Wpływ procesu degradacji na lepkość i masę cząsteczkową polilaktydu

In this paper, we present a study on stability of popular biopolymer poly(lactide acid) (PLA) under degradation process. As a main objective of this study we investigate an influence of polymer decomposition on decrease of its two physicochemical parameters – dynamic viscosity and molecular mass. To include the molar mass distribution we calculate three various mass averages: the number, the weight and the viscosity molar mass. To simulate the polylactide behavior at the atomic level we use molecular dynamics method in conjunction with reactive force field ReaxFF. To provide degradation conditions similar to human interior system we operate in the MD-NVT conditions at the temperature 310K. Based on reported in literature values of polylactide density we develop computational model of its amorphous structure. We achieve full compliance with expectations – obtained values of PLA viscosity and mass are steadily dropping. Determined trends confirm progressive polymer decomposition resulting in deterioration of polymer durability. The obtained results may be use in a future to predict a lifetime of biomedical polymer implants.Niniejszy artykuł przedstawia badania nad stabilnością popularnego biopolimeru - polilaktydu (PLA). Celem badań była zbadanie wpływu procesu degradacji PLA na jego wybrane właściwości fizykochemiczne tj. lepkość dynamiczną i masę cząsteczkową. Aby uwzględnić zjawisko polimolekularności obliczono trzy różne średnie masowe – średnią liczbową, wagową oraz lepkościową. Symulacja zachowania polilaktydu na poziomie atomowym została wykonana z użyciem metody dynamiki molekularnej przy współpracy z reaktywnym polem siłowym ReaxFF. Narzucone, przy pomocy zespołu kanonicznego NVT, warunki degradacji były zbliżone do warunków panujących we wnętrzu ludzkiego ciała. Opierając się na wartościach gęstości polilaktydu podawanych w literaturze opracowano także atomowy model jego struktury amorficznej. Otrzymane wyniki obliczeń są całkowicie zgodne z przewidywaniami – wartości lepkości i mas spadają wraz z postępem procesu degradacji skutkując obniżoną trwałością biomateriału. Uzyskane wyniki mogą w przyszłości posłużyć do budowy modelu predykcyjnego określającego czas życia polimerowych implantów

On the Efficiency of a VR Hand Gesture-Based Interface for 3D Object Manipulations in Conceptual Design

Computer Systems, Imagery and Medi

Zinc transporters protein level in postmortem brain of depressed subjects and suicide victims

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious psychiatric illness, associated with an increasing rate of suicide. The pathogenesis of depression may be associated with the disruption of zinc (Zn) homeostasis. In the brain, several proteins that regulate Zn homeostasis are present, including Zn transporters (ZnTs) which remove Zn from the cytosol. The present study was designed to investigate whether depression and suicide are associated with alterations in the expression of the ZnTs protein. METHODS: Protein levels of ZnT1, ZnT3, ZnT4, ZnT5 and ZnT6 were measured in postmortem brain tissue from two different cohorts. Cohort A contained 10 subjects diagnosed with MDD (7 were suicide victims) and 10 psychiatrically-normal control subjects and cohort B contained 11 non-diagnosed suicide victims and 8 sudden-death control subjects. Moreover, in cohort A we measured protein level of NMDA (GluN2A subunit), AMPA (GluA1 subunit) and 5-HT1A receptors and PSD-95. Proteins were measured in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using Western blotting. In addition, Zn concentration was measured using a voltammetric method. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in protein levels of ZnT1, ZnT4, ZnT5 in the PFC in MDD, relative to control subjects, while ZnT3 protein level was decreased in MDD. There was no significant difference in the Zn concentration in the PFC between control and MDD subjects. Similarly, in the PFC of suicide victims (non-diagnosed), an increase in protein levels of ZnT1, ZnT4, ZnT5 and ZnT6 was observed. Conversely, protein levels of ZnT3 were decreased in both suicide victims and subjects with MDD, in comparison with control subjects. There was also a significant decrease in the protein level of GluA1, GluN2A, PSD-95 and 5-HT1A in MDD. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies suggest that alterations in Zn transport proteins are associated with the pathophysiology of MDD and suicide