Removal of xenotropic murine leukemia virus by nanocellulose based filter paper.

The removal of xenotrpic murine leukemia virus (xMuLV) by size-exclusion filter paper composed of 100% naturally derived cellulose was validated. The filter paper was produced using cellulose nanofibers derived from Cladophora sp. algae. The filter paper was characterized using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, helium pycnometry, and model tracer (100 nm latex beads and 50 nm gold nanoparticles) retention tests. Following the filtration of xMuLV spiked solutions, LRV ≥5.25 log10 TCID50 was observed, as limited by the virus titre in the feed solution and sensitivity of the tissue infectivity test. The results of the validation study suggest that the nanocellulose filter paper is useful for removal of endogenous rodent retroviruses and retrovirus-like particles during the production of recombinant proteins.

Influence of unsaturated carbonic acids on hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity of poly-vinylacetate based co-polymers.

The aim of this study was to investigate hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity properties of synthetic polymer coatings containing various unsaturated carbonic acids with vinylacetate. Co-polymers of vinylacetate and crotonic acid (CA), maleic acid (MA), and itaconic acid (IA) were made. The materials were characterized in terms of their adhesion to metal supports (titanium and stainless steel) as well as hemocompatibility (% hemolysis, wettability, erythrocyte aggregation, hemoglobin content, thrombocyte count and lipid peroxidation levels) and cytotoxicity (human endothelial cell activity in vitro and chromosome aberrations, bone marrow proliferation and cell ploidy in rats). Co-polymers of unsaturated carbonic acids with vinylacetate exhibited good hemocompatibility properties, as opposed to vinylacetate homopolymer for which substantial levels of hemolysis were observed. By coating the metal supports with co-polymers the cytotoxic effects associated with the bare metal samples were markedly reduced. MA samples showed excellent hemocompatibility and no cytotoxicity, yet they lacked good adhesion properties to metal substrate, probably due to high water content. CA samples, having the highest density of carboxylic groups among the samples under investigation, showed increased bone marrow proliferation activity and cell ploidy in rats, as compared to controls. The most promising results in the present study were obtained for the samples with IA, which showed good adhesion to metal substrates, good hemocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. Thus, co-polymers of vinylacetate and IA rich in carboxylic groups are promising materials for the design of novel drug-eluting stents.

Influence of cellulose powder structure on moisture-induced degradation of acetylsalicylic acid.

The stability of crystalline acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) powder in binary mixtures with cellulose powders was investigated to reveal information about the influence of the cellulose structural properties on the moisture-induced ASA degradation. Different cellulose powder samples were manufactured and characterized by X-ray diffraction and N2 BET gas adsorption. The degradation patterns in ASA/cellulose mixtures were monitored as a function of salicylic acid increase versus time under various relative humidity conditions at 50 degrees C. The crystallinity index of cellulose samples varied between approximately 49 and 95%. The results indicated that cellulose powder with the lowest crystallinity index exhibited lower degradation rates than the samples with the higher crystallinity index. It should be noted that higher ASA degradation rates were observed in the samples with comparably lower moisture contents. This effect was most pronounced in the 1:3 (w/w), ASA/cellulose mixtures, whereas in 3:1 (w/w), ASA/cellulose mixtures the effect was less obvious. The findings emphasise the importance of cellulose structural organisation when governing the moisture's partition between cellulose and ASA during the hydrolytic degradation.