Enhancing Cellular Uptake of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy via Nanoparticle Engineering & Sonoporation

Magnetic induction heating of iron oxide nanoparticles has been proposed as a method for noninvasive cancer treatment without the side effects of chemotherapy and ionizing radiation. At Kettering University we propose to improve the uptake of nanoparticles by cells through the use of nanoparticle engineering and ultrasonic fields

Superheated Liquid and Supercritical Denatured Ethanol Extraction of Antioxidants from Crimson Red Grape Stems

Grapes are widely known for health benefits due to their antioxidant content. In wine production, grape stems are often discarded, though they has a higher content of antioxidants than the juice. The effectiveness of using an environmentally friendly solvent, ethanol, as a superheated liquid and supercritical fluid to extract antioxidant compounds from grape stems of organically grown Crimson Seedless grapes was evaluated. The Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) assay and the Total Phenolic Content (TPC), or Folin-Ciocalteu assay, were used to quantify the antioxidant power of grape stem extracts. The extractions were performed at temperatures between 160°C and 300°C at constant density. It was found that the optimal extraction temperature was 204°C, at superheated liquid conditions, with a FRAP value of 0.670 mmol Trolox Equivalent/g of dry grape stem. The FRAP values were higher than other studies that extracted antioxidants from grape stems using single-pass batch extractio

In‐situ extraction and impregnation of black walnut husk into polyethylene film using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier

Walnuts are commonly cultivated for their kernel, which is a rich source of antioxidant phenolic compounds. The husk likewise contains antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds, but is typically discarded without further processing. Antioxidant compounds are useful in creating active packaging films, but typically decompose at melt extrusion temperatures in polymer processing. Due to carbon dioxide\u27s low critical point and ability to swell polymer films, supercritical carbon dioxide may be used to impregnate phenolic compounds into polymers. For this study, a novel technique is used to simultaneously produce walnut husk extracts and impregnate the extract into polymer films in the same batch extractor using supercritical carbon dioxide with a 15 wt-% ethanol modifier at 60°C at 19.4 MPa. The effect of varying the loading of walnut husk in the extractor upon impregnation mass was evaluated with the impregnation mass of the film increasing with walnut husk loading. It was determined by FTIR, as well as the eduction of the protein cytochrome c, that antioxidant compounds may be extracted from walnut husks and impregnated into low-density polyethylene film (LDPE) by this technique

Antioxidant Potential of Juglans Nigra, Black Walnut, Husks Extracted Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide with an Ethanol Modifier

The black walnut, Junglas nigra, is indigenous to eastern North America, and abscission of its fruit occurs around October. The fruit consists of a husk, a hard shell, and kernel. The husk is commonly discarded in processing, though it contains phenolic compounds that exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. For this study, black walnut husks were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier. The effects of temperature, ethanol concentration, and drying of walnut husks prior to extraction upon antioxidant potential were evaluated using a factorial design of experiments. The solvent density was held constant at 0.75 g/mL. The optimal extraction conditions were found to be 68°C and 20 wt-% ethanol in supercritical carbon dioxide. At these conditions, the antioxidant potential as measured by the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay was 0.027 mmol trolox equivalent/g (mmol TE/g) for dried walnut husk and 0.054 mmol TE/g for walnut husks that were not dried. Antioxidant potential was also evaluated using the total phenolic content (TPC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assays and the FRAP assay was found to linearly correlate to the TPC assa

The FKBP52 Cochaperone Acts in Synergy with β-Catenin to Potentiate Androgen Receptor Signaling

FKBP52 and β-catenin have emerged in recent years as attractive targets for prostate cancer treatment. β-catenin interacts directly with the androgen receptor (AR) and has been characterized as a co-activator of AR-mediated transcription. FKBP52 is a positive regulator of AR in cellular and whole animal models and is required for the development of androgendependent tissues. We previously characterized an AR inhibitor termed MJC13 that putatively targets the AR BF3 surface to specifically inhibit FKBP52-regulated AR signaling. Predictive modeling suggests that β-catenin interacts with the AR hormone binding domain on a surface that overlaps with BF3. Here we demonstrate that FKBP52 and β-catenin interact directly in vitro and act in concert to promote a synergistic up-regulation of both hormone-independent and -dependent AR signaling. Our data demonstrate that FKBP52 promotes β-catenin interaction with AR and is required for β-catenin co-activation of AR activity in prostate cancer cells. MJC13 effectively blocks β-catenin interaction with the AR LBD and the synergistic up-regulation of AR by FKBP52 and β-catenin. Our data suggest that co-regulation of AR by FKBP52 and β-catenin does not require FKBP52 PPIase catalytic activity, nor FKBP52 binding to Hsp90. However, the FKBP52 proline-rich loop that overhangs the PPIase pocket is critical for synerg

Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015 : A modelling study

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier LtdBackground The 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, which can become a reality with the recent launch of direct acting antiviral therapies. Reliable disease burden estimates are required for national strategies. This analysis estimates the global prevalence of viraemic HCV at the end of 2015, an update of—and expansion on—the 2014 analysis, which reported 80 million (95% CI 64–103) viraemic infections in 2013. Methods We developed country-level disease burden models following a systematic review of HCV prevalence (number of studies, n=6754) and genotype (n=11 342) studies published after 2013. A Delphi process was used to gain country expert consensus and validate inputs. Published estimates alone were used for countries where expert panel meetings could not be scheduled. Global prevalence was estimated using regional averages for countries without data. Findings Models were built for 100 countries, 59 of which were approved by country experts, with the remaining 41 estimated using published data alone. The remaining countries had insufficient data to create a model. The global prevalence of viraemic HCV is estimated to be 1·0% (95% uncertainty interval 0·8–1·1) in 2015, corresponding to 71·1 million (62·5–79·4) viraemic infections. Genotypes 1 and 3 were the most common cause of infections (44% and 25%, respectively). Interpretation The global estimate of viraemic infections is lower than previous estimates, largely due to more recent (lower) prevalence estimates in Africa. Additionally, increased mortality due to liver-related causes and an ageing population may have contributed to a reduction in infections. Funding John C Martin Foundation.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Chemical Engineering - Biology Crossover Project - Customer Client Interactions

The freshman level Introduction to Chemical Engineering CHME100 course was run in the spring 2015 term. This course was modified to include modules that familiarized the students with key chemical engineering principles. Traditional topics were covered that included fluid flow, heat transfer, electrical systems and controls. A specific focus of each topic was modules or case studies that dealt with applications to industry, potentail biological hazards or contaminants, and process safety. Within each of these modules, the presence of microorganisms was incuded in the discussion from a safety, economic and environmental standpoint. These freshman level chemical engineering students were given a project to help bridge the traditional engineering focus to an all-encompassing project. The first step was to work within a chemical engineering team to assess a problem at a facility. After the chemical engineering students worked together to collect data, assess the problem and work on a possible solution, they met with a junior level molecular biology student group. The CHME 100 students communicated and collaborated with the molecular biology students as a customer or client would interact to solve the problems associated with microorganisms in industrial settings. They presented their work in a written report and an oral presentation. The interactions and experiences of this module will be discussed

Using Soybean Derived Crude Glycerol As Co-Digestate in Sewage Sludge Anaerobic Digester to Increase Biogas Production

In an effort to convert waste streams to energy in a green process, glycerol from biodiesel manufacturing has been used to increase the gas production and methane content of biogas within a mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion process using primary sewage sludge. Glycerol was systematically added to the primary digester from 0 to 60 percent of the organic loading rate (OLR). The optimum glycerol loading range was from 25% to 60% OLR. This resulted in an 82% to 280% improvement in specific gas production. Following the feeding schedule described, the digesters remained balanced and healthy until inhibition was achieved at 70% glycerol OLR. This suggests that high glycerol loadings are possible if slow additions are upheld in order to allow the bacterial community to adjust properly. Waste water treatment plant operators with anaerobic digesters can use the data to increase loadings and boost biogas production to enhance energy conversion. This process provides a safe, environmentally friendly method to convert a typical waste stream to an energy stream of biogas

Supercritical Impregnation of Walnut Husk Extract into Polyethylene Film

One of the biggest challenges in packaging products, specifically food products, is the need to inhibit microbial growth, spoilage, and the adverse effects those have. Active Packaging, such as those produced by impregnation of antioxidant compounds into films using supercritical fluids, have been demonstrated in other studies to increase shelf-life of packaged fruit and other goods. Supercritical fluids are fluids above their critical point, and exhibit high diffusivity, both liquid and gas like properties, and in the case of supercritical carbon dioxide, the ability to swell polymers. Due to this ability and a low critical temperature of 31 °C, supercritical carbon dioxide can be used to impregnate plant extracts into polymer films. In this study, antioxidant, polyphenolic compounds are extracted from the green husks of North American walnuts, and simultaneously, impregnated into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films.Impregnation tests were carried out in a 500 mL, agitated, high-pressure reactor using supercritical carbon dioxide with a 15 mol-% ethanol modifier at 60 °C and constant walnut husk to ethanol mass ratio. The effects of varying pressure from 2400 to 3200 psi, and impregnation time from 1 to 3 hours was evaluated. After impregnation, film samples were characterized using infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as other tests. FTIR shows that walnut husk extract was successfully impregnated into LDPE films. These results will be presented and compared against a control

Infusion of Walnut Husk into Polyethylene

Black walnuts, juglans nigra, are indigenous to eastern North America, and the nut is composed of the kernel, shell, and husk. In commercial production, the nuts are harvested from the ground and sold to processors that de-husk the walnut and the de-husked walnuts are then shipped for further processing. The green, or fresh, husk is commonly discarded. Green walnut husks contain a wealth of polyphenolic compounds, tannins, and other chemicals, and the husk exhibits antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Walnut husks may also be used as a bio-herbicide. These antimicrobial compounds may be extracted from black walnut husk using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier, with the resulting extract exhibiting antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Additionally, supercritical carbon dioxide can cause polymers to swell, thereby allowing polymers to be infused with chemicals while exposed to supercritical carbon dioxide. It will be presented that carbon dioxide and ethanol can be used in extracting chemicals, as determined by HPLC-MS analysis, from walnut husk while simultaneously infusing chemicals into polyethylene. The resulting extract showed antioxidant potential as measured by the total phenolic content (TPC) assay and antimicrobial properties. The treated polyethylene exhibited antimicrobial effects compared to an untreated control. The treated polyethylene was also analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and compared against a control. Additionally the treated polyethylene was then heated to its melt temperature and its antimicrobial properties re-evaluated