Modifying Membranotropic Action of Antimicrobial Peptide Gramicidin S by Star-like Polyacrylamide and Lipid Composition of Nanocontainers.

Gramicidin S (GS), one of the first discovered antimicrobial peptides, still shows strong antibiotic activity after decades of clinical use, with no evidence of resistance. The relatively high hemolytic activity and narrow therapeutic window of GS limit its use in topical applications. Encapsulation and targeted delivery may be the way to develop the internal administration of this drug.

Uptake of Radionuclides Co, Cs, and Sr with α-FeO and FeO Particles from Aqueous Environment.

In the paper, investigation results of the uptake efficiency of radionuclides Co, Sr, and Cs dissolved in water onto iron oxides α-FeO and FeO are presented. It was found that sorption efficiency increased for higher pH values. Independent of the oxide nature, the uptake characteristics are the best toward Co and the worst toward Cs, forming the row as follows: Co > Sr > Cs.

Effect of SiC Addition to AlO Ceramics Used in Cutting Tools.

In this study, the effect of the addition of silicon carbide to alumina ceramics commonly used in cutting tool applications is addressed. Performance of AlO-SiC composite cutting inserts during the machining of hardened steels and ductile iron was compared to the results obtained for a cutting tool made out of 99 wt.% AlO, AlO-TiC, AlO-TiC-ZrO, and AlO-TiN.

Investigation of thioctic acid, magnesium stearate and pyridoxine hydrochloride compatibility.

To identify possible interactions of components in dosage forms, studies are usually carried out at the stage of pharmaceutical development. Such studies can predict compatibility of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients in order to optimize drug formulation and certain parameters of technological process. Compatibility of some components of a newly developed neuroprotective medicinal product Neuronucleos, namely, thioctic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, magnesium stearate and magnesium lactate, was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

[Membranothropic properties of the urocanic acid].

The effects of urocanic acid (UA) on thermodynamic parameters of model dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid membrane have been studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The observed ordering effect of UA on the lipid bilayer is reflected in the increase in both the main phase transition temperature and cooperative unit size of the lipid membrane. Analysis of FTIR spectra suggests localization of UA molecules in the vicinity of the polar heads and carbonyl groups of DPPC due to electrostatic interactions and H-bonds.

Spherical core-shell structured nanophosphors on the basis of europium-doped lutetium compounds.

Crystalline Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanolayers with a europium content from 1 to 10 at.% were immobilized onto amorphous SiO(2) submicrospheres by a sol-gel technique, forming monodisperse SiO(2)/Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) core-shell structured nanophosphors. The nanostructure, morphology and composition of the core-shell particles obtained were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques.