Disease evolution and risk-based disease trajectories in congestive heart failure patients

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is among the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, and is commonly associated with comorbidities and complex health conditions. Consequently, CHF patients are typically hospitalized frequently, and are at a high risk of premature death. Early detection of an envisaged patient disease trajectory is crucial for precision medicine. However, despite the abundance of patient-level data, cardiologists currently struggle to identify disease trajectories and track the evolution patterns of the disease over time, especially in small groups of patients with specific disease subtypes. The present study proposed a five-step method that allows clustering CHF patients, detecting cluster similarity, and identifying disease trajectories, and promises to overcome the existing difficulties. This work is based on a rich dataset of patients' records spanning ten years of hospital visits. The dataset contains all the health information documented in the hospital during each visit, including diagnoses, lab results, clinical data, and demographics. It utilizes an innovative Cluster Evolution Analysis (CEA) method to analyze the complex CHF population where each subject is potentially associated with numerous variables. We have defined sub-groups for mortality risk levels, which we used to characterize patients' disease evolution by refined data clustering in three points in time over ten years, and generating patients' migration patterns across periods. The results elicited 18, 23, and 25 clusters respective to the first, second, and third visits, uncovering clinically interesting small sub-groups of patients. In the following post-processing stage, we identified meaningful patterns. The analysis yielded fine-grained patient clusters divided into several finite risk levels, including several small-sized groups of high-risk patients. Significantly, the analysis also yielded longitudinal patterns where patients' risk levels changed over time. Four types of disease trajectories were identified: decline, preserved state, improvement, and mixed-progress. This stage is a unique contribution of the work. The resulting fine partitioning and longitudinal insights promise to significantly assist cardiologists in tailoring personalized interventions to improve care quality. Cardiologists could utilize these results to glean previously undetected relationships between symptoms and disease evolution that would allow a more informed clinical decision-making and effective interventions.

Immobilized random peptide mixtures exhibit broad antimicrobial activity with high selectivity

In the current study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of randomly-sequenced peptide mixtures (RPMs) bearing hydrophobic and cationic residues that were immobilized on beads. We showed that these beads exhibit high and broad bactericidal activity against various pathogenic bacteria while possessing minimal hemolytic activity.

Combining micelle-clay sorption to solar photo-Fenton processes for domestic wastewater treatment

A tertiary treatment of effluent from a biological domestic wastewater treatment plant was tested by combining filtration and solar photocatalysis. Adsorption was carried out by a sequence of two column filters, the first one filled with granular activated carbon (GAC) and the second one with granulated nano-composite of micelle-montmorillonite mixed with sand (20:100, w/w). The applied solar advanced oxidation process was homogeneous photo-Fenton photocatalysis using peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidant agent. This combination of simple, robust, and low-cost technologies aimed to ensure water disinfection and emerging contaminants (ECs, mainly pharmaceuticals) removal. The filtration step showed good performances in removing dissolved organic matter and practically removing all bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis from the secondary treated water. Solar advanced oxidation processes were efficient in elimination of trace levels of ECs. The final effluent presented an improved sanitary level with acceptable chemical and biological characteristics for irrigation.

Removal of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins from lake water by composites of bentonite with micelles of the cation octadecyltrimethyl ammonium (ODTMA)

Cyanobacteria and their toxins present potential hazard to consumers of water from lakes, reservoirs and rivers, thus their removal via water treatment is essential. The capacity of nano-composites of Octadecyltrimethyl-ammonium (ODTMA) complexed with clay to remove cyanobacterial and their toxins from laboratory cultures and from lake water, was evaluated. Column filters packed with micelles of ODTMA complexed with bentonite and granulated were shown to significantly reduce the number of cyanobacteria cells or filaments and their corresponding toxins from laboratory cultures. Fluorescence measurements demonstrated that cyanobacteria cells lost their metabolic activity (photosynthesis) upon exposure to the micelle (ODTMA)-bentonite complex, or ODTMA monomers. The complex efficiently removed cyanobacteria toxins with an exceptional high removal rate of microcystins. The effectiveness of the complex in elimination of cyanobacteria was further demonstrated with lake water containing cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton species. These results and model calculations suggest that filters packed with granulated composites can secure the safety of drinking water in case of a temporary bloom event of toxic cyanobacteria.

Combined adsorption and degradation of the off-flavor compound 2-methylisoborneol in sludge derived from a recirculating aquaculture system

Off-flavor in fish poses a serious threat for the aquaculture industry. In the present study, removal of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), an off-flavor causing compound, was found to be mediated by adsorption and bacterial degradation in sludge derived from an aquaculture system. A numerical model was developed which augmented Langmuir equations of kinetics of adsorption/desorption of MIB with first order degradation kinetics. When laboratory-scale reactors, containing sludge from the aquaculture system, were operated in a recirculating mode, MIB in solution was depleted to undetectable levels within 6 days in reactors with untreated sludge, while its depletion was incomplete in reactors with sterilized sludge. When operated in an open flow mode, removal of MIB was significantly faster in reactors with untreated sludge. Efficient MIB removal was evident under various conditions, including ambient MIB levels, flow velocities and sludge loads. When operated in an open flow mode, the model successfully predicted steady MIB removal rates with time. During steady state conditions, most of the MIB removal was found to be due to microbial degradation of the adsorbed MIB. Findings obtained in this study can be used in the design of reactors for removal of off-flavor compounds from recirculating aquaculture systems.

Paracetamol biodegradation by activated sludge and photocatalysis and its removal by a micelle-clay complex, activated charcoal, and reverse osmosis membranes

Kinetic studies on the stability of the pain killer paracetamol in Al-Quds activated sludge demonstrated that paracetamol underwent biodegradation within less than one month to furnish p-aminophenol in high yields. Characterizations of bacteria contained in Al-Quds sludge were accomplished. It was found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the bacterium most responsible for the biodegradation of paracetamol to p-aminophenol and hydroquinone. Batch adsorptions of paracetamol and its biodegradation product (p-aminophenol) by activated charcoal and a composite micelle (octadecyltrimethylammonium)-clay (montmorillonite) were determined at 25°C. Adsorption was adequately described by a Langmuir isotherm, and indicated better efficiency of removal by the micelle-clay complex. The ability of bench top reverse osmosis (RO) plant as well as advanced membrane pilot plant to remove paracetamol was also studied at different water matrixes to test the effect of organic matter composition. The results showed that at least 90% rejection was obtained by both plants. In addition, removal of paracetamol from RO brine was investigated by using photocatalytic processes; optimal conditions were found to be acidic or basic pH, in which paracetamol degraded in less than 5 min. Toxicity studies indicated that the effluent and brine were not toxic except for using extra low energy membrane which displayed a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC-50) value of 80%.

Removal of amoxicillin and cefuroxime axetil by advanced membranes technology, activated carbon and micelle-clay complex

Two antibacterials, amoxicillin trihydrate and cefuroxime axetil spiked into wastewater were completely removed by sequential wastewater treatment plant's membranes, which included activated sludge, ultrafiltration (hollow fibre and spiral wound membranes with 100 and 20 kDa cut-offs), activated carbon column and reverse osmosis. Adsorption isotherms in synthetic water which employed activated carbon and micelle-clay complex (octadecyltrimethylammonium-montmorillonite) as adsorbents fitted the Langmuir equation. Qmax of 100 and 90.9 mg g(-1), and K values of 0.158 and 0.229 L mg(-1) were obtained for amoxicillin trihydrate using activated carbon and micelle-clay complex, respectively. Filtration of antibacterials in the ppm range, which yielded variable degrees of removal depending on the volumes passed and flow rates, was simulated and capacities for the ppb range were estimated. Stability study in pure water and wastewater revealed that amoxicillin was totally stable for one month when kept at 37°C, whereas cefuroxime axetil underwent slow hydrolysis to cefuroxime.

Stability and removal of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin from wastewater

Atorvastatin (ATO), rosuvastatin (RST) and simvastatin (SIM) are commonly used drugs that belong to the statin family (lowering human blood cholesterol levels) and have been detected as contaminants in natural waters. Stability and removal of ATO, RST and SIM from spiked wastewater produced at the Al-Quds University campus were investigated. All three statins were found to undergo degradation in wastewater (activated sludge). The degradation reactions of the three drugs in wastewater at room temperature follow first-order kinetics with rate constants of 2.2 × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ (ATO), 1.8 × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ (RST) and 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ s⁻¹ (SIM), which are larger than those obtained in pure water under the same conditions, 1.9 × 10⁻⁸ s⁻¹ (ATO), 2.2 × 10⁻⁸ s⁻¹ (RST) and 6.2 × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ (SIM). Degradation products were identified by LC-MS and LC/MS/MS. The overall performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed in the Al-Quds University campus towards the removal of these drugs was assessed showing that more than 90% of spiked ATO, RST and SIM were removed. In order to evaluate the efficiency of alternative removal methods to replace ultra-filtration membranes, adsorption isotherms for the three statins were investigated using both activated carbon and clay-micelle complex as adsorbents. The batch adsorption isotherms for the three statins were found to fit the Langmuir equation, with a larger number of adsorption sites and binding affinity for micelle-clay composite compared with activated carbon and filtration experiments of the three statins and their corresponding metabolites demonstrated a more efficient removal by micelle-clay filters.

Filtration of triazine herbicides by polymer-clay sorbents: coupling an experimental mechanistic approach with empirical modeling

Triazine herbicides detected in surface and groundwater pose environmental and health risks. Removal of triazine herbicides (simazine, atrazine and terbuthylazine) by polymer-clay composites was studied and modeled. Their binding by a poly 4-vinyl pyridine co styrene-montmorillonite (HPVP-CoS-MMT) composite was especially high due to specific interactions between the herbicides and polymer, mainly hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking. The binding kinetics to the composite was in the order of simazine > atrazine > terbuthylazine, which was in accord with their equilibrium Langmuir binding coefficients; 44,000, 17,500 and 16,500 M(-1), respectively, which correlated with herbicide accessibility to form specific interaction with the polymer. Simazine binding kinetics to the composite was significantly faster than to granulated activated carbon (GAC), reaching 93% vs 38% of the maximal adsorption within 10 min, respectively. Herbicide filtration by composite columns was adequately fitted by a model which considers convection and employs Langmuir formalism for kinetics of adsorption/desorption. Filtration of simazine (10 μg L(-1)) by composite columns (40 cm long, which included 26 g composite mixed with sand 1:40 (weight ratio)), was well predicted by the model with nearly 120 L purified, i.e., effluent concentrations were below regulation limit (3 μg L(-1)). Effluent concentrations from GAC columns exceeded the limit after filtering 5 L. Experimental results and model predictions suggest that while GAC has a high capacity for simazine binding, the composite has higher affinity towards the herbicide and its adsorption is faster, which yields more efficient filtration by composite columns.

Stability and removal of spironolactone from wastewater

Stability and removal of spironolactone (SP) from wastewater produced at Al-Quds University Campus were investigated. Kinetic studies on both pure water and wastewater coming from secondary treatment (activated sludge) demonstrated that the potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill), spironolactone, underwent degradation to its hydrolytic derivative, canrenone, in both media. The first-order hydrolysis rate of SP in activated sludge at 25°C (3.80 × 10(-5) s(-1)) was about 49-fold larger than in pure water (7.4 × 10(-7) s(-1)). The overall performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed in the University Campus was assessed showing that more than 90% of spiked SP was removed together with its newly identified metabolites. In order to look for a technology to supplement or replace ultra-filtration membranes, the effectiveness of adsorption and filtration by micelle-clay filters for removing SP was tested in comparison with activated charcoal. Batch adsorption in aqueous suspensions was well described by Langmuir isotherms, showing a better removal by the micelle-clay material. Filtration of SP water solutions by columns filled with a mixture of sand and a micelle-clay complex showed complete removal of the drug at concentrations higher than in sand/activated-charcoal filled filters.

Removal of waterborne microorganisms by filtration using clay-polymer complexes

Clay-polymer composites were designed for use in filtration processes for disinfection during the course of water purification. The composites were formed by sorption of polymers based on starch modified with quaternary ammonium ethers onto the negatively charged clay mineral bentonite. The performance of the clay-polymer complexes in removal of bacteria was strongly dependent on the conformation adopted by the polycation on the clay surface, the charge density of the polycation itself and the ratio between the concentrations of clay and polymer used during the sorption process. The antimicrobial effect exerted by the clay-polymer system was due to the cationic monomers adsorbed on the clay surface, which resulted in a positive surface potential of the complexes and charge reversal. Clay-polymer complexes were more toxic to bacteria than the polymers alone. Filtration employing our optimal clay-polymer composite yielded 100% removal of bacteria after the passage of 3L, whereas an equivalent filter with granular activated carbon (GAC) hardly yielded removal of bacteria after 0.5L. Regeneration of clay-polymer complexes saturated with bacteria was demonstrated. Modeling of the filtration processes permitted to optimize the design of filters and estimation of experimental conditions for purifying large water volumes in short periods.

Stability and removal of dexamethasone sodium phosphate from wastewater using modified clays

Stability and removal of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) from wastewater produced at Al-Quds University Campus were investigated. Kinetic studies in both pure water and wastewater coming from secondary treatment (activated sludge) demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory DSP underwent degradation to its hydrolytic derivative, dexamethasone, in both media. The first-order hydrolysis rate of DSP in activated sludge at 25 degrees C (3.80 x 10(-6) s-1) was about 12-fold larger than in pure water (3.25 x 10(-7) s-1). The overall performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed in the University Campus was also assessed showing that 90% of spiked DSP was removed together with its newly identified metabolites by the ultra-filtration (UF) system, which consists of a UF hollow fibre (HF) with a 100-kDa cutoff membrane as the pre-polishing stage for the UF spiral wound with a 20-kDa cutoffmembrane. In testing other technologies, the effectiveness of adsorption and filtration by micelle-clay (MC) preparation for removing DSP was ascertained in comparison with activated charcoal. Batch adsorption in aqueous suspensions of the MC composite and activated carbon was well described by Langmuir isotherms showing the best results for MC material. Filtration of DSP water solutions demonstrated a significant advantage of columns filled in with a mixture of sand and MC complex in comparison with activated carbon/sand filters.

Factors affecting the design of slow release formulations of herbicides based on clay-surfactant systems. A methodological approach

A search for clay-surfactant based formulations with high percentage of the active ingredient, which can yield slow release of active molecules is described. The active ingredients were the herbicides metribuzin (MZ), mesotrione (MS) and flurtamone (FL), whose solubilities were examined in the presence of four commercial surfactants; (i) neutral: two berols (B048, B266) and an alkylpolyglucoside (AG6202); (ii) cationic: an ethoxylated amine (ET/15). Significant percent of active ingredient (a.i.) in the clay/surfactant/herbicide formulations could be achieved only when most of the surfactant was added as micelles. MZ and FL were well solubilized by berols, whereas MS by ET/15. Sorption of surfactants on the clay mineral sepiolite occurred mostly by sorption of micelles, and the loadings exceeded the CEC. Higher loadings were determined for B266 and ET/15. The sorption of surfactants was modeled by using the Langmuir-Scatchard equation which permitted the determination of binding coefficients that could be used for further predictions of the sorbed amounts of surfactants under a wide range of clay/surfactant ratios. A possibility was tested of designing clay-surfactant based formulations of certain herbicides by assuming the same ratio between herbicides and surfactants in the formulations as for herbicides incorporated in micelles in solution. Calculations indicated that satisfactory FL formulations could not be synthesized. The experimental fractions of herbicides in the formulations were in agreement with the predicted ones for MS and MZ. The validity of this approach was confirmed in in vitro release tests that showed a slowing down of the release of a.i. from the designed formulations relative to the technical products. Soil dissipation studies with MS formulations also showed improved bioactivity of the clay-surfactant formulation relative to the commercial one. This methodological approach can be extended to other clay-surfactant systems for encapsulation and slow release of target molecules of interest.

Efficiency of advanced wastewater treatment plant system and laboratory-scale micelle-clay filtration for the removal of ibuprofen residues

The efficiency of Al-Quds Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), which includes sequential elements as activated sludge, ultrafiltration, activated carbon column and reverse osmosis, to remove spiked ibuprofen, a non steroid anti inflammatory drug (NSAID), was investigated. Kinetic studies in pure water and in the activated sludge indicated that the drug was stable during one month of observation. Besides, the overall performance of the integrated plant showed complete removal of ibuprofen from wastewater. Activated carbon column, which was the last element in the sequence before the reverse osmosis system, yielded 95.7% removal of ibuprofen. Batch adsorptions of the drug by using either activated charcoal or composite micelle-clay system were determined at 25°C and well described by Langmuir isotherms. Octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) bromide and montmorillonite were used to prepare the micelle-clay adsorbent, for which the adsorption kinetics are much faster than activated charcoal. Results suggest that integrating clay-micelle complex filters within the existing WWTP may be promising in improving removal efficiency of the NSAID.

Efficiency of membrane technology, activated charcoal, and a micelle-clay complex for removal of the acidic pharmaceutical mefenamic acid

The efficiency of sequential advanced membrane technology wastewater treatment plant towards removal of a widely used non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) mefenamic acid was investigated. The sequential system included activated sludge, ultrafiltration by hollow fibre membranes with 100 kDa cutoff, and spiral wound membranes with 20 kDa cutoff, activated carbon and a reverse osmosis (RO) unit. The performance of the integrated plant showed complete removal of mefenamic acid from spiked wastewater samples. The activated carbon column was the most effective component in removing mefenamic acid with a removal efficiency of 97.2%. Stability study of mefenamic acid in pure water and Al-Quds activated sludge revealed that the anti-inflammatory drug was resistant to degradation in both environments. Batch adsorption of mefenamic acid by activated charcoal and a composite micelle (otadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA)-clay (montmorillonite) was determined at 25.0°C. Langmuir isotherm was found to fit the data with Qmax of 90.9 mg g(-1) and 100.0 mg g(-1) for activated carbon and micelle-clay complex, respectively. Filtration experiment by micelle-clay columns mixed with sand in the mg L(-1) range revealed complete removal of the drug with much larger capacity than activated carbon column. The combined results demonstrated that an integration of a micelle-clay column in the plant system has a good potential to improve the removal efficiency of the plant towards NSAID drugs such as mefenamic acid.

Removal of diclofenac potassium from wastewater using clay-micelle complex

The presence of an ionized carboxyl group in the widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug diclofenac potassium results in a high mobility of diclofenac and in its low sorption under conditions of slow sand filtration or subsoil passage. No diclofenac degradation was detected in pure water or sludge during one month. Tertiary treatments of wastewater indicated that the effective removal of diclofenac was by reverse osmosis, but the removal by activated carbon was less satisfactory. This study presents an efficient method for the removal of diclofenac from water by micelle-clay composites that are positively charged, have a large surface area and include large hydrophobic domains. Adsorption of diclofenac in dispersion by charcoal and a composite micelle (otadecyltrimethylammonium [ODTMA] and clay [montmorillonite]) was investigated. Analysis by the Langmuir isotherm revealed that charcoal had a somewhat larger number of adsorption sites than the composite, but the latter had a significantly larger binding affinity for diclofenac. Filtration experiments on a solution containing 300 ppm diclofenac demonstrated poor removal by activated carbon, in contrast to very efficient removal by micelle-clay filters. In the latter case the weight of removed diclofenac exceeded half that of ODTMA in the filter. Filtration of diclofenac solutions at concentrations of 8 and 80 ppb yielded almost complete removal at flow rates of 30 and 60 mL min(-1). One kilogram of ODTMA in the micelle-clay filter has been estimated to remove more than 99% of diclofenac from a solution of 100 ppb during passage of more than 100 m3.

Distinct mechanisms of lipid bilayer perturbation induced by peptides derived from the membrane-proximal external region of HIV-1 gp41

The conserved, membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 envelope glycoprotein 41 subunit is required for fusogenic activity. It has been proposed that MPER functions by disrupting the virion membrane. Supporting its critical role in viral entry as a membrane-bound entity, MPER constitutes the target for broadly neutralizing antibodies that have evolved mechanisms to recognize membrane-inserted epitopes. We have analyzed here the molecular mechanisms of membrane permeabilization induced by N-preTM and PreTM-C, two peptides derived from MPER sequences showing a tendency to associate with the bilayer interface or to transfer into the hydrocarbon core, respectively. Both peptides contained the full epitope sequence recognized by the 4E10 monoclonal antibody (MAb4E10), which was subsequently used to probe peptide accessibility from the water phase. Capacities of N-preTM and PreTM-C for associating with vesicles and inducing their permeabilization were comparable. However, MAb4E10 specifically blocked the permeabilization induced by N-preTM but did not appreciably affect that induced by PreTM-C. Supporting the existence of different membrane-bound lytic structures, N-preTM was running as a monomer on SDS-PAGE and induced the graded release of vesicular contents, whereas PreTM-C migrated on SDS-PAGE as dimers and permeabilized vesicles following an all-or-none mechanism, reminiscent of that underlying melittin-induced membrane lysis. These results support the functional segmentation of gp41 membrane regions into hydrophobic subdomains, which might expose neutralizing epitopes and induce membrane-disrupting effects following distinct patterns during the fusion cascade.

Atrazine removal from water by polycation-clay composites: effect of dissolved organic matter and comparison to activated carbon

Atrazine removal from water by two polycations pre-adsorbed on montmorillonite was studied. Batch experiments demonstrated that the most suitable composite poly (4-vinylpyridine-co-styrene)-montmorillonite (PVP-co-S90%-mont.) removed 90-99% of atrazine (0.5-28 ppm) within 20-40 min at 0.367% w/w. Calculations employing Langmuir's equation could simulate and predict the kinetics and final extents of atrazine adsorption. Column filter experiments (columns 20x1.6 cm) which included 2g of the PVP-co-S90%-mont. composite mixed with excess sand removed 93-96% of atrazine (800 ppb) for the first 800 pore volumes, whereas the same amount of granular activated carbon (GAC) removed 83-75%. In the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM; 3.7 ppm) the efficiency of the GAC filter to remove atrazine decreased significantly (68-52% removal), whereas the corresponding efficiency of the PVP-co-S90%-mont. filter was only slightly influenced by DOM. At lower atrazine concentration (7 ppb) the PVP-co-S90%-mont. filter reduced even after 3000 pore volumes the emerging atrazine concentration below 3 ppb (USEPA standard). In the case of the GAC filter the emerging atrazine concentration was between 2.4 and 5.3 microg/L even for the first 100 pore volumes. Thus, the PVP-co-S90%-mont. composite is a new efficient material for the removal of atrazine from water.

Environmentally friendly formulations of alachlor and atrazine: preparation, characterization, and reduced leaching

Atrazine and alachlor formulations were designed by encapsulating the herbicide molecules into phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles, which subsequently were adsorbed on montmorillonite. PC and montmorillonite are classified as substances of minimal toxicological risk by the U.S. EPA. PC enhanced alachlor and atrazine solubilities by 15- and 18-fold, respectively. A 6 mM PC:5 g/L clay ratio was found as optimal for PC adsorption on the clay. Active ingredient contents of the PC-clay formulations ranged up to 8.6% for atrazine and 39.5% for alachlor. Infrared spectroscopy showed hydrophobic interactions of herbicide molecules with the alkyl chains of PC, in addition to hydrophilic interactions with the PC headgroup. Release experiments in a sandy soil showed a slower rate from the PC-clay formulations than the commercial ones. Soil column experiments under moderate irrigation and bioactivity experiments indicate that a reduction in the recommended dose of alachlor and atrazine can be accomplished by using PC-clay formulations.

Environmentally friendly slow release formulations of alachlor based on clay-phosphatidylcholine

A new clay-liposome complex was developed for reducing leaching of herbicides and contamination of groundwater. The liposomes were composed of the neutral and Environmental Protection Agency approved phospholipid phosphatidylcholine (PC). Adsorption of PC liposomes on the clay mineral montmorillonite could exceed the cation exchange capacity of the clay, and was well simulated by the Langmuir equation. X-ray diffraction results for 6 mM PC and 1.6 g/L clay (3 day incubation) yielded a basal spacing of 7.49 nm, which was interpreted as the formation of a supported planar bilayer on montmorillonite platelets. Fluorescence methods demonstrated structural changes which reflected adsorption of PC followed by loss of vesicle integrity as measured by the penetration of dithionite into the internal monolayer of fluorescently labeled liposomes, resulting in a decrease in fluorescence intensity to 18% of initial after 4 h. Energy transfer was demonstrated after 1 h from labeled liposomes to montmorillonite labeled by an acceptor. The neutral herbicide alachlor adsorbed on the liposome-clay complex, yielding a formulation of up to 40% active ingredient, and 1.6-fold reduction in herbicide release in comparison to the commercial formulation. Hence, the PC-montmorillonite complex can form a basis for environmentally friendly formulations of herbicides, which would yield reduced leaching.

Water remediation by micelle-clay system: case study for tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics

Removal of tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics from water by micelles pre-adsorbed on montmorillonite was studied. Micelles of benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (BDMHDA) were used. Batch experiments demonstrated that the micelle-clay complexes (1% w/w) removed 96-99.9% of antibiotics from their water solutions containing from 5 to 50 mg/L of pharmaceuticals. Column filters (25 cm) made of a mixture of quartz sand and BDMHDA micelle-clay complex at 100:1 w/w ratio removed 94-99.9% of above pharmaceuticals from initial solutions containing 10mg/L and 89% of sulfamethizole from an initial solution containing 10 microg/L of this antibiotic. These filters were also very efficient in the removal of antibiotics in the presence of dissolved soil organic matter removing 89-99% of tetracycline and sulfamethizol from initial solutions containing 10 mg/L of antibiotic in the presence of 8 mg/L of humic acid, or 9 mg/L of fulvic acid. These data indicate that micelle-clay complexes are very efficient for water purification from tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics.

Water purification from organic pollutants by optimized micelle-clay systems

Removal of anionic pollutants (imazaquin, sulfentrazone, sulfosulfuron) and neutral pollutants (alachlor, acetochlor, chlorotoluron, bromacil) from water by micelles preadsorbed on montmorillonite was studied. Micelles of octadecyltrimethylammonium and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (BDMHDA) were used. The micelle-clay systems (1% w/w) removed 87-99% of the pollutants from their water solutions containing 1-33 mg/L of herbicide. The nature of the headgroup of the organic cation, which forms the micelles, is critical. Desorption of imazaquin and acetochlor from 0.3% (w/w) suspension of BDMHDA-clay complex after 24 h was around 7% in the range of adsorbed amounts from 0.6 to 15.3 mg/g. These results indicate rather slow rates and small extents of release of pollutants from micelle-clay complexes. Column filters (25 cm) made of a mixture of quartz sand and BDMHDA micelle-clay complex at 100:1 w/w ratio removed at least 99% of above pollutants from initial solutions containing 10 mg/L; 99.5 and 97% of sulfosulfuron and alachlor were removed from their initial solutions containing 200 and 5 microg/L, respectively. These data indicate that micelle-clay complexes are very efficient for water purification from organic contaminants.

High resolution electron microscopy structural studies of organo-clay nanocomposites

Engineering of clay nanocomposite materials by modification of their surfaces can enable the control of retention, transport, and persistence of toxic chemicals in the geosystem. The properties and interactions of clay nanocomposites have been widely studied, but little information exists on their microstructure at a range of scale extending down to atomic dimensions. The pairing of Na-montmorillonite clay with organic cations as well as with the herbicide fluridone, chosen as a model for an organic pollutant, was studied. Three organic cations were selected: hexadecyltrimethylammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, and benzyltriethylammonium at 0%, 60%, and 100% of cation exchange capacity (CEC) loadings. A detailed microstructural analysis of the organo-clay nanocomposites and of the fluridone nanocomposites was undertaken by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Morphological observations and chemical analyses were performed simultaneously on the same sample. The combined HRTEM and EDS measurements strongly suggest (a) heterogeneous local intercalation of the organic cations manifested by a range in the measured d001 spacing, implying random expansion of the clay layered structure with increased loading of the organic cations; (b) intercalation within the external layers, which is thoroughly influenced by local defect microstructure and/or edge availability of the montmorillonite nanoparticles as well as by the molecular structure of the intercalating organic cation. Additional intercalation of fluridone molecules did not affect the structure (d001 spacing) of the organo-clay nanocomposites.

Clay-vesicle interactions: fluorescence measurements and structural implications for slow release formulations of herbicides

Clay-vesicle systems exhibit a potential for environmental applications, such as herbicide formulations for reduced leaching. Clay-vesicle interactions were addressed by combining adsorption and XRD measurements with fluorescence studies for didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDOB), and montmorillonite. XRD and adsorption data indicated that the adsorbing vesicles were transformed after 3 days into paraffinic and bilayer structures. Fluorescence studies revealed that adsorption was almost complete within 5 min for a loading below the cation exchange capacity (CEC). Aggregation and sedimentation of clay-surfactant particles occurred within several minutes. Fluorescent measurements of supernatants indicated decomposition of vesicles at a high clay/surfactant ratio due to rapidly adsorbing cationic monomers. The kinetics of energy transfer between vesicles labeled by NBD-PE (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)) and montmorillonite labeled by rhodamine-B follows that of aggregation of surfactant-clay particles and structural changes of the vesicles at times of minutes to hours. Experiments following the reduction of NBD fluorescence by addition of dithionite indicate faster permeabilization of DDOB than DDAB vesicles, which was confirmed by leakage experiments. The faster permeabilization of DDOB vesicles in the presence of clay was correlated with their inferior suitability for the preparation of clay-based formulations of anionic herbicides for slow release.

Determination and modeling of kinetics of cancer cell killing by doxorubicin and doxorubicin encapsulated in targeted liposomes

Various mathematical approaches have been devised to relate the cytotoxic effect of drugs in cell culture to the drug concentration added to the cell culture medium. Such approaches can satisfactorily account for drug response when the drugs are free in solution, but the approach becomes problematic when the drug is delivered in a drug delivery system, such as a liposome. To address this problem, we have developed a simple model that assumes that the cytotoxic potency of a drug is a function of the intracellular drug level in a critical compartment. Upon exposure to drug, cell death commences after a lag time, and the cell kill rate is dependent on the amount of drug in the critical intracellular compartment. The computed number of cells in culture, at any time after exposure to the drug, takes into account the cell proliferation rate, the cell kill rate, the average intracellular drug concentration, and a lag time for cell killing. We have applied this model to compare the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin (DOX), or DOX encapsulated in a liposome that is targeted to CD44 on B16F10 melanoma cells in culture. CD44 is the surface receptor that binds to hyaluronan and is overexpressed on various cancer cells, including B16F10. We have shown previously that the drug encapsulated in hyaluronan-targeted liposomes was more potent than was the free drug. The model required the determination of the cell-associated DOX after the cells were incubated with various concentrations of the free or the encapsulated drug for 3 h, and the quantification of cell number at various times after exposure to the drug. The uptake of encapsulated drug was greater than that of the free drug, and the ratio of cell association of encapsulated:free drug was 1.3 at 0.5 micro g/ml and increased to 3.3 at 20 micro g/ml DOX. The results demonstrate that the enhanced potency of the encapsulated drug could stem from its enhanced uptake. However, in certain cases, where larger amounts of the free drug were added, such that the intracellular amounts of drug exceeded those obtained from the encapsulated drug, the numbers of viable cells were still significantly smaller for the encapsulated drug. This finding demonstrates that for given amounts of intracellular DOX, the encapsulated form was more efficient in killing B16F10 cells than the free drug. The outcome was expressed in the kinetic model as a 5-6-fold larger rate constant of cell killing potency for the encapsulated drug versus the free drug. The model provides a quantitative framework for comparing the cytotoxic effect in cultured cells when applying the drug in the free form or in a delivery system.

Caveolae as an additional route for influenza virus endocytosis in MDCK cells

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis has been described as the primary internalization pathway for many viruses, including the influenza virus. However, caveolae, an alternative clathrin-independent endocytotic pathway, has also been described as mediating the entry of some molecules, including viruses. To address the question of pathway selection by the influenza virus, we have investigated whether the virus is internalized via clathrin-coated pits and/or caveolae in Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. By applying pharmacological manipulations to selectively disrupt the cell internalization pathways, we found that, in MDCK cells, the influenza virus may be internalized via caveolae in addition to entry by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. However, a small contribution by another mode of entry, as recently proposed, cannot be excluded.

A novel system for reducing leaching from formulations of anionic herbicides: clay-liposomes

A new approach was developed for reducing leaching of herbicides and contamination of groundwater. Liposome-clay formulations of the anionic herbicides sulfometuron and sulfosulfuron were designed for slow release by incorporating the herbicide in positively charged vesicles of didodecyldimethylammonium (DDAB), which were adsorbed on the negatively charged clay, montmorillonite. Freeze fracture electron microscopy demonstrated the existence of DDAB vesicles and aggregated structures on external clay surfaces. X-ray diffraction results for DDAB with montmorillonite imply the existence of DDAB bilayers with an oblique orientation to the basal plane within the clay interlayer space at adsorbed amounts beyond the cation exchange capacity of the clay. Adding DDAB with sulfometuron or sulfosulfuron to montmorillonite yielded 95% or 83% adsorption of the herbicide at optimal ratios. Liposome-clay formulations exhibited slow release of the herbicides in water. Analytical measurements in soil columns demonstrated 2-10-fold reduction in leaching of the herbicides from liposome-clay formulations in comparison with commercial formulations. Percents of root growth inhibition of a test plant in the upper soil depths were severalfold higher for the liposome-clay formulations than for the commercial ones. Consequently, liposome-clay formulations of anionic herbicides can solve environmental and economical problems by reducing their leaching.

Mechanisms of membrane permeabilization by picornavirus 2B viroporin

Cell infection by picornaviruses leads to membrane permeabilization. Recent evidence suggests the involvement of the non-structural protein 2B in this process. We have recently reported the detection of 2B porin-like activity in isolated membrane-protein systems that lack other cell components. According to data derived from these model membranes, four self-aggregated 2B monomers (i.e. tetramers) would be sufficient to permeabilize a single lipid vesicle, allowing the free diffusion of solutes under ca. 1000 Da. Our findings also support a role for lipids in protein oligomerization and subsequent pore opening. The lipid dependence of these processes points to negatively charged cytofacial surfaces as 2B cell membrane targets.

Kinetics of influenza virus fusion with the endosomal and plasma membranes of cultured cells. Effect of temperature

We performed a detailed kinetic analysis of influenza virus fusion with the endosomal and plasma membranes of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and provided a comparison of the kinetic parameters obtained for both cases at 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Using our mass action kinetic model, we determined that the fusion rate constant, f, for influenza virus with the endosomal membrane was 0.02 s(-1) at 37 degrees C and 0.0035 s(-1) at 20 degrees C. The analysis of the fusion kinetics of influenza virus with the plasma membrane yielded that the fusion rate constants were close to those deduced with the endosomal membrane. The systematic kinetic analysis performed in this study provides for the first time a biophysical support for studies on influenza virus-cell fusion where the acidic endosomal internal environment is simulated artificially by lowering the pH of the medium.

Sulfentrazone adsorbed on micelle-montmorillonite complexes for slow release in soil

Interactions of the herbicide sulfentrazone with the cationic surfactants octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA), hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA), and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (BDMHDA) have been studied for the design of slow-release formulations based on sulfentrazone adsorbed on a micelle-montmorillonite complex. Adsorbed amounts of sulfentrazone on ODTMA- and BDMHDA-montmorillonite complexes were 99.2-99.8% of that added, and desorption of herbicide in water during 24 h was low. After 10 washings in funnels with soil, only 2.6% of herbicide was released from ODTMA-montmorillonite formulations versus 100% release from the commercial formulation. The strong binding of sulfentrazone to micelles was confirmed by pH and spectroscopic measurements and was explained by the formation of ionic pairs between cationic surfactant and anionic herbicide. The ODTMA-clay and commercial formulations of sulfentrazone yield almost complete and 40% growth inhibition of green foxtail, respectively, at 700 g of active ingredient/ha. Hence, the slow release from micelle-clay formulations of sulfentrazone promotes its biological activity and reduces environmental contamination.

Effects of sphingomyelin on melittin pore formation

The effect of sphingomyelin (SM), one of the main lipids in the external monolayer of erythrocyte plasma membrane, on the ability of the hemolytic peptide melittin to permeabilize liposomes was investigated. The peptide induced contents efflux in large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC)/SM (1:1 mole ratio), at lower (>1:10,000) peptide-to-lipid mole ratios than in pure POPC (>1:1000) or POPC/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPG) (1:1 mole ratio) (>1:300) vesicles. Analysis of the leakage data according to a kinetic model of pore formation showed a good fit for hexameric-octameric pores in SM-containing vesicles, whereas mediocre fits and lower surface aggregation constants were obtained in POPC and POPC/POPG vesicles. Disturbance of lateral separation into solid (s(o)) and liquid-disordered (l(d)) phases in POPC/SM mixtures increased the peptide-dose requirements for leakage. Inclusion of cholesterol (Chol) in POPC/SM mixtures under conditions inducing lateral separation of lipids into liquid-ordered (l(o)) and l(d) phases did not alter the number of melittin peptides required to permeabilize a single vesicle, but increased surface aggregation reversibility. Partitioning into liposomes or insertion into lipid monolayers was not affected by the presence of SM, suggesting that: (i) melittin accumulated at comparable doses in membranes with different SM content, and (ii) differences in leakage were due to promotion of melittin transmembrane pores under coexistence of s(o)-l(d) and l(o)-l(d) phases. Our results support the notion that SM may regulate the stability of size-defined melittin pores in natural membranes.

Sulfosulfuron incorporated in micelles adsorbed on montmorillonite for slow release formulations

Slow release formulations of the anionic herbicide sulfosulfuron (SFS) were prepared by incorporating it in micelles of an organic cation octadecyltrimethylammonium, which adsorb on the clay-mineral montmorillonite. The fraction of SFS adsorbed on the micelle-clay complex reached 98%, whereas for monomer-clay complexes, its adsorption was insignificant. Fluorescence studies showed surface contact between the micelles and the clay surface. The rate of SFS release from the micelle-clay formulations in aqueous suspensions was slow (<1%, 72 h). Spraying SFS formulations on a thin soil layer in a funnel, followed by irrigations (50 mm), resulted in complete elution of SFS from the commercial formulation (dispersible granular) versus 4% from the micelle-clay formulation. A plant bioassay in Rehovot soil showed that these respective formulations yielded 23 and 65% of shoot growth inhibition of foxtail. Consequently, the slow release micelle-clay formulations of SFS yield significantly reduced leaching and enhanced biological activity, thus providing environmental and agricultural advantages.

Imazaquin adsorbed on pillared clay and crystal violet-montmorillonite complexes for reduced leaching in soil

Ground water pollution due to herbicide leaching has become a serious environmental problem. Imazaquin [2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid] is an herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds in legume crops. Imazaquin is negatively charged at the basic pH of calcareous soils and exhibits high leaching potential in soils. Our aim was to design formulation of imazaquin to reduce herbicide leaching. Imazaquin sorption on pillared clay (PC) and crystal violet (CV)-montmorillonite complexes was studied. The CV-montmorillonite complexes become positively charged with adsorption of CV above the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of montmorillonite, and thus can sorb imazaquin. The Langmuir equation provides a good fit to isotherms of imazaquin sorption on PC and CV-montmorillonite complexes, but for charged complexes an equation that combines electrostatics with specific binding was preferred. Maximal imazaquin sorption was 17.3 mmol kg-1 for PC and 22.2 mmol kg-1 for CV-montmorillonite complexes. The extents of imazaquin desorption into water were 21% for PC and 5% for CV-clay complexes. The presence of anions decreased imazaquin sorption on both sorbents in the sequence phosphate > acetate > sulfate. Reduction of imazaquin sorption by the anions and the extent of its desorption in electrolyte solutions were higher for PC than for CV-clay complexes. Leaching of imazaquin from CV-montmorillonite formulations through soil (Rhodoxeralf) columns was two times less than from PC formulations and four times less than that of technical imazaquin. The CV-montmorillonite complexes at a loading above the CEC appear to be suitable for preparation of organo-clay-imazaquin formulations that may reduce herbicide leaching significantly.

Modeling adsorption-desorption processes of Cu on edge and planar sites of montmorillonite

The effect of the ionic strength on adsorption of Cu on calcium montmorillonite was studied at concentrations ranging from 31 to 516 microM. An adsorption model was employed in the analysis of the data. When the background electrolyte was NaClO4, the ionic exchange was suppressed at 0.5 M concentration, and Cu adsorption took place on edge sites, reaching a plateau at about 24 mmol/kg. A further increase in ionic strength did not have any effect on Cu adsorption, suggesting that the heavy metal was adsorbed by inner-sphere complexes on the edge sites of the clay. A binding coefficient for Cu2+ on the edge sites K = 2 x 10(4) M(-1) was determined, indicating very high affinity of Cu2+ for these sites. When the electrolyte used was NaCl, the amounts of Cu adsorbed were reduced. The model predicted well the adsorption data by considering the adsorption of CuCl+ species. Adsorption-desorption processes of Cu on calcium montmorillonite in media of 0.01 and 0.1 M NaCl showed hysteresis. Model calculations also predict the desorption fairly well. According to the model, the hysteresis is mainly attributed to the heterogeneity of sites for the adsorption of Cu. The hysteresis arising from the planar sites is largely due to reduced competition of ion species for adsorption and enhancement in the magnitude of the surface potential.

Sphingomyelin and cholesterol promote HIV-1 gp41 pretransmembrane sequence surface aggregation and membrane restructuring

The interfacial sequence DKWASLWNWFNITNWLWYIK, preceding the transmembrane anchor of gp41 glycoprotein subunit, has been shown to be essential for fusion activity and incorporation into virions. HIV(c), a peptide representing this region, formed lytic pores in liposomes composed of the main lipids occurring in the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), envelope, i.e. 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC):sphingomyelin (SPM):cholesterol (Chol) (1:1:1 mole ratio), at low (>1:10,000) peptide-to-lipid mole ratio, and promoted the mixing of vesicular lipids at >1:1000 peptide-to-lipid mole ratios. Inclusion of SPM or Chol in POPC membranes had different effects. Whereas SPM sustained pore formation, Chol promoted fusion activity. Even if partitioning into membranes was not affected in the absence of both SPM and Chol, HIV(c) had virtually no effect on POPC vesicles. Conditions described to disturb occurrence of lateral separation of phases in these systems reproduced the high peptide-dose requirements for leakage as found in pure POPC vesicles and inhibited fusion. Surface aggregation assays using rhodamine-labeled peptides demonstrated that SPM and Chol promoted HIV(c) self-aggregation in membranes. Employing head-group fluorescent phospholipid analogs in planar supported lipid layers, we were able to discern HIV(c) clusters associated to ordered domains. Our results support the notion that the pretransmembrane sequence may participate in the clustering of gp41 monomers within the HIV-1 envelope, and in bilayer architecture destabilization at the loci of fusion.

Sulfometuron incorporation in cationic micelles adsorbed on montmorillonite

The aim of this study was to understand the interactions between alkylammonium cations present as monomers and micelles and a clay mineral, montmorillonite, to develop slow release formulations of anionic herbicides, such as sulfometuron (SFM) whose leaching in soils is an environmental and economic problem. In the proposed formulation the herbicide is incorporated in positively charged micelles of quaternary amine cations, which in turn adsorb on the negatively charged clay. The adsorption of hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) and octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) on montmorillonite was studied above and below their critical micelle concentrations (CMC). At concentrations above the CMC, the loading exceeded the clay's cation exchange capacity (CEC) and indicated higher affinity of the cation with the longer alkyl chain. An adsorption model could adequately simulate adsorption at concentrations below the CMC, and yield fair predictions for the effect of ionic strength. The model indicated that above the CMC adsorbed micelles contributed significantly to the amount of ODTMA adsorbed. Evidence for adsorption of ODTMA micelles on montmorillonite was provided by X-ray diffraction, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and dialysis bag measurements. SFM was not adsorbed directly on the clay mineral, and adsorbed at low levels, when the organic cation was adsorbed as monomers. In contrast, a large fraction of SFM adsorbed on the clay mineral when incorporated in micelles that adsorbed on the clay.

Slow-release formulations of sulfometuron incorporated in micelles adsorbed on montmorillonite

The design and tests of slow-release formulations of sulfometuron (SFM), an anionic sulfonylurea herbicide, are described. The formulations are based on incorporation of the herbicide in octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) micelles, which adsorb on a clay mineral, montmorillonite. An optimization of herbicide/micelle clay ratios yielded high adsorption of SFM (95%), and at a 1% (w/w) water suspension only 0.5% of the adsorbed SFM was released at times varying from hours to 9 days. An analytical test in Seville soil showed that under excessive irrigation (400 mm) 100% of the commercial formulation leached, whereas the micelle-clay formulations showed only 50-65% elution. A plant bioassay in Rehovot soil showed that the commercial dispersible granule formulation (Oust, 75% ai sulfometuron methyl) yielded only 23% root elongation inhibition at the top 5 cm of the soil, whereas complete inhibition was achieved with the micelle-clay formulation. The detected concentration of SFM for the micelle-clay formulation at a depth of 15-20 cm was half of that detected for the commercial one, indicating a reduction in leaching when applying the micelle-clay formulation. A 10-fold reduction in the applied dose of SFM in the micelle-clay formulations resulted in good herbicidal activity of 60-87% inhibition. These characteristics make the new formulation promising from the environmental and economic points of view.

Fluorescent probes for monitoring virus fusion kinetics: comparative evaluation of reliability

Fluorescence assays for viral membrane fusion employ lipidic probes whose kinetics of fluorescence dequenching should mimic the actual kinetics of membrane merging. We examined the fusion of influenza virus with CEM cells, erythrocyte ghosts or liposomes by monitoring the fluorescence dequenching of each one of the three probes, octadecylrhodamine B chloride (R18), N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl)phosphatidylethanolamine (Rh-PE), or rac-2,3-dioleoylglycerol ester of rhodamine B (DORh-B), inserted into the virus membrane. Experimental conditions were designed to allow a clear distinction between membrane mixing and non-specific probe transfer. Fluorescence dequenching observed with Rh-PE was much slower than with R18, unless a particular experimental procedure was used. Using liposomes as a target membrane, the kinetics and extent of the decrease in resonance energy transfer between N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine (NBD-PE) and Rh-PE, initially embedded in the liposome membrane, were matched by that of the dequenching of viral R18, but not of viral Rh-PE. DORh-B was found not to be appropriate to follow membrane merging. Our results indicate that on a time scale of several minutes R18 more accurately reflects the kinetics of membrane fusion. Nevertheless, control experiments should be performed to evaluate non-specific probe transfer of R18 molecules, whose contribution to fluorescence dequenching can become significant after long incubation times.

Organo-clay formulation of acetochlor for reduced movement in soil

This study aimed to design ecologically acceptable formulations of acetochlor by adsorbing it on montmorillonite exchanged by a small organic cation, phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA). Adsorption of acetochlor on the clay mineral exchanged with different organic cations and its release from these complexes were determined by GC and modeled by Langmuir equation. Interactions between acetochlor molecules and the exchanged organic cation on the clay surface were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Leaching of acetochlor in soil was determined by a bioassay using a column technique and Setaria viridis as a test plant. The adsorbed amounts of acetochlor on montmorillonite exchanged by PTMA at a loading of 0.5 mmol/g of clay were higher than at a loading up to the cation-exchange capacity, i.e., 0.8 mmol/g, and were higher than obtained by using a clay mineral exchanged by other organic cations. Preloading montmorillonite by PTMA at 0.5 mmol/g yielded maximal shifts of the infrared peaks of the herbicide. The above formulation of acetochlor yielded slow release in water and showed improved weed control in field and greenhouse experiments in comparison with the commercial formulation. The PTMA-clay formulation of acetochlor maintained herbicidal activity in the topsoil and yielded the most significant reduction in herbicide leaching and persistence under field conditions. The application of this formulation can minimize the risk to groundwater and can reduce the applied rates.

The emergence of life on Earth

Combined top-down and bottom-up research strategies and the principle of biological continuity were employed in an attempt to reconstruct a comprehensive origin of life theory, which is an extension of the coevolution theory (Lahav and Nir, Origins of Life Evol. Biosphere (1997) 27, 377-395). The resulting theory of emergence of templated-information and functionality (ETIF) addresses the emergence of living entities from inanimate matter, and that of the central mechanisms of their further evolution. It proposes the emergence of short organic catalysts (peptides and proto-ribozymes) and feedback-loop systems, plus their template-and-sequence-directed (TSD) reactions, encompassing catalyzed replication and translation of populations of molecules organized as chemical-informational feedback loop entities, in a fluctuating (wetting-drying) environment, functioning as simplified extant molecular-biological systems. The feedback loops with their TSD systems are chemically and functionally continuous with extant living organisms and their emergence in an inanimate environment may be defined as the beginning of life. The ETIF theory considers the emergence of bio-homochirality, a primordial genetic code, information and the incorporation of primordial metabolic cycles and compartmentation into the emerging living entities. This theory helps to establish a novel measure of biological information, which focuses on its physical effects rather than on the structure of the message, and makes it possible to estimate the time needed for the transition from the inanimate state to the closure of the first feedback-loop systems. Moreover, it forms the basis for novel laboratory experiments and computer modeling, encompassing catalytic activity of short peptides and proto-RNAs and the emergence of bio-homochirality and feedback-loop systems.

Kinetic analysis of the initial steps involved in lipoplex--cell interactions: effect of various factors that influence transfection activity

We investigated the mode of interaction of lipoplexes (DOTAP:DOPE/DNA) with HeLa cells, focusing on the analysis of the initial steps involved in the process of gene delivery. We evaluated the effect of different factors, namely the stoichiometry of cationic lipids and DNA, the presence of serum in the cell culture medium, and the incorporation of the ligand transferrin into the lipoplexes, on the extent of binding, association and fusion (lipid mixing) of the lipoplexes with the cells. Parallel experiments were performed upon cell treatment with inhibitors of endocytosis. Our results indicate that a decrease of the net charge of the complexes (upon addition of DNA) generally leads to a decrease in the extent of binding, cell association and fusion, except for the neutral complexes. Association of transferrin to the lipoplexes resulted in a significant enhancement of the interaction processes referred to above, which correlates well with the promotion of transfection observed under the same conditions. Besides triggering internalization of the complexes, transferrin was also shown to mediate fusion with the endosomal membrane. The extent of fusion of this type of complexes was reduced upon their incubation with cells in the presence of serum, suggesting that serum components limit the transferrin fusogenic properties. Results were analyzed by using a theoretical model which allowed to estimate the kinetic parameters involved in lipoplex--cell interactions. The deduced fusion and endocytosis rate constants are discussed and compared with those obtained for other biological systems. From the kinetic studies we found a twofold enhancement of the fusion rate constant (f) for the ternary lipoplexes. We also concluded that HeLa cells yield a relatively low rate of endocytosis. Overall, our results estimate the relative contribution of fusion of lipoplexes with the plasma membrane, endocytosis and fusion with the endosomal membrane to their interactions with cells, this information being of crucial importance for the development of gene therapy strategies.

Simulation of non-enzymatic template-directed synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides

A simulation model is proposed for the template- and sequence-directed (TSD) condensation of two trideoxyribonucleotide 3'-phosphate molecules into a hexameric template with palindromic sequence studied experimentally by von Kiedrowski (1986;Angew. Int. Ed. Engl.25, 932--935). The model simulates reasonably well the kinetics of synthesis of both the template, and the pyrophosphate product which is not directly involved in the autocatalytic reaction. It offers quantitative approximation of the different rate constants of the processes involved in the reaction. The model simulates and gives predictions for the influence of factors such as the initial concentrations of the trimers and the template, and gives predictions for the effect of temperature on the dynamics of the autocatalytic reaction. The model also simulates well the production rate of a different self-replicating system (coiled coil peptide) used in the experiments of Lee et al. (1997;Nature390, 591--594). Comparing the different rate constants, it seems that chain elongation occurs at higher rates in the peptide system (at 23 degrees C) than in the nucleotide one (at 0 degrees C), but that the relative contribution of template-directed synthesis is significantly larger with the nucleotides.

A model for proto-tRNA loading

A kinetic model for loading of proto-tRNA is presented. The kinetic parameters were first estimated from the results of Francklyn & Schimmel (1989;Nature337, 478--481), who studied the aminoacylation of both tRNA and its minihelix. Then these parameters were reduced several-fold, as is more appropriate for the prebiotic world. The simulations revealed a very slow time course of the loading reaction. We also consider a possibility for the proto-tRNA loading without a catalyst and discuss the feasibility of such processes. Analytical approximations are presented for the kinetics of proto-tRNA loading with and without enzyme. An estimate is given for the time required for the development of template- and sequence-directed systems.