Development of electrically conductive porous silk fibroin/CNF scaffolds.

Tissue engineering applications typically require 3D scaffolds which provide requisite surface area for cellular functions, while allowing nutrient, waste and oxygen transportation with the surrounding tissues. Concurrently, scaffolds should ensure sufficient mechanical properties to provide mechanically stable frameworks under physiologically relevant stress levels. In the meantime, electrically conductive platforms are also desired for the regeneration of specific tissues, where electrical impulses are transmitted throughout the tissue for proper physiological functioning. Towards this goal, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were incorporated into silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds whose pore size and porosity were controlled during salt leaching process. In our methodology, CNFs were dispersed in SF owing to the hydrogen bond forming ability of hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), a fluoroalcohol used as a solvent for silk fibroin. Results showed enhanced electrical conductivity and mechanical properties upon the incorporation of CNFs into the SF scaffolds, while metabolic activities of cells cultured on SF/CNF nanocomposite scaffolds were significantly improved via optimizing CNF content, porosity and pore size range of the scaffolds. Specifically, SF/CNF nanocomposite scaffolds having electrical conductivities as high as 0.023 S/cm and tangent modulus values of 260±30 kPa, while having porosity as high as 78% and pore size of 376±53 µm were fabricated -for the first time- in literature. Furthermore, ~34% increase in the wettability of SF was achieved upon the incorporation of 10% CNF, which provided enhanced fibroblast spreading on scaffold surfaces

Cytotoxicity of multifunctional surfactant containing capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles

This paper reports the synthesis of silica capped surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; CTAB) and dye (Rose Bengal; RB) containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). Capping the pores of the surfactant containing MSNs with a thin silica layer decreased the immediate surfactant originated cytotoxicity of these particles without affecting their long term (3 days) cytotoxicity. Also, the silica capping process almost completely prevented the hemolytic activity of the surfactant containing MSNs. In addition, improved uptake of silica capped MSNs compared to the uncapped particles by cancer cells was demonstrated. The delayed cytotoxicity, low hemolytic activity, and better cellular uptake of the silica capped MSNs make them promising for the development of safe (i.e. with fewer side effects) yet efficient theranostic agents. These nanocarriers may release the loaded cytotoxic molecules (CTAB) mostly after being accumulated in the tumor site and cause so minimal damage to the normal tissues and blood components. In addition, the nanoscale confinement of RB molecules inside the pores of MSNs makes the particles brightly fluorescent. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that due to the singlet oxygen generation capability of the RB dye the silica capped MSNs can be also used for photodynamic therapy of cancer. © 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Nonporous monosize polymeric sorbents: Dye and metal chelate affinity separation of lysozyme

Garipcan, Bora/0000-0002-1773-5607WOS: 000085582800001Lysozyme adsorption onto dye-attached nonporous monosize poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate-methylmethacrylate) [poly(HEMA-MMA)] microspheres was investigated. Poly(HEMA-MNA) microspheres were prepared by dispersion polymerization. The monochloro-triazine dye, Cibacron Blue F3GA, was immobilized covalently as dye-ligand. These dye-affinity microspheres were used in the lysozyme adsorption-desorption studies. The effect of initial concentration of lysozyme and medium pH on the adsorption efficiency of dye-attached and metal-chelated microspheres were studied in a batch reactor. Effect of Cu(II) chelation on lysozyme adsorption was also studied. The nonspecific adsorption of lysozyme on the poly(HEMA-MMA) microspheres was 3.6 mg/g. Cibacron Blue F3GA attachment significantly increased the lysozyme adsorption up to 247.8 mg/g. Lysozyme adsorption capacity of the Cu(II) incorporated microspheres (318.9 mg/g) was greater than that of the Cibacron Blue F3GA-attached microspheres. Significant amount of the adsorbed lysozyme (up to 97%) was desorbed in 1 h in the desorption medium containing 1.0M NaSCN at pH 8.0 and 25 mM EDTA at pH 4.9. In order to examine the effects of separation conditions on possible conformational changes of lysozyme structure, fluorescence spectrophotometry was employed. We conclude that dye-attached and metal-chelate affinity chromatography with poly(HEMA-MMA) microspheres can be applied for lysozyme separation without causing any significant changes and denaturation. Repeated adsorption/desorption processes showed that these novel dye-attached monosize microspheres are suitable for lysozyme adsorption. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Synthesis of poly[(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-(methacrylamidoalanine)] membranes and their utilization as an affinity sorbent for lysozyme adsorption

Garipcan, Bora/0000-0002-1773-5607;WOS: 000172273200002Various adsorbent materials have been reported in the literature for protein separation. We have developed a novel and new approach to obtain high protein-adsorption capacity utilizing a 2-methacrylamidoalamne-containing membrane. An amino acid ligand 2-methacrylamidoalanine (MAAL) was synthesized from methacrylochloride and alanine. Then, poly[(2-hydro-xyethel methacrylate)-co-(2-methacrylamidoalanine)] [p(HEMA-co-MAAL)] membranes were prepared by UV-initiated photopolymerization of HEMA and MAAL. The synthesized MAAL monomer was characterized by NMR spectrometry. p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membranes were characterized by swelling studies, porosimeter, scanning electron microscopy,FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. These membranes have large pores; the micropore dimensions are around 5-10 mum. p(HEMA-co-MAAL) affinity membranes with a swelling ration of 198.9%, and containing 23.9 (mmol MAAL).m(-2) were used in the adsorption of lysozyme (0.1-3.0 mg.ml(-1)) and at different pH values (4.0-8.0). The effect of Cu(II) incorporation on lysozyme adsorption was also studied. The non-specific adsorption of lysozyme on the pHEMA membranes was 0.9 mug-cm(-2). Incorporation of MAAL molecules into the polymeric structure significantly increased the lysozyme adsorption up to 2.96 mg.cm(-2). The lysozyme-adsorption capacity of the membranes incorporated with Cu(III) (9.98 mg.cm(-2)) was greater than that of the p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membranes. More than 85% of the adsorbed lysozyme was desorbed in 1 h in the desorption medium containing 1.0 M NaCl. The p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membranes are suitable for repeated use for more than 5 cycles without noticable loss of capacity. These features make p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membrane a very good candidate for bioaffinity adsorption. Adsorption rates of lysozyme: MAAL loading: 23.9 mmol.m(-2); pH: 7.0; temperature: 20 degreesC; total external membrane surface area in each batch: 100 cm(2).l(-1); Each point is the average of five parallel studies

Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylamidoalanine) membranes and their utilization as metal-chelate affinity adsorbents for lysozyme adsorption

Garipcan, Bora/0000-0002-1773-5607;WOS: 000177648400005PubMed: 12182559Different adsorbents have been reported in the literature for protein purification. The authors have developed a novel and new approach to obtain high protein adsorption capacity utilizing a 2-methacrylamidoalanine-containing membrane. Amino acid ligand 2-methacrylamidoalanine (MAAL) monomer was synthesized using methacryloyl chloride and alanine. Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-co-2-methacrylamidoalanine) [p(HEMA-co-MAAL)] membranes were then prepared by UV-initiated photopolymerization of HEMA and MAAL in the presence of an initiator (azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN). The synthesized MAAL monomer was characterized by NMR. p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membranes were characterized by swelling studies, porosimeter, SEM, FTIR, and elemental analysis. These membranes have macropores in the size range of 5-10 mum. Cu(II) ions (25.9 mmol/m(2)) were chelated on these membranes. p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membranes were used to study the adsorption of lysozyme from aqueous media containing different amounts of lysozyme (0.1-3.0 mg/l) and at different pH values (4.0-8.0). The non-specific adsorption of lysozyme on the pHEMA membranes was negligible (0.9 mug/cm(2)). Incorporation of MAAL increased the lysozyme adsorption significantly up to 2.96 mg/cm(2). The lysozyme adsorption capacity of the Cu(II) incorporated membranes (9.98 mg/cm(2)) was greater than that of the p(HEMA-co-MAAL) membranes. More than 90% of the adsorbed lysozyme was desorbed in I h in the desorption medium containing 1.0 M NaCl and 0.025 M EDTA. The metal-chelate affinity membranes are suitable for repeated use for more than ten cycles without a noticeable loss of capacity

Formation And Organization Of Amino Terminated Self-Assembled Layers On Si(001) Surface

We have investigated the effects of dipping time, solution concentration and solvent type on the formation of self-assembled monolayers with aminosiloxane molecules (i.e.,N-(3 trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (TPDA)) on the Si(001) surface. Studies performed with an ellipsometer showed that monolayers with a thickness of about 1.2 nm were formed when the dipping time is about 2 h, while multilayer were observed for longer time periods. The effect of the TPDA concentration on the thickness of the deposited layer was not very profound, however, the contact angle data exhibit importance of concentration on the surface coverage. The type of the solvent used in the formation of the monolayers was found an important parameter. Monolayers were formed with solvent having larger dielectric constants. Relatively thick multilayer was observed when benzene was used as the solvent, due to its quite low dielectric constant (hydrophobicity).PubMedWoSScopu