An electrochemical study of zinc-containing epoxy coatings on mild steel

A comparative electrochemical study has been carried out between conventional zinc-rich and novel zinc-containing paints. To study the cathodic protection performance of these coatings an assessment method based on a galvanic couple was employed. Current and potential were monitored with immersion time in 3.5% NaCl. The zinc-rich paint offered cathodic protection for about 7 days compared with 40 days for the new paint. However, the steel coupled with the zinc-rich remained corrosion free for a further period. This was probably due to the inhibitive effect of zinc salts deposited at the cathode. Thereafter a reversal in polarity was obtained once rust formed. Thus it is concluded that established cathodic protection criteria cannot be solely used to assess the protection properties of zinc-containing paints. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was also used to study the state of the coating with time. Diffusion parameters indicated that the new paints were covered with a lesser amount of corrosion products.     

Human Recombinant DNase I (Pulmozyme®) Inhibits Lung Metastases in Murine Metastatic B16 Melanoma Model That Correlates with Restoration of the DNase Activity and the Decrease SINE/LINE and c-Myc Fragments in Blood Cell-Free DNA

Tumor-associated cell-free DNAs (cfDNA) play an important role in the promotion of metastases. Previous studies proved the high antimetastatic potential of bovine pancreatic DNase I and identified short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs)and fragments of oncogenes in cfDNA as the main molecular targets of enzyme in the bloodstream. Here, recombinant human DNase I (commercial name Pulmozyme^®), which is used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in humans, was repurposed for the inhibition of lung metastases in the B16 melanoma model in mice. We found that Pulmozyme^® strongly reduced migration and induced apoptosis of B16 cells in vitro and effectively inhibited metastases in lungs and liver in vivo. Pulmozyme^® was shown to be two times more effective when administered intranasally (i.n.) than bovine DNase I, but intramuscular (i.m.) administration forced it to exhibit as high an antimetastatic activity as bovine DNase I. Both DNases administered to mice either i.m. or i.n. enhanced the DNase activity of blood serum to the level of healthy animals, significantly decreased cfDNA concentrations, efficiently degraded SINE and LINE repeats and c-Myc fragments in the bloodstream and induced apoptosis and disintegration of neutrophil extracellular traps in metastatic foci; as a result, this manifested as the inhibition of metastases spread. Thus, Pulmozyme^®, which is already an approved drug, can be recommended for use in the treatment of lung metastases.