Synergistic hierarchical silicone-modified polysaccharide hybrid as a soft scaffold to control cell adhesion and proliferation.

In this study, a new type of polydimethylsiloxane-modified chitosan (PMSC) amphiphilic hydrogel was developed as a soft substrate to explore cellular responses for dermal reconstruction. The hydrogel wettability, mechanical stiffness and topography were controllable through manipulation of the degree of esterification (DE) between hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydrophilic N,O-(carboxymethyl)-chitosan (NOCC). Based on microphase separation, the incorporation of PDMS into NOCC increased the stiffness of the hybrid through the formation of self-assembled aggregates, which also provided anchor sites for cell adhesion.

Chitosonic Acid as a Novel Cosmetic Ingredient: Evaluation of its Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Hydration Activities.

Chitosonic Acid, carboxymethyl hexanoyl chitosan, is a novel chitosan material that has recently been accepted by the Personal Care Products Council as a new cosmetic ingredient with the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name Carboxymethyl Caprooyl Chitosan. In this study, we analyze several important cosmetic characteristics of Chitosonic Acid. Our results demonstrate that Chitosonic Acid is a water-soluble chitosan derivative with a high HLB value.

Electrospinning of amphipathic chitosan nanofibers for surgical implants application.

Novel amphipathic derivative of chitosan (carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan, CHC) was made into mats of nanofibers (approximately 100 nm) via electrospinning. The resulting mats were further cross-linked with genipin. The morphology of CHC nanofibers was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM).

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous Gd2O3 nanotube and its use as a drug-carrying vehicle.

Gd2O3 nanotubes were constructed for the first time by assembling highly crystalline Gd2O3 nanoparticles through the use of combined soft template and sol-gel methods. Amphiphilic block copolymer was used as structure-directing agent and gadolinium isopropoxide as inorganic precursor in non-aqueous solution. The amphiphilic copolymer molecules are known to undergo self-organization above a critical micelle concentration, forming micellular architecture that further provides a structurally ordered active site for the nucleation and growth of Gd monomers.

Self-assembly behavior and doxorubicin-loading capacity of acylated carboxymethyl chitosans.

A new type of acylated carboxymethyl amphiphilic chitosan (ACC) with the use of acyl chain of varying lengths, from C(2) to C(12), and various degrees of acyl substitution was successfully synthesized and has been characterized in terms of its self-assembly behavior, structural stability, and drug encapsulation. The resulting nanostructure of the ACC nanoaggregates can be well manipulated through a control of hydrophobicity. Structural evolution of the self-assembled nanoaggregates is extensively characterized via (1)H NMR, FTIR, DSC, and TEM.

A flexible drug delivery chip for the magnetically-controlled release of anti-epileptic drugs.

A flexible drug delivery device was designed and fabricated using electrophoretic deposition of drug-carrying magnetic core-shell Fe(3)O(4) at SiO(2) nanoparticles onto an electrically conductive flexible PET substrate. The PET substrate was first patterned to a desired layout and subjected to deposition. In doing so, a uniform and nanoporous membrane could be produced.

Electrical-sensitive nanoparticle composed of chitosan and tetraethyl orthosilicate for controlled drug release.

In the present study, the nanoparticles with size of 50-130 nm composed of chitosan (CS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), which showed electrically-controlled release profile, were prepared. Myoglobin was encapsulated into the nanoparticles with an encapsulation efficiency as high as 91.5% and a maximum loading capacity of 70.

Instantaneous drug delivery of magnetic/thermally sensitive nanospheres by a high-frequency magnetic field.

Novel dual-functional nanospheres composed of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles embedded in a thermo-sensitive Pluronic F127 (F127) matrix were successfully synthesized by an in situ coprecipitation process. The nanospheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Experimental observations indicated that the F127 was subjected to a rapid structural change when the magnetic phase caused rapid heating after a short exposure to a high-frequency magnetic field.

Drug release behavior of chitosan-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels following electrostimulation.

Nanocomposites hydrogel (nanohydrogel) composed of chitosan (CS) and montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared and systematically studied for drug release behavior following electrostimulation. The deterioration of the responsiveness and reversibility of CS upon repeated on-off electrostimulation switching operations are major limitations for clinical applications, as it suffers from too much structural instability for the precise control of the release of drug upon cyclic electrostimulation. To overcome these limitations, an inorganic phase, MMT, was incorporated in the CS matrix to enhance the anti-fatigue property and corresponding long-term stable release kinetics.

Study on controlled drug permeation of magnetic-sensitive ferrogels: effect of Fe3O4 and PVA.

A PVA-based magnetic-sensitive hydrogel (ferrogel) was fabricated by physical cross-linking through a freezing-thawing method. The influence of the constituting components, i.e.

Effect of clay content on electrostimulus deformation and volume recovery behavior of a clay-chitosan hybrid composite.

Electrostimulus-responsive hybrid composites composed of chitosan (CS) and clay were successfully developed and systematically characterized. The addition of negatively charged clay as an ionic cross-linker strongly affect the cross-linking density as well as the mechanical property, swelling-deswelling behavior and fatigue property of the hybrids. With lower clay content, the crystallinity of the CS was slightly reduced, resulting in a decrease in the mechanical properties and an increase in the swelling ratio of the hybrid.