Carbopol hydrogel/sorbitan monostearate-almond oil based organogel biphasic formulations: Preparation and characterization of the bigels

Purpose: To obtain and evaluate carbopol hydrogel/sorbitan monostearate-almond oil-based organogel biphasic formulations (bigels) as a semi-solid vehicle for medicated topical applications.Methods: Bigel formulations were obtained under mild conditions at a hydrogel/organogel ratio of 80/20, 70/30, and 60/40 (w/w). Their stability, viscosity, spreadability, microarchitecture, and acute skin toxicity were evaluated.Results: Two formulations, prepared at ratios of 80/20 and 70/30, were stable based on intermediate stability testing, and had a similar viscosity and spreadability (38.0 ± 1.0 mm and 37.3 ± 0.6 mm, p > 0.05, respectively). Both of these formulations had a bimodal droplet size distribution and very similar values for the droplet mean diameter (0.33 ± 0.05 μm and 2.35 ± 0.44; and 0.34 ± 0.04 μm and 2.59 ± 0.21 μm). The formulation obtained at a ratio of 60/40 was unstable during storage. The in vivo results did not reveal any signs of skin toxicity.Conclusion: Considering their beneficial properties, the developed bigels are a potential semi-solid vehicle for topical application and exhibit a moisturizing effect.Keywords: Almond oil, Bigels, Carbopol hydrogel, Moisturizing effect, Organogel, Sorbitan monostearat

Deletions of Immunoglobulin heavy chain and T cell receptor gene regions are uniquely associated with lymphoid blast transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) results from the neoplastic transformation of a haematopoietic stem cell. The hallmark genetic abnormality of CML is a chimeric <it>BCR/ABL1 </it>fusion gene resulting from the Philadelphia chromosome rearrangement t(9;22)(q34;q11). Clinical and laboratory studies indicate that the <it>BCR/ABL1 </it>fusion protein is essential for initiation, maintenance and progression of CML, yet the event(s) driving the transformation from chronic phase to blast phase are poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we report multiple genome aberrations in a collection of 78 CML and 14 control samples by oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization. We found a unique signature of genome deletions within the immunoglobulin heavy chain (<it>IGH</it>) and T cell receptor regions (<it>TCR</it>), frequently accompanied by concomitant loss of sequences within the short arm regions of chromosomes 7 and 9, including <it>IKZF1</it>, <it>HOXA7</it>, <it>CDKN2A/2B</it>, <it>MLLT3</it>, <it>IFNA/B</it>, <it>RNF38</it>, <it>PAX5</it>, <it>JMJD2C </it>and <it>PDCD1LG2 </it>genes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>None of these genome losses were detected in any of the CML samples with myeloid transformation, chronic phase or controls, indicating that their presence is obligatory for the development of a malignant clone with a lymphoid phenotype. Notably, the coincidental deletions at <it>IGH </it>and <it>TCR </it>regions appear to precede the loss of <it>IKZF1 </it>and/or <it>p16 </it>genes in CML indicating a possible involvement of RAG in these deletions.</p

Advances in Multifunctional Bioactive Coatings for Metallic Bone Implants

To fix the bone in orthopedics, it is almost always necessary to use implants. Metals provide the needed physical and mechanical properties for load-bearing applications. Although widely used as biomedical materials for the replacement of hard tissue, metallic implants still confront challenges, among which the foremost is their low biocompatibility. Some of them also suffer from excessive wear, low corrosion resistance, infections and shielding stress. To address these issues, various coatings have been applied to enhance their in vitro and in vivo performance. When merged with the beneficial properties of various bio-ceramic or polymer coatings remarkable bioactive, osteogenic, antibacterial, or biodegradable composite implants can be created. In this review, bioactive and high-performance coatings for metallic bone implants are systematically reviewed and their biocompatibility is discussed. Updates in coating materials and formulations for metallic implants, as well as their production routes, have been provided. The ways of improving the bioactive coating performance by incorporating bioactive moieties such as growth factors, osteogenic factors, immunomodulatory factors, antibiotics, or other drugs that are locally released in a controlled manner have also been addressed

Ultrananocrystalline diamond coated implants for enhanced osseointegration

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle. It is known that the alterations in bone metabolism associated to osteoporosis can impair bone healing around implants and affect their osseointegration. The main objective of this study was the development of new nanostructured implant materials based on ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) coatings for enhancing osseointegration. The films were deposited on Ti substrates by microwave plasma CVD from 17% CH4/N2 gas mixtures and modified by O2 or NH3/N2 plasmas. The modifications rendered the H-terminated hydrophobic as-grown films hydrophilic. The interaction of endothelial (EA.hy926) and osteosarcoma (MG63) cells with differently modified UNCD surfaces was investigated by proteome analyses. It revealed the identification of over 19 000 proteins (extracellular and cytosolic). They correspond to 508 (Ti), 634 (UNCD), 651 (O-UNCD), and 668 (NH2-UNCD) protein groups. The interaction network analysis showed differences in the connectivity of inferred protein networks between the ECM niches, which suggests the presence of specific cell microenvironments on O- and NH2-terminated UNCD surfaces. Our results show that due to a favorable combination of surface chemical and topological properties the UNCD films, as-grown and especially after their plasma modifications, may serve as superior scaffolding for promoting the cell attachment and growth during osseointegration

Ultrananocrystalline diamond coated implants for enhanced osseointegration

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle. It is known that the alterations in bone metabolism associated to osteoporosis can impair bone healing around implants and affect their osseointegration. The main objective of this study was the development of new nanostructured implant materials based on ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) coatings for enhancing osseointegration. The films were deposited on Ti substrates by microwave plasma CVD from 17% CH4/N2 gas mixtures and modified by O2 or NH3/N2 plasmas. The modifications rendered the H-terminated hydrophobic as-grown films hydrophilic. The interaction of endothelial (EA.hy926) and osteosarcoma (MG63) cells with differently modified UNCD surfaces was investigated by proteome analyses. It revealed the identification of over 19 000 proteins (extracellular and cytosolic). They correspond to 508 (Ti), 634 (UNCD), 651 (O-UNCD), and 668 (NH2-UNCD) protein groups. The interaction network analysis showed differences in the connectivity of inferred protein networks between the ECM niches, which suggests the presence of specific cell microenvironments on O- and NH2-terminated UNCD surfaces. Our results show that due to a favorable combination of surface chemical and topological properties the UNCD films, as-grown and especially after their plasma modifications, may serve as superior scaffolding for promoting the cell attachment and growth during osseointegration

Application of safe-by-design approach for curing osteoporosis – a lock at the future

Application of safe-by-design approach for curing osteoporosis – a lock at the futur

Application of safe-by-design approach for curing osteoporosis – a lock at the future

Application of safe-by-design approach for curing osteoporosis – a lock at the futur

Electrochemical, Tribological and Biocompatible Performance of Electron Beam Modified and Coated Ti6Al4V Alloy

Vacuum cathodic arc TiN coatings with overlaying TiO2 film were deposited on polished and surface roughened by electron beam modification (EBM) Ti6Al4V alloy. The substrate microtopography consisted of long grooves formed by the liner scan of the electron beam with appropriate frequencies (500 (AR500) and 850 (AR850) Hz). EBM transformed the α + β Ti6Al4V mixed structure into a single α’-martensite phase. Тhe gradient TiN/TiO2 films deposited on mechanically polished (AR) and EBM (AR500 and AR850) alloys share the same surface chemistry and composition (almost stoichiometric TiN, anatase and rutile in different ratios) but exhibit different topographies (Sa equal to approximately 0.62, 1.73, and 1.08 μm, respectively) over areas of 50 × 50 μm. Although the nanohardness of the coatings on AR500 and AR850 alloy (approximately 10.45 and 9.02 GPa, respectively) was lower than that measured on the film deposited on AR alloy (about 13.05 GPa), the hybrid surface treatment offered improvement in critical adhesive loads, coefficient of friction, and wear-resistance of the surface. In phosphate buffer saline, all coated samples showed low corrosion potentials and passivation current densities, confirming their good corrosion protection. The coated EBM samples cultured with human osteoblast-like MG63 cells demonstrated increased cell attachment, viability, and bone mineralization activity especially for the AR500-coated alloy, compared to uncoated polished alloy. The results underline the synergetic effect between the sub-micron structure and composition of TiN/TiO2 coating and microarchitecture obtained by EBM

(4-Carbamoylphenyl)boronic acid

In the title compound, C7H8BNO3, the molecule lies on an inversion center leading to a statistical disorder of the B(OH)2 and CONH2 groups. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked by N&amp;#8212;H...O and O&amp;#8212;H...O hydrogen bonds, forming sheets parallel to the bc plane. The B(OH)2 and CONH2 groups are twisted out of the mean plane of the benzene ring by 23.9&amp;#8197;(5) and 24.6&amp;#8197;(6)&amp;#176;, respectively