Electrospinning of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and HA/Gelatin Blends

Summary: In the present study, electrospinning of hyaluronic acid (HA) and hyaluronic acid/gelatin (HA‐GE) blends in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF)/water‐mixed solvents have been investigated. When the volume ratio of DMF to water was in the range of 1.5–0.5, HA solutions could be electrospun into fibrous membranes successfully. The average diameter of HA fibers was about 200 nm. The HA‐GE composite nanofibrous membranes with varied HA/GE weight ratio in the range of 100/20–100/100 have also been successfully fabricated. The average diameter of HA‐GE fibers was in the range of 190–500 nm. The decrease in surface tension could promote fiber formation. Thus, an introduction of DMF that could decrease the surface tension distinctively, without significant change or increase in viscosity of the solution, could bypass the use of blowing‐assisted electrospinning. Our postulated picture is that the lower surface tension could help the ejection of stream with relatively high viscosity and reduce or prevent the droplet formation during the spinning process.

HA/GE (100/80) nanofibrous membrane produced by electrospinning.     

Characterisation of Hyaluronic Acid Blends Modified by Poly(N-Vinylpyrrolidone)

The viscosity behaviour and physical properties of blends containing hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) were studied by the viscometric technique, steady shear tests, tensile tests and infrared spectroscopy. Viscometric and rheological measurements were carried out using blends of HA/PVP with different HA weight fractions (0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1). The polymer films and HA/PVP blend films were prepared using the solution casting method. The study of HA blends by viscometry showed that HA/PVP was miscible with the exception of the blend with high HA content. HA and its blends showed a shear-thinning flow behaviour. The non-Newtonian indices (n) of HA/PVP blends were calculated by the Ostwald–de Waele equation, indicating a shear-thinning effect in which pseudoplasticity increased with increasing HA contents. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation at the break, were higher for HA/PVP films with w_HA = 0.5 compared to those with higher HA contents. The elongation at the break of HA/PVP blend films displayed a pronounced increase compared to HA films. Moreover, infrared analysis confirmed the existence of interactions between HA and PVP. The blending of HA with PVP generated films with elasticity and better properties than homopolymer films.     

Diffusion-Ordered Spectroscopy (DOSY) as a Powerful NMR Method to Investigate Molecular Mobilities and Intermolecular Interactions in Complex Oil Mixtures

Studying the characteristics and molecular mechanisms of liquid self-diffusion coefficient and viscosity changes is of great significance for, e. g., chemical and petroleum processing. As examples of highly complex liquid,an asphaltene-free high-acid and high-viscosity crude oil and its extracted fractions were studied by comparing their ¹H DOSY diffusion maps. The crude oil exhibited a polydisperse diffusion distribution, including multiple diffusion portions with diffusion coefficients much smaller than that of any single fraction in independent diffusion. The main mechanism that leads to the decreases in the diffusion coefficients of crude oil is attributed to diffusion resistance enhanced by Dynamical Molecular-Interaction Networks (DMINs), rather than by enlargement of the diffusion species caused by molecular aggregation. Constructed through the synergistic interactions of various polar molecules in crude oil, DMINs dynamically bind polar molecules, trap polarizable molecules, and spatially hinder the free motion of non-polar molecules. Overall, this reduces the mobility of all molecular species, as illustrated by the decreased diffusion coefficients. This study demonstrates that DOSY is a powerful NMR method to investigate molecular motion abilities also in complex mixtures. In addition, the insights in the influence of the interaction matrix on the molecular mobility also help to understand the contribution of “structural viscosity” to the viscosity of heavy oil.     

Study on Synergistic Effect Between Wormlike Micelles and Hydrophobically Modified Poly(acrylic acid) in Salt Solution

The complex system of hydrophobically modified poly (acrylic acid) (HMPA) and wormlike micelles formed by sodium oleate in the presence of sodium acetate is investigated by apparent viscosity and rheological measurements. Addition of small amount of HMPA markedly enhances the viscosity of wormlike micelles, with further increase of HMPA concentration, a viscosity drop is observed. At high salinity, the complex system still remains strong viscoelastic and eliminates the limitation of susceptibility to salt for HMPA. DPD simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data, which provide theoretical confirmation for a synergistic mechanism between HMPA and wormlike micelles.      

Scaffolds of Hyaluronic Acid–Poly(Ethyl Acrylate) Interpenetrating Networks: Characterization and In Vitro Studies

Hyaluronic acid (HA) provides many advantages to regenerative implants through its bioactive properties, but it also has many limitations as a biomaterial if it is not chemically modified. In order to overcome some of these limitations, HA has been combined with poly(ethyl acrylate) in the form of interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs), in which the HA network is crosslinked with divinyl sulfone. Scaffolds of this IPN have been produced through a template‐leaching methodology, and their properties have been compared with those of single‐network scaffolds made of either PEA or crosslinked HA. A fibroblast cell line has been used to assess the in vitro performance of the scaffolds, revealing good cell response and a differentiated behavior on the IPN surface when compared to the individual polymers. Altogether, the results confirm that this type of material offers an interesting microenvironment for cells, which can be further improved toward its potential use in medical implants.

     

Structural and Functional Implications of the Interaction between Macrolide Antibiotics and Bile Acids

Macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin and erythromycin, are in widespread use for the treatment of bacterial infections. Macrolides are taken up and excreted mainly by bile. Additionally, they have been implicated in biliary system diseases and to modify the excretion of other drugs through bile. Despite mounting evidence for the interplay between macrolide antibiotics and bile acids, the molecular details of this interaction remain unknown. Herein, we show by NMR measurements that macrolides directly bind to bile acid micelles. The topology of this interaction has been determined by solvent paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (solvent PREs). The macrolides were found to be bound close to the surface of the micelle. Increasing hydrophobicity of both the macrolide and the bile acid strengthen this interaction. Both bile acid and macrolide molecules show similar solvent PREs across their whole structures, indicating that there are no preferred orientations of them in the bile micelle aggregates. The binding to bile aggregates does not impede macrolide antibiotics from targeting bacteria. In fact, the toxicity of azithromycin towards enterotoxic E. coli (ETEC) is even slightly increased in the presence of bile, as was shown by effective concentration (EC₅₀) values.     

利用二氧化钛静电纺丝和透明质酸甲基丙烯酸酯构筑用于细胞培养的纤维凝胶结构

通过观察生物体内骨的电镜图片,发现骨表面具有丰富的纤维微纳结构,在此观测的启发下,本实验设计将二氧化钛表面生物活性化的同时构筑这种纤维微纳结构,模仿骨表面。考虑到二氧化钛具有光催化性,且具有生物无毒性,本实验采用"自上而下"的一步法,在紫外光照的条件下,将二氧化钛静电纺丝与透明质酸衍生物在光照条件下通过双键稳定地连接起来。傅立叶-红外光谱分析表明实验成功地在二氧化钛静电纺丝表面嫁接上透明质酸分子。通过荧光和扫描电镜分析表明,间充质干细胞可以很好地在二氧化钛静电纺丝和透明质酸的复合结构上生长。这种构筑复合结构表面的方法,生物活化了二氧化钛纺丝的表面,同时模仿骨表面获得了微纳纤维拓扑结构。此外,可以将二氧化钛静电纺丝纺在不同种类的材料表面,从而在不同材料表面简便地得到可用于细胞培养的纤维表面结构,对于未来可实际应用的移植材料研发具有很好的借鉴意义。     

Synthesis,Structure, Luminescent and Thermal Properties of Ytterbium(III) and Dysprosium(III) Complexes with 5‐Sulfoisophthalic Acid Sodium Salt

Two rare earth metal‐organic framework compounds [Ybsip(H₂O)₅] · 3H₂O ( 1 ) and [Dysip(H₂O)₄] ( 2 ) (NaH₂sip: 5‐sulfoisophthalic acid sodium salt) were synthesized hydrothermally, and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. In complex 1 , each Yb^III atom is nine‐coordinate with a distorted monocapped tetragonal prismatic arrangement. Two carboxylate groups of each sip^3– molecule adopt the same μ₁‐η¹:η¹ chelating coordination model connecting two Yb^III atoms. The oxygen atoms of the sulfonate group do not participate in coordination with Yb^III. The whole sip^3– molecule acts as a μ₂ bridge to form an one‐dimensional (1D) chain structure. The 1D chains are linked by hydrogen bonding to generate two‐dimensional layers, and are further combined together to form a three‐dimensional structure. In complex 2 , the Dy^III atom is nine‐coordinate with a distorted monocapped tetragonal antiprismatic arrangement. In each sip^3– anion, two carboxylate groups take the same μ₁‐η¹:η¹ chelating coordination mode, only an oxygen atom of sulfonate group bond to Dy^III ion. The whole ligand sip^3– acts as a μ₃ bridge linking three different Dy^III ions to generate a wave‐like two‐dimensional network with (6,3) topological structure. The two‐dimensional networks are further linked by O–H ··· O hydrogen bonds to form a three‐dimensional structure. The thermal and luminescent properties of both complexes are investigated.     

杂多酸(盐)催化合成双季戊四醇六正戊酸单己二酸酯的研究

研究了以杂多酸 (盐 )为催化剂 ,合成双季戊四醇六正戊酸单己二酸酯的优化条件 :催化剂为反应物的 0 .8% ,季戊四醇∶己二酸∶正戊酸为1∶0 .3∶0 .5(mol) ,反应在回流温度下进行 3 .0h ,酯的产率在 93 %以上。     

Molecular Organization of Various Collagen Fragments as Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy and Diffusion‐Ordered NMR Spectroscopy

Heterogeneous mixtures of collagen fragments can be used as nutrition supplement or as key ingredients for ointments with therapeutic relevance in wound healing. Some mixtures of collagen fragments are referred to as collagen hydrolysates owing to the production process with hydrolytic enzymes. Since the precise composition of collagen hydrolysates is generally unknown, it is of interest to analyze samples containing various collagen fragments with appropriate biophysical methods. Any product optimization without a profound knowledge concerning the size and the molecular weight distribution of its components is nearly impossible. It turned out that a combination of AFM methods with NMR techniques is exceptionally suited to examine the size range and the aggregation behavior of the collagen fragments in the hydrolysates of fish, jellyfish, chicken, porcine and bovine collagen. Supported by molecular modeling calculations, the AFM and NMR experiments provide a detailed knowledge about the composition of collagen hydrolysates and collagen ointments. Furthermore, the data allow a correlation between the size of the fragments and their potential bioactivity.     

聚二烯丙基乙基苄基氯化铵的合成及溶液性质

在少量水存在下,将二烯丙基乙基胺(DAEA)与氯化苄直接反应合成单体二烯丙基乙基苄基氯化铵(DAEABC).以2,2'-偶氮(2-甲基丙基脒)二盐酸盐为引发剂,采用水溶液聚合,合成了聚二烯丙基乙基苄基氯化铵(PDAEABC).采用FT-IR、1H-NMR和元素分析对PDAEABC的结构进行表征,并考察了其在氯化钠、氯化...     

聚丙烯酸/聚丙烯酰胺水溶液复合特性的研究

通过酸度、电导率、粘度、接触角的测定,研究了聚丙烯酸 (PAA) /聚丙烯酰胺 (PAM) 水溶液复合物及复合物膜的结构和性能。结果表明,酸度、温度、浓度和复合比影响PAA/PAM的复合水溶液中大分子链的构象和流体力学体积,适度的氢键作用可以形成均相的复合溶液。经过热处理和未经热处理的聚合物膜表现出了不同的亲水性能。     

Tumor Tropic Delivery of Hyaluronic Acid-Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) Polymeric Micelles Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Glioma Therapy

Tumor penetration and the accumulation of nanomedicines are crucial challenges in solid tumor therapy. By taking advantage of the MSC tumor-tropic property, we developed a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based drug delivery system in which paclitaxel (PTX)-encapsulating hyaluronic acid-poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) polymeric micelles (PTX/HA-PLGA micelles) were loaded for glioma therapy. The results indicated that CD44 overexpressed on the surface of both MSCs and tumor cells not only improved PTX/HA-PLGA micelle loading in MSCs, but also promoted the drug transfer between MSCs and adjacent cancer cells. It was hypothesized that CD44-mediated transcytosis played a crucial role and allowed deep glioma penetration depending on sequential intra–intercellular delivery via endocytosis–exocytosis. MSC-micelles were able to infiltrate from normal brain parenchyma towards contralateral tumors and led to the eradication of glioma. The survival of orthotopic glioma-bearing rats was significantly extended. In conclusion, the MSC-based delivery of HA-PLGA micelles is a potential strategy for tumor-targeting drug delivery.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Perfluoro Carboxylic Acids (Heptanoic to Decanoic) and Sodium Perfluorooctanoate and Decyl Sulfate In Mixtures By Dye-Extraction

Abstract

Perfluorinated carboxylic acids were extracted into chloroform as a 1:1 ion-pairs with methylene blue and determined spectrophotometrically. the method gave linear calibration plots in the 10-⁵ range. A method is outlined for the analysis of sodium perfluorooctanoate and sodium decylsulfate in their mixtures.     

TGF‐β1‐Modified Hyaluronic Acid/Poly(glycidol) Hydrogels for Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

In cartilage regeneration, the biomimetic functionalization of hydrogels with growth factors is a promising approach to improve the in vivo performance and furthermore the clinical potential of these materials. In order to achieve this without compromising network properties, multifunctional linear poly(glycidol) acrylate (PG‐Acr) is synthesized and utilized as crosslinker for hydrogel formation with thiol‐functionalized hyaluronic acid via Michael‐type addition. As proof‐of‐principle for a bioactivation, transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1) is covalently bound to PG‐Acr via Traut's reagent which does not compromise the hydrogel gelation and swelling behavior. Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) embedded within these bioactive hydrogels show a distinct dose‐dependent chondrogenesis. Covalent incorporation of TGF‐β1 significantly enhances the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs compared to hydrogels with supplemented noncovalently bound TGF‐β1. The observed chondrogenic response is similar to standard cell culture with TGF‐β1 addition with each medium change. In general, multifunctional PG‐Acr offers the opportunity to introduce a range of biomimetic modifications (peptides, growth factors) into hydrogels and, thus, appears as an attractive potential material for various applications in regenerative medicine.     

以透明质酸为骨架的新型谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)模拟酶的制备及性质研究

用修饰法合成以透明质酸为骨架的两种新型GPX模拟酶: 硒化透明质酸SeHA及碲化透明质酸TeHA. 用红外光谱和核磁共振波谱对模拟酶的结构进行研究, 证明其修饰位点位于透明质酸的N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖的—CH2OH. 用二硫代双硝基苯甲酸(DTNB)法测定模拟酶的硒含量为1.2%. 通过模拟酶对3种不同底物过氧化氢(H2O2)、过氧化氢正丁烷(t-BuOOH)和过氧化氢异丙苯(CuOOH)的催化活性的研究结果表明CuOOH为该反应的最佳底物. 研究模拟酶催化谷胱甘肽(GSH)还原3种过氧化物的动力学发现, 反应速率与底物浓度的双倒数曲线均为平行的直线, 说明模拟酶反应的动力学机制与天然GPX相同, 为乒乓机制. 用2,4-二叔丁基甲基苯酚(BHT)法证明了该催化反应为非自由基机理, 且模拟酶不易被碘乙酸抑制.     

高铁酸三钾钠的合成及其物理化学性质研究

首次提出了一种在浓的NaOH溶液中电合成0.83 mol•L^－1 Na₂FeO₄溶液进而高纯度合成固态K₃Na(FeO₄)₂的方法. 研究了合成条件, 并利用多种实验技术研究了该固态样品的性质. 实验表明, K₃Na(FeO₄)₂晶体在混合的NaOH-KOH溶液中, 其溶解-沉淀平衡曲线符合经验方程式: [Na^＋][K^＋]³[ ]^2.8＝1.4×10^－4 ([K^＋]≤1.01 mol•L^－1);在浓的KOH溶液中其溶解度与K₂FeO₄几乎一致. 和K₂FeO₄晶体不同, 所得K₃Na(FeO₄)₂晶体显示3个红外特征峰(787, 801～802和858～862 cm^－1)并具有P m1 (164)空间群的六方晶胞, 其粉末在Ar气中直到197 ℃才分解, 热稳定性低于K₂FeO₄.     

A Direct Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 NMR Study of Praseodymium(III)- and Neodymium(III)-Isothiocyanate Complex Formation in Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

Multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies of the trivalent lanthanide complexes with isothiocyanate have been completed for the praseodymium(III) and neodymium(III) ions. In water–acetone–Freon mixtures, at temperatures low enough to slow ligand exchange, usually –85 to –125°C for isothiocyanate, separate carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 NMR signals can be observed for free anion and NCS^- in each metal–ion complex. For both metal ions, ¹⁵N NMR signals are observed for four complexes, displaced about +1500 ppm downfield from free NCS^- for Pr³⁺ and about +2000 ppm for Nd³⁺. In the ¹³C NMR spectra, only three peaks are observed for the complexes of both metal anions, with signal overlap obscuring the resonance for the fourth complex. However, the metal ion coordination numbers, obtained by integration of the resonance signals, are comparable in the ¹⁵N and ¹³C spectra, approaching a maximum value of about 3. These spectral data indicate the formation of Ln(NCS)²⁺ through Ln(NCS) ₄ ^1- occurs for both lanthanides in these solvent systems, a result also observed previously for Ce³⁺, Sm³⁺, and Eu³⁺ in our laboratory. Attempts to study these complexes in water–methanol were unsuccessful, due to the inability to achieve low enough temperatures to slow ligand exchange sufficiently. Results for NCS^- and Cl^- competitive-binding studies by ³⁵Cl NMR for both metal ions will also be described.     

咪唑取代的双羟基季铵盐的合成及抗菌性质研究

将咪唑基团与N-甲基二乙醇胺进行季铵化反应,经过重结晶纯化得到2-(2-羟乙基)-甲基-(1-甲基-1H-咪唑-2-亚甲基)氯化铵(QAS-1),以傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、核磁共振(NMR)和飞行时间质谱(TOF-MS)等进行结构表征。并采用纸片法和振荡培养法初步研究了QAS-1对金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)、甲型链球菌(α-H-tococcus)、大肠杆菌(E.coli)、绿脓杆菌(P.aeruginosa)等菌种的抗菌性能。结果显示,季铵盐QAS-1对这4种菌均显示较好的抗菌活性,特别是对革兰氏阴性菌(E.coli,P.aeruginosa)的杀菌效果更加显著,且优于阳性药(葡萄糖酸氯己定)。