1. PREPARATION OF AMINO ACID AND PEPTIDE POLYSACCHARIDE DERIVATIVES AND THEIR APPLICATION AS BIOMATERIALS : doctoral dissertationAna Bratuša, 2024, doctoral dissertation Abstract: The derivatization of the polysaccharide dextran with N-protected amino acids (Boc-L-Phenylalanine, BocGlycine, Boc-L-Cysteine, and Boc-L-Cysteine-S-Trt) and peptides (Boc-L-DiPhenylalanine, Boc DiGlycine, and 2,5-diketopiperazine) as the basis for biomaterial preparation is presented in this Doctoral Dissertation. Such prepared dextran derivatives are intended to mimic the proteoglycan complex (PGs), one of the most important structural and functional biomacromolecules in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissue. Nowadays, developments in biomaterials are focusing increasingly on the preparation and use of biomimetic molecular structures to achieve positive results in tissue engineering (TE) and drug delivery. Designing and synthesizing these biomimetic materials, however, requires sophisticated chemical and material preparation methods, knowledge that is, currently, unexplored.
In this work, we developed a suitable procedure for dextran derivatization, and investigated the most optimal reaction or deprotection conditions (temperature and time) and isolation/purification methods. The structures of the obtained BocPhe-Dex, BocGly-Dex, BocCys-Dex, and BocSTLC-Dex were analyzed with FTIR, NMR, SEC-MALS, and EA. The results showed that dextran derivatization was successful in all cases except in the case of dextran derivatization with BocCys. Investigation of the effect of the derivatization conditions and purification on the stability, purity, and other important chemical and physical properties of the obtained product, showed that the temperature and time of derivatization do not have a bigger effect on the products' properties, while the purification method, on the other hand, has. Its effect is visible in the product's purity and mass yields of products prepared under the same reaction conditions.
Derivatization of dextran with peptides (Boc-L-DiPhenylalanine, BocDiGlycine, and 2,5-diketopiperazine) was performed using the CDI coupling agent or Amberlite-IR 120 as a catalyst. The products were analyzed with FTIR and 1H and 13C NMR. The results showed successful dextran derivatization in the case of BocDiPhenylalanine and BocDiGlycine, while, in the case of 2,5-diketopiperazine, a reaction covalent bond with the dextran was not confirmed.
BocPhe-Dex and BocSTLC-Dex were selected as the most optimal amino acid-dextran derivatives for further preparation of 3D formulations in the shape of nanoparticles (NPs). Nanoparticles were prepared with the emulsion/solvent evaporation method from the obtained BocPhe-Dex and BocSTLC-Dex products (prepared in the first stage of this Doctoral Dissertation). SEM analysis showed that the prepared NPs were homogeneous and nicely spherical, with an average dry diameter of 325 ± 118 nm in the case of BocSTLC-Dex, and 1039 ± 382 nm in the case of NPs prepared from BocPhe-Dex. All the prepared NPs retained their proper spherical shape and stability during the acidic treatment, and so confirmed their potential for further functionalization and applications for drug delivery. The BocSTLC-Dex NPs were also evaluated with cell viability tests, which showed that the prepared NPs were not cytotoxic, one of the most important characteristics for the drug delivery applications of NPs.
This work serves as a basis for further studies on the derivatization of polysaccharides with amino acids and peptides, and their application in tissue engineering or drug delivery. Keywords: Amino Acid-Dextran derivatives, Peptide-Dextran derivatives, Proteoglycan complex, 3D formulation, Nanoparticles, Drug delivery Published in DKUM: 18.10.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 25 Full text (9,08 MB) |
2. A monocarbonyl curcuminoid derivative inhibits the activity of human glutathione transferase A4-4 and chemosensitizes glioblastoma cells to temozolomideSteliana Tsouri, Evanthia Tselo, Georgios E. Premetis, Veronika Furlan, Panagiota D. Pantiora, Barbara Mavroidi, Dimitris Matiadis, Maria Pelecanou, Anastassios C. Papageorgiou, Urban Bren, Marina Sagnou, Nikolaos E. Labrou, 2024, original scientific article Keywords: chemosensitization, chemoresistance, curcumin, glioblastoma, human glutathione transferase A4-4, ellagic acid, monocarbonyl curcumin derivatives, GST inhibition, temozolomide sensitization Published in DKUM: 23.08.2024; Views: 66; Downloads: 5 Full text (2,60 MB) |
3. Optimal positioning of mobile cranes on construction sites using nonlinear programming with discontinuous derivativesMatjaž Hozjan, Uroš Klanšek, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Mobile cranes represent conventional construction machinery that is indispensable for the erection of most prefabricated buildings, especially those containing heavy components. However, it is also common knowledge that the engagement of these machines has a significant influence on the environment, various social aspects of the construction process, and its economic benefits. Optimal positioning of the mobile crane on the construction site, primarily driven by the contractor’s interest to perform assembly operations with expensive machinery as effectively as possible, considerably reduces not only the costs of engaging such a machine but indirectly also its negative impacts on construction sustainability. This paper discusses an exact nonlinear model for the optimization task. The optimization model consists of a cost objective function that is subject to various duration and positioning constraints for the mobile crane, including bounds on its degrees of freedom of movement and stop positions. Because the model formulation includes discontinuous and non-smooth expressions, nonlinear programming with discontinuous derivatives (DNLP) was employed to ensure the optimal solution was reached. The model provides the mobile crane operator with exact key information that enables the complete and optimal assembly of the building structure under consideration. Additionally, the information gained on the optimal distribution of the mobile crane rental period to assembly operations allows for a detailed duration analysis of the entire process of building structure erection, which can be used for its further improvement. An application example is given in this study to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed approach. Keywords: construction sustainability, mobile crane, nonlinear programming with discontinuous derivatives, optimization, positioning Published in DKUM: 18.12.2023; Views: 403; Downloads: 20 File (877,26 KB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Reduction of the mean hedging transaction costsMiklavž Mastinšek, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Transaction costs of derivative hedging appear in financial markets. This paper considers the problem of delta hedging and the reduction of expected proportional transaction costs. In the literature the expected approximate proportional transaction costs are customarily estimated by the gamma term, usually the largest term of the associated series expansion. However, when options are to expire in a month or few weeks, other terms may become even larger so that more precise estimates are needed. In this paper, different higher-order estimates of proportional transaction costs are analyzed. The problem of the reduction of expected transaction costs is considered. As a result, a suitably adjusted delta is given, for which the expected approximate proportional transaction costs can be reduced. The order of the mean and the variance of the hedging error can be preserved. Several examples are provided. Keywords: derivatives, delta hedging, transaction costs, hedging error Published in DKUM: 03.04.2017; Views: 1276; Downloads: 185 Full text (662,21 KB) This document has many files! More... |
5. l-(6-0-Acetil-3, 4-Dideoksi-3-Fluoro-ß-D-Glicero-Hex-3-enopiranozil-2-Uloza)-N4-Benzoil Citozin je močan inhibitor replikacije pseudorabies virusa v okuženih celicahTanja Botić, Stella Manta, Dimitri Komiotis, Francois Lefevre, Avrelija Cencič, 2009, original scientific article Keywords: fluoro-glukopiranozil derivati, ketonukleozidi, antivirusna aktivnost, DNA virus, fluoro-glucopyranosyl derivatives, ketonucleosides, antiviral activity, DNA virus Published in DKUM: 10.07.2015; Views: 1160; Downloads: 38 Link to full text |
6. Technical analysis of the financial markets : a comprehensive guide to trading methods and applicationsJohn J. Murphy, manual Keywords: financial market, finances, financial systems, securities, stock market, indicators, derivatives, futures, options, interests, cycles, trading, financial management, methods, application, technical analysis, financial analysis, exchange, trends, guidebooks Published in DKUM: 01.06.2012; Views: 3455; Downloads: 248 Link to full text |