Acid-resistant chitosan/graphene oxide adsorbent for Cu2+ removal: The role of mixed cross-linking and amino-functionalized.

Copper ions in wastewater pose a significant threat to human and ecological safety. Therefore, preparing macroscopic adsorbents with reusable and high adsorption performance is paramount. This paper used graphene oxide as the adsorbent and chitosan as the thickener. Additionally, a silane coupling agent was employed to enhance the acid resistance of chitosan, and amino-modification of graphene oxide was performed. Macroscopic adsorbents with high adsorption capacity were fabricated using 3D printing technology. The results show that all five proportions of inks exhibit good printability. Dissolution experiments revealed that all materials maintained structural integrity after 180 days across pH values. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the successful preparation of the materials. Adsorption experiments showed that the best performing material ratio was 8 wt% graphene oxide and 7 wt% chitosan. Adsorption kinetics and isothermal adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process occurred via monolayer chemisorption. The adsorption process was attributed to strong electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, and nitrogen/oxygen-containing functional group coordination. Cycling experiments showed that the material retained good adsorption performance after 6 cycles, suggesting its potential for practical heavy metal treatment applications.

Cultivation of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells grown as suspended aggregates in stirred vessels.

Recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells capable of producing a prourokinase mutant (mPro-uk) grown as suspended aggregates in stirred vessels were described and characterized. The addition of chitosan to a mixture of DMEM and Ham's F12 (D-MEM/F-12) medium promoted cell aggregation and spheroid formation efficiently. Multicellular aggregates formed immediately after the rCHO cells were inoculated into the chitosan-added medium, and the mean diameter of the cell aggregates reflecting the aggregate size increased with culture time, shifting from 65 to 163 mum after 2 and 9 d of culture in spinner flasks. No significant difference in the metabolism performance of the rCHO cells was observed between suspended aggregates and anchored monolayers. However, the cells cultured as suspended aggregates showed a marked decrease in growth rate as evaluated from specific growth rate (mu). Replacing D-MEM/F-12 medium with CD 293 medium caused compact spherical cell aggregates to dissociate into small irregular aggregates and single cells without apparent effects on cell performance in subcultures. The perfusion culture of the rCHO cells grown as suspended aggregates in a 2-l stirred tank bioreactor for 15 d resulted in a maximum viable cell density of 5.6 x 10(6) cells ml(-1) and an mPro-uk concentration of about 2.6 x 10(3) IU ml(-1), and cell viability was remained at roughly 90% during the entire run.

Temperature shift as a process optimization step for the production of pro-urokinase by a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line in high-density perfusion culture.

Based on the effects of temperature shift on the cell cycle, apoptosis and metabolism of a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cell line (CL-11G) producing pro-urokinase (pro-UK) in batch cultures, the potential of temperature shift as a tool in the optimization of the perfusion culture of CL-11G cells for the production of pro-UK was examined. The proportion of CL-11G cells in the G0/G1 phase in static cultures increased from 56.4% to 82.8% following a temperature shift from 37 degrees C to 31 degrees C. Conversely, the proportion of CL-11G cells in the S phase decreased from 34.8% to 11.6%. The specific growth rate of CL-11G cells reflected the effect of temperature on the cell cycle and decreased from 0.024 h(-1) at 37 degrees C to 0.006 h(-1) at 31 degrees C. Continuous exposure to the non-permissive temperature of 31 degrees C led to a marginal increase in apoptosis. The specific pro-UK productivity of CL-11G cells increased by 74% at 34 degrees C compared with controls at 37 degrees C in batch cultures. CL-11G cells immobilized with Cytopore 1 in a 5-l bioreactor initiated at 37 degrees C and temperature shifted to 34 degrees C exhibited an average 17% increase in viable cell density and an average 47% increase in pro-UK production. These results demonstrated that temperature shift offers the prospect of enhancing the productivity of pro-UK in high-density perfusion culture.

Reprogramming of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into functional insulin-producing cells by chemical regimen.

Beta-cell transplantation is considered to be the most effective approach to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D). Unfortunately, the scarce availability of donor tissue limits the applicability of this therapy. Recent stem cell research progress shows stem cell therapy may be a potential means to solve this problem. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewable and multipotent adult stem cells which can differentiate into the three germ layers. Here we aimed to investigate whether MSCs could be reprogrammed into insulin-producing cells (IPCs). We isolated and characterized MSCs obtained from rat bone marrow. Then MSCs were induced to transdifferentiate into IPCs under specific conditions containing high concentrations of glucose, activin A, all-trans retinoic acid, and other maturation factors. The induced cells expressed multiple genes related to pancreatic beta-cell development and function, such as insulin1, glucagon, Pdx1, Pax6, and Glut-2. Insulin1 and C-peptide production were identified by immunocytochemistry. In vitro glucose challenge studies showed the induced cells secreted insulin in a glucose-dependent manner, as do normal pancreatic beta-cells. Transplantation of these MSC-derived insulin-positive cells could reverse the hyperglycemia of streptozotcin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. These results demonstrated that MSCs could be reprogrammed into IPCs and might be a potential autologous cell source for transplantation therapy of T1D.

[Evaluation of the critical process parameters for the cultivation of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells in serum-free fed-batch mode].

Taking a suspension adapted recombinant CHO cell line, 11G-S expressing human Pro-urokinase (Pro-UK) as the object of study, the impacts of different feeding nutrients, the start time of feeding and cell inoculation density on the growth and Pro-UK production of 11G-S cells in serum-free fed-batch culture were evaluated in 100 mL shacking flasks. The results indicated that amino acids, serum-free supplements and inorganic salts played important role in cell growth, cell viability and protein expression. And the effects of cells fed-batch culture was much better with the initial cell inoculation density at 3 x 10(5)-4 x 10(5) cells/mL and the start time of feeding set at 72 h, a maximum viable cells density of 7.8 x 10(6) cells/mL with a peak Pro-UK activity at 8570 IU/mL was achieved during 12 d fed-batch culture. Further, the mu of the 11G-S cells at the middle phase of the fed-batch culture, and both the q(glu) and q(gln) of the 11G-S cells at the middle and later phases of the fed-batch culture was higher than that of the 11G-S cells at the same phase of the batch culture, respectively.

[Analysis of the transcriptional profiling of cell cycle regulatory networks of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells in batch and fed-batch cultures].

In the light of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line 11G-S expressing human recombinant pro-urokinase, the differences of gene expression levels of the cells in different growth phases in both batch and fed-batch cultures were revealed by using gene chip technology. Then, based on the known cell cycle regulatory networks, the transcriptional profiling of the cell cycle regulatory networks of the cells in batch and fed-batch cultures was analyzed by using Genmapp software. Among the approximate 19 191 target genes in gene chip, the number of down-regulated genes was more than those of up-regulated genes of the cells in both batch and fed-batch cultures. The number of down-regulated genes of the cells in the recession phase in fed-batch culture was much more than that of the cells in batch culture. Comparative transcriptional analysis of the key cell cycle regulatory genes of the cells in both culture modes indicated that the cell proliferation and cell viability of the cells in both batch and fed-batch cultures were mainly regulated through down-regulating Cdk6, Cdk2, Cdc2a, Ccne1, Ccne2 genes of CDKs, Cyclin and CKI family and up-regulating Smad4 gene.

[Evaluation and application of exogenous gene expression system based on retroviral vector].

Currently, exogenous gene expression system based on retroviral vector has been widely used as efficient gene expression system in both gene therapeutic research and RNA interference. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of exogenous gene expression mediated by the retroviral vector in mammalian cells. First, we constructed EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) vector using pcDNA3.1(+) and retroviral vector pQCXIN as backbone vector respectively. Then, we transfected or infected HEK293 cells and CHO-K1 cells with above vector or corresponding retroviral virus, and measured the relative fluorescence intensity (RFI) of EGFP. The results showed that the RFI of the retroviral virus-infected cells was two times higher than that of the plasmid-transfected cells. Further experiments revealed repeated virus infection enhanced the expression of EGFP markedly, with RFI increasing twice after four rounds of virus infection. Furthermore, the EGFP expression in HEK293 cells mediated by the retroviral vector was more stable than transfected with plasmid pcDNA3.1(+). Finally, we further validated the efficiency of exogenous gene expression system based on the retroviral vector by expressing recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) in HEK293 cells. We obtained HEK293 cell lines with rhAPC expression between 10 and 15 microg/(10(6) cells d). In conclusion, the exogenous gene expression system based on the retroviral vector is an alternative method for the generation of stable and high-expressing mammalian cell lines.

[Serum-free medium for suspension culture of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (11G-S) cells].

With suspension adapted recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines 11G-S expressing human pro-urokinase (pro-UK) as the object of study, a serum-free medium for the cultivation of recombinant CHO cells in suspension was formulated by using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology. The two-level Plackett-Burman design was used to evaluate the effect of 10 medium supplements on the growth of the 11G-S cells in suspension culture. Among the 10 medium supplements, insulin, transferrin, and putrescine were identified as the most significant factors (P < 0.05). The response surface methodology with three factors and three levels was used to determine the optimal levels of these factors. And a serum-free medium, SFM-CHO-S for recombinant CHO cells suspension culture was formulated. The maximum cell density of 11G-S cells in SFM-CHO-S in suspension batch culture reached 4.12 x 10(6) cells/mL with a maximum pro-UK activity at 5614 IU/mL, which was superior to the commercial serum-free medium for recombinant CHO cells.

[Metabolic characteristics and kinetic model of recombinant CHO cells in serum-free suspension batch culture].

By using the cell density, cell viability, Pro-UK activity, specific consumption rate of glucose (q(glc)), specific production rate of lactate (q(lac)), yield of lactate to glucose (Y(lac/glc)) and as the evaluation indexes, the growth and metabolism characteristics of pro-urokinase (Pro-UK) expressing CHO cells in serum-free suspension batch culture were examined and compared to those in serum-containing suspension batch culture. We observed hardly differences in growth and metabolism characteristics between the CHO cell populations grown in serum-free suspension batch culture and serum-containing suspension batch culture. The optimal mathematical model parameters for the CHO cells grown in suspension batch culture were obtained by non-linear programming of data representing the growth, substrate consumption and product formation of the CHO cells during logarithmic growth phase using MATLAB software, and the kinetic model of the cell growth and metabolism in serum-free culture were established.

A high-yield and scaleable adenovirus vector production process based on high density perfusion culture of HEK 293 cells as suspended aggregates.

Cells of the human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293) were grown as suspended aggregates in stirred vessels and infected with a recombinant adenovirus vector (Ad-TH-GFP). Regular spherical aggregates with the mean diameter less than 300 microm and a viable cell density greater than 5 x 10(6) cells x ml(-1) were readily achieved after 9 day culture in spinner flasks. The HEK 293 cells growing as suspended aggregates could be efficiently infected by Ad-TH-GFP at an MOI of 10 with a prolonging infection time up to 144 hour post-infection (hpi). The time profile of Ad-TH-GFP production was strongly corresponding to the infection process with a virus concentration peak occurred consistently at 144 h after infection. And the infected aggregates essentially maintained spherical in shape, the portion of dissociated cells from the infected aggregates was less than 5% at 144 hpi. Perfusion culture of HEK 293 cells grown as suspended aggregates in a 7.5 L stirred tank bioreactor and infected with Ad-TH-GFP at a density higher than 1 x 10(7) cells x ml(-1) resulted in a similar Ad-TH-GFP production kinetics, but a much higher virus yield approximately at 5.7 x 10(11) GTU ml(-1) at 144 hpi to that of the infected spinner flask cultures. These results demonstrate the feasibility for using suspended cell aggregates as an immobilization system to facilitate perfusion in stirred tank bioreactors, and improve volumetric productivities by eliminating the cell density effect.

[Effects of hydrodynamic on aggregates formation, growth and metabolism of HEK293 cells in suspension culture].

By using the size distribution of cell aggregates, viable cell density, cell viability, specific consumption rate of glucose (q(glc)), specific production rate of lactate (q(lac)) and lactate transform rate (Y(lac/glc)) as the evaluation indexes, the effects of hydrodynamic on aggregates formation, growth and metabolism of HEK293 cells in suspension culture were examined in 250mL spinner-flasks by setting the agitation rates at 25, 50, 75 and 100r/min, respectively. It was found that agitation plays an important role in HEK293 cell aggregates formation and cell aggregates size distribution. After 7d cultivation in spinner-flasks operated at 50r/min and 75r/min, the average diameter of HEK293 cell aggregates was 201 microm and 175 microm, respectively, with the fraction of aggregates larger than 225 microm less than 10%. The cell viability was kept above 90% with the metabolic indexes, including q(glc), q(lac) and Y(lac/glc) kept constant. These results demonstrated that hydrodynamic derived from the proper agitation play a decisive role in controlling the formation and size distribution of HEK293 cell aggregates, and provided sufficient mass transfer to support the normal growth and metabolism of HEK293 cells in suspended aggregates.

[In vitro cytolysis of B-lymphoma cells mediated by an anti-CD3/anti-CD20 bispecific single-chain antibody].

After having successfully constructed and expressed the gene of the anti-CD3/anti-CD20 bispecific single-chain antibody (bscCD3 x CD20), here we analyzed its in vitro bioactivity of mediating the lysis of Ramous human B-lymphoma cells in the presence of T-enriched human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Obvious opoptosis characters were observed by Annexin V/PI(AV/PI) stained and scanning electron microscope. As evaluated by non-radioactive cytotoxity assay, the bscCD3 x CD20 showed potent bioactivity of mediating human B-lymphoma cells lysis in the presence of T-enriched human PBL. The potency of cytotoxicity depended on the ratios of effect cells to target cells (E:T) used. Further, the antibody showed a dose and time-dependent effect on mediating Ramous cells lysis. The specific lysis reached about 87.3% at an antibody concentration of 5microg/mL and E:T used at 10:1. Clear changes in apoptogenes expression profiles were detected by apoptosis gene array after Ramous cells were treated with the antibody and PBL. Among the upregulated apoptogenes, ATM and P53 showed an increase of 187 times and 15 times respectively, which suggested that ATM-p53 pathway may be the main apoptosis way of Ramous cells induced by T cells in the presence of the bscCD3 x CD20.

[Collagen membrane as scaffold for the three-dimensional cultivation of cardiac cells in vitro].

The objective of this study was to develop research of cardiac cells to reestablish 3D tissue architecture in vitro, we performed studies using collagen membrane as three-dimensional scaffold for cardiac cells culture with the principles and methods of tissue engineering. The polymer scaffold provides a 3-D substrate for cell attachment and tissue formation. Cardiac cells isolated by enzymatic digestion from 1d old neonatal rats were seeded to three-dimensional collagen scaffolds and tissue culture plates. The morphology, beating rate and the metabolic indexes, including specific consumption rate of glucose (q(glu)) , specific production rate of lactate (q(lac)), lactate transform rate ( Y(lac/glu)), specific creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities of cardiac cells cultured on three-dimensional collagen membrane and tissue culture plates were compared. It was found that cells shape and cells' CK and LDH activity was no differences between 3D and 2D cultures and cell beat rate on cell culture cluster was slower than those cells cultured on collagen membrane, However the cell glucose consumption and lactate yield rate of cells cultured on cluster was higher than those cells cultured on collagen membrane. After 5 days of cultivation, cardiac cells cultured on collagen membrane scaffolds organized into three-dimensional (3D) aggregates as opposed to the two-dimensional (2D) aggregates mosaic pattern seen in tissue culture plates, and spontaneous and rhythmical contractile 3D cultures in unison were visible to the naked eye and the area of synchronous contract three-dimensional (3D) aggregates reaches 80cm2. The mean value of q(glu), q(lac) and Y(lac/glu) of cultured on three-dimensional collagen scaffold was 7.37 micromol/10(6) cells/d, 2.92 micromol/10(6) cells/ d and 0.38 micromol/micromol, versus 7.59 micromol/10(6)cells/d, 3.83 micromol/10(6) cells/d and 0.51 micromol/micromol in tissue culture plates. These results demonstrate that cardiac cells immobilized on collagen membrane in 3D cultures maintain similar metabolic activity and contractile function when compared with native cardiac cells. The above results support the idea that engineered cardiac tissue can be used as a model of native tissue for studies of tissue development and function in vitro and eventually for tissue repair in vivo.