Understanding the role of the structure of single-stimuli hybrid systems on their behaviour as platforms for colonic delivery.

The success of colon-targeted oral hybrid systems relies in the proper control over the release of the entrapped nanostructures at the colon. This work describes the design of hybrid systems for their colonic enzyme-triggered release. The hybrid systems were constituted by nanoemulsions, with adequate characteristics for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, included in a pectin hydrogel-like matrix.

Study of the human hippocampal formation: a method for histological and magnetic resonance correlation in perinatal cases.

Little information is available on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) determination of the hippocampal formation (HF) during the perinatal period. However, this exploration is increasingly used, which requires defining visible HF landmarks on MRI images, validated through histological analysis. This study aims to provide a protocol to identify HF landmarks on MRI images, followed by histological validation through serial sections of the temporal lobe of the samples examined, to assess the longitudinal extent of the hippocampus during the perinatal period.

Unusually High Affinity of the PLK Inhibitors RO3280 and GSK461364 to HSA and Its Possible Pharmacokinetic Implications.

The binding processes of two Polo-like kinase inhibitors, RO3280 and GSK461364, to the human serum albumin (HSA) protein as well as the protonation equilibria of both compounds have been studied combining absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments together with density functional theory calculations. We found that the charge states of RO3280 and GSK461364 are +2 and +1, respectively, at the physiological pH. Nevertheless, RO3280 binds to HSA in the charge state +1 prior to a deprotonation pre-equilibrium.

Polylactide Perspectives in Biomedicine: From Novel Synthesis to the Application Performance.

The incessant developments in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, particularly, customised solutions for specific diseases with targeted therapeutic treatments, require the design of multicomponent materials with multifunctional capabilities. Biodegradable polymers offer a variety of tailored physicochemical properties minimising health adverse side effects at a low price and weight, which are ideal to design matrices for hybrid materials. PLAs emerge as an ideal candidate to develop novel materials as are endowed withcombined ambivalent performance parameters.

Pressurized Extraction as an Opportunity to Recover Antioxidants from Orange Peels: Heat treatment and Nanoemulsion Design for Modulating Oxidative Stress.

Orange peel by-products generated in the food industry are an important source of value-added compounds that can be potentially reused. In the current research, the effect of oven-drying (50-70 °C) and freeze-drying on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential from Navelina, Salustriana, and Sanguina peel waste was investigated using pressurized extraction (ASE). Sixty volatile components were identified by ASE-GC-MS.

Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

The rapid pattern of population ageing in recent years increases the risk of appearance of associated neurodegenerative diseases. Dementias are one of the most feared disorders, and although not necessarily all elderly people have dementia, the number of people with this disease is increasing rapidly. The causes of dementia are multiple, and the diagnosis of the different types of dementia is complicated since most patients display mixed dementias and symptoms overlapping.

Neuropeptides in the developing human hippocampus under hypoxic-ischemic conditions.

The perinatal period, sensitive for newborn survival, is also one of the most critical moments in human brain development. Perinatal hypoxia due to reduced blood supply to the brain (ischemia) is one of the main causes of neonatal mortality. Brain damage caused by perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) can lead to neuro- and psychological disorders.

Neuroprotective Natural Molecules, From Food to Brain.

The prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders is increasing; however, an effective neuroprotective treatment is still remaining. Nutrition plays an important role in neuroprotection as recently shown by epidemiological and biochemical studies which identified food components as promising therapeutic agents. Neuroprotection includes mechanisms such as activation of specific receptors, changes in enzymatic neuronal activity, and synthesis and secretion of different bioactive molecules.

Ultrafast determination of vitamin E using LC-ESI-MS/MS for preclinical development of new nutraceutical formulations.

Aim: We proposed a rapid and high quality method to determine α-tocopherol (α-T) in different biopharmaceutical samples using liquid chromatography-diode array detector on-line ESI-MS/MS.

Materials & Methods: A working standard solution of α-T and internal standard, phenyl-5,7-dimethyl-d6-α-tocopherol, were used for optimization and validation of the method. Levels of α-T in nanoemulsions, serum and plasma samples were evaluated.