The Content Driven Mobile Internet

The development of future mobile networks will be driven, in large part, by content and web based services. In this paper, we examine several performance, scalability and architectural challenges faced by future mobile web applications and how advanced mobile content delivery techniques can address these challenges. We review existing content delivery using a taxonomy that consists of three categories: network scaling, end system acceleration, and content and protocol optimization. While wireline content delivery focuses on network and server scalability, mobile content delivery will likely benefit most from optimizing radio link usage. We also present our ongoing work in this area, which extends the functionality of edge caching to the terminal, uses user interest correlation information to maintain low terminal power consumption and adds a new dimension to radio resource management. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rheological and diffusion properties of a dextran-con A polymer in the presence of Insulin and Magnesium

Previous work carried out in our laboratories has focused on the formation and investigation of a dextran and concanavalin A (con A) based gel, which has the ability to alter its conformational structure in the presence and absence of free and terminal glucoses such that a gel–sol phase transition occurs. Here we report the diffusion and rheological investigations in to the effects of the addition of insulin and varyingconcentrations of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (Mg₂Cl₂6H₂O) at 20 and 37 °C. Rheological examination of glucose-sensitive (dextran-con A) gels were conducted using a cone and plate viscometer used in continual rotation and oscillatory modes. The results are interpreted in terms of the structure of the gel network and suggest rheological assessment provides an effective method of assessing the properties of gel systems. The subsequent testing of such formulations in in-vitro diffusion experiments revealed a reduction in the rate of diffusivity in the insulin marker, poly R-478 dye. The performance of this self-regulating drug delivery system has been examined and the addition of insulin and magnesium chloride may alter the way in which the gel operates as a drug delivery device and in the delivery of insulin. This may have implications for other ligands.     

Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation processing of triacetate-pullulan polysaccharide thin films for drug delivery systems

We report the first successful deposition of triacetate-pullulan polysaccharide thin films by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation. We used a KrF* excimer laser source (λ = 248 nm, τ ≈ 20 ns) operated at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. We demonstrated by FTIR that our thin films are composed of triacetate-pullulan maintaining its chemical structure and functionality. The dependence on incident laser fluence of the induced surface morphology is analysed.     

Allyl protecting group mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD): synthesis of α-glucofuranosides and β-rhamnopyranosides

The use of allyl protecting group mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD) as a strategy for intramolecular glycosylation has been extended to allow the stereoselective synthesis of α-glucofuranosides and β-rhamnopyranosides, in a totally stereoselective fashion. The efficiency of intramolecular glycosylation is dependent on the protecting group pattern of the glycosyl donor, and on the steric bulk of the glycosyl acceptor.     

温度及pH敏感的树枝状高分子衍生物合成及药物控制释放研究

对合成的系列聚酰胺-胺型(PAMAM)树枝状高分子进行端基的羟基化和氯乙酰化两步修饰,使PAMAM最外层接上烷基氯.以修饰产物为引发剂,通过原子转移自由基引发甲基丙烯酸N,N-二甲氨基乙酯(DMAEMA)聚合得到树枝状PAMAM高分子衍生物,并对其结构用FTIR、1H-NMR和粒径分析进行了表征.紫外可见分光光度仪测定证实此高分子具有温度及pH敏感性.通过对小分子药物控制释放研究表明,此树枝状高分子衍生物通过环境pH值可有效地控制小分子药物的释放.     

无机层状复合氢氧化物中顺铂-DNA模型分子的选择性插入

药物分子的选择性包裹和控制释放是药物研究领域中具有挑战性的研究方向。本文研究表明:顺铂-DNA模型分子cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(5′-GMP)₂](5′-GMP 5′-单磷酸鸟苷)可插入无机层状复合氢氧化物[Zn_0.68Al_0.32(OH)₂](NO₃)_0.32·mH₂O。但另一种层状复合氢氧化物[LiAl₂(OH)₆]Cl·H₂O由于其阳离子层中正电荷密度较高、阳离子层与层间阴离子之间静电作用较强,因而顺铂-DNA模型分子不能通过离子交换方式插入其层间。光谱数据证实插入层间的顺铂-DNA模型分子结构不变。这可能为铂-DNA分子的传递提供新的方法。     

赖氨酸修饰壳聚糖磁性超微载体的制备和表征

本文设计并合成了良好水溶性的赖氨酸修饰壳聚糖,并对制备工艺进行了优化.产物通过红外(FTIR)和核磁(1H-NMR)进行了表征,并将其作为壳层材料制备了赖氨酸修饰壳聚糖磁性超微载体.通过光电能谱(XPS)、透射(TEM)、激光粒度仪、X射线衍射(XRD)、磁性能测试(VSM)对载体进行了表征.结果表明,制备的赖氨酸修饰壳聚糖磁性超微载体表面带有大量的氨基(-NH2),粒径分布较为均一(100nm左右),形貌较为规则,并具有良好的超顺磁性,因而该载体具有更加良好的性能.     

Pectin in controlled drug delivery – a review

Controlled drug delivery remains a research focus for public health to enhance patient compliance, drug efficiency and reduce the side effects of drugs. Pectin, an edible plant polysaccharide, has been shown to be useful for the construction of drug delivery systems for specific drug delivery. Several pectin derived formulations have been developed in our laboratory and tested in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo for the ability to deliver bioactive substances for therapeutic purposes in the context of interactions with living tissues. Pectin derivatives carrying primary amine groups were more mucoadhesive and have shown potential in nasal drug delivery and other mucosal drug delivery. Pectin derivatives with highly esterified galacturonic acid residues are more hydrophobic and able to sustain the release of incorporated fragrances for a prolonged duration. Less esterified pectin derivatives are able to penetrate deeper into the skin and may be useful in aromatherapy formulations. Pectin, in combination with zein, a corn protein, forms hydrogel beads. The bound zein restricts bead swelling and retains the porosity of the beads; the pectin networks shield the zein from protease attack. The complex beads are ideal vehicles for colon-specific drug delivery. Studies presented in this paper indicate the flexibility and possibility to tailor pectin macromolecules into a variety of drug delivery systems to meet different clinical requirements. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.     

Application of solid phase peptide synthesis to engineering PEO–peptide block copolymers for drug delivery

This work describes a simple, versatile solid-phase peptide-synthesis (SPPS) method for preparing micelle-forming poly(ethylene oxide)-block-peptide block copolymers for drug delivery. To demonstrate its utility, this SPPS method was used to construct two series of micelle-forming block copolymers (one of constant core-composition and variable length; the other of constant core length and variable composition). The block copolymers were then used to study in detail the effect of size and composition on micellization. The various block copolymers were prepared by a combination of SPPS for the peptide block, followed by solution–phase conjugation of the peptide block with a proprionic acid derivative of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to form the PEO-b-peptide block copolymer. The composition of each block component was characterized by mass spectrometry (MALDI and ES-MS). Block copolymer compositions were characterized by ¹H NMR. All the block copolymers were found to form micelles as judged by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light scattering analysis. To demonstrate their potential as drug delivery systems, micelles prepared from one member of the PEO-b-peptide block copolymer series were physically loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Micelle static and dynamic stability were found to correlate strongly with micelle core length. In contrast, these same micellization properties appear to be a complex function of core composition, and no clear trends could be identified from among the set of compositionally varying, fixed length block copolymer micelles. We conclude that SPPS can be used to construct biocompatible block copolymers with well-defined core lengths and compositions, which in turn can be used to study and to tailor the behavior of block copolymer micelles.     

Dendrimers as potential drug carriers; encapsulation of acidic hydrophobes within water soluble PAMAM derivatives

This paper describes the synthesis of three neutral water soluble poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer derivatives. The ability of the two larger dendrimers to bind small acidic hydrophobic molecules is reported. Spectroscopic data and pH behaviour suggested that the acidic hydrophobes were forming stable ion pairs with the dendrimer's internal, basic tertiary nitrogens. With respect to forming 1:1 and 2:1 substrate/dendrimer complexes, both of the larger dendrimers were equally efficient at binding. All dendrimer/substrate complexes were completely miscible with water in all proportions (i.e. infinitely water soluble). When the bound substrates are drug moieties, then the resulting complexes could be considered as potential drug delivery systems. Flow calorimetry demonstrated that the dendrimers were able to release their hydrophobic guests when in contact with a biological cell.