Fabrication of Core-Shell Hydrogel Bead Based on Sodium Alginate and Chitosan for Methylene Blue Adsorption

A novel core-shell hydrogel bead was fabricated for effective removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions.The core,made of sodium alginate-g-polyacrylamide and attapulgite nanofibers,was cross-linked by Calcium ions(Ca^(2+)).The shell,composed of a chitosan/activated carbon mixture,was then coated onto the core.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the grafting polymerization of acrylamide onto sodium alginate.Scanning electron microscopy images showed the core-shell structure.The core exhibited a high water uptake ratio,facilitating the diffusion of methylene blue into the core.During the diffusion process,the methylene blue was first adsorbed by the shell and then further adsorbed by the core.Adsorption tests showed that the coreshell structure had a larger adsorption capacity than the core alone.The shell effectively enhanced the adsorption capacity to methylene blue compared to the single core.Methylene blue was adsorbed by activated carbon and chitosan in the shell,and the residual methylene blue diffused into the core and was further adsorbed.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization as neoadjuvant therapy pre-liver transplantation for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization(DEB-TACE)as neoadjuvant therapy before liver transplantation(LT)for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and to analyze the prognostic factors.AIM To determine whether DEB-TACE before LT is superior to LT for advanced-stage HCC.METHODS A total of 99 individuals diagnosed with advanced HCC were studied retrospectively.The participants were categorized into the following two groups based on whether they had received DEB-TACE before LT:DEB-TACE group(n=45)and control group(n=54).The participants were further divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of segmental portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT).The DEB-TACE group consisted of two subgroups:Group A(n=31)without PVTT and group B(n=14)with PVTT.The control group also had two subgroups:Group C(n=37)without PVTT and group D(n=17)with PVTT.Data on patient demographics,disease characteristics,therapy response,and adverse events(AEs)were collected.The overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine the parameters that were independently related to OS and RFS.RESULTS The DEB-TACE group exhibited an overall response rate of 86.6%.Following therapy,there was a significant decrease in the median alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)level(275.1 ng/mL vs 41.7 ng/mL,P<0.001).The main AE was post-embolization syndrome.The 2-year rates of RFS and OS were significantly higher in the DEB-TACE group than in the control group(68.9%vs 38.9%,P=0.003;86.7%vs 63.0%,P=0.008).Within the subgroups,group A had higher 2-year rates of RFS and OS compared to group C(71.0%vs 45.9%,P=0.038;83.8%vs 62.2%,P=0.047).The 2-year RFS rate of group B was markedly superior to that of group D(64.3%vs 23.5%,P=0.002).Results from multivariate analyses showed that pre-LT DEB-TACE[hazard ratio(HR)=2.73,95%confidence interval(CI):1.44-5.14,P=0.04],overall target tumor diameter≤7 cm(HR=1.98,95%CI:1.05-3.75,P=0.035),and AFP level≤400 ng/mL(HR=2.34;95%CI:1.30-4.19,P=0.009)were significant risk factors for RFS.Additionally,pre-LT DEBTACE(HR=3.15,95%CI:1.43-6.96,P=0.004)was identified as a significant risk factor for OS.CONCLUSION DEB-TACE is a safe and efficient therapy for advanced-stage HCC and also enhances patient survival after LT.

Application of DEM modified with enlarged particle model to simulation of bead motion in a bead mill

We applied the discrete element method （DEM） of simulation modified by an enlarged particle model to simulate bead motion in a large bead mill. The stainless-steel bead mill has inner diameter of 102 mm and mill length of 198 mm. The bead diameter and filling ratio were fixed respectively at 0.5 mm and 85%. The agitator rotational speed was changed from 1863 to 3261 rpm. The bead motion was monitored experimentally using a high-speed video camera through a transparent mill body. For the simulation, enlarged particle sizes were set as 3-6 mm in diameter. With the DEM modified by the enlarged particle model, the motion of enlarged particles in a mill was simulated.The velocity data of the simulated enlarged particles were compared with those obtained in the experiment. The simulated velocity of the enlarged particles depends on the virtual frictional coefficient in the DEM model. The optimized value of the virtual frictional coefficient can be determined by considering the accumulated mean value. Results show that the velocity of the enlarged particles simulated increases with an increase in the optimum virtual frictional coefficient, but the simulated velocity agrees well with that determined experimentally by optimizing the virtual frictional coefficient in the simulation. The computing time in the simulation decreases with increased particle size.

Improved dissolution and oral absorption by co-grinding active drug probucol and ternary stabilizers mixtures with planetary beads-milling method

The objective of this work is to construct a nanosuspension drug delivery system of probucol,a BCS II drug,in order to improve its dissolution and oral bioavailability.The wet milling procedure using planetary beads-milling equipment was utilized to grind the raw probucol to ultrafine nanoparticle/nanocrystal aqueous suspension that was further solidified by freeze-drying process.Cellulose derivatives of different substitution groups and molecular weights,including HPMC,HPC,and MC,were evaluated as the primary stabilizer of probucol nanosuspension.Ternary stabilizers system composed of a primary stabilizer(cellulose derivative,i.e.HPC),a nonionic surfactant(Pluronic R F68),and an anionic surfactant(SDS)was employed to obtain probucol nanosuspension of finer particle size and enhanced dissolution in aqueous media.The probucol nanosuspension with good physical stability showed no obvious change of particle size even after storing over 7 d at 4°C or 25°C.The solidified probucol nanosuspension with trehalose as the cryoprotectant showed the highest dissolution rate(>60%at 2 h)compared to other cryoprotectant.The in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation indicated about 15-folds higher AUC value of the probucol nanosuspension compared to that of coarse probucol suspension after oral administration to rats.The probucol nanosuspension prepared by wet-milling and ternary stabilizers system may find wide applications for improving the dissolution and oral absorption of water-insoluble drugs.

H_4SiW_(12)O_(40)/TiO_2/beads光催化降解亚甲基蓝的研究

以钛酸四丁酯为原料,空心微珠为载体,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备TiO2/beads光催化剂载体,然后浸渍法制备出H4SiW12O40/TiO2/beads表面负载修饰型复合光催化剂,并运用SEM、XRD、FT-IR和DRS对催化剂进行表征和分析。研究了H4SiW12O40/TiO2/beads对亚甲基蓝降解的光催化活性,考察了光强度、pH值、曝气量、底物浓度和催化剂用量等对催化效率的影响。实验结果表明,在中性条件下,H4SiW12O40/TiO2/beads催化剂的投加量为0.25 g/L,浓度为7.5 mg/L的亚甲基蓝溶液在250 W的紫外灯和600 W的可见光灯下光照60 min降解率分别可达到94.5%和55%。

附载型复合光催化剂TiO_2·SiO_2/beads降解有机磷农药

研究以四异丙醇钛 [Ti( iso- O C3 H7) 4]、硅酸乙酯为原料 ,以空心玻璃微球为载体 ,用溶胶—凝胶法制备可漂浮附载型复合光催化剂 Ti O2 · Si O2 / beads的过程 ,利用附载型复合光催化剂降解有机磷农药。结果表明 ,复合型光催化剂 Ti O2 · Si O2 摩尔比存在最佳值 ,n ( Ti O2 ) / m ( Si O2 ) =30 / 70时 ,光催化剂活性最高 ,其活性是同样降解条件下、同样含量 Degussa P- 2 5Ti O2 的 2倍左右。该光催化剂比表面大 ,吸附性强。并用 XRD和

TiO_2·SiO_2/beads降解有机磷农药的研究

研究以四氯化钛 ,硅酸乙酯为原料 ,以空心玻璃微球为载体 ,用浸涂法制备TiO2 ·SiO2 /beads负载型复合光催化剂的过程。对利用负载型复合光催化剂降解有机磷农药进行了活性评价。结果表明 :TiO2 ·SiO2 /beads光活性显著提高 ,最佳光催化剂活性是同样降解条件下、同样含量的DegussaP - 2 5TiO2 光活性的 1.35倍左右。另外 ,对TiO2 ·SiO2 /beads的吸附性和比表面进行测试 ,同时从微观角度对负载型复合光催化剂的表面状态和光催化剂颗粒尺寸进行分析。

Bead模型的不确定性范围查询与修剪算法

针对时空范围内,移动目标数据库中由于移动目标轨迹的不确定性导致的范围查询问题,在基于Bead/Necklace不确定性模型的基础上,将查询问题映射为2D平面的计算几何问题进行解决。针对时空中五种不同句法的不确定性范围查询类型确定了对应的定性查询算法,并通过查询多边形的偏置和轨迹点位置查询的方法实现新的修剪算法,其算法复杂度与查询区域边的数目呈线性关系。实验结果显示,提出的修剪策略更加有效地提高了系统的查询效率。

载药动脉栓塞微球DC Bead^(TM)研究进展

载药洗脱微球结合了栓塞与局部化疗的优势,其经微导管注射,选择性对肿瘤供血动脉进行栓塞,使肿瘤缺血坏死;同时其向病灶部位持久缓慢地释放药物,形成局部高浓度,对肿瘤细胞产生显著的细胞毒效应。近年来载药DC BeadTM用于肝癌的栓塞化疗研究取得了较快的发展。本文就其制备方法、载药特点、体外释放方法、体内药动学及临床研究等方面进行了综述。

溶胶-凝胶法制备TiO_2·SiO_2/beads及其光催化性能的研究

研究以四异丙醇钛 [Ti (iso OC3 H7) 4 ]、硅酸乙酯为原料 ,以空心玻璃微球为载体 ,用溶胶 凝胶法制备可漂浮附载型复合光催化剂TiO2 ·SiO2 /beads的过程 ,利用附载型复合光催化剂降解有机磷农药。结果表明 :附载型复合光催化剂活性显著提高 ,牢固性增强 ,TiO2 ·SiO2 摩尔比存在最佳值。n (TiO2 ) /m (SiO2 ) =30 / 70时 ,光催化剂活性最高 ,其活性是同样降解条件下 ,同样含量DegussaP 2 5TiO2 的

CoPcS/TiO_2/beads及TiO_2/beads光催化降解水面漂浮植物油

以钛酸四丁酯为原料,以空心玻璃微珠为载体,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备出TiO2/beads光催化剂,用浸渍法制备出CoPcS/TiO2/beads光催化剂。研究了TiO2/beads及CoPcS/TiO2/beads光催化降解水面漂浮植物油的最优条件。结果表明,酸性或中性条件下,375 W中压汞灯照射2～3 h,TiO2/beads与CoPcS/TiO2/beads的投加量分别为3 g与1 g时,植物油的去除率达90%以上,投加微量的H2O2,可大大提高两者的光催化去除率。

CoPcS／TiO2／beads及TiO2／beads光催化降解水面浮油

以钛酸四丁酯为原料,空心玻璃微珠(beads)为载体,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备出TiO2/beads光催化剂,用浸渍法制备出CoPcS/TiO2/beads新型光催化剂.研究了利用TiO2/beads及CoPcS/TiO2/beads光催化剂降解水面漂浮植物油的最优条件.结果表明:(1)溶胶-凝胶法制备TiO2/beads的最佳条件为:空心玻璃微珠浸渍3次,450～550℃下焙烧2 h.用CoPcS对TiO2/beads进行改性时,TiO2/beads的最佳浸渍时间为30 min.(2)在中性或酸性条件下,375 W中压汞灯光照2～3 h,TiO2/beads与CoPcS/TiO2/beads的最佳用量分别为3 g和1 g(植物油3 g),在此条件下,植物油的去除率都高达90%.(3)微量H2O2对TiO2/beads和CoPcS/TiO2/beads的光催化活性都有很大的提高.对于TiO2/beads催化剂,H2O2的最佳用量为5～11 mmol/L;对于CoPcS/TiO2/beads催化剂,H2O2的最佳用量为5～30 mmol/L.(4)新型光催化剂CoPcS/TiO2/beads比TiO2/beads具有更好的除油性能.

A Different Brachistochrone Problem with Counterintuitive Results

A problem similar to the famous brachistochrone problem is examined in which, instead of a smooth curve, the path consists of two straight-line sections, one slant and one horizontal. The condition for minimum sliding time is investigated, producing results that are both counterintuitive and interesting.

PHYSICAL MODELING FOR THE MECHANISMS OF BEAD FORMATION DEFECTS BASED ON THE STABILITY OF LIQUID METAL

Based on the theory of stability of the liquid metal under the action of surface tension,a physical mod- el is established for the mechanisms of the bead formation deferct' humping', which is generated during high - speed welding.A boundary function is introduced to correct the model,theoretical results got by the model correspond well with the experimental phenomena. A two - dimensional conducting model is adoopted in the simulation of the temperature field during high - speed welding.Finally, the factors acting upon the stability of liquid metal are analyzed.

Doxorubicin-eluting bead vs conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation

AIM:To assess the possible effect of two different types of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)on recurrence-free survival after liver transplantation(LT)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and to analyze the effects of TACE on tumor histology.METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the histological features of 130 HCC nodules in 63 native livers removed at transplantation.Patients who received any other type of treatment such as radiofrequency tumor ablation,percutaneous ethanol ablation or who were not treated at all were excluded.All patients in the present study were within the Milan Criteria at the last imaging findings before transplantation.Doxorubicineluting bead TACE(DEB-TACE)was performed in 22patients(38 nodules),and conventional TACE(c-TACE)in 16(25 nodules).Patients’and tumors’characteristics were retrospectively reviewed.We performed a pernodule analysis of the explanted livers to establish the mean percentage of necrosis of any nodule treated by TACE(conventional or DEB)and a per-patient analysis to establish the percentage of necrosis in the cumulative tumor area,including 21 nodules not reached by TACE.Inflammatory and fibrotic changes in the tissue surrounding the tumor nodule were analyzed and categorized as poor/absent,moderate and enhanced reaction.Uni-and multivariate analysis of risk factors for HCC-recurrence were performed.RESULTS:The number and diameter of the nodules,the time spent on the waiting list and the number of treatments were similar in the two groups.A trend towards higher appropriate response rates(necrosis≥90%)was observed in the DEB-TACE group(44.7%vs32.0%,P=0.2834).The mean percentage of necrosis in the cumulative tumor area was 58.8%±36.6%in the DEB-TACE group and 50.2%±38.1%in the c-TACE group(P=0.4856).Fibrotic and inflammatory reactions surrounding the tumor nodule were markedly more common in the DEB-TACE group(P<0.0001,for both the parameters).The three-year recurrence-free survival was higher in DEB-TACE-treated patients than in conventionally treated patients(87.4%vs 61.5%,P=0.0493).Other factors affecting recurrence-free survival included viable tumor beyond Milan Criteria on histopathological examination,the percentage of necrosis on CTA≤50%and a pre-transplant serum-fetoprotein level greater than 70 ng/mL.On multivariate analysis,the lack of treatment with DEB-TACE,high levels of-fetoprotein and viable tumor beyond Milan Criteria at histology examination were identified as independent predictors of tumor recurrence.CONCLUSION:DEB-TACE can effectively promote tumor necrosis and improves recurrence-free survival after LT in HCC.

Pb(Ⅱ) biosorption using chitosan and chitosan derivatives beads: Equilibrium, ion exchange and mechanism studies

The study examined the adsorption of Pb（II） ions from aqueous solution onto chitosan, chitosan-GLA and chitosan-alginate beads. Several important parameters influencing the adsorption of Pb（II） ions such as initial pH, adsorbent dosage and different initial concentration of Pb（II） ions were evaluated. The mechanism involved during the adsorption process was explored based on ion exchange study and using spectroscopic techniques. The adsorption capacities obtained based on non–linear Langmuir isotherm for chitosan, chitosan-GLA and chitosan-alginate beads in single metal system were 34.98, 14.24 and 60.27 mg/g, respectively. However, the adsorption capacity of Pb（II） ions were reduced in the binary metal system due to the competitive adsorption between Pb（II） and Cu（II） ions. Based on the ion exchange study, the release of Ca2＋, Mg2＋, K＋ and Na＋ ions played an important role in the adsorption of Pb（II） ions by all three adsorbents but only at lower concentrations of Pb（II） ions. Infrared spectra showed that the binding between Pb（II） ions and the adsorbents involved mostly the nitrogen and oxygen atoms. All three adsorbents showed satisfactory adsorption capacities and can be considered as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Pb（II） ions from aqueous solutions.

Efficacy of intra-arterial contrast-enhanced ultrasonography during transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To assess the usefulness of intra-arterial contrastenhanced ultrasonography(IAUS) during transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) with drug-eluting beads(DEB) for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS Thirty two patients with 39 HCC underwent DEB-TACE guided with IAUS, and examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) or dynamic CT after DEB-TACE were enrolled in this study. CEUS findings before DEBTACE and IAUS findings were compared. Treatments judged to be complete and incomplete for lesions were appropriate and insufficient, respectively. Findings on CEUS and/or dynamic CT performed 1, 3 and 6 mo after DEB-TACE were evaluated using m RECIST(CR/PR/SD/PD).RESULTS The treatments were complete and incomplete in 26 and 13 lesions, respectively. On imaging evaluation using CEUS and/or dynamic CT one month after treatment, 25 and 1 lesions were judged to be CR and PR, respectively, and at 6 mo after treatment, the results were CR, PR, SD and PD for 24, 1, 0 and 1 of these lesions, respectively, in the 26 completely treated lesions. Of the 13 lesions in which treatment was incomplete, the results on imaging at one month after treatment were CR, PR, SD and PD for 0, 6, 4 and 3 lesions, respectively. The overall CR rate at 6 mo after treatment was 61.5%(24/39).CONCLUSION A combination of DEB-TACE with IAUS can improve the therapeutic effects in patients with HCC.

Effect of coaxial laser cladding parameters on bead formation

We investigated the shape and morphology of nickel-based powder particles (Sulzer Metco) and coatings produced by laser gas-powder deposition onto steel substrates. Laser deposition was performed using an LC-10 IPG-Photonics laser complex equipped with a 10-kW fiber laser. The shape and microstructure of the samples were studied using optical and electronic microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results showed that the deposition speed and laser power significantly influenced the shape and size of the beads. The depth of diffusion of nickel into the steel substrate after deposition was less than 20 μm; the microstructure of the resulting coating was fcc Fe3Ni. As a result, detailed information about the form and shape of the filler powder, modes of its deposition, and the resulting coating structure was obtained; this information is important for the production of high-quality products by additive technologies.

Effects of Polyethylene Oxide Concentration on the Size of Beads in Electrospun Beaded Nanofibers

Embedding particle drugs in beaded nanofibers by electrospinning has been shown a potential approach to control drug release in tissue engineering. The bead size is one of the critical parameters in controlling the drug release rate. In this study,the relationship between polymer concentration and beads size was investigated. Aqueous polyethylene oxide( PEO) solutions with different concentrations were prepared to obtain various beaded nanofibers by electrospnning. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope( SEM) were used to observe the variation tendency of bead size. With an increase in the polymer concentration,the diameter of fibers between beads became bigger,while the fiber uniformity improved. In addition, the polymer concentration influenced the distribution of bead diameter. Higher polymer concentration would reduce the possibility of small-sized beads formation and improve the uniformity of bead diameter. The study provides a possible way to control the size of beads,which is helpful for further research on the control of particle drug release.

Highly efficient generation of GGTA1 knockout pigs using a combination of TALEN m RNA and magnetic beads with somatic cell nuclear transfer

The transcription activator-like effector nuclease （TALEN） technique combined with the somatic cel nuclear transfer （SCNT） method has been successfuly applied for creating geneticaly modiifed pigs. However, methods for isolating cels with bialelic indels requires further improvement because of the relatively low enrichment efifciency of mutated somatic cels. Moreover, little is known regarding the off-target effects of the TALEN system and the heredity of TALEN-modiifed pigs. In this study, an efifcient method to increase the enrichment efifciency of TALEN-mediated bialelic knockout （KO） cels was established, and corresponding geneticaly modiifed pigs with the expected genotype were generated whose off-target effect, fertility and heredity characteristics were aslo evaluated. Two TALEN pairs were constructed to target the porcine α-1,3-galactosyltransferase （GGTA1） gene locus. TALEN mRNA was transfected into the ear ifbroblasts folowed by the enrichment of α-Gal nul cels of minipigs using isolectin B4 （IB4） lectin and magnetic beads. A total of 115 cel colonies were formed and validated to beGGTA1 KO cels by sequencing and 10 bialelic KO cel colonies were used as nuclear donors for SCNT. ThirtyGGTA1 bialelic KO piglets were successfuly delivered and grew normaly. Seventeen potential off-target sites were investigated, and no off-target events were detected in the live piglets. To determine the fertility and heredity characteristics of TALEN-modiifed pigs, 10 mature founders were mated with each other and the mutations were determined to be transmitted to the F1 piglets. We established a robust and safe technology for developing geneticaly modiifed pig lines with expected genotypes for agricultural breeding and biomedical application.