A study on growth parameters, blood factors and proximate composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cultured in underground brackish and freshwater

In this research, growth rate, blood parameters and proximate composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cultured in brackish and freshwater were evaluated. Two treatments (brackish and freshwater) in 3 replications were investigated. Six 1.5 m³ fiberglass tanks were used for this experiment, containing 180 rainbow trout specimens with average weight of 47.2±0.1g. Feeding rate in treatments was about 3% of body weight based on water temperature and fish biomass. Total length and weight of fish were measured in 15 days intervals. After 135 days of culture period, some fish samples were transferred to the Lab. Blood were directly collected from the heart. Muscle composition was analyzed for proximate composition. The results showed that the body weight of samples in brackish water was increased significantly after 45 days of culture period. Blood factors including WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocyte, thrombocyte and concentration of K+ ions in fish cultured in brackish water showed a significant increase (P<0.05). Muscle composition analysis showed a significant increasing (p<0.05) in fat and dry matter in freshwater treatment, while moisture was significantly higher in brackish water (P<0.01)

Efficacy of the Biomaterials 3 wt%-nanostrontium-hydroxyapatite-enhanced Calcium Phosphate Cement (nanoSr-CPC) and nanoSr-CPC-incorporated Simvastatin-loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) Microspheres in Osteogenesis Improvement

Aims The purpose of this multi-phase explorative in vivo animal/surgical and in vitro multi-test experimental study was to (1) create a 3 wt%-nanostrontium hydroxyapatite-enhanced calcium phosphate cement (Sr-HA/CPC) for increasing bone formation and (2) creating a simvastatin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (SIM-loaded PLGA) microspheres plus CPC composite (SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC). The third goal was the extensive assessment of multiple in vitro and in vivo characteristics of the above experimental explorative products in vitro and in vivo (animal and surgical studies). Methods and results pertaining to Sr-HA/CPC Physical and chemical properties of the prepared Sr-HA/CPC were evaluated. MTT assay and alkaline phosphatase activities, and radiological and histological examinations of Sr-HA/CPC, CPC and negative control were compared. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that crystallinity of the prepared cement increased by increasing the powder-to-liquid ratio. Incorporation of Sr-HA into CPC increased MTT assay (biocompatibility) and ALP activity (P \u3c 0.05). Histomorphometry showed greater bone formation after 4 weeks, after implantation of Sr-HA/CPC in 10 rats compared to implantations of CPC or empty defects in the same rats (n = 30, ANOVA P \u3c 0.05). Methods and results pertaining to SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres + nanostrontium-CPC composite After SEM assessment, the produced composite of microspheres and enhanced CPC were implanted for 8 weeks in 10 rabbits, along with positive and negative controls, enhanced CPC, and enhanced CPC plus SIM (n = 50). In the control group, only a small amount of bone had been regenerated (localized at the boundary of the defect); whereas, other groups showed new bone formation within and around the materials. A significant difference was found in the osteogenesis induced by the groups sham control (16.96 ± 1.01), bone materials (32.28 ± 4.03), nanostrontium-CPC (24.84 ± 2.6), nanostrontium-CPC-simvastatin (40.12 ± 3.29), and SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC (44.8 ± 6.45) (ANOVA P \u3c 0.001). All the pairwise comparisons were significant (Tukey P \u3c 0.01), except that of nanostrontium-CPC-simvastatin and SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC. This confirmed the efficacy of the SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC composite, and its superiority over all materials except SIM-containing nanostrontium-CPC

Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of Drug Release Properties of Simvastatin-loaded PLGA Microspheres

Abstract Microspheres formulated from poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA), a biodegradable polymer, have been extensively evaluated as a drug delivery system. In this study, the preparation, characterization and drug release properties of the PLGA microspheres were evaluated. Simvastatin (SIM)-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared by oil-in-water emulsion/solvent evaporation method. The microspheres were then frozen to −80 °C, they were freeze dried for 24 h. Characterization of SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres was evaluated by X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Drug release potential was evaluated by UV-spectrophotometry. The experimental results revealed that SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres can be successfully obtained through solvent evaporation method with appropriate morphologic characteristics and high encapsulation efficiency. The drug release pattern from polymeric microspheres in the phosphate buffered saline medium was measured during a 21-day period using UV-spectrophotometry. The correlation coefficient value (r 2 = 0.9878) of the trend lines of the graph showed that the SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres best fit with zero order release pattern. No burst release was observed with polymeric matrix. The drug release characteristic of the microspheres ascertained that the release was about 27% for SIM-loaded microspheres, which occurred within the first 6 days after maintaining the microspheres in phosphate buffer saline. Also, the microspheres successfully presented a slow release and the duration of the release lasted for more than 21 days. It can be concluded that SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres hold great promise for using as a drug-delivery system in biomedical applications, especially in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering

Inertio-elastic focusing of bioparticles in microchannels at high throughput

Controlled manipulation of particles from very large volumes of fluid at high throughput is critical for many biomedical, environmental and industrial applications. One promising approach is to use microfluidic technologies that rely on fluid inertia or elasticity to drive lateral migration of particles to stable equilibrium positions in a microchannel. Here, we report on a hydrodynamic approach that enables deterministic focusing of beads, mammalian cells and anisotropic hydrogel particles in a microchannel at extremely high flow rates. We show that on addition of micromolar concentrations of hyaluronic acid, the resulting fluid viscoelasticity can be used to control the focal position of particles at Reynolds numbers up to Re≈10,000 with corresponding flow rates and particle velocities up to 50 ml min[superscript −1] and 130 m s[superscript −1]. This study explores a previously unattained regime of inertio-elastic fluid flow and demonstrates bioparticle focusing at flow rates that are the highest yet achieved.National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (U.S.) (P41 BioMicroElectroMechanical Systems Resource Center)National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (U.S.) (P41 EB002503)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research FellowshipUnited States. Army Research Office (Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies Grant W911NF-09-0001

Study of Low Pressure Cold Plasma on Moisture Properties of Polyester Fabric

Low temperature plasma technology is well established in surface modification of polymer materials on industrial scale. This method modifies surface properties of polymers without chemicals, manual work and reducing chemicals and energy consumption. In this study, low pressure plasma treatment was used to develop hydrophilic properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics. It was found that, plasma treatment had a significant effect on the hydrophilicity properties of PET fibers. Plasma treatment increases wetting, wicking and electric conduction of fibers but the recovery of fibers was not affected by the plasma treatment. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph show some surface fibers etching that created some voids

Peptide functionalized polyhydroxyalkanoate nanofibrous scaffolds enhance Schwann cells activity

Interactions between Schwann cells (SCs) and scaffolds are important for tissue development during nerve regeneration, because SCs physiologically assist in directing the growth of regenerating axons. In this study, we prepared electrospun scaffolds combining poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) functionalized with either collagen I, H-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-OH (GRGDS), H-Tyr-Ile-Gly-Ser-Arg-NH2 (YIGSR), or H-Arg-Asn-Ile-Ala-Glu-Ile-Ile-Lys-Asp-Ile-OH (p20) neuromimetic peptides to mimic naturally occurring ECM motifs for nerve regeneration. Cells cultured on fibrous mats presenting these biomolecules showed a significant increase in metabolic activity and proliferation while exhibiting unidirectional orientation along the orientation of the fibers. Real-time PCR showed cells cultured on peptide-modified scaffolds had a significantly higher neurotrophin expression compared to those on untreated nanofibers. Our study suggests that biofunctionalized aligned PHB/PHBV nanofibrous scaffolds may elicit essential cues for SCs activity and could serve as a potential scaffold for nerve regeneratio