Synthesis and Characterization of Gelatin-Based Magnetic Hydrogels.

A simple preparation of thermoreversible gelatin-based ferrogels in water provides a constant structure defined by the crosslinking degree for gelatin contents between 6 and 18 wt%. The possibility of varying magnetite nanoparticle concentration between 20 and 70 wt% is also reported. Simulation studies hint at the suitability of collagen to bind iron and hydroxide ions, suggesting that collagen acts as a nucleation seed to iron hydroxide aggregation, and thus the intergrowth of collagen and magnetite nanoparticles already at the precursor stage. The detailed structure of the individual ferrogel components is characterized by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) using contrast matching. The magnetite structure characterization is supplemented by small-angle X-ray scattering and microscopy only visualizing magnetite. SANS shows an unchanged gelatin structure of average mesh size larger than the nanoparticles with respect to gel concentration while the magnetite nanoparticles size of around 10 nm seems to be limited by the gel mesh size. Swelling measurements underline that magnetite acts as additional crosslinker and therefore varying the magnetic and mechanical properties of the ferrogels. Overall, the simple and variable synthesis protocol, the cheap and easy accessibility of the components as well as the biocompatibility of the gelatin-based materials suggest them for a number of applications including actuators.

The GPR54 gene as a regulator of puberty.

BACKGROUND: Puberty, a complex biologic process involving sexual development, accelerated linear growth, and adrenal maturation, is initiated when gonadotropin-releasing hormone begins to be secreted by the hypothalamus. We conducted studies in humans and mice to identify the genetic factors that determine the onset of puberty. METHODS: We used complementary genetic approaches in humans and in mice. A consanguineous family with members who lacked pubertal development (idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) was examined for mutations in a candidate gene, GPR54, which encodes a G protein-coupled receptor. Functional differences between wild-type and mutant GPR54 were examined in vitro. In parallel, a Gpr54-deficient mouse model was created and phenotyped. Responsiveness to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone was assessed in both the humans and the mice. RESULTS: Affected patients in the index pedigree were homozygous for an L148S mutation in GPR54, and an unrelated proband with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was determined to have two separate mutations, R331X and X399R. The in vitro transfection of COS-7 cells with mutant constructs demonstrated a significantly decreased accumulation of inositol phosphate. The patient carrying the compound heterozygous mutations (R331X and X399R) had attenuated secretion of endogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone and a left-shifted dose-response curve for gonadotropin-releasing hormone as compared with six patients who had idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism without GPR54 mutations. The Gpr54-deficient mice had isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (small testes in male mice and a delay in vaginal opening and an absence of follicular maturation in female mice), but they showed responsiveness to both exogenous gonadotropins and gonadotropin-releasing hormone and had normal levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in GPR54, a G protein-coupled receptor gene, cause autosomal recessive idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in humans and mice, suggesting that this receptor is essential for normal gonadotropin-releasing hormone physiology and for puberty.