Search results for "hydrophobic"
showing 10 items of 332 documents
Molecular dynamics, dynamic site mapping, and highthroughput virtual screening on leptin and the Ob receptor as anti-obesity target.
2014
Body weight control is a mechanism finely regulated by several hormonal, metabolic, and nervous pathways. The leptin receptor (Ob-R) is crucial for energy homeostasis and regulation of food uptake. Leptin is a 16 kDa hormone that is mainly secreted by fat cells into the bloodstream, and under normal circumstances, circulating levels are proportionate to the fat body mass. Sensing of elevated leptin levels by the hypothalamic neurocircutry activates a negative feedback loop resulting in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure. Decreased concentrations lead to opposite effects. Therefore rational design of leptin agonists constitute an appealing challenge in the battle against ob…
Interaction of Quinine with Model Lipid Membranes of Different Compositions
2002
The binding of a drug such as Quinine with neutral and negatively charged small unilamellar lipid vesicles at pH 7 and 37 degrees C was investigated. Changes in the fluorescence properties of the drug after association with the liposomes were used to obtain binding isotherms over a range of phospholipid compositions at different ionic strengths. Under such conditions, the association was strongly enhanced by the negative net charge of the bilayer but diminished by the increasing presence of electrolytes in the aqueous media. Binding data were analyzed in terms of a surface partition equilibrium without and after correcting for electrostatic effects by means of the Gouy-Chapman theory. The i…
Biodegradable Protein Nanocontainers
2015
The application of synthetic polymers for drug delivery often requires tremendous efforts to ensure biocompatibility and -degradation. To use the body's own substances can help to overcome these problems. Herein, we present the first synthesis of nanocontainers entirely composed of albumin proteins. These protein nanocontainers (PNCs) were loaded with hydrophilic compounds and release of the payload is triggered through natural lysis in vitro in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs). No aggregation of PNCs in human blood plasma was observed, indicating stability for blood circulation. As the PNCs were readily taken up by moDCs, they are considered as a promising delivery platform f…
Influence of the drying processes of yeasts on their volatile phenol sorption capacity in model wine.
2009
International audience; Volatile phenols, such as 4-ethylphenol, are responsible for a "horsey" smell in wine. Thus, the study of volatile phenol sorption in yeasts, and their subsequent elimination from wine, helps to optimize eco-friendly wine curative processes. Here, we compared the influences of spray drying, lyophilization and evaporative drying at low water activity on yeast, for improving the 4-ethylphenol sorption capacity in a synthetic model wine. The changes that occur in the physico-chemical characteristics of the yeast surface (surface hydrophobicity, electron-donor character and zeta potential) during these drying processes were determined to assess if any correlation exists …
Cloning and expression of genes involved in conidiation and surface properties of Penicillium camemberti grown in liquid and solid cultures.
2008
International audience; Based on bioinformatic data on model fungi, the rodA and wetA genes encoding, respectively, a RodA hydrophobin protein and the WetA protein involved in conidiation mechanisms, were PCR-cloned and characterized for the first time in Penicillium camemberti. These results, completed by a sequence of the brlA gene (available in GenBank), which encodes a major transcriptional regulator also involved in the conidiation mechanism, were used to compare, by qRT-PCR, the expression of the three genes in liquid and solid cultures in a synthetic medium. While expression of the brlA and wetA genes increased dramatically in both culture conditions after 4 days of growth, expressio…
Unlocked Concanavalin A Forms Amyloid-like Fibrils from Coagulation of Long-lived "Crinkled'' Intermediates
2013
Understanding the early events during amyloid aggregation processes is crucial to single out the involved molecular mechanisms and for designing ad hoc strategies to prevent and reverse amyloidogenic disorders. Here, we show that, in conditions in which the protein is positively charged and its conformational flexibility is enhanced, Concanavalin A leads to fibril formation via a non-conventional aggregation pathway. Using a combination of light scattering, circular dichroism, small angle X-ray scattering, intrinsic (Tryptophan) and extrinsic (ANS) fluorescence and confocal and 2-photon fluorescence microscopy we characterize the aggregation process as a function of the temperature. We high…
NEW SELF-ASSEMBLING POLYASPARTYLHYDRAZIDE COPOLYMER MICELLES FOR ANTICANCER DRUG DELIVERY.
2010
A new amphiphilic copolymer have been synthesized starting from the hydrosoluble polyaspartylhydrazide (PAHy) polymer, by grafting both hydrophilic PEG(2000) chains and hydrophobic palmitic acid (C(16)) moieties on polymer backbone, and the structure of obtained PAHy-PEG(2000)-C(16) copolymer have been characterized by 2D (1)H/(13)C NMR experiments. PAHy-PEG(2000)-C(16) copolymer showed the ability of self-assembling in aqueous media giving a core-shell structure and resulted potentially useful for encapsulating and dissolving hydrophobic drug. The formation of micellar core-shell structure has been investigated by 2D (1)H NMR NOESY experiments. The presence of cross-peaks for protons of C(…
Water dynamics and its role in structural hysteresis of dissolved organic matter
2016
Knowledge of structural dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is of paramount importance for understanding DOM stability and role in the fate of solubilized organic and inorganic compounds (e.g., nutrients and pollutants), either in soils or aquatic systems. In this study, fast field cycling (FFC) (1)H NMR relaxometry was applied to elucidate structural dynamics of terrestrial DOM, represented by two structurally contrasting DOM models such as Suwanee River (SRFA) and Pahokee peat (PPFA) fulvic acids purchased by the International Humic Substance Society. Measurement of NMR relaxation rate of water protons in heating-cooling cycles revealed structural hysteresis in both fulvic acids. I…
Fluorinated and pegylated polyaspartamide derivatives to increase solubility and efficacy of Flutamide
2012
New fluorinated amphiphilic copolymers based on a biocompatible polyaspartamide have been prepared in order to obtain polymeric micelles useful for delivering anticancer drugs. In particular, α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide (PHEA) has been derivatized with polyethylene glycol (PEG(2000)) and ethylendiamine (EDA). Both these portions form the hydrophilic part of the copolymer, while the hydrophobic moiety is given by 1,2,4-oxadiazoles: 5-pentafluorophenyl-3-perfluoroheptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (PPOX) or 3-carboxyethyl-5-pentadecafluoroheptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (CPOX). Copolymers named PHEA-PEG(2000)-EDA-PPOX and PHEA-PEG(2000)-EDA-CPOX have been prepared with various degrees of derivati…
MATRICES OF A HYDROPHOBICALLY FUNCTIONALIZED HYALURONIC ACID DERIVATIVE FOR THE LOCOREGIONAL TUMOUR TREATMENT
2015
A hyaluronic acid (HA) derivative bearing octadecylamine and acylhydrazine functionalities has been here employed for the production of a paclitaxel delivering matrix for locoregional chemotherapy. Through a strategy consisting in a powder compression and a plasticization with a mixture water/ethanol, a physically assembled biomaterial, stable in solutions with physiologic ionic strengths, has been produced. Two different drug loading strategies have been adopted, by using paclitaxel as chemotherapic agent, and obtained samples have been assayed in terms of release in enhanced solubility conditions and in vitro and in vivo tumoural cytotoxicity. In particular sample with the best releasing …