Preparation of Pure and Stable Chitosan Nanofibers by Electrospinning in the Presence of Poly(ethylene oxide)

Electrospinning was employed to obtain chitosan nanofibers from blends of chitosans (CS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Blends of chitosan (MW (weight-average molecular weight) = 102 kg/mol) and PEO (M (molecular weight) = 1000 kg/mol) were selected to optimize the electrospinning process parameters. The PEO powder was solubilized into chitosan solution at different weight ratios in 0.5 M acetic acid. The physicochemical changes of the nanofibers were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling capacity, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. For stabilization, the produced nanofibers were neutralized with K₂CO₃ in water or 70% ethanol/30% water as solvent. Subsequently, repeated washings with pure water were performed to extract PEO, potassium acetate and carbonate salts formed in the course of chitosan nanofiber purification. The increase of PEO content in the blend from 20 to 40 w% exhibited bead-free fibers with average diameters 85 ± 19 and 147 ± 28 nm, respectively. Their NMR analysis proved that PEO and the salts were nearly completely removed from the nanostructure of chitosan, demonstrating that the adopted strategy is successful for producing pure chitosan nanofibers. In addition, the nanofibers obtained after neutralization in ethanol-aqueous solution has better structural stability, at least for six months in aqueous solutions (phosphate buffer (PBS) or water).

Stearic acid and high molecular weight PEO as matrix for the highly water soluble metoprolol tartrate in continuous twin-screw melt granulation

Granules with release-sustaining properties were developed by twin screw hot melt granulation (HMG) using a combination of stearic acid (SA) and high molecular weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) as matrix for a highly water soluble model drug, metoprolol tartrate (MPT). Earlier studies demonstrated that mixing molten SA and PEO resulted in hydrogen bond formation between hydroxyl groups of fatty acid molecules and ether groups in PEO chains. These molecular interactions might be beneficial in order to elevate the sustained release effect of drugs from a SA/PEO matrix. This study aims to investigate the continuous twin screw melt granulation technique to study the impact of a SA/PEO matrix on the dissolution rate of a highly water soluble drug (MPT). Decreasing the SA/PEO ratio improved the release-sustaining properties of the matrix. The solid state of the granules was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and near infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI) in order to understand the dissolution behavior. The results revealed a preferential interaction of the MPT molecules with stearic acid impeding the PEO to form hydrogen bonds with the stearic acid chains. However, this allowed the PEO chains to recrystallize inside the stearic acid matrix after granulation, hence, elevating the release-sustaining characteristics of the formulation.

Design and In-vitro Evaluation of Sustained Release Floating Tablets of Metformin HCl Based on Effervescence and Swelling

An oral sustained-release floating tablet formulation of metformin HCl was designed and developed. Effervescence and swelling properties were attributed on the developed tablets by sodium bicarbonate and HPMC-PEO polymer combination, respectively. Tablet composition was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Seventeen (17) trial formulations were analyzed according to Box-Behnken design of experiment where polymer content of HPMC and PEO at 1: 4 ratio (A), amount of sodium bi-carbonate (B), and amount of SSG (C) were adopted as independent variables. Floating lag time in sec (Y1), cumulative percent drug released at 1 h (Y2) and 12 h (Y3) were chosen as response variables. Tablets from the optimized formulation were also stored at accelerated stability condition (40°C and 75% RH) for 3 months to assess their stability profile. RSM could efficiently optimize the tablet composition with excellent prediction ability. In-vitro drug release until 12 h, floating lag time, and duration of floating were dependent on the amount of three selected independent variables. Optimized tablets remained floating for more than 24 h with a floating lag time of less than 4 min. Based on best fitting method, optimized formulation was found to follow Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetic. Accelerated stability study revealed that optimized formulation was stable for three months without any major changes in assay, dissolution profile, floating lag time and other physical properties.

PEO-generated Surfaces Support Attachment and Growth of Cells In Vitro with No Additional Benefit for Micro-roughness in Sa (0.2-4 μm)

BACKGROUND/AIM

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), also known as micro-arc oxidation, is a promising electrochemical surface treatment technique for metals which has been used for the generation of various material surfaces and has been the focus of recent biomaterial research. It has been hypothesized that rough PEO surfaces should generally have properties that support cellular attachment and proliferation. However, this has not yet been demonstrated in systematically conducted studies. The present study investigated fibroblast cell proliferation and attachment to ground, electric discharge machining (EDM) and PEO-treated titanium surfaces differing in roughness and porosity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three surface variants with 'smoother', 'medium-coarse' and 'rough' surface topographies were generated by PEO and EDM on specimens of titanium alloy (with 6 wt% aluminum and 4 wt% vanadium) for comparison with more smoothly ground specimens. The in vitro effects on cellular attachment and proliferation were determined in 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and live/dead staining assays with L929 fibroblasts cultivated directly on the metal specimens. Cytocompatibility was determined in accordance with DIN 10993-5/-12 regulations by extract assays.

RESULTS

Besides cytocompatibility, all PEO specimens exhibited similar biocompatibility and attachment properties, with vital, spindle-shaped adherent cells growing on the surface, regardless of their surface topology. There were no significant differences in cellular proliferation between the different surfaces and negative controls (cells growing in cell-culture plates).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

With no differences in cellular proliferation and attachment between PEO surfaces with different roughness, we find no evidence to support the notion that rougher PEO surfaces are more favorable for cellular growth of fibroblasts in vitro.

The Influence of Dopants on the Effectiveness of Alginate Beads in Immobilized Cell Reactors

Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in doped calcium alginate (Ca-alginate) was successfully employed for the production of ethanol in an immobilized cell reactor. Polyethylene oxide and F127 dimethacrylate were evaluated as potential dopants for Ca-alginate beads to decrease lag time and increase initial ethanol yield. The influence of the type and concentration of the dopant on the effectiveness of the microbe immobilized in Ca-alginate beads to produce ethanol was studied, and results were compared to the widely used 2 % Ca-alginate with no dopants, which acted as control. Immobilized cell reactors that were operated using beads doped with 0.25 % polyethylene oxide (PEO) reached an ethanol yield of ∼70 % in 24 h, which was significantly higher than an ethanol yield of 25 % obtained for the control reactor operated using undoped Ca-alginate beads. This study shows that the use of water-soluble dopants can potentially reduce the lag phase and thus improve the initial production yield of immobilized cell reactors, likely due to an increase in porosity and diffusion rate of the doped beads.

Biomedical applications of ferulic acid encapsulated electrospun nanofibers

Ferulic acid is a ubiquitous phytochemical that holds enormous therapeutic potential but has not gained much consideration in biomedical sector due to its less bioavailability, poor aqueous solubility and physiochemical instability. In present investigation, the shortcomings associated with agro-waste derived ferulic acid were addressed by encapsulating it in electrospun nanofibrous matrix of poly (d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/polyethylene oxide. Fluorescent microscopic analysis revealed that ferulic acid predominantly resides in the core of PLGA/PEO nanofibers. The average diameters of the PLGA/PEO and ferulic acid encapsulated PLGA/PEO nanofibers were recorded as 125 ± 65.5 nm and 150 ± 79.0 nm, respectively. The physiochemical properties of fabricated nanofibers are elucidated by IR, DSC and NMR studies. Free radical scavenging activity of fabricated nanofibers were estimated using di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium (DPPH) assay. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay confirmed the cytotoxicity of ferulic acid encapsulated nanofibers against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. These ferulic acid encapsulated nanofibers could be potentially explored for therapeutic usage in biomedical sector.

Surface characterization and corrosion behavior of calcium phosphate-base composite layer on titanium and its alloys via plasma electrolytic oxidation: A review paper

In recent years, calcium phosphate-base composites, such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and carbonate apatite (CA) have been considered desirable and biocompatible coating layers in clinical and biomedical applications such as implants because of the high resistance of the composites. This review focuses on the effects of voltage, time and electrolytes on a calcium phosphate-base composite layer in case of pure titanium and other biomedical grade titanium alloys via the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) method. Remarkably, these parameters changed the structure, morphology, pH, thickness and crystallinity of the obtained coating for various engineering and biomedical applications. Hence, the structured layer caused improvement of the biocompatibility, corrosion resistance and assignment of extra benefits for Osseo integration. The fabricated layer with a thickness range of 10 to 20 μm was evaluated for physical, chemical, mechanical and tribological characteristics via XRD, FESEM, EDS, EIS and corrosion analysis respectively, to determine the effects of the applied parameters and various electrolytes on morphology and phase transition. Moreover, it was observed that during PEO, the concentration of calcium, phosphor and titanium shifts upward, which leads to an enhanced bioactivity by altering the thickness. The results confirm that the crystallinity, thickness and contents of composite layer can be changed by applying thermal treatments. The corrosion behavior was investigated via the potentiodynamic polarization test in a body-simulated environment. Here, the optimum corrosion resistance was obtained for the coating process condition at 500 V for 15 min in Ringer solution. This review has been summarized, aiming at the further development of PEO by producing more adequate titanium-base implants along with desired mechanical and biomedical features.

Phase transitions in polymer monolayers: Application of the Clapeyron equation to PEO in PPO-PEO Langmuir films

In this paper we investigate the application of the two-dimensional Clapeyron law to polymer monolayers. This is a largely unexplored area of research. The main problems are (1) establishing if equilibrium is reached and (2) if so, identifying and defining phases as functions of the temperature. Once this is validated, the Clapeyron law allows us to obtain the entropy and enthalpy differences between two coexisting phases. In turn, this information can be used to obtain insight into the conformational properties of the films and changes therein. This approach has a wide potential for obtaining additional information on polymer adsorption at interfaces and the structure of their monolayer films. The 2D Clapeyron law was applied emphasizing polyethylene oxide (PEO) in polypropylene oxide (PPO)-PEO block copolymers, based on new well-defined data for their Langmuir films. Values for enthalpy per monomer of 0.12 and 0.23 kT were obtained for the phase transition of two different PEO chains (Neo of 2295 and 409, respectively). This enthalpy was estimated to correspond to 1.2±0.4 kT per EO monomer present in train conformation at the air/water interface.

Antiproliferative activity of ferulic acid-encapsulated electrospun PLGA/PEO nanofibers against MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells

Ferulic acid (FA) is a polyphenolic phytonutrient which possesses strong antiproliferative effect; however, it has limited therapeutic applications due to its physiochemical instability and low bioavailability at the tumor site. In present study, these shortcomings associated with FA were overcome by fabricating FA-encapsulated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/polyethylene oxide (PLGA/PEO) blend nanofibers using electrospinning technique. FESEM and fluorescence microscopic analysis imitates the smooth morphology and even distribution of FA within the polymeric nanofibers at optimum 2 wt% concentration of FA. The average diameters were recorded to be 150 ± 47.4 and 200 ± 79 nm for PLGA/PEO and FA-encapsulated PLGA/PEO nanofibers, respectively. The encapsulation, compatibility, and physical state of FA within the nanofibers were further confirmed by FTIR, TGA and XRD analysis. In vitro drug delivery studies demonstrated initial burst liberation of FA within 24 h followed by a sustained release for the subsequent time. MTT assay revealed the effectiveness of FA-encapsulated nanofibers against human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) cells as compared to control. FESEM and fluorescence microscopic analysis further confirmed the apoptotic effect of FA-encapsulated PLGA/PEO nanofibers against MCF-7. These fabricated nanofibers hold enormous potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for various biomedical applications.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) by Binary Secondary Dopants

To simultaneously increase the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (

PEDOT

PSS) was a challenge for realizing efficient organic thermoelectrics. In this study, for the first time, we report both increased electrical conductivities and Seebeck coefficients, hence, enhanced thermoelectric properties of

PEDOT

PSS thin films by doped with binary secondary dopants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Without modifying film morphology, the molar ratios of PEDOT to PSS are tuned by PEO, resulting in increased proportions of PEDOT in the bipolaron states. Our study provides a facile route to optimizing thermoelectric properties of

PEDOT

PSS thin films.

Polyethylene-oxide improves microcirculatory blood flow in a murine hemorrhagic shock model

BACKGROUND

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is a synthetic polymer commonly used in medicine production to reduce toxicity. In the present study, we assessed whether PEO can have a functional effect on improving microcirculatory blood flow after hemorrhagic shock in an animal model.

METHODS

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) was introduced in 78 C57BL/6 mice, which were then equally divided into two groups. One group of mice was intravenously injected with PEO (diluted in Ringer's solution (RS), PH = 7.4), and the other with RS only. The parameters of microcirculatory hemodynamics, arterial blood gas analysis and multi-organ functions were compared between two groups, 0, 3, 12 and 24 hours after resuscitation.

RESULTS

After HS, the hemodynamics, including microvascular diameter, red blood cell velocity, and blood flow rates were significantly improved in time-dependent manners in PEO treated mice. Most parameters of arterial blood gas analysis, except PCO2, were also significantly improved by PEO. Multi-organ immunohistochemistry demonstrated that congestions and inflammatory responses in liver and lung were markedly ameliorated by PEO.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that PEO infusion could effectively improve microcirculation after hemorrhagic shock and increase the chance of survival in animal models.

Uncoupling of increased cellular oxidative stress and myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury by directed sarcolemma stabilization

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major clinical problem leading to cardiac dysfunction and myocyte death. It is widely held that I/R causes damage to membrane phospholipids, and is a significant mechanism of cardiac I/R injury. Molecular dissection of sarcolemmal damage in I/R, however, has been difficult to address experimentally. We studied here cardiac I/R injury under conditions targeting gain- or loss-of sarcolemma integrity. To implement gain-in-sarcolemma integrity during I/R, synthetic copolymer-based sarcolemmal stabilizers (CSS), including Poloxamer 188 (P188), were used as a tool to directly stabilize the sarcolemma. Consistent with the hypothesis of sarcolemmal stabilization, cellular markers of necrosis and apoptosis evident in untreated myocytes were fully blocked in sarcolemma stabilized myocytes. Unexpectedly, sarcolemmal stabilization of adult cardiac myocytes did not affect the status of myocyte-generated oxidants or lipid peroxidation in two independent assays. We also investigated the loss of sarcolemmal integrity using two independent genetic mouse models, dystrophin-deficient mdx or dysferlin knockout (Dysf KO) mice. Both models of sarcolemmal loss-of-function were severely affected by I/R injury ex vivo, and this was lessened by CSS. In vivo studies also showed that infarct size was significantly reduced in CSS-treated hearts. Mechanistically, these findings support a model whereby I/R-mediated increased myocyte oxidative stress is uncoupled from myocyte injury. Because the sarcolemma stabilizers used here do not transit across the myocyte membrane this is evidence that intracellular targets of oxidants are not sufficiently altered to affect cell death when sarcolemma integrity is preserved by synthetic stabilizers. These findings, in turn, suggest that sarcolemma destabilization, and consequent Ca(2+) mishandling, as a focal initiating mechanism underlying myocardial I/R injury.

Adsorption, structural alteration and elution of peptides at pendant PEO layers

An experimentally based, quantitative understanding of the entrapment and function of small peptides within PEO brush layers does not currently exist. Earlier work provided a rationale for expecting that an ordered, compact peptide will enter the PEO phase more readily than a peptide of similar size that adopts a less ordered, less compact form, and that amphiphilicity will promote peptide retention within the hydrophobic region of the PEO brush. Here we more deliberately describe criteria for peptide integration and structural change within the PEO brush, and discuss the reversibility of peptide entrapment with changing solvent conditions. For this purpose, circular dichroism (CD) was used to record the adsorption and conformational changes of (amphiphilic) WLBU2 and (non-amphiphilic) polyarginine peptides at uncoated (hydrophobic) and PEO-coated silica nanoparticles. Peptide conformation was controlled between disordered and α-helical forms by varying the concentration of perchlorate ion. We show an initially more ordered (α-helical) structure promotes peptide adsorption into the PEO layer. Further, a partially helical peptide undergoes an increase in helicity after entry, likely due to concomitant loss of capacity for peptide-solvent hydrogen bonding. Peptide interaction with the PEO chains resulted in entrapment and conformational change that was irreversible to elution with changing solution conditions in the case of the amphiphilic peptide. In contrast, the adsorption and conformational change of the non-amphiphilic peptide was reversible. These results indicate that responsive drug delivery systems based on peptide-loaded PEO layers can be controlled by modulation of solution conditions and peptide amphiphilicity.

Carbon nanotubes for delivery of small molecule drugs

In the realm of drug delivery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained tremendous attention as promising nanocarriers, owing to their distinct characteristics, such as high surface area, enhanced cellular uptake and the possibility to be easily conjugated with many therapeutics, including both small molecules and biologics, displaying superior efficacy, enhanced specificity and diminished side effects. While most CNT-based drug delivery system (DDS) had been engineered to combat cancers, there are also emerging reports that employ CNTs as either the main carrier or adjunct material for the delivery of various non-anticancer drugs. In this review, the delivery of small molecule drugs is expounded, with special attention paid to the current progress of in vitro and in vivo research involving CNT-based DDSs, before finally concluding with some consideration on inevitable complications that hamper successful disease intervention with CNTs.

Role of integrated cancer nanomedicine in overcoming drug resistance

Cancer remains a major killer of mankind. Failure of conventional chemotherapy has resulted in recurrence and development of virulent multi drug resistant (MDR) phenotypes adding to the complexity and diversity of this deadly disease. Apart from displaying classical physiological abnormalities and aberrant blood flow behavior, MDR cancers exhibit several distinctive features such as higher apoptotic threshold, aerobic glycolysis, regions of hypoxia, and elevated activity of drug-efflux transporters. MDR transporters play a pivotal role in protecting the cancer stem cells (CSCs) from chemotherapy. It is speculated that CSCs are instrumental in reviving tumors after the chemo and radiotherapy. In this regard, multifunctional nanoparticles that can integrate various key components such as drugs, genes, imaging agents and targeting ligands using unique delivery platforms would be more efficient in treating MDR cancers. This review presents some of the important principles involved in development of MDR and novel methods of treating cancers using multifunctional-targeted nanoparticles. Illustrative examples of nanoparticles engineered for drug/gene combination delivery and stimuli responsive nanoparticle systems for cancer therapy are also discussed.

Diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathies

Mitochondria are ubiquitous organelles and play crucial roles in vital functions, most importantly, the oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction can affect multiple tissues, with muscle and nerve preferentially affected. Mitochondrial myopathy is a common clinical phenotype, which is characterized by early fatigue and/or fixed muscle weakness; rhabdomyolysis can seldom occur. Muscle biopsy often identifies signs of diseased mitochondria by morphological studies, while biochemical analysis may identify respiratory chain deficiencies. The clinical, morphological and biochemical data guide molecular analysis. Being the mitochondrial function under the control of both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA, the search for mitochondrial DNA mutations and mitochondrial DNA quantitation, may not be sufficient for the molecular diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathies. Approximately 1500 nuclear genes can affect mitochondrial structure and function and the targeting of such genes may be necessary to reach the diagnosis. The identification of causative molecular defects in nuclear or mitochondrial genome leads to the definite diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy.

Polymeric micelles based on poly(methacrylic acid) block-containing copolymers with different membrane destabilizing properties for cellular drug delivery

Poly(methacrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) are double hydrophilic block copolymers, which are able to form micelles by complexation with a counter-polycation, such as poly-l-lysine. A study was carried out on the ability of the copolymers to interact with model membranes as a function of their molecular weights and as a function of pH. Different behaviors were observed: high molecular weight copolymers respect the membrane integrity, whereas low molecular weight copolymers with a well-chosen asymmetry degree can induce a membrane alteration. Hence by choosing the appropriate molecular weight, micelles with distinct membrane interaction behaviors can be obtained leading to different intracellular traffics with or without endosomal escape, making them interesting tools for cell engineering. Especially micelles constituted of low molecular weight copolymers could exhibit the endosomal escape property, which opens vast therapeutic applications. Moreover micelles possess a homogeneous nanometric size and show variable properties of disassembly at acidic pH, of stability in physiological conditions, and finally of cyto-tolerance.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of floating tablets of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyethylene oxide using ranitidine hydrochloride as a model drug

The present study was carried out with an objective of preparation and in vitro evaluation of floating tablets of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) using ranitidine hydrochloride as a model drug. The floating tablets were based on effervescent approach using sodium bicarbonate a gas generating agent. The tablets were prepared by dry granulation method. The effect of polymers concentration and viscosity grades of HPMC on drug release profile was evaluated. The effect of sodium bicarbonate and stearic acid on drug release profile and floating properties were also investigated. The result of in vitro dissolution study showed that the drug release profile could be sustained by increasing the concentration of HPMC K15MCR and Polyox WSR303. The formulation containing HPMC K15MCR and Polyox WSR303 at the concentration of 13.88% showed 91.2% drug release at the end of 24 hours. Changing the viscosity grade of HPMC from K15MCR to K100MCR had no significant effect on drug release profile. Sodium bicarbonate and stearic acid in combination showed no significant effect on drug release profile. The formulations containing sodium bicarbonate 20 mg per tablet showed desired buoyancy (floating lag time of about 2 minutes and total floating time of >24 hours). The present study shows that polymers like HPMC K15MCR and Polyox WSR303 in combination with sodium bicarbonate as a gas generating agent can be used to develop sustained release floating tablets of ranitidine hydrochloride.

A novel POLG gene mutation in a patient with SANDO

The human mitochondrial genome is replicated by DNA polymerase γ, which is encoded by polymerase γ gene (POLG1) on chromosome 15q25. Patients with POLG1 mutations usually present as Alpers' syndrome or progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Our patient was a 48-year old woman with sensory ataxic neuropathy, dysarthria, ophthalmoplegia, and dysphagia. Sequence analysis revealed that she has two heterozygous missense mutations in the POLG1, a c.1774C>T substitution in exon 10, which results in a p.L591F amino acid change; and a c.3286C>T substitution in exon 21, which results in a p.R1096C amino acid change. The 1774C>T substitution is a novel mutation. Previously described adult patients with one mutation in exon 10 and the other in exon 21 of POLG1 had presented with progressive external ophthalmoplegia. We now describe a patient with mutations in the same exons but suffering from the more complex clinical syndrome of sensory ataxic neuropathy, dysarthria, ophthalmoplegia.