• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 2001

With the aim of developing of pH-sensitive controlled drug release system, a poly(Llysine) (PLL) based cationic semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) has been synthesized. This cationic hydrogel was designed to swell at lower pH and de-swell at higher pH and therefore be applicable for achieving regulated drug release at a specific pH range. In addition to the pH sensitivity, this hydrogel was anticipated to interact with an ionic drug, providing another means to regulate the release rate of ionic drugs. This semi-IPN hydrogel was prepared using a free-radical polymerization method and by crosslinking of the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-methacrylate polymer through the PLL network. The two polymers were penetrated with each other via interpolymer complexation to yield the semi-IPN structures. The PLL hydrogel thus prepared showed dynamic swelling/de-swelling behavior in response to pH change, and such a behavior was influenced by both the concentrations of PLL and PEG-methacrylate. Drug release from this semi-IPN hydrogel was also investigated using a model protein drug, streptokinase. Streptokinase release was found to be dependent on its ionic interaction with the PLL backbones as well as on the swelling of the semi-IPN hydrogel. These results suggest that a PLL semi-IPN hydrogel could potentially be used as a drug delivery platform to modulate drug release by pH-sensitivity and ionic interaction.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.3676-3680
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• 2012

An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based plasmid contains the EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) gene and EBV replication origin (oriP) sequence. Since EBNA1 (the only EBV-encoded protein) is combined with oriP, it is replicated simultaneously with chromosomal DNA in human, primate, and canine cells and is faithfully segregated at a stable copy number upon cell division. Consequently, it can be used to stably express gene inserts over a prolonged time in target cells. We have previously shown that the polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer can be surface-modified with L-arginine. Arginine is present at a high frequency in the transactivator of transcription (Tat) sequences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It presents high membrane permeability and permits effective transfer of DNA inside the cells. In this study, we constructed two kinds of recombinant DNA by inserting the luciferase gene and enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) gene as reporter genes into the pCEP4 plasmid vector. We measured dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential after preparing PAMAM-based cationic polymer/EBV-based plasmid complexes. We performed transfection of HEK 293 cell lines with the polyplexes, and monitored luciferase activity and green fluorescence protein (GFP) expression. Our results show that PAMAM-based cationic polymer/EBV plasmid complexes provide enhanced and sustained gene expression.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2004

This study was carried out to separate immunoglobulin G(IgG) from colostrum using reverse micellar extraction of cationic surfactant and to suggest suitable extraction conditions. The reconstituted colostrum powder was solubilized into a reverse micellar phase containing CDAB(cetyldimethylethyl ammonium bromide) by mixing equal volume of the aqueous and organic phase with constant stirring. The solubilization of proteins from the aqueous to the organic phase was manipulated by pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase and concentration of surfactant in the organic phase. Based on the SDS-PAGE and densitometry, about more than 90% of initial IgG was remained in the aqueous phase after reverse micellar extraction. Although the aqueous phase contained lactoferrin and bovine serum albumin as minor components, about 93% of the total protein was IgG. The efficient extraction was achieved by the reaction of sodium phosphate buffer(pH 8) containing 50 mM KCl and organic phase containing 100 mM CDAB. The separation of IgG using reverse micellar extraction was simple, highly efficient and easy to be scaled up.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.353-359
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• 1998

In gastrointestinal smooth muscle, muscarinic stimulation by carbachol (CCh) activates nonselective cation channel current ($I_{CCh}$) which is facilitated by intracellular [$Ca^{2+}$] increase. Caffeine is widely used in experiments to mobilize $Ca^{2+}$ from intracellular stores. This study shows a strong inhibitory effect of caffeine on $I_{CCh}$ in guinea-pig gastric myocyte. In this study, the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory effect of caffeine was investigated. $I_{CCh}$ was completely suppressed by the addition of caffeine (10 mM) to the superfusing solution. Inhibition of $I_{CCh}$ by caffeine was not related to the intracellular cAMP accumulation which was expected from the phosphodiesterase-inhibiting effect of caffeine. The blockade of $InsP_3-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ release by heparin had no significant effects on the activation of $I_{CCh}$. When the same cationic current had been induced by intracellular dialysis of $GTP[{\gamma}S]$ in order to bypass the muscarinic receptor, the inhibitory effect of caffeine was significantly attenuated. The results of this study indicate that both intracellular signalling pathways for $I_{CCh}$, proximal and distal to G-protein activation, are suppressed by caffeine. A major inhibition was observed at the proximal level.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.187-194
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• 2004

A short peptide corresponding to the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-l Tat protein, Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Gln-Arg-Arg-Arg, was employed to improve the efficiency of cellular uptake of nucleic acids. The peptide was first mixed with a reporter plasmid and then with cationic liposomes to form a tripartite complex of DNA/peptide/liposomes (DPL). Transfection efficiency of the DPL complex was compared with that of the conventional DNA/liposomes (DL) complex. When the DPL complex was formed with various cationic liposomes, DOTAP/DOPE (DP) liposome exhibited superior transfection efficiency to other liposomes tested in vitro. With the inclusion of the peptide, the DPL complex showed much enhanced transfection in various cancer cell lines. Particularly, transfection of the DPL complex in serum increased cellular uptake of a transgene up to 2 fold when compared with that in a serum free condition. Further, when the DPL complex was infused through the ureteric route of a rat, transfection efficiency was shown to be better in reporter gene expression than that obtained with the DL complex. This study shows that the DPL complex that is easy to formulate can be employed for much enhanced cellular uptake of a trans gene.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 1986

Bretylium tosylate is a quaternary ammonium compound used for the treatment of ventricular fibrilation in humans. It is advantageous to other cationic compound in the study of biliary excretion in that negligible amount is bound to plasma protein and metabolite is not likely is to be formed. Some researchers reported that the formation of ion-pair complex caused to increase the lipothilicity of cationic compound. The partition of bretylium between water and organic phase was increased with the addition of sodium taurodeoxycholate. Also sensitive gas chromatographical assay procedure using flame ionization detector was studied. This procedure can detect as low as 0.1 mg/ml using 0.1 ml biological sample, but contamination by previous injection is the major problem of this method.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 1990

The solubilization of BSA, pepsin, trypsin and ribonuclease-a in cationic reverse micellar solutions has been investigated. For complete solubilization into reverse micellar solutions, pH values of several pH units above the isoelectric point of each protein were required. Solubilization was observed to decrease with increasing ionic strength of KCI. The size of empty micelles showed no significant change with increasing ionic strength. Trioctylmethyl ammonium chloride (TOMAC) in cyolohexane showed the lowest solubilization for the proteins. The system didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB)-tetrachloroethylene was capable of solubilizing larger amounts of proteins than the system DDAB-benzene. Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB)-hexanol-isooctane system showed lower solubilization than DDAB-tetrachloroethylene system, while it had higher Wo value.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 1988

Effects of putrescine on senescence in detached leaves of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) in the light were investigated. The putrescine as a potent antisenescence substane markedly inhibited chlorophyll and protein loss at the 10mM concentraton in the detached leaves during the dark incubation. In the light, however, putrescine showed the opposite effects to dark incubation. The chlorphyll loss by putrescine in the light was stopped with darktransfer, and inhibited competitively by a divalent cation Ca2+. In the light, putrescine reduced the protease activity. Putrescine, in the light, increased H2O2 content and reduced the activities of enzymes -superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6-involved in inhibiting the accumulation of free radicals. These results suggest that the effects of puterscine on chlorophyll and protein loss in detached leaves of Chinese cabbage in the light are related to the cationic nature of putrescine and the accumulation of free radicals.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.41-44
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• 2015

Biomolecular photo-damaging activity of a water-soluble cationic porphyrin was examined using human serum albumin (HSA), a water-soluble protein as a target biomolecule model by a fluorometry. Dichlorophosphorus(V) tetraphenylporphyrin ($Cl_2P(V)TPP$), was synthesized and used as a photosensitizer. This porphyrin could bind to HSA and cause the photosensitized oxidation of HSA through the singlet oxygen generation and the oxidative photo-induced electron transfer (ET). Near infrared emission spectroscopy demonstrated the photosensitized singlet oxygen generation by this porphyrin. Decrement of the fluorescence lifetime of $Cl_2P(V)TPP$ by HSA supported the ET mechanism. Furthermore, the estimated Gibb's energy indicated that the ET mechanism is possible in the terms of energy. Because oxygen concentration in cancer cell is relatively low, ET mechanism is considered to be advantageous for photosensitizer of photodynamic therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2001

Background : Bronchial asthma is characterized by a reversible airway obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and eosinophilic airway inflammation. The bronchodilator response(BDR) after short acting beta agonist inhalation and PC20 with methacholine inhalation are frequently used for diagnosing bronchial asthma. However, the relationship between the presence of a bronchodilator response and the degree of airway hyperresponsiveness is uncertain. Therefore, the availability of a eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and a correlation ECP with a bronchodilator response and airway hyperresponsiveness was investigated. Method : A total 71 patients with a moderate to severe degree of bronchial asthma were enrolled and divided into two groups. 31 patients with a positive bronchodilator response and 38 patients with a negative bronchodilator response were evaluated. In both groups, the serum ECP, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and total IgE level were measured and the methacholine bronchial provocation test was examined. Results : There were no differences observed in age, sex, atopy, and baseline spirometry in both groups. The peripheral eosinophil counts showed no difference in both groups, but the ECP level in group 1 (bronchodilator responder group) was higher than in group 2(non-bronchodilator responder group) ($22.4{\pm}20.7$ vs $14.2{\pm}10.4$, mean$\pm$SD). The PC20 in group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2 ($1.14{\pm}1.68$ vs $66{\pm}2.98$). There was a significant positive correlation between the BDR and ECP, and a negative correlation between the bronchial hyperresponsiveness and ECP. Conclusion : The bronchodilator response significantly correlated with the bronchial hyperresponsiveness and serum ECP in the moderate to severe asthma patients. Hence, the positive bronchodilator response is probably related with active bronchial inflammation and may be used as a valuable index in treatment, course and prognosis of bronchial asthma.