Correlation of the physicochemical properties of symmetric 1,3-dialkoylamidopropane-based cationic lipids containing single primary and tertiary amine polar head groups with in vitro transfection activity

The physicochemical properties of a novel series of symmetric 1,3-dialkylamidopropane-based cationic amphiphiles [M. Sheikh, J. Feig, B. Gee, S. Li, M. Savva, In vitro lipofection with novel series of symmetric 1,3-dialkoylamidopropane-based cationic surfactants containing single primary and tertiary amine polar head groups, Chem. Phys. Lipids 124 (2003) 49-61] were studied by several techniques, in an effort to correlate cationic lipid structure with transfection efficacy. It was found that only the unsubstituted amine and tertiary amine dioleoyl derivatives 1,3lmp5 and 1,3lmt5, respectively, mediated in vitro transfection activity in the absence of helper lipids. This activity pattern was consistent with ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching studies, which indicated that only these two derivatives bound to and efficiently condense plasmid DNA at physiological pH. Dynamic light scattering indicated that lipoplexes made by these two cationic lipids were relatively small particles below 1 microm, in sharp contrast to lipoplexes bigger than 3 microm composed of saturated cationic derivatives. Transmission electron microscopy studies clearly indicated that cationic lipid dispersions made by saturated derivatives form multilamellar tubules at physiological pH. Calorimetric studies showed that cationic amphiphiles with saturated acyl chains longer than 12 carbons exhibit solid-to-liquid crystalline phase transitions above 37 degrees C. In agreement with the microscopy and calorimetry studies, Langmuir film balance experiments indicated that saturated derivatives with hydrophobic chains longer that 12 carbons are not well hydrated and exist at a chain-ordered state at ambient temperature. Calculation of compressibility moduli from monolayer compression isotherms at 23 degrees C suggested that monolayers made by cationic lipids bearing saturated acyl chains are less compressible relative to those of the dioleoyl derivatives 1,3lmp5 and 1,3lmt5. In conclusion, high hydration, increased fluidity and high elasticity of cationic lipid assemblies in isolation, all correlate with high in vitro transfection activity.     

Adsorptive removal of U(VI) and Th(IV) from aqueous solutions using polymer-based electrospun PEO/PLLA fibrous membranes

Fibrous membranes based on poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(l-lactide) fabricated by electrospinning were evaluated for the first time as substrates for the adsorption of tetravalent thorium (Th(IV)) and hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) from aqueous media. The membranes consisted of microfibers with diameters of approximately 2 μm as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on the membrane was investigated as a function of pH, ionic strength and initial metal concentration under normal atmospheric conditions. The experimental data indicated increased affinity of the membrane for Th(IV) and U(VI), which was pH depended and reaches maximum values (>90 %) for Th(IV) and U(VI) at pH 3 and pH 6.5, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (q _max) at optimum conditions was evaluated from the Langmuir isotherm and was found to amount 50.08 and 9.3 mmol kg^?1 for Th(IV) and U(VI), respectively. In addition, studies on the effect of ionic strength on the adsorption efficiency did not show any significant effect indicating that the adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on the membrane was most probably based on specific interactions and the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes. The significantly higher adsorption efficiency of the membrane for Th(IV) in acidic media (pH ≤ 3) could be utilized for a pH-triggered, selective separation of Th(IV) from U(VI) from aqueous media.     

Metabolism and biochemical/physiological roles of chondroitin sulfates: analysis of endogenous and supplemental chondroitin sulfates in blood circulation

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a linear heteropolysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units of glucuronic acid and galactosamine, which is commonly sulfated at C-4 and/or C-6 of galactosamine. The administration of CS as a supplement or a drug for the treatment of osteoarthrosis, the prevention of subsequent coronary events, treatment of psoriasis and ophthalmic diseases has been suggested. Much debate on the metabolism of CS and therefore the effectiveness of these treatments, especially after oral administration, has arisen due to the macromolecular nature of CS. Difficulties in analysing CS in blood due to the low endogenous concentrations and the covalent and anionic complexes with proteins have hampered the resolution of these issues. In this review, the information on the pharmacokinetics of CS obtained from studies in experimental animals and in humans is presented. Emphasis has been given to the analytical methods used for the determination of glycosaminoglycans, intact CS and CS-derived disaccharides in blood serum and plasma.     

Catalytic conversions in green aqueous media: Part 4. Selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated methyl esters of vegetable oils for upgrading biodiesel

This study deals with the influence of operating parameters on the selective hydrogenation of crude polyunsaturated methyl esters of linseed, sunflower and soybean oils in order to achieve high selectivities up to 79.8 mol% of monounsaturated (C18:1) fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) which is 1st generation biodiesel of increased oxidative stability, energy and environmental performance at a low pour point employing water-soluble Rh/TPPTS catalytic complexes [TPPTS = P(C₆H₄-m-SO₃Na)₃] in green aqueous/organic two-phase systems. This study also discloses the great potential of biphasic selective catalytic hydrogenation to produce 2nd generation biodiesel from polyunsaturated FAME of alternative, non-food oil feedstocks which are originally not suitable for biodiesel production or give poor quality biodiesel but combine the advantage that they would not affect food production. Because the mixture of methyl esters of linseed oil mainly consists of C18:3 FAME it constitutes a good model to investigate the effects of parameters on the whole spectrum of the stepwise hydrogenation: C18:3 (linolenates) → C18:2 (linoleates) → C18:1 (oleates)  C18:0 (stearate) and to obtain first information on the selective hydrogenation of alternative, non-food oils with a high C18:3 FAME content to make them suitable for 2nd generation biodiesel formulations.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of 9‐nitrocamptothecin hydrolysis at physiological pH in the presence and absence of human serum albumin

Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of the 9‐nitrocamptothecin (9NC) hydrolysis reaction in the presence and absence of human serum albumin (HSA) in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) of pH 7.4 was carried out by first derivative absorption spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters determined in these studies provided a mechanistic explanation toward the endothermic but yet thermodynamically favorable hydrolysis of 9NC at physiological temperature and pH. In the presence of HSA, the apparent rate constant of 9NC hydrolysis was 3–3.5 times higher than in 9NC solutions alone, whereas the apparent equilibrium constant of 9NC hydrolysis was found to increase at a higher extent in the presence of HSA than in PBS with increasing temperature, reaching almost complete hydrolysis of the 9NC to the 9NC‐carboxylate at 315.15 K. Importantly, the E_a of the 9NC hydrolysis reaction in the presence of HSA was determined to be on average 17 kJ mol^?1 lower than the E_a determined in plain PBS. Moreover, analysis of binding isotherms constructed for the HSA interaction with 9NC, using infinitely cooperative and independent binding models, demonstrated an incredibly higher binding constant for the 9NC‐carboxylate form as compared to the very weak and concentration‐dependent binding for the 9NC‐lactone species at 310.15 K. Taken together, the preferential association of the carboxylate form with HSA and the lower E_a of 9NC hydrolysis in the presence of HSA provide a mechanistic explanation for the shift of lactone–carboxylate equilibria toward the carboxylate product under physiological conditions of pH and ionic strength. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 693–703, 2010     

High-performance capillary electrophoretic analysis of hyaluronan and galactosaminoglycan-disaccharides in gastrointestinal carcinomas. Differential disaccharide composition as a possible tool-indicator for malignancies

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have documented implications for the growth and progression of malignant tumors. Gastrointestinal carcinomas (gastric, colon, rectum and pancreatic) are the most frequent malignancies occurring in human. GAGs, isolated from the tissues after digestion with papain, were analyzed by high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) following treatment with chondroitinase ABC. The composition of GAGs in disaccharides derived from the various gastrointestinal carcinomas was compared with those of normal tissues. We report that human gastrointestinal carcinomas are characterized by increased concentrations of GAGs, which have quite different disaccharide composition which, in turn, is associated with marked increase of non-sulfated (Delta(di)-nonS) and 6-sulfated (Delta(di)-mono6S) Delta-disaccharides. Particularly, a 12-51-fold increase in Delta(di)-nonS and a 3-42-fold increase in Delta(di)-mono6S content characterize these carcinomas, while the 4-sulfated units (Delta(di)-mono4S) showed a lower increase, about 0.5-1.5-fold. Moreover, the quantitation of hyaluronan (HA)-derived Delta-disaccharides (Delta(di)-nonS(HA)) also revealed a marked increase (1-12-fold) in the malignant tissues. On the other hand, the content of the chondroitinase ABC-resistant GAGs showed a low decrease, about 0.2-0.7-fold. The high amounts of hyaluronan (HA) produced by these carcinomas and the ectopic production of chondroitin sulphate (CS) proteoglycans, in which (Delta(di)-nonS) and (Delta(di)-mono6S) predominated, suggest a close relation between the content of these GAGs and the malignant phenotype, the metastatic ability and the survival time.     

Analysis of lasers with linearly switched losses

An analytical technique is suggested for calculating the radiation of lasers operated in the giant-pulse mode with losses switched off linearly with time. This method makes it possible to calculate the maximum power of giant pulses, their energy, duration, and number. Examples are given of designing lasers using this technique on a digital computer.In conclusion, the authors express their sincere gratitude to B. I. Stepanov for valuable comments.     

Calculation of a laser with a self-clearing optical shutter

The filter operates with a two-level system and affects the emission kinetics of the laser; allowance is made for the effects of pumping in the laser and of relaxation in the laser and filter. It is found that oscillation with several peaks is possible. The requirements for single-peak operation are formulated. Examples are given of emission calculations, with analytic estimates of the output power, energy, and pulse length.     

Glycosaminoglycan in cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem of young sheep brain with particular reference to compositional and structural variations of chondroitin-dermatan sulfate and hyaluronan

Recent advances in the structural biology of chondroitin sulfate chains have suggested important biological functions in the development of the brain. Several studies have demonstrated that the composition of chondroitin sulfate chains changes with aging and normal brain maturation. In this study, we determined the concentration of all glycosaminoglycan types, i.e. chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, heparan sulfate, hyaluronan and chondroitin in cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem of young sheep brain. In all cases, chondroitin sulfate was the predominant glycosaminoglycan type, comprising about 54-58% of total glycosaminoglycans, with hyaluronan being present also in significant amounts of about 19-28%. Of particular interest was the increased presence of the disulfated disaccharides and dermatan sulfate in cerebellum and brainstem, respectively, as well as the detectable and measurable occurrence of chondroitin in young sheep brain. Among the three brain areas, cerebrum was found to be significantly richer in chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan, two major extracellular matrix components. These findings imply that the extracellular matrix of the cerebrum is different from those of cerebellum and brainstem, and probably this fact is related to the particular histological and functional characteristics of each anatomic area of the brain. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.