Effect of cyclodextrins on biological membrane. I. Effect of cyclodextrins on the absorption of a non-absorbable drug from rat small intestine and rectum

The effects of three kinds of cyclodextrins (CyDs), alpha-, beta- and gamma-CyD on biological membranes were investigated by changes in absorption of a non-absorbable drug, sulfanilic acid (SA), from the rat small intestine and rectum using an in situ perfusion technique. The absorption of SA from the intestine was slight and was not affected by the addition of CyDs. After pretreatment with a mucolytic agent, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (N-Ac), the absorption of SA was increased compared with SA alone in the presence of only beta-CyD. Similar treatment with sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to gastro-intestinal membrane showed the enhanced absorption of SA by the addition of beta-CyD. The mucin layer on the surface of the gastro-intestinal membrane may play an important role in the absorption of drugs. On the other hand, enhanced absorption of SA from the rat rectum was not induced by beta-CyD with or without pretreatment with N-Ac, SDC or SLS. Simultaneously, the release of neutral sugars in the perfusate after treatment with adjuvants was also observed with N-Ac, SDC and SLS. These results indicate that the mucin layer works as a barrier to the increased absorption of SA by beta-CyD.     

Terahertz absorption spectroscopy of protein-containing reverse micellar solution

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy has been carried out for AOT/isooctane reverse micellar solution with myoglobin at the water-to-surfactant molar ratios (w₀) of 0.2 and 4.4. The amplitude of the absorption spectrum increases with increasing the protein concentration at w₀ = 0.2, whereas it decreases at w₀ = 4.4. The molar extinction coefficients of the protein-filled reverse micelle, and the constituents, i.e., myoglobin, water, and AOT, have been derived by use of the structural parameters of the micellar solution. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of hydration onto the protein and surfactant in the reverse micelle.     

Luminescent nanocomposite synthesized by sol-gel method in micellar solution of alkyl-polyglycoside with solubilized luminol

It is shown that micellar surfactant solution with solubilized luminophore dye luminol can be used to synthesize silicate nanocomposite with luminescent properties. In the course of its synthesis, micelles perform a dual role, i.e., they solubilize luminol in neutral media, in which it is poorly soluble, and catalyze the sol-gel process, as well act as a template for the silicate forming in situ. It is established that, upon the incorporation of dye into the silicate matrix, its luminescent properties not only retained, but the intensity of fluorescence increases substantially. It is suggested that the approach developed can be used to produce biosencors since, along with dye, it permits us to immobilize enzymes.