Multifunctional targeted solid lipid nanoparticles for combined photothermal therapy and chemotherapy of breast cancer

Photothermal therapy has emerged as a new promising strategy for the management of cancer, either alone or combined with other therapeutics, such as chemotherapy. The use of nanoparticles for multimodal therapy can improve treatment performance and reduce drug doses and associated side effects. Here we propose the development of a novel multifunctional nanosystem based on solid lipid nanoparticles co-loaded with gold nanorods and mitoxantrone and functionalized with folic acid for dual photothermal therapy and chemotherapy of breast cancer. Nanoparticles were produced using an economically affordable method and presented suitable physicochemical properties for tumor passive accumulation. Upon Near-Infrared irradiation (808 nm, 1.7 W cm -2, 5 min), nanoparticles could effectively mediate a temperature increase of >20 ◦C. Moreover, exposure to light resulted in an enhanced release of Mitoxantrone. Furthermore, nanoparticles were non-hemolytic and well tolerated by healthy cells even at high concentrations. The active targeting strategy was found to be successful, as shown by the greater accumulation of the functionalized nanoparticles in MCF-7 cells. Finally, the combined effects of chemotherapy, light-induced drug release and photothermal therapy significantly enhanced breast cancer cell death. Overall, these results demonstrate that the developed lipid nanosystem is an efficient vehicle for breast cancer multimodal therapy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

the State of Utah v. Brent Jay Sessions and Louis R. Dabbs : Brief of Appellant

Defendant, Brent Jay Sessions, Appeals from a Judgement of Guilty of Burglary In The Third Judicial District, In and For Salt Lake County, State of Utah, The Honorable Hal G, Taylor, Presiding

The role of Cu length on the magnetic behaviour of Fe/Cu multi-segmented nanowires

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOA set of multi-segmented Fe/Cu nanowires were synthesized by a two-step anodization process of aluminum substrates and a pulsed electrodeposition technique using a single bath. While both Fe segment length and diameter were kept constant to (30 +/- 7) and (45 +/- 5) nm, respectively, Cu length was varied between (15 +/- 5) and (120 +/- 10) nm. The influence of the non-magnetic layer thickness variation on the nanowire magnetic properties was investigated through first-order reversal curve (FORC) measurements and micromagnetic simulations. Our analysis confirmed that, in the multi-segmented Fe/Cu nanowires with shorter Cu segments, the dipolar coupling between Fe segments controls the nanowire magnetic behavior, and its performance is like that of a homogenous Fe nanowire array of similar dimensions. On the other hand, multi-segmented Fe/Cu nanowires with larger Cu segments act like a collection of non-interacting magnetic entities (along the nanowire axis), and their global behavior is mainly controlled by the neighbor-to-neighbor nanodisc dipolar interactions.87112CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO234513/2014-4sem informaçãoAgências de fomento estrangeiras apoiaram essa pesquisa, mais informações acesse artig

Phase diagram and critical properties within an effective model of QCD: the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model coupled to the Polyakov loop

We investigate the phase diagram of the so-called Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model at finite temperature and non-zero chemical potential with three quark flavors. Chiral and deconfinement phase transitions are discussed and the relevant order-like parameters are analyzed. The results are compared with simple thermodynamic expectations and lattice data. We present the phase diagram in the ($T,\,\mu_B)$ plane, paying special attention to the critical end point: as the strength of the flavor-mixing interaction becomes weaker, the critical end point moves to low temperatures and can even disappear.Comment: 46 pages, 11 figures, 3 table

Exposição à teratógenos e anormalidades oculares congênitas em pacientes brasileiros portadores da sequência de Möbius

Purpose: To assess the sociodemographic profiles, teratogen exposures, and ocular congenital abnormalities in Brazilian patients with Möbius sequence. Method: Forty-four patients were recruited from the Brazilian Möbius Sequence Society. This cross-section comprised 41 patients (age, mean ± standard deviation, 9.0 ± 5.5 years) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The parent or caregiver answered a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic data and pregnancy history. Patients underwent ophthalmological assessments. They were subdivided into groups according to misoprostol exposure during pregnancy, and the two groups were compared. Results: Mothers/caregivers reported unplanned pregnancies in 36 (88%) cases. Of these, 19 (53%) used misoprostol during their first trimesters. A stable marital status tended to be more frequent in the unexposed group (P=0.051). Incomplete elementary school education was reported by two (11%) mothers in the exposed group and by three (14%) mothers in the unexposed group (P=0.538). The mothers' gestational exposures to cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes were similar in both groups (P=0.297, P=0.297, P=0.428, and P=0.444, respectively). One (5%) case of Rubella infection during pregnancy was found in the unexposed group. The main malformations in the exposed and unexposed groups were the following: strabismus (72% and 77%, respectively), lack of emotional tearing (47% and 36%, respectively), and lagophthalmos (32% and 41%, respectively). Conclusion: Stable marital statuses tended to be more frequent among mothers that did not take misoprostol during pregnancy. Exposures to other teratogens and the main ocular abnormalities were similar in both groups.Objetivo: Descrever o perfil sóciodemográfico, exposição à teratógenos e anormalidades oculares congênitas em pacientes brasileiros portadores da sequência de Möbiu Método: Quarenta e quatro pacientes recrutados da Sociedade Brasileira de Sequência de Möbius foram examinados. Este estudo transversal incluiu 41 pacientes que preencheram os critérios de inclusão do estudo (média das idades: 9,0 ± 5,5 anos). Mãe/responsável dos pacientes responderam a um questionário sobre perfil sóciodemográfico e história gestacional. Foi realizado exame oftalmológico de todos os pacientes. Eles foram agrupados em dois grupos de acordo com a exposição ao misoprostol durante a gestação e seus dados foram comparados. Resultados: Mães/responsáveis referiram gravidez indesejada em 36 (88%) dos casos. Destas, 19 (53%) fizeram uso de misoprostol no primeiro trimestre de gestação. Houve uma tendência do grupo de mães não expostas ao misoprostol de terem um estado civil estável (P=0,051). Duas (11%) mães do grupo de expostas ao misoprostol relataram primeiro grau incompleto e três (14%) do grupo de não expostas (P=0,538). A exposição das mães à cocaína, maconha, álcool e cigarro foi similar em ambos os grupos (P=0,297, P=0,297, P=0,428, P=0,444, respectivamente). Houve um caso (5%) de Rubéola no grupo de mães não expostas. As principais malformações associadas nos pacientes expostos e não expostos foram, respectivamente: estrabismo (72% e 77%), e diminuição da lágrima emocional (47% e 36%) e lagoftalmia (32% and 41%). Conclusão: Estado civil estável foi mais frequente em mães que não fizeram uso de misoprostol durante a gestação. Exposição à outros teratógenos e malformações oculares tiveram distribuição semelhante em ambos os grupos.Fundação Altino Ventura Department of OphthalmologyHospital de Olhos de Pernambuco Department of OphthalmologyUniversity of Illinois Department of Ophthalmology & Visual ScienceUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of OphthalmologyAssociação de Assistência à Criança DeficienteSanta Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Department of OphthalmologyUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Departments of Neurology and PediatricsUniversidade de São Paulo Instituto de Biociências Department of BiologyUniversidade de São Paulo Department of OphthalmologyUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco Department of Pediatric SurgeryUniversidade de São Paulo Department of PsychiatryServices Group in Epileptic Child PsychiatryInstituto Cema Department of OphthalmologyUNIFESP, Department of OphthalmologySciEL

A versatile synthesis method of dendrites-free segmented nanowires with a precise size control

We report an innovative strategy to obtain cylindrical nanowires combining well established and low-cost bottom-up methods such as template-assisted nanowires synthesis and electrodeposition process. This approach allows the growth of single-layer or multi-segmented nanowires with precise control over their length (from few nanometers to several micrometers). The employed techniques give rise to branched pores at the bottom of the templates and consequently dendrites at the end of the nanowires. With our method, these undesired features are easily removed from the nanowires by a selective chemical etching. This is crucial for magnetic characterizations where such non-homogeneous branches may introduce undesired features into the final magnetic response. The obtained structures show extremely narrow distributions in diameter and length, improved robustness and high-yield, making this versatile approach strongly compatible with large scale production at an industrial level. Finally, we show the possibility to tune accurately the size of the nanostructures and consequently provide an easy control over the magnetic properties of these nanostructures