Mechanical strain induces the production of spheroid mineralized microparticles in the aortic valve through a RhoA/ROCK-dependent mechanism

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a chronic disorder characterized by an abnormal mineralization of the leaflets, which is accelerated in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). It is suspected that mechanical strain may promote/enhance mineralization of the aortic valve. However, the effect of mechanical strain and the involved pathways during mineralization of the aortic valve remains largely unknown. Valve interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated and studied under strain conditions. Human bicuspid aortic valves were examined as a model relevant to increase mechanical strain. Cyclic strain increased mineralization of VICs by several-fold. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses revealed that mechanical strain promoted the formation of mineralized spheroid microparticles, which coalesced into larger structure at the surface of apoptotic VICs. Apoptosis and mineralization were closely associated with expression of ENPP1. Inhibition of ENPP1 greatly reduced mineralization of VIC cultures. Through several lines of evidence we showed that mechanical strain promoted the export of ENPP1-containing vesicles to the plasma membrane through a RhoA/ROCK pathway. Studies conducted in human BAV revealed the presence of spheroid mineralized structures along with the expression of ENPP1 in areas of high mechanical strain. Mechanical strain promotes the production and accumulation of spheroid mineralized microparticles by VICs, which may represent one important underlying mechanism involved in aortic valve mineralization. RhoA/ROCK-mediated export of ENPP1 to the plasma membrane promotes strain-induced mineralization of VICs.

Physicochemical aspects involved in methotrexate release kinetics from biodegradable spray-dried chitosan microparticles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization of Atrazine-Loaded Biodegradable Poly(Hydroxybutyrate-Co-Hydroxyvalerate) Microspheres

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Micro and nanosystems for delivering local anesthetics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

LDPE/EVA Composites for Antimicrobial Properties

Composites with antimicrobial activity are of great interest nowadays and the development of titanium dioxide with these functional properties presents interest in academic and industrial sectors.An approach to develop PE composite containing silver microparticles to have an antimicrobial effect is presented. To obtain such antimicrobial composites, LDPE/EVA were processed with Ag particles on TiO2 particles as inorganic carrier substance. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (P-25) were covered with silver particles using Turkevich Method or citrate reduction method. The Ag/TiO2 particles were dispersed at concentration of 0,8 wt% and 1% wt% in LDPE/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)-(50% w/w) at the melt state in a Haake torque Rheometer. Silver microparticles were characterized with UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The composites thus prepared were characterized through XRD, Ares Rheometer, Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and JIS Z 2801 antimicrobial tests to study the effects of the addition of particles on rheological properties, morphological behavior and antimicrobial properties. The results showed that incorporation of silver/titanium dioxide particles on composites obtained systems with differents dispersions. The Ag/TiO2 particles showed uniform distribution of Ag on TiO2 particles as observed by SEM-EDX and antimicrobial tests according to JIS Z 2801 shows excellent antimicrobial properties.

Optical properties of polydisperse submicrometer aggregates of sulfur-containing zinc oxide consisting of spherical nanocrystallites

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Drug delivery systems: Past, present, and future

Drug delivery systems are essential components of drugs controlled release. In the last decades, several drug delivery technologies have emerged including capsules, liposomes. microparticles, nanoparticles, and polymers. These components must be biocompatible, biodegradable, and display a desired biodistribution providing a long-term availability of the therapeutic at specific target over time.

Controlled release system for ametryn using polymer microspheres: Preparation, characterization and release kinetics in water

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

SnO2 nanoparticles functionalized in amorphous silica and glass

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The Determination of Methanol Using an Electrolytically Fabricated Nickel Microparticle Modified Boron Doped Diamond Electrode

A nickel modified boron doped diamond (Ni-BDD) electrode and nickel foil electrode were used in the determination of methanol in alkaline solutions. The Ni-BDD electrode was electrodeposited from a 1 mM Ni(NO(3))(2) solution (pH 5), followed by repeat cycling in KOH. Subsequent analysis utilised the Ni(OH)(2)/NiOOH redox couple to electrocatalyse the oxidation of methanol. Methanol was determined to limits of 0.3 mM with a sensitivity of 110 nA/mM at the Ni-BDD electrode. The foil electrode was less sensitive achieving a limit of 1.6 mM and sensitivity of 27 nA/mM. SEM analysis of the electrodes found the Ni-BDD to be modified by a quasi-random microparticle array.

The electrochemical behavior of pyrite-pyrrhotite mixtures

To assess the response of common sulfide minerals to oxidizing conditions, a methodology to immobilize mechanically solid particles on carbon surfaces (voltammetry of microparticles, VMP) was employed, to define the influence of the pyrrhotite content in pyrite-pyrrhotite mixtures. The influence of the galvanic interactions and local pH on the oxidation reaction of pyrite was also investigated. With this purpose, artificial two-mineral electrodes were constructed, ranging in weight from 20 to 80% pyrrhotite. The resulting cyclic voltammograms were analyzed and relative quantities of oxidation products were evaluated. The goal of this work was to define the boundary conditions, in terms of pyrrhotite content in the mixture, that determine the SO42-/S ratio obtained and to describe some parameters which influence this ratio: local pH and galvanic interactions. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electric characterization of a hybrid composite based on POMA/P(VDF- TrFE)/Zn2SiO4 : Mn using impedance spectroscopy

Understanding the microscopic origin of the dielectric properties of disordered materials has been a challenge for many years, especially in the case of samples with more than one phase. For polar dielectrics, for instance, the Lepienski approach has indicated that the random free energy barrier model of Dyre must be extended. Here we analyse the dielectric properties of a polymer blend made up with the semiconducting poly(o-methoxyaniline) and poly( vinylidene fluoride-trifluorethylene) POMA/P(VDF-TrFE), and of a hybrid composite of POMA/P(VDF-TrFE)/Zn2SiO4:Mn. For the blend, the Lepienski model, which takes into account the rotation or stretching of electric dipoles, provided excellent fitting to the ac impedance data. Because two phases had to be assumed for the hybrid composite, we had to extend the Lepienski model to fit the data, by incorporating a second transport mechanism. The two mechanisms were associated with the electronic transport in the polymeric matrix and with transport at the interfaces between Zn2SiO4: Mn microparticles and the polymeric matrix, with the relative importance of the interfacial component increasing with the percentage of Zn2SiO4: Mn in the composite. The analysis of impedance data at various temperatures led to a prediction of the theoretical model of a change in morphology at 190 +/- 40 K, and this was confirmed experimentally with a differential scanning calorimetry experiment.

Microspheres of alginate-chitosan containing isoniazid

Isoniazid was encapsulated into microspheres of alginate-chitosan by means of a complex coacervation method in an emulsion system. Since the encapsulation of isoniazid tends to be limited by its hydrophilic characteristics, this study proposes its microencapsulation by adsorption. The particles were prepared in three steps: (1) preparation of a W/O emulsion; (2) phase separation; and (3) adsorption of the drug. The isolated particles were placed in a solution of the drug under stirring to allow adsorption. The morphology and particle size were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The isoniazid content was determined by extraction in 1 m phosphate buffer pH 7.5 under stirring for 4 h. Finally, the samples were filtered and analysed in an UV/VIS spectrophotometer at 260 nm. In vitro release tests were carried out in 0.05 m phosphate buffer pH 7.5. The results showed that microspheres of alginate-chitosan obtained were of spherical shape. The emulsion used for microparticle formation allows the preparation of particles with a narrow size distribution. The adsorption observed is probably of chemical nature, i.e. there is an ionic interaction between the drug and the surface of the particles.

A new processing method of CaZn2(OH)(6)center dot 2H(2)O powders: Photoluminescence and growth mechanism

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)