| 1. |
- Jia, Xiaoyu, et al.
(author)
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Chemical and Structural Engineering of Gelatin-Based Delivery Systems for Therapeutic Applications : A Review
- 2024
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In: Biomacromolecules. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1525-7797 .- 1526-4602. ; 25:2, s. 564-589
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As a biodegradable and biocompatible protein derived from collagen, gelatin has been extensively exploited as a fundamental component of biological scaffolds and drug delivery systems for precise medicine. The easily engineered gelatin holds great promise in formulating various delivery systems to protect and enhance the efficacy of drugs for improving the safety and effectiveness of numerous pharmaceuticals. The remarkable biocompatibility and adjustable mechanical properties of gelatin permit the construction of active 3D scaffolds to accelerate the regeneration of injured tissues and organs. In this Review, we delve into diverse strategies for fabricating and functionalizing gelatin-based structures, which are applicable to gene and drug delivery as well as tissue engineering. We emphasized the advantages of various gelatin derivatives, including methacryloyl gelatin, polyethylene glycol-modified gelatin, thiolated gelatin, and alendronate-modified gelatin. These derivatives exhibit excellent physicochemical and biological properties, allowing the fabrication of tailor-made structures for biomedical applications. Additionally, we explored the latest developments in the modulation of their physicochemical properties by combining additive materials and manufacturing platforms, outlining the design of multifunctional gelatin-based micro-, nano-, and macrostructures. While discussing the current limitations, we also addressed the challenges that need to be overcome for clinical translation, including high manufacturing costs, limited application scenarios, and potential immunogenicity. This Review provides insight into how the structural and chemical engineering of gelatin can be leveraged to pave the way for significant advancements in biomedical applications and the improvement of patient outcomes.
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| 2. |
- Wang, Hongya, et al.
(author)
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Comparing mineral magnetic properties of sediments in two reservoirs in "strongly" and "mildly" eroded regions on the Guizhou Plateau, southwest China: A tool for inferring differences in sediment sources and soil erosion
- 2011
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In: Geomorphology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-555X. ; 130:3-4, s. 255-271
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Shibanqiao Reservoir (0.24 km(2)) and Xiaohe Reservoir (0.28 km(2)) have catchments of 6.00 km(2) and 22.69 km(2), respectively. They essentially represent "strongly eroded" (Shibanqiao) and "mildly eroded" (Xiaohe) regions in Guizhou Plateau, southwestern China. Sediment cores were retrieved from the two reservoirs and soils were also sampled from their catchments. Mineral magnetic measurements were performed on the sediments and soils, and the particle-size analysis of selected sediment cores and soil profiles were also made. SIRM versus chi if was used to compare sediment and soil samples. In addition, correlations between percentages of different particle-size fractions and magnetic parameters/ratios of sediment samples were also checked. These results revealed differences in sediment sources and soil erosion in these two representative catchments. The sediments in Shibanqiao Reservoir are derived from both the topsoil and subsoil. When erosion is relatively weak, it is limited to the topsoil and preferentially transports the relatively finer magnetic grains into the reservoir, which may imply rain splash and/or sheet erosion. In this relatively steep catchment, stronger erosional forces are capable of not only moving relatively coarser ferrimagnetic grains from the topsoil, but also incising the subsoil and moving anti-ferromagnetic minerals into the reservoir, which seems to hint at not only sheet-wash but also rill and gully erosion. As there are no stable streams nor channel networks developed in this mountainous catchment, contributions from river-bank erosion to sediment yield are almost negligible. The sediments in Xiaohe Reservoir, which has a lower relief, are predominately derived from topsoil erosion. Here, erosion is concentrated to the topsoil and preferentially transports the relatively fine magnetic grains into the reservoir when erosional forces are weak. However, even when erosional forces increase in this relatively flat catchment, erosion is still restricted to the topsoil. Thus, relatively coarser ferrimagnetic grains from the topsoil are transported to the reservoir, but the subsoil remains undisturbed and there are no significant changes in the proportion of anti-ferromagnetic minerals in the sediments. Consequently, only sheet-washing occurs even when erosion is intensifying in this hilly plain catchment. In general, the more effective erosion in the Shibanqiao Catchment is probably due to its steeper topography than Xiaohe Catchment, although higher and more seasonal rainfalls and lower percentages of woodlands may also contribute to the differences in susceptibility to erosional forces. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Wang, Hongya, et al.
(author)
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Early- and mid-Holocene palaeoenvironments as revealed by mineral magnetic, geochemical and palynological data of sediments from Bai Nuur and Ulan Nuur, southeastern inner Mongolia Plateau, China
- 2012
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In: Quaternary International. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-4553 .- 1040-6182. ; 250, s. 100-118
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bai Nuur (41 degrees 38.590'N, 114 degrees 30.922'E, similar to 1346 m a.s.l.) and Ulan Nuur (41 degrees 44.214'N, 115 degrees 05.630'E, similar to 1246 m a.s.l.) are two small lakes situated in the transition zone between semi-humid and semi-arid climate regimes that runs parallel to the present limit of the southeast monsoon along the southeastern Inner Mongolia Plateau in north China. A 215 cm-deep sediment sequence was recovered from Bai Nuur and a 244 cm-deep one from Ulan Nuur. Soils were sampled from the catchments of the two lakes and dune-materials from a sandy land lying further north and northwest. Mineral magnetic measurements were performed on the sediments, soils and dune-materials. AMS C-14 dating and analyses of particle-size, TOC and C/N and pollen composition were also made for the sediments. The mineral magnetic properties of the two sediment sequences, in combination with the other proxy-climate data, reveal the palaeoenvironmental development during early- and mid-Holocene around the two lakes. Climate began to ameliorate at 10,600 or 10,500 cal. BP and maximum humidity and warmth were reached during 10,600 or 10,500-9700 or 9600 cal. BP around Bai Nuur. Environments remained generally wet and/or warm until 7700 or 7600 cal. BP. Climate deterioration commenced at 7700 or 7600 cal. BP around Bai Nuur and at 7200 or 7100 cal. BP around Ulan Nuur. This deterioration intensified from 6900 or 6800 cal. BP onwards around Bai Nuur and from 6200 or 6100 cal. BP onwards around Ulan Nuur. The differences in timing of the reconstructed environmental changes at the two short-distanced sites may be due to the differences across the narrow climatic and vegetative transition zone, errors and uncertainties of dating and/or different chronostratigraphic frames of the two sequences. The palaeoenvironments reconstructed around the two small lakes (2.3 km(2) and 8.9 km(2)) coincide with a palaeoenvironmental record from Anguli-nuur Lake, a much larger lake (47.6 km(2)) in the same region. These data also agree with reconstructions at several other sites in different parts of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, although the Holocene amelioration took place earlier than in northern Mongolia. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
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