In vitro identification of targeting ligands of human M cells by phage display

To improve transport of vaccine-loaded nanoparticles, the phage display technology was used to identify novel lead peptides targeting human M cells. Using an in vitro model of the human follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) which contains both Caco-2 and M cells, a T7 phage display library was screened for its ability either to bind the apical cell surface of or to undergo transcytosis across Caco-2 cells or FAE. The selection for transcytosis across both enterocytes and FAE identified three different peptide sequences (CTGKSC, PAVLG and LRVG) with high frequency. CTGKSC and LRVG sequences enhanced phage transport across M-like cells. When polymeric nanoparticles were grafted with the sequences CTGKSC and LRVG, their transport by FAE was significantly enhanced. These peptides could therefore be used to enhance the transport of vaccine-loaded nanoparticles across the intestinal mucosal barrier

Perceived Needs of Parents of Critically Ill Children

To identify the needs of parents of critically ill hospitalized children as perceived by the parents and critical care nurses, and to identify any differences between the two groups. design. Descriptive, comparative. setting. Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a Midwestern hospital. participants. A nonprobability convenience sample of parents or primary caregivers of critically ill children (n = 21) and pediatric critical care nurses (n = 17). outcome measures. Critical Care Family Needs Inventory modified for pediatrics and demographic questionnaires. results. Information, assurance, and proximity to the critically ill child were identified as priority needs of the PCGs in this study. Significant differences on specific needs were identified between PCG/nurse matched pairs; however, no significant differences were found in total scores between the two groups by a two-tailed paired t test. conclusions. This study supports the need to investigate interventions to better address parental needs of critically ill children. By consistent identification, prioritization, and incorporation of parental needs into the plan of care, nurses can assist the parents in the recognition and fulfillment of needs that have less perceived importance. Research-based interventions will facilitate improved parental adaptation to their child's critical hospitalization.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75239/1/j.1744-6155.1998.tb00203.x.pd

Synthesis of poly(lactide-co-glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)-graft-mannosylated poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers by combination of “clip” and “click” chemistries

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is extensively used in pharmaceutical applications, for example, in targeted drug delivery, because of biocompatibility and degradation rate, which is easily tuned by the copolymer composition. Nevertheless, synthesis of sugar-labeled amphiphilic copolymers with a PLGA backbone is quite a challenge because of high sensitivity to hydrolytic degradation. This Article reports on the synthesis of a new amphiphilic copolymer of PLGA grafted by mannosylated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). A novel building block, that is, α-methoxy-ω-alkyne PEO-clip-N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester, was prepared on purpose by photoreaction of a diazirine containing molecular clip. This PEO block was mannosylated by reaction of the NHS ester groups with an aminated sugar, that is, 2-aminoethyl-α-d-mannopyroside. Then, the alkyne ω-end-group of PEO was involved in a copper alkyne- azide coupling (CuAAC) with the pendent azides of the aliphatic copolyester. The targeted mannose-labeled poly(lactide-co-glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer was accordingly formed. Copolymerization of d,l-lactide and glycolide with α-chloro-ε-caprolactone, followed by substitution of chlorides by azides provided the azido-functional PLGA backbone. Finally, micelles of the amphiphilic mannosylated graft copolymer were prepared in water, and their interaction with Concanavalin A (ConA), a glyco-receptor protein, was studied by quartz crystal microbalance. This study concluded to the prospect of using this novel bioconjugate in targeted drug delivery