Correlation of the CTD structural domain of hepatitis B virus core protein with the encapsulation effect of indocyanine green / 生物工程学报

Hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) has become a hot spot in drug carrier protein research due to its natural particle self-assembly ability and ease of modification. The truncation of the C-terminal polyarginine domain (CTD, aa 151-183) of HBc does not affect the self-assembly of the particles. However, it does affect the internal and external charges of the particles, which may subsequently affect drug encapsulation. Thus, the truncated C-terminal polyarginine domain (CTD) of HBc and the inserted RGD peptide were selected to construct and express three HBc variants (RH) encapsulated with ICG (RH/ICG) with different C-terminal lengths to compare the stability and drug activity of their nanoformulations. RH160/ICG was found to have a great advantages in encapsulation efficiency and biological imaging. Compared with other HBc variants, RH160/ICG significantly improved encapsulation efficiency, up to 32.77%±1.23%. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays further demonstrated the good biocompatibility of RH160/ICG. Cell uptake and in vivo imaging experiments in mice showed that RH160/ICG could efficiently deliver ICG in tumor cells and tumor sites with good imaging effect. This research provides a new direction for further expanding the diagnosis and treatment application of ICG and development of HBc-based nanoparticle drug carrier platform.

Levels of Plasma N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide and D.dimer on the Prognosis of Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Objective: To investigate the effects of levels of D-dimer and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NT-pro BNP] on the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction

Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients with acute cerebral infarction who were admitted to the hospital between July 2014 and July 2016 were selected as the observation group; 100 normal people who had health examination in the center of physical examination of our hospital were selected as the control group. The levels of D-dimer and NT-pro BNP of the two groups were observed; the correlation between the levels of plasma NT-pro BNP and D-dimer and area of cerebral infarction, complications and death condition of the observation group was investigated

Results: The levels of D-dimer and NT-pro BNP of the observation group were much higher than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant [P<0.05]. The levels of D-dimer and NT-pro BNP of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the difference had statistical significance [P<0.05]. The levels of plasma NT-pro BNP and D-dimer of the patients with disturbance of consciousness and high blood pressure were apparently higher than those with no disturbance of consciousness and normal blood pressure, and there was a statistically significant difference [P<0.05]. The patients were followed up for half a year. The levels of D-dimer and NT-pro BNP of the dead patients were much higher than those of the survived patients on admission

Conclusion: The levels of plasma NT-pro BNP and D-dimer can reflect the disease condition and prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction. Higher levels of NT-pro BNP and D-dimer indicates poorer prognosis. This work can provide a guidance for the clinical treatment of acute cerebral infarction