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Outer Shell (outer + shell)
Selected AbstractsAnalysis of proteins stained by Alexa dyesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 6 2004Shijun Huang Abstract Alexa dye staining of proteins is used for the fluorescence microscopy of single particles that are sometimes multimolecular protein complexes. To characterize the staining, post-staining determination must be made of which protein(s) in a complex have been Alexa-stained. The present communication describes the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for performing this determination. The Alexa-stained proteins are observed directly in gels by illumination with an ultraviolet transilluminator. The test multimolecular particle is bacteriophage T7. The protein capsid of T7 is a multimolecular complex that has both external and internal proteins. SDS-PAGE of Alexa-stained bacteriophage T7 produces fluorescent capsid proteins each of which usually comigrates with an unstained protein. However, one Alexa-induced modification of protein migration was observed by SDS-PAGE. Mass spectrometry shows that the protein with modified migration is the major protein of the outer shell of the T7 capsid. The procedures used are generally applicable. The distribution of Alexa staining among T7 capsid proteins depends on the size of the dye molecule used. The larger the dye molecule is, the greater the preference for external proteins. [source] Cover Picture: Composite Silica Spheres with Magnetic and Luminescent Functionalities (Adv. Funct.ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 4 2006Mater. Abstract Photographs of a colloidal dispersion of composite nanoparticles with magnetic and luminescent functionalities are shown (left, in column), which are schematically illustrated in the main image. As reported by Salgueirińo-Maceira and co-workers on p.,509, such functionalities are imparted by magnetic and semiconductor nanoparticles within a silica matrix. In the absence of a magnetic field the particles are uniformly dispersed, although they accumulate and can be dragged under the influence of a magnetic field. Their movement can be monitored by their photoluminescence. A new class of highly fluorescent, photostable, and magnetic core/shell nanoparticles in the submicrometer size range has been synthesized from a modified Stöber method combined with the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. Luminescent magnetic nanoparticles are prepared via two main steps. The first step involves controlled addition of tetraethoxysilane to a dispersion of Fe3O4/,-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, which are thereby homogeneously incorporated as cores into monodisperse silica spheres. The second step involves the LbL assembly of polyelectrolytes and luminescent CdTe quantum dots onto the surfaces of the silica-coated magnetite/maghemite particles, which are finally covered with an outer shell of silica. These spherical particles have a typical diameter of 220,±,10,nm and a saturation magnetization of 1.34,emu,g,1 at room temperature, and exhibit strong excitonic photoluminescence. Nanoparticles with such a core/shell architecture have the added benefit of providing a robust platform (the outer silica shell) for incorporating diverse functionalities into a single nanoparticle. [source] High-Sensitivity Solid-State Pb(Core)/ZnO(Shell) Nanothermometers Fabricated by a Facile Galvanic Displacement Method,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 24 2008Chiu-Yen Wang Solid-Pb-filled ZnO nanotubes are synthesized and tested for use as nanothermometers. The expansion of the filling with increasing temperature (see figure) , or the corresponding changes in capacitance , can be measured and related to temperature. The advantages of this nanothermometer are extremely low fabrication costs, superior reliability, and lower demands on structural integrity of the outer shell compared to nanothermometers based on liquid fillings. [source] Preparation and in vitro release of D,L -tetrahydropalmatine-loaded graft copolymer nanoparticlesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008Yinglei Zhai Abstract D,L -tetrahydropalmatine (THP)-loaded poly{[,-maleic anhydride-,-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)]- co -(ethy cyanoacrylate)} (PEGECA) amphiphilic graft copolymer nanoparticles (PEGECAT NPs) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation technique. The effects of solvent property, temperature, copolymer composition, and drug feeding on the drug-loaded amount and size of PEGECAT NPs were investigated. The morphological structure of PEGECAT NPs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and the size was measured by laser particle size analyzer (LPSA). In vitro release behaviors of drug from PEGECAT NPs were examined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrate that PEGECAT NPs take on a spherical morphology with an inner core and outer shell before and after in vitro release. THP can be incorporated into the hydrophobic core of PEGECAT NPs and the drug-loaded amount is higher than 5%. The release of THP from PEGECAT NPs is initially fast and then slows down. The accumulated release is lower than 40% after 48 h. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Nonwoven as heat barrier: Modeling of the efficiency of Carbtex fibersJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Serge Bourbigot Abstract In this work, we examine the use of nonwoven (NW) as heat barrier to protect a metallic substrate. Carbtex fibers consisting in a thermoplastic core inside an oxidized outer shell (polyacrylonitrile or PAN fibers) are selected to make the NW. Measuring temperature profiles in a heat radiator test; it is revealed that Carbtex NW is an efficient heat barrier. A macroscopic model is then developed to simulate heat transfer in NW (considered as a porous medium) used as a protective heat barrier on aluminum plate. The model is validated comparing experimental results obtained by the heat radiator test and predicted values. The efficiency of NW layer is simulated varying different parameters characteristic of the NW (porosity and heat conductivity) and of the design (thickness of the layer). It is revealed to get good efficiency of the NW heat barrier that heat conductivity of the fibers is crucial to get superior performance as well as high porosity (higher than 0.5) associated with a reasonable thickness of NW (5,7 mm). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Ultrastructural study of the precursor to fungiform papillae prior to the arrival of sensory nerves in the fetal ratJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Shin-ichi Iwasaki Abstract The structure of precursors to fungiform papillae without taste buds, prior to the arrival of sensory nerve fibers at the papillae, was examined in the fetal rat on embryonic day 13 (E13) and 16 (E16) by light and transmission electron microscopy in an attempt to clarify the mechanism of morphogenesis of these papillae. At E13, a row of rudiments of fungiform papillae was arranged along both sides of the median sulcus of the lingual dorsal surface, and each row consisted of about 10 rudiments. There was no apparent direct contact between papillae rudiments and sensory nerves at this time. Bilaterally towards the lateral side of the tongue, adjacent to these first rudiments of fungiform papillae, a series of cord-like invaginations of the dorsal epithelium of the tongue into the underlying connective tissue, representing additional papillary primordia parallel to the first row, was observed. The basal end of each invagination was enlarged as a round bulge, indented at its tip by a mound of fibroblasts protruding into the bulge. At E16 there was still no apparent direct contact between rudiments of fungiform papillae and sensory nerves. Each rudiment apically contained a spherical core of aggregating cells, which consisted of a dense assembly of large, oval cells unlike those in other areas of the lingual dorsal epithelium. The differentiation of these aggregated cells was unclear. The basal lamina was clearly recognizable between the epithelium of the rudiment of fungiform papillae and the underlying connective tissue. Spherical structures, which appeared to be sections of the cord-like invaginations of the lingual epithelium that appeared on E13, were observed within the connective tissue separated from the dorsal lingual epithelium. Transverse sections of such structures revealed four concentric layers of cells: a central core, an inner shell, an outer shell, and a layer of large cells. Bundles of fibers were arranged in the central core, and the diameters of bundles varied somewhat depending on the depth of the primordia within the connective tissue and their distance from the median sulcus. Ultrastructural features of cells in the outer shell differed significantly in rudiments close to the lingual epithelium as compared to those in deeper areas of connective tissue. Around the outer shell there was a large-cell layer consisting of one to three layers of radially elongated, oval cells that contained many variously sized, electron-dense, round granules. Large numbers of fibroblasts formed dense aggregates around each spherical rudiment, and were separated by the basal lamina from the large-cell epithelial layer. Progressing from deep-lying levels of the rudiments of the papillae to levels close to the lingual surface epithelium, the central core, inner shell, and outer shell gradually disappeared from the invaginated papillary cords. J. Morphol. 250:225,235, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Design and evaluation of a dry coated drug delivery system with floating,pulsatile releaseJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2008Hao Zou Abstract The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate a floating,pulsatile drug delivery system intended for chronopharmacotherapy. Floating,pulsatile concept was applied to increase the gastric residence of the dosage form having lag phase followed by a burst release. To overcome limitations of various approaches for imparting buoyancy, we generated the system which consisted of three different parts, a core tablet, containing the active ingredient, an erodible outer shell and a top cover buoyant layer. The dry coated tablet consists in a drug-containing core, coated by a hydrophilic erodible polymer which is responsible for a lag phase in the onset of pulsatile release. The buoyant layer, prepared with Methocel® K4M, Carbopol® 934P and sodium bicarbonate, provides buoyancy to increase the retention of the oral dosage form in the stomach. The effect of the hydrophilic erodible polymer characteristics on the lag time and drug release was investigated. Developed formulations were evaluated for their buoyancy, dissolution and pharmacokinetic, as well gamma-scintigraphically. The results showed that a certain lag time before the drug released generally due to the erosion of the dry coated layer. Floating time was controlled by the quantity and composition of the buoyant layer. Both pharmacokinetic and gamma-scintigraphic data point out the capability of the system of prolonged residence of the tablets in the stomach and releasing drugs after a programmed lag time. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:263,273, 2008 [source] Synthesis and characterization of core,shell-type polymeric micelles from diblock copolymers via reversible addition,fragmentation chain transferJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 10 2006Ping Zhang Abstract A method was developed to enable the formation of nanoparticles by reversible addition,fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The thermoresponsive behavior of polymeric micelles was modified by means of micellar inner cores and an outer shell. Polymeric micelles comprising AB block copolymers of poly(N -isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) and poly(2-hydroxyethylacrylate) (PHEA) or polystyrene (PSt) were prepared. PIPAAm- b -PHEA and PIPAAm- b -PSt block copolymers formed a core,shell micellar structure after the dialysis of the block copolymer solutions in organic solvents against water at 20 °C. Upon heating above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), PIPAAm- b -PHEA micelles exhibited an abrupt increase in polarity and an abrupt decrease in rigidity sensed by pyrene. In contrast, PIPAAm- b -PSt micelles maintained constant values with lower polarity and higher rigidity than those of PIPAAm- b -PHEA micelles over the temperature range of 20,40 °C. Structural deformations produced by the change in the outer polymer shell with temperature cycles through the LCST were proposed for the PHEA core, which possessed a lower glass-transition temperature (ca. 20 °C) than the LCST of the PIPAAm outer shell (ca. 32.5 °C), whereas the PSt core with a much higher glass-transition temperature (ca. 100 °C) retained its structure. The nature of the hydrophobic segments composing the micelle inner core offered an important control point for thermoresponsive drug release and the drug activity of the thermoresponsive polymeric micelles. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3312,3320, 2006 [source] Incorporation of a new alkenyl-based nonionic surfmer into acrylic latexesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 17 2004Esteban Aramendia Abstract The mechanisms by which a new nonionic alkenyl-based surfmer (Maxemul 5011Ō) was involved in acrylic emulsion polymerization were investigated. No proof of homopolymerization or of chain transfer to surfmer was obtained under the conditions studied. The effect of the initiator type, feeding time of the surfmer, particle size of the seed, and surfmer concentration, on kinetics and surfmer incorporation showed that the surfmer reacted mainly by copolymerization with the monomers in the outer shell of the polymer particles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4202,4211, 2004 [source] Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene catalyzed by CpTiCl2(OR) complexesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 11 2001Haiyan Ma Abstract Five new CpTiCl2(OR) alkoxyl-substituted half-sandwich complexes, where R was methoxyethyl (1), methoxypropyl (2), methoxyisopropyl (3), o -methoxyphenyl (4), or tetrahydrofurfuryl (5), were synthesized, characterized, and tested as catalyst precursors for the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene. These precursors were more active than (,5 -cyclopentadienyl)trichlorotitanium (CpTiCl3). The different structures of the alkoxyl ligands affected the activity slightly. When the polymerization was carried out in bulk, all the complexes (1,5) exhibited high activities, even at the low molar ratio of Al/Ti = 300. The syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) percentage of the polymer produced by alkoxyl-substituted complexes was much higher than that of CpTiCl3. The really active center might be described as [CpTiMe]+ · [MAOX], · nMAO (where MAO is methylaluminoxane). The normal active species [CpTiMe]+ made up the core and the anion mass [MAOX], · nMAO surrounded the core and constituted the outer shell circumstance. They activated the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene as a whole. For a high concentration of MAO, the function of the alkoxyl group was weak because of the limited proportion in the outer shell. For a low concentration of MAO, the proportion of alkoxyl ligands in the outer shell increased greatly, and their influence also became significant, as reflected in a higher s-PS percentage of the obtained polymer. The existence of the additional oxygen atom in the alkoxyl ligand stabilized the active species more effectively; this was reflected in the higher temperature of the maximum activities. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1817,1824, 2001 [source] Layer-by-Layer Assembled Nanotubes as Biomimetic Nanoreactors for Calcium Carbonate DepositionMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 18 2009Qiang He Abstract Enzyme-loaded magnetic polyelectrolyte multilayer nanotubes prepared by layer-by-layer assembly combined with the porous template could be used as biomimetic nanoreactors. It is demonstrated that calcium carbonate can be biomimetically synthesized inside the cavities of the polyelectrolyte nanotubes by the catalysis of urease, and the size of the calcium carbonate precipitates was controlled by the cavity dimensions. The metastable structure of the calcium carbonate precipitates inside the nanotubes was protected by the outer shell of the polyelectrolyte multilayers. These features may allow polyelectrolyte nanotubes to be applied in the fields of nanomaterials synthesis, controlled release, and drug delivery. [source] Ratiometric Singlet Oxygen Nano-optodes and Their Use for Monitoring Photodynamic Therapy NanoplatformsPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Youfu Cao ABSTRACT Ratiometric photonic explorers for bioanalysis with biologically localized embedding (PEBBLE) nanoprobes have been developed for singlet oxygen, using organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles as the matrix. A crucial aspect of these ratiometric singlet-oxygen fluorescent probes is their minute size. The ORMOSIL nanoparticles are prepared via a sol-gel,based process and the average diameter of the resultant particles is about 160 nm. These sensors incorporate the singlet-oxygen,sensitive 9,10-dimethyl anthracene as an indicator dye and a singlet-oxygen,insensitive dye, octaethylporphine, as a reference dye for ratiometric fluorescence-based analysis. We have found experimentally that these nanoprobes have much better sensitivity than does the conventional singlet-oxygen,free dye probe, anthracene-9, 10-dipropionic acid disodium salt. The much longer lifetime of singlet oxygen in the ORMOSIL matrix, compared to aqueous solutions, in addition to the relatively high singlet oxygen solubility because of the highly permeable structure and the hydrophobic nature of the outer shell of the ORMOSIL nanoparticles, results in an excellent overall response to singlet oxygen. These nanoprobes have been used to monitor the singlet oxygen produced by "dynamic nanoplatforms" that were developed for photodynamic therapy. The singlet oxygen nanoprobes could potentially be used to quantify the singlet oxygen produced by macrophages. [source] Tayler instability with Hall effect in young neutron starsASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 1 2009G. Rüdiger Abstract Collapse calculations indicate that the hot young neutron stars rotate differentially so that strong toroidal magnetic field components should exist in the outer shell where also the Hall effect appears to be important when the Hall parameter = ,B, exceeds unity. The amplitudes of the induced toroidal magnetic fields are limited by the current-induced Tayler instability. An important characteristics of the Hall effect is its distinct dependence on the sign of the magnetic field. We find for fast rotation that positive (negative) Hall parameters essentially reduce (increase) the stability domain. It is thus concluded that the toroidal field belts in young neutron stars induced by their differential rotation should have different amplitudes in both hemispheres which later are frozen in. Due to the effect of magnetic suppression of the heat conductivity also the brightness of the two hemispheres should be different. As a possible example for our scenario the isolated neutron star RBS 1223 is considered which has been found to exhibit different X-ray brightness at both hemispheres (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||