Triclosan Disrupts SKN-1/Nrf2- Mediated Oxidative Stress Response in C. elegans and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Triclosan (TCS), an antimicrobial chemical with potential endocrine-disrupting properties, may pose a risk to early embryonic development and cellular homeostasis during adulthood. Here, we show that TCS induces toxicity in both the nematode C. elegans and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by disrupting the SKN-1/Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response. Specifically, TCS exposure affected C. elegans survival and hMSC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular analysis showed that TCS inhibited the nuclear localization of SKN-1/Nrf2 and the expression of its target genes, which were associated with oxidative stress response. Notably, TCS-induced toxicity was significantly reduced by either antioxidant treatment or constitutive SKN-1/Nrf2 activation. As Nrf2 is strongly associated with aging and chemoresistance, these findings will provide a novel approach to the identification of therapeutic targets and disease treatment

Synthesis by Wet Chemical Method and Characterization of Nanocrystalline ZnO Doped with Fe 2

Nanocrystalline samples of ZnO doped with $Fe_2O_3$ were synthetized by wet chemical method. The series of ZnO nanosized samples in the wide range of $Fe_2O_3$ concentration (from 5 wt.% to 95 wt.%) was prepared by precipitation from nitrate solutions using ammonia. The phase composition of the samples was determined using X-ray diffraction measurements. The phases of hexagonal ZnO, and/or rhombohedric $Fe_2O_3$, and/or $ZnFe_2O_4$ were identified. The mean crystalline size of nanocrystals, determined with the use of Scherrer's formula, varied from 8 to 52 nm. The preliminary micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements were performed. The observed features are typical of Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles. The magnetic measurements revealed the presence of different types of magnetic behavior. For samples with high $Fe_2O_3$ contents (above 70 wt.%) the ferromagnetic ordering was observed at room temperature. For samples with lower $Fe_2O_3$ contents we observed the phenomenon of superparamagnetism above the blocking temperature

Synthesis by Wet Chemical Method and Characterization of Nanocrystalline ZnO Doped with Fe2O3Fe_2O_3

Nanocrystalline samples of ZnO doped with $Fe_2O_3$ were synthetized by wet chemical method. The series of ZnO nanosized samples in the wide range of $Fe_2O_3$ concentration (from 5 wt.% to 95 wt.%) was prepared by precipitation from nitrate solutions using ammonia. The phase composition of the samples was determined using X-ray diffraction measurements. The phases of hexagonal ZnO, and/or rhombohedric $Fe_2O_3$, and/or $ZnFe_2O_4$ were identified. The mean crystalline size of nanocrystals, determined with the use of Scherrer's formula, varied from 8 to 52 nm. The preliminary micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements were performed. The observed features are typical of Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles. The magnetic measurements revealed the presence of different types of magnetic behavior. For samples with high $Fe_2O_3$ contents (above 70 wt.%) the ferromagnetic ordering was observed at room temperature. For samples with lower $Fe_2O_3$ contents we observed the phenomenon of superparamagnetism above the blocking temperature

Nanocrystalline ZnO Doped with Fe2\text{}_{2}O3\text{}_{3} - Magnetic and Structural Properties

We have studied the magnetic properties of ZnO nanocrystals doped with Fe$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{3}$ in the magnetic dopant range from 5 to 70 wt%. The nanocrystals were synthesized by wet chemical method. The detailed structural characterization was performed by means of X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements. The results of systematic measurements of magnetic AC susceptibility as a function of temperature and frequency are presented. We observed different types of magnetic behavior. For ZnO samples doped with low content of Fe$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{3}$, the results of low-field AC susceptibility are satisfactorily explained by superparamagnetic model including inter-particle interactions. With the increase of magnetic Fe$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{3}$ content, the spin-glass-like behavior is observed

Nanocrystalline ZnO Doped with Fe 2

We have studied the magnetic properties of ZnO nanocrystals doped with Fe$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{3}$ in the magnetic dopant range from 5 to 70 wt%. The nanocrystals were synthesized by wet chemical method. The detailed structural characterization was performed by means of X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements. The results of systematic measurements of magnetic AC susceptibility as a function of temperature and frequency are presented. We observed different types of magnetic behavior. For ZnO samples doped with low content of Fe$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{3}$, the results of low-field AC susceptibility are satisfactorily explained by superparamagnetic model including inter-particle interactions. With the increase of magnetic Fe$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{3}$ content, the spin-glass-like behavior is observed

Raman Scattering from ZnO(Fe) Nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline samples of ZnO(Fe) were synthesized by wet chemical method. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction to determine composition of the samples (ZnO, Fe₂O₃, ZnFe₂O₄) and the mean crystalline size (8-52 nm). In this paper we report the experimental spectra of the Raman scattering (from 200 to $1600 cm^{-1}$). Main characteristics of experimental Raman spectrum in 200 to $1600 cm^{-1}$ spectral region are: sharp peak at $436 cm^{-1}$ and broad two-phonon structure at ≈ $1150 cm^{-1}, typical of ZnO;broad structure below$700 cm^{-1}$ that has different position and shape in case of ZnFe₂O₄ or Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles

Transition metals in ZnO nanocrystals: Magnetic and structural properties

Currently, wide-gap ZnO nanoparticles bear important potential application in electro-optical devices, transparent ultraviolet protection films, and spintronic devices. We have studied the magnetic properties of nanocrystals of ZnO(Fe, Co, Mn) prepared by two methods of synthesis. We have used the microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis and traditional wet chemistry method followed by calcination. The detailed structural characterization was performed by means of X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements. The morphology of the samples was studied by means of SEM and TEM microscopy. The results of systematic measurements of AC magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature and frequency as well as SQUID magnetization are presented. The SQUID magnetization measurements revealed a clear bifurcation of the FC and ZFC plots. Such behavior suggested superparamagnetic behavior above the blocking temperature. The dynamic magnetic measurements were performed at small AC magnetic field with amplitude not exceeding 5 Oe and different frequency values (from 7 Hz to 9970 Hz). For ZnO(Fe) and ZnO(Mn), the AC susceptibility maxima has been found for in-phase susceptibility Re(χ) and for out of phase susceptibility Im(χ). We analyzed the observed frequency dependence of the peak temperature in the AC susceptibility curve using the empirical parameter Φ that is a quantitative measure of the frequency shift and is given by the relative shift of the peak temperature per decade shift in frequency, as well as Vogel- Fulcher law. We observed two different types of magnetic behavior, spin-glasslike behavior or superparamagnetic behavior, depending on the synthesis process. For ZnO(Co) nanocrystalline samples high temperature Curie-Weiss behavior in AC magnetic susceptibility was observed. We observed that the determined negative values of the Curie- Weiss temperature θ depend strongly on the nominal content of cobalt oxide. It was shown that for calcination method the values of θ increase with the increase of magnetic ion content indicating enhancement of predominance of antiferromagnetic interactions. For hydrothermal method the opposite effect was observed indicating the breakdown of predominance of aniferromagnetic coupling with the increase of nominal magnetic ion content. This paper gives an in-depth discussion of the structural and magnetic properties of ZnO nanocrystals in addition to the technological issues such as different methods of wet chemical synthesis

Investigation of feeding behaviour in C. elegans reveals distinct pharmacological and antibacterial effects of nicotine

Caenorhabditis elegans is an informative model to study the neural basis of feeding. A useful paradigm is one in which adult nematodes feed on a bacterial lawn which has been pre-loaded with pharmacological agents and the effect on pharyngeal pumping rate scored. A crucial aspect of this assay is the availability of good quality bacteria to stimulate pumping to maximal levels. A potential confound is the possibility that the pharmacological agent impacts bacterial viability and indirectly influences feeding rate. Here, the actions of nicotine on pharyngeal pumping of C. elegans and on the Escherichia coli bacterial food source were investigated. Nicotine caused an immediate and concentration-dependent inhibition of C. elegans pharyngeal pumping, IC50 4 mM (95% CI = 3.4 mM to 4.8 mM). At concentrations between 5 and 25 mM, nicotine also affected the growth and viability of E. coli lawns. To test whether this food depletion by nicotine caused the reduced pumping, we modified the experimental paradigm. We investigated pharyngeal pumping stimulated by 10 mM 5-HT, a food ‘mimic’, before testing if nicotine still inhibited this behaviour. The IC50 for nicotine in these assays was 2.9 mM (95% CI = 3.1 mM to 5.1 mM) indicating the depletion of food lawn does not underpin the potency of nicotine at inhibiting feeding. These studies show that the inhibitory effect of nicotine on C. elegans pharyngeal pumping is mediated by a direct effect rather than by its poorly reported bactericidal actions.</p