Immobilization of biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NY3 and their application in the removal of hydrocarbons from highly concentrated oil-containing wastewater on the laboratory scale.

To explore the potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NY3 for the treatment of highly concentrated crude oil-contaminated water, the immobilization of strain NY3 on the surface of polyurethane foam (PUF), the conditions for using these biofilms and the possibility of recovering the used biofilms were studied. The results demonstrated that the biofilm formation process for strain NY3 was quick and easy. Under optimum conditions, the biomass immobilized on the PUF surface could reach 488.32 mg dry cell/g dry PUF. The results demonstrated that when the degradation time was 12 h, the average oil removal rate in 2 g crude oil/L contaminated water was approximately 90% for 40d. Meanwhile, the biofilms could be recovered for reuse. The recovery ability and the high and steady oil removal rate facilitated the application of the biofilms for the removal of concentrated oil from wastewater.

The antitumor activity of PNA modified vinblastine cationic liposomes on Lewis lung tumor cells: In vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the frequently-occurring disease in the world, and the treatment effects are usually unsatisfactory. Vinblastine is an anti-microtubule drug in clinic. In this study, a nanostructured liposome was designed and prepared for treating NSCLC. In the liposomes, peanut agglutinin (PNA) was modified on the liposomal surface, 3-(N-(N',N'-dimethylaminoethane)carbamoyl) cholesterol was used as cationic materials, and vinblastine was encapsulated in the aqueous core of liposomes, respectively. The PNA modified vinblastine cationic liposomes were approximately 100 nm in size with a positive potential. In vitro results showed that the targeting liposomes could significantly enhance cellular uptake, selectively accumulate in LLT cells, and dramatically initiate apoptosis via activating pro-apoptotic proteins and apoptotic enzymes, thus leading to the strongest antitumor efficacy to LLT cells. In vivo results demonstrated that the targeting liposomes could display a prolonged circulation time in the blood, accumulate more drug in tumor location, and induce most of tumor cells apoptosis. As a result, a robust overall antitumor efficacy in tumor-bearing mice was observed subsequently. In conclusion, the chemotherapy using the PNA modified vinblastine cationic liposomes could provide a potential strategy for treating non-small cell lung cancer.

PEGylated VRB plus quinacrine cationic liposomes for treating non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, and the treatment effects are usually unsatisfactory. Vinorelbine (VRB) is extensively used in cancer treatment, but it has some disadvantages when used alone. PEGylated liposomes have been extensively used as a delivery carrier for antitumor drugs via prolonging the circulation time in the blood. PURPOSE: The nanostructured liposomes were designed and prepared for treating NSCLC. METHODS: In the liposomes, PEG was modified on the liposomal surface, DC-Chol was used as cationic materials, and VRB plus quinacrine were encapsulated in an aqueous core of the liposomes as an antitumor drug and an apoptosis-inducing agent, respectively. Evaluations were performed on A549 cells, tubular network formations and xenografts of the A549 cells. RESULTS: The PEGylated drugs-loaded cationic liposomes could significantly enhance cellular uptake and selectively accumulate in A549 cells, thus leading to show strongest antitumor efficacy to tumor cells and to tumor-bearing mice. Action mechanisms showed that the enhanced efficacy in treating NSCLC was related to activate caspase 9 and caspase 3, to activate Bax and P53, and to suppress Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. CONCLUSION: The PEGylated VRB plus quinacrine cationic liposomes showed a potential strategy for treating NSCLC.