In vitro skin permeation of cubosomes containing water soluble extracts of Korean barberry

The monoolein (MO) cubic phases containing water soluble extract (WSE) from Berberis koreana (Korean barberry) were prepared by hydrating the molten MO with aqueous solutions of WSE (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%). The phase transition temperature of cubic phase containing WSE (∼70°C) was almost the same as that of WSE-free MO cubic phase that indicates that WSE was immobilized in the water channels of the cubic phase and did not affect its structure. The release of WSE from the cubic phase fits the first order process. The cubosomes were obtained by micronizing the cubic phase in a sonicator using Pluronic F127 as a dispersant. The cubosomes were stable in size at the ethanol concentration ≲16%. When compared with WSE solution in phosphate-buffered saline (10 mM, pH 7.4), in vitro skin permeation of WSE in the cubosomes was enhanced by about two times.     

Interleukin-1�� promotes the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in human aorta smooth muscle cells via multiple signaling pathways

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) plays a key role in monocyte/macrophage infiltration to the sub-endothelial space of the blood vessel wall, which is a critical initial step in atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the intracellular signaling pathway of IL-1β-induced MCP1 expression using various chemical inhibitors. The pretreatment of a phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific PLC (PC-PLC) inhibitor (D609), PKC inhibitors, or an NF-κB inhibitor completely suppressed the IL-1β-induced MCP1 expression through blocking NF-κB translocation to the nucleus. Pretreatment with inhibitors of tyrosine kinase or PLD partially suppressed MCP1 expression and failed to block nuclear NF-κB translocation. These results suggest that IL-1β induces MCP1 expression through activation of NF-κB via the PC-PLC/PKC signaling pathway.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of triazepane derivatives as DPP-IV inhibitors

A series of triazepane derivatives such as (R)-3-amino-1-(1,2,5-triazepan-1-yl)-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butan-1-ones (7, 13a-p) and (R)-3-amino-1-(1,2,5-triazepan-5-yl)-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butan-1-ones (17a-e) was synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) enzyme. Compounds with the acid moiety were found to be potent inhibitors of DPP-IV without inhibiting CYP 3A4. Among them, compound 13p ((R)-4-[1-acetyl-2-{3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoyl-1,2,5-triazepan-5-carbonyl}benzoic acid]) showed a good in vitro activity without inhibiting CYP.     

A quantitative model to evaluate the ion-enrichment and ion-depletion effect at microchannel-nanochannel junctions

In a nanometer-scale fluidic channel (nanochannel), coions are depleted while counterions are concentrated due to the electric double layer (EDL) overlap. When an electric field is applied across the nanochannel, ions are enriched at one end and depleted at the other end of the nanochannel. This phenomenon is termed the ion-enrichment and ion-epletion (IEID) effect. In this paper, we develop a theoretical model to evaluate this effect. The model takes into accounts not only the biased electrophoretic migrations but also the net charge transportation caused by electroosmotic flow. In addition, we consider the conductance change inside the nanochannel in assessing the electric field strength across it. We employ our recently developed protocol to measure these values. We establish a protocol to measure/quantitate the IEID effect. Finally, we compare the calculated results with the experimentally measured data and show good agreements between them.     

Production of 1,3-Butadiene From C4 Raffinate-3 Through Oxidative Dehydrogenation of n-Butene Over Bismuth Molybdate Catalysts

Recent progress on the bismuth molybdate catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene was reported in this review. A number of bismuth molybdate catalysts, including pure bismuth molybdates (α-Bi₂Mo₃O₁₂, β-Bi₂Mo₂O₉, and γ-Bi₂MoO₆) and multicomponent bismuth molybdates, were prepared by a co-precipitation method for use in the production of 1,3-butadiene from C₄ raffinate-3 through oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene. It was observed that multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst was more efficient than pure bismuth molybdate catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene. Various experimental measurements such as temperature-programmed reoxidation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and O₂-temperature-programmed desorption analyses were carried out to elucidate the different catalytic activity of bismuth molybdate catalysts. It was revealed that a bismuth molybdate catalyst with a higher oxygen mobility showed a better catalytic performance in terms of conversion of n-butene and yield for 1,3-butadiene. We have successfully demonstrated from experimental findings that oxygen mobility of bismuth molybdate catalyst played a key role in determining the catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene.     

Miniemulsion Copolymerization of Ethylene and Vinyl Acetate

The copolymerizations of a gaseous monomer (ethylene) and a liquid monomer (vinyl acetate) via emulsion and miniemulsion polymerizations are reported. Reactions in which the vinyl acetate was introduced in both batch and semibatch modes are carried out. (Ethylene introduction is always in a semibatch model since the polymerization is carried out under a constant pressure of ethylene in the reactor headspace.) The results are compared, drawing the conclusion that miniemulsion copolymerization has an advantage over conventional emulsion polymerization for monomers with very low water solubility (including gaseous monomers) due to their nucleation in monomer droplets without transport through the aqueous phase.

     

Preparation and physical properties of chitosan benzoic acid derivatives using a phosphoryl mixed anhydride system

Direct benzoylation of the two hydroxyl groups on chitosan was achieved using a phosphoryl mixed anhydride system, derived from trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA), benzoic acids (BAs), and phosphoric acid (PA). The reaction is operated as a one pot process under mild conditions that does not require neither an inert atmosphere nor dry solvents. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy. Solubility tests on the products revealed that they were soluble in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and acetone. In the meantime, a morphological study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evidently indicated that the chitosan benzoates underwent significant structural changes after the benzoylation.     

Chemical-assisted thermal disproportionation of porous silicon monoxide into silicon-based multicomponent systems

Under the surface: Ag nanoparticles are deposited onto the surface of commercially available SiO particles, and subsequent chemical etching results in the formation of nanoporous SiO without changing the chemical and physical properties of the original SiO. Moreover, chemical-assisted thermal annealing produces a shape-preserving Si-based multicomponent system, which exhibits high-performance electrochemical properties.     

Carbon-Coated Single-Crystal LiMn(2) O(4) Nanoparticle Clusters as Cathode Material for High-Energy and High-Power Lithium-Ion Batteries

Electric results: The rate capability can be improved in lithium ion batteries (LIBs) by reducing the dimensions of the active material; however, the LIBs would then have insufficient electrode density. To overcome this problem, carbon-coated single-crystal LiMn(2) O(4) nanoparticle clusters were synthesized as a cathode material for LIBs; this material can be densely packed on the current collector.     

Infrared predissociation of ternary cluster cations: the solvent effects on the branching ratio

Infrared (IR) predissociation of hydrogen-bonded ternary cluster ions such as aniline-water-ethanol (AWE(+)), aniline-water-isopropanol (AWP(+)), aniline-methanol-ethanol (AME(+)), aniline-water-pyrrole (AWPy(+)), and aniline-water-benzene (AWB(+)) was examined in the region of 2700-4000 cm(-1) to explore the key factors which determine the branching ratios in the concurrent unimolecular dissociation. The smaller solvent molecule was predominantly ejected when the binding energies of the two were not too different. On the other hand, when they were far off, the binding energy also acted significantly on the branching ratio. Besides, mode-selective IR predissociation was observed, while the selectivity was not quite distinct. The IR predissociation of ternary cluster ions bound via hydrogen bonding is considered to occur on a time scale much faster than intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution, which was proved by a statistical transition state theory.