Foam stability affects the efficacy and incidence of side effects of foam sclerotherapy. Exploring the relationship between foam pressure difference and foam stability can provide ideas and basis for obtaining more stable foam. In the experiment, sodium cod liver oleate foam was selected, and poloxamer 188 (concentration of 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%) was added to realize the change of foam pressure. By using the self-written program to process the foam pictures, the foam pressure difference and the relationship between the foam stability indicators (water separation rate curve, half-life) and the foam pressure difference were obtained. The results showed that at first the foam pressure increased with the increase of the concentration, and then it decreased with the increase of the concentration and reached a peak at the concentration of 4%. The foam pressure difference decreases continuously with the increase of decay time. When the additive concentration is low, the foam average pressure difference increases. And if the additive concentration is too high, the foam average pressure difference decreases. The smaller the foam pressure difference is, the better the foam stability is. This paper lays a foundation for the research on the stability of foam hardener.
Half-Life ; Humans ; Poloxamer ; Sclerosing Solutions/adverse effects* ; Sclerotherapy ; Varicose Veins

Polysaccharide from Ganoderma applanatum has the activities of anti-tumor and enhancing immune function. There were no reports on antitumor effect of its intratumoral injection. In this study, the polysaccharide was extracted from G. applanatum by water extraction and alcohol precipitation, and purified by ceramic membrane after removing protein by Sevage method. The total polysaccharide content from G. applanatum(PGA)was about 63%. The combination of PGA and paclitaxel showed synergistic effect on cytotoxicity of 4 T1 cells at lower concentrations in vitro. In addition, the growth curve of 4 T1 cells showed that PGA could retard the growth of 4 T1 cells gradually. The PGA thermosensitive gel(PGA-TG)was prepared by using poloxamer 188 and 407. The gel temperature was 36 ℃, and the PGA-TG could effectively slow down the release rate of PGA in vitro. 4 T1 breast cancer-bearing mice were used as a model to evaluate the therapeutic effect of intratumoral injection of PGA combined with tail vein injection of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-PTX). In high and low dose PGA groups, each mice was given with 2.25, 1.125 mg PGA respectively, twice in total, and the dosage of paclitaxel was 15 mg·kg~(-1), once every 3 days, for a total of five times. The tumor inhibition rate was 29.65% in the high dose PGA-TG group, 58.58% in the nab-PTX group, 63.37% in low dose PGA-TG combined with nab-PTX group, and 68.10% in high dose PGA-TG combined with nab-PTX group respectively. The inhibitory effect in high dose PGA-TG group combined with nab-PTX on tumors was significantly higher than that in nab-PTX group(P<0.05). The results showed that paclitaxel therapy combined with intratumoral injection of PGA-TG could improve the therapeutic effect for 4 T1 mice and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ganoderma ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; Paclitaxel ; Poloxamer ; Polysaccharides

To evaluate the traits and rheological properties of thermosensitive in situ gel of Yihuang Decoction and its common gel for vaginal use, and predict the release behavior of Yihuang Decoction in situ gel in vitro. Poloxamer was used as thermosensitive material to prepare Yihuang Decoction vaginal in situ gel, and Yihuang Decoction common gel was prepared with carbopol. Then the differences of the two gels before and after diluting with vaginal fluid were compared. The rheological parameters of Yihuang Decoction in situ gel and its common gel were determined with Anton Paar MCR102 rheometer. In addition, berberine hydrochloride was selected as an index component to evaluate the in vitro release properties of Yihuang Decoction vaginal thermosensitive in situ gel. Yihuang Decoction vaginal thermosensitive in situ gel was Newtonian fluid under low-temperature conditions, which was yellow and transparent. After reaching the gelling temperature of 24.5 ℃, it became semi-solid, pseudoplastic fluid. The gelling temperature was predicted to be 37 ℃, and the phase transition time was 30 s after diluting with simulated vaginal fluid. However, the rheological properties of Yihuang Decoction common gel had no significant changes with temperature. Compared with in situ gel, the color of common gel was darker and more translucent. Besides, its mobility was stronger after diluting with simulated vaginal fluid. The in vitro release study showed that the kinetic behavior of berberine hydrochloride in Yihuang Decoction vaginal thermosensitive in situ gel was matched with the Higuchi equation. Through simulation of vaginal administration, physical properties and dynamic rheological parameters were used to intuitively and scientifically evaluate the two gels. Compared with the common gel, the thermosensitive in situ gel could quickly attached to the vaginal mucosa and release drug, and thus was more suitable for developing vaginal administration of Yihuang Decoction, which also provides references for studying new vaginal preparation of Yihuang Decoction.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Female ; Gels/chemistry* ; Humans ; Poloxamer ; Rheology ; Temperature ; Viscosity

Two types(A model and B model) of articular cartilage defect models were prepared by using adult New Zealand white rabbits. A model group was applied by drilling without through subchondral bone, whose right joint was repaired by composite scaffolds made by seed cell, gum-bletilla as well as Pluronic F-127, and left side was blank control. B model group was applied by subchondral drilling method, whose right joint was repaired by using composite scaffolds made by gum-bletilla and Pluronic F-127 without seed cells, and left side was blank control. Autogenous contrast was used in both model types. In addition, another group was applied with B model type rabbits, which was repaired with artificial complex material of Pluronic F-127 in both joint sides. 4, 12 and 24 weeks after operation, the animals were sacrificed and the samples were collected from repaired area for staining with HE, typeⅡcollagen immunohistochemical method, Alcian blue, and toluidine blue, and then were observed with optical microscope. Semi-quantitative scores were graded by referring to Wakitanis histological scoring standard to investigate the histomorphology of repaired tissue. Hyaline cartilage repairing was achieved in both Group A and Group B, with satisfactory results. There were no significant differences on repairing effects for articular cartilage defects between composite scaffolds made by seed cell, gum-bletilla and Pluronic F-127, and the composite scaffolds made by gum-bletilla and Pluronic F-127 without seed cell. Better repairing effects for articular cartilage defects were observed in groups with use of gum-bletilla, indicating that gum-bletilla is a vital part in composite scaffolds material.
Animals ; Arthroplasty, Subchondral ; Cartilage, Articular ; surgery ; Cells, Cultured ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Gums ; chemistry ; Poloxamer ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVE: Intimal hyperplasia (IH) remains one of the major obstacles to long term vein graft patency. IL-1B has been demonstrated to be one of the first inflammatory cytokines expressed in the rat vein graft model of IH and may be an important initiator of the sequence of events leading to the development of IH. This study was designed to establish the role of IL-1B by demonstrating the outcome of inhibiting its effects by the use of neutralizing antibodies on the development of IH in this model.

METHODS: Rat epigastric vein to femoral artery interposition grafts were treated with neutralizing antibody to IL-1B suspended in pluronic gel and harvested at the end of one week and two weeks. The amount of intimal hyperplasia was measured at the anastomotic and midgraft regions.

RESULTS: The amount of IH was less at the anastomotic and midgraft regions of the treated grafts at the end of one week (p<0.05), but did not differ significantly with the untreated group at the end of two weeks.

CONCLUSION: Neutralizing antibody to IL-1B delivered locally retarded but did not prevent the occurrence of IH in vein grafts. The initiation of the cascade of events in the development of IH is affected in a major way , but not singularly by IL-1B

Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Hyperplasia ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Cytokines ; Poloxamer ; Femoral Artery ; Veins ; Tunica Intima ; Interleukin-1beta ; Transplants

Objective: To observe the effect of poloxamer 188 (P188) on megakaryocyte cultivation and induction from cord blood mononuclear cells in order to obtain more megakaryocyte progenitor cells (MPC). Methods: The cord blood mononuclear cells were isolated and inoculated in cell culture bag or cell culture flask respectively. The WIGGENS shaker and cell culture bags were used to mimick WAVE Bioreactor for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, and the P188 was added to induction medium, The cells were detected for morphology, surface marker, viability, and number on day 14. Results: In the two-dimensional (2D) culture, CD41(+), CD41(+)/CD61(+), CD61(+) megakaryocytic numbers increased significantly after adding P188 (all P<0.01). And in the 3D culture of adding P188, the cell volume became larger and the nuclear shape was irregular, the cytoplasm appeared magenta granules, and the megakaryocyte cells became more mature. By 3D culture, the expression of CD41/CD61 was (36.30±1.27)% vs (23.95±1.34)%, hence the differentiation for MPC was significantly higher than that in the 2D group (P<0.01). Furthermore, adding P188 in 3D culture resulted in highest differentiation efficiency for MPC [(59.45±1.20)%]. There were no significantly differences in terms of cell viability and cell number among 3D culture containing P188, 2D and 3D culture groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: 3D culture was beneficial for the differentiation of MPC, but the cell viability was lower than 2D group; However, the satisfied cell growth and better induction efficiency were obtained by adding of P188, which might provide a new method of megakaryocytes production for clinical application.
Bioreactors ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; Megakaryocytes ; Poloxamer

PURPOSE: Poloxamer 407 (P407) thermo-sensitive hydrogel formulations were developed to enhance the retention time in the urinary bladder after intravesical instillation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: P407 hydrogels (P407Gels) containing 0.2 w/w% fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD, MW 4 kDa) as a fluorescent probe were prepared by the cold method with different concentrations of the polymer (20, 25, and 30 w/w%). The gel-forming capacities were characterized in terms of gelation temperature (G-Temp), gelation time (G-Time), and gel duration (G-Dur). Homogenous dispersion of the probe throughout the hydrogel was observed by using fluorescence microscopy. The in vitro bladder simulation model was established to evaluate the retention and drug release properties. P407Gels in the solution state were administered to nude mice via urinary instillation, and the in vivo retention behavior of P407Gels was visualized by using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). RESULTS: P407Gels showed a thermo-reversible phase transition at 4℃ (refrigerated; sol) and 37℃ (body temperature; gel). The G-Temp, G-Time, and G-Dur of FD-free P407Gels were approximately 10℃–20℃, 12–30 seconds, and 12–35 hours, respectively, and were not altered by the addition of FD. Fluorescence imaging showed that FD was spread homogenously in the gelled P407 solution. In a bladder simulation model, even after repeated periodic filling-emptying cycles, the hydrogel formulation displayed excellent retention with continuous release of the probe over 8 hours. The FD release from P407Gels and the erosion of the gel, both of which followed zero-order kinetics, had a linear relationship (r²=0.988). IVIS demonstrated that the intravesical retention time of P407Gels was over 4 hours, which was longer than that of the FD solution ( < 1 hour), even though periodic urination occurred in the mice. CONCLUSIONS: FD release from P407Gels was erosion-controlled. P407Gels represent a promising system to enhance intravesical retention with extended drug delivery.
Administration, Intravesical* ; Animals ; Dextrans ; Drug Liberation ; Fluorescein ; Hydrogel* ; Hydrogels* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kinetics ; Methods ; Mice* ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Optical Imaging ; Phase Transition ; Poloxamer* ; Polymers ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urination

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biocompatibility and viability of nonionic triblock copolymer Pluronic F-127 as a cell scaffold for osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells(DPSC).

METHODSDPSC were obtained via enzymatic digestion method and purified bylimited dilution method. The freeze dried hydrogel of 20% Pluronic F-127 was prepared and itsstructurewas observed usingscanning electron microscopy(SEM). After the encapsulation of cells of passage 3 in Pluronic F-127, the effects of hydrogel on the proliferations of DPSC were assessed with methyl thiazolyl terazolium(MTT) after one day and 3, 5, 7 days of incubations, respectively. On day 14, osteogenic abilities of DPSC encapsulated in the hydrogel were estimated by means of alizarin red S, immunocytochemical staining and real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR).

RESULTSDPSC were isolated and cultured successfully in the present study. SEM observations showed that porous structures which might be suitable for cell culture. A570 values of MTT were then normalized. A570 values of the cells in 2D cultures were 0.30±0.06, 0.30±0.17, 0.35±0.04 and 0.25±0.06 and A570 values of DPSC in 3D cultures were 0.36±0.06, 0.54±0.18, 0.70±0.10 and 0.32±0.10 on day 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. A570 value peaks were found on day 5 in both groups. The proliferation of 3D cultured DPSC was higher than that of 2D cultured cells(P<0.05). After 14 days of osteogenic induction, there were no calcium nodules observed in the control group and the numbers of calcium nodulesin the 2D and 3D groups had no significant difference(P>0.05). Inmmunocytochemical staining demonstrated strong expression of osteoblast marker Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), type Ⅰ collagen(Col-Ⅰ) and relatively low expression of osteocalcin(OCN). Moreover, RT-qPCR showed no differences between the relative expression of ALP, RUNX-2, OCN in the 2D and 3D groups (P>0.05), but a higher relative expression of Col-Ⅰ was observed in the 3D group(P=0.023).

CONCLUSIONSPluronic F-127 is a promising cell scaffold or cell carrier for the osteobalst differentiation of dental pulp stem cells.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Dental Pulp ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; Poloxamer ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Scaffolds

Rotator cuff tear is a common musculoskeletal disease that often requires surgical repair. Despite of recent advances in surgical techniques, the re-tear rate of the rotator cuff tendon is very high. In this study, a platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-immobilized asymmetrically porous membrane was fabricated to investigate the feasibility for enhancing rotator cuff tendon regeneration through the membrane. PDGF-BB is recognized to promote tendon regeneration. The asymmetrically porous membrane was fabricated by polycaprolactone and Pluronic F127 using an immersion precipitation technique, which can allow selective permeability (preventing scar tissue invasion into defect region but allowing permeation of oxygen/nutrients) and incorporation of bioactive molecules (e.g., PDGF-BB) via heparin binding. The PDGF-BB immobilized on the membrane was released in a sustained manner over 42 days. In an animal study using Sprague-Dawley rats, the PDGF-BB-immobilized membrane group showed significantly greater regeneration of rotator cuff tendon in histological and biomechanical analyses compared with the groups of control (suturing) and membrane without PDGF-BB immobilization. The enhancing regeneration of rotator cuff tendon of the PDGF-BB-immobilized membrane may be caused from the synergistic effect of the asymmetrically porous membrane with unique properties (selective permeability and hydrophilicity) as a scaffold for guided tendon regeneration and PDGF-BB sustainedly released from the membrane.
Animals ; Cicatrix ; Heparin ; Immersion ; Immobilization ; Membranes* ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Permeability ; Poloxamer ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Rotator Cuff* ; Tears ; Tendons*

We conducted this study to investigate the synergistic effect of human urine-derived stem cells (USCs) and surface modified composite scaffold for bladder reconstruction in a rat model. The composite scaffold (Polycaprolactone/Pluronic F127/3 wt% bladder submucosa matrix) was fabricated using an immersion precipitation method, and heparin was immobilized on the surface via covalent conjugation. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was loaded onto the heparin-immobilized scaffold by a simple dipping method. In maximal bladder capacity and compliance analysis at 8 weeks post operation, the USCs-scaffold(heparin-bFGF) group showed significant functional improvement (2.34 ± 0.25 mL and 55.09 ± 11.81 microL/cm H2O) compared to the other groups (2.60 ± 0.23 mL and 56.14 ± 9.00 microL/cm H2O for the control group, 1.46 ± 0.18 mL and 34.27 ± 4.42 microL/cm H2O for the partial cystectomy group, 1.76 ± 0.22 mL and 35.62 ± 6.69 microL/cm H2O for the scaffold group, and 1.92 ± 0.29 mL and 40.74 ± 7.88 microL/cm H2O for the scaffold(heparin-bFGF) group, respectively). In histological and immunohistochemical analysis, the USC-scaffold(heparin-bFGF) group showed pronounced, well-differentiated, and organized smooth muscle bundle formation, a multi-layered and pan-cytokeratin-positive urothelium, and high condensation of submucosal area. The USCs seeded scaffold(heparin-bFGF) exhibits significantly increased bladder capacity, compliance, regeneration of smooth muscle tissue, multi-layered urothelium, and condensed submucosa layers at the in vivo study.
Adult Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism/*transplantation ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry ; Cell Differentiation ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/administration & dosage ; Heparin/administration & dosage ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Models, Animal ; Poloxamer ; Polyesters ; Rats ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering/*methods ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry ; Urinary Bladder/anatomy & histology/physiology/*surgery ; Urine/*cytology