The synthesis of "smart" tricomponent amphiphilic membranes containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polypentamethylcyclopentasiloxane (PD(5)) domains is described. Contact angle hysteresis indicates that in air, the…
Two generations of amphiphilic membranes synthesized in our laboratories for biologicaUniedical applications are highlighted. Recent results obtained with representative 2nd generation membranes designed specifically for immunoencapsulation of…
A convenient laboratory process for the preparation of thin-walled (similar to 0.02 cm) tubular amphiphilic membranes has been developed. The membranes are suitable for implantation and isolation of pancreatic islets from immune responses. The…
A series of amphiphilic networks (membranes), consisting of hydrophilic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAAM) main chains crosslinked by hydrophobic telechelic polyisobutylene di- and trimethacrylates (MA-PIB-MA or circle divide (PEB-MA)(3)) have…
Amphiphilic polymer membranes were synthesized for macroencapsulation of cells and characterized by select chemical and biological techniques. The membranes were prepared by crosslinking hydrophilic poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMAAm) main chains…
We have developed a replaceable bioartificial pancreas to treat diabetes utilizing a unique cocontinous amphiphilic conetwork membrane created for macroencapsulation and immunoisolation of porcine islet cells (PICs). The membrane is assembled from…
CEL-1000 (derG, DGQEEKAGVVSTGLIGGG) is a small immunomodulatory peptide which delivers demonstrated protective activity in two infectious disease challenge models (HSV and malaria) and an allogenic tumor vaccine model. CEL-1000 and other activators…
Vaccines have eliminated diseases such as syphilis and malaria from many regions of the world and because they are administered a few times at most they are more cost-effective than many drugs that treat the same conditions. However vaccines are not…
The Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System ( L. E. A. P. S. TM) approach to vaccine development utilizes immune peptides to promote the immunogenicity and influence the type of immune response generated towards epitopes in peptides which may be…
The mouse model of collagen induced arthritis (CIA) effectively mimics human disease and thus is useful for testing and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapies. We developed a Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System (LEAPS) peptide…
The mechanism of antiviral action of tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609) was investigated in vitro. D609 inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication without apparent cytotoxicity. It reduced phosphorylation of virus-infected cell…
Medcamp, a 3-day problem-based career intervention for students entering the 9th grade, implemented each of the 4 antecedents for self-efficacy. Ten boys and 35 girls participated in Medcamp; of these, 35 completed and returned the Medical Career…
Despite the large number of vaccines, this review asks the question "Why don'twe have vaccines for all infectious diseases?" The first and second parts of this series discussed basics of vaccine immunology and new approaches and outlined some of the…
Despite the large number of vaccines, this review asks the question: why do we not have vaccines for all infectious diseases? The first of this series discussed basics of vaccine immunology, new approaches, and outlined some of the difficulties and…
Strategically-paired Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands induce a unique dendritic cell (DC) phenotype that polarizes Th1 responses. We therefore investigated pairing single TLR ligands with a non TLR-mediated danger signal to cooperatively induce…
Changes in membrane structure resulting from herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) penetration were detected using fluorescence photobleaching recovery methods. The effect could be blocked by inhibitors of viral and cellular processes involved in virus…
Amantadine and related compounds stabilized the structure of purified pig brain clathrin coated vesicles (CCV) at biologically relevant concentrations. Incubation of purified CCV for 30 min at 25 degrees C or 37 degrees C caused the release of…
