Solvent release upon ion association from entropy data

The translational entropy loss on the association of two ions to form an ion pair or 11 complex is overcompensated by a rotational entropy gain, an electrostatic entropy gain, and an entropy gain due to solvent release from translational immobilization. The first three effects can be calculated, leaving the fourth as a difference from the experimental entropy change on association. The ratio of the solvent release entropy gain to the entropy change on melting of the solvent indicates the number of solvent molecules released on the association. A similar value is obtained from data for the volume change on association.Presented as a poster at the 10th International Conference on Non-Aqueous Solvents (ICNAS) at Leuven, Belgium, August 1986, and at the 24th International Congress on Coordination Chemistry (ICCC) at Athens, Greece, August 1986.     

A new poly(2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropylacrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate, diethyl maleate) membrane controlled clonidine linear release in the transdermal drug delivery system

Oral clonidine, used as an antihypertensive, can result in some side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness and sedation; thus, clonidine transdermal drug delivery (TDD) was considered. Use of the controlled release membrane was one of the methods in TDD systems to regulate the permeation properties. A new type of copolymer membrane that controlled clonidine linear release in TDD system was synthesized by UV radiation. This membrane consisted of three monomers: 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropylacrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate and diethyl maleate. The membrane had both fine permeation properties and perfect physical properties when three monomers were in the weight ratio of 4:4:2; this type of membrane was chosen as an optimized membrane. It was found that the membrane controlled clonidine zero-order release, the permeation rates decreased with the thicknesses of membranes increasing, and the permeation rates were linearly dependent on the square root of the concentration of clonidine. Furthermore, the optimized membranes were characterized by FTIR, DSC and SEM.     

Polyelectrolyte microcapsules templated on poly(styrene sulfonate)-doped CaCO3 particles for loading and sustained release of daunorubicin and doxorubicin

A strategy to incorporate and release anti-cancer drugs of daunorubicin (DNR) and doxorubicin (DOX) in preformed microcapsules is introduced, which is based on charge interaction mechanism. Oppositely charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were assembled onto PSS doped-CaCO₃ colloidal particles in a layer-by-layer manner to yield core-shell particles. After removal of the carbonate cores, hollow microcapsules with entrapped PSS were fabricated, which showed spontaneous loading ability of positively charged DNR and DOX. The drug loading was confirmed quantitatively by observations under confocal laser scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning force microscopy. Quantification of the drug loading was performed under different conditions, revealing that a larger amount of drugs could be incorporated at higher drug feeding concentrations and higher salt concentrations. However, putting additional polyelectrolyte layers on the microcapsules after core removal resulted in weaker drug loading efficiency. The drug release behaviors from the microcapsules with different layer numbers were studied too, revealing a diffusion controlled release mechanism at the initial stage (4 h).     

主链含膦酸酯的聚酸酐药物控制释放材料研究

通过二氯膦甲（乙）酸乙酯与对羟乙氧基苯甲酸反应，制备了二羧苯氧乙氧基膦甲（乙）酸乙酯，并其转化成混合醋酐并通过熔融缩聚，合成了主链含膦甲（乙）酸乙酯的聚酸酐，以二羧苯氧乙氧基膦甲（乙）酸乙酯，分别与１，３－双（４－羧基苯氧基）丙烷（ＣＰＰ）及癸二酸（ＳＡ）共聚，得到相应的共聚酸酐，对所合成的单体和聚合物的结构进行了表征，研究了它们的体外降解，酶促降解及其对抗肿瘤药物５－氟尿嘧啶和氨甲喋蛉的释放性能     

Sterically hindered aliphatic amines in the controlled synthesis of polystyrene

The kinetic features of radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of primary and secondary aliphatic amines combined with benzoyl peroxide and the molecular-mass characteristics of the resulting polymers were studied. In the presence of peroxide initiators, aliphatic amines, as potential sources of stable aminoxyl radicals, provide the synthesis of polystyrene with a controlled molecular mass without gel effect at a relatively high rate. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 159–164, January, 2007.     

Astragalus membranaceus ultrafine powder alleviates hyperuricemia by regulating the gut microbiome and reversing bile acid and adrenal hormone biosynthesis dysregulation

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMetabolic syndrome is closely related to the intestinal microbiota and disturbances in the host metabolome. Hyperuricemia (HUA), a manifestation of metabolic syndrome, can induce various cardiovascular diseases and gout, seriously affecting a patient’s quality of life. Astragalus membranaceus has a long history as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine to treat kidney disease in China and East Asia.Materials and methodsWe compared the therapeutic effect of benzbromarone and two different doses Astragalus membranaceus ultrafine powder (AMUP) in rats with HUA. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer was used to analyze the AMUP metabolism in the plasma, urine, and feces. Further, 16S ribosome RNA sequencing and feces metabolomic were performed to capture the variation of the gut microbiota and metabolites changes before and after drug administration.ResultsAMUP had a notable impact on reducing blood uric acid levels while protecting the liver and kidney. Drug metabolism analysis demonstrated that effective constituent flavonoids are distributed in the blood, whereas saponins remain in the intestine. Gut microbiota analysis showed that low-dose AMUP ameliorated HUA-induced gut dysbiosis by reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria and increasing that of some beneficial bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Clostridia, Lachnospiraceae, and Muribaculaceae. In addition, HUA-induced changes in metabolite contents in bile acid and adrenal hormone biosynthesis pathways were restored after treatment with AMUP.ConclusionLow-dose AMUP exerts remarkable therapeutic effects on HUA by regulating the gut microbiome and mediating gut metabolism pathways associated with uric acid excretion.     

RNA Methylation m6A: A New Code and Drug Target?

The m⁶A‐RNA modification is a dynamic and reversible process, which has emerged as a new RNA code for the regulation of gene expression. The functional network of methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and binding proteins (readers) modulate the level of m⁶A modification. Dysfunction of RNA methylation has been associated with various fundamental biological processes and human diseases. Herein, we briefly introduce an understanding‐enabled manipulation on m⁶A‐RNA modification with an emphasis on the use of small‐molecule intervention.      

配糖蛋白B—阳离子丙烯酸树脂微胶囊的性能研究

本文研究了配糖蛋白B-阳离子丙烯酸树脂微胶囊的形态、粒径及粒径分布,并在模拟胃液的酸性缓冲液中进行了微胶囊的溶解释放试验。结果表明该微胶囊能溶于人体的胃液中,可配制适合儿童口服的混悬剂。     

Unraveling the mystery of efficacy in Chinese medicine formula: New approaches and technologies for research on pharmacodynamic substances

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the key to unlock treasures of Chinese civilization. TCM and its compound play a beneficial role in medical activities to cure diseases, especially in major public health events such as novel coronavirus epidemics across the globe. The chemical composition in Chinese medicine formula is complex and diverse, but their effective substances resemble “mystery boxes”. Revealing their active ingredients and their mechanisms of action has become focal point and difficulty of research for herbalists. Although the existing research methods are numerous and constantly updated iteratively, there is remain a lack of prospective reviews. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive account of existing new approaches and technologies based on previous studies with an in vitro to in vivo perspective. In addition, the bottlenecks of studies on Chinese medicine formula effective substances are also revealed. Especially, we look ahead to new perspectives, technologies and applications for its future development. This work reviews based on new perspectives to open horizons for the future research. Consequently, herbal compounding pharmaceutical substances study should carry on the essence of TCM while pursuing innovations in the field.     

Polyelectrolyte capsules made of two biocompatible natural polymers

In this study the influence of the experimental conditions on the obtention of polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules was investigated. Two ways of the simple coacervation method was used to obtain spherical capsules involving chitosan and hyaluronan, chitosan being inside the particle covered by a hyaluronan layer to increase the biocompatibility. The ¹H-NMR spectroscopy confirmed a polyelectrolyte complex formation and the optical microscopy shows that the complexed capsules have good sphericity with average diameters ranging from 590 at 1550 μm in the experimental conditions adopted. One can observe that in the acid medium the complexed capsules are much stable than the chitosan beads. The structures described provide a starting point for the design and fabrication of complexed capsules made of two biocompatible natural polymers with potential applicability in medical or pharmaceutical applications. Few diffusion experiments demonstrated that the complexed layer controls the diffusion of dextran included in the chitosan inner domain.