Glove movement can affect chemical permeation of organic compounds through
polymer glove products. However, conflicting reports make it difficult to compare the
effects of movement on chemical permeation through commonly available glove types. This
study was aimed to evaluate the effect of movement on chemical permeation of an organic
solvent through disposable latex, nitrile, and vinyl gloves. Simulated whole-glove
permeation testing was conducted using ethyl alcohol and a previously designed permeation
test system. With exposure to movement, a significant decrease (p
≤ 0.001) in breakthrough time was observed for the latex (-23%) and
nitrile gloves (-31%). With exposure to movement, only the nitrile glove exhibited
a significant increase (p ≤ 0.001) in steady-state permeation
rate (+47%) and cumulative permeation at 30 min (+111%).
Even though the nitrile glove provided optimum chemical resistance against ethyl alcohol,
it was most affected by movement. With exposure to movement, the latex glove was an
equivalent option for overall worker protection, because it was less affected by movement
and the permeation rate was lower than that of the nitrile glove. In contrast, the vinyl
glove was the least affected by movement, but did not provide adequate chemical resistance
to ethyl alcohol in comparison with the nitrile and latex gloves. In conclusion, glove
selection should take movement and polymer type into account. Some glove polymer types are
less affected by movement, most notably the latex glove in this test. With nitrile gloves,
at least a factor of three should be used when attempting to assign a protection factor
when repetitive hand motions are anticipated. Ultimately, the latex gloves outperformed
nitrile and vinyl in these tests, which evaluated the effect of movement on chemical
permeation. Future research should aim to resolve some of the observed discrepancies in
test results with latex and vinyl gloves.
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is performed using near-infrared-responsive agents, which is proven to be an effective therapeutic strategy against cancer with several advantages including minimal invasion, high effectiveness, and easy implementation.
Nanotechnology-based photo-chemo combination therapy has been extensively investigated to improve therapeutic outcomes in anticancer treatment. Specifically, with the help of a singlet oxygen generated by the photosensitizer, the endocytosed nanoparticles are allowed to escape from the endosomal compartment, which is currently an obstacle in nanotechnology-based anticancer therapy. In this study, a liposomal complex system (Lipo (Pep, Ce6)), composed of a chlorin e6-conjugated di-block copolymer (PEG-PLL(-g-Ce6)) and a D-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide loading liposome (Lipo (Pep)), was developed and evaluated for its anticancer activity. Due to the membrane lytic ability of the D-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide and the membrane disruptive effect of the singlet oxygen generated from chlorin e6, Lipo (Pep, Ce6) accelerated the disruption of the endosomal compartment, and exhibited strong synergistic anticancer activity in vitro. The prepared liposomal complex system could potentially maximize the efficacy of the nanotechnology-based photo-chemo combination therapy, and can be regarded as a novel, versatile strategy in advanced tumor therapy.
Background:
A very common and simple method (known as the blending method) to formulate drug delivery systems with required properties is to physically mix amphiphilic block copolymers with different hydrophobicity. In addition to its simplicity, this blending strategy could help avoid the time and effort involved in the synthesis of block copolymers with the desired structure required for specific drug formulations.
Purpose:
We used the blending strategy to design a system that could overcome the problem of high hydrophobicity and be a good candidate for drug product development using PEG-PLA-PEG triblock copolymers.
Methods:
Two types of PEG-PLA-PEG triblock copolymers with similar (long) PLA molecular weights (MWs) and different PEG MWs were synthesized. The micellar formulations were prepared by blending the two block copolymers in various ratios. The size and stability of the blending systems were subsequently investigated to optimize the formulations for further studies. The loading properties of doxorubicin or paclitaxel into the optimized blending system were compared to that in mono systems (systems composed of only a single type of triblock copolymer). In vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects of the preparations were evaluated to assess the use of the blending system as an optimal nanomedicine platform for insoluble anticancer agents.
Results:
The blending system (B20 system) with an optimized ratio of the triblock copolymers overcame the drawbacks of mono systems. Drug uptake from the drug-loaded B20 system and its anticancer effects against KB cells were superior compared to those of free drugs (doxorubicin hydrochloride and free paclitaxel). In particular, doxorubicin-loaded B20 resulted in extensive doxorubicin accumulation in tumor tissues and significantly higher in vivo anti-cancer effects compared to free doxorubicin.
Conclusion:
The blending system reported here could be a potential nanoplatform for drug delivery due to its simplicity and efficiency for pharmaceutical application.
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