THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE OF IN THE LICHEN HYPOGYMNIA PHYSODES TO UV AND HEAVY METAL STRESS

WOS: 000530720800020This work aims to determine the response of Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. (hooded tube lichen) collected in an unpolluted site (Yenice Forest in Karabiik, Turkey) to stress conditions. In the present study, the effect of exposure to different heavy metals (Cd+2, Pb+2, and Cr+6) for different durations and UV radiations dosages on lichen was examined at the physiological and molecular levels. The effects of stress conditions were determined in the case of different parameters concerning heavy metal, protein, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents and changes in the DNA profiles. According to the results obtained that exposure to heavy metals and UV radiations leads to a physiological response in a concentration and dose-dependent manner through differences in chlorophyll, protein content in heavy metals and UV treated lichen specimen. Furthermore, changes in RAPD assay and DNA methylation analysis showed that homologous nucleotide sequences in the genome from untreated and stress conditions treated lichen specimen showed different band patterns and methylation under heavy metals and UV stress. The results determined that lichen specimen suggest as a possible bioindicator able to measure the biological effects of heavy metal pollution and damage to UV radiation.TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [112T004]; Ankara UniversityAnkara University [13L4240004]We thank TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey), Project no. 112T004 and Ankara University Project Manager, Project no. 13L4240004 for the financial support

Macroporous surgical mesh from a natural cocoon composite

Recently, traditional polymer-based surgical meshes have drawn unwanted attention as a result of host tissue complications arising from infection, biocompatibility, and mechanical compatibility. Seeking an alternative solution, we present a hierarchically structured nanofibrous surgical mesh derived from the naturally woven cocoon of the Japanese giant silkworm, termed MothMesh. We report that it displays nontoxicity, biocompatibility, suitable mechanical properties, and porosity while showing no adverse effect in animal trials and even appears to enhance cell proliferation. Hence, we assert that the use of this natural material may provide an effective and improved alternative to existing synthetic meshes

Sponge-derived natural bioactive glass microspheres with self-assembled surface channel arrays opening into a hollow core for bone tissue and controlled drug release applications

Abstract Porous, bioactive microspheres have always been a dream material to biomedical scientists for bone regeneration and drug delivery applications due to their interconnectivity, unique pore geometry, encapsulation ability and porosity spanning macroscopic, microscopic and nanoscopic length scales. Extensive efforts have been made to produce such materials synthetically at a great cost of money, time and labor. Herein, naturally-assembled multifunctional, open-channeled and hollow bioactive micro silica spheres (diameter 209.4 ± 38.5 µm) were discovered in a marine sponge (Geodia macandrewii), by peeling the outer surface of the sterrasters using hydrogen fluoride. The obtained micro silica spheres exhibited valuable characteristics such as homogeneously distributed pores, a cavity in the center of the sphere, and channels (approx. 3000) opening from each pore into the central cavity. Simulated body fluid analysis demonstrated the bioactivity of the micro silica spheres; whereas, no bioactivity was recorded for the original untreated sterrasters. The non-cytotoxicity and osteogenic ability of the isolated microspheres were confirmed through osteoblast cell culture. Finally, these silica based porous microspheres were tested for controlled drug release capacity. The spheres showed excellent loading and release abilities for an anti-cancer drug, carboplatin, in simulated solutions and in human cancer cell culture, HeLa, through a real time cell analyzer system. The drug loading capacity of the porous beads was determined as 10.59%. Considering the unique biological and physicochemical properties, these novel bioactive silica spheres, which we name as giant macroporous silica (GMS), are promising materials for a range of applications including bone tissue engineering and drug delivery