Drug delivery of protein and peptide-based drugs, which represent a growing and important therapeutic class, is hampered by these drugs' very short half-lives. High susceptibility towards enzymatic degradation necessitates frequent drug administration followed by poor adherence to therapy. Among these drugs is vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a potent systemic and pulmonary vasodilator, which is a promising drug for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Encapsulation of VIP into the nanoparticle matrix of biodegradable protamine-oligonucleotide nanoparticles (proticles) protects the peptide against rapid enzymatic degradation. Additionally, the nanoparticle matrix will be able to sustain drug release. Proticles consist of 18mer non-sense oligonucleotides and protamine, a polycationic arginine-rich peptide. VIP encapsulation occurs during self-assembly of the components. Within the present study, we evaluate nanoparticle size (hydrodynamic diameter) and zeta potential of VIP-loaded proticles as well as encapsulation efficiency and VIP release. Further, the pharmacological VIP response of "encapsulated VIP" is investigated using an ex vivo lung arterial model system. We found satisfying encapsulation efficiency (up to 80%), VIP release (77-87%), and an appropriate nanoparticle size (177-251 nm). Investigations on rat pulmonary arteries showed a modified VIP response of proticle-associated VIP. We noted differences in the profile of artery relaxation where VIP proticles lead to a 20-30% lower relaxation maximum than aqueous VIP solutions followed by prolonged vasodilatation. Our data indicate that proticles could be a feasible drug delivery system for a pulmonary VIP depot formulation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.06.005 | DOI Listing |
BMC Public Health
January 2025
School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing. 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, China.
Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was regarded as a cost-efficient and reliable clinical surrogate marker for insulin resistance (IR), which was significantly correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the TyG index and incident CVD in non-diabetic hypertension patients remains uncertain. The aim of study was to explore the impact of TyG index level and variability on risk of CVD among non-diabetic hypertension patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
January 2025
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital. Electronic address:
Objective: High D-dimer levels may increase the likelihood of unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, the impacts of serum D-dimer levels on outcomes of reperfusion treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke have not been evaluated. This study aims to assess a possible relationship between serum D-dimer and functional outcomes in stroke patients with endovascular treatment (EVT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomaterials
December 2024
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China; Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Beijing, China. Electronic address:
In situ bone regeneration and vertical bone augmentation have been huge problems in clinical practice, always imposing a significant economic burden and causing patient suffering. Herein, MgZnYNd magnesium alloy rod implantation in mouse femur resulted in substantial subperiosteal new bone formation, with osteoimmunomodulation playing a pivotal role. Abundant macrophages were attracted to the subperiosteal new bone region and proved to be the most important regulation cells for bone regeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
January 2025
Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá 250247, Colombia.
Watercress (), a freshwater aquatic plant in the Brassicaceae family, is characterized by its high content of specialized metabolites, including flavonoids, glucosinolates, and isothiocyanates. Traditionally, commercial cultivation is conducted in submerged beds using river or spring water, often on soil or gravel substrates. However, these methods have significant environmental impacts, such as promoting eutrophication due to excessive fertilizer use and contaminating water sources with pesticides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
December 2024
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
The high pathogenic activity of () strains against various insect orders has positioned it as the most effective, environmentally safe, and sustainable approach to integrated insect management. We aimed to identify strains capable of effectively controlling the housefly , a species of significant medical, veterinary, and public health concern. Twelve strains from Macapá, Brazil, were tested against housefly larvae.
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