Glycosphingolipids of porcine, bovine, and equine pericardia as potential immune targets in bioprosthetic heart valve grafts.

Background: Pericardial tissue from various animal species is utilized for the production of the bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) used clinically. Experimental data show that the eventual breakdown of BHV is partly due to immunological interactions with carbohydrate tissue antigens. To understand these processes, we have examined the glycolipid-based carbohydrate antigens in naïve porcine, bovine, and equine pericardia.

Surfactant diffusion through bicontinuous micellar networks: a case study of the C9G1/C10G1/H2O mixed surfactant system.

Self-diffusion coefficients were obtained by means of NMR diffusometry for differing ratios of n-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (C10G1) and n-nonyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (C9G1) surfactant mixtures, along dilution lines through the micellar region of the ternary C9G1/C10G1/H2O phase diagram. Networks of bicontinuous micelles have been suggested to exist throughout the micellar regions of the phase diagram. A phase separation into two coexisting liquid solutions is observed in the dilute, C10G1-rich regions of the phase diagram.

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution in nonionic alkylglucoside micelles.

The kinetics and mechanism of the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) with OH- in nonionic sugar-derived micelles were investigated and compared with those for reaction in polyoxyethylene glycol surfactants. Hydroxyl groups on the sugar headgroups of micellized n-nonyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (C9G1), n-dodecyl beta-D-maltoside (C12G2), and n-dodecyl beta-D-maltotrioside (C12G3) are partially deprotonated by OH- and the alkoxide ions react with DNCB, forming an arene ether. Observation of more than one isosbestic point indicates that more than one intermediate ether is formed, largely at C3 or C4 with micellar stereocontrol.