Biomedical subjects

K C Tam

Publications and source records attributed to K C Tam.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Self-assembly of well-defined mono and dual end-capped C(60) containing polyacrylic acids in aqueous solution.

Well-defined stimuli-responsive mono and dual fullerene (C(60)) end-capped poly(acrylic acid)s (PAA-C(60) and C(60)-PAA-C(60)) were synthesized by reacting C(60) with well-defined mono and dual azide end-functionalized poly(tert-butyl acrylate)s, followed by hydrolysis. The aggregation behaviors of these C(60) end-capped polymers in aqueous solution were examined using potentiometric and conductometric titrations and static and dynamic light scattering as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both PAA-C(60) and C(60)-PAA-C(60) show pH-responsive and water-soluble properties at high pH. Both polymers self-assemble to form large compound micelles (LCMs) in aqueous solutions. The LCMs of PAA-C(60) exist as "compact aggregates", whereas the LCMs of C(60)-PAA-C(60) possess a "core-shell" structure with a larger size and aggregation number. The micelles for both polymers swell upon neutralization, where the R(h) of PAA-C(60) micelles increases from approximately 44 to approximately 102 nm and the R(h) of C(60)-PAA-C(60) aggregates varies from approximately 89 to approximately 128 nm with increasing degree of neutralization. The lower swelling of the dual end-capped C(60)-PAA-C(60) system is related to its higher C(60) content, which enhances the interpolymer chain hydrophobic association that restrains the swelling of micellar aggregates.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Aggregation behavior and thermodynamics of binding between poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and plasmid DNA.

The aggregation behavior and the thermodynamics of binding between poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PDEAEMA) block copolymers and plasmid DNA were examined. Binding between the polymer and DNA were confirmed by gel electrophoresis. The high affinity between the polymer and DNA was demonstrated through the ethidium bromide (EtBr) displacement assay, and the binding was found to be related to the stoichiometric balance between the amine group of the polymer and the DNA nucleotide molar ratio (N/P molar ratio). The light scattering and TEM results showed that, at low polymer concentration, the hydrodynamic radii (R(h)) of the polymer/DNA complexes was around 90 nm; however, at sufficiently high polymer concentration, the complexes condensed to around 35 nm induced by a structural rearrangement of the amphiphilic nature of the block copolymer. The isothermal titration calorimetric results showed that the binding between the polymer and DNA is driven by a large favorable enthalpy.

Calorimetry↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis and self-assembly of [60]fullerene containing sulfobetaine polymer in aqueous solution.

A well-defined poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA-b-C60) was synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique and betainized with 1,3-sulfobetaine to yield a Bet-PDMAEMA-b-C60. The solution properties were then studied by light transmittance, viscometric, 1H NMR laser light scattering, and transmission electron macroscopic techniques. It was found that Bet-PDMAEMA-b-C60 exhibits an upper critical solution temperature (USCT) similar to that observed for Bet-PDMAEMA in aqueous solution. However, the modification of Bet-PDMAEMA with a C60 molecule increases the UCST of Bet-PDMAEMA in solution, which is a function of the solution ionic strength. Addition of a small amount of salt increases the UCST, similar to polyelectrolyte systems, while the presence of an excess amount of salt leads to a decrease in the UCST, attributed to the antipolyelectrolyte effect of polyampholytes. In aqueous salt solution, Bet-PDMAEMA-b-C60 chains self-assemble into micelles that coexist with unimeric Bet-PDMAEMA-b-C60 chains. TEM studies revealed that the system agglomerates when the temperature exceeds the UCST.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Effect of enzymatic degradation on the release kinetics of model drug from Pluronic F127/poly(lactic acid) nano-particles.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was successfully grafted to both ends of Pluronic F127 block copolymer (PEO-PPO-PEO) to obtain amphiphilic PLA-F127-PLA block copolymers. The effect of enzymatic degradation on the release behaviors of hydrophobic model drug 9-(methylaminomethyl)anthracene (MAMA) from PLA-F127-PLA nano-particles with vesicular structure was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was observed that the release rate of MAMA from PLA-F127-PLA nano-particles with the enzymatic degradation varied with temperature due to the activity of the enzyme with temperature. However, the enzyme concentration has negligible effect on the release rates of MAMA.

Anthracenes↗

PubMed2005

Dissolution and swelling behaviors of random and cross-linked methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymers.

The neutralization behaviors of random and cross-linked methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate (MAA-EA) copolymers were examined as a function of degree of neutralization (alpha) using potentiometric titration and laser light scattering techniques. The random MAA-EA copolymers exhibit a conformational transition from a compact latex particle to a swollen randomly coiled aggregate upon neutralization over a certain range of alpha. With further addition of NaOH, the swollen aggregates dissociate into several smaller clusters. This conformational change is controlled by the balance between electrostatic repulsion within ionized MAA groups and hydrophobic attraction of EA. The cross-linked MAA-EA copolymers do not undergo a drastic conformational change during neutralization. The polymer latex particles swell slightly upon neutralization, and the extent of chain expansion is proportional to MAA molar composition and inversely proportional to cross-linked density. The electrostatic Gibbs energy (DeltaG(el)) obtained from the potentiometric titration data indicates that a higher MAA portion is favorable for the deprotonization of both the random and cross-linked MAA-EA copolymers, suggesting that the dissociation is mainly dominated by polymer structure instead of the electrostatic attraction between H(+) and -COO(-). Moreover, static and dynamic light scattering results confirmed that the cross-linked latex particle exists as monodispersed hard sphere in the collapsed state, whereas in its swollen state the latex particle possesses a core-shell structure.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Interactions between poly(acrylic acid) and sodium dodecyl sulfate: isothermal titration calorimetric and surfactant ion-selective electrode studies.

Interaction between a monodispersed poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (M(W) = 5670 g/mol, M(w)/M(n) = 1.02) with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), ion-selective electrode (ISE), and dynamic light scattering measurements. Contrary to previous studies, we report for the first time evidence of interaction between SDS and PAA when the degree of neutralization (alpha) of PAA is lower than 0.2. Hydrocarbon chains of SDS cooperatively bind to apolar segments of PAA driven by hydrophobic interaction. The interaction is both enthalpy and entropy favored (deltaH is negative but deltaS is positive). In 0.05 wt % PAA solution, the SDS concentration corresponding to the onset of binding (i.e., CAC) is approximately 2.4 mM and the saturation concentration (i.e., C(S)) is approximately 13.3 mM when alpha = 0. When PAA was neutralized and ionized, the binding was hindered by the enhanced electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged SDS and PAA chains and improved solubility of the polymer. With increasing alpha to 0.2, CAC increases to approximately 6.2 mM, C(S) drops to 8.6 mM, and the interaction is significantly weakened where the amount of bound SDS on PAA is reduced considerably. The values of CAC and C(S) derived from different techniques are in good agreement. The binding results in the formation of mixed micelles on apolar PAA coils, which then expands and dissociates into single PAA chains. The majority of unneutralized PAA molecules exist as single polymer chains stabilized by bound SDS micelles in solution after the saturation concentration.

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMed2005

Is symptomatology useful in distinguishing between carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spondylosis?

Hand paraesthesia is a common symptom found in patients either with carpal tunnel syndrome or cervical spondylosis. To differentiate between the two conditions, it is important to identify additional diagnostic symptoms. Ninety-two patients with operated carpal tunnel syndrome and 138 patients with spinal surgery for cervical spondylosis were reviewed. After exclusion of cases co-morbid with both cervical spondylosis and carpal tunnel syndrome or other neurological disorders, 44 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 41 patients with cervical spondylosis were compared. There were significant differences in the symptomatology between the two groups. In carpal tunnel syndrome, 84% had nocturnal paraesthesia, 82% hand paraesthesia were aggravated by hand activity, and hand pain occurred in 64%. The incidences were only 10%, 7% and 10%, respectively in cervical spondylosis. Neck pain was present in 76% of cervical spondylosis but only in 14% of carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower limb symptoms were present in 44% of cervical spondylosis and only 9% in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗

PubMed2004

Release kinetics of hydrophobic and hydrophilic model drugs from pluronic F127/poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was successfully grafted to both ends of Pluronic F127 block copolymers (PEO-PPO-PEO) to obtain amphiphilic PLA-F127-PLA block copolymers. The block composition and structure of PLA-F127-PLA block copolymers were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD) techniques. Data from DSC and WXRD measurements indicated that Tg and Tm of PLA blocks in PLA-F127-PLA block polymers are lower than those of PLA homopolymer. Furthermore, Tm and crystallinity of PLA blocks decrease with decreasing PLA block length in PLA-F127-PLA block copolymers. The release behaviors of both hydrophobic 9-(methylaminomethyl)anthracene (MAMA) and hydrophilic procaine hydrochloride (PrHy) model drugs from PLA-F127-PLA nanoparticles with vesicular structure in PBS solution at 37 degrees C were examined by UV spectroscopy. The release kinetics of both MAMA and PrHy model drugs from PLA-F127-PLA nanoparticles exhibit burst release characteristics, which are believed to be controlled by concentration gradient resulting from the slow hydrolytic degradation of PLA segments.

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions↗

PubMed2004

Self-assembly behavior of a stimuli-responsive water-soluble [60]fullerene-containing polymer.

A novel pH- and temperature-responsive water-soluble [60]fullerene-containing poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (C60-b-PDMAEMA) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The pH and temperature dependence of the physical properties of the aqueous C60-b-PDMAEMA solution was studied by potentiometric and conductometric titrations, UV-vis transmittance, and laser light scattering techniques. At low pH and at temperatures ranging from 25 to 55 degrees C, in addition to C60-b-PDMAEMA unimers, micelle-like aggregates are produced in the aqueous solution containing C60 hydrophobic cores and protonated PDMAEMA shells. Only unimeric C60-b-PDMAEMAs are found to exist in solution at high pH and low temperature, where PDMAEMA segments form a charge-transfer complex with C60 molecules. However, C60-b-PDMAEMA precipitates from aqueous solution at temperatures exceeding the lower critical solution temperature of PDMAEMA of approximately 45 degrees C. The pH and temperature stimuli-responsive properties of the [60]fullerene-containing polymer in aqueous solution are completely reversible.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Binding of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide to pH-responsive nanocolloids containing cross-linked methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymers.

The binding of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DoTab) to cross-linked methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate (MAA-EA) copolymers with various MAA/EA molar ratios at different degrees of neutralization (alpha) was quantitatively studied using isothermal titration calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, surfactant selective electrode, and electrophoresis techniques. The surfactant binds to the polymers at all degrees of neutralization, but via different mechanisms. When alpha is sufficiently high, the binding is primarily electrostatic interaction between the surfactant and ionized polymer chains, which is reinforced by the micellization of electrostatically bound surfactant molecules. The saturation takes place at charge ratio ([DoTa(+)]/[ approximately COO(-)]) close to 1, indicating that the binding is a one-to-one charge neutralization between the cationic surfactant headgroups and anionic carboxylate sites of the polymers. When alpha is low, the binding of DoTab to the unneutralized polymers is driven by the hydrophobic interaction. The onset of hydrophobic binding takes place at DoTab concentration as low as 0.01 mM in 0.05 wt % polymer solution, where the saturation occurs at C(DoTab) approximately 0.19 mM and the amount of bound surfactant is approximately 0.09 mmol of DoTab/(g of polymer) at saturation concentration. The binding results in the formation of the polymer-surfactant complex. For the polymer with low MAA/EA molar ratio, the complex coagulates at a higher DoTab concentration that leads to phase separation; however, for polymers with high MAA/EA molar ratio, the complex remains dispersed and the mixture is stable even at high DoTab concentration.

Acrylates↗

PubMed2004

Spiral scan long object reconstruction through PI line reconstruction.

The response of a point object in a cone beam (CB) spiral scan is analysed. Based on the result, a reconstruction algorithm for long object imaging in spiral scan cone beam CT is developed. A region-of-interest (ROI) of the long object is scanned with a detector smaller than the ROI, and a portion of it can be reconstructed without contamination from overlaying materials. The top and bottom surfaces of the ROI are defined by two sets of PI lines near the two ends of the spiral path. With this novel definition of the top and bottom ROI surfaces and through the use of projective geometry, it is straightforward to partition the cone beam image into regions corresponding to projections of the ROI, the overlaying objects or both. This also simplifies computation at source positions near the spiral ends, and makes it possible to reduce radiation exposure near the spiral ends substantially through simple hardware collimation. Simulation results to validate the algorithm are presented.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Isothermal titration calorimetric studies on the temperature dependence of binding interactions between poly(propylene glycol)s and sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a sensitive research tool for examining the binding interactions between surfactant and polymer where the differential enthalpy during the binding process is monitored. In addition to the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and the micellization enthalpy (deltaHm), the effective micellar charge fraction (beta) of the ionic surfactant micellization process can also be determined from ITC thermograms. Poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) exhibits a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) ranging from 15 to 42 degrees C, depending on the molecular weights. We report, for the first time, the binding interactions between sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Da PPGs, where different binding mechanisms are in operation, depending on the temperature. At temperatures lower than the LCST, the binding interactions are similar to those of SDS and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol)s (MW < 3500 Da). At temperatures greater than the LCST, the binding interactions are dominated by direct solubilization of PPG chains into mixed micellar cores. At temperatures near the LCST, the binding interactions are controlled by the balance ofthe PPG solubilization at low SDS concentrations and polymer-induced micellization at high SDS concentrations.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Salt-assisted and salt-suppressed sol-gel transitions of methylcellulose in water.

The effects of various salts on the sol-gel transition of aqueous methylcellulose (MC) solutions have been studied systematically by means of a micro differential scanning calorimeter. It was found that the heating process was endothermic while the cooling process was exothermic for both MC solutions with and without salts. The addition of salts did not change the patterns of gelation and degelation of MC. However, the salts could shift the sol-gel transition and the gel-sol transition to lower or higher temperatures from a pure MC solution, depending on the salt type. These opposite effects were termed the salt-assisted and salt-suppressed sol-gel transitions. Either the salt-assisted transition or the salt-suppressed sol-gel transition was a function of salt concentration. In addition, each salt was found to have its own concentration limit for producing a stable aqueous solution of MC at a given concentration of MC, which was related to the anionic charge density of the salt. Cations were proved to have weaker effects than anions. The "salt-out strength", defined as the salt effect per mole of anion, was obtained for each anion studied. The thermodynamic mechanisms involved in the salt-assisted and salt-suppressed sol-gel transitions are discussed.

Anions↗

PubMed2004

A survey of attitudes to Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong pharmacy students.

OBJECTIVES: To study the attitudes and personal experiences with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use in pharmacy students. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: University School of Pharmacy. METHODS: Pharmacy students were asked 17 questions according to an anonymous survey questionnaire. RESULTS: All 91 students (46% males) participated in the survey. The attitude toward TCM use was positive in 40%, neutral in 59% and negative in only 1%. On scales from 0 to 10, the mean (SD) scores for the adequacy of the current curriculum in TCM training and state of TCM knowledge were 3.2 (2.0) and 3.6 (1.6), respectively. Of the 35 participants who had used TCM in the past year, nearly half did so without any TCM practitioner consultation. Seventy-four percent reported that they had not been told of any side effects of TCM. When comparing the third year with first or second year students, there was no significant difference between any of these findings. CONCLUSION: The training in TCM within this 3-year pharmacy curriculum appears inadequate. Most students are not aware of any possible side effects in TCM. The attitude and practice do not appear to vary significantly between successive year of pharmacy students.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2002

Filtering point spread function in backprojection cone-beam CT and its applications in long object imaging.

In backprojection cone-beam CT the cone-beam projection images are first filtered, then 3D backprojected into the object space. In this paper the point spread function (PSF) for the filtering operation is studied. For the cases where the normalization matrix is a constant, i.e. all integration planes intersect the scan path the same number of times, the derivation of the PSF is extended to the general case of limited angular range for the Radon line integrals. It is found that the 2D component of the PSF can be reduced to the form of space-variant 1D Hilbert transforms. The application of the PSF to a number of aspects in long object imaging will be discussed.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2000

Exact radon rebinning algorithm for the long object problem in helical cone-beam CT.

This paper addresses the long object problem in helical cone-beam computed tomography. We present the PHI-method, a new algorithm for the exact reconstruction of a region-of-interest (ROI) of a long object from axially truncated data extending only slightly beyond the ROI. The PHI-method is an extension of the Radon-method, published by Kudo, Noo, and Defrise in issue 43 of journal Physics in Medicine and Biology. The key novelty of the PHI-method is the introduction of a virtual object fpsi(x) for each value of the azimuthal angle psi in the image space, with each virtual object having the property of being equal to the true object f(x) in some ROI omegam. We show that, for each psi, one can calculate exact Radon data corresponding to the two-dimensional (2-D) parallel-beam projection of fpsi(x) onto the meridian plane of angle psi. Given an angular range of length pi of such parallel-beam projections, the ROI omegam can be exactly reconstructed because f(x) is identical to fpsi(x) in Omegam. Simulation results are given for both the Radon-method and the PHI-method indicating that 1) for the case of short objects, the Radon- and PHI-methods produce comparable image quality, 2) for the case of long objects, the PHI-method delivers the same image quality as in the short object case, while the Radon-method fails, and 3) the image quality produced by the PHI-method is similar for a large range of pitch values.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2000

Exact (spiral + circles) scan region-of-interest cone beam reconstruction via backprojection.

We present a (spiral + circles) scan cone beam reconstruction algorithm in which image reconstruction proceeds via backprojection in the object space. In principle, the algorithm can reconstruct sectional region-of-interest (ROI) in a long object. The approach is a generalization of the cone beam backprojection technique developed by Kudo and Saito in two aspects: the resource-demanding normalization step in the Kudo and Saito's algorithm is eliminated through the technique of data combination that we published earlier, and the elimination of the restriction that the detector be big enough to capture the entire cone beam projection of the ROI. Restricting the projection data to the appropriate angular range required by data combination can be accomplished by a masking process. Because of the simplification resulting from the elimination of the normalization step, the most time-consuming operations of the algorithm can be approximated by the efficient step of line-by-line ramp filtering the cone beam image in the direction of the scan path, plus a correction image. The correction image, which can be computed exactly, is needed because data combination is not properly matched at the mask boundary when ramp filtering is involved. Empirical two-dimensional (2-D) point spread function (PSF) is developed to improve matching with the correction image which is computed with finite samplings. The use of transition region to further improve matching is introduced. The results of testing the algorithm on simulated phantoms are presented.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1998

Exact cone beam CT with a spiral scan.

A method is developed which makes it possible to scan and reconstruct an object with cone beam x-rays in a spiral scan path with area detectors much shorter than the length of the object. The method is mathematically exact. If only a region of interest of the object is to be imaged, a top circle scan at the top level of the region of interest and a bottom circle scan at the bottom level of the region of interest are added. The height of the detector is required to cover only the distance between adjacent turns in the spiral projected at the detector. To reconstruct the object, the Radon transform for each plane intersecting the object is computed from the totality of the cone beam data. This is achieved by suitably combining the cone beam data taken at different source positions on the scan path; the angular range of the cone beam data required at each source position can be determined easily with a mask which is the spiral scan path projected on the detector from the current source position. The spiral scan algorithm has been successfully validated with simulated cone beam data.

Algorithms↗