Interface design and reinforced features of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch/polyester-based membranes: Preparation, antioxidant activity, and cytocompatibility.

The structural, mechanical, antioxidant, and cytocompatibility properties of membranes prepared from the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch powder (ASP) blend (PHA/ASP) were studied. The acrylic acid-grafted PHA (PHA-g-AA) and the coupling agent treated ASP (TASP) were used to enhance the desired characteristics of these membranes. The PHA-g-AA/TASP membranes had better mechanical properties than the PHA/ASP membrane.

Antibacterial activity and in vitro evaluation of the biocompatibility of chitosan-based polysaccharide/polyester membranes.

The antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of membranes of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and chitosan (CS) (PHBV)/CS) were evaluated in this study. Maleic anhydride (MA)-grafted polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHBV-g-MA) was evaluated as an alternative to PHBV. Mouse tail skin fibroblasts (FBs) were seeded on two series of these films to assess cytocompatibility.

Biocompatibility and characterization of renewable agricultural residues and polyester composites.

Composites of sesame husk and glycidyl methacrylate-grafted polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT-g-GMA/SH) exhibit noticeably superior mechanical properties compared to PTT/SH composites due to greater compatibility between the two components. The dispersion of SH in the PTT-g-GMA matrix is highly homogeneous as a result of condensation reaction formations. Human lung fibroblasts (FBs) were seeded on these two series of composites to characterize the biocompatibility properties.

Activation of orexin 1 receptors in the periaqueductal gray of male rats leads to antinociception via retrograde endocannabinoid (2-arachidonoylglycerol)-induced disinhibition.

Orexin A and B are hypothalamic peptides known to modulate arousal, feeding, and reward via OX1 and OX2 receptors. Orexins are also antinociceptive in the brain, but their mechanism(s) of action remain unclear. Here, we investigated the antinociceptive mechanism of orexin A in the rat ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), a midbrain region crucial for initiating descending pain inhibition.

Reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchangers trigger the release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores in cultured rat embryonic cortical neurons.

The importance of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers in the regulation of the physiological and pathological functions of the nervous system has been widely recognized. In this study, we used primary cultured E14.5 cortical neurons as a model system to study the possible roles of the reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity in neurotransmission.