Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chlorides) and their N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide copolymer-based DNA-polyplexes: role of molecular weight and charge density in complex formation, stability, and in vitro activity.

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chlorides) (pDADMAC) of different molecular weights (5-244 kDa) and DADMAC/N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide (NMVA) copolymers (coDADMAC) with different composition (24-75 mol%) and therefore varying cationic charge densities were used to investigate the relationship between polymer structure, polyplex formation and stability, as well as their biological activity. All polymers interacted electrostatically with DNA to form polyplexes as detected by electrophoresis. Complexation and condensation of DNA by the polycations as well as protection of DNA against mechanical and enzymatic degradation were found to increase with higher molecular weights and charge densities of the polymers as well as increasing charge ratios of the complexes.

Determination of molecular weight of heparin by size exclusion chromatography with universal calibration.

The molecular weight (MW) of heparin can be accurately determined by size exclusion chromatography using "universal calibration." A universal calibration curve was constructed for Superose 12 with standard pullulan samples and verified using characterized ficoll fractions. This calibration yielded the correct MW of heparin as determined by light scattering, when the ionic strength of the mobile phase was maintained over 1.

Polyelectrolyte complexes and layer-by-layer capsules from chitosan/chitosan sulfate.

Polyelectrolyte complex formation of chitosans of varying average molecular weight and degree of acetylation with chitosan sulfate or poly(styrene sulfonate) was studied by static light scattering in dilute solution at various ionic strengths. Unlike the molecular weight, the degree of acetylation was found to have a significant effect on the resultant structural densities of the complexes. The same system was applied to the preparation of micrometer-sized hollow shells by means of a layer-by-layer technique (in total eight layers).

Limited tryptic hydrolysis of pea legumin: molecular mass and conformational stability of legumin-T.

The investigation of hydrodynamic and thermodynamic properties and the determination of the molecular mass of legumin-T, the product of limited tryptic hydrolysis of the 11-S-globulin from pea seeds, was carried out to ascertain the structural relationship to globulin-T's from other legumin-like proteins. The obtained legumin-T preparation has a molecular mass M(W)=260+/-10 kDa and M(S,D)=270+/-20 kDa. The secondary structure of legumin-T is characterised by a high percentage of beta-sheet conformation, comparable to that of native legumin and a reduced percentage of helical conformation.

Nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus erythropolis: metabolization of steroidal compounds with a nitrile group.

The progestin dienogest (17alpha-cyanomethyl-17beta-hydroxy-estra-4,9-dien-3-one) was metabolized by the nitrile hydratase-containing microorganism Rhodococcus erythropolis. An enzymatic hydrolysis of the nitrile group at the 17alpha-side chain was intended to obtain novel derivatives and to test them for progesterone receptor affinity. In contrast to the rapid enzymatic hydrolysis of nonsteroidal nitriles, the nitrile group of dienogest was cleaved very slowly.

Development of cellulose sulfate-based polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules for medical applications.

Microencapsulation, as a tool for immunoisolation for allogenic or xenogenic implants, is a rapidly growing field. However most of the approaches are based on alginate/polylysine capsules, despite this system's obvious disadvantages such as its pyrogenicity. Here we report a different encapsulation system based on sodium cellulose sulfate and polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride for the encapsulation of mammalian cells.

Physicochemical studies on xylinan (acetan). I. Characterization by gel permeation chromatography on sepharose Cl-2B coupled with static light scattering and viscometry.

Laboratory-made samples of the polysaccharide xylinan (acetan) were fractionated on Sepharose Cl-2B using 0.1M NaCl as eluant. The weight average molar masses and intrinsic viscosities were estimated in the fractions by multiangle laser light scattering (off-line) and capillary viscometry, respectively.

Encapsulation of artificial tissues in polyelectrolyte complexes: preliminary studies.

The in vitro engineering of vital tissues from isolated cells requires primarily the synthesis of a new intercellular matrix. Structural components of the extracellular matrix are large molecules such as collagens and proteoglycans. To retain and accumulate new matrix molecules within three-dimensional cell cultures, chondrocyte-polymer constructs were encapsulated in polyelectrolyte complex membranes.

Physico-chemical characterization of legumin-T from faba bean (Vicia faba L).

Legumin-T, the high-molecular mass product of limited tryptic hydrolysis of faba bean legumin, was investigated using hydrodynamic methods, static light scattering, fluorescence and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The following physico-chemical parameters were determined in a high-ionic strength buffer system: molecular mass, 2.4 x 10(5) g/mol; sedimentation coefficient, SO20 = 10.

Viscosimetric affinity assay.

Affinity ligands and/or affinity receptors may be quantified by a viscosimetric assay which can be carried out with a simple technique and has the potential of broad applications. The viscosimetric affinity assay is based on the high contribution of affinity bonds to the viscosity of an aqueous dispersion of a hydrocolloid that is bearing affinity ligands. In dispersions of such sensitive hydrocolloids at a concentration above the overlapping point, agglutination is not possible and the modulation of viscosity by the formation or dissociation of intercolloidal affinity bonds may be several orders of magnitude larger than the basic viscosity measurable in the absence of intercolloidal affinity bonds.

Methods for a comprehensive characterization of microcapsules based on polyelectrolyte complexes.

Several methods for characterization of microcapsules developed in connection with optimizing and controlling the properties of capsules based on polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) using sodium cellulosesulphate (NaCS) and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC) as complex forming components are briefly reported.

Prolonged biochemical and morphological stability of encapsulated liver cells--a new method.

In this work a new type of polyelectrolyte complex capsules is introduced as an artificial housing for liver cells. Male Wistar rat hepatocytes were encapsulated using cellulose sulphate and polydimethyldialyllammonium chloride as polyelectrolytes. Amino acid metabolism rate and urea synthesis of the cells increased over the investigation period in contrast to the decrease observed in control monolayer cultures.

Interaction of invertase with polyelectrolytes.

In connection with our work on polyelectrolyte complex formation with polyampholytes, the interaction between invertase and several linear polyelectorlytes has been investigated by means of turbidimetry, light scattering measurements, and determination of the enzyme activity. Polyelectrolyte complex formation of invertase was shown to occur with cationic polyelectrolytes only. The light-scattering data yield information on aggregation and desegregation processes in complex formation.

A new method for the encapsulation of mammalian cells.

A new encapsulation method was developed for the cultivation of mammalian cells. The capsules were produced using a solution of sodium cellulose sulphate (CS)(1.5%) and poly-dimethyl-diallyl-ammonium chloride (PDMDAAC).

Immobilization of invertase by encapsulation in polyelectrolyte complexes.

Free and polystyrene-bound invertase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were encapsulated within symplex membranes which were composed of cellulose sulfate as the polymeric anion and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) as the polymeric cation. The kinetics and the performance of the encapsulated enzyme preparations have been compared to the free enzyme employing the hydrolysis of sucrose. The pH and temperature optima were only slightly affected by the encapsulation.

[An improved method for the microencapsulation of liver microsomes for use in extracorporeal detoxication].

Rat liver microsomes were microencapsulated in a pure aqueous medium by means of a new technique. The wall of the microcapsules consists of a semipermeable simplex membrane which is stabilized mainly by electrostatic interactions between a polymeric polyanion (sodium cellulose sulphate) and a polymeric polycation (polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride). The metabolic as well as the mechanic parameters of the microcapsules could be markedly improved by separating the metabolic (liver microsomes) from the membrane component (sodium cellulose sulphate) in such a way that two distinct compartments are formed during the preparation of the microcapsules.

A novel carbonochloridate for activation of supports containing hydroxyl groups.

The conditions for the introduction of active carbonate groups into supports containing hydroxyl groups by reaction with 5-norbornene-2.3-dicarboximido carbonochloridate are described. Up to 1.

[The release of immobilized substances from Symplex capsules].

A new procedure of microencapsulation was studied with regard to substance release and quantification of diffusion processes on the capsule membrane. The permeability behaviour on the capsule membrane was especially studied in metabolites, which are essential for immobilized biological objects (i.g.

The encapsulation of pancreatic islets. Investigation of insulin secretion and content in vitro.

Polyelectrolyte complex capsules from cellulose sulphate can be formed by precipitation in a polycation bath. The application of this new method for encapsulation of pancreatic islets requires investigations whether and to what extent cellulose sulphate injures viability and functionality of the pancreatic islets. Islets cultures in the presence of 2% cellulose sulphate for up to 3 weeks are characterized by unchanged insulin content, secretion and biosynthesis when compared to appropriate controls.

The use of a novel stabilizing substrate for the in vitro cultivation of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis).

A new stabilizing substrate derived from cellulose crystallite aggregates (CCA) is presented in its use for tissue culture and regeneration of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.), particularly at the stage of root formation. The material is suitable instead of agar for the large scale propagation of cultured plants.

[Immobilization of proteins and cell fragments using a new method of microencapsulation].

Cytochrome c, hemoglobin, urease and liver microsomes were microencapsulated in aqueous solution by use of a new method. The membrane of the microcapsules consist of a symplex, which is formed predominantly by electrostatic interactions between a polymeric polyanion and a polymeric polycation. The membrane is characterized by high mechanical stability and is a barrier for globular substances with molecular weights larger than 12000, but permeable for substances with lower molecular weight.