In vitro study of drug loading on polymer-free oxide films of metallic implants

Electrohydrodynamic Jetting Behaviour of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Nanocomposite

In this paper, we investigate in detail the electrohydrodynamic spraying of a nonbiodegradable nanocomposite polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane polymer developed in our laboratories and currently being explored for coating metallic stent materials. Different concentrations of the polymer have been dissolved to prepare, characterise, and electrohydrodynamically deposit the polymer on stainless steel. From the experiments, the solution containing 15 wt% polymer was selected for further investigation. The variation of film/ coating thickness as a function of spraying time was studied and the structural features of the film were assessed using microscopy. Films were also tensile tested. This study has identified a process and conditions which can be used in our stent coating research.

Mechanism of degradation of AgCL coating on biopotential sensors

AgCl coated Ag foil has been widely used as the biopotential sensor to diagnose problems of the human heart. Evidence shows that quality of AgCl on the electrode could experience degradation during the process of long-term monitoring for irregular activities of the heart. To study the degradation of AgCl/Ag electrode, new and used electrodes were collected. Electrochemical tests such as open-circuit potential (OCP), cathodic stripping, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray mapping of elemental distribution were applied to understand the electrochemical properties of the sensors during the progress of degradation. Results revealed that OCP values shift from positive potential of new sensor to negative potential of used sensor (OCP(new): +30 mV; OCP(used): -300 mV, p < 0.05) and a significant difference in impedance (Impedance(new): 3000 Omega; Impedance(used): 1 MOmega, p < 0.05). Ratio of the average AgCl thickness on good and bad eletrocardiographic (ECG or EKG) electrodes is 4.83 (p < 0.05). Simulated degradation by exposing the biosensor to deaerated sweat solution and by cathodic stripping of AgCl proposed that the degradation occurs by cathodic reduction of AgCl due to the presence of hydrogen ions in the low pH value of human sweat under deaerated condition.

Local delivery system of immune modulating drug for unresectable adenocarcinoma: in vitro experimental study and in vivo animal study

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a developed drug delivery system containing OK-432 through in vitro and animal study. An OK-432-impregnated polycarbonate/polyurethane stent membrane was used to develop a drug delivery system (DDS) enabling the locoregional release of OK-432. Polyethyleneglycol was used as a detergent and porosity generator. The stability of OK-432 in solvent, releasing kinetics of drug, and cytotoxicity of the DDS were evaluated. OK-432-impregnated DDS was implanted in mice in which a human adenocarcinoma cell line was injected and grown in their back. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for quantifying the amount of drug. OK-432 exposed to phosphate-buffered saline and OK-432 exposed to N,N-dimethylacetamide showed similar results on dot graphs and histograms. However, OK-432 exposed to tetrahydrofurane showed different dot graphs and histograms, which means that the antigenicity of the drug was changed. The release rate of OK-432 was maintained at a constant level for 6 weeks. The local delivery of OK-432 was found to have an antitumor effect on a human adenocarcinoma cell line in an animal study, but no effect on this cell line in in vitro cell culture. Histologic examination showed minimal inflammatory reaction in surrounding tissue. Our study shows that local treatment using this OK-432 release system is safe and effective in reducing adenocarcinoma in a mouse model.