Dioctadecyldimethylammonium:monoolein nanocarriers for efficient in vitro gene silencing

This study describes a novel liposomal formulation for siRNA delivery, based on the mixture of the neutral lipid monoolein (MO) and cationic lipids of the dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODA) family. The cationic lipids dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and chloride (DODAC) were compared in order to identify which one will most efficiently induce gene silencing. MO has a fluidizing effect on DODAC and DODAB liposomes, although it was more homogeneously distributed in DODAC bilayers. All MO-based liposomal formulations were able to efficiently encapsulate siRNA. Stable lipoplexes of small size (100-160 nm) with a positive surface charge (>+45 mV) were formed. A more uniform MO incorporation in DODAC:MO may explain an increase of the fusogenic potential of these liposomes. The siRNA-lipoplexes were readily internalized by human nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (H1299) cells, in an energy dependent process. DODAB:MO nanocarriers showed a higher internalization efficiency in comparison to DODAC:MO lipoplexes, and were also more efficient in promoting gene silencing. MO had a similar gene silencing ability as the commonly used helper lipid 1,2-dioleyl-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), but with much lower cytotoxicity. Taking in consideration all the results presented, DODAB:MO liposomes are the most promising tested formulation for systemic siRNA delivery.This work was supported by FEDER through POFC - COMPETE and by national funds from FCT through the projects PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011 (CBM.A), PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (CFUM), and PTDC/QUI/69795/2006, while Ana Oliveira holds scholarship SFRH/BD/68588/2010. Eloi Feitosa thanks FAPESP (2011/03566-0) and CNPq (303030/2012-7), and Renata D. Adati thanks FAPESP for scholarship (2011/07414-0). K. Raemdonck is a postdoctoral fellow of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen). We acknowledge NanoDelivery-I&D em Bionanotecnologia, Lda. for access to their equipment

Von den Zehn Geboten zu Verhaltenskodizes fuer Manager und Ingenieure: was sagen uns eth. Normen?

SIGLEAvailable from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, Duesternbrook Weg 120, D-24105 Kiel A 173363 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Financial systems in financial crisis — An analysis of banking systems in the EU

This Forum aims to systematically describe and analyse the evolution of national financial systems within the EU over the past three decades. It analyses the processes of financialisation that have dominated this period as well as the causes and consequences of the financial crisis from the perspectives of five individual member states — Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain. Furthermore, policy proposals which could change the role of the financial system to better serve economic and social objectives are also put forward. The author would like to acknowledge the support of the FP7 Social Science and Humanities project FESSUD for work which underpinned this paper. However, the views in the paper are entirely those of the author. For helpful comments, the author would like to thank Nina Dodig, Trevor Evans, Eckhard Hein, Hansjörg Herr and Barbara Schmitz. Remaining errors are, of course, my own. We acknowledge financial support from the EU FP7 project FESSUD under grant agreement No. 266800, and we thank Christophe Blot for his comments. The research leading to this paper has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement No. 266800. The authors acknowledge support from the EU Framework Programme SSH.2010.1.2-1. and its collaborative project Financialisation, Economy, Society and Sustainable Development (FESSUD) and Alessandro Vercelli for fruitful discussions about the topic and paper and Alice MacKenzie for her comments on the final draft of the paper. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no 266800 and from the Basque Government (Consolidated Research Group IT712/13). The views expressed during the execution of the FESSUD project (www.fessud.eu), in whatever form and by whatever medium, are the sole responsibility of the authors