Centella asiatica Leaf Extract Protects Against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats.

The present study evaluated the protective effect of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) leaf extract (CAE) against indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. Gastric mucosal injury was induced by the oral administration of IND to the rats after a 24 h fast. CAE (50 or 250 mg/kg) or lansoprazole (a reference drug) was orally administrated 30 min before the IND administration, and 5 h later, the stomachs were removed to quantify the lesions.

Poly(L-aspartic acid) nanogels for lysosome-selective antitumor drug delivery.

Advanced materials that have controllable pH-responsive properties when submerged in the lysosome have a great potential in intracellular drug delivery. We developed novel poly(L-amino acid) nanogels that were prepared by a facile cross-linking of poly[L-aspartic acid-g-(3-diethylaminopropyl)]-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-maleimide [poly(L-Asp-g-DEAP)-b-PEG-Mal] and poly(L-aspartic acid-g-ethyl thiol)-b-PEG [poly(L-Asp-SH)-b-PEG] in an oil/water emulsion condition. Interestingly, these nanogels (~125 nm in diameter) modulated volume expansion (~375 nm in diameter) in a lysosomal pH (~pH 5.

Antioxidant encapsulated porous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles for developing long acting inhalation system.

The purpose of this study was to fabricate porous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles for efficient pulmonary deposition and increased therapeutic duration of the antioxidant anthocyanin (ATH). These microparticles were prepared by a water-in-oil-in-water (W(1)/O/W(2)) multi-emulsion method with vaporizing ammonium bicarbonate (AB) as a porogen and starch as a viscous additive. High porosity achieved by the decomposition reaction of AB to the base of ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water vapor at 50°C enabled efficient deposition of ATH throughout the entire lung in BALB/c mice.

Magnetic levitating polymeric nano/microparticular substrates for three-dimensional tumor cell culture.

Herein, we describe magnetic cell levitation models using conventional polymeric microparticles or nanoparticles as a substrate for the three-dimensional tumor cell culture. When the magnetic force originating from the ring-shaped magnets overcame the gravitational force, the magnetic field-levitated KB tumor cells adhered to the surface area of magnetic iron oxide (Fe(3)O(4))-encapsulated nano/microparticles and concentrated clusters of levitated cells, ultimately developing tumor cells to tumor spheroids. These simple cell culture models may prove useful for the screening of anticancer drugs and their formulations.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of goserelin in rabbit plasma.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination of goserelin in rabbit plasma. Various parameters affecting plasma sample preparation, LC separation, and MS/MS detection were investigated, and optimized conditions were identified. Acidified plasma samples were applied to Oasis((R)) HLB solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges.

Synthesis of chiral pilocarpine analogues via a C-8 ketone intermediate.

The synthesis of a chiral pilocarpine analogue 3 in which the lactone ring is replaced by an oxazolidinone and the bridging methylene group is in the ketone oxidation state has been accomplished. The utility of this compound as a key intermediate for the preparation of more complex structures was demonstrated by its reduction to two alcohol epimers and its reaction with a methylene ylide.