• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2011

PURPOSE. This study was performed to investigate the ability of recombinant human-bone morphogenic protein-2 immobilized on a heparin-grafted bone substrate to enhance the osteoblastic functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$, not coated with any material, was used as a control group. In rhBMP-2-Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ group, rhBMP-2 was coated with Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ using only deep and dry methods (50 ng/mL, 24 h). In heparinized rhBMP-2-Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ group, dopamine was anchored to the surface of Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$, and coated with heparin. rhBMP-2 was immobilized onto the heparinized- Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ surface. The release kinetics of the rhBMP-2-Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ and heparinized rhBMP-2-Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The biological activities of the MG63 cells on the three groups were investigated via cytotoxicity assay, cell proliferation assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) measurement, and calcium deposition determination. Statistical comparisons were carried out by one-way ANOVA test. Differences were considered statistically significant at $^*$P<.05 and $^{**}$P<.001. RESULTS. The heparinized rhBMP-2-Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ showed more sustained release compared to the rhBMP-2-Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ over an extended time. In the measurement of the ALP activity, the heparinized group showed a significantly higher ALP activity when compared with the non-heparinized groups (P<.05). The MG63 cells cultivated in the group with rhBMP-2 showed increased calcium deposition, and the MG63 cells from the heparinized group increased more than those that were cultivated in the non-heparinized groups. CONCLUSION. Heparin increased the rhBMP-2 release amount and made sustained release possible, and heparinized Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$ with rhBMP-2 successfully improved the osteoblastic functions.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2006

Incorporation of bioactive compounds such as vitamins, probiotics, bioactive peptides, and antioxidants into Nutrient Delivery System (NDS) for 'nanofood' provides simple way to develop novel functional foods that may have physiological benefits or reduce risks of diseases. As vital nutrient in nanofood, proteins possess unique functional properties including ability to form gels and emulsions, which allow them to be ideal nanofood materials for encapsulation of bioactive compounds. Based on protein physico-chemical properties, this review describes potential role of nanofood materials for development of NDS in hydrogel form, micro-or nano-particles. Applications of these nanofood materials to protect delivery-sensitive nutraceutical compounds are illustrated, and impacts of particle size on release properties are emphasized.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2008

Biodegradable and elastic poly(L-lactide-co-$\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PLCL) was electrospun to prepare nanofibers, and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) was then grafted onto their surfaces under aqueous conditions using $^{60}Co-{\gamma}$ irradiation. The graft yield increased with increasing irradiation dose from 5 to 10 kGy and the nanofibers showed a greater graft yield compared with the firms. SEM confirmed that the PLCL nanofibers maintained an interconnected pore structure after grafting with NIPAAm. However, overdoses of irradiation led to the excessive formation of homopolymer gels on the surface of thc PLCL nanofibers. The equilibrium swelling and deswelling ratio of the PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers (prepared with 10 kGy) was the highest among the samples, which was consistent with the graft yield results. The phase-separation characteristics of PNIPAAm in aqueous conditions conferred a unique temperature-responsive swelling behavior of PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers, showing the ability to absorb a large amount of water at < $32^{\circ}C$, and abrupt collapse when the temperature was increased to $40^{\circ}C$. In accordance with the temperature-dependent changes in swelling behavior, the release rate of indomethacin and FITC-BSA loaded in PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers by a diffusion-mediated process was regulated by the change in temperature. Both model drugs demonstrated greater release rate at $40^{\circ}C$ relative to that at $25^{\circ}C$. This approach of the temperature-controlled release of drugs from PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers using gamma-ray irradiation may be used to design drugs and protein delivery carriers in various biomedical applications.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.317-333
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• 1996

The main goal of periodontal regeneration is to be achieved by epithelial exclusion, periodontal ligament cell activation or alveolar bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate on the physico- chemical and biological characteristics of biodegradable chitosan beads. Chitosan beads were fabricated by ionic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate and they had the size in 300um diameter. As therapeutic agent, flurbiprofen was incorporated into the beads by 10, 20% loading contents. The release of drugs from the chitosan beads was measured in vitro. Also, biological activity tests of flurbiprofen loaded chitosan beads including cytotoxicity test, ihhibition of $IL-1{\beta}$ production, suppression to $PGE_2$ production, collagenase inhibition test, the ability of total protein synthesis, and tissue response were evaluated. The amount of flurbiprofen released from chitosan was 33-50% during 7 days. Minimal cytotoxicity was observed in chitosan beads. Flurbiprofen released from chitosan beads significantly suppressed the $IL-1{\beta}$ production of monocyte, $PGE_2$ production and markedly inhibited collagenase activity. Meanwhile, flurbiprofen released from this system showed increased ability for protein synthesis. Throughout 4 -week implantation period, no significant inflammatory cell infiltrated around chitosan bead and also fibroblast like cell types at the beads - tissue interface were revealed with gradual degradation of implanted chitosan beads. From these results, it was suggested that flurbiprofen loaded chitosan beads can be effectively useful for biocompatible local delivery system in periodontal regeneration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 1998

The ligand binding signals to a wide variety of seven transmembrane cell surface receptors are transduced into intracellular signals through heterotrimeric G-proteins. Recently, there have been reports which show diverse coupling patterns of ligand-activated receptors to the members of Gq family $\alpha$ subunits. In order to shed some light on these complex signal processing networks, interactions between G$\alpha$q family of G protein and neurokinin-2 receptor as well as muscarinic M$_{1}$ receptor, which are considered to be new thearpeutic targets in asthma, were studied. Using washed membranes from Cos-7 cells co-transfected with different G.alpha.q and receptor cDNAs, the receptors were stimulated with various concentrations of carbachol and neurokinin A and the agonist-dependent release of [$^3H$]inositol phosphates through phospholipase C beta-1 activation was measured. Differential coupling of Gaq family of G-protein to muscarinic M$_{1}$ receptor and neurokinin-2 receptor was observed. The neurokinin-2 receptor shows a ligand-mediated response in membranes co-transfected with G$\alpha$q, G$\alpha$11 and G$\alpha$14 but not G$\alpha$16 and the ability of the muscarinic $M_1$ receptor to activate phospholipase C through G$\alpha$/11 but not G$\alpha$14 and G$\alpha$16 was demonstrated. Clearly G$\alpha$/11 can couple $\M_1$ and neurokinin-2 receptor to activate phospholipase C. But, there are differences in the relative coupling of the G$\alpha$14 and G$\alpha$16 subunits to these receptors.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.663-668
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• 2015

hBMSCs are multipotent cells that are useful for tissue regeneration to treat degenerative diseases and others for their differentiation ability into chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, hepatocytes and neuronal cells. In this study, biodegradable elastic hydrogels consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds were evaluated for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and the ability to control the release of bioactive peptides. The primary cultured cells from human bone marrow are confirmed as hBMSC by immunohistochemical analysis. Mesenchymal stem cell markers (collagen type I, fibronectin, CD54, $integrin1{\beta}$, and Hu protein) were shown to be positive, while hematopoietic stem cell markers (CD14 and CD45) were shown to be negative. Three different hydrogel scaffolds with different block compositions (PEG:PCL=6:14 and 14:6 by weight) were fabricated using the salt leaching method. The hBMSCs were expanded, seeded on the scaffolds, and cultured up to 8 days under static conditions in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Media (IMDM). The growth of MSCs cultured on the hydrogel with PEG/PCL= 6/14 was faster than that of the others. In addition, the morphology of MSCs seemed to be normal and no cytotoxicity was found. The coating of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) containing scaffold with Matrigel slowed down the release of VEGF in vitro and promoted the angiogenesis when transplanted into BALB/c nude mice. These results suggest that hBMSCs can be supported by a biode gradable hydrogel scaffold for effective cell growth, and enhance the angiogenesis by Matrigel coating.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1112-1121
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• 2019

Objective: Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to be associated with uterine impairment, embryonic resorption, ovarian dysfunction, and follicle retardation. Here, we aimed to investigate the toxic effects of LPS on the maturation ability and parthenogenetic developmental competence of bovine oocytes. Methods: First, we developed an in vitro model to study the response of bovine cumulusoocyte complexes (COCs) to LPS stress. After incubating germinal vesicle COCs in $10{\mu}g/mL$ of LPS, we analyzed the following three aspects: the expression levels of the LPS receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in COCs, activities of intracellular signaling protein p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$); and the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and IL-6. Furthermore, we determined the effects of LPS on the maturation ability and parthenogenetic developmental competence of bovine oocytes. Results: The results revealed that LPS treatment significantly elevated TLR4 mRNA and protein expression levels in COCs. Exposure of COCs to LPS also resulted in a marked increase in activity of the intracellular signaling protein p-p38 MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$. Furthermore, oocytes cultured in maturation medium containing LPS had significantly higher concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6. LPS exposure significantly decreased the first polar body extrusion rate. The cytoplasmic maturation, characterized by polar body extrusion and distribution of peripheral cortical granules, was significantly impaired in LPS-treated oocytes. Moreover, LPS exposure significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and the relative mRNA abundance of the antioxidants thioredoxin (Trx), Trx2, and peroxiredoxin 1 in oocytes. Moreover, the early apoptotic rate and the release of cytochrome C were significantly increased in response to LPS. The cleavage, morula, and blastocyst formation rates were significantly lower in parthenogenetically activated oocytes exposed to LPS, while the incidence of apoptotic nuclei in blastocysts was significantly increased. Conclusion: Together, these results provide an underlying mechanism by which LPS impairs maturation potential in bovine oocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1522-1528
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to develop a model for simulating gastric digestion in the pig. The model was constructed to include the chemical and physical changes associated with gastric digestion such as enzyme release, digestion product removal and gastric emptying. Digesta was collected from the stomach cannula of pigs to establish system parameters and to document the ability of the model to simulate gastric digestion. The results showed that the average pH of gastric digesta increased significantly from 2.47 to 4.97 after feed consumption and then decreased 140 min postprandial. The model described the decrease in pH within the pigs' stomach as $pH_t=5.182e^{-0.0014t}$, where t represents the postprandial time in minutes. The cumulative distribution function of liquid digesta was $V_t=64.509e^{0.0109t}$. The average pepsin activity in the liquid digesta was 317Anson units/mL. There was significant gastric emptying 220 min after feed consumption. The cybernetic dynamic system of gastric digestion was set according to the above data in order to compare with in vivo changes. The time course of crude protein digestion predicted by the model was highly correlated with observed in vivo digestion (r = 0.97; p = 0.0001), Model prediction for protein digestion was higher than that observed for a traditional static in vitro method (r = 0.89; p = 0.0001).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.903-913
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• 2011

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which causes gastroenteritis, wound infection, and septicemia, has two sets of type III secretion systems (TTSS), TTSS1 and TTSS2. A TTSS1-deficient vcrD1 mutant of V. parahaemolyticus showed an attenuated cytotoxicity against HEp-2 cells, and a significant reduction in mouse lethality, which were both restored by complementation with the intact vcrD1 gene. V. parahaemolyticus also triggered phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including p38 and ERK1/2 in HEp-2 cells. The ability to activate p38 and ERK1/2 was significantly affected in a TTSS1-deficient vcrD1 mutant. Experiments using MAPK inhibitors showed that p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs are involved in V. parahaemolyticus-induced death of HEp-2 cells. In addition, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were processed into active forms in V. parahaemolyticus-exposed HEp-2 cells, but activation of caspases was not essential for V. parahaemolyticus-induced death of HEp-2 cells, as shown by both annexin V staining and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. We conclude that secreted protein(s) of TTSS1 play an important role in activation of p38 and ERK1/2 in HEp-2 cells that eventually leads to cell death via a caspase-independent mechanism.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.501-519
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• 2003

Silk Sericin(SS) is a natural protein extracted from cocoon of bombix mori and shows moisturizing effect to the skin due to a number of hydroxyl groups in the structure. But its application to cosmetics is limited due to its poor solubility in water. In order to solve this drawback and expand its application to cosmetics, polyethyleneglycol(PEG) was conjugated with sericin by reacting activated polyethyleneglycol(ActPEG). Reaction site of sericin is tyrosine residue, which was determined by using $^1$H-NMR. Random coil structure of sericin was transformed to beta-sheet structure by conjugating polyethyleneglycol. It was confirmed that melting point of sericin-PEG conjugate was lowered compared to that of each sericin and PEG due to the interaction between sericin and PEG in crystalline structure. Self-assembled sericin-PEG nanoparticle was obtained by dialyzing with alcohol solution of sericin-PEG conjugate against water. The particle is spherical and has 200-400nm of size. The moisturizing ability of sericin-PEG nanoparticle was much higher than that of sericin itself. Incorporation of vitamin A into sericin-PEG nanoparticle was carried out by diafiltration method. The content of incorporated Vitamin A in sericin-PEG nanoparticle was 8.9 wt％. Releasing behaviour of vitamin A incorporated into nanoparticle was tested in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 37$^{\circ}C$. and half-life of Vitamin A release was 43hrs. Sericin-PEG nanoparticle exhibited higher moisturing effect than sericin itself and distilled water, respectively. No toxicity and irritation were observed in animal tests. It can be expected that the self-assembled sericin-PEG nanoparticle can be developed for cosmetics.