Solution-Phase Synthesis of KCl Nanocrystals Templated by PEO-PPO-PEO Triblock Copolymers Micelles.

The current work introduces the synthesis of inorganic salt nano/micro-crystals during the reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) by Pluronic triblock copolymers (P123, PEO20-PPO70-PEO20). The morphologies and component were confirmed using an electron microscope with an electronic differential system (EDS), and the crystal structures were determined with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphologies highly depend on the concentrations of Pluronic and pH values. The mean size of the nanocrystal and hollow micro-crystal were controlled typically in the range of 32-150 nm (side length) and 1.4 µm, respectively. Different from the electrospray-ionization (EI) method, a model in which KCl forms a supersaturated solution in the micellar core of Pluronic is used to explain the formation process. This work provides the new insight that inorganic salt nanocrystals could be synthesized with the template of micelles in pure aqueous solutions.

In Situ Growth of MOF from Wood Aerogel toward Bromide Ion Adsorption in Simulated Saline Water.

Utilizing metal-organic framework (MOF) materials for the extraction of bromide ions (Br-) from aqueous solutions, as an alternative to chlorine gas oxidation technology, holds promising potential for future applications. However, the limitations of powdered MOFs, such as low utilization efficiency, ease of aggregation in water, and challenging recovery processes, have hindered their practical application. Shaping MOF materials into application-oriented forms represents an effective but challenging approach to address these drawbacks. In this work, a novel Ag-UiO-66-(OH)2@delignified wood cellulose aerogel (CA) adsorbent is synthesized using an oil bath impregnation method, involving the deposition of UiO-66-(OH)2 nanoparticles onto CA and the uniform dispersion of Ag0 nanoparticles across its surface. CA, characterized by the intertwined cellulose nanofiber structure and a highly hydrophilic surface, serves as an ideal substrate for the uniform growth of UiO-66-(OH)2 nanoparticles, which, in turn, spontaneously reduce Ag+ to form distributed Ag0 nanoparticles due to the abundant hydroxyl groups provided. Leveraging the well-defined biological structure of CA, which offers excellent mass transfer channels, and the highly dispersed Ag adsorption sites, Ag-UiO-(OH)2/CA exhibits remarkable adsorption capacity (642 mg/gAg) under optimized conditions. Furthermore, an integrated device is constructed by interconnecting Ag-UiO-(OH)2/CA adsorbents in series, affirming its potential application in the continuous recovery of Br-. This study not only presents an efficient Ag-UiO-(OH)2/CA adsorbent for Br- recovery but also sheds light on the extraction of other valuable elements from various liquid ores.

Structural elucidation and targeted valorization of untractable lignin from pre-hydrolysis liquor of xylose production via a simple and robust separation approach.

Effective separation of lignin macromolecules from the xylose pre-hydrolysates (XPH) during the xylose production, thus optimizing the separation and purification process of xylose, is of great significance for reducing the production costs, achieving the high value-added utilization of lignin and increasing the industrial revenue. In this study, a simple and robust method (pH adjustment) for the separation of lignin from XPH was proposed and systematically compared with the conventional acid-promoted lignin precipitation method. The results showed that the lignin removal ratio (up to 60.34 %) of this simple method was higher than that of the conventional method, and the proposed method eliminated the necessity of heating and specialized equipment, which greatly reduced the separation cost. Meanwhile, this simple method does not destroy the components in XPH (especially xylose), ensuring the yield of the target product. On the other hand, the obtained lignin was nano-scale with less condensed structures, which also possessed small molecular weights with narrow distribution, excellent antioxidant activity (8-14 times higher than commercial antioxidants) and UV protection properties. In conclusion, the proposed simple separation method could effectively separate lignin from XPH at low cost, and the obtained lignin had potential commercial applications, which would further enhance the overall profitability of industrial production.

Electrodialysis Deacidification of Acid Hydrolysate in Hemicellulose Saccharification Process: Membrane Fouling Identification and Mechanisms.

Acid saccharification of hemicelluloses offers promising pathways to sustainably diversify the revenue of the lignocellulose biorefinery industry. Electrodialysis to separate inorganic acids from acid hydrolysate in the hemicellulose saccharification process could realize the recovery of sulfuric acid, and significantly reduced the chemical consumption than the traditional ion exchange resins method. In this work, the deacidification of corncob acid hydrolysate was conducted by a homemade electrodialysis apparatus. The results showed that: (1) more than 99% of acid can be removed through the electrodialysis process; (2) A non-negligible membrane fouling occurred during the electrodialysis process, which aggravated with the repeated batch running The final global system resistance rose from 15.8 Ω (1st batch) to 43.9 Ω (10th batch), and the treatment ending time was delayed from 120 min (1st batch) to 162 min (10th batch); (4) About 90% of protein, 70% of ferulate acid, and 80% of p-coumarate acid precipitated from the corncob acid hydrolysate during the electrodialysis process. The zeta potential of corncob acid hydrolysate changed from a positive value to a negative value, and an isoelectric point around pH 2.3 was reached. HSQC, FTTR, and GPC, along with SEM and EDS analysis, revealed that the fouling layers mostly consisted of hydrolysates of protein and lignin. The result of HSQC indicated that the membrane foulant may exist in the form of lignin-carbohydrate complexes, as the lignin component of the membrane foulant is in the form of p-coumarate and ferulate. From the result of FTIR, a strong chemical bonding, such as a covalent linkage, existed between the lignin and protein in the membrane foulant. Throughout the electrodialysis process, the increased pH decreased the stability of colloidal particles, including lignin and proteins. Destabilized colloidal particles started to self-aggregate and form deposits on the anion exchange membrane's surface. Over time, these deposits covered the entire membrane surface and the spaces between the membranes. Eventually, they attached to the surface of the cation exchange membrane. In the end, a suggestion to control and minimize membrane fouling in this process was discussed: lower pH as a process endpoint and a post-treatment method.

A capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of soluble monosaccharides in Ginkgo biloba leaves.

A method for the simultaneous determination of six monosaccharides by pre-column derivatization with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone and capillary electrophoresis was developed in this work. The derivatization (i.e., reaction temperature, capillary electrophoresis duration, and extraction number) and separation (i.e., pH and buffer concentration) conditions for capillary electrophoresis were optimized. Results showed that the limits of detection under optimal conditions were in the range of 0.036-0.35 mg/L with a mean correlation coefficient >0.99. The recoveries were in the range of 87.3-108.49%, and the relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day variations were in the ranges of 2.2-3.8 and 3.2-5.0%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of six free monosaccharides in three types of Ginkgo biloba leaves.

Small molecule-mediated self-assembly behaviors of Pluronic block copolymers in aqueous solution: impact of hydrogen bonding on the morphological transition of Pluronic micelles.

The influence of hydrogen bonding on the self-assembly behaviors of Pluronic P123 micelles is experimentally and theoretically investigated by introducing three small molecules, i.e. propyl benzoate (PB), propyl paraben (PP) and propyl gallate (PG) into the aqueous solution. It is discovered that the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups and concentration of the tested small molecules exhibit a profound impact on the micellar morphology. Although all the small molecules increase the size and polydispersity of Pluronic micelles in a concentration-dependent manner, the micellar morphologies induced by them vary considerably as demonstrated by DLS and cryo-TEM measurement. PB, without phenolic hydroxyl, cannot bring about the morphological change of P123 micelles, while PP induces a series of morphological transitions from spheres to long worm-like micelles and then to unilamellar vesicles by increasing the PP content. Upon increasing the number of phenolic hydroxyls in small molecules, i.e. PG, the fusion of the intermicellar core takes place, resulting in the formation of large micelles and micellar clusters. A qualitative study by NMR reveals that the different locations of small molecules within the micelles are attributed to the balance of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction between small molecules and copolymers. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) are performed to further confirm the experimental results and provide quantitative information on intermolecular interaction strength. It is supposed that the mechanism of micellar morphological transition mediated by small molecules is ascribed to the hydrogen bonding interactions with varying strengths between the PEO blocks and their phenolic hydroxyls, which governs their locations in micelles, affecting the free energies from different regions of micelles, and consequently leads to the varying micellar morphologies. This study deepens our understanding of the role of hydrgen bonding in the self-assembly behaviors of Pluronic micelles and provides an alternative strategy for manipulating the nanostructure of Pluronic micelles.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography coupled with HPLC-DAD/HPLC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of bisphenol A and nine brominated analogs in biological samples.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its brominated analogs exhibiting bioaccumulation potential, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity have been worldwide detected in water, air, soil, and sediments. But few methods have been proposed for simultaneously determining a variety of these compounds in biological matrices, hindering the further study on their biological transformation/degradation and health risks. In this study, a simple, solvent-saving and sensitive method based on high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) for sample pretreatment coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) (UV = 214 nm)/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was developed for determining BPA and its nine brominated analogs in biological samples. The method detection limits (MDLs) and method quantification limits (MQLs) for ten BPA analogs ranged from 0.8 to 685.7 ng g-1 dw (S/N = 3) and 2.7 to 2285.7 ng g-1 dw (S/N = 10), respectively. The recoveries were 64-124% with SD less than 10%. The RSD of intermediate precision was less than 11%, and matrix effects were lower than 19%. Compared with traditional purification procedures, HPTLC largely reduced the workload and procedures for complex biological sample cleanup without inducing decomposition of the analytes. The proposed method exhibited good performance when detecting these ten chemicals in chicken samples from a nearby yard of brominated flame retardant plants, indicating its great potential for investigating their environment level, behavior, and fate in organisms. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Glycopolymer Grafted Silica Gel as Chromatographic Packing Materials.

The modification of the surface of silica gel to prepare hydrophilic chromatographic fillers has recently become a research interest. Most researchers have grafted natural sugar-containing polymers onto chromatographic surfaces. The disadvantage of this approach is that the packing structure is singular and the application scope is limited. In this paper, we explore the innovative technique of grafting a sugar-containing polymer, 2-gluconamidoethyl methacrylamide (GAEMA), onto the surface of silica gel by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The SiO2-g-GAEMA with ATRP reaction time was characterized by Fourier infrared analysis, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis. As the reaction time lengthened, the amount of GAEMA grafted on the surface of the silica gel gradually increased. The GAEMA is rich in amide bonds and hydroxyl groups and is a typical hydrophilic chromatography filler. Finally, SiO2-g-GAEMA (reaction time = 24 h) was chosen as the stationary phase of the chromatographic packing and evaluated with four polar compounds (uracil, cytosine, guanosine, and cytidine). Compared with unmodified silica gel, modified silica gel produces sharper peaks and better separation efficiency. This novel packing material may have a potential for application with highly isomerized sugar mixtures.

Simultaneous detection of anions and cations in mineral water by two dimensional ion chromatography.

A two dimensional ion chromatography (2D-IC) method was improved for the simultaneous determination of six cations and seven anions using one-valve switching after injection and conductivity detector. The trap conditions and valve-switch timing were optimized. The method has good accuracy and sensitivity for the simultaneous separation of inorganic anions and cations with a mean correlation coefficient of >0.99, repeatability of 0.60%-3.0% for eight replicates, reproducibility of 0.78%-3.1%, and spiked recovery rate of 88.7%-110%. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of inorganic anions and cations in four kinds of mineral water and can completely satisfy the demand of water quality monitoring.

Aptamer and PNIPAAm co-conjugated nanoparticles regulate activity of enzyme with different temperature.

In this paper, we described a temperature responsive nano-system that can regulate activity of enzyme with different temperature. Temperature responsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), with low critical solution temperature of 32°C, was synthesized with thiol modification. PNIPAAm and thrombin aptamer were co-functionalized on the surface of gold nanoparticles for effective regulation of thrombin activity with different temperature. On the one hand, we studied the thermal responsive properties of this inhibitor via UV-visible spectroscopy. On the other hand, we investigated the regulation of thrombin activity by this platform with different temperature. The PNIPAAm chains could extend and shrink with different temperature, which suggested that PNIPAAm on the surface of gold nanoparticles could regulate interaction between thrombin and aptamer according to temperature changing. At 25°C, PNIPAAm was hydrophilic extended state, which blocked the interaction between thrombin and aptamer on the surface of gold nanoparticles, therefore thrombin activity had no change. On the contrary, at 37°C, PNIPAAm transformed from hydrophilic extended state to hydrophobic shrank state, allowing the aptamer to capture thrombin, inhibiting the activity of thrombin. More interestingly, this regulation was reverse to normal condition, where 37°C was always the optimum reaction temperature for most of human enzymes. This system we prepared was opposite, which was capable of inhibiting the thrombin activity at 37°C. Furthermore, this was the first report of regulation of thrombin activity using this temperature responsive platform.

Reversible regulation of thrombin adsorption and desorption based on photoresponsive-aptamer modified gold nanoparticles.

In the protein separation, adsorption and desorption of target protein have been using different buffer condition. Different buffer will change the structure and activity of target protein in some cases. This work describes the use of different wavelength light for remote regulation of adsorption and desorption of target protein in the same buffer solutions. A dynamic system that captured and released protein in response to light is reported. Matrix gold nanoparticles and light-responsive affinity ligand comprising thrombin aptamer (APT15), polyethylene glycol linker, and azobenzene-modified complementary sequence were used. UV light induced a trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene that destabilized the duplex of aptamer and azobenzene-modified complementary sequence, resulting in thrombin binding to aptamer sequence. Visible light irradiation resulted in DNA duplex rehybridization and thrombin released. Our work demonstrates that different light wavelengths effectively regulated the adsorption and desorption of thrombin in the same buffer, and this system also can capture and release prothrombin from plasma with different wavelength light. Furthermore, this method can be widely applied to a variety of different protein separation process.

Structurally related ganoderic acids induce apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells: Involvement of oxidative stress and antioxidant protective system.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) produced by Ganoderma lucidum possess anticancer activities with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the role of oxidative stress in apoptotic process induced by GAs is still undefined. In this study, the effects of four structurally related GAs, i.e. GA-T, GA-Mk, and two deacetylated derivatives of GA-T (GA-T1 and GA-T2) on the antioxidant defense system and induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cells HeLa were investigated in vitro. Our results indicated that the tested GAs (5-40 µM) induced apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial membrane potential decrease and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, GAs increased the generation of intracellular ROS and attenuated antioxidant defense system by decreasing glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. The above effects were remarkably blocked by the exogenous antioxidants, i.e. N-acetylcysteine, catalase and diphenyleneiodonium chloride. The potency of the four GAs toward induced apoptosis, generation of ROS and suppression of antioxidant defense system was in the order of: GA-T > GA-Mk ≈ GA-T1 > GA-T2 in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that GAs induced mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis in HeLa cells are mediated via enhancing oxidative stress and depressing antioxidant defense. Additionally, the acetylation of hydroxyl groups in GAs may contribute to their pro-oxidant activities and cytotoxicity, which is helpful to the development of novel chemotherapy agents.

Bare magnetic nanoparticles as fluorescence quenchers for detection of thrombin.

Rapid and sensitive detection of thrombin has very important significance in clinical diagnosis. In this work, bare magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (magnetic nanoparticles) without any modification were used as fluorescence quenchers. In the absence of thrombin, a fluorescent dye (CY3) labeled thrombin aptamer (named CY3-aptamer) was adsorbed on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles through interaction between a phosphate backbone of the CY3-aptamer and hydroxyl groups on the bare magnetic nanoparticles in binding solution, leading to fluorescence quenching. Once thrombin was introduced, the CY3-aptamer formed a G-quartet structure and combined with thrombin, which resulted in the CY3-aptamer being separated from the magnetic nanoparticles and restoration of fluorescence. This proposed assay took advantage of binding affinity between the CY3-aptamer and thrombin for specificity, and bare magnetic nanoparticles for fluorescence quenching. The fluorescence signal had a good linear relationship with thrombin concentration in the range of 1-60 nM, and the limit of detection for thrombin was estimated as low as 0.5 nM. Furthermore, this method could be applied for other target detection using the corresponding fluorescence labeled aptamer.

Solvent effect on ζ potential at an aqueous/oil interface in surfactant-free emulsion.

The present study prepared a size-controllable, uniform, and surfactant-free emulsification to investigate the ζ potential of the solvent effect. The results showed that the ratio of electrophoretic mobility changed with droplet diameter, and the correct factor of the ζ potential was determined. The effect of functional groups on the ζ potential was further studied in the presence of an organic hydrophilic solvent. The study characterized the effects of pH, ionic strength, and ionic type on the ζ potential and indicated that the solvents were able to modulate the local electrochemical environment, thus leading to the redistribution of interface charges.

Analysis of Mogroside V in Siraitia grosvenorii with micelle-mediated cloud-point extraction.

INTRODUCTION: Mogroside V is the main effective ingredient of Siraitia grosvenorii used as a natural sweet food as well as a traditional Chinese medicine. The sample pre-treatment prior to chromatographic analysis requires large amounts of toxic organic solvents and is time consuming. OBJECTIVE: To develop an effective and simple method for extracting and determining mogroside V of Siraitia grosvenorii. METHODS: Mogroside V was extracted and preconcentrated by micelle-mediated cloud-point extraction with nonionic surfactant isotridecyl poly (ethylene glycol) ether (Genapol® X-080). The obtained solutions containing mogroside V were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 -column using gradient elution with acetonitrile and water at 203 nm. RESULTS: The cloud-point extraction yield was 80.7% while the pre-concentration factor was about 10.8. The limit of detection was 0.75 µg/mL and the limit of quantification was 2 µg/mL. The relative standard deviations for intra- and interday precisions of mogroside V were less than 8.68% and 5.78%, respectively, and the recoveries were between 85.1% and 103.6%. CONCLUSION: The HPLC-UV method based on micelle-mediated cloud-point extraction for determination mogroside V in Siraitia grosvenorii was environmentally friendly, simple and sensitive.

In vitro reduction of hexavalent chromium by cytoplasmic fractions of Pannonibacter phragmitetus LSSE-09 under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Hexavalent chromate reductase was characterized and was found to be localized in the cytoplasmic fraction of a chromium-resistant bacterium Pannonibacter phragmitetus LSSE-09. The Cr(VI) reductase activity of cell-free extract (S12) was significantly improved by external electron donors, such as NADH, glucose, acetate, formate, citrate, pyruvate, and lactate. The reductase activity was optimal at pH 7.0 with NADH as the electron donor. The aerobic and anaerobic Cr(VI)-reduction enhanced by 0.1 mM NADH were respectively 3.5 and 3.4 times as high as that without adding NADH. The Cr(VI) reductase activity was inhibited by Mn²âº, Cd²âº, Fe³âº, and Hg²âº, whereas Cu²âº enhanced the chromate reductase activity by 29% aerobically and 33% anaerobically. The aerobic and anaerobic specific Michaelis-Menten constant K(m) of S12 fraction was estimated to be 64.95 and 47.65 µmol L⁻¹, respectively. The soluble S150 fractions showed similar activity to S12 and could reduce 39.7% and 53.4% of Cr(VI) after 1 h of incubation aerobically and anaerobically while the periplasmic contents showed no obvious reduction activity, suggesting an effective enzymatic mechanism of Cr(VI) reduction in the cytoplasmic fractions of the bacterium. Results suggest that the enzymatic reduction of Cr(VI) could be useful for Cr(VI) detoxification in wastewater.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles by solar irradiation of cell-free Bacillus amyloliquefaciens extracts and AgNO3.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were obtained by solar irradiation of cell-free extracts of Bacillusamyloliquefaciens and AgNO3. Light intensity, extract concentration, and NaCl addition influenced the synthesis of AgNPs. Under optimized conditions (solar intensity 70,000 lx, extract concentration 3 mg/mL, and NaCl content 2 mM), 98.23±0.06% of the Ag+ (1 mM) was reduced to AgNPs within 80 min, and the ζ-potential of AgNPs reached -70.84±0.66 mV. TEM (Transmission electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis confirmed that circular and triangular crystalline AgNPs with mean diameter of 14.6 nm were synthesized. Since heat-inactivated extracts also mediated the formation of AgNPs, enzymatic reactions are likely not involved in AgNPs formation. A high absolute ζ-potential value of the AgNPs, possibly caused by interaction with proteins likely explains the high stability of AgNPs suspensions. AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillussubtilis and Escherichiacoli in liquid and solid medium.

Reduction of hexavalent chromium by Pannonibacter phragmitetus LSSE-09 coated with polyethylenimine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles under alkaline conditions.

A novel cell separation and immobilization method for Cr (VI)-reduction under alkaline conditions was developed by using superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs). The Fe(3)O(4) NPs were synthesized by coprecipitation followed by modification with sodium citrate and polyethyleneimine (PEI). The surface-modified NPs were monodispersed and the particle size was about 15 nm with a saturation magnetization of 62.3 emu/g and an isoelectric point (pI) of 11.5 at room temperature. PEI-modified Fe(3)O(4) NPs possess positive zeta potential at pH below 11.5, presumable because of the high density of amine groups in the long chains of PEI molecules on the surface. At initial pH 9.0, Pannonibacter phragmitetus LSSE-09 cells were immobilized by PEI-modified NPs via electrostatic attraction and then separated with an external magnetic field. Compared to free cells, the coated cells not only had the same Cr (VI)-reduction activity but could also be easily separated from reaction mixtures by magnetic force. In addition, the magnetically immobilized cells retained high specific Cr (VI)-reduction activity over six batch cycles. The results suggest that the magnetic cell separation technology has potential application for Cr (VI) detoxification in alkaline wastewater.

[Analysis and comparison of the masking and TRT for patients with subjective tinnitus].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of tinnitus masking and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) in patients with subjective tinnitus, and to analyze the effect of TRT within the positive or negative group of tinnitus masking test. METHOD: The 217 patients from January, 2006 to April, 2008 in our hospital, were performed with the determination of tinnitus including pitch matching, intensity matching, Feldmann masking curve and residual inhibition test with Tinni Test. Of which 143 cases were positive and 74 were negative in tinnitus masking. The follow-up was 6 months and 10 cases were lost. 207 patients were divided into two groups for prospective study: 69 cases in tinnitus masking group and 138 cases in TRT group, The curative effect was evaluated according to tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and Subjective Visual Tinnitus Scale (SVTS). RESULT: Both masking treatment and TRT were effective for cases with tinnitus, there was significant difference of the score of THI and SVTS of tinnitus between pretherapy and posttherapy (P < 0.01). TRT therapy was more effective than masking therapy, there was significant difference of the THI score between TRT and masking group,but there was no significant difference of of the SVTS between them. TRT therapy was suitable for the patients with both positive effect and negative effect of masking test, and there was no significant difference between them. CONCLUSION: Both TRT and masking therapy are the most important therapy for tinnitus patients, but TRT is much more effective than masking therapy in some aspects.

Dual responsive copolymer micelles for drug controlled release.

pH- and temperature-responsive polymeric drug carriers based on Chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO)-g-Pluronic copolymers were successfully synthesized for Doxorubicin (DOX) controlled release. The critical aggregation concentration of CSO-g-Pluronic is 0.035 mg/mL at 25 degrees C. The CSO-g-Pluronic and DOX-loaded CSO-g-Pluronic micelles have an average hydrodynamic diameter of 23.3 nm and 43.6 nm respectively at 30 degrees C and pH 7.0 with narrow size distribution. The temperature or pH responsive behavior of the micelles was characterized by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and zeta Potential Analysis. The temperature-dependent micellar transformation was induced by dehydration of Pluronic segments at higher temperature. The pH responsive volume increase was traced to the electrostatic repulsion between CSO segments from protonation of amino groups under acidic conditions. Consequently, the DOX release time was prolonged by CSO-g-Pluronic micelles at body temperature of 37 degrees C, and the DOX release was accelerated at mild acidic conditions (i.e. the pH environment around tumor tissues). The temperature- and pH-responsive properties of CSO-g-Pluronic copolymer have provided promising potentials for biomedical and biotechnological applications.