Evaluation of the Biocompatibility of Water-Soluble Pristine С60 Fullerenes in Rabbit

Photocatalytic inactivation mechanism of nano-BiPO4 against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its application in abalone

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is the main pathogenic bacteria in seafood that can cause serious food-borne illness. The annual incidence of V. parahaemolyticus infection in the United States exceeds 45,000 cases, indicating there are potential shortcomings in seafood sterilization techniques. Meanwhile, the ongoing emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains highlights the urgent need for novel bacteriostatic strategies to eliminate V. parahaemolyticus. Nano-BiPO4 is a semiconductor with high H2O2 production efficiency and has potential for photocatalytic bacterial inactivation. But the effectiveness and mechanism of BiPO4 photocatalytic inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus has not been reported. In this study, nano-BiPO4 synthesized in pure water (P1) was found to exhibit optimal H2O2 production efficiency (1203 μmol h-1g-1) and antibacterial activity (in 0.8 g/L). Under UV light irradiation, P1 induced alterations in bacterial cell morphology, elevation in intracellular levels of ROS, H2O2, O2-, GSSG and MDA, and reduction in GSH level. Meanwhile, metabolomic analysis revealed that P1 stimulates the arginine biosynthesis, TCA cycle and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. These abnormal changes in the oxidative stress indicators and metabolic pathways proved that the bacterial damage was related to the H2O2 produced by nano-BiPO4 photocatalysis. Moreover, sliced abalone and hemolysis assay were used to demonstrate the applicability and biosafety of P1. This study provides theoretical support for exploring nano-BiPO4 as a bacterial inhibitor against V. parahaemolyticus.

State-of-the-Art of Polymer/Fullerene C60 Nanocomposite Membranes for Water Treatment: Conceptions, Structural Diversity and Topographies

To secure existing water resources is one of the imposing challenges to attain sustainability and ecofriendly world. Subsequently, several advanced technologies have been developed for water treatment. The most successful methodology considered so far is the development of water filtration membranes for desalination, ion permeation, and microbes handling. Various types of membranes have been industrialized including nanofiltration, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultrafiltration membranes. Among polymeric nanocomposites, nanocarbon (fullerene, graphene, and carbon nanotubes)-reinforced nanomaterials have gained research attention owing to notable properties/applications. Here, fullerene has gained important stance amid carbonaceous nanofillers due to zero dimensionality, high surface areas, and exceptional physical properties such as optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, and other characteristics. Accordingly, a very important application of polymer/fullerene C₆₀ nanocomposites has been observed in the membrane sector. This review is basically focused on talented applications of polymer/fullerene nanocomposite membranes in water treatment. The polymer/fullerene nanostructures bring about numerous revolutions in the field of high-performance membranes because of better permeation, water flux, selectivity, and separation performance. The purpose of this pioneering review is to highlight and summarize current advances in the field of water purification/treatment using polymer and fullerene-based nanocomposite membranes. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of fullerene embedded into a variety of polymer membranes (Nafion, polysulfone, polyamide, polystyrene, etc.) and effects on the enhanced properties and performance of the resulting water treatment membranes. Polymer/fullerene nanocomposite membranes have been developed using solution casting, phase inversion, electrospinning, solid phase synthesis, and other facile methods. The structural diversity of polymer/fullerene nanocomposites facilitates membrane separation processes, especially for valuable or toxic metal ions, salts, and microorganisms. Current challenges and opportunities for future research have also been discussed. Future research on these innovative membrane materials may overwhelm design and performance-related challenging factors.

Evaluation of the effects of nanoparticles on the therapeutic function of platelet: a review

OBJECTIVES

Nanotechnology and nanoparticles are used in different applications in disease monitoring and therapy in contact with blood. Nanoparticles showed different effects on blood components and reduced or improved the function of therapeutic platelet during the storage time. This review study was performed to evaluate the impacts of various sizes and charges of nanoparticles on platelet function and storage time. The present review contains the literature between 2010 and 2020. The data have been used from different sites such as PubMed, Wiley, ScienceDirect and online electronic journals.

KEY FINDINGS

From the literature survey, it has been demonstrated that among various properties, size and charge of nanoparticles were critical on the function of therapeutic platelet during the storage and inhibition of their aggregation. Overall, this study described that nanoparticles with smaller size and negative charge were more effective in increasing the survival time, inhibition of aggregation and improving the function of therapeutic platelet.

SUMMARY

Based on the current review, it can be confirmed that nanoparticles such as dendrimer, Au, Ag and iron oxide nanoparticles with smaller size and negative charge have significant advantages for improving the efficacy of platelets during the storage chain and inhibition of their aggregation.

Protective Effect of Water-Soluble C60 Fullerene Nanoparticles on the Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Muscle Soleus in Rats

The biomechanical parameters of muscle soleus contraction in rats and their blood biochemical indicators after the intramuscular administration of water-soluble C₆₀ fullerene at doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg 1 h before the onset of muscle ischemia were investigated. In particular, changes in the contraction force of the ischemic muscle soleus, the integrated power of the muscle, the time to achieve the maximum force response, the dynamics of fatigue processes, and the parameters of the transition from dentate to smooth tetanus, levels of creatinine, creatine kinase, lactate and lactate dehydrogenase, and parameters of prooxidant–antioxidant balance (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, and reduced glutathione and catalase) were analyzed. The positive therapeutic changes in the studied biomechanical and biochemical markers were revealed, which indicate the possibility of using water-soluble C₆₀ fullerenes as effective prophylactic nanoagents to reduce the severity of pathological conditions of the muscular system caused by ischemic damage to skeletal muscles.

Analysis of Biomechanical Parameters of Muscle Soleus Contraction and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Rat with Chronic Glyphosate Intoxication and Therapeutic Use of C60 Fullerene

The widespread use of glyphosate as a herbicide in agriculture can lead to the presence of its residues and metabolites in food for human consumption and thus pose a threat to human health. It has been found that glyphosate reduces energy metabolism in the brain, its amount increases in white muscle fibers. At the same time, the effect of chronic use of glyphosate on the dynamic properties of skeletal muscles remains practically unexplored. The selected biomechanical parameters (the integrated power of muscle contraction, the time of reaching the muscle contraction force its maximum value and the reduction of the force response by 50% and 25% of the initial values during stimulation) of muscle soleus contraction in rats, as well as blood biochemical parameters (the levels of creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, reduced glutathione and catalase) were analyzed after chronic glyphosate intoxication (oral administration at a dose of 10 μg/kg of animal weight) for 30 days. Water-soluble C60 fullerene, as a poweful antioxidant, was used as a therapeutic nanoagent throughout the entire period of intoxication with the above herbicide (oral administration at doses of 0.5 or 1 mg/kg). The data obtained show that the introduction of C60 fullerene at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg reduces the degree of pathological changes by 40-45%. Increasing the dose of C60 fullerene to 1 mg/kg increases the therapeutic effect by 55-65%, normalizing the studied biomechanical and biochemical parameters. Thus, C60 fullerenes can be effective nanotherapeutics in the treatment of glyphosate-based herbicide poisoning.

Evaluation of the C60 biodistribution in mice in a micellar ExtraOx form and in an oil solution

The article is devoted to the study of the pharmacokinetics of fullerene C₆₀ in oil and micellar forms, analysis of its content in blood, liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, brain, adrenal glands, thymus, testicles, and spleen. The highest accumulation of C₆₀ was found in the liver and adrenal glands. As a result of the studies carried out, it was shown that the bioavailability of C₆₀ in the micellar form is higher than that in an oil solution.

Eugenol mitigated acute lung but not spermatic toxicity of C60 fullerene emulsion in mice

C₆₀ fullerene (C₆₀) is a nano-pollutant that can damage the respiratory system. Eugenol exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We aimed to investigate the time course of C₆₀ emulsion-induced pulmonary and spermatic harms, as well as the effect of eugenol on C₆₀ emulsion toxicity. The first group of mice (protocol 1) received intratracheally C₆₀ emulsion (1.0 mg/kg BW) or vehicle and were tested at 12, 24, 72 and 96 h (F groups) thereafter. The second group of mice (protocol 2) received intratracheally C₆₀ emulsion or vehicle, 1 h later were gavaged with eugenol (150 mg/kg) or vehicle, and experiments were done 24 h after instillation. Lung mechanics, morphology, redox markers, cytokines and epididymal spermatozoa were analyzed. Protocol 1: Tissue damping (G) and elastance (H) were significantly higher in F24 than in others groups, except for H in F72. Morphological and inflammatory parameters were worst at 24 h and subsequently declined until 96 h, whereas redox and spermatic parameters worsened over the whole period. Eugenol eliminated the increase in G, H, cellularity, and cytokines, attenuated oxidative stress induced by C60 exposure, but had no effect on sperm. Hence, exposure to C₆₀ emulsion deteriorated lung morphofunctional, redox and inflammatory characteristics and increased the risk of infertility. Furthermore, eugenol avoided those changes, but did not prevent sperm damage.

Water-Soluble Pristine C60 Fullerene Inhibits Liver Alterations Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rat

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species is the main cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression. Water-soluble pristine C₆₀ fullerene is a powerful and non-toxic antioxidant, therefore, its effect under rat HCC model and its possible mechanisms were aimed to be discovered. Studies on HepG2 cells (human HCC) demonstrated C₆₀ fullerene ability to inhibit cell growth (IC₅₀ = 108.2 μmol), to induce apoptosis, to downregulate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, to upregulate vimentin and p53 expression and to alter HepG2 redox state. If applied to animals experienced HCC in dose of 0.25 mg/kg per day starting at liver cirrhosis stage, C₆₀ fullerene improved post-treatment survival similar to reference 5-fluorouracil (31 and 30 compared to 17 weeks) and inhibited metastasis unlike the latter. Furthermore, C₆₀ fullerene substantially attenuated liver injury and fibrosis, decreased liver enzymes, and normalized bilirubin and redox markers (elevated by 1.7–7.7 times under HCC). Thus, C₆₀ fullerene ability to inhibit HepG2 cell growth and HCC development and metastasis and to improve animal survival was concluded. C₆₀ fullerene cytostatic action might be realized through apoptosis induction and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase downregulation in addition to its antioxidant activity.