Type I Collagen from Jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus for Biomaterial Applications.

Collagen is the predominant protein in animal connective tissues and is widely used in tissue regeneration and other industrial applications. Marine organisms have gained interest as alternative, nonmammalian collagen sources for biomaterial applications because of potential medical and economic advantages. In this work, we present physicochemical and biofunctionality studies of acid solubilized collagen (ASC) from jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus (JASC), harvested from the Persian Gulf, compared with ASC from rat tail tendon (RASC), the industry-standard collagen used for biomedical research. From the protein subunit (alpha chain) pattern of JASC, we identified it as a type I collagen, and extensive molecular spectroscopic analyses showed similar triple helical molecular signatures for JASC and RASC. Atomic force microscopy of fibrillized JASC showed clear fibril reassembly upon pH neutralization though with different temperature and concentration dependence compared with RASC. Molecular (natively folded, nonfibrillized) JASC was shown to functionalize rigid substrates and promote MC3T3 preosteoblast cell attachment and proliferation better than RASC over 6 days. On blended collagen-agarose scaffolds, both RASC and JASC fibrils supported cell attachment and proliferation, and scaffolds with RASC fibrils showed more cell growth after 6 days compared with those scaffolds with JASC fibrils. These results demonstrate the potential for this new type I collagen as a possible alternative to mammalian type I collagen for biomaterial applications.

Plasma Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Immobilization of Candida antarctica Lipase B: Production of Biodiesel from Methanolysis of Rapeseed Oil.

Surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through functionalization could improve the characteristics of these nanomaterials as support for enzymes. Carboxylation of MWCNTs (MWCNT-COOH) has been carried out in this study using the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor through humidified air. The chemical method was also used for further functionalization of the MWCNT-COOH through which the amidation of the surfaces with either butylamine (MWCNT-BA) or octadecylamine (MWCNT-OA) was performed. By immobilization of Candida antarctica B lipase (CALB) on these nanoparticles, performance of the immobilized enzyme in catalyzing methanolysis of rapeseed oil was evaluated. The CALB loading on the MWCNT-BA and MWCNT-COOH was 20 mg protein/g, while the value for MWCNT-OA was 11 mg protein/g. The yield of biodiesel was determined as percentage of mass of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) produced per initial mass of the oil, and the yield value for the two of these three supports namely, MWCNT-COOH and MWCNT-BA used for the CALB immobilization was similar at about 92 %, while 86 % was the yield for the reaction catalyzed by the lipase immobilized on MWCNT-OA. Thermal stability of the immobilized CALB and the catalytic ability of the enzyme in the repeated batch experiments have also been determined.

Prevalence of various human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes among women who subjected to routine Pap smear test in Bushehr city (south west of Iran) 2008-2009.

BACKGROUND: Some genotypes of human papillomaviruses can infect the genital tract and they are important infectious agents which their oncogenicity is regardable. Thus the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of various genital human papillomaviruses (HPV) among women being subjected to routine pap smear test in Bushehr city of Iran. RESULTS: Based on the collected data, 11(5.5%) samples were detected positive for HPV DNA and 189(94.5%) samples out of 200 samples were detected negative for HPV DNA. Meanwhile 4(2%) samples detected positive for HPV DNA by PCR were detected positive for HPV by pap smear test as well. On the other hand 5 samples which were detected positive for HPV by pap smear test didn't have HPV DNA after being tested by PCR method. Among the 11 positive samples 7 samples were identified as HPV-16, 3 samples were HPV-18 and one was HPV-53. CONCLUSION: Regarding the prevalence of highly carcinogen genotypes of HPV in our study determination of genital HPV prevalence among the normal population of women of Bushehr city is recommended.

Evaluation of antiviral activities of curcumin derivatives against HSV-1 in Vero cell line.

Antiviral drug resistance is one of the most common problems in medicine, and, therefore, finding new antiviral agents, especially from natural resources, seems to be necessary. This study was designed to assay the antiviral activity of curcumin and its new derivatives like gallium-curcumin and Cu-curcumin on replication of HSV-1 in cell culture. The research was performed as an in vitro study in which the antiviral activity of different concentrations of three substances including curcumin, Gallium-curcumin and Cu-curcumin were tested on HSV-1. The cytotoxicity of the tested compounds was also evaluated on the Vero cell line. The CC50 values for curcumin, gallium-curcumin and Cu-curcumin were 484.2 microg/mL, 255.8 microg/mL and 326.6 microg/mL, respectively, and the respective IC50 values 33.0 microg/mL, 13.9 microg/mL and 23.1 microg/mL. The calculated SI values were 14.6, 18.4 and 14.1, respectively. The results showed that curcumin and its new derivatives have remarkable antiviral effects on HSV-1 in cell culture.