Prihartini Widiyanti

High prevalence of HIV-1 CRF01_AE viruses among female commercial sex workers residing in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cause serious health problems and have an impact on the Indonesian economy. In addition, the rapid epidemic growth of HIV is continuing in Indonesia. Commercial sex plays a significant role in the spread of HIV; therefore, in order to reveal the current HIV prevalence rate among commercial sex workers (CSWs), we conducted an epidemiological study on HIV infection among CSWs residing in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province of Indonesia with large communities of CSWs. Methodology/Principal Findings The prevalence of HIV infection among 200 CSWs was studied. In addition, the subtype of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and the prevalence of other blood-borne viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus C (GBV-C), were studied. The prevalence rates of HIV, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV antibodies and anti-GBV-C antibodies were 11%, 64%, 4%, 0.5% and 0% among CSWs involved in this study, respectively. HIV-1 CRF01_AE viral gene fragments were detected in most HIV-positive samples. In addition, most CSWs showed low awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and had unprotected sex with their clients. Conclusions/Significance The HIV prevalence rate among CSWs was significantly higher than that among the general population in Indonesia (0.2–0.4%). In addition, CSWs were at a high risk of exposure to HBV, although chronic HBV infection was less frequently established. Our results suggest the necessity of efficient prevention programs for HIV and other blood-borne viral infections among CSWs in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Bacterial Cellulose-Chitosan-Glycerol Biocomposite as Artificial Dura Mater Candidates for Head Trauma

Bacterial cellulose used for many membrane applications such as artificial dura mater membrane. This research aimed to determine the effects of glycerol concentration variation as plasticizer on physical and biological characteristics of bacterial cellulose-chitosan biocomposite membrane.Bacterial cellulose-glycerol membrane was soaked for six hours in 0.5% chitosan solution together with glycerol at variuos concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% using freeze dry method. Based on results of FTIR test, there is a crosslinking between-OH groups in bacterial cellulose and chitosan-glycerol. Meanwhile, results of the physical characteristic tests showed tensile strength value of 29.40 MPa for the control sample and 142.24 MPa for samples of bacterial cellulose-chitosan added 2% glycerol. It indicates that the addition of glycerol can increase tensile strength value. Results of morphological test, depicted pore size of 93.30-216 nm. Results of the degradation test demonstrated that samples added 2% glycerol degraded as much as 50.15% for 2 weeks. Meanwhile, results of the cytotoxicity test indicated that all of samples were not toxic. Finally, it can be concluded that the best result of the characterization analysis was found on the samples added 2% glycerol although they have not yet fulfilled the standard value of artificial dura mater.

PLGA-Collagen Composite Synthesis with the Antibacterial Addition of Jatropha curcas L. Leaf Extract as Absorbable Surgical Suture Candidate

The prevalence rate of surgical wound infections caused by bacteria is an average of 9% of the 1.4 million patients worldwide. For this reason, a modification of an absorbable surgical suture coated with extract of Jatropha curcas L. leaves to kill and inhibit the growth of microorganisms needs to be made. The forming of multifilament fibers is done by electrospinning method. The test results of the functional groups showed the presence of interaction between PLGA-Collagen with the extract of Jatropha Curcas L. leaves indicated by an absorption band at 2924 cm-1 which showed the vibrations of C-H. The tensile test results showed that all samples were in the range of 19.5-87.1 MPa values which corresponded with the modulus of elasticity of the suture thread in the forehead and elbows. The MTT Assay results showed that the percentage of living cells of all samples was above 50%. The bacterial activity test showed that the inhibition zone were in the range of 5-10 mm. The optimal sample showed the degradation rate of 82.2% on the 60th day of the soaking period. It can be concluded that PLGA-collagen Jatropha curcas L. extracts is safe composite and has potential as antibacterial absorbable surgical sutures.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose - Garcinia mangostana Extract as Anti Breast Cancer Biofilm Candidate

In Indonesia, breast cancer is noted as the most common cancer in women. Accordingly, this research was conducted to synthesize biofilm from bacterial cellulose by adding ethanol extract of mangosteen peel. The pellicle of bacterial cellulose was soaked in a 100 mL ethanol solution of mangosteen peel extract varied by 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% v/v. The samples were characterized using the SEM, FTIR, and MTT Assay using the T47D breast cancer cells. The results using the SEM showed the thickness of the bacterial cellulose biofilm samples was 5.63 μm, while the 2% v/v thickness of the bacterial cellulose of the extract of mangosteen peel biofilm samples was 12.2 μm. The FTIR results showed a weak interaction between the O-H groups of the microbial cellulose and the C=C functional group in the phenolic compounds of the mangosteen peel extract. Based on the MTT Assay test results using the T47D breast cancer cells, the highest percentage of cell death result was 25.47% on the 2% v/v bacterial cellulose of the mangosteen peel extract samples. The Garcinia mangostana extracts added in the bacterial cellulose biofilms still required optimal concentrations in order to become potential killing mechanism for the T47D breast cancer cells.

Effects of variation of chitosan concentration on the characteristics of membrane cellulose bacteria-chitosan biocomposites as candidates for artificial dura mater

This study was conducted to determine the effect of variation in concentration of chitosan on the physical and biological characteristics of the membrane of bacterial cellulose-chitosan biocomposites through immersion precipitation method. Bacterial cellulose membrane was soaked in a solution of chitosan whose concentration variation are 0.1%; 0.3%; 0.5% and 0.7%. The characterization tests which were conducted included the analysis of functional groups (FTIR), tensile strength test, morphology test (SEM), and cytotoxicity assay using MTT Assay method. Based on the cluster analysis test, the results of FTIR spectra indicate changes in the physical bond which means that there is interaction between the bacterial cellulose membrane with chitosan on each sample. The bacteria produced cellulose membrane with tensile strength of 10.53 ± 0.19 MPa while the microbial cellulose membrane by adding 0.5% chitosan concentration had tensile strength value of 8:58 ± 0.19 MPa. It shows that with the addition of chitosan...

Synthesis and Characterization of Composite Poly(1.8 Octanediol-co-Citrate) (POC)/Nano-Hydroxyapatite as Candidate Biodegradable Bone Screw

The high number of bone fractures, around 300-400 cases per month, are treated with orthopedic surgery method using internal fixation by bone screw which is aimed at accelerating patients’ mobilization. There is a necessity to invent biomaterial which possesses two main characteristics: biocompatible and biofunctional, as well as having an important element of biodegradable without conducting reoperation. A research focused on the various composition of nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) derived from extracted snapper fish scales on Poly (1,8-octanediol-Co-Citrate (POC) as Biodegradable Bone screw. This research is purported to synthesize Poly (1,8-Octanediol-co-Citrate (POC) and characterize the influence of HA compositions against mechanical properties and compatibility of POC-HA composite that enable it to be used as Biodegradable Bone screw material. The condensation polymerization method is applied in synthesizing POC to produce POC pre-polymer by the formation of an ester bond group C=O stretch at 1731 cm-1 through a test of functional groups (FTIR). POC pre-polymer is composited with nano-HA compositions of 62%, 65%, 68% and 71% and followed by post-polymerization treatment. POC-HA composites formed were tested on hardness and biodegradability. The results obtained indicate that the composition of HA nanoparticles influences the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the material. Best results were from 62% HA composition in which the hardness value was of 885.57 MPa, close to that of bone hardness which is 150-664 MPa. Results also showed that the rate of biodegradation reached 3.42% (4 weeks) which is in accordance to fracture bone grafting period of 21 months. Based on the characteristics result indicated in this study, the composite of Poly (1,8-Octanediol-co-Citrate) (POC)-Nano Hydroxyapatite is a potential candidate for biodegradable bone screw material.

Synthesis and Characterization of Injectable Hydrogels with Varying Collagen–Chitosan–Thymosin β4 Composition for Myocardial Infarction Therapy

Thirty percent of global mortalities are caused by cardiovascular disease, and 54% of the aforementioned amount is instigated by ischemic heart disease that triggered myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction is due to blood flow cessation in certain coronary arteries that causes lack of oxygen (ischemia) and stimulates myocardial necrosis. One of the methods to treat myocardial infarction consists in injecting cells or active biomolecules and biomaterials into heart infarction locations. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of a collagen–chitosan-based hydrogel with variations in its chitosan composition. The prepared hydrogels contained thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a 43-amino acid peptide with angiogenic and cardioprotective properties which can act as a bioactive molecule for the treatment of myocardial infarction. A morphological structure analysis showed that the hydrogels lacked interconnecting pores. All samples were not toxic on the basis of a cytotoxicity test. A histopathological anatomy test showed that the collagen–chitosan–thymosin β4 hydrogels could stimulate angiogenesis and epicardial heart cell migration, as demonstrated by the evaluation of the number of blood vessels and the infiltration extent of myofibroblasts.

Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA)-Chitosan-Collagen Electrospun Tube for Vascular Graft Application

Poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA) blended with chitosan and collagen was used to fabricate a conduit for blood vessel engineering through an electrospinning process. Various concentrations of chitosan were used in the blend in order to study its effect on the morphology, chemical bond, tensile strength, burst pressure, hemocompatibility, and cell viability (cytotoxicity) of the tube.In vitro assessments indicated that addition of chitosan-collagen could improve cell viability and hemocompatibility. Best results were demonstrated by the conduit with 10% PLLA, 0.5% chitosan, and 1% collagen. Tensile strength reached 2.13 MPa and burst pressure reached 2593 mmHg, both values that are within the range value of native blood vessel. A hemolysis percentage of 1.04% and a cell viability of 86.2% were obtained, meeting the standards of high hemocompatibility and low cytotoxicity for vascular graft material. The results are promising for further development toward vascular graft application.

The Role of Chitosan on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)-Glycerol Biocomposites for Blood Bag Application

The common blood bag in the market is made from a mixture of PVC and plasticizer. But the a number of occurrences where pockets of heavily polluted bacteria, blood requires blood bags which has the antibacterial characteristic. Antibacterial properties on the bags of blood can be raised with the addition of chitosan. This research aim is to know the influence of chitosan membrane biocomposite PVC-Glycerol against its biological and physical properties. Chitosan dissolved with a concentration of 0 wt/v%; wt/v 0.5%; 1 wt/v%; 1.5 v/wt% wt/v and 2 wt/v% mixed with glycerol with a 1:1 ratio. Then the mixture was mixed with PVC solution 15% and formed into a membrane by using the glass plates. Furthermore, the membranes are characterized using tensile test, hemolytic test, and antibacterial test. The physical characteristics of the tensile test indicate that the elongation percentage was 2.22 – 96.43% and tensile strength was 3.6-8 MPa. The test result of the hemolytic test and antibacterial test showed that biocomposite membrane of PVC-Glycerol-Chitosan are hemocompatible because it has a hemolysis percentage < 5%, while antibacterial test results showed that the membrane has a weak anti-bacterial due to bacterial inhibition zone diameter < 5 mm. Based on the characterization result, biocomposite membrane of PVC-Glycerol-Chitosan can be used for blood bag candidate.

Prevalence of drug-resistant mutation among drug-treated HIV/AIDS inpatient in Airlangga University teaching hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia

Increased use of antiretroviral therapy did not completely reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDShospitalization. Various factors can be involved. The aim of this study is to examine HIV-1 drug resistance mutations profile in drug-treated HIV/AIDS patients who underwent hospitalization. HIV/AIDS patients who are admitted to hospital who had received ART are included in the study and then examined for the presence of drug resistance-associated mutations. A total of 17 samples were included in the study, but only 11 samples that could be sequence analyzed. On the mutation examination of drug resistance in reverse transcriptase gene, it werefound a major mutation in K103N (9%) and G190A (9%). Most minor mutations were found in A98S (18.1%), followed by M41L, M184V, L210W, T215Y, V108l, Y181C and H221Y at 9% each. Whereas, on examination of drug resistance mutations in protease genes, there is a major mutation in I84V of 9%. Most minor mutations on M36I (45.4%), followed by L10I (36.3%), H69K (36.3%), I93L (27.2%), G16E, L89M, K20R 18.1%, L64V and V771I 9% respectively.A large number of mutated samples pose a challenge in long-term antiretroviral treatment, so a breakthrough policy is needed to minimize the impact.