Disulfide-Mediated Bioconjugation: Disulfide Formation and Restructuring on the Surface of Nanomanufactured (Microfluidics) Nanoparticles.

This study is about (1) nanomanufacturing (focusing on microfluidic-assisted nanoprecipitation), (2) advanced colloid characterization (focusing on field flow fractionation), and (3) the possible restructuring of surface disulfides. Disulfides are dynamic and exchangeable groups, and here we specifically focus, first, on their use to introduce biofunctional groups and, second, on their re-organization, which may lead to variable surface chemistries and uncontrolled cell interactions. The particles were obtained via microfluidic-assisted (flow-focused) nanoprecipitation of poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(ε-caprolactone) bearing or not a 2-pyridyl disulfide (PDS) terminal group, which quantitatively exchanges with thiols in solution.

Polymer degradation and drug delivery in PLGA-based drug-polymer applications: A review of experiments and theories.

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymers have been broadly used in controlled drug release applications. Because these polymers are biodegradable, they provide an attractive option for drug delivery vehicles. There are a variety of material, processing, and physiological factors that impact the degradation rates of PLGA polymers and concurrent drug release kinetics.

Feasibility of laparoendoscopic single-site partial nephrectomy in a porcine model.

Purpose: We performed laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) partial nephrectomy in a porcine model with the objectives of overcoming the technical challenges of this surgery and exploring its feasibility.

Materials And Methods: Six partial nephrectomies were performed on a pig aged 5 months, three cases on each kidney, by four surgeons: two urologists with much experience in laparoscopic surgery (E1, E2) and two less-experienced urologists (B1, B2). While under general anesthesia, the swine was placed in a lateral flank position.