Stabilization of pluronic gels in the presence of different polysaccharides

Several different polysaccharides have been added to pluronic F127 (poloxamer 407) gels to test their ability to stabilize the gels against dissolution in aqueous media over time. The studied polysaccharides include κ‐carrageenan, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, pectin, alginate, hydroxyethylcellulose, and ethyl(hydroxyethyl)cellulose. Although all the considered polysaccharides slowed down the dissolution time of the pluronic gels, unmodified polysaccharides only had a modest stabilization effect. However, hydrophobic modification of polysaccharides with a sufficiently long hydrocarbon chain (C₁₆) was found to partly prevent the gels from dissolving for more than 6 months. Shorter hydrocarbon chains did not have the same effect, even at high degrees of hydrophobicity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40465.     

Dextrin crosslinked with poly(lactic acid): A novel hydrogel for controlled drug release application

A new class of biodegradable crosslinked hydrogel, consisting of hydrophobic polylactic acid (PLA) and hydrophilic dextrin in presence of crosslinker N,N‐methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) has been synthesized by free‐radical polymerization technique using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. By variation of crosslinker concentration, a series of hydrogels have been prepared and the optimized grade has been selected on the basis of higher crosslinking efficiency as well as lower equilibrium swelling characteristics, XRD analysis. The hydrogels have been characterized by FTIR spectra, ¹³C‐NMR spectra, CHN analysis, SEM analysis, swelling characteristics, and toxicity study. In vitro release study of model drugs (ciprofloxacin and ornidazole) from hydrogel matrix has been performed in various buffer solutions at 37°C. The drug release kinetics and mechanism have been studied using zero order, first‐order kinetic models, Korsemeyar–Peppas model, Higuchi model, Hixson–Crowell model, and nonlinear Kopcha model. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40039.     

Technological Implications of Modifying the Extent of Cell Wall-Proanthocyanidin Interactions Using Enzymes

The transference and reactivity of proanthocyanidins is an important issue that affects the technological processing of some fruits, such as grapes and apples. These processes are affected by proanthocyanidins bound to cell wall polysaccharides, which are present in high concentrations during the processing of the fruits. Therefore, the effective extraction of proanthocyanidins from fruits to their juices or derived products will depend on the ability to manage these associations, and, in this respect, enzymes that degrade these polysaccharides could play an important role. The main objective of this work was to test the role of pure hydrolytic enzymes (polygalacturonase and cellulose) and a commercial enzyme containing these two activities on the extent of proanthocyanidin-cell wall interactions. The results showed that the modification promoted by enzymes reduced the amount of proanthocyanidins adsorbed to cell walls since they contributed to the degradation and release of the cell wall polysaccharides, which diffused into the model solution. Some of these released polysaccharides also presented some reactivity towards the proanthocyanidins present in a model solution.     

Effects of polysaccharides and polyphenolics fractions of Zijuan tea (Camellia sinensis var. kitamura) on α‐glucosidase activity and blood glucose level and glucose tolerance of hyperglycaemic mice

The effects of polysaccharides, theaflavins, thearubigins and theabrownin fractions of Zijuan tea on α‐glucosidase and blood glucose level and intolerance of hyperglycaemic mice were evaluated. The polysaccharides or theaflavins fraction exhibited greater inhibition rate of α‐glucosidase than acarbose positive control, thearubigins fraction or theabrownin fraction. The four fractions were delivered to the treatment mice through oval gavage each day for 15 days. The mice in polysaccharides and theaflavins high‐ and low‐dose and theabrownin high‐dose treatments significantly lowered their blood glucose levels while all the treatment mice gained body weight. The mice in polysaccharides, theaflavins and theabrownin high‐ and low‐dose treatments had greater glucose tolerance as well. Thus, the theaflavins and polysaccharides fractions of Zijuan tea effectively moderated the complications of hyperglycaemic mice. The lower effectiveness of thearubigins and theabrownin fractions may be caused by the highly polymerised polyphenolics which decreased their accessibility to α‐glucosidase and digestibility in mice.     

响应面优化草石蚕多糖提取工艺研究

以草石蚕为原料，研究了草石蚕中多糖提取的工艺条件。在单因素试验基础上，通过响应面试验优化了草石蚕中多糖提取的工艺条件。结果表明，草石蚕中多糖的最佳提取工艺条件为：提取温度79．00℃，提取时间2．82h，乙醇体积浓度81．22％，料液比1g：18．49mL，此条件下草石蚕多糖提取率4．89％。     

枸杞多糖对顺铂诱导小鼠睾丸支持细胞凋亡的影响

目的：研究枸杞多糖（lycium barbarum polysaccharides, LBP）对顺铂（cis-dichlorodiamineplatinum, CDDP）诱导小鼠睾丸支持细胞（TM4）凋亡的影响并探讨其可能机制。方法：体外培养TM4细胞,四甲基偶氮噻唑蓝（MTT）法检测LBP对CDDP诱导TM4细胞生存率的影响,Western blot检测LBP对CDDP诱导TM4细胞凋亡相关基因Bcl-2、Bax和Caspase-3蛋白表达的影响,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率的变化。结果：与Control组相比,CDDP组TM4细胞凋亡显著增加,细胞内抑凋亡基因Bcl-2表达量显著降低,促凋亡基因Bax表达量及Caspase-3表达量显著升高;与CDDP组相比,CDDP+LBP组TM4细胞凋亡显著减少,细胞内抑凋亡基因Bcl-2表达量显著升高,促凋亡基因Bax表达量及Caspase-3表达量显著降低。 结论：LBP作用于CDDP诱导的TM4细胞,能够通过增强细胞内Bcl-2的表达,抑制Bax及Caspase-3的表达来阻抑因CDDP诱导的TM4细胞凋亡,进而减轻CDDP对TM4细胞造成的损伤。     

Effects of axial circulation and dispersion geometry on the scale‐up of ultrasonic extraction of polysaccharides

The ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of polysaccharides (PS) from Ganoderma lucidum, was subjected to a scale‐up study. 0.25 L extractor was used to optimize the extraction conditions toward maximum yield of PS. The extracted PS was observed to be reduced by increasing the scale from 1 to 6 L. To intensify the extraction, axial circulation at different stirring rates was induced and optimized in a 3 L U‐tube extractor. Although circulation at 300 rpm improved the yield of PS for 3 L, introducing dispersion geometry (conical funnel) and adjusting the radiation distance in a 6 L U‐tube extractor further intensified the extraction efficiency. A radiation distance of 4 cm and circulation induced using 600 rpm enhanced the PS as compared to the conventional 6 L extractor. Overall, the scale‐up from 0.25 to 6 L was successful and introducing circulation and dispersion geometry intensified the extraction efficiency under similar dissipation of ultrasonic power. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1483–1491, 2015     

Preparation of pectin‐inorganic composite material as accumulative material of metal ions

Pectin is one of the biopolymers in the cell walls of all plant tissues, but the pectin‐containing materials have been discarded as industrial waste in food‐processing factories. We prepared a water‐insoluble pectin‐inorganic composite material by mixing pectin and a silane coupling reagent, bis(3‐trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine. The mechanical strength of the pectin‐inorganic composite material was higher than that of the pectin material without the addition of an inorganic component. In addition, the thermal stability of the composite material increased with the addition of the inorganic component. Furthermore, when the pectin‐inorganic composite materials were incubated in an aqueous solution of Cu(II), Zn(II), or In(III), these composite materials effectively accumulated not only the heavy metal ions, but also rare‐earth metal ions. Additionally, based on the infrared (IR) measurements, the metal ion accumulative mechanism into the composite material is described. As a result, the IR spectra suggested an electrostatic interaction between the metal ion and carboxy group in the pectin. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42056.