Development of Lignin-Containing Cellulose Nanofibrils Coated Paper-Based Filters for Effective Oil-Water Separation

New methods of oil-water separation are needed as industrialization has increased the prevalence of oil-water mixtures on Earth. As an abundant and renewable resource with high oxygen and grease barrier properties, mechanically refined cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) may have promising applications for oil-water separations. The unbleached form of these nanofibrils, lignin-containing CNFs (LCNFs), have also been found to display extraordinary barrier properties and are more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than CNFs. Herein, both wet and dry LCNF-modified filter papers have been developed by coating commercial filter paper with an LCNF suspension utilizing vacuum filtration. The LCNF-modified filters were tested for effectiveness in separating oil-water emulsions, and a positive relationship was discovered between a filter's LCNF coat weight and its oil collection capabilities. The filtration time was also analyzed for various coat weights, revealing a trend of high flux for low LCNF coat weights giving-way-to predictions of a coat weight upper limit. Additionally, it was found that wet filters tend to have higher flux values and oil separation efficiency values than dry filters of the same LCNF coat weight. Results confirm that the addition of LCNF to commercial filter papers has the potential to be used in oil-water separation.

Impact of in vitro digested zinc oxide nanoparticles on intestinal model systems

Background

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) offer beneficial properties for many applications, especially in the food sector. Consequently, as part of the human food chain, they are taken up orally. The toxicological evaluation of orally ingested ZnO NP is still controversial. In addition, their physicochemical properties can change during digestion, which leads to an altered biological behaviour. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the fate of two different sized ZnO NP (< 50 nm and < 100 nm) during in vitro digestion and their effects on model systems of the intestinal barrier. Differentiated Caco-2 cells were used in mono- and coculture with mucus-producing HT29-MTX cells. The cellular uptake, the impact on the monolayer barrier integrity and cytotoxic effects were investigated after 24 h exposure to 123–614 µM ZnO NP.

Results

In vitro digested ZnO NP went through a morphological and chemical transformation with about 70% free zinc ions after the intestinal phase. The cellular zinc content increased dose-dependently up to threefold in the monoculture and fourfold in the coculture after treatment with digested ZnO NP. This led to reactive oxygen species but showed no impact on cellular organelles, the metabolic activity, and the mitochondrial membrane potential. Only very small amounts of zinc (< 0.7%) reached the basolateral area, which is due to the unmodified transepithelial electrical resistance, permeability, and cytoskeletal morphology.

Conclusions

Our results reveal that digested and, therefore, modified ZnO NP interact with cells of an intact intestinal barrier. But this is not associated with serious cell damage.

Impact of pH changes on metal oxide nanoparticle behaviour during artificial digestion

The physicochemical properties of orally ingested metal nanoparticles can be influenced by the conditions prevailing in the digestive tract. In our work, we demonstrate the strong influence of the pH value on particle fate using a simplified digestion approach to analyze magnesium oxide, copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles and show why a separate consideration of the digestion parameters is necessary.

Toxicological assessment of magnesium oxide nanoparticles in HT29 intestinal cells

Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in different consumer-related areas, for instance in food packaging or as additives, because of their enormous potential. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an EU-approved food additive (E number 530). It is commonly used as a drying agent for powdered foods, for colour retention or as a food supplement. There are no consistent results regarding the effects of oral MgO NP uptake. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of MgO NPs in the HT29 intestinal cell line. MgO NP concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 100 μg/ml and incubation times were up to 24 h. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potential were investigated. Apoptotic processes and cell cycle changes were analysed by flow cytometry. Finally, oxidative stress was examined. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that there was no cellular uptake. MgO NPs had no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects in HT29 cells and they did not induce apoptotic processes, cell cycle changes or oxidative stress.

Implantation of CARILLON® Mitral Contour System with transvenous left ventricular lead in place

BACKGROUND

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is an established treatment option for chronic heart failure patients with left bundle branch block. Although a concomitant functional mitral regurgitation is often reduced by CRT, many patients need additional mitral valve repair. Placing a CARILLON^® Mitral Contour System (CMCS) over a transvenous CRT lead is currently not recommended, since both of them are implanted in the coronary sinus (CS). The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of sequential implantation of a transvenous LV lead followed by CMCS implantation, and to assess LV lead performance and possibility of extraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Standard transvenous LV leads were implanted in the CS of five female sheep. After establishing regular anatomical position with stable electrical parameters of the LV lead, a CMCS was additionally implanted in the CS. After an observation period of 100 days, lead performance and positions of lead and CMCS were studied. Sequential implantation of the two components was feasible in sheep. After 100 days, all leads showed regular measurements of impedance, threshold, and sensing. There was no migration of either the LV lead or the CMCS. In all cases, the LV lead could be completely extracted without migration of the CMCS. There were no acute or long-term complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In an animal model of healthy adult sheep, implantation of CMCS with a transvenous LV lead already in place was feasible and without major problems with either the CMCS or the LV lead. Electrical performance of the LV leads was excellent. All LV leads could be extracted without migration of the CMCS.

NorthernLights in slide-based cytometry and microscopy

In recent years, slide-based cytometry has become a key technology for polychromatic cytometric investigations, and many efforts have been made to increase the number of measurable fluorochromes for multiparametric analysis. Sequential photobleaching of fluorochromes next to very photostable dyes is one approach for this technology. As the ALEXA dyes are known to be photostable as compared to the conventional fluorochromes FITC, PE (Riggs et al., Am J Pathol 1958;34:1081-1097), and APC, a differentiation within a fluorochrome pair is possible. Here, we have analyzed the newly available NorthernLights secondary antibodies for use in slide-based cytometry and microscopy. Currently, these fluorochrome-conjugates are now available with three distinct excitation- and emission maxima (NL493, NL557, NL637). Their spectral properties are similar to the frequently used fluorochromes FITC, PE, and APC and can, therefore, be used with most common excitation sources of cytometers or microscopes. As the NorthernLights are bright, resistant to photobleaching, stable in alcohols and xylene and of affordable price, these dyes are promising candidates for use with most laser- and HBO/XBA-based fluorescence microscopy-like techniques.

Characterization of fibroblasts responsible for cartilage destruction in arthritis

In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), synovial fibroblasts (SF) play a key role as they secrete distinct patterns of cytokines and express variable levels of costimulatory and adhesion molecules. The murine fibroblast cell line LS48 has been shown to be invasive in the cartilage destruction models in vivo and in vitro. The purpose of this study was to examine in detail the LS48 phenotype, to obtain a better understanding of the SF-mediated cartilage destruction in RA. The destructive fibroblasts line LS48 and the nondestructive 3T3 cells were cultured and characterized with slide-based and flow cytometry, using antibodies against several adhesion molecules, immunological acting molecules, and marker proteins. The invasive LS48 fibroblasts are characterized by significantly higher expression of adhesion molecules such as CD47 (IAP), CD51 (integrin alpha V), CD61 (GPIIIa), and CD147 (EMMPRIN), and immunological acting molecules such as CD40 (Bp50), CD55 (DAF), and TLR-2. The results from the slide-based and flow cytometry analyses were exactly the same, except for the selected CD147 and TLR-2. This study demonstrated that the destructive fibroblast cell line LS48 has the characteristics of RA SFs. The high expression of specific costimulatory and adhesion molecules underlines the aberrant phenotype of these cells when compared with noninvasive fibroblasts. Furthermore, slide-based and flow cytometry complement each other in fibroblast phenotyping. Overall, this study shows that LS48 is an excellent tool to gain a deeper understanding of SF in RA.

The importance of right atrial pacing electrode position and pacing configuration for intra-atrial and inter-atrial conduction times

Pace prevention of atrial tachyarrhythmias is based in part on the reduction of intra-atrial (IAA) and/or inter-atrial (IEA) conduction. We previously introduced a novel pacing mode using floating atrial ring electrodes on a VDD-lead (BIdirectional MO nophasic impulSe: BIMOS). The effects of BIMOS pacing on IAA and IEA conduction times has not been studied. In nine Merino sheep electrode catheters were placed at the His-Bundle (HBE), high right atrium (HRA), coronary sinus ostium (Cs-Os), and left lateral atrium (LLA). A VDD-lead was introduced with floating electrodes in the high and mid right atrium (Floating). IAA (S/P-HRA, S/P-Cs-Os, S/P-HBE, S/P-Floating), IEA conduction times (S/P-LLA), and P-wave duration (PD) were measured during sinus rhythm (S), during bipolar cathodal pacing (P) in the HRA, in the Cs-Os position, as well as during BIMOS floating pacing. The mean PD during S was significantly shorter than during HRA- (66. 6+/-12.8ms; vs. 116.2+/-11.1ms; p<0.05) and Cs-Os-P (66.6+/-12.8ms vs. 94.4+/-9.0ms; p<0.05). In comparison to HRA-P, BIMOS configuration lead to a significant reduction of the P-wave duration (116.2+/-11.1ms vs. 85. 4+/-8.8ms; p<0.05). During BIMOS pacing, the global atrial conduction time was significantly shorter than during pacing in the HRA and Cs-Os position. The results of this study demonstrate a clear reduction of IAA and IEA conduction times using BIMOS configurations compared to conventional HRA-P. Furthermore, BIMOS pacing produced a more homogeneous atrial activation when compared with conventional HRA- and Cs-Os-P.