12 research outputs found

    Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Aloe maculata extract as antibacterial agent for potential topical application

    Get PDF
    Nowadays, antibiotic resistance poses a threat to public health worldwide. For this reason, non-traditional antibacterial products, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), offer an opportunity to address this issue. Although AgNPs have been proven to be effective antimicrobial agents, we studied the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of two novel AgNPs (AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2) obtained by green synthesis, their cytotoxicity on a cell line derived from human keratinocytes, and their skin penetration. These AgNPs were obtained here for the first time from an Aloe maculata aqueous extract as a reducing and capping agent of Ag(I), with varying the initial silver concentrations (5 and 9 mM of AgNO3 for AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2, respectively). For all the assessments, these were compared with AgNPs obtained from a traditional chemical method employing hydroxylamine hydrochloride as a reducing agent and AgNO3 (AgNP–NH2OH·HCl). The AgNPs were characterized physicochemically by TEM, DLS, Zeta potential, UV–vis, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the concentration of silver forming AgNPs and the reaction yield were determined. Both green-synthesized AgNPs showed an improvement in the inhibition of bacterial growth after 24 h of incubation for E. coli and S. aureus. AgNP-Aloe-1 presented a MIC 4 times lower for both bacteria compared to AgNP–NH2OH·HCl, while AgNP-Aloe-2 presented a MIC 32 and 8 time lower for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Moreover, they produced a decrease in the biofilm biomass formation from P. aeruginosa at lower concentrations (6.25 μg/ml for AgNP-Aloe-1 and 1.56 μg/ml for AgNP-Aloe-2) than AgNP-NH2OH·HCl which only showed a reduction of 30% at the maximum concentration tested. However, AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2 were less efficient in eradicating pre-formed biofilm. Even though AgNP-Aloe-2 showed a lower reaction yield (31.7%) compared to AgNP-Aloe-1 (68.5%), they showed the best antibacterial activity. On the other hand, green-synthesized AgNPs were mainly retained in the stratum corneum of intact skin and reached lower concentrations in the viable epidermis than AgNP–NH2OH·HCl. Moreover, AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2 did not show cytotoxic effects on human keratinocytes at the antibacterial concentrations. Their improved performance and lower skin penetration could be attributed to their physicochemical properties, such as size (10–25 nm), charge (around −10 mV), and shape (tendency towards a spherical shape), but mainly to the presence of phytocompounds from the extract that remained attached to the AgNPs, as observed by Raman spectroscopy and UV–vis. For the reasons mentioned above, these novel AgNPs obtained by a more environmentally friendly method have the potential to be used as antibacterial agents, particularly for topical applications.Fil: Franceschinis, Gaston Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular; ArgentinaFil: Beverina, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Corleto, Ingrid Merlina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, Ayelen Morena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular; ArgentinaFil: Lillo, Rolando Cristian Rodrigo. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Arias Cassará, María Lucrecia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Silvia del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular; ArgentinaFil: Maffia, Paulo Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham; ArgentinaFil: Martinetti Montanari, Jorge Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham; ArgentinaFil: Tuttolomondo, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Calienni, Maria Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular; Argentin

    Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Aloe maculata extract as antibacterial agent for potential topical application

    Get PDF
    Nowadays, antibiotic resistance poses a threat to public health worldwide. For this reason, nontraditional antibacterial products, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), offer an opportunity to address this issue. Although AgNPs have been proven to be effective antimicrobial agents, we studied the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of two novel AgNPs (AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNPAloe- 2) obtained by green synthesis, their cytotoxicity on a cell line derived from human keratinocytes, and their skin penetration. These AgNPs were obtained here for the first time from an Aloe maculata aqueous extract as a reducing and capping agent of Ag(I), with varying the initial silver concentrations (5 and 9 mM of AgNO3 for AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2, respectively). For all the assessments, these were compared with AgNPs obtained from a traditional chemical method employing hydroxylamine hydrochloride as a reducing agent and AgNO3 (AgNP–NH2OH⋅ HCl). The AgNPs were characterized physicochemically by TEM, DLS, Zeta potential, UV–vis, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the concentration of silver forming AgNPs and the reaction yield were determined. Both green-synthesized AgNPs showed an improvement in the inhibition of bacterial growth after 24 h of incubation for E. coli and S. aureus. AgNP-Aloe-1 presented a MIC 4 times lower for both bacteria compared to AgNP–NH2OH⋅HCl, while AgNP-Aloe-2 presented a MIC 32 and 8 time lower for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Moreover, they produced a decrease in the biofilm biomass formation from P. aeruginosa at lower concentrations (6.25 μg/ml for AgNP-Aloe-1 and 1.56 μg/ml for AgNP-Aloe-2) than AgNPNH2OH⋅ HCl which only showed a reduction of 30% at the maximum concentration tested. However, AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2 were less efficient in eradicating pre-formed biofilm. Even though AgNP-Aloe-2 showed a lower reaction yield (31.7%) compared to AgNP-Aloe-1 (68.5%), they showed the best antibacterial activity. On the other hand, green-synthesized AgNPs were mainly retained in the stratum corneum of intact skin and reached lower concentrations in the viable epidermis than AgNP–NH2OH⋅HCl. Moreover, AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe- 2 did not show cytotoxic effects on human keratinocytes at the antibacterial concentrations. Their improved performance and lower skin penetration could be attributed to their physicochemical properties, such as size (10–25 nm), charge (around -10 mV), and shape (tendency towards a spherical shape), but mainly to the presence of phytocompounds from the extract that remained attached to the AgNPs, as observed by Raman spectroscopy and UV–vis. For the reasons mentioned above, these novel AgNPs obtained by a more environmentally friendly method have the potential to be used as antibacterial agents, particularly for topical applications.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

    Charophytes of the lake Garda (Northern Italy): a preliminary assessment of diversity and distribution

    No full text
    Charophytes (stoneworts and bassweeds) are a typical macrophytic component of inland water ecosystems. Well-developed submerged meadows of charophytes are expression of clear water and rather low phytoplankton concentrations. Consequently, among aquatic macroscopic primary producers, charophytes are one of the most threatened groups being very sensitive to phosphorous availability, turbidity and water level perturbations. Accordingly, charophytes have been suffering a massive diversity loss worldwide over the last century, mainly because of human-induced pressures. During summer 2011, detailed field surveys were carried out with the main purpose of filling knowledge gaps concerning aquatic flora and vegetation of the lake Garda – the largest lake in Italy and one of the deepest in Europe. Along randomly selected transects, floristic data were collected following standard procedures, as imposed by the Water Framework Directive. Overall, 12 different species of charophytes were recorded, which accounts for 36% of total Italian charophytes and 19% of European species. The most diffuse species were <em>Chara globularis</em> and <em>C. intermedia</em>; whereas, the most interesting taxa were <em>Chara polyacantha</em> and <em>Nitella hyalina</em>, two species with narrow distribution in Italy. Overall in the lake Garda, dense stands of charophytes covered almost homogeneously the littoral sectors at a water depth between 3 and 12 m. The deepest species was <em>C. globularis</em>, which reached a maximum depth of colonisation of about 17.5 m. Charophytes represent a major element among the primary producers in the lake Garda. The high local charophyte diversity and the rather wide most colonised areas (~1000-1200 ha) confirm that the lake Garda is an important reserve for many rare and threatened charophytes. For the first time, these results highlight the key role of the lake Garda for charophyte diversity at a national and European level

    Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Aloe maculata extract as antibacterial agent for potential topical application

    No full text
    Nowadays, antibiotic resistance poses a threat to public health worldwide. For this reason, non-traditional antibacterial products, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), offer an opportunity to address this issue. Although AgNPs have been proven to be effective antimicrobial agents, we studied the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of two novel AgNPs (AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2) obtained by green synthesis, their cytotoxicity on a cell line derived from human keratinocytes, and their skin penetration. These AgNPs were obtained here for the first time from an Aloe maculata aqueous extract as a reducing and capping agent of Ag(I), with varying the initial silver concentrations (5 and 9 mM of AgNO3 for AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2, respectively). For all the assessments, these were compared with AgNPs obtained from a traditional chemical method employing hydroxylamine hydrochloride as a reducing agent and AgNO3 (AgNP–NH2OH·HCl). The AgNPs were characterized physicochemically by TEM, DLS, Zeta potential, UV–vis, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the concentration of silver forming AgNPs and the reaction yield were determined. Both green-synthesized AgNPs showed an improvement in the inhibition of bacterial growth after 24 h of incubation for E. coli and S. aureus. AgNP-Aloe-1 presented a MIC 4 times lower for both bacteria compared to AgNP–NH2OH·HCl, while AgNP-Aloe-2 presented a MIC 32 and 8 time lower for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Moreover, they produced a decrease in the biofilm biomass formation from P. aeruginosa at lower concentrations (6.25 μg/ml for AgNP-Aloe-1 and 1.56 μg/ml for AgNP-Aloe-2) than AgNP-NH2OH·HCl which only showed a reduction of 30% at the maximum concentration tested. However, AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2 were less efficient in eradicating pre-formed biofilm. Even though AgNP-Aloe-2 showed a lower reaction yield (31.7%) compared to AgNP-Aloe-1 (68.5%), they showed the best antibacterial activity. On the other hand, green-synthesized AgNPs were mainly retained in the stratum corneum of intact skin and reached lower concentrations in the viable epidermis than AgNP–NH2OH·HCl. Moreover, AgNP-Aloe-1 and AgNP-Aloe-2 did not show cytotoxic effects on human keratinocytes at the antibacterial concentrations. Their improved performance and lower skin penetration could be attributed to their physicochemical properties, such as size (10–25 nm), charge (around −10 mV), and shape (tendency towards a spherical shape), but mainly to the presence of phytocompounds from the extract that remained attached to the AgNPs, as observed by Raman spectroscopy and UV–vis. For the reasons mentioned above, these novel AgNPs obtained by a more environmentally friendly method have the potential to be used as antibacterial agents, particularly for topical applications

    Nanoformulation for potential topical delivery of Vismodegib in skin cancer treatment

    No full text
    Vismodegib (Erivedge®, Genentech) is a first-in-class inhibitor of the hedgehog signaling pathway for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The treatment currently consists of the oral administration of Erivedge® capsules. Although it has shown therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials, there are many side effects related to its systemic distribution. In this work, we have incorporated vismodegib to ultradeformable liposomes in order to obtain a nano-drug delivery system via topical route, which could be useful to reduce systemic distribution -and consequently side effects- while achieving a viable epidermis-specific target where neoplastic events of BCC develop. Vismodegib was loaded into liposomes composed of soy phosphatidylcholine and sodium cholate, and the obtained formulation was characterized by different techniques, both experimental and computational. Several analyses were performed, with a special focus on the interaction of the drug with the liposomal membrane. Additionally, the penetration of Vismodegib delivered by ultradeformable liposomes was assessed on human skin explants. This is one of the first works that propose the topical route for Vismodegib and the first, to our knowledge, in stabilizing this active into a nano-drug delivery system specifically designed for penetrating the stratum corneum impermeable barrier.Fil: Calienni, Maria Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina. University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro; Italia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB; ArgentinaFil: Febres Molina, Camilo. Universidad Católica de Santa María; PerúFil: Llovera, Ramiro Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB; ArgentinaFil: Zevallos Delgado, Christian. Universidad Católica de Santa María; PerúFil: Tuttolomondo, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Paolino, Donatella. University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro; ItaliaFil: Fresta, Massimo. University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro; ItaliaFil: Barazorda Ccahuana, Haruna L.. Universidad Católica de Santa María; PerúFil: Gómez, Badhin. Universidad Católica de Santa María; PerúFil: Alonso, Silvia del Valle. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB; ArgentinaFil: Martinetti Montanari, Jorge Anibal. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB; Argentin

    Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) Disease and ALPS Phenotype: Are They Two Distinct Entities?

    No full text
    Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is an inherited disorder of lymphocyte homeostasis classically due to mutation of FAS, FASL, and CASP10 genes (ALPS-FAS/CASP10). Despite recent progress, about one-third of ALPS patients does not carry classical mutations and still remains gene orphan (ALPS-U, undetermined genetic defects). The aims of the present study were to compare the clinical and immunological features of ALPS-FAS/CASP10 versus those of ALPS-U affected subjects and to deepen the genetic characteristics of this latter group. Demographical, anamnestic, biochemical data were retrieved from medical record of 46 ALPS subjects. An enlarged panel of genes (next-generation sequencing) was applied to the ALPS-U group. ALPS-U subjects showed a more complex phenotype if compared to ALPS-FAS/CASP10 group, characterized by multiorgan involvement (P = 0.001) and positivity of autoimmune markers (P = 0.02). Multilineage cytopenia was present in both groups without differences with the exception of lymphocytopenia and autoimmune neutropenia that were more frequent in ALPS-U than in the ALPS-FAS/CASP10 group (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04). First- and second-line treatments were able to control the symptoms in 100% of the ALPS-FAS/CASP10 patients, while 63% of ALPS-U needed >2 lines of treatment and remission in some cases was obtained only after target therapy. In the ALPS-U group, we found in 14 of 28 (50%) patients 19 variants; of these, 4 of 19 (21%) were known as pathogenic and 8 of 19 (42%) as likely pathogenic. A characteristic flow cytometry panel including CD3CD4-CD8-+TCRαβ+, CD3+CD25+/CD3HLADR+, TCR αβ+ B220+, and CD19+CD27+ identified the ALPS-FAS/CASP10 group. ALPS-U seems to represent a distinct entity from ALPS-FAS/CASP10; this is relevant for management and tailored treatments whenever available

    Assessing cellulose nanofiber production from olive tree pruning residue

    No full text
    Pruning operation in olive trees generates a large amount of biomass that is normally burned causing severe environmental concern. Therefore, the transformation of this agricultural residue into value-added products is imperative but still remains as a technological challenge. In this study, olive tree pruning (OTP) residue is evaluated for the first time to produce cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The OTP bleached pulp was treated by TEMPO-mediated oxidation and subsequent defibrillation in a microfluidizer. The resulting CNF was characterized and compared to CNF obtained from a commercial bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp using the same chemi-mechanical procedure. CNF from OTP showed higher carboxylate content but lower fibrillation yield and optical transmittance as compared to eucalyptus CNF. Finally, the visco-elastic gel obtained from OTP was stronger than that produced from eucalyptus. Therefore, the properties of CNF from OTP made this nanomaterial suitable for several applications. CNF from OTP showed higher carboxylate content as compared to eucalyptus CNF (1038 vs. 778 μmol/g) but lower fibrillation yield (48% vs. 96%) and optical transmittance. Finally, the visco-elastic gel obtained from OTP was stronger than that produced from eucalyptus. Therefore, the properties of CNF from OTP made this nanomaterial suitable for several applications
    corecore