James Smith

University of Portsmouth · School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

The biomaterial with the highest known tensile strength is a unique composite of chitin and goethite (α-FeO(OH)) present in teeth from the Common Limpet (Patella vulgata). A biomimetic based on limpet tooth, with corresponding high-performance mechanical properties is highly desirable. Here we report on the replication of limpet tooth developmental...

Recent literature concerning the use of polymer and ceramic coatings for a variety of biomedical applications is surveyed in this review. Applications have been grouped into six broad categories: orthopaedic materials, cardiovascular stents, antibacterial surfaces, drug delivery, tissue engineering and biosensors. Polymer and ceramic coatings add e...

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors identified an error in the presentation of Fig. 4. The MT-ND1 subunit residue N382 is incorrect and should be D283. The correct Fig. 4 is supplied below. The original article [1] has been corrected.

Background Associations between mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (variations and copy number, i.e. mtDNAcn, change) and elevated ROS have been reported in cancer compared to normal cells. Since excessive levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with ROS-stimulating agents may enhance their death. This study aimed to investigate...

Background Associations between mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (variations and copy number, i.e. mtDNAcn, change) and elevated ROS have been reported in cancer compared to normal cells. Since excessive levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with ROS-stimulating agents may enhance their death. This study aimed to investigate...

Background Mitochondria are considered a primary intracellular site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Generally, cancer cells with mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (copy number change and mutations) have escalated ROS levels compared to normal cells. Since high levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with low doses...

Background: Mitochondria are considered a primary intracellular site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Generally, cancer cells with mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (copy number change and mutations) have escalated ROS levels compared to normal cells. Since high levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with low dose...

Background Mitochondria are considered a primary intracellular site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Generally, cancer cells with mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (copy number change and mutations) have escalated ROS levels compared to normal cells. Since high levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with low doses...

This paper is the third and final part of a short series of articles aimed towards describing some of the various statistical methods and approaches that have been used in surface finishing. Here, various types of Design-of-Experiments (DOE) techniques are described, such as full and fractional factorial design, central composite design, response s...

Background Mitochondria are considered a primary intracellular site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Generally, cancer cells with mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (copy number change and mutations) have escalated ROS levels compared to normal cells. Since high levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with low doses...

Background Mitochondria are considered a primary intracellular site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Generally, cancer cells with mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (copy number change and mutations) have escalated ROS levels compared to normal cells. Since high levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with low doses...

Liposomes containing carborane for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy have been produced. Liposomes have diameters of 80–100 nm, in the range for crossing the blood-brain-barrier. Liposomes are stable in serum as reflected by retention experiments.

Based on the promise of liposomes as convenient vehicles for the transport of boronated agents for the boron neutron capture therapy (BCNT) of cancer, this paper reports a method for the formulation and characterisation of stable o-carborane-loaded liposomes (ca. 80–100 nm) of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or 1,2-distearol-sn-glycerol-3-ph...

This paper is the second of a short series of articles aimed towards describing some of the various statistical methods and approaches that have been used in surface finishing. The methods fall broadly into two areas: analysis and design-of-experiments. In the first paper, the subject was briefly introduced followed by a discussion of parametric st...

This paper aims at investigating the effects of variable traverse speeds on machining-induced damage of fibre-reinforced composites, using the abrasive water jet (AWJ) drilling. Three different types of epoxy-based composites laminates fabricated by vacuum bagging technique containing unidirectional (UD) flax, hybrid carbon-flax and carbon fibre-re...

Introduction: The field of nanomedicine, utilising nano-sized vehicles (nanoparticles and nanofibres) for targeted local drug delivery, has a promising future. This is dependent on the ability to analyse the chemical and physical properties of these drug carriers at the nanoscale and hence atomic force microscopy (AFM), a high-resolution imaging an...

An alkaline hypophosphite bath (0.1 M nickel sulphate, 0.2 M sodium hypophosphite, 0.2 M sodium acetate and 0.1 M malic acid, adjusted to pH 5) was used to produce Ni–P coatings on uncoated and electroless nickel pre-plated mild steel. The deposition was monitored by open-circuit potential-time monitoring vs. a saturated calomel reference electrode...

Polyurethanes (PUs), formed by the reaction of diisocyanates with polyols (or equivalent) in the presence of a catalyst, have a wide variety of industrial uses. Much recent attention has focused on their biomedical applications, owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and tailorable chemical and physical forms. Examples of such applicatio...

Cancer is a life-threatening disease contributing to ~3.4 million deaths worldwide. There are various causes of cancer, such as smoking, being overweight or obese, intake of processed meat, radiation, family history, stress, environmental factors, and chance. The first-line treatment of cancer is the surgical removal of solid tumours, radiation the...

Metformin (N,N-dimethylbiguanide) is the most widely used anti-diabetic drug to treat type II diabetes. It exhibits blood glucose lowering action by regulating glucose formation in the liver (gluconeogenesis), increases glucose utilisation in muscles and reduces glucose absorption in the intestine. Clinical studies have shown that metformin, and ot...

The objective of this study was to enquire how the chemistry experience of pharmacy students can be enhanced and how the virtual learning environment (VLE) for chemistry-related pharmacy modules might be improved. All MPharm students at the University of Portsmouth UK were asked to complete a project-designed online questionnaire. Data from Univers...

Dr Sheelagh Campbell FIMF, Honorary Editor-in-Chief of Transactions (2002–2010) and Principal Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, made important and varied contributions in the fields of chemistry and applied electrochemistry, in research, teaching and committee work, throughout her career. Following the sad loss of Dr Campbell in 2010, reade...

We have applied three techniques to the study of subunit assembly of the Type IC Restriction–Modification enzyme EcoR124I. This fully functional enzyme EcoR124I consists of a complex of the three subunits HsdR, HsdM and HsdS in a R2M2S1 stoichiometry, but is known to dissociate readily, releasing free HsdR and producing first an R1-complex and then...

Expression of the cell adhesion molecule (CAM), Sialyl Lewis X (CD15s) correlates with cancer metastasis, while expression of E-selectin (CD62E) is stimulated by TNF-α. CD15s/CD62E interaction plays a key role in the homing process of circulating leukocytes. We investigated the heterophilic interaction of CD15s and CD62E in brain metastasis-related...

Zincating is used as a pre-treatment for aluminium prior to electroless nickel deposition during preparation of magnetic computer memory discs. Four immersion zincating solutions were evaluated at 22°C using single step or double zincating followed by electroless nickel deposition from a high phosphorus hypophosphite bath at 90°C. The coating proce...

INTRODUCTION: More than 50% of patients with lung cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), will develop brain metastasis which ultimately results in a dismal prognosis. While there are several key steps in the metastastic process, we have focused on the stage where circulating cancer cells adhere to brain endothelium and extravasate th...

This paper is the first of a short series of articles aimed towards describing some of the various statistical methods and approaches that have been used in surface finishing. The methods fall broadly into two areas: analysis and design-of-experiments. This article introduces the subject, briefly reviewing the wide use of a number of experimental d...

Electrical and fibre-optic cable connector assemblies are often required to operate under the very harsh environmental conditions experienced in the offshore oil and gas industry and on ships, autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated systems. These assemblies are frequently the source of failure and so must be sealed, mostly at the meta...

CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein receptor for extracellular matrix molecules such as hyaluronic acid and osteopontin, is involved in glioma cellular signalling, adhesion and invasion. Although a great deal is known concerning the molecular players in adhesion, migration and invasion, little is known relating to how these invasive and migratory-pr...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly invasive (WHO grade IV) brain tumour that has a very poor prognosis for patients with the condition (median survival 14.2 months). Quantitative Imaging (QI)® mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the heights of the leading-edge cell peripheries, the lamellipodia, of two such cell lines (SNB...

Background. CD15, which is overexpressed on various cancers, has been reported as a cell adhesion molecule that plays a key role in non-CNS metastasis. However, the role of CD15 in brain metastasis is largely unexplored. This study provides a better understanding of CD15/CD62E interaction, enhanced by tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and its correl...

Background: CD15, which is overexpressed on various cancers, has been reported as a cell adhesion molecule that plays a key role in non-CNS metastasis. However, the role of CD15 in brain metastasis is largely unexplored. This study provides a better understanding of CD15/CD62E interaction, enhanced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and its corre...

OP54. HETEROPHILIC INTERACTION OF CD62E AND CD15 MEDIATES ADHESION OF METASTATIC NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER CELLS TO BRAIN ENDOTHELIUM Samah A. Jassam, Zaynah Maherally, James R. Smith, Keyoumars Ashkan, Helen L. Fillmore, and Geoffrey J. Pilkington; Cellular&Molecular Neuro-oncology Group, University of Portsmouth INTRODUCTION:CD15, a cell adhesio...

Heparin-imprinted synthetic polymer surfaces with the ability to attenuate activation of both the complement and the coagulation system in whole blood were successfully produced. Imprinting was achieved using a template coated with heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan known for its anticoagulant properties. The N,N′-diacryloylpiperazine—met...

Student engagement and satisfaction with chemistry-related areas, theoretical and practical, on Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree courses anecdotally appear to be lower than for professional practice elements. If true, speculation could be made about student perceived relevance, difficulty, disinterest and previous-negative experiences of chemi...

Poly(lactic acid), which has an inherent tendency to form colloidal systems of low polydispersity, and alkylglyceryl-modified dextran - a material designed to combine the non-immunogenic and stabilising properties of dextran with the demonstrated permeation enhancing ability of alkylglycerols - have been combined for the development of nanoparticul...

Oxidative damage due to low levels of glutathione (GSH) is one of the main causes of cataract formation. It has been reported that 2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (OTZ), a cysteine prodrug, can increase the cellular level of GSH. Currently, there is no analytical method to separate and quantify OTZ from aqueous humour samples for cataract resea...

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging technique that uses a small probe (tip and cantilever) to provide topographical information on surfaces in air or in liquid media. By pushing the tip into the surface or by pulling it away, nanomechanical data such as compliance (stiffness, Young’s Modulus) or adhesion, respectively, may be...

BACKGROUND: Lung metastases to the brain are common secondary cancers, representing over 50% of fatal complications of systemic cancer. Metastasis of cancer cells involves multiple steps including intravasation, cancer cell-endothelial rolling and adhesion, extravasation and cerebral col-onization. Here, we focused on metastatic Non-Small Cell lung...

INTRODUCTION: CD44 is important in cellular adhesion and invasion, and is upregulated in glioma cells. Here, we extend our previous CD44-antibody blocking and gene silencing experiments to examine, the downstream effects of CD44 knockdown (kd) on the expression of cytoskeletal proteins involved in cellular migration. Atomic force microscope (AFM) w...

A number of silk samples, comprising historic materials and modern surrogates, were examined by light, electron and atomic force microscopy, to determine the extent to which such assessments would allow the nature and condition of the materials to be determined. The integrity of these materials had previously been investigated using mechanical test...

Freshwater cyanophages are poorly characterised in comparison to their marine counterparts, however, the level of genetic diversity that exists in freshwater cyanophage communities is likely to exceed that found in marine environments, due to the habitat heterogeneity within freshwater systems. Many cyanophages are specialists, infecting a single h...

This review surveys some of the recent literature concerning the use of polymer coatings for a variety of biomedical applications. These have been grouped into six broad categories: orthopaedic materials, cardiovascular stents, antibacterial surfaces, drug delivery, tissue engineering and biosensors. These, to some extent overlapping, sections have...

Tensin3 is an intracellular cytoskeleton-regulating protein, the loss of which is associated with increased cell motility, as has been observed in some human cancers. A novel chromosomal translocation, t(2;7)(p13;p12), present in a patient with a complex syndromic phenotype, directly involves Tensin3 (TNS3) and EXOC6B genes. This translocation coul...

This review reports recent developments of new coatings and surface treatments for aerospace bodies and structures. Advances in the field have been driven by the need for materials with improved performance characteristics and also by environmental legislative pressures. The traditional areas of corrosion and wear resistance are still receiving the...

Dynamic Force Spectroscopy (DFS), an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) technique, has been used to investigate the interaction between the HsdR subunit and the core methylase (MTase) of the Type I Restriction-Modification (R-M) enzyme EcoR124I. Such systems are of interest in bionanotechnology owing to their ability to translocate DNA, thus acting as m...

CD44 has long been associated with glioma invasion while, more recently, CD155 has been implicated in playing a similar role. Notably, these two receptors have been shown closely positioned on monocytes. In this study, an up-regulation of CD44 and CD155 was demonstrated in established and early-passage cultures of glioblastoma. Total internal refle...

Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent typical disease in the world, affecting millions of people, the majority being young children. In this paper, two antischistosomiasis compounds, praziquantel (PZQ) and trichlorfon (TCF), have been incorporated into polypyrrole (PPy) on Pt, indium-tin oxide glass and reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) usin...

The current work aims to study at the ultrastructural level the morphological development of colloidal intermediate phases of human intestinal fluids (HIFs) produced during lipid digestion. HIFs were aspirated near the ligament of Treitz early (30 min), Aspirate(early), and 1 h, Aspirate(1h)(ave,comp), after the administration of a heterogeneous li...

An in vitro method for the time-resolved quantification of acid-mediated tooth demineralisation has been developed and evaluated against putative non-permanent protective formulations based on a series of poly(alkyl methacrylate)s. Using a thermostatted carousel, dentally relevant substrates consisting of hydroxyapatite discs or sections of bovine...

A short review of the recent electrolytic and electroless plating research trends for a variety of metal alloys deposited to improve corrosion resistance, wear characteristics and hardness, magnetic behaviour, catalytic properties and for other application areas, is presented. The review contains key references from the period 2008 to the present (...

The development of hybrid biological – inorganic semiconductor structures towards biophotoelectrocatalytically active systems is described. The aspect of immobilization is analyzed using the heterodimer reverse transcriptase of the avian myeloblastosis virus (RT AMV), deposited onto step-bunched Si(111) and the defect-rich layered semiconductor MoT...

Grit-blasting of stainless steel 316L, bronze CW451K and titanium Ti6Al4V used in marine/offshore cable connectors is described. For the former, no change in roughness was observed when using brown angular Al2O3 or black SiC grit of the same particle size. Finer SiC grit produced less rough surfaces. Blast pressure increased stainless steel roughne...

A summary of the practical and theoretical (molecular modelling) aspects of conducting polymer research led by the late Dr Sheelagh Campbell at the University of Portsmouth is presented. The wide-range of interest encompasses tailored monomer design, density functional theory calculations, electrodeposition on various substrates, and investigations...

The surfaces of elastomeric coatings based on poly(dimethylsiloxane), unfilled or containing calcium carbonate filler or with filler and silicone oils, have been characterised from topographic and surface indentation measurements by atomic force microscopy. The resistance of the coatings to marine biofouling has been assessed in a sea-exposure tria...