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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Non-phagocytic uptake of intravenously injected microspheres in rat spleen: influence of particle size and hydrophilic coating.

A recent development in prolonging the circulation time of drug carriers, such as liposomes and microspheres, has been to minimize their removal by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system by covering their surface with hydrophilic polymers such as poloxamers, poloxamines and poly(ethyleneglycols). Here we demonstrate that this strategy may not necessarily prolong the circulatory half-life of drug carriers in all animal models. In rats, as opposed to rabbits, a non-phagocytic mechanism in the spleen may be triggered to remove efficiently from the blood drug carriers coated with hydrophilic coatings. Both the size of particle and its hydrophilic coating may act synergistically to trigger this non-phagocytic mechanism. In rats, a remarkable log to log relationship between particle size and spleen uptake was observed for both uncoated and polymeric coated microspheres. The potential implication of these observations in site-specific delivery of drug carriers is discussed.

Animals↗

Airborne allergens associated with asthma: particle sizes carrying dust mite and rat allergens measured with a cascade impactor.

Patients with asthma may develop acute symptoms after exposure to domestic or laboratory animal allergens; however, they are usually not aware of a direct relationship between their acute attacks and exposure to pollen or dust mite allergens. The present experiments were designed to study whether the differences in symptoms could be explained by differences in the number or size of particles carrying airborne allergens. Airborne particles were collected with a filter or on the stages of a cascade impactor, and allergens were measured by use of inhibition radioimmunoassays. In rat rooms and during disturbance of rat litter, a large proportion of rat urinary allergen (45.9%) was collected on the second stage of the impactor (mean size approximately 7 microns diameter). When sampled 15 to 35 minutes after disturbance, 16% of these medium-sized particles were still airborne. By contrast, during disturbance of house dust, a significantly larger proportion of dust mite, antigen P1 (80.6 +/- 11.8%; p less than 0.001) was collected on the first stage of the impactor, and in keeping with the apparent size of these particles (diameter greater than 10 microns), very little of this allergen (less than 4%) was still airborne when sampled 15 to 35 minutes after disturbance. With nebulized diluted rat urine, approximately 75% of the allergen was collected on the fourth and final stages of the cascade impactor in keeping with the expected size, 0.5 to 3 microns in diameter. These results demonstrate that natural exposure to both allergens is strikingly different from the conditions used for bronchial provocation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aerosols↗

Off-line particle size analysis of digested sludge.

Particle size analysis was carried out on six samples of digested sludge using laser diffraction. The digested sludge was produced in laboratory-scale reactors under different feed regimes based on a mixture of primary and waste activated sludge (WAS). Laser diffraction proved capable of providing rapid, reproducible results of the particle size distribution of each sample, and highlighted differences between the different treatments. An increase in the level of WAS in the digester feed sludge led to a shift in the size distribution, with a decrease in the number of smaller sized particles.

Automation↗

Regulation of low-density lipoprotein particle size distribution in NIDDM and coronary disease: importance of serum triglycerides.

An increase of low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (LDL-Tg) was found to be an independent coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor for non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients in a recent prospective study. We examined the composition and size of LDL particles in 50 NIDDM men with angiographically verified CAD (NIDDM+ CAD+) and in 50 NIDDM men without CAD (NIDDM(+)-CAD-) as compared to 50 non-diabetic men with CAD (NIDDM - CAD +) and 31 non-diabetic men without CAD (NIDDM-CAD-). The groups had similar ranges of age and BMI. LDL particle size was determined by gradient gel electrophoresis, and LDL was isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation for compositional analyses. Serum Tg was increased in NIDDM patients as compared to non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.05), and in patients with CAD as compared to subjects without the disease (p < 0.05). LDL cholesterol was lower in NIDDM patients than in non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.001). Mean diameter of LDL particles was less than 255 A, but closely comparable in all groups. The presence of NIDDM was associated with increases of Tg and protein but lowering of free cholesterol in LDL (p < 0.005 for all). In multivariate regression analyses neither NIDDM nor CAD were associated with LDL particle size, but serum Tg was the major determinant of LDL size in both NIDDM and non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.001). When the patients were divided into quartiles according to fasting serum Tg levels, the LDL particle size and free cholesterol content decreased, but Tg and protein contents of LDL particles increased from the lowest to the highest Tg quartile (analysis of variance p < 0.001 for all). When the subjects were categorized into two groups according to the median of VLDL-Tg (1.10 mmol/l) LDL size was associated with VLDL-Tg in the high but not in the low VLDL-Tg group. We conclude that in NIDDM patients with or without CAD serum Tg is the major determinant of the properties of LDL particles. The clinical implication is that in NIDDM serum Tg should be as low as possible to prevent atherogenic changes in LDL.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effect of pressure and fat content on particle sizes in microfluidized milk.

Average diameters and particle size distributions in fluid milks with different fat contents and subjected to various homogenization pressures with a "microfluidizer" were evaluated. Skim, 2%, and whole milks were microfluidized at 50, 100, 150, and 200 MPa. Cream containing 41% milk fat was microfluidized at 50, 100, and 150 MPa. Particle sizes were determined by laser light scattering. As microfluidization pressure was increased from 50 to 100 MPa, particle sizes in skim, 2%, and whole milks decreased. Microfluidization at pressures greater than 100 MPa had little additional effect on reducing the particle sizes in skim and 2% milks compared with microfluidization at 100 MPa, but the particle sizes in whole milk increased as the microfluidization pressure was increased from 100 to 200 MPa due to formation of homogenization clusters. The particle sizes in cream increased as the microfluidization pressure was increased from 50 to 150 MPa. When the microfluidization pressure was held constant, the particle sizes increased as the milk fat concentration was increased. The coefficients of variations of the volume-weighted particle size distributions for cream were higher than for skim, 2%, and whole milks. Larger "big" particles and smaller "small" particles were formed in whole milk after microfluidization at 200 MPa than at 100 MPa. Although microfluidization can be used to produce small particles in skim, 2%, and whole milks, a higher than optimum pressure (above 100 MPa) applied to whole milk will not lead to the minimum d(43) (volume-weighted average diameter) due to formation of clusters.

Animals↗

Sound absorption by suspensions of nonspherical particles: measurements compared with predictions using various particle sizing techniques.

Knowledge of the particle size distribution is required in order to predict ultrasonic absorption in polydisperse particulate suspensions. This paper shows that the method used to measure the particle size distribution can lead to important differences in the predicted absorption. A reverberation technique developed for measuring ultrasonic absorption by suspended particles is used to measure the absorption in suspensions of nonspherical particles. Two types of particulates are studied: (i) kaolin (china clay) particles which are platelike in form; and (ii) calcium carbonate particles which are more granular. Results are compared to theoretical predictions of visco-inertial absorption by suspensions of spherical particles. The particle size distributions, which are required for these predictions, are measured by laser diffraction, gravitational sedimentation and centrifugal sedimentation, all of which assume spherical particles. For a given sample, each sizing technique yields a different size distribution, leading to differences in the predicted absorption. The particle size distributions obtained by gravitational and centrifugal sedimentation are reinterpreted to yield a representative size distribution of oblate spheroids, and predictions for absorption by these spheroids are compared with the measurements. Good agreement between theory and measurement for the flat kaolin particles is obtained, demonstrating that these particles can be adequately represented by oblate spheroids.

Journal Article↗

Hypertriglyceridemia and cholesteryl ester transfer protein interact to dramatically alter high density lipoprotein levels, particle sizes, and metabolism. Studies in transgenic mice.

Several types of transgenic mice were used to study the influence of hypertriglyceridemia and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) expression on high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, particle sizes, and metabolism. The presence of the CETP transgene in hypertriglyceridemic human apo CIII transgenic mice lowered HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) 48% and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I 40%, decreased HDL size (particle diameter from 9.8 to 8.8 nm), increased HDL cholesterol ester (CE) fractional catabolic rate (FCR) 65% with a small decrease in HDL CE transport rate (TR) and increased apo A-I FCR 15% and decreased apo A-I TR 29%. The presence of the CETP transgene in hypertriglyceridemic mice with human-like HDL, human apo A-I apo CIII transgenic mice, lowered HDL-C 61% and apo A-I 45%, caused a dramatic diminution of HDL particle size (particle diameters from 10.3 and 9.1 to 7.6 nm), increased HDL CE FCR by 107% without affecting HDL CE TR, and increased apo A-I FCR 35% and decreased apo A-I TR 48%. Moreover, unexpectedly, hypertriglyceridemia alone in the absence of CETP was also found to cause lower HDL-C and apo A-I levels primarily by decreasing TRs. Decreased apo A-I TR was confirmed by an in vivo labeling study and found to be associated with a decrease in intestinal but not hepatic apo A-I mRNA levels. In summary, the introduction of the human apo A-I, apo CIII, and CETP genes into transgenic mice produced a high-triglyceride, low-HDL-C lipoprotein phenotype. Human apo A-I gene overexpression caused a diminution of mouse apo A-I and a change from monodisperse to polydisperse HDL. Human apo CIII gene overexpression caused hypertriglyceridemia with a significant decrease in HDL-C and apo A-I levels primarily due to decreased HDL CE and apo A-I TR but without a profound change in HDL size. In the hypertriglyceridemic mice, human CETP gene expression further reduced HDL-C and apo A-I levels, primarily by increasing HDL CE and apo A-I FCR, while dramatically reducing HDL size. This study provides insights into the genes that may cause the high-triglyceride, low-HDL-C phenotype in humans and the metabolic mechanisms involved.

Animals↗

Short communication: Prediction of mean particle size and proportion of very long fiber particles from simplified sieving results.

Mean particle size of alfalfa silage and corn silage can be predicted based on material retained above a screen with square-hole diagonal of 9 mm. The regression equation is mean particle length (mm) = 1.16 + 13.00 x cumulative fraction of as-fed mass trapped on or above the 9-mm screen; r2 = 0.89. For mixed rations, the intercept was 0.54 and the slope 11.84, with r2 = 0.78. Using data from the screen with a 5.6-mm diagonal also provided reasonable estimates of mean particle size.

Animals↗

Preference of food particle size among several urban ant species.

Appropriate particle size may be a critical characteristic for effective granular ant baits. We examined the particle size preference of six species of pest ants to an anchovy-based bait. We also examined head capsule widths of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (mean = 0.54 mm), California harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex californicus (Buckley) (mean = 1.63 mm), red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (mean = 0.9 mm), and southern fire ants, Solenopsis xyloni McCook (mean = 0.76 mm) and compared them with the first and second most preferred particle size. There were differences between particle size of which the most mass was removed and of which there were more particles removed by ants. California Argentine ants, southern fire ants, and Alabama Argentine ants removed more 840 to 1,000-microm particle mass of the anchovy diet but had more visits to dishes containing 420 to 590 microm particles. California harvester ants and Allegheny mound ants, Formica spp., removed more >2,000 microm particle mass but visited dishes containing 1,000 to 2,000 microm particles more often. Red imported fire ants also removed more >2,000 microm particle mass but visited dishes with 590 to 840-microm particles most often. Pharaoh ants, Monomorium pharaonis (L.), removed and visited 420 to 590-microm particles more than any other size. A linear regression model determined that particle size preferred by each ant species relates to forager head width. The majority of particles of commercial ant bait, including Amdro, Ascend, Award, Bushwhacker, Max Force with fipronil, and old and new formulations of Max Force with hydramethylnon, were 1,000 to 2,000 microm, but the majority of Niban particles were <420 microm. Altering the size of particles of toxic ant baits to fit the particle size preference of each pest ant species may increase the efficacy of ant baits.

Animals↗

Influence of particle size in the effect of polyethylene on human osteoblastic cells.

The influence of two different sizes of polyethylene particles (< 30 and 20-200 microm) on osteoblastic function has been studied in primary human bone cell cultures. Cells were obtained from trabecular bone fragments of patients undergoing knee reconstructive surgery. On reaching confluency, cells were subcultured in three flasks: < 30 microm polyethylene particles were added to the first flask, 20-200 microm particles to the second flask and none to the third flask, which was the control. The resulting subcultures were incubated until confluence. Osteoblastic function was evaluated by assaying the secretion of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and C-terminal type I procollagen (PICP), with or without 1.25(OH)2D3 stimulation in the cell-conditioned medium. Adding < 30 microm polyethylene particles to these osteoblastic cell cultures increased the levels of osteocalcin secreted after 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulation. Treating stimulated or basal osteoblastic cultures with either polyethylene particle size did not affect alkaline phosphatase secretion. However, the addition of <30 microm polyethylene particles decreased PICP levels in the basal and stimulated cultures. A parallel series of osteoblastic cultures was treated with < 30 microm polyethylene particles and stimulated or not with 1,25(OH)2D3 to determine the effect on osteocalcin mRNA expression using RT-PCR amplification. Polyethylene particle-treated cultures had higher osteocalcin mRNA expression regardless of whether they had been stimulated with 1,25(OH)2D3 or not. We conclude that particle size affects the influence of polyethylene on osteoblastic function markers. Particles with a diameter of less than 30 microm increase osteocalcin expression and secretion.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Effect of particle size on phagocytosis of latex particles by guinea-pig polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

The effect of the size of foreign particles on phagocytosis by guinea-pig polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was investigated using latex particles having approximately the same surface potentials but different sizes. Two types of latexes with different negative surface potentials, those having amino groups (Ami-latexes) and those having carboxylic acid groups (Ca-latexes), were used in this experiment. Since Ca-latexes had different surface potentials for different particle sizes, the carboxylic acid groups were modified by the carbodiimide method to make the surface potentials almost equal. Phagocytosis was estimated by the rate of oxygen consumption. It was found that the phagocytosis reached its maximum when the latex particle size was about 0.5 microns. This finding was plausibly explained by considering the two probabilities that a latex particle comes into contact with a PMN surpassing a potential barrier and the contact takes place at certain receptor areas favourable to phagocytosis on the PMN surface.

Animals↗

Single-particle sizing from light scattering by spectral decomposition.

A Fourier transform was applied to size an individual spherical particle from an angular light-scattering pattern. The position of the peak in the amplitude spectrum has a strong correlation with the particle size. A linear equation retrieved from regression analysis of theoretically simulated patterns provides a relation between the particle size and the location of the amplitude spectrum's peak. The equation can be successfully applied to characterize particles of size parameters that range from 8 to 180 (corresponding to particle sizes that range from 1.2 to 27.2 microm at a wavelength of 0.633 microm). The precision of particle sizing depends on the refractive index and reaches a value of 60 nm within refractive-index region from 1.35 to 1.70. We have analyzed four samples of polystyrene microspheres with mean diameters of 1.9, 2.6, 3.0, and 4.2 microm and a sample of isovolumetrically sphered erythrocytes with a scanning flow cytometer to compare the accuracy of our new method with that of others.

Algorithms↗

Influence of respiratory spacer devices on aerodynamic particle size distribution and fine particle mass of beclomethasone from metered-dose inhalers.

Respiratory spacer devices are used mainly with pressurized metered dose inhalers, especially those containing corticosteroids, to assist with patient coordination and reduce oropharyngeal side effects. This investigation examines the influence of different spacer devices on the delivered fine particle mass (aerodynamic diameter of <3.3 microm and <4.7 microm) of the corticosteroid beclomethasone dipropionate, which approximates the respirable dose. The Anderson Mark II Cascade Impactor was used to characterise the deposition of single doses of beclomethasone dipropionate from several metered-dose inhalers. Following actuation of one single dose the amount of beclomethasone dipropionate deposited on each stage of the impactor was quantified using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection. The fine particle mass smaller than 4.7 microm for Respocort delivered by the Sanner and Fisonair spacer devices was 77.7% and 41.3% higher (p < 0.04), respectively, than the metered-dose inhaler alone, while the Breathatech spacer delivered 21.4% lower (p < 0.01). The fine particle mass of Becotide delivered by the Sanner, Fisonair, Nebuhaler, and Volumatic spacer devices were 81%, 42.4%, 46.9%, and 32.8% higher (p < 0.008), respectively, than be metered dose inhaler alone. The fine particle mass for Becloforte delivered by the Sanner, Fisonair, and Volumatic spacer devices was 82.8%, 36.9%, and 48.0% higher (p < 0.009) than that delivered by metered dose inhaler alone. This study suggests that there are significant differences in the fine particle mass of beclomethasone dipropionate delivered by respiratory spacer devices when used in conjunction with commercially available metered dose inhalers of this drug.

Aerosols↗

Aerosols in a Mediterranean forest: sulfates, particle size distribution, and growth rates.

Particle size distribution measurements in 16 nonlinear intervals covering the 0.1-7.5 microns range and concurrent sulfate concentrations were continuously recorded in September 1996 over the period of two weeks in a Mediterranean forest. Sulfate size distribution was derived from a linear correlation fit between the concentrations and the number of particles recorded at each particle size interval. The results revealed two modal diameters for sulfates, with typical diameters at 0.3 and 0.675 micron. These results were associated with two different dominant chemical mechanisms governing sulfate formation. In order to describe the dominant chemical mechanism, the growth law approach was applied. Growth rates were determined using the parameter estimates of the fitted particle size distribution function. By matching these data with sulfate concentrations, the dominant chemical reactions were identified. The results have shown that sulfate formation is governed by both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions and that the latter process was dominant. Condensation reactions prevailed in the early morning and late afternoon, and volume reactions at night, particularly in high-moisture conditions. From the observational data, the gas-to-particle conversion rate for sulfur dioxide (SO2) at nighttime was also derived, yielding a 2.18%/hr-1.

Air Pollutants↗

Limited possibility for quantifying mean particle size by logarithmic light-scattering spectroscopy.

Recent studies have shown that the slope of logarithmic scattering spectroscopy of a turbid medium is related to the sizes of the scattering particles within the turbid medium. Mie theory can be used to generate a logarithmic plot of the reduced-scattering coefficient versus wavelength. According to Nilsson et al. [Appl. Opt. 37, 1256 (1998)], the slope value of a linear fit of the logarithmic scattering spectroscopy between 600 and 1050 nm can be used for direct determination of particle size. We performed similar calculations using the Rayleigh-Gans approximation and obtained an analogous overall shape with additional sinusoidal features. Our calculations indicate a possible relationship between the slope and the particle size when the size is used to calculate the slope, namely, in the forward calculation. However, because of the sinusoidal pattern, the inverse calculation to obtain the particle size from the slope may be applied only for particles with a radius of <0.13 microm in combination with 650-1050-nm light. Caution should be exercised when inverse calculation is performed to determine the scattering particle sizes in the range of radii >0.13 microm, with the slope of logarithmic scattering spectroscopy within 650-1050 nm.

Models, Theoretical↗

Equine demineralized bone matrix: relationship between particle size and osteoinduction.

The osteoinductive capability of four particle sizes of equine demineralized bone matrix (DBM) was evaluated. Matrix particles were implanted in brachiocephalicus muscle pouches in six horses and were harvested 8 weeks later. Matrix particle sizes of 2.0 mm3 to 4.0 mm3 and 5.0 mm3 to 10.0 mm3 were associated with osteoinductive activity and minimal signs of local inflammation. The two smaller particle sizes (0.425 mm3 to 0.850 mm3 and 0.850 mm3 to 2.0 mm3) were minimally osteoinductive and were associated with a greater local inflammatory response. Microscopic events associated with new bone production in the two largest particle sizes included the presence of new osteoprogenitor cells in matrix vascular spaces, multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells, and the formation of cartilage, osteoid, and new mineralized bone. The two smaller particle sizes were associated with increased fibrous tissue ingrowth and the presence of increased numbers of inflammatory cells. The temporal events of osteoinduction in response to heterotopic implantation of allogeneic DBM were delayed in horses when compared with other species. Although the demineralization technique used was effective in previous investigations on other species, incomplete demineralization occurred in the two smaller particle sizes that was not detected until after DBM implant harvest. The demineralization process may need to be altered for equine bone and precise monitoring for complete demineralization before implantation is required. Equine DBM is osteoinductive in muscle pouch sites in horses but matrix particle size does affect osteoinductive capability.

Animals↗

The influence of particle size on microbial hydrolysis of protein particles in activated sludge.

The influence of particle size on hydrolysis rates was evaluated in batch respirometers using protein particles derived from hard-boiled egg whites and activated sludge. It was found that initial hydrolysis rates for large particles were low but increased over time, contradicting commonly used mathematical modeling approaches to describe hydrolysis. A modified mathematical model was proposed based on particle breakup that described the observed hydrolysis kinetics for small and large protein particles. In the particle breakup model, hydrolysis results both in the release of readily biodegradable substrate and, at the same time, breakup of larger aggregates resulting in an increase of the specific surface area available for hydrolysis. Using this model, initial specific hydrolysis rates were calculated for the small and large particles, and ranged from 0.038 to 0.24 d(-1) and 0.19 to 0.98 d(-1) for large and small particles, respectively. The specific hydrolysis rate at the point of maximum overall hydrolysis rate ranged from approximately 2 to 3 d(-1) for all particles.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗