[Spectrometric analyses of larotaxel and larotaxel liposomes quantification by high performance liquid chromatography].

OBJECTIVE: Larotaxel is a new chemical structure drug, which has not been marketed worldwide. Accordingly, the standard identification and quantification methods for larotaxel remain unclear. The spectrometric analyses were performed for verifying weight molecular formula, molecular weight and chemical structure of larotaxel. Besides, a quantification method was developed for measuring larotaxel in the liposomes. METHODS: The molecular formula, molecular weight and chemical structure of larotaxel were studied by using mass spectrometry (MS), infra-red (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometric techniques. The absorption wavelength of larotaxel was investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometry full-wavelength scanning. Besides, a quantification method was developed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and then validated by measuring the encapsulation efficacy of larotaxel liposomes. RESULTS: The four spectral characteristics of larotaxel were revealed and the corresponding standard spectra were defined. It was confirmed that larotaxel had the structure of tricyclic diterpenoids, with the molecular formula of C45H53NO14, the molecular weight of 831.900 1, and the maximum absorption wavelength of 230 nm. The quantitative method of larotaxel was established by using HPLC with a reversed phase C18 column (5 µm, 250 mm×4.6 mm), a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (75:25, volume/volume), and a detection wavelength of 230 nm. The validation study exhibited that the established HPLC method was stable, and had a high recovery and precision in the quantitative measurement of larotaxel in liposomes. In addition, a new kind of larotaxel liposomes was also successfully prepared. The particle size of the liposomes was about 105 nm, with an even size distribution. And the encapsulation efficiency of larotaxel in the liposomes was above 80%. CONCLUSION: The present study offers reference standard spectra of larotaxel, including MS, IR, NMR, and UV-vis, and confirms the molecular formula, molecular weight and chemical structure of larotaxel. Besides, the study develops a rapid HPLC method for quality control of larotaxel liposomes.

Surface characteristics and electrochemical corrosion behavior of NiTi alloy coated with IrO2.

The aim of this work is to investigate the surface characteristics and corrosion behavior of NiTi (50.6 at.% Ni) shape memory alloy coated by a ceramic-like and highly biocompatible material, iridium oxide (IrO2). IrO2 coatings were prepared by thermal decomposition of H2IrCl6 · 6H2O precursor solution at the temperature of 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C, respectively. The surface morphology and microstructure of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to determine the surface elemental composition. Corrosion resistance property of the coated samples was studied in a simulated body fluid at 37±1 °C by electrochemical method. It was found that the morphology and microstructure of the coatings were closely related to the oxidizing temperatures. A relatively smooth, intact and amorphous coating was obtained when the H2IrCl6·6H2O precursor solution (0.03 mol/L) was thermally decomposed at 300 °C for 0.5 h. Compared with the bare NiTi alloy, IrO2 coated samples exhibited better corrosion resistance behavior to some extent.

[Membrane fusion between Ehrlich ascites of mastocarcinoma cells and liposome induced by proton translocation of transplasma membrane NADH-ferricyanide redox enzymes].

By using resonance energy transfer assay (RET) and fluorescence microscopy we show experimental evidence that membrane fusion of Ehrlich ascites of mastocarcinoma cells with liposomes could be induced by the proton translocation activity associated with NADH-ferricyanide redox enzyme of transplasma membrane of cancer cells. The iodoacetate, an inhibitor of glycolysis, was found to be able to depress the proton translocation activity and also to inhibit the membrane fusion. It is suggested that NADH produced mainly by glycolysis is utilized as the substrate (electron donor) for transmembrane ferricyanide reduction, and the proton pumping activity in the cancer cells is coupled to the transmembrane NADH-ferricyanide redox enzyme system. Experiments also show that membrane fusion extent of cancer cells with liposomes is proportional to the amount of H+ pumped out by the cells and membrane fusion process also exhibits a H+ consuming mode just as in fusion process of mitochondria with liposomes by redox enzyme proton pumps of respiratory chain. All of the results presented in this paper consists with recent reports of this laboratory, which indicated that various types of proton pumping system from different membrane system of cell have a new function in membrane fusion. Therefore, the proton pumping induced membrane fusion may have a more general physiological importance in triggering and modulating fusion process of native membrane in vivo.