Stabilization of protein encapsulated in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres by novel viscous S/W/O/W method.

In stabilizing proteins during microsphere fabrication, the viscous solid-in-water-in-oil-in-water (S/W/O/W) method was compared to the conventional multi-emulsion W/O/W and S/O/W method. Solid proteins lyophilized with cyclodextrin derivatives and polyethylene glycol (PEG) pass through an organic solvent phase and are then embedded in aqueous microdroplets of first emulsion. Proteins were stabilized at the water/organic solvent interface by an internal aqueous phase containing viscous polysaccharides, and then can be safely encapsulated without degradation.

In vitro study of lysozyme in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres with sucrose acetate isobutyrate.

This study investigated the suitability of microsphere formulations for extended protein delivery and complete protein release. These microspheres were prepared by a multi-emulsion method and prepared using a mixture of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), RG 502H (lactide:glycolide=50:50, M(W) 9300) and sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB). SAIB embedded into the microspheres and mixed with PLGA, improved the efficiency of enzyme encapsulation.

Inhibition of skin pigmentation by an extract of Lepidium apetalum and its possible implication in IL-6 mediated signaling.

The development of effective skin-lightening agents is an increasingly important area of research aimed at the treatment of hyperpigmentation induced by UV irradiation or by medical conditions such as melasma, postinflammatory melanoderma and solar lentigo. Although some inhibit tyrosinase, identifying and understanding the mechanisms of action of other agents is an important goal if more effective pigmentation inhibitors are to be developed. We present here that an extract of Lepidium apetalum (ELA) decreased UV-induced skin pigmentation in brown guinea pigs and melanogenesis of HM3KO human melanoma cells.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin reduces skin pigmentation of brown Guinea pigs.

In this report, we have demonstrated that deoxypodophyllotoxin from Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm decreases UV-induced skin pigmentation of brown guinea pigs. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (0.

The stabilization of L-ascorbic acid in aqueous solution and water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion by controlling pH and electrolyte concentration.

This study presents a new approach that can stabilize effectively L-ascorbic acid in water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsions. Basically, the behavior of L-ascorbic acid in the aqueous phase was observed, considering its molecular deformation. Then, it was found that the stability determined in the aqueous phase by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the collapse of ionization of L-ascorbic acid played a crucial role in protecting the molecular deformation.

Compound K induces expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 gene in transformed human keratinocytes and increases hyaluronan in hairless mouse skin.

Ginsenosides, the major active ingredients of ginseng, have a variety of biomedical efficacies such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammatory activities. To understand the effects of compound K (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol), one of the major metabolites of ginsenosides, on the skin, we assessed the expression levels of about 100 transcripts in compound K-treated HaCaT cells using cDNA microarray analysis. One gene up-regulated by compound K was hyaluronan synthase2 (HAS2).

Pigment-lightening effect of N,N'-dilinoleylcystamine on human melanoma cells.

Background: Cystamine and linoleic acid have been reported to reduce melanin synthesis in vitro and in vivo. N,N'-dilinoleylcystamine (DLC) is a compound of cystamine and linoleic acid connected by an ester bond.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of DLC on melanin synthesis using cultured human melanoma cells.

Nano-structured biphasic polymer film on the hair surface from PEGylated polymer latexes.

In this study, biphasic polymer latexes were synthesized by surfactant-free-emulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, and 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. The latexes synthesized were composed of hydrophobic core phase and hydrophilic shell phase. Nano-structured film morphology could be obtained by annealing the biphasic polymer latexes between the two transition temperatures.

Proteolytic enzyme conjugated to SC-glucan as an enzymatic transdermal drug penetration enhancer.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of papain, a proteolytic enzyme, on the percutaneous absorption of drugs. To guarantee the enzyme stability during the skin penetration, papain was modified by the conjugation to SC-glucan. The enhancing activity of drug penetration was evaluated using antipyrine and indomethacin as hydrophilic and hydrophobic model drugs, respectively.

The extract of Thujae occidentalis semen inhibited 5alpha-reductase and androchronogenetic alopecia of B6CBAF1/j hybrid mouse.

Background: The conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone; 5alpha-androstan-17beta-ol-3-one by 5alpha-reductase plays a crucial role in hair baldness and prostatomegaly. Recent approach showed specific inhibitors for 5alpha-reductase type 2 such as finasteride promoted hair growth in male pattern alopecia.

Objective: In order to search for effective medicinal plant extracts applied topically for androgenetic alopecia, we screened natural plant extracts having inhibitory activities of 5alpha-reductase type 2 and demonstrated its biological function in androgen-related animal models.

New micelle-like polymer aggregates made from PEI-PLGA diblock copolymers: micellar characteristics and cellular uptake.

New amphiphilic block copolymers based on oligomeric polyethylenimine and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PEI-PLGA) were synthesized by directly coupling PLGA with a carboxyl terminal group to PEI. The block copolymers were prepared by varying the length of the hydrophobic PLGA block (M(n)=6, 10, and 21K), while that of the hydrophilic PEI block (M(n)=423) was fixed. PEI-PLGA block copolymers were found to be self-assembled in water by using a PLGA segment as a hydrophobic aggregate block and a PEI segment as a hydrophilic corona-forming block.

Development of 5-[(3-aminopropyl)phosphinooxy]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one as a novel whitening agent.

A stable derivative of kojic acid, 5-[(3-aminopropyl)phosphinooxy]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one (Kojyl-APPA), was synthesized in good yield. The effects of Kojyl-APPA on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis were investigated. Kojyl-APPA showed tyrosinase inhibition effect (30%) in situ, but not in vitro.

Changes in serum and prostatic zinc concentrations in rats after intraprostatic injection of zinc: Comparison of two forms of zinc delivery.

Background: We investigated changes in zinc concentrations in serum and prostatic tissue after an intraprostatic injection of zinc, and compared two forms of zinc delivery: solution and liposome.

Methods: Ninety-six male Wistar rats were used in the study (24 controls, 72 test rats). The test animals were randomly divided into two groups and were injected intraprostatically with 2 mL of 0.