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Product temperature (T b) and drying time constitute critical material attributes and process parameters in the lyophilization process and especially during the primary drying stage. In the study, we performed a temperature measurement by the sublimation rate (TMbySR) to monitor the T b value and determine the end point of primary drying. First, the water vapor transfer resistance coefficient through the main pipe from the chamber to the condenser (C r) was estimated via the water sublimation test. The use of C r value made it possible to obtain the time course of T b from the measurement of pressure at the drying chamber and at the condenser. Second, a Flomoxef sodium bulk solution was lyophilized by using the TMbySR system. The outcome was satisfactory when compared with that obtained via conventional sensors. The same was applicable for the determination of the end point of primary drying. A laboratory-scale application of the TMbySR system was evidenced via the experiment using 220-, 440-, and 660-vial scales of lyophilization. The outcome was not dependent on the loading amount. Thus, the results confirmed that the TMbySR system is a promising tool in laboratory scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wet torrefaction is an effective process to improve the fuel properties of a biomass. However, different biomasses have different component weight ratios and it is possible that not all biomasses are suitable for wet torrefaction treatment. Here we conducted wet torrefaction using three types of biomass with different component weight ratios: Humulus lupulus (HL, the common hop), Plumeria alba (PA, an evergreen shrub) and Calophyllum inophyllum L . (CIL, an evergreen tree). The fuel properties of the obtained solid fuels were characterized. We found that lignin made the main contribution to the solid fuel yield. The reactivity of cellulose and hemicellulose in each biomass was affected by the biomass species and the component weight ratio of the biomass. The wet torrefaction was observed to efficiently elevate the fuel properties of carbon content, atomic H/C and O/C ratios, higher heating value (HHV) and hydrophobicity of all three types of biomass. The HHVs of the solid fuels prepared at 260 °C are comparable to those of commercial coals such as Northumerland No. 81/2 Sem. Anth. Coal, Jhanjra Bonbahal Seam Coal-R-VII, and German Braunkohole lignite. These solid fuels could be co-combusted with German Braunkohole lignite without a significant change in the combustion properties of German Braunkohole lignite because of their similar atomic H/C and O/C ratios as well as HHVs. At the wet torrefaction temperature of 260 °C, the solid fuel delivered from CIL had lower HHV compared to those from HL and PA although CIL contained the highest lignin content, which has a higher HHV than those of cellulose and hemicellulose. Scanning electron microscopy images of the solid fuels revealed that wet torrefaction was able to completely destroy the biomass surface and create numerous pores and cracks on the solid fuels surface, indicating that the solid fuels have the potential to be used as a source of carbon materials such as activated carbon in addition to their use as bio-fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Amyloid β protein (Aβ) from Alzheimer''s disease formed fibrillar aggregates and their morphology depended on oxidized and negatively charged liposomes. The morphology of fibrillar aggregates was affected by Cu2+, together with their growth kinetics. This is because Cu2+ inhibited the nucleation step in the formation of amyloid Aβ fibrillar aggregates by forming Aβ/Cu complex inactive to the growth of fibrillar aggregates. In addition, this is probably because Cu2+ affected the fibrillar aggregate formed on the surface of liposomes. These findings would give a better understanding of the formation mechanism of amyloid fibrils on biomembranes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The inhibition of fibril formation of amyloid β proteins (Aβ) would be attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Dopamine (DA) and other catechol derivatives were used as inhibitory factors for Aβ fibril formation. The fibril formation of Aβ was monitored by Thioflavin T fluorescence, a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). Catechol and its derivatives showed the dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the spontaneous Aβ fibril formation. The inhibitory activity depended on the chemical structure of catechol derivatives both in the presence and absence of the liposome a model of biomembrane. Formation of catechol quinone-conjugated-Aβ adduct by a Schiff-base is a key step for the inhibition effect of Aβ fibril formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The amyloid β protein with 42 amino acid residues (Aβ), which is a causative protein of Alzheimer''s disease (AD), forms the complex with copper (II) to induce the cholesterol oxidase-like activity by the proton transfer from the cholesterol. In this study, the oxidation of cholesterol by Aβ/Cu complex was investigated on the surface of the zwitterionic phospholipid liposome including the bound water advantageous for the enhancement of the proton transfer. The bound water was pooled by the formation of cholesterol-rich domain within liposomes. The resulting reactivity was enhanced by the proton transfer mediated by the bound water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: NBD-cholesterol (NBD-Ch)-modified liposome was immobilized on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode via the covalent binding method. The transfer of NBD-Ch between the immobilized liposomes and the target liposomes was observed by using a fluorescent microscope. The addition of liposome suspension co-incubated with α-chymotrypsin or stimuli-responsive polymer to the surface of the above ITO electrode, enhanced the liposome–liposome interaction, resulting in the promotion of NBD-Ch transfer. The apparent transfer rate constant of NBD-Ch was found to be correlated with the index for the liposome–liposome interaction evaluated by an immobilized liposome chromatography. This suggests that the present method using the liposome-immobilized ITO electrode was effective to evaluate the liposome–liposome interaction induced by the protein or the stimuli-responsive polymer under stress conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Hydrothermal treatment in microcapillary made it possible to form W/O/W emulsion. • W/O/W emulsion yielded vesicles of less than 100 nm in diameter by the solvent diffusion. • Span20/Tween20 vesicles indicated the dynamic interface. Here, we present a method for preparing vesicles by combining hydrothermal emulsification with solvent diffusion (SD). The sorbitan monolaurate/polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20/Tween 20) system was used as the target lipid because these lipids are cheap and advantageous for the production scale. The water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion stabilized with lipids was formed under hydrothermal conditions (240 °C under 10 MPa), followed by mixing with water that included lipids to obtain a W/O-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion. The SD for the W/O/W emulsion as a subsequent process yielded vesicles. The optimal preparation conditions were 50:50 wt% Span 20/Tween 20 as a mixing ratio (final lipid concentration 12 mM), octanoic acid as an organic solvent, 240 °C for 4 min during the hydrothermal treatment, and 4 °C for 24 h in the SD process. The diameter of the vesicles obtained was at most 100 nm, which was comparable to that of the W/O/W emulsion before SD. This suggested that the W/O/W emulsion acted as a template for vesicle formation. The number density, diameter, and membrane properties of vesicles depend on the mixing ratio of the water/oil/lipid system. Specifically, the number density of vesicles was low relative to that of vesicles prepared by the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on a number of experiments it is concluded that the fluorescein labeled β-heptapeptide fluoresceinyl-NH-CS-(S)-β 3hAla-(S)-β 3hArg-(R)-β 3hLeu-(S)-β 3hPhe-(S)-β 3hAla-(S)-β 3hAla-(S)-β 3hLys-OH translocates across lipid vesicle bilayers formed from DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). The conclusion is based on the following observations: (i) addition of the peptide to the vicinity of micrometer-sized giant vesicles leads to an accumulation of the peptide inside the vesicles; (ii) if the peptide is injected inside individual giant vesicles, it is released from the vesicles in a time dependent manner; (iii) if the peptide is encapsulated within sub-micrometer-sized large unilamellar vesicles, it is released from the vesicles as a function of time; (iv) if the peptide is submitted to immobilized liposome chromatography, the peptide is retained by the immobilized DOPC vesicles. Furthermore, the addition of the peptide to calcein-containing DOPC vesicles does not lead to significant calcein leakage and vesicle fusion is not observed. The finding that derivatives of the β-heptapeptide (S)-β 3hAla-(S)-β 3hArg-(R)-β 3hLeu-(S)-β 3hPhe-(S)-β 3hAla-(S)-β 3hAla-(S)-β 3hLys-OH can translocate across phospholipid bilayers is supported by independent measurements using Tb3+-containing large unilamellar vesicles prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine and wheat germ phosphatidylinositol (molar ratio of 9:1) and a corresponding peptide that is labeled with dipicolinic acid instead of fluorescein. The experiments show that this dipicolinic acid labeled β-heptapeptide derivative also permeates across phospholipid bilayers. The possible mechanism of the translocation of the particular β-heptapeptide derivatives across the membrane of phospholipid vesicles is discussed within the frame of the current understanding of the permeation of certain oligopeptides across simple phospholipid bilayers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A mechanism for liposome-recruited activity of oxidized and fragmented superoxide dismutase (Fr.-SOD) [Tuan LQ, Umakoshi H, Shimanouchi T, Kuboi R. Liposome-recruited activity of oxidized and fragmented superoxide dismutase. Langmuir 2008;24:350–4] was further investigated, focusing on the secondary structure of Fr.-SOD. Liposome membrane was found to assist the conformational change of Fr.-SOD and reactivate the enzymatic activity, like molecular and metal chaperones. The loss of SOD activity and its secondary structure was observed during 6h oxidation in 2mM hydrogen peroxide. The contents of the α-helix and β-sheet structures in the oxidized and fragmented SOD (2μM) were increased only in the presence of 10μM Cu2+ and Zn2+ together, or in the presence of 2mM POPC liposomes. The mixture of all of these elements (fragmented SOD and POPC liposomes with Cu2+ and Zn2+) gave not only the increase of the α-helix and β-sheet contents but also the mediation of the high SOD-like activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A direct interaction of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) liposomes with membrane of Streptomyces griseus cell under the heat stress at 41°C increased the chitosanase production and release to 2.2 times higher than that at 37°C without the POPC liposomes. Amount of chitosanase released across the lipid mimicking cell membrane (LMCM) liposome under a heat at 41°C in the presence of POPC liposomes was 17% of initially-entrapped chitosanase while it was only 1% in the absence of POPC liposomes, even under a heat stress at 41°C, clearly showing the importance of the direct interaction between membrane and membrane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The amyloid deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides is a critical pathological event in Alzheimer disease (AD). Preventing the formation of amyloid deposits and removing preformed fibrils in tissues are important therapeutic strategies against AD. Previously, we reported the destruction of amyloid fibrils of β2-microglobulin K3 fragments by laser irradiation coupled with the binding of amyloid-specific thioflavin T. Here, we studied the effects of a laser beam on Aβ fibrils. As was the case for K3 fibrils, extensive irradiation destroyed the preformed Aβ fibrils. However, irradiation during spontaneous fibril formation resulted in only the partial destruction of growing fibrils and a subsequent explosive propagation of fibrils. The explosive propagation was caused by an increase in the number of active ends due to breakage. The results not only reveal a case of fragmentation-induced propagation of fibrils but also provide insights into therapeutic strategies for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effective production and secretion of chitosanase from S. griseus cells, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, were studied by the treatment of the cells with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) liposomes under heat condition. The variation of the conformation and activity of the chitosanase caused by the interaction of liposomes with target chitosanase under stress condition was systematically investigated by using circular dichroism (CD) spectra and dielectric dispersion analysis (DDA). The effect of the oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) on the lipid and protein peroxide of cell membrane of S. griseus pretreated with and without liposomes under heat stress at 41 °C was further carried out. The possible utilization of membrane–membrane interaction between liposomes and cell membrane induced by the heat treatment was further investigated to enhance the production of chitosanase from S. griseus under oxidative stress condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The role of the charged liposome on the in vitro expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was investigated, focusing on its elemental steps such as transcription, translation and folding. The total GFP expression was enhanced to 145% when a neutral liposome (POPC: 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline) was added externally to a cell-free translation system. On the contrary, the addition of the charged liposome composed of POPC with anionic 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (POPG) or cationic stearyl amine (SA) inhibited the total GFP expression, depending on the surface charge density of liposome. In transcription, the RNA synthesis was enhanced regardless of the variation of the surface charge, indicating that transcription was enhanced due to the stabilization of RNA structure by its hydrophobic interaction with liposome. Translation was inhibited by cationic liposome although it was enhanced by anionic liposome and neutral liposome. On the other hand, the folding was not inhibited in the presence of neutral liposome, whereas anionic liposome and cationic liposome inhibited the folding in proportion to the their surface charges, suggesting that the total GFP expression was controlled by a charged liposome in the translation step and folding step. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Arsenate is one of the most poisonous elements for living cells. When cells are exposed to arsenate, their life activities are immediately affected by various biochemical reactions, such as the binding of arsenic to membranes and the substitution of arsenic for phosphate or the choline head of phospholipids in the biological membranes. The effects of arsenate on the life activities of algae Chlorella vulgaris were investigated at various concentrations and exposure times. The results demonstrated that the living activities of algal cells (1010 cells/L) were seriously affected by arsenate at a concentration of more than 7.5mg As/L within 24h. Algal cells and the artificial membranes (liposomes) were exposed to arsenate to evaluate its effects on the membrane fluidization. In the presence of arsenate, the membranes were fluidized due to the binding and substitution of arsenate groups for phosphates or the choline head on the their membrane surface. This fluidization of the biological membranes was considered to enhance the transport of toxicants across the membrane of algal cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]