The interaction of sodium alginate with univalent cations

The M/G ratio, dyad and triad frequencies in the sodium alginate chain, were determined from ¹³C-nmr spectra. The interactions of sodium alginate in solution with the univalent cations K⁺ ion and Na⁺ ion have been investigated by viscometry and membrane osmometry. The dependencies of intrinsic viscosity, Huggins constant, and second virial coefficient on ionic strength were observed, and the maximums in reduced viscosity were obtained in low KCl and NaCl concentrations, respectively. These show that the electroviscous effects play an important role in polyelectrolyte solution, and the effect of the Na⁺ ion on aqueous solution of sodium alginate is greater than the K⁺ ion. The experimental observations are interpreted in terms of ion-pair formation with carboxyl groups of mannuronate and isolated guluronate residues and cooperation “egg-box” binding between polyguluronate chain sequence. The difference of interaction between univalent cations and alginate chains in solution is attributed to the ability of their binding with the polyion, which depends on the properties of ions itself. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 395–402, 1998     

海藻酸钠寡糖对小鼠免疫及抗氧化功能的影响

目的 研究海藻酸钠寡糖对小鼠免疫及抗氧化活性的影响。方法 采用不同浓度的海藻酸钠寡糖分别对小鼠连续灌胃15 d后,测量小鼠生长性能、小鼠胸腺和脾脏指数以及小鼠血浆中SOD和GSH的活性。结果 海藻酸钠寡糖能促进小鼠的生长性能,提高小鼠的胸腺和脾脏指数。其中给小鼠灌注高浓度的海藻酸钠寡糖15 d后,与对照组相比,小鼠的特定生长率和增重率分别提高了37.0%和48.5%（P<0.01）,小鼠胸腺和脾脏指数分别提高了18.8%和21.7%（P<0.01）。海藻酸钠寡糖还能增加小鼠的抗氧化活性,与对照组相比,灌注高浓度海藻酸钠组小鼠的SOD和GSH-Px活性分别提高了92.6%和35.9%（P<0.01）。结论 海藻酸钠寡糖能促进小鼠的生长性能,增强小鼠的免疫和抗氧化功能。     

Solution properties of sodium alginate

Sodium alginate fractions derived from three different sources—Laminaria hyperboria (75% guluronate), Fucus vesicularus (95% mannuronate), and Azotobacter vinelandii (85% mannuronate)—were investigated in aqueous solution over a wide range of ionic strength and pH using the techniques of light scattering, viscometry, and osmometry. Light-scattering data extrapolated to infinite ionic strength yielded b₀ = 4.7 ± 0.3 and 3.0 ± 0.2 nm for the unperturbed effective bond lengths of the guluronate- and mannuronate-rich samples, respectively. These values are in the same ratio as predicted by conformational analysis, although lower by a factor of 0.7, probably due, in part at least, to the fact that measurements cannot be made on pure homopolymers. A comparison of the light-scattering and the viscosity data indicated that Φ in the Flory-Fox equation is lower than for more flexible polymers and increases with molecular weight, probably due to decreasing hydrodynamic permeability. Mark-Houwink exponents obtained from data extrapolated to infinite ionic strength were found to be considerably greater than 0.5, and we attribute this entirely to a variation in Φ. Comparison of the results obtained for the two mannuronate-rich samples indicated that the value of Φ and its variation with molecular weight can, in the case of alginates, differ markedly for chains, which, although having chemical differences, have similar chain statistics.     

自组装海藻酸钠纳米粒在正常小鼠体内分布的研究

目的:研究自组装海藻酸纳米粒(sSAN)在小鼠的体内分布情况,探讨sSAN作为维生素D3药物载体的可行性。方法:用异硫氰基荧光素(FITC)标记sSAN和负载维生素D3的海藻酸纳米粒(sSAN-VD3),将两种标记好的纳米粒分别给予小鼠灌胃,在不同的时间将小鼠处死,分别取血清和肝、肺、肾、脾,各脏器经匀浆后,用荧光分光光度计测定其荧光强度,计算血清和各组织中sSAN和sSAN-VD3的含量。结果:经灌胃给药后在小鼠血清、肝、肾、肺中均检测到上述药物,而脾中没有检测到。给药后0.5h和1h,sSAN-VD3-FITC及sSAN-FITC在肝、肺和血清中的含量持续增加,以1h时达峰值浓度,给药2h、4h后,两种制剂的浓度逐渐降低。在肾脏中的含量随着时间的延长逐渐增加,于2h时达峰值浓度,随后逐渐降低。结论:sSAN及sSAN-VD3经小鼠灌胃给药后均可吸收入血,而且口服吸收后在肝、肺、肾和血清中均有一定的分布。     

pH-induced self-assembly and capsules of sodium alginate

In this investigation, we used a kind of polyelectrolyte, sodium alginate, as a model biomacromolecule to investigate the aggregation behaviors in aqueous solution after partial protonation of carboxylate groups in the alginate molecules. It is demonstrated that the alginate assemblies with core-shell structure can be generated by the partial protonation of carboxylate groups in sodium alginate chains using the protons released gradually from the reaction of K(2)S(2)O(8) with water at 70 degrees C in aqueous solution. The partial cross-linked alginate assemblies are pH sensitive and can change to hollow structure in the medium with relatively high pH value. This approach avoids use of block or grafted copolymers as the precursors or any other template to prepare assemblies and capsules, and provides a functional surface for subsequent chemical reaction at the surface (e.g., for binding biomolecules and for surface grafting). Such unique assemblies are also expected to be useful in biomedical fields.     

Some properties of alginate gels derived from algal sodium alginate

Alginic acid in soluble sodium alginate turns to insoluble gel after contact with divalent metal ions, such as calcium ions. The sodium alginate character has an effect on the alginate gel properties. In order to prepare a suitable calcium alginate gel for use in seawater, the effects of sodium alginate viscosity and M/G ratio (the ratio of D-mannuronate to L-guluronate) on the gel strength were investigated. The wet tensile strengths of gel fibers derived from high viscosity sodium alginate were higher than those from low viscosity sodium alginate. The tensile strength increased with diminishing sodium alginate M/G ratio. Among the gel fibers tested, the gel fiber obtained from a sodium alginate I-5G (1% aqueous solution viscosity = 520 mPa·s, M/G ratio = 0.6) had the highest wet tensile strength. After 13 days treatment in seawater, the wet tensile strength of the gel fiber retained 36% of the original untreated gel strength. For sodium alginates with similar viscosities, the seawater tolerance of low M/G ratio alginate was greater than that of the high M/G ratio one. This study enables us to determine a suitable calcium alginate gel for use in seawater.     

Vitamin D3 and calcium absorption in the chick

1. An attempt has been made to locate the site of action of vitamin D(3) as it affects the translocation of calcium across the intestine. 2. Calcium appears to be pumped out of cells by a process dependent on energy from metabolism. 3. The effects of cold, inhibitors and vitamin D(3) on the translocation of calcium by everted sacs of intestine were studied and compared with results obtained in vivo. 4. A model was proposed to explain the results which suggests that vitamin D(3) inhibits a metabolically operated pump that returns calcium from the mucosal cell to the lumen. 5. Some observations on the effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on the translocation of calcium in vivo and in vitro are reported.     

Effects of acidity, cations and alcoholic fractionation on absorption of heparin from gastrointestinal tract.

Heparin was introduced into the stomach or duodenum of mice separately in doses of ca. 250 mg/kg. A slight anticoagulant effect in the systemic circulation was detected in whole blood clotting times and factor X inhibition. In contrast to most drugs, more heparin was absorbed from the stomach than from the intestine. Suppressing ionization of heparin by simultaneous administration of acid resulted in improved absorption of heparin from the small intestine. Heparin was separated with ethanol into five molecular weight fraction: I, 17 999; II, 13 i99; III, 10800, IV, 8 700; and V, 6 700. Each was introduced into the duodenum of mice with citric acid. The maximum hypocoagulability was produced with fraction IV. When administered in distilled water instead of in citric acid, this heparin fraction did not produce an anticoagulant effect. These studies demonstrated that improvement of heparin absorption from the gastrointestinal tract can be obtained by the combination of suppressing ionization and selecting molecular size.     

Effects of water vapor absorption on the physical and chemical stability of amorphous sodium indomethacin

This study reports on the effects that water absorbed into amorphous sodium indomethacin (NaIMC) can have on simultaneous tendencies to crystallize to its trihydrate form and to undergo base-catalyzed hydrolysis because of the plasticizing effects of water on molecular mobility. Measurement of water vapor absorption at 30°C and powder x-ray diffraction patterns as a function of relative humidity (RH) reveal that upon exposure to 21% RH, NaIMC does not crystallize over a 2-month period. Measurements of the glass transition temperature as a function of such exposure reveals a change in T _g from 121°C, dry, to 53°C at 21% RH, such that T _g at 21% RH is ≈13°C above the highest storage temperature of 40°C used in the study. At 56% RH and higher, however, crystallization to the trihydrate occurs rapidly; although over the 2-month period, crystallization was never complete. Assessment of chemical degradation by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed significant instability at 21% RH; whereas at higher RH, the extent of chemical degradation was reduced, reflecting the greater crystallization to the more chemically stable crystalline form. It is concluded that when amorphous forms of salts occur in solid dosage forms, the simultaneous effects of enhanced water vapor sorption on crystallization and chemical degradation must be considered, particularly when assessing solid-state chemical degradation at higher temperatures and RH (eg, 40°C 75% RH).     

Effects of monovalent cations on the sodium-alanine interaction in rabbit ileum. Implication of anionic groups in sodium binding

H, K, Rb, and Li inhibit Na-dependent alanine influx across the brush border of rabbit ileum. Kinetic analysis indicates that H and K behave as competitive inhibitors of influx so that increasing the concentration of H or K in the mucosal solution is kinetically indistinguishable from decreasing the Na concentration. In addition the coupling between alanine and Na influxes is markedly reduced at pH 2.5. With the exception of H and Li, none of these monovalent cations significantly affects carrier-mediated alanine influx in the absence of Na indicating that their inhibitory effects are largely restricted to the Na-dependent fraction of influx. Increasing H concentration from 0.03 to 3 mM does not affect influx in the absence of Na but markedly inhibits influx in the presence of Na. Li significantly enhances alanine influx in the absence of Na. Ag, UO₂, and La also inhibit the Na-dependent fraction of alanine influx. These findings suggest that anionic groups having a pK_a of approximately 4 are involved in the interaction between Na and the alanine-carrier complex; present evidence implicates carboxylate groups however, phosphoryl residues cannot be ruled out. The previously proposed kinetic model for the Na-alanine interaction has been extended to accommodate these effects of H and other monovalent cations. The mechanistic and physiological implications of these findings are discussed.     

海藻酸钠包埋法制备固定化菠萝蛋白酶

以海藻酸钠为载体,包埋法固定菠萝蛋白酶,对固定化奈件进行优化,同时探讨固定化菠萝蛋白酶的部分酶学性能。结果表明：固定化菠萝蛋白酶的质量受海藻酸钠质量分数、固定化酶量、固定化时间以及CaCl2质量分数的影响,其最佳固定化条件为：海藻酸钠质量分数1．0％,CaCl2质量分数3％,固定化酶液量与海藻酸钠体积之比1：2,固定化时间60min,在此条件下,制备的固定化菠萝蛋白酶的比活力为211．8U／g（湿质量载体）,由此制得的固定化酶的最适pH为7．6,与游离酶相比,升高了0．8个pH单位,同时显示固定化菠萝蛋白酶能耐受较高的碱性环境,固定化酶最适温度与游离酶相同,均为50℃,固定化酶在较高温度范围内,仍能保持较高的相对活力。