A Semisynthetic Approach to New Immunoadjuvant Candidates: Site‐Selective Chemical Manipulation of Escherichia coli Monophosphoryl Lipid A

A semisynthetic approach to novel lipid A derivatives from Escherichia coli (E. coli) lipid A is reported. This methodology stands as an alternative to common approaches based exclusively on either total synthesis or extraction from bacterial sources. It relies upon the purification of the lipid A fraction from fed‐batch fermentation of E. coli, followed by its structural modification through tailored, site‐selective chemical reactions. In particular, modification of the lipid pattern and functionalization of the phosphate group as well as of the sole primary hydroxyl group were accomplished, highlighting the unusual reactivity of the molecule. Preliminary investigations of the immunostimulating activity of the new semisynthetic lipid A derivatives show that some of them stand out as promising, new immunoadjuvant candidates.     

Modified Particle Detachment Model for Colloidal Transport in Porous Media

Particle detachment from the rock during suspension transport in porous media was widely observed in laboratory corefloods and for flows in natural reservoirs. A new mathematical model for detachment of particles is based on mechanical equilibrium of a particle positioned on the internal cake or matrix surface in the pore space. The torque balance of drag, electrostatic, lifting and gravity forces, acting on the particle from the matrix and the moving fluid, is considered. The torque balance determines maximum retention concentration during the particle capture. The particle torque equilibrium is determined by the dimensionless ratio between the drag and normal forces acting on the particle. The maximum retention function of the dimensionless ratio (dislodging number) closes system of governing equations for colloid transport with particle release. One-dimensional problem of coreflooding by suspension accounting for limited particle retention, controlled by the torque sum, allows for exact solution under the assumptions of constant filtration coefficient and porosity. The explicit formulae permit the calculation of the model parameters (maximum retention concentration, filtration and formation damage coefficients) from the history of the pressure drop across the core during suspension injection. The values for maximum retention concentration, as obtained from two coreflood tests, have been matched with those calculated by the torque balance on the micro scale.     

Cyclotron production and parameters calculation of <Superscript>48</Superscript>V Nitinol stent for renal arteries in brachytherapy

The Nitinol stent was bombarded in a cyclotron at a flux rate of 4 μA/cm² to produce ⁴⁸V via ⁴⁸Ti (p, n) ⁴⁸V reaction. In this study dose distribution of ⁴⁸V radioactive stent was investigated for renal arteries. Version X-2.6 of the MCNP Monte Carlo radiation transport system code was employed to calculate dose distribution around the stent. As ⁴⁸V is a mixed gamma and beta particle emitter, two separate runs of MCNP for both beta and gamma particles were performed and the total deposited dose was acquired by adding the two mentioned values. In order to verify the simulation, the calculated results have been compared with previous published data for the source. Calculated results show high dose gradient near the stent and the maximum amount of dose deposits at the vessel wall. According to (AAPM) TG-60/149 protocol, the dosimetric parameters, including geometry function, G(ρ,z), radial dose function, g _L (ρ), and anisotropy function, F(ρ,z), were also determined.