scholarly journals Collagen/PCL Nanofibers Electrospun in Green Solvent by DOE Assisted Process. An Insight into Collagen Contribution

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 4698
Author(s):  
Dalila Miele ◽  
Laura Catenacci ◽  
Silvia Rossi ◽  
Giuseppina Sandri ◽  
Milena Sorrenti ◽  
...  

Collagen, thanks to its biocompatibility, biodegradability and weak antigenicity, is widely used in dressings and scaffolds, also as electrospun fibers. Its mechanical stability can be improved by adding polycaprolactone (PCL), a synthetic and biodegradable aliphatic polyester. While previously collagen/PCL combinations were electrospun in solvents such as hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) or trifluoroethanol (TFE), more recently literature describes collagen/PCL nanofibers obtained in acidic aqueous solutions. A good morphology of the fibers represents in this case still a challenge, especially for high collagen/PCL ratios. In this work, thanks to preliminary rheological and physicochemical characterization of the solutions and to a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach on process parameters, regular and dimensionally uniform fibers were obtained with collagen/PCL ratios up to 1:2 and 1:1 w/w. Collagen ratio appeared relevant for mechanical strength of dry and hydrated fibers. WAXS and FTIR analysis showed that collagen denaturation is related both to the medium and to the electrospinning process. After one week in aqueous environment, collagen release was complete and a concentration dependent stimulatory effect on fibroblast growth was observed, suggesting the fiber suitability for wound healing. The positive effect of collagen on mechanical properties and on fibroblast biocompatibility was confirmed by a direct comparison of nanofiber performance after collagen substitution with gelatin.

Author(s):  
D. F. Blake ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. R. Peacor

Echinodermata is a phylum of marine invertebrates which has been extant since Cambrian time (c.a. 500 m.y. before the present). Modern examples of echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lilies (crinoids). The endoskeletons of echinoderms are composed of plates or ossicles (Fig. 1) which are with few exceptions, porous, single crystals of high-magnesian calcite. Despite their single crystal nature, fracture surfaces do not exhibit the near-perfect {10.4} cleavage characteristic of inorganic calcite. This paradoxical mix of biogenic and inorganic features has prompted much recent work on echinoderm skeletal crystallography. Furthermore, fossil echinoderm hard parts comprise a volumetrically significant portion of some marine limestones sequences. The ultrastructural and microchemical characterization of modern skeletal material should lend insight into: 1). The nature of the biogenic processes involved, for example, the relationship of Mg heterogeneity to morphological and structural features in modern echinoderm material, and 2). The nature of the diagenetic changes undergone by their ancient, fossilized counterparts. In this study, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), high voltage TEM (HVTEM), and STEM microanalysis are used to characterize tha ultrastructural and microchemical composition of skeletal elements of the modern crinoid Neocrinus blakei.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa M. El-Naggar ◽  
Wael S. I. Abou-Elmagd ◽  
Ashraf Suloma ◽  
Hamza A. El-Shabaka ◽  
Magdy T. Khalil ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Kumar P ◽  
S Kumar ◽  
A Kumar ◽  
M Chander

The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize solid dispersions of the antibacterial agent Cefdinir with PEG 4000 and PVP K-30 with a view to improve its dissolution properties. Investigations of the properties of the dispersions were performed using release studies, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The results obtained showed that the rate of dissolution of Cefdinir was considerably improved when formulated in solid dispersions with PVP K-30 and PEG 4000 as compared with pure drug and physical mixtures. The results from XRD studies showed the transition of crystalline nature of drug to amorphous form, while FTIR studies demonstrated the absence of drug-carriers interaction.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girijesh Patel ◽  
Amit Gupta ◽  
Akshita Gupta ◽  
Manisha Mishra ◽  
Pradhyumna Singh ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Václav Kašička ◽  
Dušan Koval ◽  
Veronika Šolínová ◽  
Petra Sázelová ◽  
Zdeněk Prusík

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xupeng Yuan ◽  
Jiahao Yan ◽  
Ruizhi Hu ◽  
Yanli Li ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
...  

Recent evidences suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating physiological and metabolic activities of pregnant sows, and β-carotene has a potentially positive effect on reproduction, but the impact of β-carotene on gut microbiota in pregnant sows remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of β-carotene on the reproductive performance of sows from the aspect of gut microbiota. A total of 48 hybrid pregnant sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with similar parity were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 16) and fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 30 or 90 mg/kg of β-carotene from day 90 of gestation until parturition. Dietary supplementation of 30 or 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the number of live birth to 11.82 ± 1.54 and 12.29 ± 2.09, respectively, while the control group was 11.00 ± 1.41 (P = 0.201). Moreover, β-carotene increased significantly the serum nitric oxide (NO) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (P < 0.05). Characterization of fecal microbiota revealed that 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the diversity of the gut flora (P < 0.05). In particular, β-carotene decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes including Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Lachnospiraceae NK4B4 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-008, but enriched Proteobacteria including Bilophila and Sutterella, and Actinobacteria including Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium 1 which are related to NO synthesis. These data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-carotene may increase antioxidant enzyme activity and NO, an important vasodilator to promote the neonatal blood circulation, through regulating gut microbiota in sows.


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