Evaluation of anti-cancer properties of pegylated ethosomal paclitaxel on human melanoma cell line SKMEL- 3

Purpose: To prepare pegylated ethosomal Paclitaxel® by reverse phase evaporation technique, and evaluate its cytotoxic effect on SK-MEL-3 cell line.Methods: Nanodrug was prepared by reverse phase evaporation technique. The characteristics of the nanoparticles were evaluated by a zetasizer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency as well as paclitaxel® release were determined spectrophotometerically at 227 nm while the cytotoxicity of the pegylated ethosomal nanoencapsulated Paclitaxel® was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on SK-MEL-3 cell line.Results: The mean diameter and zeta potential of drug-loaded pegylated ethosomal particles and blank pegylated ethosomes were 138.1 ± 2.7 nm and -13.1 mV, and 102.3 ± 2.1 nm and -19.2 mV, respectively, while drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were 2.82 ± 0.27 and 96 ± 1.27 %, respectively. The drug release pattern indicates that the half-life (t1/2) of the nanodrug was approximately twice that of the free drug for both static and dynamic release. Toxicological results indicate approx. 4.5-fold cytotoxicity against SK-MEL-3 cell line compared with the free drug.Conclusion: This study shows that pegylated ethosomal Paclitaxel® is significantly considerably more toxic than the free drug on SK-MEL-3 cell line, thus making it an potential alternative to the standard therapy. It is,  however, necessary to evaluate the nanoformulation in vivo

Exposure to GSM 900-MHz mobile radiation impaired inhibitory avoidance memory consolidation in rat: Involvements of opioidergic and nitrergic systems

Abstract The use of mobile phones is increasing, and the main health concern is the possible deleterious effects of radiation on brain functioning. The present study aimed to examine the effects of exposure to a global system for mobile communication (GSM) with mobile phones on inhibitory avoidance (IA) memory performance as well as the involvement of endogenous opioids and nitric oxide (NO) in this task. Male Wistar rats, 10–12 weeks old, were used. The results showed that four weeks of mobile phone exposure impaired IA memory performance in rats. The results also revealed that post-training, but not pre-training, as well as pre-test intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of naloxone (0.4, 4 and 40 ng/rat), dose-dependently recovered the impairment of IA memory performance induced by GSM radiation. Additionally, the impairment of IA memory performance was completely recovered in the exposed animals with post-training treatment of naloxone (40 ng/rat) plus pre-test i.c.v. injections of L-arginine (100 and 200 nmol/rat). However, pre-test i.c.v. injections of L-NAME (10 and 20 nmol/rat), impaired IA memory performance in the animals receiving post-training naloxone (40 ng/rat). In the animals receiving post-training naloxone treatment, the impairment of IA memory performance due to pre-test i.c.v. injections of L-NAME was recovered by the pre-test co-administration of L-arginine. It was concluded that the recovery from impairment of IA memory in GSM-exposed animals with post-training naloxone treatment was the result of blockade of the opioidergic system in early memory consolidation as well as activation of the nitrergic system in the retrieval phase of memory. Keywords: GSM 900-MHz Endogenous opioids Memory performance Consolidation Nitric oxid

Optimization of morphology and geometry of encapsulated Hypophthalmichthys molitrix oil

In the present study, the effect of stirring speed and the type of cross linking agent on the size and formation of microencapsulated Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) oil were investigated. The gelatin/gum Arabic was used for encapsulating and the capsules were prepared by complex coacervation. Microcapsules were analyzed by optical microscopy technique and particle size analyzer. Results suggested the use of glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent instead of formaldehyde can caused the Microcapsules become spherical shape, smooth surface with no obvious dents and narrower particle size distribution. The average particle sizes were 537.2±0.8 μm, 84.4±0.5 μm, 12.98±0.4 μm, 8.24±0.5 μm, and 4±0.7 μm at the homogenization stirring speed of 100, 300, 500, 750 and 1000 rpm respectively. The best conditions of experiment were with 25% glutaraldehyde at 1000 rpm of stirring speed

Using response surface methodology to opitmize the operating parameters in a top-spray fluidized bed coating system

YesThe fluidized bed coating system is a conventional process of particles coating in various industries. In this work, an experimental investigation was conducted using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize the coating mass of particles in a top-spray fluidized bed coating. The design of experiments (DOEs) is a useful tool for controlling and optimization of products in industry. Thus, DOE was conducted using MINITAB software, version 16. This process used a sodium silicate solution for coating the sodium percarbonate particles. The effect of the fluidization air flow rate, atomization air flow rate and liquid flow rate on the coating mass in the top-spray fluidized bed coating was investigated. The experimental results indicated that the coating mass of particles is directly proportional to the liquid flow rate of the coating solution and inversely proportional to the air flow rate. It was demonstrated that the flow rate of the coating solution had the greatest influence on the coating efficiency.Metallic Material Processing Research Group, ACECR, Branch of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

Simulation of biofilter used for removal of air contaminants (ethanol)

Mathematic modeling and simulation of a biofilter system was developed for biofilters filled by three different packing materials such as granular activated carbon (GAC), compost mixed with diatomaceous earth (DE), and compost, respectively, and the effects of biofilter length, packing material, biological activity and the operation time of system on the removal of ethanol (influent contaminant) were studied. The mathematical model for analysis of mass transport phenomena in the biofilter was solved using a two-step, explicit finite difference approximation technique and computer simulation was carried out. The obtained results show that at the early stage of biofiltration the dominant mechanism is adsorption and after saturation of packing by contaminant, biological processes became the dominant mechanism. GAC packed biofilter needs more time to reach to steady state in comparison to the two other packing. GAC is the best adsorbent for contaminant removal; however, compost provides a better environment for microbial growth and activity. The proposed procedure is applicable to analyze the behavior of a biofiltration system used in removal of volatile organic compounds

Removal of amoxicillin from wastewater in the presence of H2O2 using modified zeolite Y- MgO catalyst: An optimization study

In this paper, Zeolite-MgO was generated using alkali-thermal method and was utilized as a catalyst to decrease amoxicillin (AMX) concentration in the presence of H2O2 from wastewater. Different tests like Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FESEM-EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were done to determine catalyst properties. Active groups of C-S–C, C[dbnd]O, C[dbnd]C, C–N, C–O, N–O, and N–H were identified in catalyst frame. According to XRD results, lower crystallinity of nanoparticles after modification of zeolite by MgO can lead to improvement of AMX removal. Active surface of zeolite (2.32 m2/g) was increased after optimization by MgO to 2.96 m2/g, indicating an increase in the catalyst capacity for activation of H2O2. In addition, furnace temperature (200–500 °C), residence time in the furnace (1–4 h), and Mg(NO3)2: zeolite ratio (0.25: 2, 0.5:2, 1:2 w/w) were studied to achieve the optimized catalyst for AMX removal. Different parameters like pH (5–9), H2O2 concentration (0–6 mL/100 mL), dose of catalyst (0–10 g/L), AMX concentration (50–300 mg/L), and reaction time (10–130 min) were also studied. The best efficiency (97.9%) of AMX removal was achieved at acidic pH with the lowest amount of H2O2 (0.1 mL/100 mL) and 7 g/L of catalyst. AMX removal using the developed process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Reclaimable Zeolite-MgO catalyst can be effectively utilized in wastewater works

Comparing the effect of whole body massage by a specialist nurse and patients relatives on blood cortisol level in coronary patients

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction are often accompanied by severe anxiety over the likelihood of death. Cortisol has been known as a stress hormone. However, there are controversies about the effect of massage therapy on blood cortisol level. Furthermore, no study is available on the difference between massage applied by a nurse specialist or by patients� relatives on blood cortisol level. This study was aimed to compare the effect of massage applied by a nurse specialist and patients� relatives on blood cortisol level among the patients admitted in coronary care unit (CCU). METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, ninety patients hospitalized at CCU were randomly placed in three groups: massage by a nurse; massage by patients� relatives and control group. The two massage groups received a session of whole body massage. The control group received the routine care. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, chi-square and Fischer exact tests, Kruskal�Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 58.43 ± 14.23 years. None of the participants had the history of massage therapy. In the group massaged by a nurse, the median blood cortisol level was 281.90 nanomoles, which were decreased to 197.00 after the intervention (P < 0.007). The median blood cortisol level in the group massaged by the patients� relatives and the control group did not affect significantly. CONCLUSION: Massage therapy decreased the blood cortisol level in the group that received massage by a specialist nurse. It can be recommended that massage therapy be used in patients admitted in CCU. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Utilization of constructional lime as heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production from waste frying oil

Waste frying oil as valueless material which is disposed to environment can be used as a promising feedstock to produce biodiesel. In this study, constructional lime was used as alkaline heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from virgin and waste frying oil. After determining the best activation temperature for the catalyst (600 °C), transesterification reactions were carried out at 65 °C, MeOH to oil molar ratio of 12:1, and 1 wt% of activated constructional lime under vigorous mixing for 5 h. Yield of reactions for virgin and waste frying oil (2.17 % free fatty acid) and pretreated waste frying oil (0.918 % free fatty acid) were 87, 93.9, and 94 %, respectively. Transesterification of virgin frying oil and pretreated waste frying oil were done at 65 °C, MeOH to oil molar ratio of 6:1, and 1 wt% of KOH as catalyst under vigorous mixing for 2 h, for comparison. Yield of the reaction was 98.6 and 95.1 %, respectively. Therefore, when constructional lime is used as catalyst pretreatment of waste oil is not necessary

A novel bio-compatible sorbent based on carbon nanostructure modified by porphyrin for heavy metal separation from industrial wastewaters

A novel method for heavy metal separation has been developed using a carbon nanostructure material. This nanostructure material has been synthesized by hydrothermal condensation of Fructose and modified by porphyrin as a bio-compatible ligand. The formation of this nanostructure was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (IR), N2 adsorption, thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (CHN) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The application of this bio-compatible sorbent was investigated in Cd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) separation from aqueous solutions. Several parameters such as sample pH, sample flow rate and temperature were analysed through this study. Finally, in order to investigate the applicability of this sorbent, the sorbent was applied for heavy metals separation in industrial wastewater and natural samples