The controlled delivery of low-molecular weight drugs and proteins from biodegradable polymers has received considerable attention. However, controlled release studies of pDNA from such polymers have not been reported to date. In this study, a plasmid DNA was complexed with the cationic polymer called polyethylenimine (PEI). This gene vector has been shown to be very effective in transfecting c...

Long-term, localized delivery of small molecules from a biodegradable thin film is challenging owing to their low molecular weight and poor charge density. Accomplishing highly extended controlled release can facilitate high therapeutic levels in specific regions of the body while significantly reducing the toxicity to vital organs typically caused by systemic administration and decreasing the ...

Cenderitide, also known as CD-NP, is a designer peptide developed by combining native mammalian c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and the C-terminus isolated from the dendroapis natriuretic peptide (DNP) of the venom from the green mamba. In early studies, intravenous and subcutaneous infusion of cenderitide was reported to reduce left ventricular (LV) mass and ameliorate cardiac remodelling. In...

Edible and/or biodegradable films usually have limited water vapor barriers, making it difficult to use them. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a chemical reticulation treatment with formaldehyde and glyoxal on the mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, solubility and color parameters of gelatin-based films. Formaldehyde and glyoxal were added to the filmo...

Commercially available monomolecular surface films (Arosurf MSF and Agnique MMF, non-ionic products) are utilized as larvicides and pupicides of mosquitoes. They are biodegradable and spread spontaneously over the surface of the water to form an ultra-thin film (monomolecular layer), about one molecule in thickness. Their mode of action against mosquito larvae and pupae is physical rather than ...

Transparent, biocompatible and biodegradable chitosan (CS) nanocomposite films reinforced with nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) were prepared by solution casting. The effects of NFC content on the mechanical properties in dry and wet conditions were investigated. The incorporation of NFC significantly enhanced the mechanical properties, especially in wet conditions. The ultimate tensile strength a...

Over the last decades, there has been growing needs to find alternatives to petroleum-based products because of environmental concerns. Starch is an inherently biodegradable, renewable and low-cost material, and has high potential in food or non-food applications [1]. In that respect, the applications of starch have given rise to a great number of studies [2–5]. Native starch, when plasticized ...

The effect of adding a hydrocolloid on the structural, mechanical and barrier properties of zein-based blend films is evaluated. Zein-oleic acid blend film with added xanthan gum (Z-OA-XG) showed higher water solubility (13.09%) and opacity (8.49 AU/mm) than zein-oleic acid (Z-OA) film (10.80% and 5.19 AU/mm, respectively). Furthermore, Z-OA film had greater flexibility with lower Young's Modul...

Polyhydroxyalkanoates have attracted attention as biodegradable alternatives to conventional thermoplastics and as biomaterials. Through modification of their biosynthesis using Pseudomonas oleovorans, we have manipulated the material properties of these biopolyesters and produced a natural–synthetic hybrid copolymer of polyhydroxyoctanoate-block-diethylene glycol (PHO-b-DEG). A mixture of PHO ...

Multidrug regimens can sometimes treat recalcitrant diseases when single-drug therapies fail. Recapitulating complex multidrug administration from controlled release films for localized delivery remains challenging because their release kinetics are frequently intertwined, and an initial burst release of each drug is usually uncontrollable. Kinetic control over protein release is demonstrated b...