PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Polystyrenes”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

In vitro binding of iron with the cation-exchange resin sodium polystyrene sulfonate.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of the cation exchange resin sodium polystyrene sulfonate to bind iron from ferrous sulfate solutions, along with the effects of pH on binding. METHODS: We performed a series of in vitro experiments in which various concentrations of iron and sodium polystyrene sulfonate were combined and free ferrous iron was measured with the use of a colorimetric assay. RESULTS: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate bound iron from ferrous sulfate solutions at pH 2 and pH 7. Slightly less binding of free ferrous iron was demonstrated in experiments performed at pH 7 than in those performed at pH 2. At pH 2, 98% of iron was bound, at pH 7, 95% of iron was bound. CONCLUSION: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate may be a useful therapy in acute iron poisoning once safety and efficacy are determined with the use of in vivo models.

Cation Exchange Resins↗

Fractionation of RNA polymerase II transcription factors from HeLa cell nuclear extracts by affinity chromatography on "DNA-like" phosphorylated polystyrene.

It was previously shown that phosphorylated cross-linked polystyrene derivatives specifically interacted with anti-DNA antibodies and anti-phospholipid antibodies present in the sera of systemic lupus erythematosus patients. These resins are potential candidates as stationary phases in affinity chromatography. We wondered whether these biospecific resins might allow the fractionation of DNA binding proteins such as RNA polymerase II transcription factors from HeLa cell nuclear extracts. Indeed, these proteins play a major role in gene regulation in mammalian cells and their purification still requires numerous steps. To study the biospecificity of DNA-like phosphorylated polystyrene derivatives, ethanolamine sulfamide crosslinked polystyrene derivatives were phosphorylated at various rates and HeLa cell nuclear extracts were adsorbed on these resins. Adsorbed proteins were eluted with increasing concentrations of aqueous potassium chloride. Collected fractions were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the biological activities of the eluted transcription factors were tested by in vitro transcription assay. Results showed that the elution of transcription factors depended on the substitution rate in phosphoester groups of the resins. It appears that specific interactions were developed between the polymers and the transcription factors. Moreover, the eluted transcription factors kept their biological activity. These results lead us to propose the purification of RNA polymerase II transcription factors using the phosphorylated polystyrene resins as stationary phases.

Base Sequence↗

In-vivo binding of lithium using the cation exchange resin sodium polystyrene sulfonate.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the exchange resin sodium polystyrene sulfonate increases the clearance of lithium in a healthy volunteer. A single healthy volunteer received 900 mg lithium for each of three study phases. A sodium polystyrene sulfonate dose of either 0, 20, or 40 grams was administered one half hour after each lithium dose to assess the effect on lithium clearance. Multiple blood samples were obtained for serum lithium concentrations over a 36- to 48-hour time period. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were calculated and compared. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate was found to increase the clearance of lithium in a single volunteer. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate may be useful in the treatment of lithium intoxication by increasing the clearance of lithium.

Adult↗

Patterning multiple antibodies on polystyrene.

A method for patterning different antibodies on polystyrene is described. The polystyrene surface is coated with a material resistant to antibody adsorption and the coating material is selectively removed from the region where antibody adsorption is desired, exposing clean polystyrene. Upon immersion of the substrate in antibody solution, antibodies adsorb to the clean polystyrene, but not to the coated areas of the surface. Two methods have been used to remove the coating: ion beam sputtering and mechanical etching. The pattern was verified using gold-labeled antigen in conjunction with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and with FITC-labeled antigen and fluorescence microscopy. Substrates patterned in this way could be used in conjunction with a charge-coupled detector for a multi-analyte biosensor. This patterning technique is suitable for applications in which a fast, inexpensive fabrication process is necessary, for example, in single-use sensors.

Antibodies↗

Surface modification of polystyrene using polyaniline nanostructures for biomolecule adhesion in radioimmunoassays.

The selection of an appropriate surface as a solid phase for coupling antibodies is a critical step in the development of solid-phase immunoassays. Availability of a new method of preactivating the surface of polystyrene tubes with a layer of another polymer for enhanced immobilization of antibodies seems to be promising. In this paper, we report the activation of a polystyrene surface using a layer of polyaniline and its effect on immobilizing antibodies for use as a solid phase in a T3 immunoassay. The modified surface on the polystyrene was characterized by optical absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified tubes were coated with antibody and evaluated for their performance in the assay and validated for radioimmunoassay of T3. AFM images of the modified surface showed an enhancement in the surface roughness (Ra of 20.2 nm), as compared to an unmodified surface (Ra of 6 nm), allowing more adsorption of antibodies to the surface. XPS revealed the presence of N (binding energy approximately 400 eV) on the modified surface, which could help the antibody molecules to bind to these preactivated (modified) tubes. The modified tubes, when coated with antibody, not only showed an increase in the binding with the radioiodinated tracer but also improved the precision of coating the antibody. The present method of activating polystyrene surfaces is simple, does not involve severe chemical treatment, and may have wide applicability to functionalize other supports for immobilizing biomolecules.

Adhesiveness↗

An improved preparation of antibody-coated polystyrene beads for sandwich enzyme immunoassay.

An improved preparation of antibody-coated polystyrene beads for sandwich enzyme immunoassay of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was described. Rabbit anti-TSH IgG was purified by eluting at pH 2.5 from a TSH-Sepharose column, diluted 3 or 9 fold with normal rabbit IgG and used for coating polystyrene beads by physical adsorption. In a sandwich enzyme immunoassay of TSH using rabbit (anti-TSH) Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate, beta-D-galactosidase activities specifically bound to thus prepared polystyrene beads in the presence of TSH was 2.8-6.3 fold higher than those bound to polystyrene beads coated with anti-TSH IgG before purification. A similar effect was observed when guinea pig anti-pork insulin IgG, rabbit (anti-human IgE) IgG and goat (anti-human IgE) IgG were treated at pH 2.5. This improvement may be based on a conformational change of Fc in IgG molecule which was caused by the treatment at pH 2.5. Other sandwich immunoassays such as fluoro- and radio-immunoassays may also be improved in the same way.

Animals↗

Measurements of ionisation in water, polystyrene and a 'solid water' phantom material for electron beams.

Measurements of central axis depth ionisation curves and ionisation at ionisation maximum were carried out in water, clear polystyrene and a commercially available 'solid water' phantom material. Flat and cylindrical chambers were used for electron beams of 5-10 MeV. Displacements for the cylindrical chambers were determined, indicating a recommended value of 0.55 times cavity radius (without perturbation corrections). The use of a single scaling parameter is considered for converting depth ionisation curves obtained in plastic to those in water. This is shown to be valid within 2 mm at these energies and for these materials. Ionisation ratios between water and polystyrene are presented, i.e. correction factors for converting ionisation readings in the plastic to readings in water required for electron dosimetry determinations. These show 3% differences on average at these energies, ionisation in water being higher. Variations were observed with chamber wall material and chamber type. Measurements in the solid water material showed it to be a better water substitute than polystyrene for electron dosimetry in this energy range, although still significantly different from a true water phantom. Experiments at 10 MeV on the effect of charge storage on chamber reading in polystyrene, as a result of previous irradiation with electron beams, were carried out, indicating that such effects have negligible influence on the ionisation ratios reported.

Electrons↗

Comparison of ionisation measurements in water and polystyrene for electron beam dosimetry.

For the determination of absorbed dose to water in electron beams, dosimetry protocols advocate ionisation measurements in plastic phantoms instead of water for practical reasons. The chamber readings in polystyrene at the depth of maximum ionisation must be corrected for the difference in physical properties between the two materials. This correction factor was determined for a Farmer 0.6 cm3 graphite-walled chamber in electron beams with mean energies at the phantom surface between 6 and 19 MeV. Experiments with white polystyrene yielded corrections for the measured ionisation ranging from 0.3 to 2.4%. For clear polystyrene, 0.6-1% higher corrections were found. For beams with the same mean energy at the phantom surface, but with different beam-flattening and collimation systems, variations in this correction up to 1.2% were observed. In contrast to recent reports on electrical charge storage in polystyrene due to electron irradiation, our experiments do not show differences in the chamber readings any larger than 0.5%.

Electrons↗

Cell wall protein and glycoprotein constituents of Aspergillus fumigatus that bind to polystyrene may be responsible for the cell surface hydrophobicity of the mycelium.

Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of Aspergillus fumigatus grown both in complex medium (yeast extract/peptone/dextrose; YPD) and minimal (Vogel's N) medium was monitored by assessing attachment of polystyrene microspheres to the cell surface. It was found that mature mycelium was hydrophobic. Treatment of intact mycelium with beta-mercaptoethanol (beta ME) abolished binding of the microspheres to hyphal elements, and coating of the microspheres with beta ME extracts from mycelium inhibited their attachment to intact mycelial cells. A. fumigatus mycelium was tagged in vivo with biotin and treated with beta ME. The beta ME extracts were analysed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting with both peroxidase-conjugated-ExtrAvidin and concanavalin A (ConA). This procedure allowed identification of cell wall surface proteins and glycoproteins. Rabbit polyclonal antisera were raised against beta ME extracts obtained from cells grown in YPD and Vogel's N media. These antisera defined some major cell-wall-bound antigens. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis of the cell wall material released by beta ME and adsorbed on polystyrene microspheres revealed about 19 protein species with apparent molecular masses ranging from 20 to 70 kDa, and two high-molecular-mass glycoproteins of 115 and 210 kDa. Treatment of cells grown in YPD, but not those grown in Vogel's N medium, with beta ME released a 55 kDa polypeptide able to adsorb to polystyrene microspheres that was detectable with the antisera. The ability to bind to polystyrene particles exhibited by several protein and glycoprotein species released by beta ME treatment suggested that these cell wall moieties possess exposed hydrophobic domains that could be responsible for the CSH of mycelium.

Animals↗

Binding of cardiolipin to polystyrene beads: evidence for a lamellar phase orientation.

The association of cardiolipin with polystyrene beads was studied using 31P-NMR and electron microscopy. In the presence and absence of fetal calf serum, cardiolipin appeared to bind to the polystyrene beads in lamellar phase as assessed by 31P-NMR imaging. Electron microscopic analysis revealed an even coating of phospholipid about the beads with extensive micelle binding. Cardiolipin-coated beads challenged with ACA-positive sera followed by immunogold indicated antibody bound to micelles associated with the bead. Studies conducted with ACA IgG purified from patient sera indicated that some ACA bound to CL beads in the absence of a source of ACA cofactor (i.e. gelatin-blocked beads), some ACA required beta 2-GPI for binding (i.e. no binding in the presence of beta 2-GPI-depleted plasma), whereas other ACA which showed negligible binding with gelatin-blocked beads, showed enhanced binding in the presence of beta 2-GPI-depleted plasma. The data indicate that: (1) cardiolipin binds to polystyrene beads in lamellar phase, (2) ACA bind to phospholipid micelles bound directly to the polystyrene beads, and (3) ACA differ between individuals displaying varying phospholipid and phospholipid/cofactor substrate specificities.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

On the constancy in composition of polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate plastics.

Variations in the atomic composition, and mass and electron densities of polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate (PMM) plastics were assessed from experimentally determined mass attenuation coefficients for 125I and 137Cs gamma rays. The means and standard deviations in the mass densities of 16 samples of PMM and 10 samples of polystyrene were found to be 1.174 +/- 1.4% and 1.042 +/- 0.6% g/cm3, respectively. Based upon transmission measurements on various solutions of ethyl alcohol in water, the standard deviations in the effective atomic numbers of PMM and polystyrene were determined to be 0.77% and 1.3%, respectively. Based upon experimentally determined mass attenuation coefficients for 137Cs, the standard deviations in electron density for PMM and polystyrene were 0.5% and 1.2% respectively. Similar measurements on tap water and two grades of distilled water failed to detect any differences in atomic composition.

Methylmethacrylates↗

Improved "nonisolated-sensor" solid polystyrene calorimeter.

A "nonisolated-sensor" solid polystyrene calorimeter is described which permits absorbed dose measurements with precision of less than 0.3% (standard error of the mean). The accuracy for obtaining absolute absorbed dose was estimated by comparisons with cavity ionization measurements. The calculation of absorbed dose with ionization chambers was carried out based upon the TG-21 AAPM dosimetry protocol. Measurements in a 60Co gamma-ray field with three different polystyrene parallel-plate ion chambers in a polystyrene phantom did not differ by more than 1.5% from that obtained with the polystyrene calorimeter. Measurements taken over a period of 247 days are compared with the expected values on the basis of the decay 60Co. The calorimeter system, with its capability of acquiring, printing, storing, plotting, and analyzing the data by computer, is described.

Calorimetry↗

Comparison between the adhesion to solid substrata of Streptococcus mitis and that of polystyrene particles.

The adhesion of Streptococcus mitis to solid substrata from phosphate suspensions with various ionic strengths was studied and compared with the adhesion of polystyrene particles. At all ionic strengths, the interfacial free energy of adhesion governed the relative number of bacteria or polystyrene particles adhering at equilibrium, except that in a low-ionic-strength buffer, adhesion occurred less frequently because of increased electrostatic repulsion. Large differences between bacterial and polystyrene particle adhesion were observed, as indicated by the ratio of bacteria to polystyrene particles adhering, which decreased from 30 to 4 with a change from low to high ionic strength.

Adhesiveness↗

Comparative adherence to human A549 cells, plant fibronectin-like protein, and polystyrene surfaces of four Pseudomonas fluorescens strains from different ecological origin.

The main objective of this study was to compare the adherence properties of four Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates from different ecological niches (human tissue, rhizosphere, drinking water, and cow milk). The substrates used to test P. fluorescens adherence were as follows: cultured human respiratory epithelial cells A549, immobilized plant fibronectin-like protein, and polystyrene. For all the experiments, bacteria were grown at 27 degrees C. The adherence assay to human cells was performed at 37 degrees C, whereas adherence to fibronectin and polystyrene was done at 27 degrees C. The four strains tested adhered to A549 cells but showed different adherence patterns. At 3 h, the milk isolate showed an aggregative adherence phenotype, whereas the three other isolates showed a diffuse adherence pattern. With a longer incubation time of 24 h, the aggregative pattern of the milk isolate disappeared, the adherence of the clinical strain increased, the adherence of the water isolate decreased, and morphological changes in A549 cells were observed with the clinical, water, and soil isolates. The four strains tested formed biofilms on polystyrene dishes. The clinical and milk isolates were the more efficient colonizers of polystyrene surfaces and also the more adherent to immobilized plant fibronectin-like protein. There was no relation between bacterial surface hydrophobicity and P. fluorescens adherence to the substrates tested. The main conclusions of these results are that P. fluorescens is an adherent bacterium, that no clear correlation exists between adherence and ecological habitat, and that P. fluorescens can adhere well to substrates not present in its natural environment.

Animals↗

The effect of polystyrene beads on cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate concentration in leukocytes.

After incubation with polystyrene latex beads for 5 min. the cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) content of human peripheral blood leukocyte suspensions was increased severalfold. Preparations enriched in mononuclear cells and containing only 0-20% polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and no visible platelets exhibited a quantitatively similar response. Purified fractions of cells containing 85-90% PMN responded to polystyrene beads with a much smaller increase in cyclic AMP content. Phagocytosis of paraffin oil emulsion in the unfractionated mixed human leukocyte preparation was associated with little or no change in cyclic AMP levels. There was no change in cyclic AMP content of rabbit alveolar macrophages or guinea pig PMN during phagocytosis of polystyrene beads. All of these observations are consistent with the view that particle uptake per se does not increase cyclic AMP levels in phagocytic cells. It seems probable that the increase in cyclic AMP concentration that results when unfractionated human blood leukocytes are incubated with polystyrene beads occurs in cells other than PMN.

Animals↗

Use of floating layers of polystyrene beads to control populations of the filaria vector Culex quinquefasciatus.

Floating layers of polystyrene beads suffocate mosquito larvae and pupae and inhibit egg laying. The layers are very durable in breeding sites with water contained within walls, as in wet pit latrines and soakage pits. In some areas such pits constitute an important breeding site for Culex quinquefasciatus. Trials have been conducted in communities in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and in Tamil Nadu, India, where such mosquito populations were the vectors of Wuchereria bancrofti. In each case, treatment of all the pits with polystyrene beads was integrated with mass treatment of the people with antifilarial drugs-in Zanzibar in 1988 with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and in India in the 1990s with DEC plus ivermectin. The results were compared with those in communities with the mass drug treatment alone and with control communities with neither treatment. The polystyrene-bead treatments greatly and sustainably reduced the vector populations. Comparison of the communities after drug treatment ceased showed that this form of vector control contributed markedly to the prevention of a resurgence of filarial infection. Where Cx. quinquefasciatus breeding in pits form a major component of the vector population, use of polystyrene-bead layers could assist considerably in the process of eliminating lymphatic filariasis by mass drug administration.

Animals↗

Attachment of Paramecium to polystyrene surfaces: a model system for the analysis of sexual cell recognition and nuclear activation.

In the ciliate Paramecium caudatum, only mating-reactive cells can attach to the polystyrene surface of Petri dishes. The attachment of mating-reactive cells occurs exclusively at the tips of ventrally located cilia (mating-reactive cilia) and appears to involve a hydrophobic interaction. An increase in the hydrophilic nature of the polystyrene surface following treatment with sulphuric acid results in the loss of attachment of reactive cells. The presence or absence of Ca ions and varying the ionic strength of the medium have no effect upon attachment. Although attachment reactivity is closely correlated with mating reactivity, the attachment sites appear distinct from the mating recognition sites, as suggested by the following experimental results: (I) cells that lose mating reactivity following treatment with trypsin are still able to attach to the polystyrene surface; (2) the attachment of cells appears temperature-dependent over a range where mating reactivity remains uneffected; (3) mating reactivity is quickly lost as a result of attachment to the surface of the dish. While the mechanism of attachment is not the same as sexual recognition, the attachment to the polystyrene surface initiates the early stages of the conjugation process. Cells that attach show micronuclear migration while unattached cells do not. The maximum rate of micronuclear migration occurs approximately 30 min after attachment. Meiosis does not occur following migration in the attached cells as in cells that are sexually mating. The relationship between the mating substance and the attachment substance is discussed, while the utilization of the attachment phenomenon for other experimental procedures is proposed.

Animals↗

Measurement of polystyrene nanospheres using excimer laser fragmentation fluorescence spectroscopy.

Monodisperse polystyrene nanospheres with a mean diameter of 102 nm are photofragmented with 193 nm light in N2 at laser fluences from 1 to 20 J/cm2. Carbon atom fluorescence at 248 nm from the disintegration of the particles is used as a signature of the polystyrene. The normalized fluorescence signals are self-similar with an exponential decay lifetime of approximately 10 ns. At fluences above 17 J/cm2, optical breakdown occurs and a strong continuum emission is generated that lasts significantly longer. A non-dimensional parameter, the photon-to-atom ratio (PAR), is used to interpret the laser-particle interaction energetics. Carbon fluorescence from polystyrene particles is compared with that from soot, and a similarity between the two particles is observed when normalized with PAR. Carbon emission from bulk polystyrene was also measured. Similar emission signals were observed, but the breakdown threshold of the surface is significantly lower at 0.2 J/cm2.

Air Pollutants↗