Microencapsulation of dodecyl acetate by complex coacervation of whey protein with acacia gum and its release behavior

Complex coacervation of whey protein(WP) with acacia gum(AG) was carried out in water with the presence of dodecyl acetate (DA),a component of insect sex pheromones,in order to obtain microcapsules with DA as the core material and WP-AG coacervate as the wall materials.Through variations in wall/core ratios,concentrations of the wall materials in capsule preparations,DA encapsulation was optimized,which showed a high DA encapsulation was achieved when coacervation was conducted at pH 3.5 with wall/core mass ratio at 3 combined with concentration of wall materials at 1.0 wt%.Morphology and the structure of DA loaded microcapsules were examined by scanning electron microscope,which showed the microcapsules were of core/shell structure with DA encapsulated in the inner of the microcapsules.DA release was examined and the behavior of the release was discussed.     

Photoregulation of protein plasmid expression in vitro and in vivo using BHQ caging group

Green fluorescent protein(GFP) plasmid was caged by 8-bromo-7-hydroxyquinolinyl chromophore(BHQ) for controlling its expression with exact spatiotemporal resolution.In vitro and in vivo experiments clearly verified that,comparing with Bhc caging, the expression level of caged GFP plasmid was dramatically decreased and then efficiently restored after subsequent photolysis.     

Analysis of the release process of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride from ethylcellulose matrix granules IV.(1)) Evaluation of the controlled release properties for in vivo and in vitro release systems

In the pharmaceutical preparation of a controlled release drug, it is very important and necessary to understand the release properties. The dissolution test is a very important and useful method for understanding and predicting drug-release properties. It was readily confirmed in the previous paper that the release process could be assessed quantitatively by a combination of the square-root time law and cube-root law equations for ethylcellulose (EC) matrix granules of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA). In this paper EC layered granules were used in addition to EC matrix. The relationship between release property and the concentration of PPA in plasma after administration using beagle dogs were examined. Then it was confirmed that the correlativity for EC layered granules and EC matrix were similar each other. Therefore, it was considered that the dissolution test is useful for prediction of changes in concentration of PPA in the blood with time. And it was suggested that EC layered granules were suitable as a controlled release system as well as EC matrix.     

Radiation preparation of PVA-g-NIPAAm in a homogeneous system and its application in controlled release

Thermosensitive PVA-g-NIPAAm copolymers were prepared by graft copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) onto poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in homogeneous system of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by ⁶⁰Co-γ irradiation at room temperature. The factors of affecting the grafting yield, such as radiation dose, dose rate, acid concentration, were investigated. It was found that the grafting yield was increased with dose up to 30 kGy, but decreased slightly with dose rate from 61.2 to 50.1 Gy/min. The acid concentration also had influence on the grafting yield. Then the hydrogel of PVA-g-NIPAAm copolymer was made through a freezing–thawing process. The PVA-g-NIPAAm hydrogel exhibited obvious thermal sensitivity, which was observed from the differences of swelling behavior in water at different temperatures (below or above LCST). In addition, the release of Methylene Blue (MB) from this kind of hydrogel was studied. The release rate of MB from PVA-g-NIPAAm copolymer hydrogel at 48°C was faster than that at 15°C due to the shrinkage of the hydrogel at 48°C.     

Novel 2-hydroxynaphthalene-based fluorescent turn-on sensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of Al3+ and its application in imaging in vitro and in vivo

Excessive aluminum exposure in the human body has been held responsible for multiple adverse effects, and existing data underscore the significance of aluminum detection in environmental and biological systems. Developing high-performance Al³⁺ fluorescent chemosensors can revolutionize our understanding of the physiological and pathological processes of Al³⁺ ions. Herein, we reported a highly sensitive and selective Schiff base fluorescence sensor, bis-NAPPD (1,1'-((1E,1'E)-(pyridine-2,3-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(naphthalen-2-ol)), which can recognize Al³⁺ ions and exhibits a remarkable turn-on dual emission response (by ~23 fold) with a low nanomolar level detection limit (1.67 × 10⁻⁸ M) in methanol. Furthermore, the binding behavior and the turn-on fluorescence probing mechanism of bis-NAPPD were illustrated in detail by UV–vis titration, ¹H NMR, and ESI-MS spectroscopy as well as density functional theory calculations. Notably, bis-NAPPD showed great potential for tracing Al³⁺ distribution in cells and living zebrafish larvae, and can also be applied in the fluorimetric detection of aluminum in sucralfate tablets with good precision and satisfactory accuracy, which may represent a promising Al³⁺ probe in bioimaging and biomedical applications.     

1,8-Naphthalimide-based colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for recognition of GMP,TMP, and UMP and its application in in vivo imaging

In this study, a series of 1,8-naphthalimide-based analogs were developed for fluorescence imaging of nucleotides in Caenorhabditis elegans. In DMSO, compound 1 proved to be an effective and selective colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for recognition of GMP, TMP, and UMP over other structurally similar nucleotides. Among all the tested nucleotides, only the addition of GMP, TMP, and UMP resulted in a fluorescence color change from blue to brown with a fluorescence enhancement of more than 600-fold, with the colorless solution turning brown. NMR spectroscopic titration, theoretical calculations, and spectral tests performed using various solvent compositions confirmed that compound 1 formed multiple hydrogen bonds with the related base groups in the nucleotide. Compound 1 demonstrated its utility as a fluorescent chemosensor for detecting GMP, TMP, and UMP in in vivo imaging of GMP, TMP, and UMP in C. elegans.     

Anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography of proteins in mouse ascites fluid: Changes in the protein pattern during tumour growthIn vivo

Summary During the transition of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells from the proliferating to the resting state of growth a large loss of purine and pyrimidine compounds occurs. This decrease is accompanied by a change in the amount of protein in the supernate of ascites fluid, which is known from the study of the ATP-consumption during protein synthesis. The ascites fluid was investigated by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). SDS-PAGE (sodium, dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) data were compared with SEC data. The total amount of protein increased by 50% between day 5 and 12 of growth. At least 5 new peaks are observed in the chromatograms of an ion-exchange separation of Ehrlich ascites fluid at day 12 postinoculation. The amounts of transferrin, albumin and IgG (immunoglobulin G) were increased to 132, 134, 157%, respectively duringin vivo growth.     

Mechanism of the prokaryotic transmembrane disulfide reduction pathway and its in vitro reconstitution from purified components

Making your (Dsb) connection: the redox pathway bringing reducing equivalents from bacterial cytoplasm, across the inner membrane, to the three reductive Dsb pathways in the otherwise oxidizing periplasm (see scheme; TR=thioredoxin reductase, Trx=thioredoxin) is reconstituted from purified components. Transfer of reducing equivalents across the membrane is demonstrated and underlying mechanistic details are revealed.     

Positively charged covalent organic framework and its application in the dispersive solid-phase extraction of ultraviolet-filters from food packaging material migrants

Abstract

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show excellent property, such as high porosity and excellent structure stability and were well applied in fields such as catalysis and adsorption, but most of the COFs showed similar structure and thus similar adsorption performance. Modification of simple COFs to enhance its adsorption performance in separation technique is an important issue. In this study, quaternary ammonium groups with long hydrophobic chain were introduced into a simple COF (TpPa-1) for the first time. The positively charged COF (PC-TpPa-1) can form electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic effect with negatively charged analytes, and showed good adsorption performance for ultraviolet-filters (UV filters). Under the optimum conditions, i.e. adsorbent amount 20?mg, pH?=?7, 1.0?mL acetonitrile as eluent, the obtained recoveries for all UV filters were in the range of 86.4–96.7%.The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of UV filters from food packaging material migrants with the aid of HPLC as a detector.     

Simultaneous determination of cell aging and ATP release from erythrocytes and its implications in type 2 diabetes

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a determinant in the antioxidant status of the red blood cell (RBC) and is also used as an indicator of cell age. However, it is unknown if the relationship among antioxidant status, cell age, and RBC-derived adenosine triphosphate (ATP) occurs immediately or over a period of time. Therefore, the development of a simultaneous determination of G6PD activity (via the determination of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)) in RBCs and the determination of deformation-induced RBC-derived ATP is described. The NADPH and ATP were determined while undergoing a chemically induced aging process via inhibition of G6PD with dehydroepiandroesterone (DHEA). Upon incubation with DHEA for 30 min, NADPH levels measured in a flow stream decreased to 7.96 ± 1.10 μM from an original value of 13.20 ± 1.80 μM in a 0.02% solution of RBCs. In order to demonstrate a direct relationship between G6PD activity and deformation-induced ATP release from RBCs, a simultaneous microflow determination of G6PD activity and ATP release was performed. Upon inhibition with DHEA, NADPH levels decreased to 8.62 ± 0.29 μM from its original value of 12.73 ± 0.50 μM while ATP release decreased from 0.21 ± 0.07 μM to 0.06 ± 0.02 μM. These values were validated by an examination of NADPH levels in, and ATP release from, RBC fractions containing younger and older cells (separated by cell density centrifugation). This determination provides evidence that antioxidant status in the RBC and its ability to release ATP, a known stimulus of nitric oxide production, are closely related.     

Simultaneous determination of imperatorin and its metabolites in vitro and in vivo by a GC‐MS method: application to a bioavailability and protein binding ability study in rat plasma

In this study, a simple and sensitive gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed for the study of bioavailability and protein binding and the metabolism of imperatorin in rat. The results showed that the pharmacokinetics of imperatorin after intravenous and oral administration in rats exhibited linear characteristics. The absolute bioavailability of imperatorin was calculated as ~3.85, ~33.51 and ~34.76% for 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, respectively. The low bioavailability of imperatorin may be attributed to the poor absorption or extensive metabolism. The phase I metabolites of imperatorin formed in vitro by rat liver microsomes were studied, and two metabolites were isolated and identified as xanthotoxol and heraclenin. Following oral administration of imperatorin, one metabolite (heraclenin) was detected in rat plasma, and two potential metabolites (xanthotoxol and heraclenin) were detected in rat urine. However, none of potential metabolites was detected in rat feces and bile. The results showed that the metabolites of imperatorin were excreted by kidney, and heraclenin was associated with an active component. Demethylation and oxygenization were the main metabolic pathways. In vitro plasma protein binding of imperatorin was 90.1 and 92.6% for the spiked rat plasma concentrations of 1.0 and 50.0 µg/mL, respectively, indicating that imperatorin showed slow distribution into the intra‐ and extracellular space. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular characterization of a gene for aldose reductase (CbXYL1) from Candida boidinii and its expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Candida boidinii produces significant amounts of xylitol from xylose, and assays of crude homogenates for aldose (xylose) reductase (XYL1p) have been reported to show relatively high activity with NADH as a cofactor even though XYL1p purified from this yeast does not have such activity. A gene coding for XYL1p from C. boidinii (CbXYL1) was isolated by amplifying the central region using primers to conserved domains and by genome walking. CbXYL1 has an open reading frame of 966 bp encoding 321 amino acids. The C. boidinii XYL1p is highly similar to other known yeast aldose reductases and is most closely related to the NAD(P)H-linked XYL1p of Kluyveromyces lactis. Cell homogenates from C. boidinii and recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae were tested for XYL1p activity to confirm the previously reported high ratio of NADH:NADPH linked activity. C. boidinii grown under fully aerobic conditions showed an NADH:NADPH activity ratio of 0.76, which was similar to that observed with the XYL1p from Pichia stipitis XYL1, but which is much lower than what was previously reported. Cells grown under low aeration showed an NADH:NADPH activity ratio of 2.13. Recombinant S. cerevisiae expressing CbXYL1 showed only NADH-linked activity in cell homogenates. Southern hybridization did not reveal additional bands. These results imply that a second, unrelated gene for XYL1p is present in C. boidinii.     

Investigation of role of urea in morphologically controlled synthesis of calcium‐bismuth bimetallic nanoparticles from chicken egg shells and its catalytic and fuel additive applications

A comparative study on the role of urea in controlling the morphology of calcium‐bismuth (Ca₅Bi₃) bimetallic nanoparticles is carried out. Calcium‐bismuth bimetallic nanoparticles are synthesized in the presence and absence of urea using the solvothermal method. The morphology of the synthesized products is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The composition of the product is analyzed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Reitveld refinements are performed on the XRD data, and lattice parameters are optimized. Reitveld‐refined parameters are used to construct the structural model of the calcium‐bismuth product. The formation mechanism of needle like particles from an orthorhombic unit cell is also proposed. The degradation of Congo red dye is catalyzed by synthesized Ca₅Bi₃ bimetallic nanoneedles in an aqueous medium. The effect of catalyst dose on the apparent rate constant (k_app) of degradation is studied and compared with literature. Ca₅Bi₃ bimetallic nanoneedles are also used as an additive in commercial diesel obtained from Pakistan State Oil, Limited. The effect of an additive dose on the calorific value of diesel is studied. How the Ca₅Bi₃ additive influenced other fuel quality parameters such as flash point, fire point, pour point, cloud point, kinematic viscosity, and specific gravity is also studied.     

Expression of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis> and its resistance to oxidative stress

The gene for the Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cloned, characterized, and overexpressed in the methylotrophic Pichia pastoris. The sod gene sequence obtained is 465 bp and encodes 154 amino acid residues. The sod gene sequence was cloned into the pPIC9K vector, yielding pAB22. The linearized pAB22 DNA, digested with restriction enzyme SacI, was transformed into the genome of the GS115 strain of the yeast P. pastoris. The SOD was purified from the cultured yeast by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. This relatively simple purification method produced a single band on analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The overexpressed SOD protein was shown to have immunologically biologic activity and to be enzymatically active. The yeast overexpressing Cu, Zn-SOD appeared to be more resistant to oxidative stress such as paraquat, menadione, and heat shock.     

Dual‐responsive supramolecular self‐assembly of inclusion complex of an azobenzene‐ended poly(ε‐caprolactone) with a water‐soluble pillar[6]arene and its application in controlled drug release

Dual photo‐ and pH‐responsive polymeric vesicles are constructed from a host–guest complex between a water‐soluble pillar[6]arene and an azobenzene ended functionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone). Reversible morphological transitions between vesicles and solid aggregates are achieved upon repeated UV stimulus and pH stimulus. Moreover, the polymeric vesicles present excellent cytocompatibility toward HepG2 cells and can be further applied for controlled release of a hydrophilic model drug, DOX?HCl. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2477–2482     

Preparative isolation and purification of steroidal glycoalkaloid from the ripe berries of Solanum nigrum L. by preparative HPLC–MS and UHPLC–TOF‐MS/MS and its anti‐non‐small cell lung tumors effects in vitro and in vivo

Overcoming epidermal growth factor receptor resistance is a critical problem that needs to be solved in clinical practice. Drugs that downregulate the fatty acid synthase‐epidermal growth factor receptor will become novel treatments for non‐small cell lung cancer. Solanum nigrum, extracted with water at 4°C, shows strong cytotoxic activity and inhibits tumor growth in Lewis tumor bearing‐mice in a dose‐dependent manner. A novel active compound in S. nigrum, solaoiacid, was successfully separated and purified from S. nigrum by preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. The IC₅₀ of solaoiacid on lung cancer cells was 2.3 µmol/L, which was significantly lower than that of the known steroidal glycoalkaloid. Label‐free proteomics and STRING Network analysis were used to identify significantly deregulated proteins in lung cancer cells that were treated with the fresh ripe fruit extracts of S. nigrum. S. nigrum regulates multiple signal pathways, including the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway. S. nigrum downregulated 24 main proteins with direct roles in fatty acid biosynthesis. Both S. nigrum and solaoiacid showed strong downregulation of the fatty acid synthase‐epidermal growth factor receptor and anti‐non‐small cell lung cancer effects, and thus will become a novel drug for the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer.