Search results for "Small"

Chemical Synthesis of 2′-O-Alkylated siRNAs

2010

Chemical synthesis has been a major endeavor to create active siRNAs. The downregulation of mRNA by 21-mer double-stranded siRNAs can be improved by using modified nucleotides, especially 2'-O-alkylated ones. Besides the commercially available 2 cent-O-methyl ribosides, 2'-alkyl groups bearing positive charges are especially promising candidates. We have shown that in a proper formulation they are superior to unmodified siRNAs. This may be due to enhanced stability and most probably to a better uptake into the cells.

The influence of counterions and hydrophobic moieties on the thermostability of Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers

1994

Abstract Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) multilayers with various counterions and different organic moieties (one- and two-chain fatty acids, polymeric acid) are prepared to investigate on line temperature-dependent structural changes and desorption by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), interference-enhanced reflection and Nomarsky microscopy. On temperature increase a sequence of phase transitions can be observed. A crystalline LB film melts to a fluid phase and eventually desorbs either from droplets or from a homogeneous film. The phase sequence depends on the counterion: nickel stearate and magnesium stearate melt while the layered structure is conserved; SAXS measurements reveal a continuous,…

Small angle scattering study of the structure of isotactic polypropylene-hydrogenated oligo(cyclopentadiene) blends

1996

Abstract Blends of isotactic polypropylene ( i PP) and hydrogenated oligo cyclopentadiene (HOCP) have been studied by means of small angle X-ray scattering in the temperature range 70–160°C. The structure of blends containing less than 25% HOCP is very similar to the one of plain i PP, i.e. lamellae whose thickness increases by increasing the temperature. Blends containing more than 25% HOCP are characterized by two kinds of lamellae formed by layers of i PP and amorphous material rich in i PP and in HOCP, respectively. The crystallizable i PP present in both phases crystallizes from the melt, in analogy to what happens in HDPE/HOCP blends and in agreement with the values of the crystallini…

Layer-by-layer deposited multilayer assemblies of polyelectrolytes and proteins: from ultrathin films to protein arrays

2008

We have recently introduced a new method of creating ultrathin films of polyelectrolytes based on the electrostatic attraction between opposite charges. Multilayer assemblies are adsorbed in a layer-by-layer fashion from aqueous solutions of the polymers. The total film thickness can easily be adjusted by varying the ionic strength of the solution. Here, we report on the temperature stability and the water content of the multilayer assemblies. Furthermore, we have extended our concept to the incorporation of protein layers into films of synthetic polyelectrolytes. The well established system biotin/streptavidin was used to construct such multilayers, also by biospecific recognition. Adsorpt…

Hydrogen peroxide sensing with horseradish peroxidase-modified polymer single conical nanochannels.

2011

Inspired from the funtioning and responsiveness of biological ion channels, researchers attempt to develop biosensing systems based on polymer and solid-state nanochannels. The applicability of these nanochannels for detection/sensing of any foreign analyte in the surrounding environment depends critically on the surface characteristics of the inner walls. Attaching recognition sites to the channel walls leads to the preparation of sensors targeted at a specific molecule. There are many nanochannel platforms for the detection of DNA and proteins, but only a few are capable of detecting small molecules. Here, we describe a nanochannel platform for the detection of hydrogen peroxide, H(2)O(2)…

Studies towards the development of lipophilic bifunctional N3S3 chelators for 68Ga

2010

Abstract The present study is concerned with a concept of charge-neutral, lipophilic, macrocyclic bifunctional chelators, suitable for the introduction of a gallium-68 label into small molecules. The synthesis of a novel bifunctional N3S3-type chelator, derived from 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, initial 68Ga-radiolabelling and the determination of stability and calculated lipophilicity of the compound are described. The 68Ga-labelled chelate was obtained in a maximum radiochemical yield of 93±5% after a reaction time of 2 min. It remained intact over 3 h in a DTPA-challenge and a transferrin challenge experiment, indicating sufficient stability for PET studies.

1991

Telechelic α,ω-macrozwitterions — narrowly distributed polystyrene chains oppositely charged at each end — were synthesized via anionic polymerization using direct functionalization with the initiator and the termination agent. The resulting products were purified (zwitterion content ≥ 0,95) and characterized with gel permeation chromatography, viscometry, static and dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering. In unpolar solvents as toluene, the polymeric zwitterions form clusters with molecular weights depending on concentration. In the dilute case, the clusters are relatively small and consist of approximately 8 zwitterions. The structure of these clusters is discussed by…

Critical micellization density: A small-angle-scattering structural study of the monomer-aggregate transition of block copolymers in supercriticalCO2

2000

In this paper we report a small-angle neutron-scattering investigation of micelle formation by the fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon block copolymer, polyvinyl acetate-b-poly (1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluoro-octyl acrylate) in supercritical CO{sub 2} (scCO{sub 2}) at 313 K. At high pressure the copolymer is in a monomeric state with a random coil structure, while at low pressure the polymer forms spherical aggregates stable in a wide range of thermodynamic conditions. By profiling pressure, a sharp monomer-micelle transition is obtained due to the tuning of the solvating ability of scCO{sub 2}. We confirm the previous finding that this aggregate-monomer transition is driven by the gradual penetration of…

Characterization of intestinal absorption of C -glycoside flavonoid vicenin-2 from Lychnophora ericoides leafs in rats by nonlinear mixed effects mod…

2015

Vicenin-2 (apigenin-6,8-di-C-β-d-glucopyranoside) is present in hydroalcoholic extracts of the Brazilian species Lychnophora ericoides Mart., Asteraceae, leaves, and the biological effects of this compound have been demonstrated including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects in rat models. Given the potential of this compound as a pharmacological agent, the aims of this investigation were to evaluate the extent of intestinal absorption of vicenin-2, and to determine the intestinal permeation profile using an in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion technique. A validated HPLC–UV method was applied to measure the amount of unabsorbed vicenin-2 in the gut after an oral admini…

From Food Map to FODMAP in Irritable Bowel Sindrome.

2016

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases in the general population, with a prevalence ranging from 12 % to 30 %, mainly affecting younger patients (i.e., <50 years of age) and women [1]. As in other chronic functional gastrointestinal disorders, abdominal discomfort or pain, abnormal bowel habits, and often bloating and abdominal distension are the main clinical features. Their diagnosis is based on symptom patterns (i.e., the Rome III criteria), which also allow categorization in diarrhea-predominant (D-IBS), constipation-predominant (C-IBS), mixed diarrhea and constipation (M-IBS), and unclassified (U-IBS) IBS [2]. Symptom severity ranges from tol…