-
Biosensors Sep 2022Sensitivity is one of the crucial factors in determining the quality of a fluorescence/phosphorescence-based gas sensor, and is estimated from the measurement of...
Sensitivity is one of the crucial factors in determining the quality of a fluorescence/phosphorescence-based gas sensor, and is estimated from the measurement of responses (I/I, where I and I refer to the measured optical intensity of a sensor in absence and presence of analyte molecules) at various concentrations of analytes. In this work, we demonstrate phosphorescence-based optical oxygen sensors fabricated on highly porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes showing dramatically high response. These sensors exploit the enormous surface area of the AAO to facilitate the effective interaction between the sensing molecules and the analytes. We spin-coat an AAO membrane (200 nm pore diameter) with a platinum-based oxygen sensing porphyrin dye, platinum(II) meso-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin (PtTFPP), to fabricate a sensor exhibiting I/I ~400 at 100% oxygen atmosphere. To address the generality of the AAO membrane, we fabricate a separate sensor with another porphyrin dye, platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP), which exhibits an even higher I/I of ~500. Both of these sensors offer the highest responses as an optical oxygen sensor hitherto reported. SEM and EDS analysis are performed to realize the effect of the increased surface area of the AAO membrane on the enhanced sensitivity.
Topics: Porphyrins; Platinum; Oxygen; Porosity; Aluminum Oxide
PubMed: 36290912
DOI: 10.3390/bios12100774 -
The Science of the Total Environment Sep 2022Despite water being critical for human survival, its uneven distribution, and exposure to countless sources of pollution make water shortages increasingly urgent.... (Review)
Review
Despite water being critical for human survival, its uneven distribution, and exposure to countless sources of pollution make water shortages increasingly urgent. Membrane technology offers an efficient solution for alleviating the water shortage impact. The selectivity and permeability of membranes can be improved by incorporating additives of different nature and size scales. However, with the vast debate about the environmental and economic feasibility of the common nanoscale materials in water treatment applications, we can infer that there is a long way before the first industrial nanocomposite membrane is commercialized. This stumbling block has motivated the scientific community to search for alternative modification routes and/or materials with sustainable features. Herein, we present a pragmatic review merging the concept of sustainability, nanotechnology, and membrane technology through the application of natural additives (e.g., Clays, Arabic Gum, zeolite, lignin, Aquaporin), recycled additives (e.g., Biochar, fly ash), and recycled waste (e.g., Polyethylene Terephthalate, recycled polystyrene) for polymeric membrane synthesis and modification. Imparted features on polymeric membranes, induced by the presence of sustainable natural and waste-based materials, are scrutinized. In addition, the strategies harnessed to eliminate the hurdles associated with the application of these nano and micro size additives for composite membranes modification are elaborated. The expanding research efforts devoted recently to membrane sustainability and the prospects for these materials are discussed. The findings of the investigations reported in this work indicate that the application of natural and waste-based additives for composite membrane fabrication/modification is a nascent research area that deserves the attention of both research and industry.
Topics: Coal Ash; Environmental Pollution; Polyethylene Terephthalates; Recycling; Zeolites
PubMed: 35584751
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156014 -
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer... Nov 2023Grape hybrids are characterized by different chemical compositions; often with high hybrids are characterized by different chemical compositions, often with a high...
Antiproliferative and Apoptosis Effects of Hybrid Varieties of Vitis vinifera L. Sweet Sapphire and Sweet Surprise on Human Prostate Cancer Cells Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches.
OBJECTIVE
Grape hybrids are characterized by different chemical compositions; often with high hybrids are characterized by different chemical compositions, often with a high phenolic content and a specific profile of anthocyanins. The aim of study was to characterize the constituents of hybrid Vitis vinifera L. varieties Sweet Sapphire (SA) and Sweet Surprise (SU) extracts and their influence on apoptosis induction and antiproliferative effects on human prostate cancer cells.
METHODS
We used the MTT assay to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of extracts of SA and SU, on the prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines PC-3 and DU-145. To analyze the inhibiting impact by flow cytometry, used 24 and 48 hours. Anthocyanins were quantified by liquid chromatography and analysed by their absorption rate, hepatotoxicity, blood concentration, blood-brain barrier passage ability and maximum recommended dose by in silico approaches.
RESULTS
Our results showed that malvidin derivatives present the highest content in both cultivars. We identified 14.46mg/100g malvidin-3-O-glycoside in SA and 2.76 mg/100 g in SU. A reduction in cell viability of DU-145 (45 and 65%) and PC-3 (63 and 67%) cells after 48h treatment with SA and SU, respectively, was found via MTT assay. Flow cytometry showed that the treatment with extracts from SA and SU had an inhibitory impact on cell development due to G2/M arrest and caused a rise in apoptotic cells compared to control group. None of the anthocyanin presented hepatotoxicity as well as blood-brain barrier passage ability. Peonidin 3-O-glucoside had the lower maximum recommended dose as well as the highest intestinal absorption rate. However, delphinidin 3-O-glucoside had the highest blood concentration values.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study highlight the potential of hybrid Vitis vinifera L. varieties as an important source of natural antioxidants and their protective effect against prostate cancer cells as well as elucidate in part their anthocyanin's metabolism.
Topics: Male; Humans; Apoptosis; Anthocyanins; Vitis; Cell Line, Tumor; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Prostatic Neoplasms; Aluminum Oxide; Glucosides; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
PubMed: 38019224
DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.11.3673 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Developing sustainable routes for the synthesis of zeolites is still a vital and challenging task in zeolite scientific community. One of the typical examples is...
Developing sustainable routes for the synthesis of zeolites is still a vital and challenging task in zeolite scientific community. One of the typical examples is sustainable synthesis of aluminosilicate EU-1 zeolite, which is not very efficient and environmental-unfriendly under hydrothermal condition due to the use of a large amount of water as solvent. Herein, we report a sustainable synthesis route for aluminosilicate EU-1 zeolite without the use of solvent for the first time. The physicochemical properties of the obtained EU-1 zeolite are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), N sorption, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, and solid nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which show the product has high crystallinity, uniform morphology, large BET surface area, and four-coordinated aluminum species. Moreover, the impact of synthesis conditions is investigated in detail. The sustainable synthesis of aluminosilicate EU-1 zeolite under solvent-free.
Topics: Aluminum Silicates; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Thermogravimetry; X-Ray Diffraction; Zeolites
PubMed: 33800313
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051462 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2022In this article, we describe the antimicrobial properties of a new composite based on anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membranes containing propyl-copper-phosphonate units...
In this article, we describe the antimicrobial properties of a new composite based on anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membranes containing propyl-copper-phosphonate units arranged at a predetermined density inside the AAO channels. The samples were prepared with four concentrations of copper ions and tested as antimicrobial drug on four different strains of (K12, R2, R3 and R4). For comparison, the same strains were tested with three types of antibiotics using the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests. Moreover, DNA was isolated from the analysed bacteria which was additionally digested with formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) protein from the group of repair glycosases. These enzymes are markers of modified oxidised bases in nucleic acids produced during oxidative stress in cells. Preliminary cellular studies, MIC and MBC tests and digestion with Fpg protein after modification of bacterial DNA suggest that these compounds may have greater potential as antibacterial agents than antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, bleomycin and cloxacillin. The described composites are highly specific for the analysed model strains and may be used in the future as new substitutes for commonly used antibiotics in clinical and nosocomial infections in the progressing pandemic era. The results show much stronger antibacterial properties of the functionalised membranes on the action of bacterial membranes in comparison to the antibiotics in the Fpg digestion experiment. This is most likely due to the strong induction of oxidative stress in the cell through the breakdown of the analysed bacterial DNA. We have also observed that the intermolecular distances between the functional units play an important role for the antimicrobial properties of the used material. Hence, we utilised the idea of the 2D solvent to tailor them.
Topics: Aluminum Oxide; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Copper; DNA, Bacterial; DNA-Formamidopyrimidine Glycosylase; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Proteins
PubMed: 35955460
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158327 -
Biosensors Dec 2022Surface plasmon resonance devices typically rely on the use of gold-coated surfaces, but the use of more abundant metals is desirable for the long-term development of...
Surface plasmon resonance devices typically rely on the use of gold-coated surfaces, but the use of more abundant metals is desirable for the long-term development of plasmonic biochips. As a substitute for gold, thin copper films have been deposited on glass coverslips by thermal evaporation. As expected, these films immersed in a water solution initially exhibit an intense plasmonic resonance comparable to gold. However, without protection, an angle-resolved optical analysis shows a rapid degradation of the copper, characterized by a continuous angular shift of the plasmonic resonance curve. We show that copper films protected with a thin layer of aluminum oxide of a few nanometers can limit the oxidation rate for a sufficient time to perform some standard measurements. As the process is simple and compatible with the current biochip production technique, such an approach could pave the way for the production of alternative and more sustainable biochips.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Aluminum Oxide; Copper; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Gold
PubMed: 36551099
DOI: 10.3390/bios12121132 -
Lab on a Chip Aug 2022Personalized diagnostics of infectious diseases require monitoring disease progression due to their ever-changing physiological conditions and the multi-faceted organ...
Personalized diagnostics of infectious diseases require monitoring disease progression due to their ever-changing physiological conditions and the multi-faceted organ system mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis. In such instances, the recommended clinical strategies involve multiplexing data collection from critical biomarkers related to a patient's conditions along with longitudinal frequent patient monitoring. Numerous detection technologies exist both in research and commercial settings to monitor these conditions, however, they fail to provide biomarker multiplexing ability with design and data processing simplicity. For a recently conceived multiplexing biomarker modality, this work demonstrates the use of electrically sensitive microparticles targeting and identifying membrane receptors on leukocytes using a single detection source, with a high potential for multiplexing greater than any existing impedance-based single-detection scheme. Here, polystyrene microparticles are coated with varying thicknesses of metal oxides, which generate quantifiable impedance shifts when exposed to multifrequency electric fields depending on the metal oxide thickness. Using multifrequency impedance cytometry, these particles can be measured and differentiated rapidly across one coplanar electrode scheme. After surface-functionalizing particles with antibodies targeting CD11b and CD66b receptors, the particles are combined with isolated neutrophils to measure receptor expression. A combination of data analysis techniques including multivariate analysis, supervised machine learning, and unsupervised machine learning was able to accurately differentiate samples with up to 91% accuracy. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential for these oxide-coated particles for enumerating specific leukocytes enabling multiplexing. Further, additional coating thicknesses or different metal oxide materials can enable a compendium of multiplexing targeting resource to be used to develop a high-multiplexing sensor for targeting membrane receptor expression.
Topics: Aluminum Oxide; Antibodies; Biomarkers; Electric Impedance; Humans; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Microfluidics; Neutrophils; Oxides
PubMed: 35851596
DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00563h -
Scientific Reports Mar 2020Autophagy and NF-κB signaling are involving in the process of Particle Disease, which was caused by the particles released from friction interface of artificial joint,...
Autophagy and NF-κB signaling are involving in the process of Particle Disease, which was caused by the particles released from friction interface of artificial joint, implant materials of particle reinforced composite, scaffolds for tissue engineering, or material for drug delivery. However, the biological interaction of different material particles and the mechanism of proteasome inhibitor, Bortezomib (BTZ), against Titanium (Ti) particle-induced Particle Disease remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated effect of nanosized Alumina (Al) particles and BTZ on reducing and treating the Ti particle-induced inflammatory reaction in MG-63 cells and mouse calvarial osteolysis model. We found that Al particles and BTZ could block apoptosis and NF- κB activation in osteoblasts in vitro and in a mouse model of calvarial resorption induced by Ti particles. We found that Al particles and BTZ attenuated the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α). And Al prevented the IL-1β expression induced by Ti via attenuating the NF- κB activation β-TRCP and reducing the expression of Casepase-3. Expressions of autophagy marker LC3 was activated in Ti group, and reduced by Al and/not BTZ. Furthermore, the expressions of OPG were also higher in these groups than the Ti treated group. Collectively, nanosized Al could prevent autophagy and reduce the apoptosis, inflammatory and osteolysis induced by Ti particles. Our data offered a basic data for implant design when it was inevitable to use Ti as biomaterials, considering the outstanding mechanical propertie of Ti. What's more, proteasome inhibitor BTZ could be a potential therapy for wear particle-induced inflammation and osteogenic activity via regulating the activity of NF- κB signaling pathway.
Topics: Aluminum Oxide; Animals; Autophagy; Bortezomib; Cell Line; Cytokines; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-kappa B; Nanoparticles; Osteoblasts; Osteoclasts; Osteogenesis; Osteolysis; Proteasome Inhibitors; Signal Transduction; Titanium
PubMed: 32221318
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62254-x -
PeerJ 2022To realize simultaneous adsorption of heavy metal and antibiotic pollutants by a BC-based recyclable material, FeO magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared by...
To realize simultaneous adsorption of heavy metal and antibiotic pollutants by a BC-based recyclable material, FeO magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared by co-precipitation method. Then different ratios of dodecyl dimethyl betaine (BS-12)-modified bentonite (BS-B) were loaded on the surfaces of biochar (BC) and MBC to prepare BS-B-loaded BC and MBC composites, called BS-B/BC and BS-B/MBC, respectively. The physicochemical and structural properties of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, specific surface area (S) analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry, and the adsorption efficiencies of BS-B/BC and BS-B/MBC to Cu and tetracycline (TC) were studied. The following results were obtained. (1) Compared with BS-B/BC, BS-B/MBC had decreased pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) and increased S. The pH, CEC, and S of BS-B/BC and BS-B/MBC decreased with the increase in the BS-12 proportion of BS-B. The surface of BS-B/MBC became rough after FeO loading. (2) The residual rate of BS-B/MBC was higher than that of BS-B/BC after high-temperature combustion, and the residual rate decreased with the increase in the BS-12 proportion of BS-B. The 2D infrared spectra showed that FeO and BS-12 were modified on the surface of BS-B/MBC. MBC and BS-B/MBC had splendid magnetism and could be separated by external magnetic field. (3) Compared with unmagnetized ones, the adsorption effects of Cu and TC on different BS-B/MBCs improved, and the average adsorption rate reached the largest value of 91.92% and 97.76%, respectively. Cu and TC adsorptions were spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing processes. The pH and S of the material had a great influence on Cu and TC adsorptions, respectively, than CEC.
Topics: Adsorption; Bentonite; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Tetracycline; Magnetic Phenomena
PubMed: 35251788
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13030 -
Particle and Fibre Toxicology May 2022Alumina nanoparticles (aluminaNPs), which are widely used in a range of daily and medical fields, have been shown to penetrate blood-brain barrier, and distribute and...
BACKGROUND
Alumina nanoparticles (aluminaNPs), which are widely used in a range of daily and medical fields, have been shown to penetrate blood-brain barrier, and distribute and accumulate in different brain areas. Although oral treatment of aluminaNPs induces hippocampus-dependent learning and memory impairments, characteristic effects and exact mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, male adult rats received a single bilateral infusion of aluminaNPs (10 or 20 µg/kg of body weight) into the hippocampal region, and their behavioral performance and neural function were assessed.
RESULTS
The results indicated that the intra-hippocampus infusions at both doses of aluminaNPs did not cause spatial learning inability but memory deficit in the water maze task. This impairment was attributed to the effects of aluminaNP on memory consolidation phase through activation of proBDNF/RhoA pathway. Inhibition of the increased proBDNF by hippocampal infusions of p75 antagonist could effectively rescue the memory impairment. Incubation of aluminaNPs exaggerated GluN2B-dependent LTD induction with no effects on LTD expression in hippocampal slices. AluminaNP could also depress the amplitude of NMDA-GluN2B EPSCs. Meanwhile, increased reactive oxygen specie production was reduced by blocking proBDNF-p75 pathway in the hippocampal homogenates. Furthermore, the neuronal correlate of memory behavior was drastically weakened in the aluminaNP-infused groups. The dysfunction of synaptic and neuronal could be obviously mitigated by blocking proBDNF receptor p75, implying the involvement of proBDNF signaling in aluminaNP-impaired memory process.
CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that the accumulation of aluminaNPs in the hippocampus exaggeratedly activates proBDNF signaling, which leads to neural and memory impairments.
Topics: Aluminum Oxide; Animals; Hippocampus; Male; Nanoparticles; Neurons; Rats; Spatial Memory
PubMed: 35538555
DOI: 10.1186/s12989-022-00477-8