In this article, we demonstrate the fabrication and detection of cancer protein biochips consisting of micro- and nanoarrays whereby pegylated quantum dots (QDs) conjugated to antibodies (Abs) of prostate specific antigens (PSA) were used for the detection of clinical biomarkers such as PSA. BSA which acts as an efficient blocking layer in microarrays, tends to show an interaction with QDs. In view of this fact, we investigated two series of samples which were fabricated in the presence and absence of BSA blocking layer. Variation in the incubation time required for the antigen-antibody interaction to take place, different proteins as controls and the effect of bare QDs on these microarrays, were the three main parameters which were studied in these two series. Samples fabricated in the absence of BSA blocking layer exhibited an extremely high specificity in the detection of cancer proteins and were also marked by negligible nonspecific binding effects of QDs, in stark contrast to the samples fabricated using BSA as a blocking layer. Fabrication of nanoarrays of QD-conjugated PSA Abs having a spot size of nearly 900 nm has also been demonstrated. Thus, we show the potential offered by QDs in in vitro analysis of cancer biomarker imaging.

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hBMSCs are multipotent cells that are useful for tissue regeneration to treat degenerative diseases and others for their differentiation ability into chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, hepatocytes and neuronal cells. In this study, biodegradable elastic hydrogels consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds were evaluated for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and the ability to control the release of bioactive peptides. The primary cultured cells from human bone marrow are confirmed as hBMSC by immunohistochemical analysis. Mesenchymal stem cell markers (collagen type I, fibronectin, CD54, integrin1β, and Hu protein) were shown to be positive, while hematopoietic stem cell markers (CD14 and CD45) were shown to be negative. Three different hydrogel scaffolds with different block compositions (PEG:PCL=6:14 and 14:6 by weight) were fabricated using the salt leaching method. The hBMSCs were expanded, seeded on the scaffolds, and cultured up to 8 days under static conditions in Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Media (IMDM). The growth of MSCs cultured on the hydrogel with PEG/PCL= 6/14 was faster than that of the others. In addition, the morphology of MSCs seemed to be normal and no cytotoxicity was found. The coating of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) containing scaffold with Matrigel slowed down the release of VEGF in vitro and promoted the angiogenesis when transplanted into BALB/c nude mice. These results suggest that hBMSCs can be supported by a biode gradable hydrogel scaffold for effective cell growth, and enhance the angiogenesis by Matrigel coating.

In this study, we developed and optimized hydrophilic polymer based solid dispersion formulations (SDs) for enhancing the aqueous solubility of eprosartan, one of poorly soluble drugs, that has been broadly used for the treatment of high blood pressure. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) based SDs were prepared by hot melting and solvent evaporation methods and the drug/polymer composition varied in the range of 1:1~1:5 with or without poloxamer 407 (P407) as a polymeric surfactant. The SDs prepared by solvent evaporation showed more reduced crystallinity than ones by hot melting, and PVP based SDs showed more enhanced solubility and lower crystallinity than PEG based SDs. Furthermore, it was observed from DSC and PXRD analysis that the SDs with P407 (drug:polymer: P407 = 1:5:1) demonstrated no crystallinity and the most enhanced solubility (more than 3~4 times).

Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were modified by various physico-chemical modification methods to enhance the surface hydrophilicity for application as a separation membrane to separate and collect water vapor from the flue gas. Homogeneous PES flat-sheet membranes were prepared and modified by acid treatment, blending and plasma treatment for hydrophilic surface modification. The surface characteristics of the modified PES membranes were evaluated by ATR-FTIR, XPS, SEM and contact angle measurements. No significant change in hydrophilicity was observed for the PES membranes modified by acid treatment with sulfuric acid or blending with various compositions of poloxamer as an amphiphilic PEO-PPO-PEO tri-block copolymer. On the other hand, Ar plasma treatment led to a significant increase in the hydrophilicity of the surface, depending on the plasma treatment time. As a result, the PES membrane could be the most efficiently surface-treated by applying the plasma treatment for enhancing their surface hydrophilicity.