[Online First]Improvement of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium cell adhesion, maturation， and function through coating with truncated recombinant human vitronectin

AIM: To explore an xeno-free and defined coating substrate suitable for the culture of H9 human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (hES-RPE) cells in vitro, and compare the behaviors and functions of hES-RPE cells on two culture substrates, laminin521 (LN-521) and truncated recombinant human vitronectin (VTN-N). METHODS: hES-RPE cells were used in the experiment. The abilities of LN-521 and VTN-N at different concentrations to adhere to hES-RPE cells were compared with a high-content imaging system. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate RPE-specific gene expression levels midway (day 10) and at the end (day 20) of the time course. Cell polarity was observed by immunofluorescent staining for apical and basal markers of the RPE. The phagocytic ability of hES-RPE cells was identified by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The cell adhesion assay showed that the ability of LN-521 to adhere to hES-RPE cells was dose-dependent. With increasing coating concentration, an increasing number of cells attached to the surface of LN-521-coated wells. In contrast, VTN-N presented a strong adhesive ability even at a low concentration. The optimal concentration of LN-521 and VTN-N required to coat and adhesion to hES-RPE cells were 2 and 0.25 µg/cm2, respectively. Furthermore, both LN-521 and VTN-N could facilitate adoption of the desired cobblestone cellular morphology with tight junction and showed polarity by the hES-RPE cells. However, hES-RPE cells cultivated in VTN-N had a greater phagocytic ability, and it took less time for these hES-RPE cells to mature. CONCLUSION: VTN-N is a more suitable coating substrate for cultivating hES-RPE cells.     

From the Cover: Highly conductive paper for energy-storage devices

Paper, invented more than 2,000 years ago and widely used today in our everyday lives, is explored in this study as a platform for energy-storage devices by integration with 1D nanomaterials. Here, we show that commercially available paper can be made highly conductive with a sheet resistance as low as 1 ohm per square (Ω/sq) by using simple solution processes to achieve conformal coating of single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) and silver nanowire films. Compared with plastics, paper substrates can dramatically improve film adhesion, greatly simplify the coating process, and significantly lower the cost. Supercapacitors based on CNT-conductive paper show excellent performance. When only CNT mass is considered, a specific capacitance of 200 F/g, a specific energy of 30–47 Watt-hour/kilogram (Wh/kg), a specific power of 200,000 W/kg, and a stable cycling life over 40,000 cycles are achieved. These values are much better than those of devices on other flat substrates, such as plastics. Even in a case in which the weight of all of the dead components is considered, a specific energy of 7.5 Wh/kg is achieved. In addition, this conductive paper can be used as an excellent lightweight current collector in lithium-ion batteries to replace the existing metallic counterparts. This work suggests that our conductive paper can be a highly scalable and low-cost solution for high-performance energy storage devices.     

Effects of implant geometry, surface properties, and TGF-β1 on peri-implant bone response: an experimental study in goats

Objectives: Despite the high success rates in implantology, the desire to use oral implants in more challenging clinical situations drives the need for continuing refinements in implant design and surface properties. In the present study, the effect of implant geometry on implant bone response was evaluated using two geometrically different implant types, i.e. screw type (St) and push-in type(Pi). Furthermore, the potential beneficial effect of an electrosprayed calcium phosphate (CaP) coating, either or not enriched with the osteoinductive growth factor TGF-β1, on the osteogenic response was examined.
Material and methods: A total of 54 implants, divided into six groups ( n =9), were inserted into the femoral condyles of nine goats. After an implantation period of 12 weeks, retrieved specimens were evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically. Measurements were statistically evaluated using SPSS 14.0 and analyzed using a linear regression model.
Results: With respect to implant design, St-implants showed an overall superior biological healing response compared with Pi-implants. Considering surface properties, the deposition of an electrosprayed CaP (2–3 μm) coating onto implants significantly increased the amount of bone–implant contact for both implant types. Additional enrichment of the CaP coating with the osteoinductive growth factor TGF-β1 did not significantly affect peri-implant bone response.
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that a substantial improvement of the osteogenic response to titanium implants can be achieved by the deposition of an electrosprayed CaP coating. The enrichment of the coating with 1 μg TGF-β1 has only a marginal effect.     

Mechanical insertion properties of calcium‐phosphate implant coatings

Objectives: To investigate the influence of protein incorporation on the resistance of biomimetic calcium‐phosphate coatings to the shear forces that are generated during implant insertion. Materials and Methods: Thirty‐eight standard (5 × 13 mm) Osseotite^® implants were coated biomimetically with a layer of calcium phosphate, which either lacked or bore a co‐precipitated (incorporated) depot of the model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). The coated implants were inserted into either artificial bone (n=18) or the explanted mandibles of adult pigs (n=12). The former set‐up was established for the measurement of torque and of coating losses during the insertion process. The latter set‐up was established for the histological and histomorphometric analysis of the fate of the coatings after implantation. Results: BSA‐bearing coatings had higher mean torque values than did those that bore no protein depot. During the insertion process, less material was lost from the former than from the latter type of coating. The histological and histomorphometric analysis revealed fragments of material to be sheared off from both types of coating at vulnerable points, namely, at the tips of the threads. The sheared‐off fragments were retained within the peri‐implant space. Conclusion: The incorporation of a protein into a biomimetically prepared calcium‐phosphate coating increases its resistance to the shear forces that are generated during implant insertion. In a clinical setting, the incorporated protein would be an osteogenic agent, whose osteoinductive potential would not be compromised by the shearing off of coating material, and the osteoconductivity of an exposed implant surface would not be less than that of a coated one. To cite this article:
Hägi TT, Enggist L, Michel D, Ferguson SJ, Liu Y, Hunziker EB. Mechanical insertion properties of calcium‐phosphate implant coatings.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21 , 2010; 1214–1222.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.01916.x     

右美沙芬树脂口服缓释混悬液的制备及其释药特性研究

目的：制备右美沙芬树脂口服缓释混悬液，并考察其释药特性。方法：采用离子交换树脂为载体制备含药树脂微粒，用流化床进行包衣，并通过处方优化制备右美沙芬树脂口服缓释混悬液。对含药树脂微粒、含药树脂包衣微粒及含药树脂缓释混悬液进行释药特性研究。结果：含药树脂微粒的释放度随着释放介质离子强度的增加而增大，其释药动力学过程可用Viswanathan方程表征；采用含药树脂包衣微粒制备的右美沙芬树脂口服缓释混悬液的物理稳定性良好，其释药动力学过程符合Higuchi模型。结论：采用离子交换树脂为药物载体，并对该含药树脂微粒进行流化床包衣，可以制备符合Higuchi模型释药的右美沙芬树脂口服缓释混悬液。     

芒果苷片薄膜包衣工艺的研究

目的：探讨芒果苷片薄膜包衣工艺的最佳工艺参数。方法：采用比较法和正交试验设计法，以包衣片外观合格率、硬度、增重、耐湿度、溶出度等作为考核指标，确定薄膜包衣的最佳工艺参数。结果：最佳包衣工艺参数为：包衣液浓度为13％，主机转速为12r·min^-1，片床温度45℃。结论：此工艺稳定可行。     

薄膜包衣在中药防潮中的应用

中药制剂易吸潮严重影响药品的稳定性。简要介绍了中药制剂吸湿性原理、薄膜包衣的优点及应用现状,重点从薄膜包衣的成膜原理、处方组成、影响包衣制剂的工艺参数等方面综述薄膜包衣在中药防潮中的应用。综合国内外薄膜包衣分析技术并探讨其在中药防潮分析上的应用。近几年,虽然薄膜包衣已广泛应用于药物制剂,但由于中药成分的复杂性,薄膜包衣在中药防潮方面的研究和应用还不够深入。随着对新型薄膜包衣材料及在线分析技术的研究,薄膜包衣在中药方面的应用将得到进一步的关注,并将在中药现代化发展进程中发挥较大的潜力。     

慢性胃炎湿证患者舌苔脱落细胞的检测分析

目的探讨舌苔脱落细胞在慢性胃炎湿证患者诊断中的应用价值。方法对脾虚证及脾胃湿热证、寒湿中阻证共67例及18例正常人进行舌苔脱落细胞的检测。结果各组舌苔脱落细胞的构成比均以角化细胞为主，其次为角化前细胞和完全角化细胞，最后为中层细胞。较之正常人，脾虚证组的角化细胞明显减少，而角化前细胞及中层细胞明显增多（P〈0．01）。各证型组及正常人，除脾胃湿热证组外，各组舌推片都以背景清晰，分布均匀为主，有少量炎症细胞浸润，炎症细胞的分布呈脾虚、正常人、寒湿中阻及脾胃湿热的递增趋势。结论慢性胃炎湿证患者舌苔脱落细胞的检测为中医辨证提供了更为可靠的客观依据。     

Beyond angioplasty: novel developments in interventional cardiology

Two specific areas in interventional cardiology have, until recently, remained problematic. First is the emerging issue of the so-called 'no option' patient, considered untreatable by conventional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or surgery. Second is the long-standing dilemma of restenosis following PCI. Strategies addressing these two critical areas have been the subject of intense research efforts recently. Several important breakthroughs are being made in the important areas of novel revascularization techniques, antirestenotic agents and stent-based delivery methods. It is conceivable that these novel developments will soon mean that a broader range of patients can be treated, and that the issue of restenosis will now be seriously challenged.