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We developed a novel preparative method for nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) paclitaxel with high drug loading, which was based on improved paclitaxel solubility in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and self-assembly of paclitaxel in PEG with albumin powders into nanoparticles. That is, paclitaxel and PEG were firstly dissolved in ethanol, which was subsequently evaporated under vacuum. The obtained liquid was then mixed with human serum albumin powders. Thereafter, the mixtures were added into phosphate-buffered saline and nab paclitaxel suspensions emerged after ultrasound. Nab paclitaxel was finally acquired after dialysis and freeze drying. The drug loading of about 15% (W/V) were realized in self-made nab paclitaxel, which was increased by approximately 50% compared to 10% (W/V) in Abraxane. Now this new preparative method has been authorized to obtain patent from China and Japan. The similar characteristics of self-made nab paclitaxel compared to Abraxane were observed in morphology, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and circular dichroism spectra analysis. Consistent concentration-time curves in rats, biodistributions in mice, anti-tumor activities in mice, and histological transmutation in mice were also found between Abraxane and self-made nanoparticles. In a word, our novel preparative method for nab paclitaxel can significantly improve drug loading, obviously decrease product cost, and is considered to have potent practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last half century, the existence of an additional thermal transition in between the glass transition and the Curie/melting transition has been frequently observed on vinylidenefluoride-based ferro-, pyro- and piezoelectric homo- and co-polymers. The transition has also been observed recently in some of the related relaxor-ferroelectric terpolymers. Despite its well-known existence and the rich history of its treatment in the literature, the origin(s) and a more or less complete picture of the mid-temperature transition have remained elusive until now. Over the years, several authors have put forth various explanations for the so-called mid-temperature transition — some complementary and some contradictory to each other. At the 17th IEEE International Symposium on Electrets (ISE-17) in Limerick, Ireland, in September 2019, the mysterious mid-temperature transition and its possible mechanism(s) became the subject of a panel discussion a) to mark the Golden Jubilee of the discovery of piezoelectricity in polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) by Heiji Kawai of Kobayashi Institute of Physical Research, Japan, as well as the Centennial of the first recognition of ferroelectricity in piezoelectric Seignette's or Rochelle salt. The panel put forward a new hypothesis that the mid-temperature transition is most likely a result of several interrelated processes that take place within the respective temperature range. The relevant processes include an upper glass transition or relaxation, a relaxation related to conformational disorder, possible imperfect/time-dependent structures formed as a result of thermal processing and secondary crystallization, as well as interface polarization effects at crystalline-amorphous boundaries. The article captures the essence of the panel discussion and the perspectives obtained therefrom to elucidate the complex mid-temperature transition in vinylidenefluoride-based ferro-, pyro- and piezoelectric homo-, co- and ter-polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to modify an EQUIA coat (EC; GC, Japan) by incorporating 1 and 2 wt.% of zinc oxide (ZnO; EC-Z1 and EC-Z2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2; EC-T1 and EC-T2) nanoparticles, whereby structural and phase analyses were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, micro-hardness, and water absorption analyses were conducted, and the microstructure was studied by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy. FTIR spectra showed a reduction in peak heights of amide (1521 cm−1) and carbonyl (1716 cm−1) groups. XRD showed peaks of ZnO (2θ ~ 31.3°, 34.0°, 35.8°, 47.1°, 56.2°, 62.5°, 67.6°, and 68.7°) and TiO2 (2θ ~ 25.3°, 37.8°, 47.9, 54.5°, 62.8°, 69.5°, and 75.1°) corresponding to a hexagonal phase with a wurtzite structure and an anatase phase, respectively. Thermal stability was improved in newly modified materials in comparison to the control group. The sequence of obtained glass transitions was EC-T2 (111 °C), EC-T1 (102 °C), EC-Z2 (98 °C), EC-Z1 (92 °C), and EC-C (90 °C). EC-T2 and EC-T1 showed the highest (43.76 ± 2.78) and lowest (29.58 ± 3.2) micro-hardness values. EC showed the maximum water absorption (1.6%) at day 7 followed by EC-T1 (0.82%) and EC-Z1 (0.61%). These results suggest that EC with ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles has the potential to be used clinically as a coating material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]