Evaluation of PEGylated fibrin as a three-dimensional biodegradable scaffold for ovarian tissue engineering

The most challenging task of creating a bioengineered ovary to restore fertility in cancer patients is choosing an appropriate biomaterial to encapsulate isolated preantral follicles and ovarian cells. In this study, as a biocompatible and biodegradable biomaterial containing fibrin-like bioactivity and manageable physical properties, PEGylated fibrin aims to encapsulate isolated ovarian stromal cells as a first step of creating an engineered ovarian tissue. For this purpose, human ovarian stromal cells were isolated from frozen-thawed ovarian tissue and cultured in the PEGylated fibrin hydrogels (PEG:Fib), which were fabricated by combining two different molar ratios of PEG:Fib (10:1 and 5:1) and two thrombin concentrations. The samples were analyzed at days 0 and 5 of in vitro for cell density, proliferation (Ki67), and apoptosis (caspase-3). Moreover, LIVE/DEAD and PrestoBlue assays assessed cell viability and proliferation on days 1, 3, and 5. The effect of PEGylation on the biodegradation behavior of fibrin was evaluated by measuring the remaining mass ratio of non-modified fibrin, PEG:Fib 10:1, and PEG:Fib 5:1 hydrogels after 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 15 days. The results showed that PEGylated fibrin hydrogels enhanced scaffold stability and supported cell viability and proliferation. In addition, PEG:Fib 5:1 T50 indicated a significantly higher cell density dynamic and non-significantly lower expression of caspase-3 on day 5. Besides, uniformity of cell distribution inside the hydrogel and a tendency to a high rate of Ki67-positive cells was observed in PEG:Fib 10:1 T50 hydrogels. In conclusion, this study reveals the positive effects of PEGylated fibrin hydrogels on isolated human ovarian stromal cells. Based on such promising findings, we believe that this matrix should be tested to encapsulate isolated human ovarian follicles.     

Triiodide Ion‐Selective Electrode Based on Charge‐Transfer Complex of 4,7,13,16,21,24‐Hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo‐[8.8.8]hexacosane

Two new highly selective triiodide electrodes have been prepared using charge‐transfer complex of iodine with cryptand 222 as an electroactive ionophore and nitrophenyl octyl ether as a plasticizing agent. The electrodes showed Nernstian response to triiodide ions over a concentration range from 1.0 × 10^?;2 — 7.9 × 10^?;7 M and from 1.0 × 10^?;2 — 1 × 10^?;6 M with detection limits of 6.3 × 10^?;7 and 7.9 × 10^?;7 M for cryptand and its charge‐transfer complex with iodine, respectively. The response times (t_95%) of the sensors were 10 and 5 s. The membrane could be used for more than 1 month without any divergence in potentials. The proposed sensors exhibited very high selectivity for triiodide ion over other anions, and could be used in a wide pH range ?2–10. These electrodes were successfully applied as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of copper in ore samples.     

Conductance and Thermodynamic Study of the Complexation of Ammonium Ion with Different Crown Ethers in Binary Nonaqueous Solvents

A conductance study of the interaction between ammonium ion and 18‐Crown‐6 (18C6), dicyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6 (DC18C6), ditertbutyl‐dicyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6 (t‐bu)₂DC18C6, diaza‐15‐crown‐5 (DA15C5), dibenzo‐21‐crown‐7 (DB21C7) and N‐Phenylaza‐15‐crown‐5 (NPA15C5) in acetonitril‐di‐methylsulfoxide mixture was carried out at various temperatures. The formation constants of the resultant 1:1 complexes were determined from the molar conductance‐mole ratio data and found to vary in the order of DA15C5 > DC18C6 > 18C6 > (t‐bu)₂DC18C6 > DB21C7 > NPA15C5. The enthalpy and entropy of the complexation reactions were determined from the temperature dependence of the formation constants.     

Charge-transfer triiodide ion-selective electrode based on 7,16-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane.

A new PVC membrane electrode for the triiodide ion based on a charge-transfer complex of iodine with 7,16-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane as a membrane carrier was prepared. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response for triiodide ions over a wide concentration range (1.0 x 10(-1)-1.0 x 10(-5) M) with a slope of 59.3 +/- 0.9 mV decade(-1) and a detection limit of 6.3 x 10(-6) M. It has a response time of 30 s and can be used for at least 3 months without any divergence in the potential. The potentiometric response is independent of the pH, in the pH range 1.6 - 10.0. The proposed electrode has shown very high selectivity for the triiodide ion over a wide variety of other anions. This electrode was successfully applied as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone from pharmaceutical preparations as well as ascorbic acid in orange juice and dissolved O2 in tap water.     

Adsorption of 4‐Chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy Acetic Acid (MCPA) from Aqueous Solution onto Cu‐Fe‐NO3 Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles

The nanoparticles of Cu‐Fe‐NO₃ layered double hydroxide (LDH) were prepared with Cu/Fe molar ratio of 2:1 by a thermal process and co‐precipitation method at pH 9 and were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) and fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). The size and morphology of nanoparticles were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cu‐Fe‐NO₃‐LDH was studied as a potential adsorbent of the acid herbicide MCPA [(4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy) acetic acid] as function of pH, contact time and temperature. The results showed high and rapid adsorption of MCPA on the LDH. The characterization of the adsorption products by XRD indicates that the intercalation of MCPA between the LDH layers has not occurred and surface adsorption has happened. The adsorption kinetic was tested for pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, elovich and intra‐particle diffusion kinetic models and rate constants were calculated. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were applied to experimental equilibrium data obtained from the measurements of pesticide adsorption. Langmuir isotherm slightly better fitted to the experimental data than that of Freundlich. In the adsorption experiments, the Gibbs free energy ΔG⁰ values, the enthalpy ΔH⁰, and entropy ΔS⁰ were determined.     

Aldehyde Oxidase Activity and Stability in Water-Miscible Organic Solvents

In this study, the catalytic activity of aldehyde oxidase was investigated in various water-miscible organic solvents for the first time. The enzyme was partially purified from rabbit liver, and its activity was determined in the absence/presence of nine hydro-organic mixtures. The effects of pH and temperature on the enzyme activity were also investigated. The activity was reduced in the presence of all nine organic solvents. However, in some cases, the residual activity remained almost unchanged throughout the incubation of enzyme at 35 °C for 24 h. Considering potential advantages of doing reactions in the presence of organic solvents, these results could be of value. The enzyme showed different behavior in the reaction solutions making it difficult to formulate results in a single comprehensive model. The results indicated that binding and cleavage of the substrate are influenced in the presence of organic solvents.     

Triiodide PVC Membrane Electrode Based on a Charge‐Transfer Complex of Iodine with Ditertbutyl‐Dicyclohexyl‐18‐Crown‐6

A new triiodide ion‐selective electrode based on a charge‐transfer complex of iodine with ditertbutyl‐dicyclohexyl‐18‐crown‐6 (t‐Bu)₂DC18C6 as membrane carrier was prepared. The electrode has a linear dynamic range from 6.3 × 10^?3‐5 × 10^?6 with a Nernstian response of 58.6 ± 1 mV decade^?1 and a detection limit of 1.3 × 10^?6 M. The response time of the sensor was 25 s. The membrane could be used for two months without any divergence in potentials. The electrode exhibits an anti‐Hofmeistetr selectivity sequence with a preference for triiodide at pH 2.0‐10.0. The response mechanism of the electrode was investigated by Uv‐Vis spectroscopic technique. The electrode can be used for the determination of ascorbic acid in orange juice.     

New PVC-membrane electrode based on charge-transfer inclusion complex between I2 and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetracdecane for selective determination of I3 − ions

A new triiodide ion-selective electrode based on charge-transfer complex of iodine with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetracdecane as membrane carrier was prepared. The best performance of electrode observed with the membrane having the ligand–PVC–NPOE–NaTPB composition 3.0:33:66:0.5 mg which worked well over a wide concentration range 2.8 × 10^?6–1.4 × 10^?1 M with a Nernstian slope of 59.6 ± 0.3 mV per decade and a detection limit of 1.2 × 10^?6 M. This electrode showed a response time of 25 s and was used over a period of 2 months. The electrode exhibits an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence with a performance for triiodide at pH 1.5–10.2. The response mechanism of the electrode was investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopic technique. The electrode was successfully applied as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone in drugs.     

Hyers–Ulam–Rassias Stability of Derivations in Proper JCQ*–triples

In this paper, we investigate stability of derivations in proper JCQ*–triples associated to the following Pexiderized functional equation $$f(x + y + z) = f_{0}(x) + f_{1}(y) + f_{2}(z)$$ .