The Effect of Low Ionic Strength on Diffusion and Viscosity of Monoclonal Antibodies.

Purpose: To determine the effect of solution conditions, especially low ionic strength, on the dynamics of molecular diffusion and protein-protein interactions in monoclonal antibody solutions.

Methods: The interaction parameter, k, was calculated from diffusion data obtained from dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements performed using a Zetasizer. Theoretical considerations were utilized to evaluate the hard sphere and electrostatic contribution to molecular interactions.

Effect of Aggregation on the Hydrodynamic Properties of Bovine Serum Albumin.

Purpose: To systematically analyze shape and size of soluble irreversible aggregates and the effect of aggregate formation on viscosity.

Methods: Online light scattering, refractive index and viscosity detectors attached to HPLC (Viscotek®) were used to study aggregation, molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Irreversible aggregates were generated by heat stress.

Challenges in Determining Intrinsic Viscosity Under Low Ionic Strength Solution Conditions.

Purpose: To determine the intrinsic viscosity of several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) under varying pH and ionic strength solution conditions.

Methods: An online viscosity detector attached to HPLC (Viscotek®) was used to determine the intrinsic viscosity of mAbs. The Ross and Minton equation was used for viscosity prediction at high protein concentrations.

Silk film biomaterials for cornea tissue engineering.

Biomaterials for corneal tissue engineering must demonstrate several critical features for potential utility in vivo, including transparency, mechanical integrity, biocompatibility and slow biodegradation. Silk film biomaterials were designed and characterized to meet these functional requirements. Silk protein films were used in a biomimetic approach to replicate corneal stromal tissue architecture.

Murine osteoblasts regulate mesenchymal stem cells via WNT and cadherin pathways: mechanism depends on cell-cell contact mode.

Osteoblasts (OSTs) are derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and coexist in close proximity with MSCs in bone during development and remodelling. Interactions between these two cell types remain obscure. Through a well-defined co-culture model, the present work demonstrated that OSTs regulate MSCs through the WNT and cadherin pathways.

Expansion and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on a vitamin C functionalized polymer.

In human body ascorbic acid plays an essential role in the synthesis and function of skeletal tissues and immune system factors. Ascorbic acid is also a major physiological antioxidant, repairing oxidatively damaged biomolecules, preventing the formation of excessive reactive oxygen species or scavenging these species. We recently reported the synthesis of ascorbic acid-functionalized polymers in which the antioxidant features of the pendant ascorbic acid groups was preserved.