Int J Nanomed
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We evaluated the delivery efficiency of intravenously injected large molecular agents, before and after disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB-D), induced by focused ultrasound (FUS) using various acoustic parameters. ⋯ We demonstrated that a compound administered prior to sonication treatment promotes extravasation of the sonicated region. Thus, it is possible to optimize ultrasound parameters for lower sonication and reduced UCA doses, to induce BBB-D while minimizing damage to normal brain tissue.
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Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescencs, has been reported to have antitumor effects. However, low solubility has limited its clinical applications. Preparation of drugs in the form of nanosuspensions is an extensively utilized protocol. ⋯ The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression was decreased and caspase- 3 activity was stimulated. The expression of cyclin B1 and p-cdc2 (T161) was suppressed. Our results showed that oridonin nanosuspension was more effective than free oridonin on G(2)/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cell line.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious and costly clinical problem. Specifically, receiving mechanical ventilation for over 24 hours increases the risk of VAP and is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. Cost-effective endotracheal tubes (ETTs) that are resistant to bacterial infections could help prevent this problem. ⋯ Twenty-four-hour experiments (supported by computational models) showed that airflow conditions within the ETT influenced both the location and the concentration of bacterial growth on the ETTs, especially within areas of tube curvature. More importantly, experiments revealed a 1.5 log reduction in the total number of S. aureus on the novel nanomodified ETTs compared with the conventional ETTs after 24 hours of airflow. This dynamic study showed that lipase etching can create nanorough surface features on PVC ETTs that suppress S. aureus growth, and thus may provide clinicians with an effective and inexpensive tool to combat VAP.
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The contribution of fibrinogen (FBN) to hemostasis acting on platelet aggregation and clot formation is well established. It has been suggested that FBN-coated liposomes could be useful in restoring hemostasis. In the present study, we evaluated the modifications induced by multilamellar raw liposomes (MLV) or fibrinogen-coated liposomes (MLV-FBN) on hemostatic parameters. ⋯ Our results reveal that, in addition to the main contribution of fibrinogen to hemostasis, MLV-FBN inhibits platelet-mediated hemostasis and coagulation mechanisms.
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A bioactive composite of nano calcium-deficient apatite (n-CDAP) with an atom molar ratio of calcium to phosphate (Ca/P) of 1.50 and poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) was synthesized, and a composite scaffold was fabricated. The composite scaffolds with 40 wt% n-CDAP contained well interconnected macropores around 400 μm, and exhibited a porosity of 75%. The weight-loss ratio of the n-CDAP/PCL-PEG-PCL was significantly greater than nano hydroxyapatite (n-HA, Ca/P = 1.67)/PCL-PEG-PCL composite scaffolds during soaking into phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) for 70 days, indicating that n-CDAP-based composite had good degradability compared with n-HA. ⋯ In addition, the alkaline phosphatase activity of the MG-63 cells cultured on n-CDAP was higher than n-HA-based composite scaffolds at 7 days. Histological evaluation showed that the introduction of n-CDAP into PCL-PEG-PCL enhanced the efficiency of new bone formation when the composite scaffolds were implanted into rabbit bone defects. The results suggested that the n-CDAP-based composite exhibits good biocompatibility, biodegradation, and osteogenesis in vivo.