Objective To study the effects of matrine (MAT) on the apoptosis and the expression of PEG10 in human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. Methods MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation-inhibition activity by MAT to HepG2 cell. JC-1 staining was prepared to detect the change of mitochondrial membrane potential in HepG2 cells after MAT was given. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical method for detecting the PEG10 gene and protein expression levels were used. Results MAT could inhibit the HepG2 cell proliferation above the concentration of 0.125 mg/mL (different from above-->MAT ≥ 0.1 g/L) and in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner(P<0.01). JC-1 staining and flow cytometry detection showed that MAT can significantly decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential of HepG2 cells (P < 0.01). The RT-PCR and immunocytochemical staining results showed that 0.5 and 2.0 mg/ml (different from Chinese) MAT could reduce PEG10 gene and protein expression obviously. Conclusion MAT could decrease the expression level of PEG10 gene and inhibited cell proliferation,change the mitochondrial membrane potential and induce HepG2 cell apoptosis.

Hydrothermally synthesized nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) varying in weight from 10% to 30% was used as filler to make nanocomposites with novel aliphatic polyesteramide (PEA) in our laboratory. The structure and properties of PEA and its n-HA composites were investigated through transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffractioin, scanning electron microscopy and energy spectrometry. The shape and size of the n-HA crystals are similar to those of the apatite crystals in natural bone. Molecule interactions are present between the n-HA and PEA in the composite, which allows the uniform dispersion of n-HA in PEA matrix. This contributes enhanced mechanical property and bioactivity to the composite. The cytocompatibility of the composites has been investigated by culturing osteoblasts on the membranes. Good cell attachment and proliferation manner were observed on the membranes after 1 week. These results suggest that the PEA/n-HA composites prepared in this study may serve as potential candidate scaffold for tissue engineering.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Bone Substitutes ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

In this paper, a series of low-molecular-weight PEG-PCL-PEG triblock copolymers were successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization method, and were characterized using 1H-NMR and FTIR. The aqueous solution displayed specific thermosensitive gel-sol transition when the concentration was above corresponding critical gel concentration (CGC). The gel-sol phase diagram was recorded using test tube-inverting method, which was depended on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance in macromolecular structure, as well as heating history. As a result, the gel-sol transition temperature range could be altered, which might be very useful for its application as injectable drug delivery system.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Temperature