ATPase-coupled release control from polyion complex capsules encapsulating muscle proteins

In the present study, a muscle contractile protein complex, actomyosin, has been successfully encapsulated into gellan-chitosan polyion complex (PIC) capsules. The recovery of the myosin-ATPase activity is approximately 50% and the Mg2+-ATPase activity is stimulated by the presence of F-actin, which implies the formation of the actomyosin complex inside the capsule. Furthermore, encapsulation could protect the myosin, F-actin, and actomyosin inside from hydrolysis by proteases. Two small proteins, myoglobin and cytochrome c, have been used in the release tests. The release of myoglobin is not affected by the ionic strength of the external solution, while the release of cytochrome c increases with increasing ionic strength. The maximal releases are found in the external pH solution close to the isoelectric points of each protein. The Mg2+-ATP complex itself reduces the release percentages of the small proteins from the PIC capsule. The release amounts further decrease when coexisting with Mg2+-ATP and the encapsulated actomyosin, which indicates the release regulation by actomyosin. The present study suggests that the ATPase-coupled sliding motion of the myosin-F-actin filaments modifies the pore size of the polymer networks in the PIC capsule membranes.     

Sphere,honeycomb, regularly spaced droplet and fiber structures of polyion complexes of chitosan and gellan

Different characteristic surface structures such as true and hemi spheres, honeycomb, regularly spaced droplets and fibers are created by electrostatic polysaccharide interaction between chitosan and gellan gum via polyion complex formation. Spherical droplet capsules of varying diameters form in solution. Strong fibers can be spun by gravity and by wet spinning in ethanol. These fibers possess a counter ion pairing structure, and exhibit a ‘nervation/veining’ pattern.     

Temperature responsive complex coacervate core micelles with a PEO and PNIPAAm corona

In aqueous solutions at room temperature, poly( N-methyl-2-vinyl pyridinium iodide)- block-poly(ethylene oxide), P2MVP 38- b-PEO 211 and poly(acrylic acid)- block-poly(isopropyl acrylamide), PAA 55- b-PNIPAAm 88 spontaneously coassemble into micelles, consisting of a mixed P2MVP/PAA polyelectrolyte core and a PEO/PNIPAAm corona. These so-called complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms), also known as polyion complex (PIC) micelles, block ionomer complexes (BIC), and interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPEC), respond to changes in solution pH and ionic strength as their micellization is electrostatically driven. Furthermore, the PNIPAAm segments ensure temperature responsiveness as they exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. Light scattering, two-dimensional 1H NMR nuclear Overhauser effect spectrometry, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy experiments were carried out to investigate micellar structure and solution behavior at 1 mM NaNO 3, T = 25, and 60 degrees C, that is, below and above the LCST of approximately 32 degrees C. At T = 25 degrees C, C3Ms were observed for 7 < pH < 12 and NaNO 3 concentrations below approximately 105 mM. The PEO and PNIPAAm chains appear to be (randomly) mixed within the micellar corona. At T = 60 degrees C, onion-like complexes are formed, consisting of a PNIPAAm inner core, a mixed P2MVP/PAA complex coacervate shell, and a PEO corona.     

Enantiomeric separation of amino acids and nonprotein amino acids using a particle-loaded monolithic column

A solution is prepared of 5 microm silica particles modified with (S)-N-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl-1-naphthylglycine (particle 1) or (S)-N-3,5-dinitrophenylaminocarbonyl-valine (particle 2) suspended in liquid tetraethylorthosilicate, ethanol, and aqueous hydrochloric acid. This solution is injected under pressure into a 30 cm long, 75 microm inner diameter capillary column and heated for 1 h at 120 degrees C after which the modified particles are embedded in a monolithic column of sol gel. The packed column measures approximately 15 cm from the inlet to the window used to view the laser-induced fluorescence. Thirteen different amino acids and three nonprotein amino acids are derivatized with the fluorogenic reagent 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) before injection onto the column for capillary electrochromatographic separation. The enantiomeric separation of the monolithic column packed with particle 1 results in a resolution ranging from 1.14 to 4.45, whereas that packed with particle 2 results in a resolution ranging from 0.79 to 1.17. On the basis of resolution and amount of chiral packing material the enantiomeric separation obtained by capillary electrochromatography is judged to be superior to that obtained previously with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

Preparation of PLL-PEG-PLL and its application to DNA encapsulation

With the successful sequencing of Human Genome, it would be possible to cure all diseases by gene ther- apy in the near future. However, one of the major problems in gene therapy is the development of gene vectors. To date, there are two kinds of gene vectors, namely, viral and non-viral gene vectors. Viruses are widely used as vectors in gene therapy, with the trans- fection efficiency being relatively high, but they have the safety problems such as immunogenicity, non- biocompatibility and …     

Transformation of biodegradable polyesters into cyclic oligomers under continuous flow using an enzyme-packed column

The enzymatic degradation of typical chemically synthesized biodegradable plastics, such as poly(butylene adipate) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone), to a repolymerizable cyclic oligomer under continuous flow using an enzyme column was studied, directed towards green chemical recycling. It was confirmed that both polymers were quantitatively transformed into the corresponding cyclic oligomers by passage through the column packed with immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) at 40 degrees C using a toluene solution. Compared to the batch treatment in a flask, a short reaction time and a low reaction temperature occurred for complete transformations of the polyesters by continuous flow through the enzyme column. The degradation activity of the enzyme column was maintained for at least six months at 40 degrees C. Conceptual scheme of the continuous degradation equipment using the enzyme column.     

Polyion complex micelles formed from glucose oxidase and comb‐type polyelectrolyte with poly(ethylene glycol) grafts

The comb‐type polyelectrolyte, poly(ethylene glycol)‐graft‐poly(allyl amine) (PEG‐g‐PAA), was synthesized to prepare polyion complex (PIC) micelles with Aspergillus Niger Glucose oxidase (GOD). Even after mixing GOD and PEG‐g‐PAAs with various PEG contents, the resulting mixtures remained transparent but the mixture of GOD and PAA homopolymer immediately precipitated. In the mixtures prepared with a stoichiometric mixing ratio, the formation of PIC micelles with a core‐shell structure was suggested from dynamic and static light scattering measurements. Glucose, the substrate for GOD, could easily diffuse into the PIC micelles, and the GOD molecules were active even in the core of the PIC micelles. GOD didn't lose its enzymatic activity through entrapment into the PIC micelles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3842–3852, 2008     

PMADQUAT/PSt-PAA聚离子复合物聚集体增强卟啉和富勒烯类衍生物单重态氧产率

采用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)法合成了嵌段共聚物聚苯乙烯-聚丙烯酸叔丁酯(PSt-PtBuA), 在酸性条件下水解得到聚苯乙烯-聚丙烯酸(PSt-PAA), 利用核磁共振氢谱(¹HNMR)、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)等对产物进行了表征. PSt-PAA在Tris-HCl缓冲溶液中(pH=7.0)形成临界聚集浓度(CAC)为0.015 g/L的聚集体. PSt-PAA与聚2-甲基丙烯酰氧基乙基三甲基氯化铵(PMADQUAT)可通过静电相互作用形成聚离子复合物(polyion complex, PIC), 当 m_(PMADQUAT)/m_(PSt-PAA)=3时, 形成的聚离子复合物的CAC为0.005 g/L. 动态光散射(DLS)和透射电镜(TEM)结果表明, 形成聚离子复合物后, 聚集体粒径变小. 聚合物形成聚集体可包载二乙二醇单甲醚修饰的C₇₀(MDG-C₇₀)、原卟啉(PPIX)、四苯基锌卟啉(ZnTPP)和四苯基卟啉(TPP)等光敏剂, 并增强光敏剂在缓冲溶液中的溶解度. 光照条件下, MDG-C₇₀、PPIX、ZnTPP和TPP在聚离子复合物聚集体m_(PMADQUAT)/m_(PSt-PAA)=3的溶液中的单重态氧量子产率分别是在PSt-PAA聚集体溶液中的1.64、2.63、2.60和2.20倍. 而在缓冲溶液中,由于光敏剂的聚集作用,未能检测到单重态氧的产生。研究结果表明,聚离子复合物聚集体能够包载光敏剂,是提高单重态氧产率的一个有效途径.     

Temperature Window for Encapsulation of an Enzyme into Thermally Shrunk,CaCO3 Templated Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Capsules

Encapsulation of enzymes allows to preserve their biological activities in various environmental conditions, such as exposure to elevated temperature or to proteases. This is particularly relevant for in vivo applications, where proteases represent a severe obstacle to maintaining the activity of enzymes. Polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules are suitable for enzyme encapsulation, where CaCO₃ particles and temperature-dependent capsule formation are the best templates and the most adequate method, respectively. In this work, these two areas are combined and, ALP (alkaline phosphatase), which is a robust and therapeutically relevant enzyme, is encapsulated into thermally shrunk polyelectrolyte multilayer (PDADMAC/PSS)₄ capsules templated on calcium carbonate particles (original average diameter: ≈3.5 µm). The activity of the encapsulated enzyme and the optimal temperature range for encapsulation are investigated. The enzymatic activity is almost four times higher upon encapsulation when the temperature range for encapsulation is situated just above the glass transition temperature (40 °C), while its optimal conditions are dictated, on the one hand, by the enzyme activity (better at lower temperatures) and, on the other hand, by the size and mechanical properties of capsules (better at higher temperatures).     

Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of tetramethylpyrazine phosphate in very small volumes of dog plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is developed for the determination of tetramethylpyrazine phosphate, an antiplatelet aggregation agent, in 100 microL of dog plasma. Sample preparations are carried out by deproteinization with an internal standard (carbamazepine) solution in acetonitrile. An aliquot of the supernatant (20 microL) is directly injected into an HPLC apparatus with methanol-phosphate buffer (0.01M, pH 3.0) (62:38, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Separation is performed with a C18 column at 30 degrees C. The peak is detected using a UV detector set at 279 nm. The capacity factors are 1.48 for tetramethylpyrazine phosphate and 2.09 for carbamazepine, with a total run time of 10 min. The calibration curve is linear in the 0.2-50-microg/mL range. The limit of detection is 0.05 microg/mL. Mean recoveries are 92.6-98.1%. The within- and between-day variation coefficients are less than 4.9% and 7.5%, respectively. The present method has been successfully used to provide pharmacokinetic data after oral administration of tetramethylpyrazine phosphate pulsincap capsules and immediate-release tablets to dogs.     

Semipermeable polymer vesicle (PICsome) self-assembled in aqueous medium from a pair of oppositely charged block copolymers: physiologically stable micro-/nanocontainers of water-soluble macromolecules

A new entity of polymer vesicle with a polyion complex (PIC) membrane, a PICsome, was prepared by simple mixing of a pair of oppositely charged block copolymers, composed of biocompatible PEG and poly(amino acid)s, in an aqueous medium. Flow particle image analysis revealed the formation of spherical particles with a size range up to 10 mum. Observation by dark-field and confocal laser scanning microscopes clearly confirmed that the PICsome has a hollow structure with an inner-water phase, in which FITC-dextran emitting green fluorescence was successfully encapsulated simply by the simultaneous mixing with the block copolymers. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation and spectral analysis revealed the smooth penetration of a low molecular weight fluorescent dye (TRITC; MW = 443.5) emitting red fluorescence into the FITC-dextran encapsulated PICsome to give the PICsome image with a merged color of yellows, indicating the semipermeable nature of the PICsome membrane. The PICsomes showed appreciable physiological stability even in the presence of serum proteins, suggesting their feasibility in biomedical fields such as carriers of therapeutic compounds and compartments for diagnostic enzymes.     

Two-stage extraction preconcentration and HPLC determination of phenol and 1-naphthol in aqueous solutions

The extraction of phenol and 1-naphthol with isomolar mixtures of ethyl acetate and hexane under batch conditions and with tributyl phosphate impregnated into a polyurethane foam under batch and dynamic conditions was studied. A procedure for determining phenol and 1-naphthol in aqueous samples was developed including their dynamic recovery on a column packed with polyurethane foam impregnated with tributyl phosphate, elution with a 0.1 M NaCl solution of pH 12.5–13.0, extraction with a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane, and separation by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-detection. The overall preconcentration coefficient was 250. The detection limits were 2.5 μg/L. The relative error of determination was lower than 18%. The time of one determination was 2–2.5 h.     

戊二醛合成跟踪分析

用气相色谱法对液 液相转移反应萃取法合成戊二醛（ＧＡ）反应进行跟踪分析,采用φ３ｍｍ×４ｍ［ｍ（ＳＥ ３０）∶ｍ（硅烷化１０１白色担体）＝１５∶１００］＋φ３ｍｍ×２ｍ［ｍ（ＰＥＧ ２０Ｍ）∶ｍ（硅烷化１０１白色担体）＝１０∶１００］不锈钢柱,双柱双氢焰程序升温,升温程序为７０℃（４ｍｉｎ）１０℃／ｍｉｎ１４０℃（６ｍｉｎ）。Ｎ２４５ｍＬ／ｍｉｎ,Ｈ２６５ｍＬ／ｍｉｎ,空气３００ｍＬ／ｍｉｎ,汽化温度１８５℃,检测温度１８５℃。所建立的方法能较好地分离环戊烯、溶剂、氧化中间产物、ＧＡ、内标、氧化副产物。     

高效液相色谱法测定头孢他啶的含量及杂质

采用高效液相色谱法测定了头孢他啶的含量及杂质。以Alltima C18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)为分离柱,以乙腈和磷酸盐缓冲溶液(pH 3.9)分别为流动相A和流动相B进行梯度洗脱,流速1.3 mL/min,柱温35 ℃,紫外检测波长255 nm。从头孢他啶药物中共分出14个杂质,且14个杂质间具有良好的分离度。头孢他啶在0.267~1069 μg/mL范围内与峰面积具有良好的线性关系(r=1.0000);其定量限(S/N=10)和最低检出限(S/N=3)分别为3.1 ng和0.93 ng。3个浓度的日内测定值的相对标准偏差(RSD）为0.72%(n=3),日间测定值的RSD为0.91%(n=3)。头孢他啶溶液在4 ℃避光条件下放置24 h保持稳定。本方法与欧洲/英国药典和日本药局方的方法比较,具有分离杂质数量多、分离度好的优点。     

昆虫激素十二醇微胶囊的制备与释放行为研究

利用昆虫雌性激素对昆虫进行干扰交配是近年来使用的一种新技术,可替代农药杀虫剂达到高选择性无毒无药灭害的目的。迄今为止的相关研究及应用技术都是使用载有昆虫激素的棉条、纸片、塑胶管等装置,以一定密度置于果园或农田。十二醇是较为简单的一个存在于多种昆虫的雌性激素中化合物。本文首次探索使用聚合物微球水分散体系将昆虫激素十二醇(C12OH)包覆在聚合物微球中,通过改变水分散体系的制备方法、复合微球壁的交联度等探讨了此类体系对C12OH的可控释放。本工作首先通过测定阿拉伯胶明胶复凝聚过程的透光率、ζ电位,确定了阿拉伯胶-明胶的重量配比为1时可达最大复凝聚。在此基础上,制备了一系列不同交联剂戊二醛含量的复合微胶囊。结果表明微胶囊壁材的交联度随交联剂量明显上升,其对C12OH的包覆率经1%戊二醛交联后即提高至未交联体系的约三倍。但进一步提高戊二醛的含量,虽然胶囊的交联度仍明显上升,但对C12OH的包覆率基本保持恒定。使用同样量的甲醛可达同样交联效果,但对C12OH的包覆率有明显提高。在恒温恒湿条件下对各胶囊的C12OH释放行为进行了表征,结果显示交联胶囊可明显提高C12OH的恒速释放时间,交联度越高,恒速释放越稳定。本工作表明通过本方法确实可以达到将昆虫激素包覆在聚合物颗粒中并达到可控释放。     

Biotransformation of iminodiacetonitrile to iminodiacetic acid by Alcaligenes faecalis cells immobilized in ACA-membrane liquid-core capsules

Biotransformation of iminodiacetonitrile (IDAN) to iminodiacetic acid (IDA) was investigated with a newly isolated Alcaligenes faecalis ZJUTBX11 strain showing nitrilase activity in the immobilized form. To reduce the mass transfer resistance and to increase the toleration ability of the microorganisms to the toxic substrate as well as to enhance their ability to be reused, encapsulation of the whole cells in alginate-chitosan-alginate (ACA) membrane liquid-core capsules was attempted in the present study. The optimal pH and temperature for nitrilase activity of encapsulated A. faecalis ZJUTBX11 cells were 7.5°C and 35°C, respectively, which is consistent with free cells. Based on the Michaelis-Menten model, kinetic parameters of the conversion reaction with IDAN as the substrate were: K _m = (17.6 ± 0.3) mmol L^?1 and V _max = (97.6 ± 1.2) μmol min^?1 g^?1 of dry cell mass for encapsulated cells and (16.8 ± 0.4) mmol L^?1 and (108.0 ± 2.7) μmol min^?1 g^?1 of dry cell mass for free cells, respectively. After being recycled ten times, the whole cells encapsulated in ACA capsules still retained 90 % of the initial nitrilase activity while only 35 % were retained by free cells. Lab scale production of IDA using encapsulated cells in a bubble column reactor and a packed bed reactor were performed respectively.     

Scale-up potential of ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography method to produce biologically active inositol phosphates

This study was undertaken to evaluate the possibility that an analytical ion-pair HPLC procedure used to determine phytic acid (IP6) and its degradation products (IP3-IP5) can be transformed to a preparative purification method. A commercial phytic acid (CPA) preparation was separated into its component fractions of IP3, IP4, IPS, and IP6 on two C18 columns (1.8 and 4.2 ml) using 51% methanol containing 0.6-1% tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as ion-pair reagent and 0-0.025 M formic acid (pH 4.3) as eluent at 1.7 and 3.0 cm/min linear velocity, respectively, and 40 degrees C. Elution was monitored at 40 degrees C by a refractive index detector. Reproducible separation of CPA into four well-resolved peaks on these columns was possible after optimizing method variables, particularly the concentration of ion-pair reagent in the injected sample (>1.5%). The same separations were obtained after CPA loads were scaled up 25 times on a steel column (15 cm x 19 mm I.D.), packed with Ethyl C2 sorbent (10 microm) and on a 25 cm x 21.2 mm I.D. C18 column, but at a reduced linear velocity to increase the resolution. Therefore, this optimization of separation not only is useful for analysis of phytic acid and its degradation products but also it provides key parameters for scale up for further fractionation and characterization.     

Separation of human glycoprotein hormones and their subunits by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Separation of human pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was effected on a micro-scale by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a SynChropak C1 column in series with a Vydac C4 column using a linear gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1 M triethylamine phosphate buffer at pH 6.5. Chromatography on the C4 column alone caused partial dissociation of FSH into its subunits, whereas LH and TSH remained intact. Good yields of the separated subunits were obtained after prior dissociation of each hormone, and the results show that reversed-phase HPLC is useful for the analytical and preparative separation of these structurally related hormones and their subunits.     

High throughput liquid chromatography with sub-2 microm particles at high pressure and high temperature

In this study, ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) using pressures up to 1,000 bar and columns packed with sub-2 microm particles has been combined with high temperature mobile phase conditions (up to 90 degrees C). By using high temperature ultra performance liquid chromatography (HT-UPLC), it is possible to drastically decrease the analysis time without loss in efficiency. The stability and chromatographic behavior of sub-2 microm particles were evaluated at high temperature and high pressure. The chromatographic support remained stable after 500 injections (equivalent to 7,500 column volumes) and plate height curves demonstrated the capability of HT-UPLC to obtain fast separations. For example, a separation of nine doping agents was performed in less than 1 min with sub-2 microm particles at 90 degrees C. Furthermore, a shorter column (30 mm length) was used and allowed a separation of eight pharmaceutical compounds in only 40s.     

Overcharging of polyelectrolyte complexes by the guest polyelectrolyte studied by fluorescence spectroscopy

Polyion complexes (PICs) of anionic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(sodium methacrylate), PEO-block-(PMA)Na, and a cationic homopolymer, poly((methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride), PMOTAC, have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Pyrene and naphthalene singly labeled block copolymers were used with two different sodium methacrylate block lengths. The chain exchange between the stoichiometric PICs at the equilibrium state and the formation of the negatively charged PICs on addition of excess PEO-block-(PMA)Na to stoichiometric PIC solution were of interest. The chain exchange between the stoichiometric complexes was observed to occur via two mechanisms. The faster chain exchange occurs via insertion and expulsion of single chains, while merging and splitting of the PIC particles is behind the slower chain exchange event. Incorporation of an excess amount of the guest polyion into a stoichiometric PIC took place on further addition of the PEO-block-(PMA)Na. The same mechanisms were recognized in the overcharging process of the PICs as in the chain exchange between the stoichiometric PICs.