Biotransformation of 20(R)-panaxatriol by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link AS 3.3950

Microbial transformation of 20(R)-panaxatriol by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link AS 3.3950 was performed. Four new (1–4), along with two previously reported metabolites (5 and 6), were obtained. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of those compounds on K562/ADR, Du-145, Hela, MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay. Among them, compound 15β-hydroxy-20(R)-panaxatriol (4) exhibited selective inhibitory effects on human leukaemic progenitor cells K562/ADR through arresting cell cycle, which was associated with obvious decrease of cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 1/2/4/6 protein expression.     

Polyphenolic profiling of Ipomoea carnea Jacq. by HPLC-DAD and its implications in oxidative stress and cancer

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. is an important folklore medicinal plant, assessed for its underexplored biological potential. Antioxidant, cytotoxic, antiproliferative and polyphenolic profile of whole plant was evaluated using various techniques. Maximum extract recovery (29% w/w), phenolic [13.54 ± 0.27 μg GAE/mg dry weight (DW)] and flavonoid (2.11 ± 0.10 μg QE /mg DW) content were recorded in methanol-distilled water (1:1) flower extract. HPLC-DAD analysis quantified substantial amount of six different polyphenols ranging from 0.081 to 37.95 μg/mg extract. Maximum total antioxidant and reducing potential were documented in methanol-distilled water and acetone-distilled water flower extracts (42.62 ± 0.47 and 24.38 ± 0.39 μg AAE/mg DW) respectively. Ethanol-chloroform root extract manifested highest free radical scavenging (IC₅₀ of 61.22 μg/mL) while 94.64% of the extracts showed cytotoxicity against brine shrimps. Ethanol leaf extract exhibited remarkable activity against THP-1 cell line (IC₅₀ = 8 ± 0.05 μg/mL) and protein kinases (31 mm phenotype bald zone).     

Cell–Membrane Penetration of Tat‐Conjugated Polymeric Micelles: Effect of Tat Coating Density

Considerable efforts have been devoted to enhancing the cell penetration of nanoparticles by coating cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) on the surface. However, the internalization mechanism for a CPP at different concentrations varies a lot. It is acknowledged that the mechanism is restricted to endocytic pathway at relatively low concentrations; however, direct translocation becomes dominant at high concentrations. This raises an interesting question on how the surface Tat coating density of the nanoparticles would influence their cell–membrane interaction and the consequent internalization behavior. This study systematically investigates the effect of Tat peptides on the internalization behavior of polymeric micelles by tuning surface Tat coating density, incubation concentrations, incubation time, and other factors using poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε‐caprolactone) copolymer (PEG‐PCL) micelles. It is found that both energy‐dependent and energy‐independent pathways are involved in the cellular uptake process, and the Tat‐conjugated polymeric micelles strongly accumulated on the cell surface at initial stage. The membrane‐anchoring and internalization rate increase with the increasing Tat coating density. Furthermore, the increasing of Tat coating density accelerates the energy‐independent pathway. It is envisioned that this finding will further shed light on the surface modification of nanoparticles for enhanced cell penetration and direct translocation into cell cytoplasm.     

Covalent Attachment of Fibronectin onto Emulsion‐Templated Porous Polymer Scaffolds Enhances Human Endometrial Stromal Cell Adhesion,Infiltration, and Function

A novel strategy for the surface functionalization of emulsion‐templated highly porous (polyHIPE) materials as well as its application to in vitro 3D cell culture is presented. A heterobifunctional linker that consists of an amine‐reactive N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester and a photoactivatable nitrophenyl azide, N‐sulfosuccinimidyl‐6‐(4′‐azido‐2′‐nitrophenylamino)hexanoate (sulfo‐SANPAH), is utilized to functionalize polyHIPE surfaces. The ability to conjugate a range of compounds (6‐aminofluorescein, heptafluorobutylamine, poly(ethylene glycol) bis‐amine, and fibronectin) to the polyHIPE surface is demonstrated using fluorescence imaging, FTIR spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared to other existing surface functionalization methods for polyHIPE materials, this approach is facile, efficient, versatile, and benign. It can also be used to attach biomolecules to polyHIPE surfaces including cell adhesion‐promoting extracellular matrix proteins. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that the fibronectin‐conjugated polyHIPE scaffolds improve the adhesion and function of primary human endometrial stromal cells. It is believed that this approach can be employed to produce the next generation of polyHIPE scaffolds with tailored surface functionality, enhancing their application in 3D cell culture and tissue engineering whilst broadening the scope of applications to a wider range of cell types.     

Promotion of Cell Migration into a Hydrophobically modified Alaska Pollock Gelatin‐Based Hydrogel

In situ chemically cross‐linkable hydrogels composed of hexyl group–modified Alaska pollock–derived gelatin (C6‐ApGltn) and poly(ethylene glycol)‐based four‐armed cross‐linker is developed. Water droplets are quickly absorbed into the C6‐ApGltn hydrogel in the first 10 s compared with original ApGltn (Org‐ApGltn), and the final contact angle on C6‐ApGltn is significantly lower than that on Org‐ApGltn. Using a fluorescent probe, an increase in fluorescence intensity on C6‐ApGltn compared to that on Org‐ApGltn is found, indicating the formation of a hydrophobic pocket. Moreover, the promotion of cell migration into the C6‐ApGltn hydrogel is observed in vitro and in vivo compared with Org‐ApGltn hydrogel, despite no significant difference in elastic modulus. Therefore, the C6‐ApGltn hydrogel could potentially be used as a supporting material for cell transplantation and tissue/organ engineering.     

Random Line Tessellations of the Plane: Statistical Properties of Many-Sided Cells

We consider a family of random line tessellations of the Euclidean plane introduced in a more formal context by Hug and Schneider (Geom. Funct. Anal. 17:156, 2007) and described by a parameter α≥1. For α=1 the zero-cell (that is, the cell containing the origin) coincides with the Crofton cell of a Poisson line tessellation, and for α=2 it coincides with the typical Poisson-Voronoi cell. Let p _n (α) be the probability for the zero-cell to have n sides. We construct the asymptotic expansion of log p _n (α) up to terms that vanish as n→∞. Our methods are nonrigorous but of the kind commonly accepted in theoretical physics as leading to exact results. In the large-n limit the cell is shown to become circular. The circle is centered at the origin when α>1, but gets delocalized for the Crofton cell, α=1, which is a singular point of the parameter range. The large-n expansion of log p _n (1) is therefore different from that of the general case and we show how to carry it out. As a corollary we obtain the analogous expansion for the typical n-sided cell of a Poisson line tessellation.     

High concentration trans form unsaturated lipids detected in a HeLa cell by Raman microspectroscopy

High concentration trans form unsaturated lipids have been found in a HeLa cell by Raman microspectroscopy. Two CC stretch bands are observed simultaneously at 1669 cm⁻¹ (trans form) and at 1656 cm⁻¹ (cis form) in a Raman spectrum obtained from a small area (1 µm in diameter) in a HeLa cell. The intensity ratio 1669/1656 indicates that the concentration of the trans form is as high as that of the cis. It is demonstrated that Raman microspectroscopy provides a powerful and unique means for in situ and noninvasive structural characterization of unsaturated lipids in a living cell. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Statistical approach to the analysis of cell desynchronization data

Experimental measurements on semi-synchronous tumor cell populations show that after a few cell cycles they desynchronize completely, and this desynchronization reflects the intercell variability of cell-cycle duration. It is important to identify the sources of randomness that desynchronize a population of cells living in a homogeneous environment: for example, being able to reduce randomness and induce synchronization would aid in targeting tumor cells with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Here we describe a statistical approach to the analysis of the desynchronization measurements that is based on minimal modeling hypotheses, and can be derived from simple heuristics. We use the method to analyze existing desynchronization data and to draw conclusions on the randomness of cell growth and proliferation.     

有机光伏电池物理性能的模拟

在分析有机聚合物光伏器件物理工作过程的基础上,依据光学原理和扩散理论建立了非相干光吸收模型和激子传输模型. 模拟了限制光伏效率的光学吸收和激子扩散两个主要过程,获得了薄膜厚度与光学吸收、转换效率之间的函数关系,为增强有机薄膜的光学吸收、激子分离与传输并获得高转换效率的有机光伏电池奠定理论基础. 关键词： 有机光伏电池 光学吸收 激子扩散 模拟     

不同比例的MEH-PPV与PCBM共混体系光电池性能研究

以MEH-PPV(poly(2-methoxy-5-(2^/-ethylhexoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene)为电子给体材料(donor,D), PCBM(1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-1-phenyl-(6,6)C₆₁)为电子受体材料(acceptor,A),制成了不同比例的共混体系太阳电池.从不同比例的D/A材料共混体系的原子力图、光荧光谱、器件的单电荷传输的暗导J-V图、太阳电池的光敏图及器件双电荷传输的光、暗导J-V图方面,详细分析了不同比例的D/A材料对器件性能影响.得出了当D/A材料比例为1∶4时,器件中活性层能形成良好的互穿网络,光生激子能有效地分离,被分离的电荷能有效地传输,太阳电池的性能最好.其光电池在100mW/cm²强度光照下,其开路电压V_oc为0.8V,短路电流密度J_sc为3.47mA/cm²,填充因子FF为55.9%,能量转换效率η为1.55%. 关键词： 太阳能电池 聚合物 性能