XPS and wettability characterization of modified poly(lactic acid) and poly(lactic/glycolic acid) films

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic/glycolic acid) copolymers (PLGA) are biodegradable drug carriers of great importance, although successful pharmaceutical application requires adjustment of the surface properties of the polymeric drug delivery system to be compatible with the biological environment. For that reason, reduction of the original hydrophobicity of the PLA or PLGA surfaces was performed by applying a hydrophilic polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with the aim to improve biocompatibility of the original polymer. PEO-containing surfaces were prepared by incorporation of block copolymeric surfactants, poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic), into the hydrophobic surface. Films of polymer blends from PLA or PLGA (with lactic/glycolic acid ratios of 75/25 and 50/50) and from Pluronics (PE6800, PE6400, and PE6100) were obtained by the solvent casting method, applying the Pluronics at different concentrations between 1 and 9.1% w/w. Wettability was measured to monitor the change in surface hydrophobicity, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was applied to determine the composition and chemical structure of the polymer surface and its change with surface modification. Substantial reduction of surface hydrophobicity was achieved on both the PLA homopolymer and the PLGA copolymers by applying the Pluronics at various concentrations. In accordance with the wettability changes the accumulation of Pluronics in the surface layer was greatly affected by the initial hydrophobicity of the polymer, namely, by the lactide content of the copolymer. The extent of surface modification was also found to be dependent on the type of blended Pluronics. Surface activity of the modifying Pluronic component was interpreted by using the solubility parameters.     

Recent advances in the field of conducting polymers

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry the Topical Editor of Polymer Modified Electrodes and Polyelectrolytes surveyed the fields belonging to his area. The review emphasizes the developments in the last 5 years.     

Conjugation of bioactive groups to poly(lactic acid) and poly[(lactic acid)-co-(glycolic acid)] films

A novel PLA-based polymer containing reactive pendent ketone or hydroxyl groups was synthesized by the copolymerization of L-lactide with epsilon-caprolactone-based monomers. The polymer was activated with NPC, resulting in an amine-reactive polymer which was then cast into thin polymeric films, either alone or as part of a blend with PLGA, before immersion into a solution of the cell adhesion peptide GRGDS in PBS buffer allowed for conjugation of GRGDS to the film surfaces. Subsequent 3T3 fibroblast cell adhesion studies demonstrated an increase in cellular adhesion and spreading over films cast from unmodified PLGA. Hence the new polymer can be used to obtain covalent linkage of amine-containing molecules to polymer surfaces.     

Recent advances in the field of the synthesis of juvenile hormones

The review considers recent advances in the field of the synthesis of juvenile hormones — briefly with respect to fundamental investigations up to 1975, and in more detail in relation to studies of the last 8–10 years, including investigations by the authors.N. D. Zelinskii Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 133–146, March–April, 1986.     

单克隆抗体药物糖基化修饰分析研究进展

单克隆抗体药物是一类以免疫球蛋白G的结构为基础的大分子糖蛋白药物,为癌症、自身免疫疾病以及病毒感染等多种疾病的治疗提供了全新的途径。单抗药物的糖基化修饰类型及水平对其稳定性、清除率、免疫原性、抗体依赖细胞毒性及补体依赖细胞毒性等都有一定的影响。单抗药物的迅速发展及其在多种疾病治疗中日益凸显的重要性都对单抗药物的研发及用药安全等方面提出了更高的要求。因此,建立规范可靠的单抗药物糖基化修饰分析方法有着十分重要的意义。该综述将简要介绍单克隆抗体药物糖基化修饰及相关的定性、定量分析方法。     

Recent advances in amino acid analysis by CE

This paper describes a number of articles that have been published on amino acid (AA) analysis using CE during the period from June 2005 to May 2007. This review article follows the format of the previous articles of Smith (Electrophoresis 1999, 20, 3078-3083), Prata et al.. (Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 4129-4138), and Poinsot et al.. (Electrophoresis 2003, 24, 4047-4062 and Electrophoresis 2006, 27, 176-194). Several new developments in AA analysis with CE are reported describing the use of laser-emitting diodes for LIF, MS, and chips. In addition, we describe articles concerning clinical studies and neuroclinical applications.     

硼酸及硼酸酯类过氧化氢荧光探针的最新研究进展

生物新陈代谢过程中产生的过氧化氢（H2O2）是生命活动所必需的,但是过量过氧化氢的存在可以引发多种疾病,因此对体内过氧化氢的检测具有重要意义.采用荧光探针法,借助激光共聚焦成像技术能够实现对活细胞和组织内的过氧化氢＂实时、可见、定量＂的检测,为深入阐明过氧化氢在生理和病理过程中所起的作用提供了一个重要手段.本文按荧光探针的结构分类,对近几年来以硼酸及硼酸酯基团作为荧光开关的具有高选择性和灵敏度的过氧化氢荧光探针进行了综述,主要探讨其设计思想、作用机制及应用,为过氧化氢探针的设计提供了新思路.     

Recent advances in electric analysis of cells in microfluidic systems

Microfluidics offers an ideal platform to integrate cell-based assays with electric measurements. The technological advances in microfluidics, microelectronics, electrochemistry, and electrophysiology have greatly inspired the development of microfluidic/electric devices that work with a low number of cells or single cells. The applications of these microfluidic systems range from the detecting of cell culture density to the probing of cellular functions at the single-cell level. In this review, we introduce the recent advances in the electric analysis of cells on a microfluidic platform, specifically related to the quantification and monitoring of cells in static solution, on-chip patch-clamp measurement, and examination of flowing cells. We also point out future directions and challenges in this field. Figure Different microfluidic devices applied to electrical analysis of cells     

Recent advances in artificial photosynthetic systems at Newcastle University

This review covers the most significant research done by the group of scientists working at Newcastle University during the last five years in the area of artificial photosynthesis. In particular, it tackles the aspects of light harvesting in molecular systems and solid state materials, photocatalysis in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases, and the fabrication of photoelectrochemical devices for the generation of hydrogen.     

Recent advances in the field of diolefin polymerization with transition metal catalysts

Recent advances in the field of catalysis for 1,3-diene polymerization and in the interpretation of the polymerization mechanism are examined. Catalysts prepared from methylaluminoxanes and soluble transition metal compounds are in general more active than the analogous systems prepared from AlR₃. With some catalysts, however, (e.g. lanthanide systems) a high activity is obtained only when transition metal compounds containing preformed metal-carbon bonds are used. Methylaluminoxanes affect also the stereospecificity of the polymerization. Active and stereospecific systems are obtained from monocyclopentadienyl derivatives of Ti and aluminoxanes. Recent views on the factors that determine stereospecificity are examined. Schemes are presented for the formation of iso- or syndiotactic polymers, with 1,2, cis-1,4 or trans-1,4 structure, from various dienes.     

Recent advances in amino acid analysis by capillary electrophoresis

Amino acids are studied extensively using capillary electrophoresis. In a previous article, we reviewed applications reported in the period 1999-early 2001 (Prata, C., Bonnafous, P., Fraysse, N., Treilhou, M., Poinsot, V., Couderc, F., Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 4129-4138). In this article we follow on with this review for the period end of 2001-beginning of 2003. We will report the developments of detection methods, separations of enantiomers, the new medical applications, and amino acids in food and plants. This review shows that CE is more and more important for the amino acid analysis.     

Recent advances in microchip electrophoresis for amino acid analysis

With the maturation of microfluidic technologies, microchip electrophoresis has been widely employed for amino acid analysis owing to its advantages of low sample consumption, reduced analysis time, high throughput, and potential for integration and automation. In this article, we review the recent progress in amino acid analysis using microchip electrophoresis during the period from 2007 to 2012. Innovations in microchip materials, surface modification, sample introduction, microchip electrophoresis, and detection methods are documented, as well as nascent applications of amino acid analysis in single-cell analysis, microdialysis sampling, food analysis, and extraterrestrial exploration. Without doubt, more applications of microchip electrophoresis in amino acid analysis may be expected soon.     

Recent advances in amino acid analysis by capillary electrophoresis

This paper describes a number of articles that have been published on amino acid analysis using CE during the period from June 2003 to May 2005. This review article follows the previous ones of Smith (Electrophoresis 1999, 20, 3078-3083), Prata et al. (Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 4129-4138), and Poinsot et al. (Electrophoresis 2003, 24, 4047-4062). Several new developments in amino acid analysis with CE are reported concerning UV detection, LIF, MS, and NMR. In addition, we describe articles concerning clinical and pharmaceutical studies, neuroclinical applications, and agricultural and food analysis.     

Recent advances in amino acid analysis by capillary electrophoresis

This paper describes the most important articles that have been published on amino acid analysis using CE during the period from June 2009 to May 2011 and follows the format of the previous articles of Smith (Electrophoresis 1999, 20, 3078-3083), Prata et al. (Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 4129-4138) and Poinsot et al. (Electrophoresis 2003, 24, 4047-4062; Electrophoresis 2006, 27, 176-194; Electrophoresis 2008, 29, 207-223; Electrophoresis 2010, 31, 105-121). We present new developments in amino acid analysis with CE, which are reported describing the use of lasers or light emitting diodes for fluorescence detection, conductimetry electrochemiluminescence detectors, mass spectrometry applications, and lab-on-a-chip applications using CE. In addition, we describe articles concerning clinical studies and neurochemical applications of these techniques.     

Recent advances in the control of morphology and surface chemistry of porous polymer-based monolithic stationary phases and their application in CEC

This review focuses on developments in the field of polymer-based monolithic columns for CEC published in the literature since the beginning of the year 2005. The possibility of in-situ preparation as well as easy control over their porous properties and surface chemistries clearly make monolithic separation media an attractive alternative to capillary columns packed with particles. Different variables such as polymerization conditions, morphology, and surface chemistry are shown to directly affect performance of monolithic capillary columns in terms of efficiency, analysis time, and retention.     

Recent advances in amino acid analysis by capillary electrophoresis

Amino acids are studied extensively using capillary electrophoresis. In this review we will report the different researchs which have been done in the literature since 1998. We will describe the developments of, detection methods, separations of enantiomers, the new medical applications, and amino acids in food and plants.