1.Comparison of Morphology and Physicochemical Properties of Starch Among 3 Arrowhead Varieties.
Li A1, Zhang Y1, Zhang Y1, Yu X2, Xiong F2, Zhou R1, Zhang Y1. J Food Sci. 2016 Apr 15. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.13303. [Epub ahead of print]
Arrowhead (Sagittaria trifolia var. sinensis) is a source of starch worldwide, but arrowhead starch has been rarely studied. In this work, starch was separated from arrowhead corm. The morphology and physicochemical properties of starch were then investigated and compared among 3 different arrowhead varieties (Purple-corm, Hongta, and Japanese). Results showed that starches from the 3 varieties similarly featured an oval shape containing a visible polarization cross, a CA -type crystalline structure, and an ordered structure in the external granule region. However, starch content, granule size, crystal characteristics, and pasting properties differed among the 3 varieties. Japanese arrowhead exhibited the highest starch content and degree of ordered structure in the external granule region, as well as onset, peak, and final gelatinization temperature. Purple-corm arrowhead starch demonstrated the highest amylose content and relative degree of crystallinity, smallest granule size, and lowest swelling power and solubility.
2.A N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine dangled 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-based fluorescent sensor for selective relay recognition of Cu2+ and sulfide in water.
Tang L1, Zheng Z1, Bian Y1. Luminescence. 2016 Apr 17. doi: 10.1002/bio.3128. [Epub ahead of print]
A new 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-based derivative (L) was synthesized and applied as a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor for relay recognition of Cu2+ and S2- in water (Tris-HCl 10 mM, pH = 7.0) solution. L exhibits an excellent selectivity to Cu2+ over other examined metal ions with a prominent fluorescence 'turn-off' at 392 nm. L interacts with Cu2+ through a 1:2 binding stoichiometry with a detection limit of 4.8 × 10-7 M. The on-site formed L-2Cu2+ complex exhibits excellent selectivity to S2- with a fluorescence 'off-on' response via a Cu2+ displacement approach. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
3.Mucosal acidification increases hydrogen sulfide release through up-regulating gene and protein expressions of cystathionine gamma-lyase in the rat gastric mucosa.
Mard SA1, Veisi A2, Ahangarpour A2, Gharib-Naseri MK2. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2016 Feb;19(2):172-7.
OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the effects of mucosal acidification on mRNA expression and protein synthesis of cystathionine gamma lyase (CSE), cystathionine beta synthase (CBS), and mucosal release of H2S in gastric mucosa in rats.
4.Design and Evaluation of Proniosomes As A Carrier for Ocular Delivery of Lomefloxacin HCl.
Khalil RM1, Abdelbary GA2, Basha M1, Awad GE3, El-Hashemy HA1. J Liposome Res. 2016 Apr 15:1-42. [Epub ahead of print]
The current investigation aims to develop and evaluate novel ocular proniosomal gels of Lomefloxacin HCl (LXN); in order to improve its ocular bioavailability for the management of bacterial conjunctivitis. Proniosomes were prepared using different types of nonionic surfactants solely and as mixtures with Span 60. The formed gels were characterized for entrapment efficiency, vesicle size and in vitro drug release. Only Span 60 was able to form stable LXN proniosomal gel when used individually while the other surfactants formed gels only in combination with Span 60 at different ratios. The optimum proniosomal gel; P-LXN 7 (Span60:Tween60, 9:1) appeared as spherical shaped vesicles having high entrapment efficiency (>80%), appropriate vesicle size (187 nm) as well as controlled drug release over 12h. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed the amorphous nature of LXN within the vesicles. Stability study did not show any significant changes in entrapment efficiency or vesicle size after storage for 3 months at 4°C.
