Synthesis, self-assembly, and characterization of PEG-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as potential MRI contrast agent.

Aim: Investigated the self-assembly and characterization of novel antifouling polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as nanoprobes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent.

Method: Monodisperse oleic acid-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide cores are synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron oleate. The self-assembly behavior between iron oxide cores and PEG-lipid conjugates in water and their characteristics are confirmed by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer.

Preparation, characterization, and biodistribution of breviscapine proliposomes in heart.

Breviscapine proliposomes were prepared by ethanol injection-homogenization-lyophilization method. On contact with 5% glucose, the proliposomes were rapidly converted into a liposomal dispersion, in which a certain amount of breviscapine was entrapped by the liposomes. The entrapment efficiency measured by reverse dialysis method was 77.

Recombinant human interleukin-2 inhalation powders: preparation and distribution in the alveolus.

The aim of this work was to prepare recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) inhalation powders, and the important parameters such as particle size, the remaining ratio of rhIL-2 were also studied. To elucidate the target effect of rhIL-2 inhalation powders, an in situ pharmacokinetic two-compartment model was used to explain their distribution characteristics in lung epithelial lining fluid and alveolar macrophage in the alveolus after the administration of the rhIL-2 inhalation powders in rats.

NifL, an antagonistic regulator of NifA interacting with NifA.

Nitrogen fixation (nif) genes of diazotrophic enteric bacteria,Enterobacter cloacae orKlebsiella pneumoniae, are regulated bynif LA operon, in which thenif A product, NifA positively regulatesnif gene transcription, whereas the nifL product NifL represses it under oxygen or in excess of fixed nitrogen. Two-hybrid system was used to detect the possible interaction between NifA and NifL. The preliminary results illustrate that NifL does interact with NifA.