Retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE ) is a vital tissue for the maintenance of photoreceptor function and environment of outer retina, also the predominant cell type of proliferative vitreoretinopathy ( PVR ) . lt is also affected by many diseases of the retina and choroid, including diabetic retinopathy ( DR) , age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ) and retinal pigmentosa ( RP ) . Although of neural origin, the RPE is capable of local repair, and cells may migrate and take on altered characteristics. These findings indicate that RPE-based therapy is a promising option for congenital or degenerate disease of the retina.

Objective To study the expression of neuroglobulin(Ngb) in cortex of frontal lobe,hippocampus,cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and plasma of rats during the process of brain edema induced by endotoxin(LPS).Methods Seventy SD rats were randomly divided into the control group(n=10) and the LPS groups(10 each at six time points).An intraventricular injection of LPS(0.1mg/kg,0.2ml) was given to rats in LPS groups,while the same amount of normal saline was given in control group.The plasma,CSF,hippocampus and the cortex of frontal lobe of rats were collected 3,6,12,24,48 and 72 hours after the injection.Ngb was detected by ELISA,Western blotting and immunohistochemical(IHC) method.The brain water content was measured by wet/dry method.The swelling of organelles in hippocampus and the cortex of frontal lobe were observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Results The brain water content was significantly higher in LPS groups than in control group(P

Objective To study the protection and its mechanism of carbamylated erythropoietin (CEPO) on ischemic brain injury and to compare its function with erythropoietin (EPO).Methods Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) using the intraluminal filament technique.The expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and activated caspase-3 were detected with Western blot.The inducible NO synthase (iNOS) positive cells were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.The apoptotic cell was detected by TUNEL staining.Results The expression of eNOS, iNOS and activated caspase-3 in cerebral cortex significantly increased after MCAO.The influence of CEPO and EPO on eNOS in ischemic cortex were not significantly different.However, the expression of activated caspase-3 markedly dropped from 95.4%±16.7% in group NS to 43.5%±13.1% in group CEPO and 45.1%±11.2% in group EPO (t=5.99 and 6.13,P<0.01).Immunohistochemistry staining revealed iNOS positive cells in ischemic cortex was (3.1±1.9) cells/square, CEPO and EPO remarkably reduced them to (0.7±0.2) cells/square and (0.8±0.2) cells/square, respectively (t=3.08 and 2.95, P < 0.05).The apoptotic cells in ischemic cortex fell from (94.2±15.2) cells/square in group NS to (40.5±9.8) cells/square in group CEPO (t=7.27, P < 0.01), the anti-apoptosis by EPO was similar to CEPO.Conclusion CEPO and EPO have the similar function of anti-apoptosis by inhibiting expression of activated caspase-3 and iNOS.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ti-TiO2 nanotubes with different diameters on the adhesion of fibroblast and osteoblast, and to find which diameter was more favorable for cells' respective adhesion.

METHODSPure titanium sheets were polished and then anodized at different potentials for 1 h with Ti as anode and Pt as cathode. TiO2 nanotubes formed at 1, 5, 10 and 20 V potentials served as experimental groups and polished pure titanium served as control group. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (Fe-SEM) was used to analyze the surface topography. Stained nucleus with Hoechst33342 were used to measure the cell adhesion. The cell shape on the sample surface were analyzed with Fe-SEM.

RESULTSTiO2 nanotube array of different inner diameters from 15 nm to 100 nm were grown on titanium sheets by anodization at potentials from 1 to 20 V. At 30, 60 and 120 min, fibroblast adhesion at nanotubes anodized at 5 V was (141 ± 9), (388 ± 14) and (489 ± 15) respectively, significantly less than any other nanotube surface at the same time (P < 0.01). Nanotubes anodized at 20 V had the least inhibitory effect for fibroblast adhesion with a number of (579 ± 14) at 120 min, and the cell shape was also inhibited. At 30, 60 and 120 min, osteoblast had a significant better adhesion on nanotubes formed at 5 V than it did on any other surface at the same time (P < 0.01), except the control group at 30 min, with the adhesion number of (198 ± 10), (431 ± 10) and (501 ± 10) respectively, and osteoblast had a abundant spread on nanotubes formed at 5 V; while osteoblast adhesion on nanotubes anodized at 20 V was (152 ± 11), (403 ± 9) and (465 ± 12) respectively, less than on any other nanotube surface within the same time (P < 0.05), and the cell shape on the surface changed to be more elongate.

CONCLUSIONSFibroblast adhesion is inhabited more or less on Ti-TiO2 nanotubes of different diameters. Nanotubes formed at 5 V have the most osteoblast adhesion, and inhibit fibroblast adhesion.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanotubes ; chemistry ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

The formulation for sustained release tablet of Epinedium component was selected and the evaluation equation of in vitro release was established. The liquidity of component was improved with the help of colloidal silica aided by spray drying, which would be the main drug in the sustained release tablets. Dissolution was selected as an evaluation index to investigate skeletal material type, fillers, impact porogen, lubricants and other materials on the quality of sustained release tablet. The sustained release tablets were prepared by dry compression. Formulation of sustained release preparations was main drug 35%, HPMC K(4M) 20% and HPMC K(15M) 10% as skeleton material, MCC 31% as filler, PEG6000 2% as porogen and magnesium stearate 2% as lubricant. The sustained release tablets released up to 80% in 8 h. The zero order equation, primary equation and Higuchi equation could simulate the release characteristics of sustained release tablets in vitro, the correlation coefficients r were larger than 0.96. The primary equation was most similar in vitro release characteristics and its correlation coefficient r was 0.9950. The preparation method is simple and the results of formulation selection are reliable. It can be used to guide the production of Epimedium component sustained release preparations.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Tablets ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the dissolution characteristics of colloidal silica and porous silica as the solid dispersion carrier, with baicalin as the model drug.

METHODThe baicalin solid dispersion was prepared by the solvent method, with colloidal silica and porous silica as the carriers. In the in vitro dissolution experiment, the solid dispersion was identified by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning and X-ray diffraction.

RESULTThe solid dispersion carriers prepared with both colloidal silica and porous silica could achieve the purpose of rapid release. Along with the increase in the proportion of the carriers, the dissolution rate is accelerated to more than 80% within 60 min. Baicalin existed in the solid dispersion carriers in the non-crystalline form.

CONCLUSIONThe release behaviors of the baicalin solid dispersion prepared with two types of carrier were different. Among the two solid dispersion carriers, porous silica dissolved slowly than colloidal silica within 60 min, and they showed similar dissolutions after 60 min.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Colloids ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Porosity ; Silicon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Solubility

Baicalin extremely fine powder was made by using ball-mill and the effect of micronization on the micromeritics properties of baicalin was studied and analyzed. The microstructures of baicalin ordinary and extremely fine powder were compared by scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimeter and X-ray diffraction and the powder characteristic of them was investigated. The hygroscopicity was studied. The effect of micronization on the dissolution of baicalin was investigated. The results showed that the chemical constituents of baicalin were not changed after micronization with better compressibility. It was confirmed that micronization technology had a certain application value in promoting the insoluble component of baicalin absorption with higher dissolution.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Solubility ; Wettability ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo prepare pH-dependent baicalin colon-specific solid dispersion, with the aim of colon-specific delivery and rapid drug release.

METHODBaicalin-eudragit S100 solid dispersion was prepared by using the solvent method. The microscopic structure and physicochemical properties were analyzed by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). And its in vitro release was also investigated.

RESULTThe results of DSC and XRD analysis suggested that baicalin may be dispersed in solid dispersion in the amorphous state. IR results indicated a non-covalent bond effect may exist between baicalin and eudragit S100. The results of in vitro release determination showed that very few baicalins in pH 1.2 diluted hydrochloric acid solution for 2 h at the baicalin-eudragit S100 ratio of 1 : 6. The accumulated dissolution rate was less than 15% in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution for 4 h, but exceeding 90% in pH 7.6 phosphate buffer solution for 1 h.

CONCLUSIONThe prepared baicalin-eudragit S100 solid dispersion could achieve the objective of colon-specific delivery and rapid drug release, and helps increase the concentration of baicalin in colons.

Colon ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Solvents ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods

In order to improve the dissolution in vitro of components by processing tanshinone with the pray drying method, the physical properties of tanshinone power was analyzed by BET, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction, and its dissolution in vitro was also investigated. The results of characterization showed decreased power size and increased specific surface area of tanshinone powder, and its existence in an amorphous state. Within 4 h, the accumulated dissolutions of tanshinone I and tanshinone II(A) in components of tanshinone reached 78.3%, 81.9%, respectively. Therefore, the spray-drying method was conducive to enhance the dissolution of components of tanshinone.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Solubility

To evaluate the properties of solidifying volatile oil with graphene oxide, clove oil and zedoary turmeric oil were solidified by graphene oxide. The amount of graphene oxide was optimized with the eugenol yield and curcumol yield as criteria. Curing powder was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of graphene oxide on dissolution in vitro and thermal stability of active components were studied. The optimum solidification ratio of graphene oxide to volatile oil was 1:1. Dissolution rate of active components had rare influence while their thermal stability improved after volatile oil was solidified. Solidifying herbal volatile oil with graphene oxide deserves further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Clove Oil ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Eugenol ; Graphite ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Oxides ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Powders ; Sesquiterpenes