A New Formulation Based on Ozonated Sunflower Seed Oil: In Vitro Antibacterial and Safety Evaluation

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential in vitro biological properties of Oz.Or.Oil 30, a new formulation composed of 30% ozonated sunflower seed oil, which is believed to keep skin smooth and moisturized, supporting repair processes, tissue regeneration and re-epithelialization of wounds. The antibacterial activity, the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of the formulation on cultures of Vero cells and 3T3 fibroblasts showed that Oz.Or.Oil 30 merits further in vivo study using clinical-laboratory correlations, because it could be suggested as an alternative therapy against bacterial and fungal diseases.     

Organometallic Pt(II) containing polymer as silver protection against sulfide tarnishing

In this work, the use of a film of an organometallic polymer, namely Pt‐DEBP, has been tested for the selective capture of sulfides with the aim of protecting silver object. Ag foils were exposed to different environmental conditions in the presence of Pt‐DEBP films. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and colorimetric studies allowed to assess that the polymeric layer selectively captures H₂S, preventing the tarnishing of the silver substrate over a period at least of 2 months, without any manipulation of the sample. This approach open new perspectives for the prevention of aging effects on silver objects of artistic interest, for which cleaning or coating procedures should be avoid. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of (E)‐Enol Acetate Acids

The novel rhodium complex [Rh(S)‐Phanephos(cod)]‐catalyzed hydrogenation of disubstituted (E)‐enol acetate carboxylic acids is reported. The catalytic cycle works under 30 bar of hydrogen under conventional heating giving different 3‐acetoxy‐2,3‐disubstituted carboxylic acids with ee ≥90%. Hydrogenation occurred also under microwave dielectric heating without eroding the enantioselectivity but improving the overall efficiency of the process. With microwaves, hydrogen pressure and reaction time required for complete hydrogenation dropped to 5 bar and 30 min, respectively. The best performance of this catalyst under microwave irradiation was TON 100, TOF 196 h⁻¹ with ee 99% on a 6‐g scale.     

Assessing organo-clay dispersion in polymer layered silicate nanocomposites: A SAXS approach

A SAXS method for the quantitative assessment of the morphology of polymer layered silicate nanocomposites is proposed. Fitting the SAXS patterns, the number of clay layers, the periodicity of the layers in the tactoids, the thickness of the regions interposed between the clay platelets and their distributions can be measured. A good agreement with TEM data was obtained, avoiding the inconsistencies with microscopical observations often reported in the literature.     

Novel Therapeutic Opportunities in Neoadjuvant Setting in Urothelial Cancers: A New Horizon Opened by Molecular Classification and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a widespread malignancy with a worse prognosis often related to a late diagnosis. For early-stage MIBC pts, a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to evaluate the timing of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery. The current standard therapy is platinum-based NAC (MVAC-methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin or Platinum–Gemcitabine regimens) followed by radical cystectomy (RC) with lymphadenectomy. However, preliminary data from Vesper trial highlighted that dose-dense NAC MVAC is endowed with a good pathological response but shows low tolerability. In the last few years, translational-based research approaches have identified several candidate biomarkers of NAC esponsiveness, such as ERCC2, ERBB2, or DNA damage response (DDR) gene alterations. Moreover, the recent consensus MIBC molecular classification identified six molecular subtypes, characterized by different sensitivity to chemo- or targeted or immunotherapy, that could open a novel procedure for patient selection and also for neoadjuvant therapies. The Italian PURE-01 phase II Trial extended data on efficacy and resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) in this setting. In this review, we summarize the most relevant literature data supporting NAC use in MIBC, focusing on novel therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy, considering the better patient stratification and selection emerging from novel molecular classification.     

Cellular and Molecular Signatures of Oxidative Stress in Bronchial Epithelial Cell Models Injured by Cigarette Smoke Extract

Exposure of the airways epithelium to environmental insults, including cigarette smoke, results in increased oxidative stress due to unbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants. Oxidative stress is a feature of inflammation and promotes the progression of chronic lung diseases, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Increased oxidative stress leads to exhaustion of antioxidant defenses, alterations in autophagy/mitophagy and cell survival regulatory mechanisms, thus promoting cell senescence. All these events are amplified by the increase of inflammation driven by oxidative stress. Several models of bronchial epithelial cells are used to study the molecular mechanisms and the cellular functions altered by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure, and to test the efficacy of molecules with antioxidant properties. This review offers a comprehensive synthesis of human in-vitro and ex-vivo studies published from 2011 to 2021 describing the molecular and cellular mechanisms evoked by CSE exposure in bronchial epithelial cells, the most used experimental models and the mechanisms of action of cellular antioxidants systems as well as natural and synthetic antioxidant compounds.     

Platelet lysate and adipose mesenchymal stromal cells on silk fibroin nonwoven mats for wound healing

In this work platelet lysate (PL) and adipose‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) seeded on nonwoven fibroin mats were in vitro and in vivo evaluated for tissue regenerative applications. Nonwoven mats obtained by a large scale water entanglement technique were characterized for their physico‐chemical properties. Results indicated a high purity of fibroin fibers, their stability after sterilization process and appropriate technological properties suitable for tissue engineering. Moreover, the scaffolds in vitro supported adhesion and migration of ASCs and the presence of PL improved the cell proliferation. The products were then applied on epithelial/dermal wounds carried out on the dorsal surface of rabbit: the skin reparative process was solved in 9 days, with a completely restitutio ad integrum of the epithelium in animals treated with PL alone; ASCs did not further improve the wound healing. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42942.