Isolation of recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen with antibody-conjugated superparamagnetic Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles.

In the production process of recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) various separation techniques are used to purify this virus-like particle (VLP). In this study, we developed antibody-conjugated super-paramagnetic Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles as a highly selective method for isolation of expressed rHBsAg in yeast Pichia pastoris. For this purpose, first, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by co-precipitation method in alkali media and coated with silica. Then the surface was activated by amine groups and conjugated with oxidized antibodies. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to study the physical properties of MNPs. To evaluate the efficacy of these MNPs as a purification technique successfully synthesized MNPs were added to the rHBsAg sample to couple with the antigen and then be isolated based on their magnetic property. In the present research, in the optimum condition, we could isolate 65% of total rHBsAg from the final vaccine sample with purity above 95%. In this procedure, the maximum obtained specific yield (mg HBsAg/mg MNPs) was equal to 37.6. These results underline the potential application of the immune-magnetic separation (IMS) in the future bioseparation systems.

Nanoparticles of novel organotin(IV) complexes bearing phosphoric triamide ligands.

Four novel organotin(IV) complexes containing phosphoric triamide ligands were synthesized and characterized by multinuclear ((1)H, (31)P, (13)C) NMR, infrared, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. The (1)H NMR spectra of complexes 1-4 proved that the Sn atoms adopt octahedral configurations. The nanoparticles of the complexes were also prepared by ultrasonication, and their SEM micrographs indicated identical spherical morphologies with particles sizes about 20-25 nm. The fluorescence spectra exhibited blue shifts for the maximum wavelength of emission upon complexation.

Cyproterone synthesis, recognition and controlled release by molecularly imprinted nanoparticle.

In this study, we used novel synthetic conditions of precipitation polymerization to obtain nanosized cyproterone molecularly imprinted polymers for application in the design of new drug delivery systems. The scanning electron microscopy images and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis showed that molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) prepared by acetonitrile exhibited particles at the nanoscale with a high degree of monodispersity, specific surface area of 246 m(2) g(-1), and pore volume of 1.24 cm(3) g(-1). In addition, drug release, binding properties, and dynamic light scattering of molecularly imprinted polymers were studied. Selectivity of MIPs was evaluated by comparing several substances with similar molecular structures to that of cyproterone. Controlled release of cyproterone from nanoparticles was investigated through in vitro dissolution tests and by measuring the absorbance by HPLC-UV. The pH dissolution media employed in controlled release studies were 1.0 at 37 °C for 5 h and then at pH 6.8 using the pH change method. Results show that MIPs have a better ability to control the cyproterone release in a physiological medium compared to the non molecularly imprinted polymers (NMIPs).

Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer as a sorbent for solid phase extraction of citalopram from human serum and urine.

This paper describes a new method for the determination of citalopram in biological fluids using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction as the sample cleanup technique combined with high performance liquid chromatography. The molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared using methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker, chloroform as porogen and citalopram hydrobromide as the template molecule. The novel imprinted polymer was used as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the extraction of citalopram from human serum and urine. Effective parameters on citalopram retention were studied. The optimal conditions for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction consisted of conditioning with 1 mL methanol and 1 mL of deionized water at neutral pH, loading of citalopram sample (50 µg L(-1)) at pH 9.0, washing using 1 mL acetone and elution with 3 × 1 mL of 10 % (v/v) acetic acid in methanol. The MIP selectivity was evaluated by checking several substances with similar molecular structures to that of citalopram. Results from the HPLC analyses showed that the calibration curve of citalopram using MIP from human serum and urine is linear in the ranges of 1-100 and 2-120 µg L(-1) with good precisions (2.5 and 1.5 % for 10.0 µg L(-1)), and recoveries (between 82-86 and 83-85 %), respectively.

Development and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers for controlled release of citalopram.

In this work, the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for citalolpram as anti-depressant drug was studied. Imprinted polymers were prepared from methacrylic acid (MAA; functional monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA; cross-linker), and citalopram (as a drug template) using bulk polymerization method. The polymeric devices were further characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and binding experiments. The dissolution media employed in controlled release studies were hydrochloric acid at the pH level of 4.3 and phosphate buffers, at pH levels of 7.2 and 10.1, maintained at 37.0 and 25.0 ± 0.5°C. Results showed the ability of MIP polymers to control the release of citalopram. In all cases, the imprinted polymers showed a higher affinity for citalopram and a slower release rate than the nonimprinted polymers. At the pH level of 4.3 and at the temperature of 25°C, slower release of citalopram imprinted polymer occurred.