An analytical procedure was developed for the determination of four volatile components with anti-inflammatory biological activity in Houttuynia cordata Thunb. by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Four compounds (α-pinene, β-myrcene, 1-decanol and 2-undecanone) were selected as analytes because they are common major constituents in volatile compositions of Houttuynia cordata Thunb Anti-inflammatory efficacy in vivo suggested that the four compounds provided inhibitory effects on xylene-induced ear edema formation in a dose-dependent manner. The four compounds were determined by gas chromatography in mouse serum after oral administration of volatile oil and water distillate liquid of Houttuynia cordata Thunb Related chromatographic conditions were investigated and selected. A good separation of the four compounds and internal standard was achieved. The method reflected the quality of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and its preparations.

Stenosis of the critical blood vessels, which occurs in a variety of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, is one of leading causes of death in the world. Vascular stenosis will significantly alter the hemodynamic features in the vessel. Hemodynamic shear stress, one of the most important physical parameters of blood flow, will be dramatically elevated at the stenotic site. When platelets flow through the constricted site, they will sense these abnormally high shear stresses, and then respond by activating, sticking to the vascular wall, and aggregating at these sites. The shear-dependent platelet activation inspired a novel targeting platform-shear stress activated drug targeting delivery. The shear-activated drug delivery systems preferentially release their content under elevated shear stress, providing a novel approach to cure various diseases, in particular, cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we, on one hand, introduced the features of hemodynamic shear stress under both physiological and pathological conditions. On the other hand, we summarized the carriers displaying sensitivity to shear stress, such as liposomes, aggregations, gels, emulsions, in addition to the factors affecting the mechanical properties of them. Lastly, the clinical applications and prospects of this novel drug targeting strategy were discussed. It is hoped that, with a better understanding of shear stress-sensitive carriers and their targeted principle, a novel targeted drug delivery strategy will be one day applied in the clinics of the future.

In the present study, magnetic iron-zirconium co-oxide microspheres were successfully synthesized by the emulsion and coprecipitation method in a single step. To obtain the ultimate material that possesses high zirconia content and suitable magnetic response, the ratios of the reactants were investigated systematically. The corresponding microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), powder X-ray diffraction, (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements. The magnetic property of the particles was studied by a magnetic balance. The results demonstrated that the optimum ratio of zirconium precursor (zirconyl chloride) to iron precursor (ferric trichloride) was 3.0:5.0 g, in which microspheres with diameter of 2–5 µm, high surface area up to 62 m²/g, and suitable magnetic property were obtained. The magnetic iron-zirconium co-oxide microspheres are promising in various applications, including catalysis, bioseparation, drug carrier, etc.