Artificial Membrane (artificial + membrane)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Drug,Membrane Interaction on Immobilized Liposome Chromatography Compared to Immobilized Artificial Membrane (IAM), Liposome/Water, and Octan-1-ol/Water Systems

HELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, Issue 2 2010
Xiangli Liu
Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate drug,membrane interaction by immobilized liposome chromatography (ILC; expressed as lipophilicity index log,Ks) and the comparison with lipophilicity indices obtained by liposome/H2O, octan-1-ol/H2O, and immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) systems. A set of structurally diverse monofunctional compounds and drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and , -blockers) were selected in this study. This set of solutes consists of basic or acidic functionalities which are positively or negatively charged at physiological pH,7.4. No correlation was found between log,Ks from ILC and lipophilicity indices from any of the other membrane model systems for the whole set of compounds. For structurally related compounds, significant correlations could be established between log,Ks from ILC and lipophilicity indices from IAM chromatography and octan-1-ol/H2O. However, ILC and liposome/H2O systems only yield parallel partitioning information for structurally related large molecules. For hydrophilic compounds, the balance between electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions dominating drug partitioning is different in these two systems. [source]


Metallosupramolecular approach toward functional coordination polymers

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 21 2005
Rainer Dobrawa
Abstract An appropriate definition of metallosupramolecular coordination polymer is offered, and the relationship between the polymer length, binding constant, and concentration is clarified. The possibility of influencing the binding constant with chelating ligands is discussed on the basis of examples of different Zn2+ complexes and their respective binding constants. In the main part, coordination polymers constructed by a supramolecular approach from different metal ions and pyridine,ligand systems are highlighted, and their applications as functional materials for artificial membrane and enzyme models, responsive gels, light-harvesting systems, and organic light-emitting diodes are discussed on the basis of individual examples. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4981,4995, 2005 [source]


Feeding through artificial membranes reduces fecundity for females of the blood-feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus

ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2010
R. Gary Chiang
Abstract The blood-feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus, has been raised in the laboratory for close to 100 years. Various feeding techniques have been employed ranging from the use of warm-blooded hosts, to the use of previously collected blood offered through artificial membranes. This study compared the fecundity in mated and unmated females fed rabbit blood directly from the shaved belly of a rabbit to that of females fed defibrinated rabbit blood through an artificial membrane. These results confirm previous reports that this insect's feeding efficacy is reduced using an artificial membrane. It also demonstrates for the first time that the fecundity index, which measures the efficiency of turning the blood meal into eggs, is significantly reduced. We suggest that the natural feeding on a warm-blooded host may provide cues that have the short-term effect of enhancing the act of feeding and the long-term effect of increasing egg production efficiency. Until an artificial feeding method that does not interfere with feeding and fecundity is devised, experiments on reproduction in R. prolixus warrant the use of a warm-blooded host to emulate feeding in its natural setting. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Study of tumor cell invasion by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy

BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 6 2005
Ying Yang
Abstract Lung cancer is usually fatal once it becomes metastatic. However, in order to develop metastases, a tumor usually invades the basal membrane and enters the vascular or lymphatic system. In this study, a three-dimensional artificial membrane using collagen type I, one of the main components of basal membranes, was established in order to investigate tumor cell invasion. Lung cancer cell line CALU-1 was seeded on this artificial membrane and cell invasion was studied using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging technique. This approach allowed identification of tumor cells invading the collagen type I membrane by means of their infrared spectra and images. The mapping images obtained with FTIR microspectroscopy were validated with standard histological section analysis. The FTIR image produced using a single wavenumber at 1080 cm,1, corresponding to PO groups in DNA from cells, correlated well with the histological section, which clearly revealed a cell layer and invading cells within the membrane. Furthermore, the peaks corresponding to amide A, I, and II in the spectra of the invading cells shifted compared to the noninvading cells, which may relate to the changes in conformation and/or heterogeneity in the phenotype of the cells. The data presented in this study demonstrate that FTIR microspectroscopy can be a fast and reliable technique to assess tumor invasion in vitro. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 78: 311,317, 2005 This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source]


Delivery of timolol through artificial membranes and pig stratum corneum

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2003
D.F. Stamatialis
Abstract The in vitro passive and iontophoretic (applied current density: 0.5 mA/cm2) timolol (TM) permeability from a liquid solution through pig stratum corneum (SC) is found to be 0.9,±,0.5,×,10,6 and 3.9,±,0.9,×,10,6 cm/s, respectively. The in vitro iontophoretic TM delivery through the combination of artificial porous membranes with pig SC is investigated as well. When the meso-porous PES-30 membrane is applied, the SC mainly controls the TM delivery. When the microporous NF-PES-10 membrane is applied, both the membrane and the SC contribute to controlling the delivery of TM. When the microporous LFC 1 membrane is applied, the TM delivery is membrane controlled. In all cases, however, the efficiency of the TM delivery is low and would need to be improved for the development of a commercially viable product. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 92:1037,1039, 2003 [source]


All-Conjugated, Rod-Rod Block Copolymers-Generation and Self-Assembly Properties

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 13 2009
Ullrich Scherf
Abstract Based on their rigid-rod structure all-conjugated, rod-rod block copolymers show a preferred tendency to self-assemble into low-curvature vesicular or lamellar nanostructures independent from their specific chemical structure and composition. This unique and attractive behaviour is clearly illustrated in a few examples of such all-conjugated block copolymers. The resulting nanostructured heteromaterials may find applications in electronic devices or artificial membranes. [source]


Feeding through artificial membranes reduces fecundity for females of the blood-feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus

ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2010
R. Gary Chiang
Abstract The blood-feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus, has been raised in the laboratory for close to 100 years. Various feeding techniques have been employed ranging from the use of warm-blooded hosts, to the use of previously collected blood offered through artificial membranes. This study compared the fecundity in mated and unmated females fed rabbit blood directly from the shaved belly of a rabbit to that of females fed defibrinated rabbit blood through an artificial membrane. These results confirm previous reports that this insect's feeding efficacy is reduced using an artificial membrane. It also demonstrates for the first time that the fecundity index, which measures the efficiency of turning the blood meal into eggs, is significantly reduced. We suggest that the natural feeding on a warm-blooded host may provide cues that have the short-term effect of enhancing the act of feeding and the long-term effect of increasing egg production efficiency. Until an artificial feeding method that does not interfere with feeding and fecundity is devised, experiments on reproduction in R. prolixus warrant the use of a warm-blooded host to emulate feeding in its natural setting. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Membrane Permeabilization of a Mammalian Neuroendocrine Cell Type (PC12) by the Channel-Forming Peptides Zervamicin, Alamethicin, and Gramicidin

CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 6 2007

Abstract Zervamicin IIB (ZER) is a 16-mer peptaibol that produces voltage-dependent conductances in artificial membranes, a property considered responsible for its antimicrobial activity to mainly Gram -positive microorganisms. In addition, ZER appears to inhibit the locomotor activity of the mouse (see elsewhere in this Issue), probably by affecting the brain. To examine whether the electrophysiological properties of the neuronal cells of the central neural system might be possibly influenced by the pore forming ZER, the present study was undertaken as a first attempt to unravel the molecular mechanism of this biological activity. To this end, membrane permeabilization of the neuron-like rat pheochromocytoma cell (PC12) by the channel-forming ZER was studied with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, and compared with the permeabilizations of the well-known voltage-gated peptaibol alamethicin F50/5 (ALA) and the cation channel-forming peptide-antibiotic gramicidin D (GRAM). While 1,,M GRAM addition to PC12 cells kept at a membrane potential Vm=0,mV causes an undelayed gradual increase of a leak conductance with a negative reversal potential of ca. ,24,mV, ZER and ALA are ineffective at that concentration and potential. However, if ZER and ALA are added in 5,10,,M concentrations while Vm is kept at ,60,mV, they cause a sudden and strong permeabilization of the PC12 cell membrane after a delay of 1,2,min, usually leading to disintegrating morphology changes of the patched cell but not of the surrounding cells of the culture at that time scale. The zero reversal potential of the established conductance is consistent with the known aselectivity of the channels formed. This sudden permeabilization does not occur within 10,20,min at Vm=0,mV, in accordance with the known voltage dependency of ZER and ALA channel formation in artificial lipid membranes. The permeabilizing action of these peptaibols on the culture as a whole is further supported by K+ -release measurements from a PC12 suspension with a K+ -selective electrode. Further analysis suggested that the permeabilizing action is associated with extra- or intracellular calcium effects, because barium inhibited the permeabilizing effects of ZER and ALA. We conclude, for the membrane of the mammalian neuron-like PC12 cell, that the permeabilizing effects of the peptides ZER and ALA are different from those of GRAM, consistent with earlier studies of these peptides in other (artificial) membrane systems. They are increased by cis -positive membrane potentials in the physiological range and may include calcium entry into the PC12 cell. [source]