Adhesion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells under Fluorescent and Soft X-ray Contact Microscopy

Understanding cancer cell adhesion could help to diminish tumor progression and metastasis. Adhesion mechanisms are currently the main therapeutic target of TNBC-resistant cells. This work shows the distribution and size of adhesive complexes determined with a common fluorescence microscopy technique and soft X-ray contact microscopy (SXCM). The results presented here demonstrate the potential of applying SXCM for imaging cell protrusions with high resolution when the cells are still alive in a physiological buffer. The possibility to observe the internal components of cells at a pristine and hydrated state with nanometer resolution distinguishes SXCM from the other more commonly used techniques for cell imaging. Thus, SXCM can be a promising technique for investigating the adhesion and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in cancer cells.     

Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Containing Epilobium angustifolium L. Extract as a Promising Material for the Topical Delivery of Antioxidants to the Skin

Bacterial cellulose membranes (BCs) are becoming useful as a drug delivery system to the skin. However, there are very few reports on their application of plant substances to the skin. Komagataeibacter xylinus was used for the production of bacterial cellulose (BC). The BC containing 5% and 10% ethanolic extract of Epilobium angustifolium (FEE) (BC-5%FEE and BC-10%FEE, respectively) were prepared. Their mechanical, structural, and antioxidant properties, as well as phenolic acid content, were evaluated. The bioavailability of BC-FESs using mouse L929 fibroblasts as model cells was tested. Moreover, In Vitro penetration through the pigskin of the selected phenolic acids contained in FEE and their accumulation in the skin after topical application of BC-FEEs was examined. The BC-FEEs were characterized by antioxidant activity. The BC-5% FEE showed relatively low toxicity to healthy mouse fibroblasts. Gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acid (ChA), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (3-HB), and caffeic acid (CA) found in FEE were also identified in the membranes. After topical application of the membranes to the pigskin penetration of some phenolic acid and other antioxidants through the skin as well as their accumulation in the skin was observed. The bacterial cellulose membrane loaded by plant extract may be an interesting solution for topical antioxidant delivery to the skin.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol,ethylene glycol and glycerine in alkaline media on TiO2 nanotubes decorated with AuCu nanoparticles for an application in fuel cells

Journal of Materials Science - In this work, we present the catalytic and photocatalytic activity of AuCu nanostructures obtained on TiO2 nanotubes toward methanol, ethylene glycol and glycerine...     

Biological In Vitro Evaluation of PIL Graft Conjugates: Cytotoxicity Characteristics

In vitro cytotoxicity of polymer-carriers, which in the side chains contain the cholinum ionic liquid units with chloride (Cl) or pharmaceutical anions dedicated for antituberculosis therapy, i.e., p-aminosalicylate (PAS) and clavulanate (CLV), was investigated. The carriers and drug conjugates were examined, in the concentration range of 3.125–100 μg/mL, against human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) as an experimental model cancer cell line possibly coexisting in tuberculosis. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT test and confluency index, as well as by the cytometric analyses, including Annexin-V FITC apoptosis assay. The polymer systems showed supporting activity towards the normal cells and no tumor progress, especially at the highest concentration (100 μg/mL). The analysis of cell death did not show meaningful changes in the case of the BEAS-2B, whereas in the A549 cell line, the cytostatic activity was observed, especially for the drug-free carriers, causing death in up to 80% of cells. This can be regulated by the polymer structure, including the content of cationic units, side-chain length and density, as well as the type and content of pharmaceutical anions. The results of MTT tests, confluency, as well as cytometric analyses, distinguished the polymer systems with Cl/PAS/CLV containing 26% of grafting degree and 43% of ionic units or 46% of grafting degree and 18% of ionic units as the optimal systems.     

Acute Effect of Caffeine on the Synthesis of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in the Hypothalamus and Choroid Plexus during Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation in a Female Sheep Model

This study was designed to determine the effect of acute caffeine (CAF) administration, which exerts a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory activity, on the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors in the hypothalamus and choroid plexus (ChP) during acute inflammation caused by the injection of bacterial endotoxin—lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The experiment was performed on 24 female sheep randomly divided into four groups: control; LPS treated (iv.; 400 ng/kg of body mass (bm.)); CAF treated (iv.; 30 mg/kg of bm.); and LPS and CAF treated. The animals were euthanized 3 h after the treatment. It was found that acute administration of CAF suppressed the synthesis of interleukin (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, but did not influence IL-6, in the hypothalamus during LPS-induced inflammation. The injection of CAF reduced the LPS-induced expression of TNF mRNA in the ChP. CAF lowered the gene expression of IL-6 cytokine family signal transducer (IL6ST) and TNF receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1) in the hypothalamus and IL-1 type II receptor (IL1R2) in the ChP. Our study on the sheep model suggests that CAF may attenuate the inflammatory response at the hypothalamic level and partly influence the inflammatory signal generated by the ChP cells. This suggests the potential of CAF to suppress neuroinflammatory processes induced by peripheral immune/inflammatory challenges.     

Glycothermal Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Nanosized Zn1?xCoxAl2O4 (x?=?0, 0.5, 1.0) Spinels in Phenol Methylation

Abstract  

Zn_1−x Co _x Al₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0) spinels were synthesised under microwave-assisted solvothermal conditions using 1,4-butanediol as reaction medium. The results of XRD and HRTEM have indicated nanocrystallinity of prepared materials (average crystallite size in the range 6–16 nm), and N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements have revealed high feature of their surface area and mesoporous nature. Acid–base properties of prepared materials were determined using TPD-NH₃ method and cyclohexanol test. All studied spinels that underwent examination were active in phenol methylation but Co-substituted zinc aluminate (Zn_0.5Co_0.5Al₂O₄) was found to be the most efficient in the selective formation of ortho-methylated products. It could be ascribed to its dominant basic character and the presence of weak and strong acid centres, and the highest surface area as well.     

Plant Cytogenetics in the Micronuclei Investigation—The Past,Current Status,and Perspectives

Cytogenetic approaches play an essential role as a quick evaluation of the first genetic effects after mutagenic treatment. Although labor-intensive and time-consuming, they are essential for the analyses of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in mutagenesis and environmental monitoring. Over the years, conventional cytogenetic analyses were a part of routine laboratory testing in plant genotoxicity. Among the methods that are used to study genotoxicity in plants, the micronucleus test particularly represents a significant force. Currently, cytogenetic techniques go beyond the simple detection of chromosome aberrations. The intensive development of molecular biology and the significantly improved microscopic visualization and evaluation methods constituted significant support to traditional cytogenetics. Over the past years, distinct approaches have allowed an understanding the mechanisms of formation, structure, and genetic activity of the micronuclei. Although there are many studies on this topic in humans and animals, knowledge in plants is significantly limited. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on micronuclei characteristics in plants. We pay particular attention to how the recent contemporary achievements have influenced the understanding of micronuclei in plant cells. Together with the current progress, we present the latest applications of the micronucleus test in mutagenesis and assess the state of the environment.     

Solvothermal Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Nanocrystalline ZnFe<Subscript>2−x</Subscript>Al<Subscript>x</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> (x = 0, 1, 2) Spinels in Aniline Methylation

Abstract  

ZnFe_2−xAl_xO₄ (x = 0, 1, 2) spinels were obtained by microwave-assisted solvothermal method using 1,4-butanediol as reaction medium. The results of XRD and HRTEM studies have indicated higher nanocrystallinity of aluminium containing spinels, and N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements have revealed their enhanced textural properties, in particular much higher specific surface areas. NH₃-TPD method and cyclohexanol test have shown the variation of surface acid–base properties with the changes in the spinel composition. All studied spinels were active in aniline methylation and proved to be selective for N-methylation leading to N-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. The main advantage of aluminium containing spinels is that N-alkylation with methanol is possible at significantly lower temperature (200–260 °C) when pure zinc ferrite is almost inactive.