University of Zagreb

About: University of Zagreb is a education organization based out in Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 21769 authors who have published 50267 publications receiving 783239 citations. The organization is also known as: Zagreb University & Sveučilište u Zagrebu.

Kinetics of Formation and Dissolution of Weak Polyelectrolyte Multilayers: Role of Salt and Free Polyions

Abstract: The layer-by-layer deposition method to prepare multilayers of polyelectrolytes of alternating charge has been followed in situ by means of optical reflectometry experiments. It turns out that in solutions containing both polyelectrolyte and appropriate salts up to a certain concentration, the regular build up of multilayers is modified and becomes an adsorption/redissolution process. We explain this by taking into account (i) that during the regular multilayer formation process the macromolecules cannot equilibrate, (ii) that the added salt plasticizes the multilayer to a state where the molecules are sufficiently mobile to enable them to equilibrate between the layer and the surrounding solution, and (iii) that the presence of excess polyelectrolyte brings the system to a one-phase region of the polyelectrolyte complex phase diagram, implying that polyelectrolyte complexes must dissolve under these conditions.

The traditional and a new version of the mouse H-2 complex

Abstract: The H-2 complex has traditionally been interpreted as a maze of regions, subregions and loci coding for different traits. The two main theses presented here are, first, that a single H-2 locus is pleiomorphic in that it controls several functions such as allograft rejection, cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity, mixed lymphocyte reaction, immune response, immune suppression and restriction of T-cell specificity; and second, that the physiological function of the H-2 complex is to guide T lymphocytes in their function of distinguishing self from non-self, and that all other H-2-controlled traits are artificial derivatives of this basic function. These two theses lead to a new, simplified interpretation of the H-2 complex.

Bee venom in cancer therapy

Abstract: Bee venom (BV) (api-toxin) has been widely used in the treatment of some immune-related diseases, as well as in recent times in treatment of tumors. Several cancer cells, including renal, lung, liver, prostate, bladder, and mammary cancer cells as well as leukemia cells, can be targets of bee venom peptides such as melittin and phospholipase A2. The cell cytotoxic effects through the activation of PLA2 by melittin have been suggested to be the critical mechanism for the anti-cancer activity of BV. The induction of apoptotic cell death through several cancer cell death mechanisms, including the activation of caspase and matrix metalloproteinases, is important for the melittin-induced anti-cancer effects. The conjugation of cell lytic peptide (melittin) with hormone receptors and gene therapy carrying melittin can be useful as a novel targeted therapy for some types of cancer, such as prostate and breast cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding potential of bee venom and its compounds such as melittin to induce cytotoxic, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and apoptotic effects in different tumor cells in vivo or in vitro. The recent applications of melittin in various cancers and a molecular explanation for the antiproliferative properties of bee venom are discussed.

Clean recovery of antioxidant compounds from plant foods, by-products and algae assisted by ultrasounds processing. Modeling approaches to optimize processing conditions

Abstract: Ultrasound treatment is an alternative affordable, effective and reproducible method for the improved recovery of bioactive compounds from various processing streams. The objective of this review is to discuss the impact of ultrasound-assisted extraction on the recovery of polyphenols, carotenoids and chlorophylls from vegetal and algae matters. Optimization strategies will need to focus on appropriate equipment design and configuration of ultrasonic components, and extrinsic and intrinsic control parameters including ultrasonic power, temperature and extraction time to maximize the yield and biological activity of the extract. Modeling strategies to characterize and optimize ultrasound processes are also be highlighted in the manuscript.