Technique of Three-dimensional Cuttage of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis

[Objectives]This study was conducted to improve the propagation efficiency of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and improve the quality of plantlets.[Methods]A G.jasminoides cutting experiment was carried out with three different cuttage modes and two cutting treatment methods,and the rooting time,rooting rate,root amount and plantlet growth were measured and analyzed.[Results]The three-dimensional cutting model of CL1 could not only shorten the nursery cycle and promote root development,but also effectively improve the quality of plantlets and increase the yield of plantlets per unit area.It is an ideal way to improve the quality and efficiency of cutting plantlets.[Conclusions]This study has a positive role in promoting the healthy development of the nursery stock industry.

Neuropsychological impairment: the disturbed effect of self-processing in patients with major depressive disorder

Neuropsychological impairment has long been established as a fundamental characteristic of depression,but a generally accepted, specific pattern of neuropsychological impairment has not been summarized. In this study,we examined the classic neuropsychological paradigm of self-face recognition, to explore whether the self was impaired in major depressive disorder(MDD). Eighteen MDD patients and 20 healthy subjects were recruited to participate in this study. By using a face morphing technique, we measured the size of processing bias in MDD patients during different face discrimination tasks relative to controls. Results of analysis of variance(ANOVA) showed a significant main effect of Group(F(1, 36)= 7.388, P =0.01). Subsequent independent t-tests further revealed that self bias(t = 2.636, P = 0.012) and self-recognition bias(t = 2.190, P = 0.035) observed in self-famous task and self-stranger task respectively for patients were significantly greater than that for controls. Both self-processing and selfrecognition were impaired in patients with MDD, indicating that MDD individuals might exist level of self-abnormalities. These findings provide a new perspective for further study on the etiological and pathological mechanisms of MDD.

Decoration of bacterial outer membrane vesicles with liposomes

In this study, liposomes were used to decorate bacterial outer membrane vesicles(OMVs), and decorated OMVs were evaluated in vitro. The OMVs of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were extracted by pressure-induced ammonium sulfate precipitation,and their particle size, distribution, zeta potential, protein content and stability were determined. Several types of liposomes were prepared by thin film dispersion method, and the OMVs were decorated by vortexing, sonication and extrusion, respectively. The interaction between liposome and OMV was studied with fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) method. The results showed that the OMVs were spherical in shape and negatively charged. The vortexing method exerted little effect on the particle size and distribution of the decorated OMVs. The sonication process reduced the particle size and distribution of OMVs. FRET experiment indicated that the OMVs were decorated through membrane fusion. The above-mentioned results indicated that liposomes could successfully decorate OMVs, and decorated OMVs certainly widened their applications.

Preparation and evaluation of liposomal clarithromycin with antimicrobial effect

In this study, we developed a novel liposomal delivery system modified by Tat peptide and wheat germ agglutinin（WGA） with antimicrobial effect. Physicochemical parameters, in vitro antimicrobial, time-kill study, cellular uptake, biofilm formation inhibition and in vivo antibacterial efficacy against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA） were investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations（MICs） and colony-forming units（CFUs） in the time-kill study for Tat-WGA-modified liposomal clarithromycin（CLA-Tat WGALip） were lower than those of free and other modified liposomal CLA. Flow cytometry analysis disclosed that Tat WGALip delivered more coumarin 6 into bacteria. Furthermore, Tat-WGA-modified liposomal CLA efficiently inhibited the formation of MRSA biofiom. CFU of MRSA in the abscess of mice treated with CLA-Tat WGALip was significantly lower than that of any others（P〈0.01）. Collectively, liposomal delivery system modified by Tat and WGA could be a promising anti-resistant infection strategy.

Preparation, characterization and evaluation of multi-component-loaded liposomes containing Tat-TOS, phospholipase D inhibitor and doxorubicinPreparation, characterization and evaluation of multi-component-loaded liposomes containing Tat-TOS, phospholipase

In the present study, we aimed to co-load the α-TOS conjugate Tat-TOS with the phospholipase D inhibitor FIPI and the antitumor drug doxorubicin（DOX） in a liposome delivery system for antitumor metastasis. Firstly, Tat-TOS was synthesized by solid-phase synthesis, and its structure was confirmed. The ability of free and liposomal Tat-TOS to induce apoptosis in vitro was evaluated by flow cytometry. Biodistribution of Tat-TOS-loaded liposomes was investigated by a molecular imaging system. Multi-component-loaded liposomes modified with Tat-TOS containing FIPI and DOX was prepared by thin film dispersion method in combination with p H gradient method and post-insertion method. Physicochemical properties were determined, and the in vitro uptake ability of the formulations was evaluated. The results showed that the prepared liposomes were characterized by a uniform particle size distribution and small particle size. The encapsulation efficiency of FIPI and DOX exceeded 85%. Both free and liposomal Tat-TOS significantly improved the activity of inducing apoptosis of tumor cells. The liposomes modified with Tat-TOS were apparently accumulated in normal lung tissue and tumor metastasized lung. Multi-component-loaded liposomes exhibited the strongest cell uptake capacity, suggesting a stronger anti-metastatic effect and anti-tumor activity in vivo.

Preparation, characterization and evaluation of liposomal doxorubicin and harmine that show synergistic activity in vitro

A combinatory therapeutic system that simultaneously targets several independent pathways is preferred for the treatment of cancer. In our study, a combinatory liposomal delivery system containing doxorubicin （Dox） and harmine （HM） was constructed by thin film dispersing method together with pH gradient method. A simple, precise and accurate spectrophotometric method for the determination of Dox and HM in liposomal formulation was established and validated. A drug HSPC ratio of 1： 20, loading time of 30 min and loading temperature of 50 ~C were the optimal conditions for the preparation of drug loaded liposomes, which exhibited excellent physicochemical properties such as average particle size of-100 nm, low polydispersity index below 0.2 and high entrapment efficiency above 93%. Sustained release of drug from liposomes at pH 7.4 showed good biological safety. The synergetic cytotoxic effect for these two drugs was evaluated in MCF-7 ceils. The in vitro antitumor studies demonstrated the superior anti-proliferation activity of the liposomal Dox and HM with a combination index of 0.81, which indicated great synergistic effect and increased anti-proliferation efficiency. The experimental data suggested that combinational liposome therapy could be an effective way to develop efficient treatment of cancers.

The relationship between structural parameters and antibacterial biofilm activity for alkyl rhamnoside as a novel amphiphilic material

In the present study, we aimed to explore the structure-activity relationship for the new amphiphilic material rhamnoside with antibacterial biofilm activity, and provide the basis for selecting rhamnoside with the optimum antibacterial biofilm activity. A series of alkyl rhamnosides with different carbon chain lengths were obtained by a simple and effective synthesis method. The structure was characterized by ~1H NMR spectrum, and their critical micelle concentration(CMC) was measured by fluorescence probe method. The hydrophilic and lipophilic balance(HLB) value was obtained by calculation. The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) of Staphylococcus aureus was determined by the broth double dilution method. The effect of biofilm inhibition and biofilm disruption was assayed by crystal violet method. The results showed that with the increase of carbon chain length, the CMC and HLB of alkyl rhamnosides displayed a linear downward trend, indicating that the lipophilicity and surface activity of the alkyl rhamnoside were increased. At the same time, the antibacterial activity in vitro produced the maximum, ie, 12-hydroxydecanoyl rhamnoside had the strongest antibacterial activity in vitro. Similarly, this material also exhibited the strongest antibacterial biofilm activity in vitro. The results of this study demonstrated that the most potent active material was obtained through the structure-activity relationship and it could be applied antibacterial biofilms in clinical practice.