlan, a linear polysaccharide of 1,3‐β‐linked d ‐glucose units, hydrogen bonded to poly(γ ‐glutamic acid) (PGA), was developed to stimulate macrophage. Curdlan/PGA nanoparticles (C‐NP) are formulated by physically blending curdlan (0.2 mg mL^?1 in 0.4 m NaOH) with PGA (0.8 mg mL^?1). Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis demonstrates a heterospecies interpolymer complex formed between curdlan and PGA. The ¹H‐NMR spectra display significant peak broadening as well as downfield chemical shifts of the hydroxyl proton resonances of curdlan, indicating potential intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the cross peaks in ¹H‐¹H 2D‐NOESY suggest intermolecular associations between the OH‐2/OH‐4 hydroxyl groups of curdlan and the carboxylic‐/amide‐groups of PGA via hydrogen bonding. Intracellular uptake of C‐NP occurs over time in human monocyte‐derived macrophage (MDM). Furthermore, C‐NP nanoparticles dose‐dependently increase gene expression for TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐8 at 24 h in MDM. C‐NP nanoparticles also stimulate the release of IL‐lβ, MCP‐1, TNF‐α, IL‐8, IL‐12p70, IL‐17, IL‐18, and IL‐23 from MDM. Overall, this is the first demonstration of a simplistic nanoformulation formed by hydrogen bonding between curdlan and PGA that modulates cytokine gene expression and release of cytokines from MDM.     

Chemical Composition of Volatile Compounds in Apis mellifera Propolis from the Northeast Region of Pará State,Brazil

Propolis is a balsamic product obtained from vegetable resins by exotic Africanized bees Apis mellifera L., transported and processed by them, originating from the activity that explores and maintains these individuals. Because of its vegetable and natural origins, propolis is a complex mixture of different compound classes; among them are the volatile compounds present in the aroma. In this sense, in the present study we evaluated the volatile fraction of propolis present in the aroma obtained by distillation and simultaneous extraction, and its chemical composition was determined using coupled gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and flame ionization detection. The majority of compounds were sesquiterpene and hydrocarbons, comprising 8.2–22.19% α-copaene and 6.2–21.7% β-caryophyllene, with additional compounds identified in greater concentrations. Multivariate analysis showed that samples collected from one region may have different chemical compositions, which may be related to the location of the resin’s production. This may be related to other bee products.     

Anomalous thermal hysteresis in the SmC* phase of 10FHBBBM7*, revealed by dielectric measurements

The SmC* phase of (R)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-(4-decyloxy-3-fluorobenzoyloxy)-benzoate, 10FHBBBM7*, shows an anomalous thermal hysteresis that is reflected in the values of the measured dielectric constant. When the cooling-heating cycle is repeated, a memory effect occurs. In this work, we present a detailed study and a tentative interpretation of this unusual effect.     

Hydroxypyridinones as “privileged” chelating structures for the design of medicinal drugs

Hydroxypyridinones (HPs) are a family of N-heterocyclic core chelators which, based on their specific metal-coordination, easy manipulation/derivatization and biocompatibility, have been an attractive target for the development of new pharmaceutical drugs with manifold uses. Herein we describe the most recent advances reported in the literature on HPs, with a special focus on the metal chelating properties of the 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone (3,4-HP) derivatives, and the different approaches used to functionalize these chelators to improve their biological properties, namely in terms of bioavailability and specific bio-targeting abilities. Representative examples of HPs are included, mostly for applications as chelating drugs for sequestration or passivation of metal overload or deregulated biometals, but also as metallodrugs for potential diagnostic/therapeutic purposes. These examples are discussed in terms of the chelating properties and structure–activity relationships.     

Thermal analysis characterization of PAAm-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-MC hydrogels

This paper reports the thermal characterization of polyacrylamide-co-methylcellulose hydrogels and the constituent monomers (acrylamide and methylcellulose). Polymeric materials can be used to produce hydrogels, which can be natural, synthetic, or a mixture. The hydrogels described here were obtained by free radical polymerization, in the presence of N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross-linker agent. Four acrylamide concentrations were used for the synthesis of hydrogels: 3.6, 7.2, 14.7, and 21.7% (w/v). The materials so obtained were analyzed by TG, DTG, DSC, and FT-IR. The TG curves of acrylamide and methylcellulose showed three mass loss events. In DSC curves, the acrylamide exhibited one melting peak at 84.5 °C, and methylcellulose indicated one exothermic event. Nevertheless, acrylamide was considered more stable than methylcellulose. The TG curves of the hydrogels exhibited three mass loss events, and on the DSC curves, three endothermic events were observed. It was verified that the different acrylamide proportions influenced the thermic behavior of hydrogels, and that the authors considered the 7.2% hydrogel a promising drug carrier system. The absorption bands were well defined, confirming the presence of the functional groups in the samples.     

Fully nonlinear singularly perturbed equations and asymptotic free boundaries

In this paper we study one-phase fully nonlinear singularly perturbed elliptic problems with high energy activation potentials, ζε(u) with ζε→δ₀⋅∫ζ. We establish uniform and optimal gradient estimates of solutions and prove that minimal solutions are non-degenerated. For problems governed by concave equations, we establish uniform weak geometric properties of approximating level surfaces. We also provide a thorough analysis of the free boundary problem obtained as a limit as the ε-parameter term goes to zero. We find the precise jumping condition of limiting solutions through the phase transition, which involves a subtle homogenization process of the governing fully nonlinear operator. In particular, for rotational invariant operators, F(D²u), we show the normal derivative of limiting function is constant along the interface. Smoothness properties of the free boundary are also addressed.     

Co-authorship model with link strength

We generalize a network formation model for co-authorship introducing the possibility of the connections having different link strengths. Different link strengths represent the fact that authors may put different efforts into different collaborations. To evaluate the model, we consider the notions of efficiency and pairwise stability, which are based on a utility function that measures the benefits for an author to belonging to a certain network structure. We divide the analysis in two cases, considering that link strengths are unbounded or bounded. In the first case, we show that if there are more than two authors in the network, then there is no pairwise stable network. In the second case, we show that the pairwise stable networks consist of completely connected disjoint components where essentially all link strengths are maximal. Regarding efficiency, in both cases, if the number of authors is even, then the unique efficient network structure consists of pairs of connected authors.