Effect of Fish Bone Bioactive Peptides on Oxidative,Inflammatory and Pigmentation Processes Triggered by UVB Irradiation in Skin Cells

In the present study, we evaluated for the first time the photoprotective effect of fish bone bioactive peptides (FBBP) preparation isolated from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) discarded tissue using in vitro experimental models of skin cells exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and stressing agents. FBBP preparation was obtained by papain treatment of minced bones and centrifugal ultrafiltration, and the molecular weight (MW) distribution was characterized by size exclusion and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). In vitro assessment of the effect of FBBP pretreatment in UVB-irradiated L929 fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes revealed their cytoprotective activity. Their capacity to efficiently reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation varied in a dose-dependent manner, and it was greater in fibroblasts. A decrease of proinflammatory cytokines secretion, in particular of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), was found after FBBP pretreatment of THP-1-derived inflamed macrophages. Melanin production and tyrosinase activity investigated in UVB-irradiated Mel-Juso cells were lowered in direct relation to FBBP concentrations. FBBP fractions with high radical scavenging activity were separated by ion exchange chromatography, and two collagenic sequences were identified. All these results offer new scientific data on aquaculture fish bone-derived peptides confirming their ability to control the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pigmentation processes developed during UV irradiation of skin cells and recommend their use as valuable natural ingredients of photoprotective cosmeceutical products.     

On the regularity of the Neumann problem for free surfaces with surface tension

In 1952 H. Lewy established that a hydrodynamic free surface which is at least in a neighborhood of a point situated on the free surface is automatically , possibly in a smaller neighborhood of . This local result is an example which preceeds the theory developed by D. Kinderlehrer, L. Nirenberg and J. Spruck (1977-79), proving that in many cases free surfaces cannot have an arbitrary regularity; in particular, there exist such that if the surface in question is , then automatically is . In this paper we extend their methods to Neumann type problems for free surfaces with surface tension.

     

Ni(COD)2/PCy3 catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl and heteroaryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl and heteroaryl mesylates and sulfamates in THF at room temperature

Reaction conditions for the Ni(COD)(2)/PCy(3) catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl mesylates were developed. By using optimized reaction conditions, Ni(COD)(2)/PCy(3) was shown to be a versatile catalyst for the cross-coupling of a diversity of aryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl and heteroaryl mesylates and sulfamates containing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents in their para, ortho, and meta positions in THF at room temperature. This Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl neopentylglycolboronates is also effective for the synthesis of heterobiaryls and biaryls containing electrophilic functionalities sensitive to organolithium and organomagnesium derivatives. In combination with the recently developed Ni-catalyzed neopentylglycolborylation, all Ni-catalyzed routes to functional biaryls and heterobiaryls are now easily accessible.     

In situ evaluation of anticancer drug methotrexate-DNA interaction using a DNA-electrochemical biosensor and AFM characterization

An in situ evaluation of the dsDNA-methotrexate (MTX) interaction was performed by voltammetry using a DNA-electrochemical biosensor and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. Electrochemical experiments in incubated solutions showed that the interaction of MTX with dsDNA leads to modifications to the dsDNA structure in a time-dependent manner. The AFM images show reorganization of the DNA self-assembled network on the surface of the HOPG electrode upon binding methotrexate and the formation of a more densely packed and slightly thicker MTX-dsDNA lattice with a large number of aggregates embedded into the network film. The intercalation of MTX between complementary base pairs of dsDNA lead to the increase of purine oxidation peaks due to the unwinding of the dsDNA. The dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor and the purinic homo-polynucleotide single stranded sequences of guanosine and adenosine, poly[G] and poly[A]-electrochemical biosensors, were used to investigate and understand the interaction between MTX and dsDNA.     

Hybrid polymer inorganic materials prepared from ternary microemulsions

The microemulsion system containing vinyl acetate (Vac), silane derivatives tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS), vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), methyltriethoxysilane (MeTES), octyltriethoxysilane (OTES), nonylphenol etoxylated with 25 mol of ethylene oxyde (NPEO₂₅) and water was studied. It was established that the probability of microemulsion formation increases with surfactant concentration. The microenviroment of the solubilization of the VAc and of silane derivatives in the aggregates of NPEO₂₅ was affected by their polarity. Hybrid materials were obtained by sol-gel reaction of silane derivatives combined with free-radical polymerization of VAc. The change of the glass transition temperature and of thermal stability of the polymer chains in the presence of the inorganic one proved the formation of simultaneous polymer inorganic hybrids.     

The analysis of conductive solid samples by r.f. capacitively coupled plasma at atmospheric pressure

A radiofrequency capacitively coupled plasma (rf CCP) with tip-ring electrode geometry has been used for the analysis of Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, and V in low and medium alloyed steel. The sample is used as one of the electrodes of the plasma torch. The influence of plasma power, argon flow rate and distance between the electrodes on the analytical signals has been studied. The limits of detection are in the range of 0.001 to 0.048%. The dynamic range is three orders of magnitude.     

Analytical performance of an r.f. capacitively coupled plasma for atomic emission with tip-ring electrode geometry

A low to medium power radiofrequency capacitively coupled plasma is characterized as spectral source for atomic emission. The signal to background ratio and the limits of detection were determined for 19 elements as a function of the plasma torch geometry and the observation point.     

DNA imaged on a HOPG electrode surface by AFM with controlled potential

Single-molecule AFM imaging of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules self-assembled from solution onto a HOPG electrode surface is reported. The interaction of DNA with the hydrophobic surface induced DNA aggregation, overlapping, intra- and intermolecular interactions. Controlling the electrode potential and using the phase images as a control method, to confirm the correct topographical characterization, offers the possibility to enlarge the capability of AFM imaging of DNA immobilized onto conducting substrates, such as HOPG. The application of a potential of +300 mV (versus AgQRE) to the HOPG enhanced the robustness and stability of the adsorbed DNA molecules, increasing the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged electrode surface and the negatively charged DNA sugar-phosphate backbone.