Green and sustainable self-cleaning flexible SERS base: Utilized for cyclic-detection of residues on apple surface

Advances in flexible SERS substrates has made it possible to approach the ultimate goal of rapid in-situ monitoring of fruit and vegetable safety, but its vulnerability under laser ablation results in low utilization. In order to solve this problem, a 3D framework of TiO2-doped PVDF\PVP polymer was utilized to self-assemble gold-silver core-shell nanorods (Au@Ag NRs) to prepare a flexible SERS substrate with good physical stability and self-cleaning properties. This substrate showed excellent detection limit and recyclability after the detection of three pesticide residues in apple peel. The LOD of methyl-parathion (MP) was as low as 0.037 ng/cm2, with an RSD of 5.61 % for 5 cycle-detection. The recoveries of two additional pesticides thiram (TMTD) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) were 86.32 %-112.47 %. We hoped that this research will contribute to providing a recyclable and facile method for in-situ analysis of fruit and vegetable surface residues and functional manufacture of flexible SERS substrates.

The Effect of Organophosphate Exposure on Neuronal Cell Coenzyme Q10 Status

Organophosphate (OP) compounds are widely used as pesticides and herbicides and exposure to these compounds has been associated with both chronic and acute forms of neurological dysfunction including cognitive impairment, neurophysiological problems and cerebral ataxia with evidence of mitochondrial impairment being associated with this toxicity. In view of the potential mitochondrial impairment, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of exposure to commonly used OPs, dichlorvos, methyl-parathion (parathion) and chloropyrifos (CPF) on the cellular level of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) electron carrier, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The effect of a perturbation in CoQ10 status was also evaluated on mitochondrial function and cell viability. A significant decreased (P < 0.0001) in neuronal cell viability was observed following treatment with all three OPs (100 µM), with dichlorvos appearing to be the most toxic to cells and causing an 80% loss of viability. OP treatment also resulted in a significant diminution in cellular CoQ10 status, with levels of this isoprenoid being decreased by 72% (P < 0.0001), 62% (P < 0.0005) and 43% (P < 0.005) of control levels following treatment with dichlorvos, parathion and CPF (50 µM), respectively. OP exposure was also found to affect the activities of the mitochondrial enzymes, citrate synthase (CS) and mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex II+III. Dichlorvos and CPF (50 µM) treatment significantly decreased CS activity by 38% (P < 0.0001) and 35% (P < 0.0005), respectively compared to control levels in addition to causing a 54% and 57% (P < 0.0001) reduction in complex II+III activity, respectively. Interestingly, although CoQ10 supplementation (5 μM) was able to restore cellular CoQ10 status and CS activity to control levels following OP treatment, complex II+III activity was only restored to control levels in neuronal cells exposed to dichlorvos (50 µM). However, post supplementation with CoQ10, complex II+III activity significantly increased by 33% (P < 0.0005), 25% (P < 0.005) and 35% (P < 0.0001) in dichlorvos, parathion and CPF (100 µM) treated cells respectively compared to non-CoQ10 supplemented cells. In conclusion, the results of this study have indicated evidence of neuronal cell CoQ10 deficiency with associated mitochondrial dysfunction following OP exposure. Although CoQ10 supplementation was able to ameliorate OP induced deficiencies in CS activity, ETC complex II+III activity appeared partially refractory to this treatment. Accordingly, these results indicate the therapeutic potential of CoQ10 supplementation in the treatment of OP poisoning. However, higher doses may be required to engender therapeutic efficacy.

Methyl parathion causes genetic damage in sperm and disrupts the permeability of the blood-testis barrier by an oxidant mechanism in mice

Methyl parathion (Me-Pa) is an extremely toxic organophosphorus pesticide still used in developing countries. It has been associated with decreased sperm function and fertility and with oxidative and DNA damage. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is a structure formed by tight junction (TJ) proteins in Sertoli cells and has a critical role in spermatogenesis. We assessed the effect of repeated doses of Me-Pa (3-12 mg/kg/day for 5 days, i.p.) on sperm quality, lipid oxidation, DNA integrity, and BTB permeability in adult male mice and explored oxidation as a mechanism of toxicity. Me-Pa caused dose-dependent effects on sperm quality, lipoperoxidation, and DNA integrity. Testis histology results showed the disruption of spermatogenesis progression and atrophy of seminiferous tubules. The pesticide opened the BTB, as evidenced by the presence of a biotin tracer in the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules. This effect was not observed after 45 days of exposure when a spermatogenic cycle had completed. The coadministration of the antioxidant α-tocopherol (50 mg/kg/day for 5 days, oral) prevented the effects of Me-Pa on sperm quality, DNA and the BTB, indicating the importance of oxidative stress in the damage generated by Me-Pa. As evidenced by immunochemistry, no changes were found in the localization of the TJ proteins of the BTB, although oxidation (carbonylation) of total proteins in testis homogenates was detected. Our results show that Me-Pa disturbs the BTB and that oxidation is involved in the observed toxic effects on sperm cells.

Agrichemicals chronically inhibit the cortisol response to stress in fish

We studied the stress response of Rhamdia quelen fingerlings at 45, 90, 135 and 180 d following acute exposure to agrichemicals. Herein, we report the novel observation that acute exposure of fingerling-aged fish to a methyl parathion-based insecticide (MPBI) and to a tebuconazole-based fungicide (TBF) induced chronic inhibition of the stress response. In contrast, fish exposed to an atrazine-simazine-based herbicide (ASBH) recovered the stress response on day 45, and fish exposed to a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) did not present stress response inhibition. Additionally, fish exposed to MPBI, GBH and ASBH showed lower survival rates and attained lower final weights. In the case of TBF, the presence of the stressful stimulus more strongly influenced the changes in the performance parameters than did the agrichemical exposure itself. An impairment of the cortisol response may seriously hamper the adaptive response and the ability to promote the necessary metabolic and ionic adjustments to respond to environmental stress.