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Transdermal administration of estradiol offers advantages over oral estrogens for hormone replacement therapy regarding side effects by bypassing the hepatic presystemic metabolism.The objective of this study was to develop nanoparticles of Chondrosia reniformis sponge collagen as penetration enhancers for the transdermal drug delivery of 17beta-estradiol-hemihydrate in hormone replacement therapy.Collagen nanoparticles were prepared by controlled alkaline hydrolysis and characterized using atomic force microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. Estradiol-hemihydrate was loaded to the nanoparticles by adsorption to their surface, whereupon a drug loading up to 13.1% of sponge collagen particle mass was found. After incorporation of drug-loaded nanoparticles in a hydrogel, the estradiol transdermal delivery from the gel was compared with that from a commercial gel that did not contain nanoparticles.Saliva samples in postmenopausal patients showed significantly higher estradiol levels after application of the gel with nanoparticles. The area under the curve (AUC) for estradiol time-concentration curves over 24 hours was 2.3- to 3.4-fold higher and estradiol levels 24 hours after administration of estradiol were at least twofold higher with the nanoparticle gel.The hydrogel with estradiol-loaded collagen nanoparticles enabled a prolonged estradiol release compared to a commercial gel and yielded a considerably enhanced estradiol absorption. Consequently, sponge collagen nanoparticles represent promising carriers for transdermal drug delivery.

Enteric coating prevents oral dose forms from being digested in the stomach, which is required for drugs that are acid unstable, have an irritant effect on the stomach, or are designed to act in the small intestine.The objective of this study was to develop a novel gastroresistant delayed-release tablet coating based on the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis Nardo and to investigate the technical feasibility of the coating process.An aqueous gastroresistant coating dispersion on the base of freeze-dried sponge collagen 15% (w/w) as the film-forming agent was developed. The disintegration test for gastroresistant tablets (Ph. Eur.) was carried out at increasing coating levels to reveal the required collagen layer thickness. Reproducibility of the method, physical properties, and stability of the coated tablets were investigated.Tablets coated with 13 mg/cm(2) of sponge collagen resisted more than 2 hours to 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, and disintegration of all tablets occurred within 10 minutes in phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8). The method was reproducible, the mechanical properties of the coated tablets were satisfactory, and the obtained tablets could be stored for at least 6 months without loosing enteric properties.The novel coating based on the marine sponge collagen (using 12.9 mg/cm(2) coating material) complied with the requirements of Ph. Eur. for gastroresistant tablets. This coating material also meets the regulatory requirements for dietary supplements.

Marine sponges are known to produce an overwhelming array of secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical potential. The technical and economical potential of using marine sponges for large-scale production of these compounds was assessed for two cases: the anticancer molecule halichondrin B from a Lissodendoryx sp., and avarol from Dysidea avara for its antipsoriasis activity. An economic and technical analysis was done for three potential production methods: mariculture, ex situ culture (in tanks), and cell culture. We concluded that avarol produced by mariculture or ex situ culture could become a viable alternative to currently used pharmaceuticals for the treatment of psoriasis. Production of halichondrin B from sponge biomass was found to not be a feasible process, mainly due to the extremely low concentration of the compound in the sponge. Technical feasibility was also analyzed for five alternatives: chemical synthesis, wild harvest, primmorph culture, genetic modification and semi-synthesis. It was concluded that the latter two approaches could prove to be valuable methods for the production of pharmaceuticals, based on chemical structures of secondary metabolites present in trace amounts in marine sponges. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A previously described isolation procedure for collagen of the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis Nardo was modified for scaling-up reasons yielding 30% of collagen (freeze-dried collagen in relation to freeze-dried sponge). Light microscope observations showed fibrous structures. Transmission electron microscopy studies proved the collagenous nature of this material: high magnifications showed the typical periodic banding-pattern of collagen fibres. However, the results of the amino acid analysis differed from most publications, presumably due to impurities that still were present. In agreement with earlier studies, sponge collagen was insoluble in dilute acid mediums and all solvents investigated. Dispersion of collagen was facilitated when dilute basic mediums were employed. The acid-base properties of the material were investigated by titration. Furthermore, a sponge extract was incorporated in two different formulations and compared with their extract-free analogues and a commercially available collagen containing product with respect to their effects on biophysical skin parameters. None of the preparations had a noticeable influence on the physiological skin surface pH. Skin hydration increased only slightly. However, all tested formulations showed a significant increase of lipids measured by sebumetry.

Toxicity and biodistribution of negatively charged liposomes of the main phospholipid (MPL) from the archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilum were tested in mice. MPL liposomes with a diameter of 160–220 nm were prepared by extrusion through polycarbonate filters, or by means of a French pressure cell and screened for central nervous system effects after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 4–324 mg of liposomes per kg body weight in NMRI-mice. Besides increased behavioural activity no pharmacological or toxic effects were detected. No alterations were seen in the morphology of the tissues analyzed. Longterm toxicity after life-long oral application of 30 mg MPL per kg body weight per day starting at the age of 10 weeks was tested in immunosuppressed NMRI-mice. Again, there were no toxic effects on survival. Biodistribution of MPL liposomes labeled with 111In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid stearylamide was examined 15 min and 2.5 h after intravenous injection into ICR-mice. The liposomes were r...

Rat cortical cells were incubated with the Scrapie prion protein, PrionSc. At concentrations of 3 ng/ml of PrionSc and higher, the viability of the cells decreased significantly after a 12-h incubation period. Simultaneously, the degree of DNA fragmentation increased. In control experiments with antibodies against PrionSc, PrionSc lost its deleterious effect on neurons. PrionSc did not affect the viability of astrocytes. Drugs known to block NMDA receptor channels, such as memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane) (Mem), its analogue 1-N-methylamino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane as well as (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) prevented the effect of PrionSc. Production of PrionSc in the Scrapie prion-infected subclone of N2 a cells (ScN2 a cells) was not affected by memantine. We conclude that antagonists of the NMDA receptor-channel complex (i) abolish the PrionSc-induced neuronal injury in vitro, and (ii) display no influence on the synthesis and/or the processing of PrionSc.

The ultrastructure of isolated fibrils of Chondrosia reniformis sponge collagen was investigated by collecting characteristic data, such as fibril thickness, width, D-band periodicity, and height modulation, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Therefore an adapted pre-processing of the insoluble collagen into homogeneous suspensions using neutral buffer solutions was essential, and several purification steps have been developed. Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FT-IRAS) of the purified sponge collagen showed remarkable analogy of peak positions and intensities with the spectra of fibrillar calf skin type I collagen, despite the diverse phylogenetic and evolutionary origin. The sponge collagen's morphology is compared with that of other fibrillar collagens, and the typical banding of the separated single fibrils is discussed by comparison of topographical data obtained using AFM and corresponding TEM investigations using common staining methods. As the TEM images of the negatively stained fibrils showed alternating dark and light bands, AFM revealed a characteristic periodicity of protrusions (overlap zones) followed by two equal interband regions (gap zones). AFM and TEM results were correlated and multiperiodicity in Chondrosia collagen's banding is demonstrated. The periodic dark bands observed in TEM images correspond directly to the periodic protrusions seen by AFM. As a result, we provide an improved, updated model of the collagen's structure and organization.

Collagen microparticles were prepared using marine sponge collagen. For this purpose a previous method by Rossler et al. (J. Microencapsul. 12 (1995) 49) of emulsification and cross-linking of native calf collagen was modified. The modified method for sponge collagen microparticles (SCMPs) achieved a yield of 10%. Scanning electromicroscopic photographs showed spherical particles with a diameter of 120–300 nm and photon correlation spectroscopic measurements indicated particle size range from 126 (±2.9) to 2179 (±342) nm. This broad size distribution was caused by some agglomerates that could not be destroyed by ultrasonication. The surface charge was measured as a function of pH. At pH 2.8 the particles were nearly uncharged, at pH 9.0 the particles showed a strong negative charge of about −60 mV. The preformed SCMPs were loaded by adsorption of all-trans retinol. A loading of up to 8% was obtained. Retinol-loaded SCMPs were incorporated into hydrogels and drug stability was investigated. The in vitro penetration of retinol into hairless mice skin in this formulation was compared to retinol formulations without microparticles. The SCMPs had no influence on the chemical stability of retinol in the hydrogel. The dermal penetration of retinol into the skin increased significantly by approximately two-fold.

Among Metazoa, sponges (phylum Porifera) are the richest source for different bioactive compounds. The availability of the raw material is, however, restricted. To obtain enough of the bioactive compounds for application in human therapy, sponges have to be cultured in in vitro systems. One technique for the establishment of a long-term cell culture from sponges has recently been elaborated. Here, we present a procedure to cultivate tissue samples from sponges in an open system. The species Geodia cydonium, which produces bioactive compounds, has been selected. Tissue samples of approximately 10 g were attached to the bottoms of cultivation trays. After 2 to 3 days, the tissue samples formed a robust contact with the metal support. Subsequently, sets of trays, called tray batteries, either remained in huge aquaria at the Center for Marine Research or were transferred to the vicinity of a fish and mussel farm. The growth rates of the samples remained unchanged within the first month; however, after 3 and 6 months, they increased to 147% and 189%, respectively. In parallel, extracts were prepared from the tissue samples and tested for cytotoxicity in a mouse lymphoma cell assay system. Extracts from cultured tissue initially had a low inhibitory potency; however, after cultivation for 3 or 6 months, values comparable to those of extracts from sponges taken from the biotope were found. In addition, a molecular marker was applied to document. the response (health state) of the tissue and the identity of the material in culture. The CD63 molecule was chosen because the expression of this molecule in mammalian systems changes with the age of the animals. The corresponding complementary DNA was isolated from Geodia cydonium. With this probe, the level of expression in cultured tissue samples decreased immediately after starting cultivation; after a cultivation period of 6 months, however, values were similar to those found in controls. These data show that sponge species that produce bioactive compounds can be cultivated in open systems, in which they retain their potency to produce bioactive compounds as well as their health state.

Collagen is widely used as a biomedical material, and its importance is likely to grow as research and understanding progresses in this field. As a biomedical material, ensuring the sterility of collagen before use as, or incorporation into, a medical device is paramount. However, common sterilisation techniques can induce changes in the physical structure and protein chemistry of collagen, potentially affecting the performance. In this preliminary study, the influence of autoclaving, gamma irradiation and ethylene oxide gas sterilisation on the denaturation temperature and helical content of the collagen was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Early results indicate that all sterilisation techniques affect collagen properties but suggest that the least damaging of the techniques investigated was y irradiation.

3-(4-Chlormethyl-phenyl)-propylchlorid, das frei ist von 3-(2-Chlormethyl-phenyl)-propylchlorid, last sich durch Reaktion von 3-(4-Phenoxymethyl-phenyl)-propylchlorid mit Chlorwasserstoff entweder in wasserfreiem Eisessig oder in Chloroform in Gegenwart von Kupfer(I)-chlorid in Ausbeuten von 60-70 % d.Th. gewinnen. Synthesis of 3-(4-Chloromethylphenyl)propyl Chloride which is Free of 3-(2-Chloromethylphenyl)-propyl Chloride 3-(4-Chloromethylphenyl)propyl chloride, free of 3-(2-chloro methylphenyl)propyl chloride, results on treatment with gaseous HCl of 3-[4-(phenoxymethyl)phenyl]propyl chloride, which is dissolved in anhydrous acetic acid or in CHCl3 in the presence of copper(I) chloride. Yields are between 60 and 70 %.