Folate-Polyethyleneimine Grafted Polymer Multilayer Hollow Microcapsules as a Slow-Release Carrier of Doxorubicin

A novel biodegradable and biocompatible multilayer hollow microcapsules, modified by folate-conjugated polyethyleneimine （PEI）, as targeted and sustained release carriers of doxorubicin （DOX）, were successfully synthesized using the sequential layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly technique from the sacrificial microtemplates （CaCOs/CMC, spherical, 1.7 pro） with chitosan （CS） and sodium earboxymethyl cellulose （ CMC ） as the polycation and polyanion polyelectrolyte. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） observation showed that the diameter of the seven assembly multilayer microparticles was about 2.0 pm with relatively regular sphere. After the microparticle cores was removed by complexation with ethylene diamine tctraacetic acid （EDTA） for calcium ions, the range of 200- 300 nm wall thickness of microcapsules was built, and it made the forming microeapsules to be stable. Thermogravimctric analysis confirms the deposition and modification total amount of polymer on the microtemplates is about 33.5 %. The assembly microparticles were modified by introducing PEI, and the grafting rate of folate could reach 20. 0 %. It was 4 times that of traditional method. The high grafting rate helped to improve targeting action of microcapsules. The deposition of DOX was prominent and the encapsulation efficiency was 96.9 %, and the plateaued release of loaded drug reached 78 % in pH 7.4 buffer solution, and then in pH 5.7 showed significantly a slow release.

Assessment of sunflower germplasm for phytoremediation of lead-polluted soil and production of seed oil and seed meal for human and animal consumption

Phytoremediation is a valuable technology for mitigating soil contamination in agricultural lands,but phytoremediation without economic revenue is unfeasible for land owners and farmers.The use of crops with high biomass and bioenergy for phytoremediation is a unique strategy to derive supplementary benefits along with remediation activities.Sunflower(Helianthus annuus L.)is a high-biomass crop that can be used for the phytoremediation of polluted lands with additional advantages(biomass and oil).In this study,40 germplasms of sunflower were screened in field conditions for phytoremediation with the possibility for oil and meal production.The study was carried out to the physiological maturity stage.All studied germplasms mopped up substantial concentrations of Pb,with maximum amounts in shoot>root>seed respectively.The phytoextraction efficiency of the germplasm was assessed in terms of the Transfer factor(TF),Metal removal efficiency(MRE)and Metal extraction ratio(MER).Among all assessed criteria,GP.8585 was found to be most appropriate for restoring moderately Pb-contaminated soil accompanied with providing high biomass and high yield production.The Pb content in the oil of GP.8585 was below the Food safety standard of China,with 59.5% oleic acid and 32.1% linoleic acid.Moreover,amino acid analysis in meal illustrated significant differences among essential and nonessential amino acids.Glutamic acid was found in the highest percentage(22.4%),whereas cysteine in the lowest percentage(1.3%).Therefore,its efficient phytoextraction ability and good quality edible oil and meal production makes GP.8585 the most convenient sunflower germplasm for phytoremediation of moderately Pb-contaminated soil,with fringe benefits to farmers and landowners.