Impact of lipid substitution on assembly and delivery of siRNA by cationic polymers

Characterization of a polymer library engineered to enhance their ability to protect and deliver their nucleotide cargo to the cells is reported. The ζ-potential continuously increased with higher polymer:siRNA weight ratio, and the ζ-potential of lipid-modified polymers:siRNA complexes were higher than PEI2 at all ratios. At polymer:siRNA ratio of 1:1, all lipid-substituted polymers showed complete protection against degradation. Lipid-modified polymers significantly increased the cellular uptake of siRNA complexes and down-regulation of GAPDH and P-gp (max. 66% and 67%, respectively). The results indicate that hydrophobic modification of low molecular PEI could render this otherwise ineffective polymer to a safe effective delivery system for intracellular siRNA delivery and protein silencing.     

Effect of nanoporous In2O3 film fabricated on TiO2-In2O3 photoanode for photovoltaic performance via a sparking method

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A simple and inexpensive sparking method was used to deposit body-centered cubic In2O3 film on TiO2 photoanode for 30–180 min for...     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">seco</Emphasis>-Kaurane skeleton diterpenoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Croton oblongifolius</Emphasis>

A new seco-kaurane type diterpenoid, ent-3,4-seco-17-oxo-kaur-4(19),15(16)-dien-3-oic acid, and a known compound, ent-3,4-seco-kaur-4(19),16(17)-dien-3-oic acid, were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Effects of the Bark Resin Extract of Garcinia nigrolineata on Chronic Stress-Induced Memory Deficit in Mice Model and the In Vitro Monoamine Oxidases and β-Amyloid Aggregation Inhibitory Activities of Its Prenylated Xanthone Constituents

The present study describes investigation of the effects of the bark resin extract of Garcinia nigrolineata (Clusiaceae) on the cognitive function and the induction of oxidative stress in both frontal cortex and hippocampus by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). By using behavioral mouse models, i.e., the Y-maze test, the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT), and the Morris Water Maze Test (MWMT), it was found that the negative impact of repeated mild stress-induced learning and memory deficit through brain oxidative stress in the UCMS mice was reversed by treatment with the bark resin extract G. nigrolineata. Moreover, the prenylated xanthones viz. cowagarcinone C, cowaxanthone, α-mangostin, cowaxanthone B, cowanin, fuscaxanthone A, fuscaxanthone B, xanthochymusxanthones A, 7-O-methylgarcinone E, and cowagarcinone A, isolated from the bark resin of G. nigrolineata, were assayed for their inhibitory activities against β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation and monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAOs).     

A novel stopped flow injection-amperometric procedure for the determination of chlorate

A novel stopped flow injection—amperometric (sFI-Amp) procedure for determination of chlorate has been developed. The reaction of chlorate with excess potassium iodide and hydrochloric acid, forming iodine/triiodide that is further electrochemically reduced at a glassy carbon electrode at +200 mV versus Ag/AgCl electrode is employed. In order to increase sensitivity without using of too high acid concentration, promoting of the reaction by increasing reaction time and temperature can be carried out. This can be done without increase of dispersion of the product zone by stopping the flow while the injected zone is being in a mixing coil which is immersed in a water bath of 55 ± 0.5 °C. In a closed system of FIA, a side reaction of oxygen with iodide is also minimized. Under a set of conditions, linear calibration graphs were in the ranges of 1.2 × 10⁻⁶-6.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹and 6.0 × 10⁻⁵-6.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹. A sample throughput of 25 h⁻¹ was accomplished. Relative standard deviation was 2% (n = 21, 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ chlorate). The proposed sFI-Amp procedure was successfully applied to the determination of chlorate in soil samples from longan plantation area.     

In vitro biocompatibility of electrospun and solvent-cast chitosan substrata towards Schwann, osteoblast, keratinocyte and fibroblast cells

Chitosan or poly(N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-co-d-glucosamine) with a degree of deacetylation of about 85% was fabricated into nanofibrous membranes by electrospinning from 7% w/v chitosan solution in 70:30 v/v trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane solvent system. The obtained fibers were smooth without the presence of beads. The diameters of the individual fiber segments were 126 ± 20 nm. The potential for use of the electrospun chitosan nanofibrous membranes as substrates for cell/tissue culture was evaluated with four different cell types, i.e., Schwann cells, osteoblast-like cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts, in terms of the attachment and the proliferation of the cells as well as the morphology of the seeded and the cultured cells. The results were compared with the corresponding solvent-cast films. Both types of the chitosan substrates supported the attachment and, at the same time, promoted the largest increase in the viability of the cultured keratinocytes. The viability of Schwann cells cultured on these substrates increased marginally well, but the attachment of the cells on the surfaces was relatively poor. Finally, both types of the chitosan substrates showed cytostatic property towards both osteoblast-like cells and fibroblasts, despite the convincingly good attachment of osteoblast-like cells on the surfaces.     

Exogenous Spermidine Alleviates UV-Induced Growth Inhibition of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 via Reduction of Hydrogen Peroxide and Malonaldehyde Levels

Effects of exogenously added spermidine (Spd) to UV-treated Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cultures on their growth, intracellular pigments, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malonaldehyde (MDA) contents, and antioxidant enzymes were investigated. Growth inhibition of cells subjected to 1-h UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C irradiation was abolished in culture added with 0.5 mM Spd. Both chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents were decreased under UV radiations in cells grown in BG₁₁ medium. However, the contents of these two pigments were slightly increased under UV radiations in Spd-supplemented cells with the consequence of enhanced oxygen evolution. Intracellular levels of H₂O₂ and MDA generated during 1-h UV irradiation were decreased when the culture medium contained 0.5 mM Spd. The antioxidative enzymes, catalase, and superoxide dismutase had a little or no response towards Spd supplementation under UV irradiation except for some increase in superoxide dismutase activity under UV-C. Total intracellular polyamines were decreased during Spd supplementation under UV stress; however, the cells showed a drastic increase in the amount of Put under this condition. Altogether, exogenous Spd is likely a potential compound that enables Synechocystis cells to cope with UV stress.     

Biomedical applications of electrospun polycaprolactone fiber mats

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polyester emerging into biomedical applications because of its biodegradability, biocompatibility, chemical stability, thermal stability and good mechanical properties. Electrospinning is a versatile method using electrostatic forces for fabricating continuous ultrafine fibers that offer various advantages such as high surface area and high porosity. Thus, this method has gained interest for use in many fields, especially biomedical fields. This review focuses on researches and studies in electrospinning, PCL, electrospinning of PCL and also biomedical applications of the electrospun PCL fiber mats. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ion effects in REDOX cycling of conducting polymer based electrochromic materials

Conducting polymer based electrochromic devices were assembled with various ionic liquid (IL) based electrolytes to probe the role of the ion structure on electrochromic performance. When the IL contained the same anion as the dopant ion used in the conducting polymers an enhanced electrochromic performance was observed providing high photopic contrast at low applied potential.