Evaluation of Nanoparticle Uptake iii Co-culture Cancer Modeis

Co-culture models are currently bridging the gap between classical cultures and in vivo animal models. Exploring this novel approach unlocks the possibility to mimic the tumor microenvironment in vitro, through the establishment of cancer-stroma synergistic interactions. Notably, these organotypic models offer a perfect platform for the development and pre-clinical evaluation of candidate nanocarriers loaded with anti-tumoral drugs in a high throughput screening mode, with lower costs and absence of ethical issues. However, this evaluation was until now limited to co-culture systems established with precise cell ratios, not addressing the natural cell heterogeneity commonly found in different tumors. Therefore, herein the multifunctional nanocarriers efficiency was characterized in various fibroblast-MCF-7 co-culture systems containing different cell ratios, in order to unravel key design parameters that influence nanocarrier performance and the therapeutic outcome. The successful establishment of the co-culture models was confirmed by the tissue-like distribution of the different cells in culture. Nanoparticles incubation in the various co-culture systems reveals that these nanocarriers possess targeting specificity for cancer cells, indicating their suitability for being used in this illness therapy. Additionally, by using different co-culture ratios, different nanoparticle uptake profiles were obtained. These findings are of crucial importance for the future design and optimization of new drug delivery systems, since their real targeting capacity must be addressed in heterogenous cell populations, such as those found in tumors.PEst-OE/EGEJUI4D5G/201

Cost-effectiveness analysis for sustainable wastewater engineering : a case study at Minho-Lima’s rivers basins (Portugal)

The present work was focused on a methodological assessment for defining cost-effective measures regarding to wastewater sanitation in rural areas and was carried out within the project AQUA Project – Preliminary Studies for the Water Framework Directive Implementation at the Minho and Lima’s Rivers Basins. In order to assure a good ecological and chemical status in water bodies according to Water Framework Directive, a set of priority and complementary actions combined with a cost-effectiveness analysis was used to select a wastewater treatment strategy to increase public attendance. Using geoprocessing methodologies and geographic information multicriteria analysis (e.g.: soil, land use, topography), locations with high potential for implementation of low-energy wastewater treatment systems were identified and worked out with cost-functions. The results show that a combination of centralized and decentralized plants allow a cost-effectiveness attendance of 1,51 k¤/equivalent inhabitant in Minho and Lima’s river basins. The approach indicates that low-energy wastewater treatment plants are interesting options with a promising cost-effectiveness potential in rural areas

Immunotherapy in Allergic Asthma – 5 year analysis: Is it a curative approach?

Asthma is a common, chronic and heterogeneous disease;it affects people of all ages and there has been a recentincrease in its prevalence and severity. It may be mild,barely noticed by the patient, or it may range all the way tovery severe disease, causing constant symptoms that greatlyaffect the quality life of the patient. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A biosurfactant-producing and oil-degrading Bacillus subtilis strain enhances oil recovery under simulated reservoir conditions

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is potentially useful to increment oil recovery from reservoirs beyond primary and secondary recovery operations using microorganisms and their metabolites. In situ stimulation of microorganisms that produce biosurfactants and degrade heavy oil fractions reduces the capillary forces that retain the oil inside the reservoir and decreases oil viscosity, thus promoting its flow and increasing oil production. Bacillus subtilis #573, isolated from crude oil samples obtained from a Brazilian oil field with a moderate temperature (40ºC), was selected for further use in MEOR. This isolate can grow at temperatures up to 55ºC and salinities up to 100 g/l, and produces extracellular biosurfactants under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions in the presence of hydrocarbons. The biosurfactants produced reduced the surface tension to 30 mN/m, decrease the interfacial tension oil-water and exhibited a high emulsifying activity, as well as thermo- and salt-tolerance. The microbial isolate also showed the ability of degrading long-chain n-alkanes under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Mobilization of heavy crude oil by this isolate was evaluated using sand-pack columns at 40ºC. Growing in situ B. subtilis #573 for 14 days allowed a 17% recovery of the entrapped crude oil. The recovered crude oil showed a decrease in the percentage of n-alkanes higher than C25 and its viscosity was reduced about 32%, which contributed to enhance its mobility. A core flooding equipment was used for a better simulation of the oil reservoir conditions (40ºC and 32.4 bars). Preliminary results showed an additional oil recovery of 4%. The results obtained demonstrated that the selected isolate can be useful to recover residual oil from mature reservoirs

Validation of NoSAS (Neck, Obesity, Snoring, Age, Sex) score as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea: Analysis in a sleep clinic

Screening methods have become increasingly important due to the growing number of patients suspected of having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) being referred to sleep clinics. The Lausanne NoSAS (Neck circumference, Obesity, Snoring, Age, Sex) score test is a simple, efficient, and easily employed tool enabling identification of individuals at risk for the disease. The score ranges from 0 to 17 and the patient has a high probability of OSA if they have a NoSAS score of 8 or higher.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cost-effectiveness analysis for sustainable wastewater engineering and water resources management : a case study at Minho–Lima river basins (Portugal)

A cost-effectiveness integrated methodology applied in a water resources management and sanitation project in Minho and Lima’s region (Portugal) is presented. First, environmental objectives and programmes of measures (PM) are established and priorities are identified using a cause–effect assessment matrix and a global effectiveness index. Aiming to achieve more demanding goals, some complementary actions are considered, including “decentralized low-energy wastewater treatment plants construction”. A geographic information system was used to select potential implementation sites, and suitable treatment processes for each location are identified. The centralized and decentralized wastewater treatment plants combination is promising, achieving a cost-effectiveness attendance of €1510/equivalent-inhabitant in Minho–Lima river basins

Synthesis and photophysical properties of side-chain chlorinated 5,9-diaminobenzo[a]phenoxazinium salts

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal). National Program for Scientific Re-equipment, contract REDE/1517/RMN/2005 with funds from POCI 2010 (FEDER) and FCT

Evaluation and characterization of biosurfactants produced by microorganisms isolated from Brazilian oils

Surface-active agents or surfactants are amphiphilic molecules that comprise both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, allowing the reduction of the surface and interfacial tensions, as well as the formation of oil in water or water in oil emulsions. Due to their interesting properties, surfactants are widely used by petroleum industries to reduce the capillary forces that retain the oil inside the reservoir. However, since chemical surfactants present some limitations related to environmental issues and restrictive laws, the biosurfactants constitute a reliable alternative due to their lower toxicity, higher biodegradability and effectiveness at extreme temperature, salinity and pH conditions. In this work, different biosurfactant-producing microorganisms under reservoir conditions were isolated from Brazilian oils. Biosurfactant production was evaluated by measuring surface tensions, interfacial oil-water tensions and emulsification activities. Among the isolated microorganisms, two Pseudomonas and three Bacillus strains were able to grow and produce extracellular biosurfactants at 40ºC. Furthermore, the biosurfactants were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques, namely FTIR, 1H NMR, ESI/MS and MS/MS. Structural characterization of these molecules is important to understand their surface-active properties, as well as the formation of molecular aggregates. Biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains were found to be rhamnolipids and surfactins, respectively. The results obtained show that it is important to characterize the biosurfactants in order to optimize their application in bioremediation with crude oil, or in microbial enhanced oil recovery processes

Production and characterization of biosurfactants produced by microorganisms isolated from brazilian oils

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules that comprise both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, allowing the reduction the surface and interfacial tensions, as well as the formation of oil in water or water in oil emulsions. These surface-active compounds are extensively used by petroleum industries in order to reduce the capillary forces that entrapped the oil inside the reservoir. The compounds synthetized chemically, chemical surfactants, have some applicability limitations according some environmental restrictions. Contrarily, sustainable surfactants compounds can be produced naturally by microorganisms, designed by biosurfactants. The biosurfactants are a reliable alternative, since they exhibit lower toxicity, higher biodegradability, and effectiveness at extreme temperature, salinity and pH conditions. This work studies the production of different biosurfactant produced by microorganisms isolated from Brazilian oils. It was evaluated their abilities by measuring surface tensions, interfacial oil-water tensions and emulsification activities. Two Pseudomonas and three Bacillus strains demonstrated capability to grow and produce extracellular biosurfactants at 40ºC. Additionally, the biosurfactants produced were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques, namely FTIR, 1H NMR, ESI/MS and MS/MS, being the biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains characterized as rhamnolipids and surfactins, respectively. The results obtained show that it is important to characterize the biosurfactants in order to understand their surface-active properties, as well as their formation of molecular aggregates: The biosurfactants chemical characterization allows the optimization of their application in bioremediation with crude oil, or in microbial enhanced oil recovery processes

Optimization and characterization of biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis isolates towards Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery applications

Biosurfactant production by three Bacillus subtilis strains (#309, #311 and #573) isolated from Brazilian crude oils was optimized based on different carbon and nitrogen sources. The lowest surface tension values were obtained using sucrose containing media for the three isolates. Biosurfactants produced by each strain were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), and Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionizationtime of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). The chemical characterization showed that the three isolates produced very similar mixtures, containing C13-, C14- and C15-surfactin, although in different proportions. The structure of surfactins produced by the three strains was shown to be in good agreement with their surface-activities. The interfacial-activities of the biosurfactants were characterized and compared with chemical surfactants. Furthermore, the application of biosurfactants and chemical surfactants in oil recovery was evaluated. The results obtained showed that biosurfactants have better interfacial-activity and oil recovery efficiency than common chemical surfactants, thus being more attractive to be applied in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery.This work was supported by PARTEX OIL AND GAS. Jorge F.B. Pereira acknowledges the financial support from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia through doctoral research grant SFRH/BD/60228/2009. Rui Vitorino acknowledges the financial support from QOPNA and RNEM by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia