Defect-controlled softness, diffusive permeability, and mesh-topology of metallo-supramolecular hydrogels

In a model 4-arm pEG supramolecular network, connectivity defects are systematically introduced with different ratios of 8-arm pEG, resulting in intra-molecular loops, and providing a softer polymer network and higher self-diffusion coefficients.

Study of Diffusion and Water Vapor Permeability in Chitosan Films and Chitosan Emulsified Films

Chitosan is an abundant, natural polysaccaride obtained from fishing industry waste and films of chitosan also provide an efficient oxygen barrier. However, they are a poor water vapor barrier, which can be improved by incorporation of a hydrophobic compound, forming a emulsified film. Chitosan films were produced with the addition of palmitic acid lipid analysis and then the process in parallel with the diffusive permeability to water vapor. The objective of this work was to characterize the diffusion and water vapor permeability behavior of chitosan films and chitosan emulsified films.

A biomimetic tissue from cultured normal human urothelial cells: analysis of physiological function

The urinary bladder and associated tract is lined by the urothelium. Once considered as just an impermeable epithelium, it is becoming evident that the urothelium not only functions as a volume-accommodating urinary barrier but has additional roles, including sensory signaling. Lack of access to normal human urothelium has hampered physiological investigation, and although cell culture systems have been developed, there has been a failure to demonstrate that normal human urothelial (NHU) cells grown in vitro retain the capacity to form a functional differentiated urothelium. The aim of this study was to develop a biomimetic human urothelium from NHU cell cultures. Urothelial cells isolated from normal human urothelium and serially propagated as monolayers in serum-free culture were homogeneous and adopted a proliferative, nondifferentiated phenotype. In the presence of serum and physiological concentrations of calcium, these cells could be reproducibly induced to form stratified urothelia consisting of basal, intermediate, and superficial cells, with differential expression of cytokeratins and superficial tight junctions. Functionally, the neotissues showed characteristics of native urothelium, including high transepithelial electrical resistance of >3,000 Ω·cm2, apical membrane-restricted amiloride-sensitive sodium ion channels, basal expression of Na+-K+-ATPase, and low diffusive permeability to urea, water, and dextran. This model represents major progress in developing a biomimetic human urothelial culture model to explore molecular and functional relationships in normal and dysfunctional bladder physiology.

Diffusive Permeability of Rabbit Peritoneum for Small Solutes in Vitro: Effect of Gentamicin and Insulin

The purpose of the in vitro study was to compare the diffusive transport of creatinine, uric acid and glucose, directed from the interstitial (I) to the mesothelial (M) side of the peritoneum and in the opposite direction, before (15–60min) and after (75–120min) application of gentamicin and insulin. The experiments were undertaken on the rabbit parietal peritoneum in a modified Ussing chamber. A mathematical model was used to calculate a diffusive permeability coefficient P (in cm/s) and a diffusive mass transport coefficient KH (in mL/min). In the basic experimental series without drugs, the dynamics of peritoneal transport for examined solutes remained constant and there were no differences between transport directions (I→ M and M→ I). Mean values of P±SEM (KH±SEM) were 3.06±0.32 (321.1±33.5), 2.09±0.29 (219.2±30.7) and 2.73±0.47 (286.7±49.6) for creatinine, uric acid and glucose, respectively. The introduction of gentamicin decreased glucose transport directed from the mesothelial to the interstitial side of the membrane by about 12%. After insulin application we observed the increase of creatinine and glucose peritoneal transport rate. For creatinine, the above augmentation was by about 31% for I→ M and 83% for M→ I direction. In these conditions, the glucose transport directed from the interstitial to the mesothelial side of membrane increased by about 24%. Generally, in vitro gentamicin decreases, but insulin increases the diffusive permeability of the peritoneum for some small solutes. We suppose that these findings may be important for the efficiency of peritoneal dialysis.