ATRP in the design of functional materials for biomedical applications

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) is an effective technique for the design and preparation of multifunctional, nanostructured materials for a variety of applications in biology and medicine. ATRP enables precise control over macromolecular structure, order, and functionality, which are important considerations for emerging biomedical designs. This article reviews recent advances in the preparation of polymer-based nanomaterials using ATRP, including polymer bioconjugates, block copolymer-based drug delivery systems, cross-linked microgels/nanogels, diagnostic and imaging platforms, tissue engineering hydrogels, and degradable polymers. It is envisioned that precise engineering at the molecular level will translate to tailored macroscopic physical properties, thus enabling control of the key elements for realized biomedical applications.     

Preservation of Acidified Cucumbers with a Natural Preservative Combination of Fumaric Acid and Allyl Isothiocyanate that Target Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts

ABSTRACT: Without the addition of preservative compounds cucumbers acidified with 150 mM acetic acid with pH adjusted to 3.5 typically undergo fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. Fumaric acid (20 mM) inhibited growth of Lactobacillus plantarum and the lactic acid bacteria present on fresh cucumbers, but spoilage then occurred due to growth of fermentative yeasts, which produced ethanol in the cucumbers. Allyl isothiocyanate (2 mM) prevented growth of Zygosaccharomyces globiformis, which has been responsible for commercial pickle spoilage, as well as the yeasts that were present on fresh cucumbers. However, allyl isothiocyanate did not prevent growth of Lactobacillus plantarum. When these compounds were added in combination to acidified cucumbers, the cucumbers were successfully preserved as indicated by the fact that neither yeasts or lactic acid bacteria increased in numbers nor were lactic acid or ethanol produced by microorganisms when cucumbers were stored at 30 °C for at least 2 mo. This combination of 2 naturally occurring preservative compounds may serve as an alternative approach to the use of sodium benzoate or sodium metabisulfite for preservation of acidified vegetables without a thermal process.     

Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on antioxidant enzyme activities,flavonoids and post-harvest fruit quality of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L., cv. Duke)

The effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on antioxidant enzyme activities, flavonoid content, and fruit quality of blueberries var. Duke (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was evaluated. Results from this study showed that AITC was effective in maintaining higher amounts of sugars and lower organic acids compared to untreated fruit during storage at 10 °C. However, AITC reduced antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-POD), ascorbate peroxidase (AsA-POD), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) and glutathione reductase (GR)] and non-enzyme components, ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH). AITC treatments also reduced the amount of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-arabinoside, and kaempferol 3-glucoside) and anthocyanins (delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidon 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside, petunidin 3-galactoside, petunidin 3-glucoside, petunidin 3-arabinoside, malvidin 3-galactoside, and malvidin 3-arabinoside) during storage at 10 °C. The results from this study indicate that AITC does not promote antioxidant property or scavenge constitutive reactive oxygen species (ROS), but maintain blueberry fruit quality through other mechanisms.     

Influence of sulfur and nitrogen supply on growth,nutrient status and concentration of benzyl‐isothiocyanate in cress (Lepidium sativum L.)

BACKGROUND: The supply of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) exerts an interactive effect on glucosinolate (GS) accumulation in Brassica vegetables, but the consequences for the concentration of isothiocyanates (ITCs), released after decomposition of GS by myrosinase, have rarely been investigated. In addition to their phytosanitary function GS have also been discussed as transient S reservoir. RESULTS: Cress (Lepidium sativum, L.) plants were cultivated with varied supply of N (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g pot^?1) and S (0, 0.05 and 0.2 g pot^?1). Concentrations of total N and S and hence the N/S ratio responded significantly, as did the concentrations of nitrate and sulfate. Concentrations of benzyl‐ITC, derived from glucotropaeolin (benzyl‐GS), ranged from 6.7 to almost 30 µmol (g dry matter)^?1 and were negatively affected by high N supply. For a given S supply the benzyl‐ITC concentration was inversely related to the N/S ratio, an indicator of the S nutritional status. CONCLUSION: The results do not support the view that GS act as a transient S reservoir. Rather, moderate N and adequate S supplies lead to increased concentrations of this pharmacologically important constituent of cress. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

壳聚糖体内代谢的研究进展

壳聚糖是天然多糖中唯一的碱性多糖,具有降脂、降胆固醇、提高免疫力、抗肿瘤等多种重要的生理功效。主要介绍壳聚糖在小鼠体内的分布和排泄情况的研究进展和壳聚糖的代谢途径,对其进一步药代动力学的研究具有指导意义。     

Efficacy of washing with hydrogen peroxide followed by aerosolized antimicrobials as a novel sanitizing process to inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 on baby spinach

Aerosolization was investigated as a potential way to apply allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), acetic acid (AA) and lactic acid (LA) on fresh baby spinach to control Escherichia coli O157:H7 during refrigeration storage. In this study, baby spinach leaves were dip-inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 to a level of 6 log CFU/g and stored at 4 °C for 24 h before treatment. Antimicrobials were atomized into fog-like micro-particles by an ultrasonic nebulizer and routed into a jar and a scale-up model system where samples were treated. Samples were stored at 4 °C for up to 10 days before the survival of the cells was determined. A 2-min treatment with 5% AIT resulted in a > 5-log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 on spinach after 2 days refrigeration regardless if the samples were pre-washed or not; however, this treatment impaired the sensory quality of leaves. Addition of LA to AIT improved the antimicrobial efficacy of AIT. In the jar system, washing with 3% H₂O₂ followed by a 2-min treatment of 2.5% LA + 1% AIT or 2.5% LA + 2% AIT reduced E. coli O157:H7 population by 4.7 and > 5 log CFU/g, respectively, after 10 days refrigeration. In the scale-up system, up to 4-log reduction of bacterial population was achieved for the same treatments without causing noticeable adverse effect on the appearance of leaves. Thus, this study demonstrates the potential of aerosolized AIT + LA as a new post-washing intervention strategy to control E. coli O157:H7 on baby spinach during refrigeration storage.     

Antimicrobial activity of cyclodextrin entrapped allyl isothiocyanate in a model system and packaged fresh-cut onions

The aim of this work was to determine the antimicrobial effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) entrapped in alpha and beta cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (ICs). In model experiments, AIT formulations were applied to filter paper discs fixed inside the lid of Petri dishes, where the agar surface was inoculated with the target organism (Penicillium expansum, Escherichia coli or Listeria monocytogenes). Solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography was used to determine static headspace concentrations of AIT formulations. The antimicrobial effect of beta IC was determined during aerobic storage of packaged fresh-cut onions at 5 °C for 20 days. AIT entrapped in beta IC exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) better antimicrobial effect compared to unentrapped AIT. AIT vapour concentrations in the static system were highest for unentrapped AIT followed by beta IC and alpha IC. Application of beta IC (200 μl/l) to packaged fresh-cut onions effectively decreased numbers of L. monocytogenes, which were also decreased at slower rates to undetectable levels on untreated cut onion. After 10 days, total aerobic counts were ca. 4 log CFU/g lower on onions treated with beta IC (100 and 200 μl/l) compared to untreated controls. This work demonstrates the utility of beta IC as an antimicrobial treatment with potential applications in packaged fresh-cut vegetable products.     

不同聚合度壳寡糖单体在小鼠体内的吸收分布

荧光探针标记操作简单且荧光的检测灵敏度比紫外-可见光谱等传统方法高3～4个数量级,故本实验借助荧光探针测定并分析不同聚合度壳寡糖单体在小鼠体内的吸收分布。制备异硫氰酸荧光素标记的壳寡糖单体并灌胃小鼠,借助小动物活体光学成像系统和荧光定量检测,分析聚合度2～5的壳寡糖单体在小鼠体内吸收分布的差异性。结果显示,荧光标记的壳寡糖单体灌胃小鼠1 h后,在小鼠体内的荧光信号达到最大分布,壳寡糖能吸收入血,并跨过血脑屏障分布到脑组织中,主要分布在肾和肝脏中,其次分布在心和脾,少量分布在肺和脑;不同聚合度壳寡糖单体在肾和肝的分布量与聚合度呈正相关,而在血清、心、脾、肺和脑中的峰值分布量为壳二糖最多,壳四糖其次,壳五糖最少。明确不同聚合度壳寡糖单体的体内吸收分布的差异性,对于壳寡糖功能活性的构效关系研究具有一定的指导意义,能为壳寡糖的功能活性机制研究以及加快壳寡糖在食品功能性食品的开发和应用提供参考。