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Happy Birthday to our EIC of The Open Anatomy Journal!

Editor’s Choice: Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology

Editor-in-Chief:
Ijeoma F. Uchegbu
Department of Pharmaceutics, University of London
London
UK

Cellular Response to Ferroelectric PVDF-TrFE Nanoscale Surfaces Formed by Varying Polymer Concentration

Author(s): Manus J.P. Biggs, Eva Parisi Capdevila, Catalina Valejo-Giraldo and Shalom J. Wind

Affiliation: Network for Excellence in Functional Biomaterials, National University of Ireland Galway, Biosciences Building. Galway, Ireland.

Abstract

Poly[(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene] [PVDF(TrFE)], a ferroelectric polymer capable of undergoing strain of up to 7% is both highly chemically resistant and has the advantage of being cytocompatible. Here we present a preliminary study into the response of mesenchymal stem cells to spin-coated PVDF(TrFE) films and examine how the polymer concentration influences electrophysical film properties and cell adhesion. Surface characterization was quantitatively assayed in terms of topography, roughness, wettability and chemistry, while the ferroelectric response of the films was confirmed via electrical probing of the polarization-field hysteresis. At the micron- and nanoscale scale, AFM analysis revealed that PVDF(TrFE) exhibited increased roughness and topographical features with increasing PVDF(TrFE) concentration. PVDF(TrFE) films displayed higher contact angles compared with control glass substrates, as indicated by wettability assay, yet elemental composition was unchanged. Electric field/polarization response analysis revealed films required bias voltages of up 100 v to undergo saturated polarisation hysteresis. Mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on PVDF(TrFE) films for up to 7 days, and assessed by morphometric analysis, focal adhesion quantification and real-time PCR. Cells grown on films formed from 3% w/v PVDF(TrFE) solutions exhibited significantly higher expression of FAK and focal adhesion reinforcement following 1 day of culture, indicating nanoscale roughness in PVDF(TrFE) films as a potent modulator of MSC adhesion to ferroelectric polymers.

For more details, please visit: http://benthamscience.com/journal/abstracts.php?journalID=pnt&articleID=119858

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Video from Bentham Science Publishers: A Podcast from Ashim K. Mitra on his eBook ‘Treatise on Ocular Drug Delivery’

Treatise on Ocular Drug Delivery

eISBN: 978-1-60805-175-5, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-60805-347-6

Editor:
Ashim K. Mitra
University of Missouri-Kansas City
USA

Introduction

A multidisciplinary approach is increasingly being adapted by the Pharmaceutical industry to tackle several challenges in developing efficacious treatment solutions. The field of Ophthalmology is no less different. Treatise on Ocular Drug Delivery is a unique collection of information put together by various experts in the field. One of the major goals behind this volume is to link clinical information with the current strategies employed in ocular drug delivery. This monograph covers a range of topics on ocular pharmacology. Chapters in the e-book cover several aspects of drug delivery research such as the biochemical background of specific eye diseases, challenges for ocular drug delivery, the role of influx and efflux transporters, novel drug delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, regulatory aspects, and patenting opportunities for researchers. This E-Book would serve as a suitable reference for pharmacy graduates, medical students, professional scientists and ophthalmic clinicians in academic and industrial laboratories.

For more details on the eBook, please visit: http://benthamscience.com/ebooks/9781608051755/index.htm

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Brand New Volume of BSP eBook!

Series Title: Advances in Genome Science
Volume Title: Keeping up with Genome Sequence and Expression (Volume 3)

eISBN:978-1-60805-820-4, 2014 
ISBN:978-1-60805-821-1

Editor: 
Christian Neri
Research Director at INSERM
INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGY PARIS-SEINE (IBPS)
CNRS UMR8256 Biology of Adaptation and Aging Team Neuronal Cell Biology & Pathology
University Pierre and Marie Curie
9 Quai St Bernard
75005 Paris
France 

Introduction

Genome science or genomics is essential to advancing knowledge in the fields of biology and medicine. Specifically, researchers learn about the molecular biology behind genetic expression in living organisms and related methods of treating human genetic diseases (including gene therapy). Advances in Genome Science is an e-book series which provides a multi-disciplinary view of some of the latest developments in genome research, allowing readers to capture the essence and diversity of genomics in contemporary science.

The third volume of this ebook series features a variety of articles exploring oncogenomics, mouse genetics, feline genetics, genetic mechnanism for pain, the genetics of weeds and much more.

For details on the eBook, please visit: http://benthamscience.com/ebooks/9781608058204/index.htm

SMI Event: COPD

COPD

20^TH OCT – 21^ST OCT 2014

Holiday Inn Regents Park, London UK

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COPD 2014 will include new sessions such as Patient Care and The Future of COPD, as well as presenting attendees with in-depth information on exacerbation and comorbidities, ensuring a successful clinical trial design and challenges in drug development and market access.  For further details visit http://www.smi-online.co.uk/goto/2014copd-conference7.asp

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