0000000000218855

AUTHOR

Wolfgang Schatton

Initiation of an Aquaculture of Sponges for the Sustainable Production of Bioactive Metabolites in Open Systems: Example, Geodia cydonium.

Among Metazoa, sponges (phylum Porifera) are the richest source for different bioactive compounds. The availability of the raw material is, however, restricted. To obtain enough of the bioactive compounds for application in human therapy, sponges have to be cultured in in vitro systems. One technique for the establishment of a long-term cell culture from sponges has recently been elaborated. Here, we present a procedure to cultivate tissue samples from sponges in an open system. The species Geodia cydonium, which produces bioactive compounds, has been selected. Tissue samples of approximately 10 g were attached to the bottoms of cultivation trays. After 2 to 3 days, the tissue samples forme…

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Cytoprotective effect of NMDA receptor antagonists on prion protein (PrionSc)-induced toxicity in rat cortical cell cultures

Rat cortical cells were incubated with the Scrapie prion protein, PrionSc. At concentrations of 3 ng/ml of PrionSc and higher, the viability of the cells decreased significantly after a 12-h incubation period. Simultaneously, the degree of DNA fragmentation increased. In control experiments with antibodies against PrionSc, PrionSc lost its deleterious effect on neurons. PrionSc did not affect the viability of astrocytes. Drugs known to block NMDA receptor channels, such as memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane) (Mem), its analogue 1-N-methylamino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane as well as (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) prevented the effect of …

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Microparticles derived from marine sponge collagen (SCMPs): preparation, characterization and suitability for dermal delivery of all-trans retinol.

Abstract Collagen microparticles were prepared using marine sponge collagen. For this purpose a previous method by Rossler et al. (J. Microencapsul. 12 (1995) 49) of emulsification and cross-linking of native calf collagen was modified. The modified method for sponge collagen microparticles (SCMPs) achieved a yield of 10%. Scanning electromicroscopic photographs showed spherical particles with a diameter of 120–300 nm and photon correlation spectroscopic measurements indicated particle size range from 126 (±2.9) to 2179 (±342) nm. This broad size distribution was caused by some agglomerates that could not be destroyed by ultrasonication. The surface charge was measured as a function of pH. …

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Marine sponge collagen: isolation, characterization and effects on the skin parameters surface-pH, moisture and sebum

A previously described isolation procedure for collagen of the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis Nardo was modified for scaling-up reasons yielding 30% of collagen (freeze-dried collagen in relation to freeze-dried sponge). Light microscope observations showed fibrous structures. Transmission electron microscopy studies proved the collagenous nature of this material: high magnifications showed the typical periodic banding-pattern of collagen fibres. However, the results of the amino acid analysis differed from most publications, presumably due to impurities that still were present. In agreement with earlier studies, sponge collagen was insoluble in dilute acid mediums and all solvents inv…

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