Effect of Porous Activated Charcoal Reinforcement on Mechanical and In-Vitro Biological Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Scaffolds

The present work focused on developing an innovative composite material by reinforcing polymer matrix with highly porous activated charcoal. Polyvinyl alcohol-activated charcoal（PVA-AC） composite scaffolds were developed by varying the AC concentrations（0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt%） in PVA matrix by freeze drying method. The developed scaffolds were characterized for their physicochemical, mechanical and in-vitro biological properties. In addition, the effect of AC on the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast MG 63 cells was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide（MTT） assay, alkaline phosphatase（ALP） activity assay and alizarin red stain-based（ARS） assay. All the PVA-AC composite scaffolds exhibited good bioactivity, hemocompatibility and protein adsorption properties. The scaffolds with high AC concentration（2.5 wt%） showed controlled drug release kinetics that are suitable for long term healing. The mechanical properties of all the PVA-AC composite scaffolds were improved when compared to the pure PVA scaffold. The high porosity, swelling degree and hydrophilicity of PVA-AC composite scaffolds facilitated cell attachment and proliferation. This is due to porous AC present in the sample that supported the osteoblast differentiation and formed mineralized nodules without the addition of any extra agents. From the above studies, it can be concluded that PVA-AC composite scaffolds are promising biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications.

Mechanism of herbal pairs with the properties of Qi-tonifying,blood activation,blood-stasis breaking in treating coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE:To investigating the molecular mechanism of herbal pairs in three types of Chinese medicinals:Qi-tonifying,blood activation,blood-stasis breaking in treatment of coronary heart disease(CHD).METHODS:The components of six herbs were searched in Chinese medicine dictionary and their target proteins were found in PubChem.CHD genes were obtained from PubMed gene database.Ingenuity Pathways Analysis was used to build the pharmacological network of three herbal pairs and CHD molecular network.The canonical pathways between each herbal pair network and CHD network was compared to decipher the molecular mechanism on three herbal pairs in treating CHD.RESULTS:The network analysis showed that there were the common signal pathways of three herbal pairs in treating CHD including hypoxia signaling in the cardiovascular system,Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha signaling,glucocorticoid receptor signaling,G-Protein coupled receptor signaling and pregnane X receptor/retinoid X receptor(PXR/RXR)activation.Further to analyze cardiovascular signaling,cytokine signaling and cytokine signaling,the effective molecules for three herbal pairs in treating CHD included HIF1α and estrogen receptor 1,Qi-tonifying herbal pair included albumin and matrix metallopeptidase 2,and blood-activation herbal pair included estrogen receptor 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ.CONCLUSION:Each herbal pair can affect some respective CHD-related functions and pathways,meanwhile three herbal pairs exert some mutual effects on CHD-related functions and pathways.Mutual effects of three herbal pairs may be the key components of their total molecular mechanisms and respective effects of each herbal pair may be the characteristic components of their respective molecular mechanism.

Effects of Bushen Huoxue Formula on the Learning and Memory Function and the Cerebral Neurotransmitters in Diabetic Mice

Objective: To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Formula (Formula for reinforcing the kidney and activating blood circulation) on the learning and memory function and the cerebral neurotransmitters in diabetic mice. Methods: Forty ICR mice were randomized into the normal control group, model group, Nimotop group and Chinese medicine group, 10 mice in each group. Tail intravenous injection of alloxan was applied to prepare diabetic model. Four weeks later, intragastric administration of Bushen Huoxue Formula for the Chinese medicine group, Nimotop for the Nimotop group, and isometric distilled water for the other two groups were respectively given for 8 weeks. The changes in the blood sugar level were observed; the learning and memory function was detected by Morris labyrinth test; and the contents of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxyltryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyl indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebral cortex were determined in mice of all the groups. Results: The blood sugar levels in the diabetic model mice significantly increased as compared with those of the normal control group determined 72 h and 12 weeks later (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Latencies for Morris labyrinth test in the Nimotop group and the Chinese medicine group were significantly shortened as compared with that in the model group (P<0.01). The contents of cortical NE in the Chinese medicine group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Bushen Huoxue Formula can improve the learning and memory function in the diabetic mice, and the mechanism is possibly related with change of the cortical NE content.