Magnetofluorescent probe of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles modified with poly(TMSMA-r-PEGMA-r-Eu(NTA)3(MMA)(TOPO)3).

In this study, hybrid magnetofluorescent structures composed of organic moiety of poly(TMSMA-r-PEGMA) for biomolecules-resistant surfaces and methyl methacrylate for conjugation of europium complex inorganic moiety of magnetic nanoparticles are reported. Lanthanide complex of europium ion with 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)-1,3-butanedione (NTA) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO)[Eu(NTA)3(TOPO)3] were incorporated into poly(TMSMA-r-PEGMA-r-MMA) matrix. Afterward, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were coated with as prepared polymeric europium complex (PEC) to construct hierarchical structure of magnetofluorescent probe. The PL spectra of the PEC@SPIONs excited by UV light showed characteristic emission behavior with a hypersensitive transition 5D0 --> 7F2 at 621 nm. About a 20% quenching in the intensity of the emission peak at 621 nm was found after the addition of SPIONs. Interestingly, when the concentration of PEC against SPIONs is increased, the hypersensitive transition 5D0 --> 7F2 at 621 nm is linearly increased, while 5D1 --> 7F6 at 700 nm is linearly decreased. The cytotoxic effect of PEC@SPIONs was evaluated with U373MG cell by the MTT assay of PEC@SPIONs in cell proliferation. The cell viability in the range of 10-200 ug/ml was more than 80%. No significant difference in cell proliferation until the concentration of 300 ug/ml (77.61 ± 3.33%). The cellular uptake of PEC@SPIONs evaluated by confocal microscopy showed that the magnetofluorescent nanoparticles were internalized extensively in the cytoplasmic region.

Protective effects of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles loaded with erythropoietin stabilized by sodium cholate against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.

The final aim of this study was to confirm the neuroprotective effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles stabilized by sodium cholate (rhEPO-Ch-NP) and compare their effects with those of rhEPO using an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia. Glutamate-induced excitotoxic damage on SH-SY5Y cells, a human neuroblastoma cell line, with or without rhEPO-Ch-NPs was quantitatively evaluated. The rhEPO-Ch-NPs were carefully prepared using a water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion solvent evaporation technique with PLGA, sodium cholate hydrate, and ethyl acetate. The rhEPO-Ch-NPs were fully characterized by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, significant intracellular uptake of these particles was monitored by confocal microscopy. Notably, the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and nuclear changes observed by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining in SH-SY5Y cells demonstrated that rhEPO-Ch-NPs were safer at any concentration investigated and rescued more neuronal cells, while preserving normocytic features against glutamate-induced excitotoxic damages compared to rhEPO.

Neuroprotective effect of estradiol-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles on glutamate-induced excitotoxic neuronal death.

Different concentrations of estradiol (E2)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (E2-PLGA-NPs) were synthesized using the emulsion-diffusion method. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that the average particle size of E2-PLGA-NPs was 98 ± 1.9 nm when stabilized with polyvinyl alcohol and 103 ± 4.9 nm when stabilized with Tween-80. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy with diamond attenuated total reflectance was used to identify the presence or absence of E2 molecules in PLGA nanocapsules. Cell proliferation was assessed after treating SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with 1 nM-1 µM of E2 and E2-PLGA-NPs. The neuroprotective efficacy against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity was also investigated in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Neuroprotection was greater in E2-PLGA-NP-treated cells than in cells treated with the same concentration of E2. Furthermore, E2- and E2-PLGA-NP-treated cells expressed more p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB than cells treated with glutamate only. Moreover, the expression of p-ERK1/2 was higher than that of p-CREB. In this study, p-ERK1/2 had a greater influence on the neuroprotective effect of E2 and E2-PLGA-NPs than p-CREB.

Polyethyleneimine-associated polycaprolactone-Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a gene delivery vector.

This study describes the synthesis of novel gene delivery vector with low toxicity and high transfection efficiency for magnetofection. The rational design of magnetofection vector called PPMag (PEI-associated polycaprolactone (PCL)-SPIONs) composed of oleic acid (OA) stabilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPPIONs) prepared by thermolysis of iron oleate with a combination of hydrophobic PCL and proton absorbing polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI) (PEI-PCL-SPIONs) is described. Encapsulation of amphiphilic PEI with SPIONs not only improves water dispersity of SPIONs, but also allows nucleic acid (NA) condensation and endosomal/lysosomal escape via proton sponge effect after internalization in cells. MTT cytotoxicity assay showed that cell viability was improved compared to conventional PEI-SPIONs. The luciferase activity of magneto-polyplexes treated cells significantly improved compared to both controls revealed that transfection efficiency of PPMag- pCIKlux polyplexes group was improved compared to naked pCIKlux group. The application underneath of a rare earth magnet significantly improve the transfection efficiency (i.e., the luciferase activity doubles) compared to cells without magnet, indicating that sedimentation induced by magnetic field plays important role in accumulation of magneto-polyplexes on cell surfaces. The results demonstrate that PPMag can be used as a novel gene transfection vector to improve transfection efficiency. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 145-154, 2017.

Three-dimensional relationship between the critical contact angle and the torque angle.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the critical contact angle and the torque angle in an orthodontic bracket and archwire assembly in 3 dimensions. Three-dimensional mathematical models were created with geometric bracket-archwire parameters that included 2 slot sizes, 3 bracket widths, and 3 to 4 wire sizes. From this, 3-dimensional mathematical equations (3DMEs) for the critical contact angle and the maximum torque that result in critical contact angles of 0 were derived and calculated. To evaluate the effects of archwire-bracket parameters on critical contact angles, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed at the significance level of P < or = .05. For all bracket-archwire combinations, the critical contact angle decreased as bracket width, torque angle, and wire size increased. Therefore, all bracket-archwire parameters except slot height had an effect on the critical contact angle. Results of the critical contact angle produced from our 3DMEs were the same as those produced by 3D computer-aided design (SolidWorks Corp, Concord, Mass), thus confirming the validity of our derived equations. In addition, the effect of a beveled edge was investigated in some archwires. Furthermore, torsional play angles were calculated and found to be similar to those in previous reports. The results of this study provide theoretic and experimental bases for clinical orthodontic practice and indicate that torque angles should be included in the evaluation of the critical contact angle.