Gingival crevicular fluid levels of SLIT3 are increased in periodontal disease.

This study aims to investigate the levels of SLIT3 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of healthy and periodontal disease subjects, and their correlations to periodontal disease. A total of 45 periodontal patients and 45 periodontally healthy volunteers were enrolled. The clinical parameters, radiographic bone loss and the levels of SLIT3, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in GCF were measured. The prevalences of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia in subgingival plaque were also analyzed. The expression of SLIT3 and RANKL was detected in the periodontium of experimental periodontitis in rats and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage. The total amounts and concentrations of SLIT3 and RANKL were significantly higher in periodontitis than those in healthy, while the level of OPG was significantly lower (p < .05). Significant positive correlations were observed between the level of GCF SLIT3 and clinical attachment level and radiographic bone loss (p < .05). There existed a significant positive correlation between SLIT3 and RANKL (p < .05). Increased expression of SLIT3 and RANKL was observed in the periodontium of periodontal rats. SLIT3 expression was induced by LPS stimulation in macrophages. These results suggest that SLIT3 may act as a diagnostic indicator of periodontal disease and should be further investigated.

Combination of lignin and L-lactide towards grafted copolymers from lignocellulosic butanol residue.

A series of BBL-graft-poly (L-lactide) copolymers were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide (L-LA) with a biobutanol lignin (BBL) initiator and a triazabicyclodecene (TBD) catalyst under free-solvent at 135 °C. By manipulating the mass ratio of BBL/LLA, BBL-g-PLLA copolymers with tunable number-average molecular weight (Mn) (2544-7033 g mol(-1)) were obtained. The chemical structure of PLLA chains was identifiable by FT-IR, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopies, in combination with UV-vis spectra to provide support for the existence of the BBL in the copolymer. This provided solid evidence for the successful synthesis of BBL-g-PLLA copolymer. The thermal properties and surface characterization of BBL-g-PLLA copolymers were different from those of linear PLLA. Furthermore, the BBL-g-PLLA copolymer film showed good absorption capacity in the UV region and high transparency in the visible light region, which was expected to find significant applications in UV-protective coating film.

Preparation and characterization of Lignin-graft-poly (ɛ-caprolactone) copolymers based on lignocellulosic butanol residue.

In this paper, a "graft from" Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) technique was used to synthesize a lignin-graft-poly (ɛ-caprolactone) copolymer (BBL-g-PCL) using biobutanol lignin (BBL) as raw material recovered from lignocellulosic butanol residue. Polymerizations were carried out with various mass ratios of BBL and CL monomer ([BBL]/([BBL]+[CL])=1.0%, 5.0%, 10%, 20% and 40% (w/w)) to obtain BBL-g-PCL copolymers with different molecular weights, ranging from 367 to 8163gmol(-1). The grafting efficiency was preliminary evidenced by the long-term stability of dissolution of BBL-g-PCL in toluene. FT-IR and NMR analysis provided the further evidences for successful formation of BBL-g-PCL copolymer. The thermal properties of BBL-g-PCL copolymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These results indicated that BBL-g-PCL copolymer had relatively good thermal stability. The static contact angle of BBL-g-PCL coating film reached to 80°. The surface functional groups and chemical composition of BBL-g-PCL copolymer was investigated in detail by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface morphology of BBL-g-PCL copolymer was studied by Atomic force microscopy (AFM). Additionally, BBL-g-PCL coating film exhibited high absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) range, which could allow for applications in UV-blocking coatings, as well as the extents for the utilization of lignocellulosic butanol residue.