Novel ‘Nano in Nano’ Composites for Sustained Drug Delivery: Biodegradable Nanoparticles Encapsulated into Nanofiber Non‐Wovens

Novel ‘nano in nano’ composites consisting of biodegradable polymer nanoparticles incorporated into polymer nanofibers may efficiently modulate drug delivery. This is shown here using a combination of model compound‐loaded biodegradable nanoparticles encapsulated in electrospun fibers. The dye coumarin 6 is used as model compound for a drug in order to simulate drug release from loaded poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) nanoparticles. Dye release from the nanoparticles occurs immediately in aqueous solution. Dye‐loaded nanoparticles which are encapsulated by electrospun polymer nanofibers display a significantly retarded release.

     

Dual crosslinked pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive hydrogel beads for intestine‐targeted controlled release

Novel drug‐loaded hydrogel beads for intestine‐targeted controlled release were developed by using pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive carboxymethyl chitosan‐graft‐poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) (CMCTS‐g‐PDEA) hydrogel as carriers and vitamin B₂ (VB₂) as a model drug. The hydrogel beads were prepared based on Ca²⁺ ionic crosslinking in acidic solution and formed dual crosslinked network structure. The structure of hydrogel and morphology of drug‐loaded beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study about swelling characteristics of hydrogel beads indicated that the beads had obvious pH‐ and temperature‐sensitivity. In vitro release studies of drug‐loaded beads were carried out in pH 1.2 HCl buffer solution and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution at 37°C, respectively. The results indicated that the dual crosslinked method could effectively control the drug release rate under gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions, which was superior to traditional single crosslinked beads. In addition, the effects of grafting percentage, pH value, and temperature on the release behavior of the VB₂ were investigated. The drug release mechanism of CMCTS‐g‐PDEA drug‐loaded beads was analyzed by Peppa's potential equation. According to this study, the dual crosslinked hydrogel beads based on CMCTS‐g‐PDEA could serve as suitable candidate for drug site‐specific carrier in intestine. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fructose-selective calorimetric biosensor in flow injection analysis

A highly selective, interference free biosensor for the measurement of fructose in real syrup samples was developed. The assay is based on the phosphorylation of d(−)fructose to fructose-6-phosphate by hexokinase and subsequent conversion of fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-biphosphate by fructose-6-phosphate-kinase. The heat liberated in the second reaction is monitored using an enzyme thermistor. The major advantages of this biosensor are rapid and selective measurement of fructose without the need to eliminate glucose and inexpensive FIA-based, mediator-free calorimetric measurement suitable for regular fructose analysis. This method was optimised for parameters, such as pH, ionic strength, interference, operational stability and shelf life. Good and reproducible linearity (0.5-6.0 mM) with a detection limit of 0.12 mM was obtained. Fructose determination in commercial syrup samples and spiked samples confirmed the reliability of this set-up and technique. The biosensor gave reproducible results with good overall stability for continuous measurements over a period of three months besides a useful shelf life of six months. The method could be used for routine fructose monitoring in food samples.     

海藻酸盐凝胶化及其在软骨组织工程和药物控释领域的应用

介绍了海藻酸盐水溶液的凝胶化及其临界行为和松弛临界指数n.提出了将凝胶化按高分子的分子链长短分为生长型和交联型两类,前者为无规交联,符合逾渗连接的条件;后者大分子链间交联,不符合无规逾渗连接的条件.介绍了微囊化细胞载体、预成型支架和可注射支架,能够为软骨细胞提供良好的三维生长环境;通过LbL、二价离子交联等自组装技术,海藻酸能够实现对多种类型药物的包埋和控释.     

微型气相色谱仪热导检测器放大电路设计

Agilent公司生产的Agilent 3000+系列色谱仪是微型气相色谱仪(micro GC)的典型代表,其热导检测器的信号放大电路和模数转换器(analog-to-digital convertor, ADC)存在功耗大、工作温度过高等不足.文中分析了micro GC电路的功能需求,从选用低噪声的24 bit Δ-Σ ADC ADS1255入手,设计了高共模电压容限、低噪声的全差分放大电路及其他外围电路,并且对全差分放大电路建立了噪声模型,计算了其噪声理论值,优化了系统设计参数.另外,还设计了一个测试平台,对所设计的全差分放大电路和ADC的性能进行了全面的测试评估,结果表明新设计的热导检测器放大电路与ADC的总噪声(以美国材料与试验协会(ASTM)标准值计)仅为1.25 μV,总功耗降低了3.7 W,满足micro GC的功能需求,而且可靠性高、体积小、结构简单,可用于新一代micro GC的研发和生产.     

连续变量量子纠缠增强实验的改进

通过在泵浦光和注入光路中加入高精细度模清洁器及提高实验系统锁定的精度,我们对连续变量量子增强的实验系统加以了改进,初始的EPR纠缠光场的正交振幅及正交位相分量的关联度分别从(2.4±0.2)dB,(2.4±0.2)dB提高至(4.0±0.2)dB,(3.9±0.2)dB,而输出纠缠态光场的关联度分别由原来的(3.0±0.2)dB,(3.0±0.2)dB提高至(5.6±0.2dB),(5.5±0.2)dB。与此前的实验系统相比,纠缠增强的效率及结果均有一定提高。     

EAM-SOA millimeter-wave frequency up-converter for radio-over-fiber applications

We present an optical scheme for photonic frequency up-conversion at the millimeter-wave bands based on Semiconductor Optical Amplifier. The proposed scheme modulates the bias current with the Intermediate Frequency in order to achieve frequency mixing of an incoming optical signal modulated with the Local Oscillator. Theory indicates that the proposed scheme supports data bandwidths in the tens of GHz for LO values above 10 GHz. This scheme allows for photonic integration of the considered optical devices. A laboratory demonstration of the scheme for up-conversion to the 40 GHz band, using narrow-band IF signals, showed relatively low thresholds for the optical input power and bias current level to achieve error free operation: − 14.5 dBm 100 mA for a 64-QAM signal. Spurious-Free Dynamic Range showed an acceptable performance, with a linearity about 52.5 dB·Hz^2/3 for an optical input power of − 6 dBm.     

All-optical method of developing a phase encoded latch by using EDFA

Optics has already proved its meaningful application in information processing and computation, where the parallelism of light is exploited to achieve the desired result. In this communication a novel concept of all-optical memory unit based on phase encoding process is proposed. The unit is simple in architecture comprising phase sifters, mirrors (M′) and two blocks of Erbium doped fiber amplifier. The optical feedback is supported by use of beam splitters and mirrors. It is independent of intensity and therefore requires a small switching power and can work at a bit rate far above 100 Gb/s.     

Modeling of a two-color, two-stage, ultrafast Yb-doped fiber amplifier

We have modeled a two-stage, Yb-doped fiber amplifier system to amplify two-color ultrafast laser pulses in near-infrared. The first and second stages namely preamplifier and power amplifier are single-clad, single-mode and double-clad, single-mode Yb-doped fibers respectively. From numerical simulations of the modeled fiber amplifiers, the optimal lengths of the two fibers to have equal power at two colors centered at 1035 nm and 1105 nm are in agreement with our experimental results. Numerical simulations have also been performed to demonstrate the impact of using a flat-top, two-color seed spectrum on the system performance.     

A novel all optical method of implementing an n-bit wavelength encoded complete digital data comparator using nonlinear semiconductor optical amplifiers

Data comparator is the integral part of arithmetic and logical unit of any electronic or optical data processor. Due to some inherent limitations of electronics it cannot be possible to obtain a super fast operation (over terahertz limit) from electronic comparators. Again wavelength encoding technique has been established as an excellent one over other existing optical data encoding techniques. Semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) technologies have shown their strong potentiality of realizing many all-optical systems. In this communication the authors have proposed a new scheme of developing all-optical wavelength encoded n bit binary comparator exploiting the four-wave mixing, wavelength filtering, wavelength conversion and nonlinear polarization rotation capabilities property of nonlinear semiconductor optical amplifiers. The scheme can be used for comparing signed and unsigned optical binary data of any bit wide numbers as well. The comparator is especially suitable for use as a building block in a larger optical circuit, such as in an all optical telecommunications switch.