O-羧甲基N-半乳糖化壳聚糖衍生物的设计、合成和表征

目的：合成和表征O-羧甲基-N-半乳糖化壳聚糖衍生物作为潜在的肝靶向基因载体。方法：以天然聚合物壳聚糖为原料，首先制备得O-羧甲基壳聚糖，然后在其2-NH2上和乳糖酸反应，制得O-羧甲基-N-乳糖酰化壳聚糖；或与乳糖反应，用KB}14还原，制得O-羧甲基-N-乳糖胺化壳聚糖。结果与结论：分别用VF-IR、^1H NMR、^13C NMR和元素分析对其进行了表征。用粉末X-衍射、DSC、TG对其物理性质进行了分析。制得的O-羧甲基-N-乳糖酰化壳聚糖O-羧甲基-N-乳糖胺化壳聚糖有望作为潜在的肝靶向基因载体。     

壳聚糖在抗敏口服液制备中的应用

采用壳聚糖作澄清剂代替原来的醇沉法制备抗敏口服液，不仅澄清效果好，而且采用ＴＬＣ法及ＨＰＬＣ法比较了２种工艺的层析行为及其中芍药甙的含量，结果证明无明显的影响，从而提供了一种廉价的澄清方法     

壳聚糖作为牙周引导性组织再生屏障膜的实验研究

目的制备壳聚糖屏障膜,观察其微观结构,并观察在体外培养条件下壳聚糖膜对牙周膜细胞增殖的影响。方法采用相分离法制备壳聚糖膜,利用扫描电镜观察微观结构,MTT法评价壳聚糖膜对牙周膜细胞体外增殖的影响。结果于-5℃将20g/L的壳聚糖液冷冻干燥可制备出孔隙率>90%,孔隙直径介于50μm与100μm之间的壳聚糖膜,这种壳聚糖膜具有促进牙周膜细胞体外增殖的效应。结论壳聚糖膜适合作为引导性组织再生屏障膜。     

Effect of chitosan nanoparticles on the inhibition of Candida spp. biofilm on denture base surface

ObjectivesChitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) have antifungal effects, however there is a lack of information about the effects of ChNPs against Candida biofilm on denture base surface. This study investigated the ChNPs effect against C. albicans biofilm adhesion and formation, and against Candida spp. biofilm on heat-cured acrylic resin.DesignThe ChNPs were synthetized (3800 μg/mL) and characterized by infra-red spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy. The minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentrations (MIC/MFC) against Candida spp. were determined. The time-kill assay and changes on C. albicans micromorphology were evaluated. The % inhibition of ChNPs on C. albicans biofilm formation and reduction were investigated using 1 min and 8 h exposure. Candida biofilm was developed on resin surfaces and ChNPs were applied every 8 h for 5 days. After, fungal cells were counted (CFU/mL) and the surface roughness (Ra) and vickers microhardness (HV) of resin were analysed. For all experiments, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was used as control. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey and paired t-tests (α = 0.05).ResultsThe MIC_80% of ChNPs was 30.1 μg/mL. ChNPs at 4 MIC showed complete inhibition in the time-kill assays. Blastoconidia cells were predominant after ChNPs application. The % inhibition ChNPs on C. albicans was proportional to its concentration, regardless of the exposure time. ChNPs decreased the CFU/mL of Candida spp. and showed lower alteration of HV and Ra values of resin surface compared to NaOCl.ConclusionsThe ChNPs inhibited C. albicans biofilm, reduced Candida biofilm on resin and caused small changes in roughness and hardness of acrylic resin surface.     

Hepatoprotective effect of chitosan-caffeic acid conjugate against ethanol-treated mice

The chitosan-caffeic acid (CCA) conjugate shows a hepatoprotective effect against oxidative stress-induced hepatic damage in cultured hepatocytes. The objective of this study is the verification of the hepatoprotective effect of the CCA in vivo against ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. The administration of ethanol resulted in the increase of the serum-aminotransferase activities (AST and ALT), triglycerides, total cholesterol, and lipid peroxidation. The CCA co-administration, however, significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated these serum biomarkers. The antioxidant-enzyme activities in the liver tissue, including those of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were significantly decreased by a chronic ethanol administration, whereas the hepatic lipid-peroxidation level was increased. Moreover, the chronic ethanol administration elevated the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the liver tissue. The CCA co-administration, however, significantly (p < 0.05) increased the activities of the SOD, CAT, and GPx and caused the down-regulation of the TNF-α- and IL-6-gene expressions in the liver tissue. An histopathologic evaluation also supported the hepatoprotective effect of the CCA against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in the mice.     

Serum-free culture of rat proximal tubule cells with enhanced function on chitosan

The proximal tubule performs a variety of important renal functions and is the major site for nutrient reabsorption. The purpose of this study is to culture rat renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) on chitosan without serum to maintain a transcellular pathway to transport water and ions effectively without loss of highly differentiated cell function. The effect of chitosan, which is structurally similar to glycosaminoglycans, in the absence of serum on the primary cultured PTCs was compared that of collagen with or without serum. Two days after seeding, more tubule fragments and higher PTC viability were observed on chitosan than on collagen with or without serum. Proliferation marker Ki-67 immunostaining and phosphorylated extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) expression results displayed similar proliferation capability of PTCs established on chitosan without serum and collagen with 2% fetal bovine serum after 4 days of incubation. When grown to confluence, PTCs formed a monolayer with well-organized tight junctions and formation of domes on chitosan without serum. Moreover, evaluation of the transepithelial electrical resistance showed that both chitosan and serum were involved in the modification of water and ion transport in confluent cells. By showing the direct suppression of PTC growth and dome formation treated with heparinase, we demonstrated that the interaction between cell surface heparin sulfate proteoglycan and chitosan played an important role in PTC proliferation and differentiation. A successful primary culture of PTCs has now been produced on chitosan in serum-free culture condition, which offers potential applications for chitosan in renal tissue engineering.     

Formulation and evaluation of novel tableted chitosan microparticles for the controlled release of clozapine

Controlled release formulations of clozapine microparticulated tablets were prepared by using chitosan. Microparticles were characterized for particle size and size distribution. Microparticles were compressed into tablets using the directly compressible excipients. SEM photographs of the fractured part of the tablet revealed the presence of discrete particles in the tablets, suggesting that the system chosen is ideal for tableting. Drug release from the tableted microparticles exhibited an initial burst effect, but the release decreased with increasing extent of cross-linking. Tablets were coated with chitosan or cellulose acetate, which significantly lowered the initial burst effect when compared to uncoated tablets. Drug release from chitosan-coated tablets was slightly higher than the tablets coated with cellulose acetate. Tablets prepared were effective in delivering clozapine over a period of 12?h.     

The potential role of free chitosan in bone trauma and bone cancer management

Bone defects caused by fractures or cancer-mediated destruction are debilitating. Chitosan is commonly used in scaffold matrices for bone healing, but rarely as a free drug. We demonstrate that free chitosan promotes osteoblast proliferation and osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells, increases osteopontin and collagen I expression, and reduces osteoclastogenesis. Chitosan inhibits invasion of endothelial cells, downregulating uPA/R, MT1-MMP, cdc42 and Rac1. Better healing of bone fractures with greater trabecular bone formation was observed in mice treated with chitosan. Chitosan induces apoptosis in osteotropic prostate and breast cancer cells via caspase-2 and -3 activation, and reduces their establishment in bone. Chitosan is pro-apoptotic in osteosarcoma cells, but not their normal counterpart, osteoblasts, or chondrosarcoma cells. Systemic delivery of chitosan does not perturb angiogenesis, bone volume or instinctive behaviour in pregnant mice, but decreases foetal length and changes pancreatic secretory acini. With certain controls in place, chitosan could be useful for bone trauma management.