Coating with cationic inulin enhances the drug release profile and in vitro anticancer activity of lecithin-based nano drug delivery systems.

Core-shell structured lipidic nanoparticles (LNPs) were developed using lecithin sodium acetate (Lec-OAc) ionic complex as a core unit and quaternized inulin (QIn) as the shell part. Inulin (In) was modified using glycidyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (GTMAC) as a positively charged shell part and used for coating the negatively surface charged Lec-OAc. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the core was determined as 1.

Poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) based composite electrospun fibers loaded with magnesium-aluminum layered double hydroxide nanoparticles.

Two types of MgAl layered double hydroxide nanoparticles, MgAl LDH, at Mg:Al ratio of 2:1 and 3:1were prepared and used as inorganic fillers to improve the mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PLA/PEO) electrospun composite fibers. Their detailed structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) techniques. Spectroscopic, thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of the electrospun composite fibers, and cell proliferation on their surface, were examined.

Levan enhanced the NF-κB suppression activity of an oral nano PLGA-curcumin formulation in breast cancer treatment.

Chemoresistance (CR) is one of the reasons why chemotherapy agents like Gemcitabine (GMC) remain insufficient in healing breast cancer. Activation of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) during chemotherapy is known as an important factor in the development of CR. The hydrophobic polyphenol curcumin is shown to inhibit NF-κB and hence CR.

Accelerated diabetic wound healing by topical application of combination oral antidiabetic agents-loaded nanofibrous scaffolds: An in vitro and in vivo evaluation study.

The combination of oral antidiabetic drugs, pioglitazone, metformin, and glibenclamide, which also exhibit the strongest anti-inflammatory action among oral antidiabetic drugs, were loaded into chitosan/gelatin/polycaprolactone (PCL) by electrospinning and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/PCL composite nanofibrous scaffolds by pressurized gyration to compare the diabetic wound healing effect. The combination therapies significantly accelerated diabetic wound healing in type-1 diabetic rats and organized densely packed collagen fibers in the dermis, it also showed better regeneration of the dermis and epidermis than single drug-loaded scaffolds with less inflammatory cell infiltration and edema. The formation of the hair follicles started in 14 days only in the combination therapy and lower proinflammatory cytokine levels were observed compared to single drug-loaded treatment groups.

Levan-based hydrogels for controlled release of Amphotericin B for dermal local antifungal therapy of Candidiasis.

Hydrogels from Halomonas levan polysaccharide were prepared at different crosslinking densities. Swelling results demonstrated pH dependent rather than temperature dependent swelling of the hydrogel and the highest swelling value was achieved at basic conditions with a swelling ratio of 9.1 ± 0.

Concise synthesis of 3-alkylthieno[3,2-]thiophenes; building blocks for organic electronic and optoelectronic materials.

Four step synthesis of 3-alkylthieno[3,2-]thiophenes in the literature was reduced to two steps in good yields, through the preparation of the mono ketone, 1-(thiophene-3-ylthio)alkan-2-one, from 3-bromothiophene and ring formation reaction. This convenient method provides an easy access with good yields to the preparation of 3-alkylthieno[3,2-]thiophenes, which are important materials for organic electronic and optoelectronic applications. SEM, AFM and contact angle (CA) analyses of their electropolymers on indium tin oxide (ITO) indicated that as the alkyl chains became longer, the polymers provide a more hydrophobic layer with CA up to 107°.

Development and optimization of a novel PLGA-Levan based drug delivery system for curcumin, using a quality-by-design approach.

This study aimed to develop a PLGA, Levan-based drug delivery system (DDS) of Curcumin using a quality-by-design (QbD) approach to reveal how formulation parameters affect the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of this DDS and to present an optimal design. First, a risk assessment was conducted to determine the impact of various process parameters on the CQAs of the DDS (i.e.

Encapsulated melatonin in polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles as a promising graft material.

Electrospraying assures many advantages with taking less time and costing less relatively to the other conventional particle production methods. In this research, we investigated the encapsulation of melatonin (MEL) hormone in polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles by using electrospraying method. Morphology analysis of the produced particles completed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Beta-Glucan based temperature responsive hydrogels for 5-ASA delivery.

A series of temperature responsive hydrogels consisting of (1,3)-(1,6) β-Glucan and poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) was synthesized by redox polymerization at room temperature. Tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) and potassium persulfate (KPS) were used as a redox pair. β-glucan was methacrylated (MA-β-Glucan) and used as a biodegradable and bio-compatible cross-linker to prepare β-glucan-PNIPAM based temperature responsive hydrogels.

Halomonas smyrnensis as a cell factory for co-production of PHB and levan.

Levan is a fructan type polysaccharide that has long been considered as an industrially important biopolymer however its limited availability is mainly due to the bottlenecks associated with its large-scale production. To overcome such bottlenecks in the commercialization of this very promising polysaccharide, co-production of levan with polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by halophilic Halomonas smyrnensis cultures has been proposed in this study for the first time. After in silico and in vitro assessment of PHA accumulation, fermentation profiles for levan and PHA concentrations were obtained in the presence of sucrose and glucose and the PHA granules observed by TEM were found to be poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) after detailed structural characterization by GC-MS, DSC, FTIR and NMR.

Novel levan and pNIPA temperature sensitive hydrogels for 5-ASA controlled release.

Levan based cross-linker was successfully synthesized and used to prepare a series of more biocompatible and temperature responsive levan/N-isopropyl acrylamide (levan/pNIPA) hydrogels by redox polymerization at room temperature. Volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the hydrogels were precisely determined by derivative differential scanning calorimetry (DDSC). Incorporation of levan into the pNIPA hydrogel increased the VPTT from 32.

Sugar Based Biopolymers in Nanomedicine; New Emerging Era for Cancer Imaging and Therapy.

Since last decade, sugar based biopolymers are recognized in nanomedicine as promising materials for cancer imaging and therapy. Their durable, biocompatible and adhesive properties enable the fine tuning of their molecular weights (MW) and their miscellaneous nature makes the molecules acquire various conformations. These in turn provide effective endocytosis by cancer cell membranes that have already been programmed for internalization of different kinds of sugars.

Sulfated levan from Halomonas smyrnensis as a bioactive, heparin-mimetic glycan for cardiac tissue engineering applications.

Chemical derivatives of levan from Halomonas smyrnensis AAD6(T) with low, medium and high levels of sulfation were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and 2D-NMR. Sulfated levan samples were found to exhibit anticoagulation activity via the intrinsic pathway like heparin in a dose-dependent manner. Exceptionally high heparin equivalent activity of levan sulfate was shown to proceed via thrombin inhibition where decreased Factor Xa activity with increasing concentration was observed in antithrombin tests and above a certain concentration, levan sulfate showed a better inhibitor activity than heparin.

Sequence specific recognition of ssDNA by fluorophore 3-hydroxyflavone.

A fully water soluble 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) derivative, N-(3-hydroxy-4'-flavonyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium sulfate (3HFNMe3) was synthesized. Investigation of its emissions at varying wavelengths revealed that it had three emission bands of normal (N(⁎)), anionic (A(⁎)) and tautomeric (T(⁎)), in ultrapure water. Recognition of single-stranded ten ssDNA chains, having different nucleotide sequences was studied, using the ratiometric change of the intensities of the two bands (A(⁎)/T(⁎)), depending upon the varying environment of the 3HFNMe3 with different ssDNA chains.

A new lipid-based nano formulation of vinorelbine.

Vinorelbine (VLB) is a semi-synthetic Vinca alkaloid which is currently used in treatment of different cancer types mainly advanced breast cancer (ABC) and advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its marketed formulation has been reported to have serious side effects, such as granulocytopenia, which is the major dose-limiting toxicity. Other unwanted effects include venous discoloration and phlebitis proximal to the site of injection, as well as localized rashes and urticaria, blistering, and skin sloughing.

Combinatorial MAPLE gradient thin film assemblies signalling to human osteoblasts.

There is increased interest in smart bioactive materials to control tissue regeneration for the engineering of cell instructive scaffolds. We introduced combinatorial matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (C-MAPLE) as a new method for the fabrication of organic thin films with a compositional gradient. Synchronized C-MAPLE of levan and oxidized levan was employed to assemble a two-compound biopolymer film structure.

Comprehensive characterization of chitosan/PEO/levan ternary blend films.

Ternary blend films of chitosan, PEO (300,000) and levan were prepared by solution casting method and their phase behavior, miscibility, thermal and mechanical properties as well as their surface energy and morphology were characterized by different techniques. FT-IR analyses of blend films indicated intermolecular hydrogen bonding between blend components. Thermal and XRD analysis showed that chitosan and levan suppressed the crystallinity of PEO up to nearly 25% of PEO content in the blend, which resulted in more amorphous film structures at higher PEO/(chitosan+levan) ratios.

Controlled release of 5-aminosalicylicacid from chitosan based pH and temperature sensitive hydrogels.

A series of temperature and pH responsive hydrogels based on chitosan and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) was prepared by redox polymerization. Effect of the composition on swelling behavior of the hydrogels and the release of 5-aminosaylcilic acid (5-ASA) at different temperatures and pHs have been investigated. Ammonium persulphate and TEMED were used as a redox pair at room temperature.

Levan nanostructured thin films by MAPLE assembling.

Synthesis of nanostructured thin films of pure and oxidized levan exopolysaccharide by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation is reported. Solutions of pure exopolysaccharides in dimethyl sulfoxide were frozen in liquid nitrogen to obtain solid cryogenic pellets that have been used as targets in pulsed laser evaporation experiments with a KrF* excimer source. The expulsed material was collected and assembled onto glass slides and Si wafers.