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The oral route is considered an attractive method for drug delivery, as it avoids the hepatic and intestinal first-pass metabolism processes. Hyaluronic acid (HA) beneficial effects to the human body include anti-aging and wound healing but its effects on oral barrier integrity and mechanical function have not yet been investigated. In this study, we analyzed oral barrier integrity and the paracellular pathway of HA transportation in TR146 cell monolayers during and after permeation and using low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA,100 kDa) and high molecular weight HA (HMW-HA,500 kDa). Cytotoxicity assays in TR146 cells revealed that neither LMW-HA or HMW-HA altered cell viability at concentrations0.5 % during 24 h of treatment. HA-treated TR146 cell monolayers showed enhanced oral barrier integrity and reduced apparent permeability of fluorescein. Moreover, HA significantly increased tight junction (TJ)-related genes expression, including ZO-2, marvelD3, cingulin, claudin-1, claudin-3, and claudin-4 expression. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that HA can permeate across the oral barrier and enhance oral barrier function via the upregulated expression of TJ-related genes.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1) loaded films on oral wound healing. Two types of G-Rb1 films, G-Rb1 loaded carboxymethyl cellulose (GCMC) film and G-Rb1 loaded hyaluronic acid (GHA) film, were developed. A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: control, GCMC, and GHA. After wound formation on midpalate, the control group was left without treatment, whereas the experimental groups had films attached. The specimen was analyzed clinically and histologically after 7 and 21 days. For clinical analysis, the area of incompletely re-epithelialized wound was measured. For histological analysis, the distance between the margins of the wound (soft tissue gap) was measured and the percentage of the collagen-stained area on the specimen was calculated. In clinical and soft tissue gap analysis, the GCMC group presented improved healing compared to the GHA group and the control at day 7 (p < 0.05). And, both GCMC (9.74 ± 10.12%) and GHA groups (19.50 ± 14.47%) presented greater collagen-positive pixels compared to control (0.89 ± 1.60%) at day 7 (p < 0.05). However, there were no differences in these parameters among the groups on day 21. Therefore, G-Rb1 loaded films improved oral wound healing.

Orodispersible films (ODF) were prepared with mixtures of hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and the effect of CMC addition on the disintegration and mechanical properties of the composite films were examined. Low molecular weight HA (10 kDa) appeared more acceptable for ODF than high molecular weight HA (800 kDa) because of its rapid disintegration in the oral cavity. The composite films appeared similar to pullulan film with excellent transparency and surface smoothness. The disintegration time as well as mechanical properties of the films such as tensile strength and elongation at break were increased by the addition of CMC. Overall, the CMC addition, up to 35%, improved the mechanical properties of low molecular weight HA film within a proper range of disintegration time for ODF.

The regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, melanogenesis, and connective tissue proteins is critical for homeostasis and aging skin cells. We examined the biological effects of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) on mitochondrial biogenesis, melanogenesis, and connective tissue proteins in vitro. In a radical scavenging assay, PDRN showed antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner, and those activities can suppress cellular oxidative stress in skin cells. PDRN directly inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity and cellular tyrosinase activity, thus significantly reducing the cellular melanin content in B16-F10 melanocytes. The mRNA and protein expressions of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which is a key melanogenic gene transcription factor, were significantly downregulated by PDRN. Accordingly, tyrosinase-related protein 1, dopachrome tautomerase, and tyrosinase, which gene expressions were regulated by MITF, were significantly downregulated by PDRN. Mitotracker-probed mitochondria image analysis suggested that PDRN enhanced mitochondrial density in both murine melanoma cells and in human skin fibroblast cells. In addition, PDRN strongly suppressed in vitro elastase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 gene expression in human skin fibroblast cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that PDRN has multiple beneficial biological activities in skin cells: hypopigmentation, induction of mitochondrial biogenesis, and the inhibition of collective tissue proteins.

Purpose Postoperative pain and delayed wound healing are the main complications following anal surgery associated with poor quality of life. Hyaluronic acid (HA) supports tissue regeneration and rapid wound healing by promoting cell proliferation and migration. We investigated the effects of HA on perianal wound healing in a rat model. Methods Forty-eight 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats with perianal wounds created by biopsy punch were divided into 3 groups: simple dressing with gauze (control), dressing with topical HA film, and dressing with topical HA gel. HA agents were not reapplied postoperatively. Wound healing was evaluated by measuring the healed area, and histological analyses were randomly performed using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining. Results Fewer mean days were required for complete wound healing in the HA film and HA gel groups than in the control group (11.6 vs. 11.9 vs. 13.8 days, respectively; P = 0.010). The healed area in the HA film group on day 11 was larger than that in the HA gel and control groups (80.2% vs. 61.9% vs. 53.2%, respectively; P < 0.001). Histologically, the HA film group showed accelerated reepithelialization, a rapid transition to lymphocyte-predominant inflammation, and increased fibroblastic proliferation and collagen deposition compared to the other groups. There was no treatment-related toxicity in the HA application groups. Conclusion Topical application of HA film to perianal wounds improves the wound healing rate in a rat model. This finding suggests a potential benefit of HA film application in promoting wound healing after anal surgery in humans.

This study presents laboratory methods for the quantification of hypopigmentation activity in vitro. Melanin, the major pigment in melanocytes, is synthesized in response to multiple cellular and environmental factors. Melanin protects skin cells from ultraviolet damage, but also has biophysical and biochemical functions. Excessive production or accumulation of melanin in melanocytes can cause dermatological problems, such as freckles, dark spots, melasma, and moles. Therefore, the control of melanogenesis with hypopigmentation agents is important in individuals with clinical or cosmetic needs. Melanin is primarily synthesized in the melanosomes of melanocytes in a complex biochemical process called melanogenesis, which is influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors, such as hormones, inflammation, age, and ultraviolet light exposure. We describe three methods to determine the hypopigmentation activity of chemicals or natural substances in melanocytes: measurement of the 1) cellular tyrosinase activity and 2) melanin content, and 3) staining and quantifying cellular melanin with image analysis. In melanogenesis, tyrosinase catalyzes the rate-limiting step that converts L-tyrosine into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and then into dopaquinone. Therefore, the inhibition of tyrosinase is a primary hypopigmentation mechanism. In cultured melanocytes, tyrosinase activity can be quantified by adding L-DOPA as a substrate and measuring dopaquinone production by spectrophotometry. Melanogenesis can also be measured by quantifying the melanin content. The melanin-containing cellular fraction is extracted with NaOH and melanin is quantified spectrophotometrically. Finally, the melanin content can be quantified by image analysis following Fontana-Masson staining of melanin. Although the results of these in vitro assays may not always be reproduced in human skin, these methods are widely used in melanogenesis research, especially as the initial step to identify potential hypopigmentation activity. These methods can also be used to assess melanocyte activity, growth, and differentiation. Consistent results with the three different methods ensure the validity of the effects.

Dissolution behavior and molecular conformation of waxy maize amylopectin in aqueous DMSO solutions containing different amounts of water and salts (NaCl or CaCl 2 up to 0.2 M) were characterized using multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS; micro-batch mode) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) detectors. The solubility of amylopectin decreased and the molecular size measured increased when the water content in the DMSO increased, indicating that amylopectin chains tended to be less dissociated or aggregate by the excess amount of water. The amylopectin in aqueous DMSO solutions (10–50% water) had a spherical shape with a regular star structure, but the individual amylopectin chains were not affected by water content. Minor addition of salts facilitated the dissolution of amylopectin in aqueous DMSO solutions, possibly due to water cluster formation by the salt ions. However, a minute presence of salts (0.01 and 0.05 M) could induce the chain association even in 90% DMSO solution.

Waxy maize starch was dispersed (14.7% solids) in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution (3.16 M), and hydrolyzed by stirring for up to 7 days at 40 °C with ultrasonic treatments at different vibration amplitudes (20 and 40%) and durations (30 and 60 min/day). The amount of starch nanoparticles in the hydrolyzates isolated after 7 days, measured by a dynamic light scattering detector, was raised from 20% to 70% by an ultrasonic treatment (20% amplitude, 30 min). The aggregation of nanoparticles possibly occurring during the hydrolysis was effectively prevented by the ultrasonication. Alternatively, ultrasonic treatments were applied to the re-dispersed suspension of the large microparticles of starch hydrolyzates (2 days) precipitated by a mild centrifugation (500 rpm, 10 min). By an ultrasonic treatment at 60% vibration amplitude for 3 min, the microparticles could be completely transformed to nanoparticles. The inherent crystalline structure of waxy maize starch (A-type in X-ray diffraction) remained after the ultrasonic treatments during acid hydrolysis, but it was disrupted by the ultrasonic treatments for the re-dispersed microparticles.

Amylosucrase (AS), maltooligosyltrehalose synthase (MTS), and maltooligosyltrehalose trehalohydrolase (MTH) were used in combined cross-linked enzyme aggregates (combi-CLEAs) to achieve one-step bioconversion of sucrose to trehalose. Combi-CLEAs of three enzymes were successfully established with acetone and glutaraldehyde (GA) as a precipitant and a cross-linker, respectively. The optimum enzyme ratio was 8:0.5:0.5 (AS, 4 mg:MTS, 0.25 mg:MTH, 0.25 mg). To improve trehalose production, bovine serum albumin was co-aggregated with enzymes as a proteic feeder. The trehalose production yield of combi-CLEAs was about 8% in each cycle on the basis of substrate added up to 400 mM. Finally, the combi-CLEAs used in this experiment showed reusability of about five cycles without any activity loss.

Germinated brown rice (GBR) recently has received renewed attention due to its enhanced nutritional value. Pasting properties and in vitro starch digestibility of GBR were examined before and after hydrothermal treatments. Steeping in water (30 °C, 24 h) raised the moisture content and germination percentage of brown rice. Pasting viscosity was substantially decreased but gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy were decreased only marginally by germination (30 °C, 48 h). However, annealing (50 °C, 24 h) and heat-moisture treatment (100 °C, 1 h at 30% moisture) after germination resulted in increased pasting viscosity and gelatinization temperatures. The hydrothermal treatments, however, induced browning reactions to darken the flour of GBR. The digestibility of starch in brown rice was increased by germination. The contents of rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) in the cooked brown rice were 47.3%, 40.8%, and 11.9%, respectively, but changed to 57.7%, 39.1%, and 3.2%, respectively upon germination. The hydrothermal treatments, however, decreased the digestibility of starch in GBR. The heat-moisture treatment decreased the RDS content in GBR near to that of native brown rice. The digestibility and physical properties of brown rice can be controlled by germination and hydrothermal treatments.

An alcohol-free oil/water hyaluronic acid nanoemulsion was developed to be applied as transdermal carrier for active lipophilic ingredient. In vitro hemolysis, skin penetration and histological examinations were carried out using α-tocopherol as model ingredient to assess skin permeability and bioavailability. Without any chemical enhancers, nanoemuslion performed desirable skin permeable capacity, being able to penetrate across stratum corneum and diffuse deeper into dermis compared with the control group (ethanol solution) via follicular and intercellular pathway. Penetration mechanism was preliminarily studied and suggested to be closely concerned with transmembrane concentration gradient, carrier characteristics and penetration enhancers. No irritation has been found in dermis and skin surface indicated hyaluronic acid nanoemulsions could be successfully used as purcutaneous delivery carrier of active lipophilic ingredient and favorable for drug and cosmetic applications.

In this study, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid in powder form (HMW-HA, with average molecular weight of 1042 kDa) was degraded to low molecular (LMW-HA, 200–230 kDa) by several methods, and the changes in molecular structure and antioxidative activities brought about by each degradation method were compared. The degradation methods used were electron beam irradiation (EB), gamma ray irradiation (GM), microwave irradiation (MW), and thermal treatment (TH). The FT-IR spectra showed no substantial changes of the spectral pattern between HMW and LMW-HAs. However, the UV absorbance of LMW-HA by MW was considerably greater at 265 nm indicating the formation of more double bonds. The antioxidative activities of all LMW-HA samples were found to have risen, but the MW-treated LMW-HA showed the most significant increase due to a newly formed double bond. EB- and GM-treated LMW-HA showed the lowest polydispersity and little change in UV spectra from those of HMW-HA.

Puerarin, an isoflavone derived from kudzu roots, has strong biological activities. However, its bioavailability in vivo is often limited by its insolubility. A novel transglycosylase increases the solubility of puerarin >100-fold, by converting it to puerarin glycosides. Since over-consumption of an isoflavone might have toxic effects, therefore, we investigated the potential antimutagenic activity, bone marrow micronucleus test, and a 28-day oral repeated administration test with puerarin and its glycosides. In Ames tests, neither puerarin nor its glycosides exhibited mutagenic effects up to 200 μg/plate. Puerarin and its glycoside, glucosyl-α-(1,6)-puerarin, significantly reduced the mutagenic effect of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide by up to 41%. In bone marrow micronucleus tests using ICR mice, neither puerarin nor glucosyl-α-(1,6)-puerarin interfered with erythrocyte production in the bone marrow. Both compounds decreased the prevalence of polychromatic erythrocytes. Sprague–Dawley rats were orally dosed with puerarin and its glycosides daily for 28 days. Neither puerarin nor its glycosides caused significant alterations in histology, and biochemical and hematologic parameters. These results suggest that puerarin and its glycosides do not have significant toxic effects, at least in rodents, either in vitro or in vivo at doses of up to 250 mg/kg per day.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear high-molecular-weight polysaccharide with useful biomedical applications. Streptococcus zooepidemicus, a typical HA-producing bacterium, requires an animalderived nitrogen source such as tryptone, peptone or sheep blood as a nutrient. Sixteen nonanimal-derived (NAD) nitrogen sources were tested as a replacement for the expensive animalderived nitrogen sources, which may have safety issues. Among the sixteen tested NAD nitrogen sources, a yeast-derived nitrogen source (YE 0251) showed the highest HA productivity, which was equivalent to the control HA production medium containing tryptone in a 5-L jar and in 3,000-L industrial fermentations. In the 3,000-L fermentation, YE 0251 increased cell mass (dry cell weight) and HA production by 11% and 8%, respectively, compared with the control HA production medium. The final specific volumetric productivity (0.41 g/L • h) was improved by about 70% after reducing the fermentation time from 20 h to 12 h, compared to the conventional production medium.

Puerarin is an isoflavone derived from Kudzu roots and has antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic effects; however, its insolubility often limits its biological availability in vivo. Using a novel transglycosylation process, the solubility of puerarin glycosides was increased > 100-fold, but it was not known whether these modified puerarin glycosides maintained biological activities. We found that water-soluble puerarin glycosides fully maintained antioxidant activities compared with puerarin assessed by radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, superoxide dismutase activity, and non-site-specific hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Both puerarin and its glycosides also significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Mice fed with puerarin glycosides (0.1% w/w) showed significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol levels, thus, we further investigated their hypocholesterolemic mechanisms by assessing several key gene expressions both in vitro and in vivo. Puerarin and its glycosides induced multiple changes in hepatic cholesterol metabolism. The LDL receptor promoter activity was increased dose-dependently in puerarin glycosides-treated HepG2 cells. Accordingly, the expression of LDL receptor mRNA and protein were also significantly increased in HepG2 cells and mouse livers. The transcription and translation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase were down-regulated both in vitro and in vivo. The cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA levels were not affected in vitro but significantly up-regulated in the mouse livers. Collectively, our results show that puerarin and its glycosides are biologically fully active isoflavone and have antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic effects in HepG2 cells and in C57BL/6J mice. In the livers, hypocholesterolemic effects of puerarin glycoside may be achieved by multiple mechanisms including increasing LDL uptake, reducing cholesterol biosynthesis, and possibly enhancing cholesterol degradation.

Physical properties and theophylline-release profiles of compressed tablets prepared with amorphous waxy maize starches dried using different methods were examined. A gelatinized waxy maize starch paste (10% solids in water) was either freeze-dried or oven-dried (40 or 105°C) until the moisture content reached to

Sweet potato pulp (SSP) obtained as a by- product from starch extraction was blended with polycap- rolactone (PCL) to prepare a biodegradable plastic material. In the blends, PCL was used as a reinforcing agent. The SPP/PCL blends were prepared by compression-molding under high temperature and pressure, at different SPP/PCL ratios, and the mechanical properties of the molded speci- mens were tested. Matrix structure and thermal properties were measured by using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravi- metric analyzer (TGA). Mechanical properties (tensile and flexural properties) were also measured to find the most suitable ratio in a SSP/PCL blend. During compression molding of the SPP/PCL blends under high pressure and temperature, chemical reaction occurred between SPP and PCL, and thus, thermal stability and mechanical strength of the blends increased and water uptake decreased. Also, by increasing the PCL content in the blend, the matrix in the blend became more homogeneous, and consequently, me- chanical strength of the molded specimen increased. At 7/3 or 6/4 weight ratio of SSP/PCL, water uptake of the molded specimen became substantially less than that at 8/2. © 2004

To make starch/polycaprolactone (PCL) blend with high miscibility, starch was chlorinated (starch-Cl) by using methanesulfonylchloride (CH3SO2Cl) in dimethylformamide (DMF) prior to blending. Starch-Cl/PCL blends were prepared by the mixing between starch-Cl and PCL solutions under various conditions. To study the change of structure, thermal and physical characteristics of starch-Cl/PCL blend, FTIR, DSC, SEM, and solvent resistance were measured. By blending starch-Cl and PCL, a chemical reaction occurred partially in blend (FTIR result); thereby, the miscibility (DSC and SEM results) and solvent resistance were increased. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1716–1723, 2004

To improve the wound-healing ability of chi- tosan, heparin, known to be effective in wound healing, was complexed with water-soluble chitosan (WSC) by chemical reaction. The chemical structure of the water-soluble chi- tosan- heparin (CH) complex was analyzed, and CH com- plex formation was confirmed with an FTIR spectrometer. The mechanical and thermal properties of the CH complex were measured by a tensile tester and thermal analyzers (DSC and TGA). Within the heparin content up to 470 IU/g in the aqueous CH complex solution, the intrinsic viscosity and tensile strength of the water-soluble CH com- plex gradually increased, but thermal stability slightly de- creased by introducing the heparin into the WSC. When the heparin content was greater than these values (470 IU/g), the water-insoluble CH complex, which is supposed to have a multisubstituted or crosslinked structure, precipitated in the aqueous water-soluble CH complex solution. © 2003

Corn starch was chlorinated using methanesulfonyl chloride in dimethylformamide (DMF) and then substituted with polycaprolactone (PCL) in various solvents [dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), water and dimethylacetamide (DMAc)] containing a catalyst [sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or lithium chloride (LiCl)] to improve water resistance. The reaction yield based on the product weight was highest (85%) when DMAc and LiCl were used. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that starch was monosubstituted with PCL in the aqueous NaOH solution, whereas it was to crosslink by PCL in the case using DMAc and LlCl. The intrinsic viscosity of the products in DMSO supports these trends. By introducing the hydrophobic PCL onto starch, solvent resistance of the substituted starches to water and other aqueous media increased. The crosslinked starch displayed higher water resistance than the monosubstituted starch. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2197–2202, 2001

Starch-g-polycaprolactone copolymers were prepared by two-step reactions. The diisocyanate-terminated polycaprolactone (NCO-PCL) was prepared by introduc- ing NCO on both hydroxyl ends of PCL using diisocyanates (DI) at a molar ratio between PCL and DI of 2:3. Then, the NCO-PCL was grafted onto corn starch at a weight ratio between starch and NCO-PCL of 2:1. The chemical structure of NCO-PCL and the starch-g-PCL copolymers were confirmed by using FTIR and 13 C-NMR spec- trometers, and then the thermal characteristics of the copolymers were investigated by DSC and TGA. By introducing NCO to PCL (Mn: 1250), the melting temperature (Tm) was reduced from 58 to 45°C. In addition, by grafting the NCO-PCL (35-38%) prepared with 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) or 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) onto starch, the glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of the copolymers were both 238°C. With hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), however, Tg was found to be 195°C. The initial thermal degradation temperature of the starch-g-PCL copolymers were higher than that of unreacted starch (320 versus 290°C) when MDI was used, whereas the copoly- mers prepared with TDI or HDI underwent little change. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 986 -993, 2000

Amidoximated chitosan-g-poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) copolymer was prepared by a reaction between hydroxylamine and cyano group in chitosan-g-PAN copolymer prepared by grafting PAN onto crosslinked chitosan with epychlorohydrine. The adsorption and desorption capacities for heavy metal ions were measured under various conditions. The adsorption capacity of amidoximated chitosan-g-PAN copolymer increased with increasing pH values, and was increased for Cu2+ and Pb2+ but a little decreased for Zn2+ and Cd2+ with increasing PAN grafting percentage in amidoximated chitosan-g-PAN copolymer. In addition, desorption capacity for all metal ions was increased with increasing pH values in contrast to the adsorption results. Stability constants of amidoximated chitosan-g-PAN copolymer were higher for Cu2+ and Pb2+ but lower for Zn2+ and Cd2+ than those of crosslinked chitosan. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 469–476, 1999

Chitosan-g-poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) copolymer was prepared by grafting PDMS prepolymer onto chitosan. PDMS prepolymer was prepared by ionic ring opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D 4 ) using n-buthyllithium (BuLi). The tensile strength and elongation of chitosan-g-PDMS copolymer were mostly constant regardless of PDMS prepolymer grafting %. While critical surface energy of chitosan is about 32 dyne/cm, that of chitosan-g-PDMS copolymer was a little decreased to 25∼29 dyne/cm by grafting PDMS onto chitosan.

With the aim to effectively enhance the payload for nanocarriers, supersaturated deltamethrin (SSD) solution was prepared using the solvent-mediated method to produce lipid nanocarriers by a combination method of homogenization and sonication. In this study, deltamethrin was used as an active ingredient, corn oil was used as a lipid medium, soybean lecithin and Tween-80 were used as surfactants. At 25°C, the solubility of deltamethrin in SSD solution prepared by solvent-mediated method was 3.4 times and 1.5 times higher than that in saturated deltamethrin (SD) solution and that in SSD solution prepared by thermal-mediated method, respectively. Therefore, compared to the use of SD solution for the production of nanocarriers, the use of SSD solution significantly enhanced the payload, while keeping the encapsulation efficiency high. Particularly, nanocarriers produced from SSD solution prepared by solvent-mediated method had the higher payload of 2.1 times and 4.4 times compared with preparations using SSD solution prepared by thermal-mediated method and SD solution, respectively.

Disaccharide glycosides synthesised from food grade resources consist of the hydrophilic head group of maltose or lactose and provide better hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB ¼ 12) to the long alkyl chain derived from palm oil (PO) and palm kernel oil (PKO). Maltoside provides more flexibility in the vesicle’s membrane because of its low packing density in the bilayer membrane compared to lactoside. The bending of the molecular structure in maltose form a less compact assembly for maltoside, whereas lactose is more linear in shape. Apart from hydrophilic moieties, packing behaviour was also governed by the hydrophobic moieties. PO has higher degree of unsaturation compared to PKO, thus providing higher fluidity in the bilayer membrane. Vesicle with high membrane flexibility is easier to disintegrate and deform to enhance drug penetration into the skin. Results showed that the glycosides delivered vitamin E (VE) into deeper skin layer at least two-fold higher than free VE.

The potential toxicity of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida was investigated in vitro and in vivo. By the Ames test, fucoidan showed no mutagenicity up to 500 microL/plate, and inhibited the mutagenicity induced by 4-nitro-quinoline-1-oxide, by up to 71%, compared with controls. In the bone marrow micronucleus test, fucoidan, at all levels tested, did not change the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte percentage ratio in mouse bone marrow cells. As an acute in vivo toxicity test, fucoidan from 0 to 2000 mg/kg body weight per day was administered orally to Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days. No significant toxicological change was induced by fucoidan treatment up to 1000 mg/kg body weight per day in biochemical analyses, hematological analyses, necropsy and liver histopathology. The plasma ALT level was slightly, but significantly, increased in male rats at 2000 mg/kg/day. The consumption of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida, up to 1000 mg/kg body weight per day, may be safe in rodents, with no sign of toxicity after up to 28 days of daily administration.

To make effective wound healing accelerator, water-soluble chitosan (WSC)/heparin (CH) complex was prepared using WSC with wound healing ability and heparin with ability to attract or bind growth factor related to wound healing process. Water-soluble CH complex was prepared by the reaction between WSC and heparin, and then, by adding distilled water to it, ointment type with high viscosity was made. To evaluate the wound healing effect, full thickness skin excision was performed on the backs of the rat and then WSC and water-soluble CH complex ointments were applied in the wounds, respectively. After 15 days, gross and histologic examination was performed. Grossly, untreated control group revealed that the wound had well defined margin and was covered by crust. The second group treated with WSC ointment revealed small wound size with less amount of covering crust and ill-defined margin, which appeared to regenerate from margin. The third group treated with water-soluble CH complex ointment appeared to be nearly completely healed. Histology of each group was well correlated to gross findings. The third group shows nearly complete regeneration of appendage structure similar to normal in the dermis in contrast to control and second group with absence and less number of skin appendages, respectively.