73 research outputs found
Biospectroscopy of Nanodiamond-Induced Alterations in Conformation of Intra- and Extracellular Proteins: A Nanoscale IR Study
The toxicity of nanomaterials raises major concerns because of the impact that nanomaterials may have on health,
which remains poorly understood. We need to explore the fate of individual nanoparticles in cells at nano and molecular levels to
establish their safety. Conformational changes in secondary protein structures are one of the main indicators of impaired biological
function and hence, the ability to identify these changes at a nanoscale level offers unique insights into the nanotoxicity of materials.
Here, we used nanoscale infrared spectroscopy and demonstrated for the first time that nanodiamonds induced alterations in
both extra- and intracellular secondary protein structures, leading to the formation of antiparallel β-sheet, β-turns, intermolecular β-
sheet and aggregation of proteins. These conformational changes of the protein structure may result in the loss of functionality of
proteins and in turn lead to adverse effects
Development and Implementation of a Program for the Formation of Project Culture Among the Fighters of Student Detachments
Рассмотрены основополагающие навыки и компетенции, которые включает в себя проектная культура. Предложена структура программы по формированию проектной культуры у бойцов студенческих отрядов, состоящая из трех модулей: информационного, интерактивного, проектного. Представлены итоги реализации информационного модуля программы по формированию проектной культуры у участников (студентов) из экспериментальной группы. Показано, что реализация модуля программы повысила уровень сформированности навыка — креативное решение.The article discusses the fundamental skills and competencies that the project culture includes. The structure of the program for the formation of project culture among the fighters of student detachments, consisting of three modules: informational, interactive, project. The results of the implementation of the information module of the program on the formation of project culture among participants (students) from the experimental group are presented. It is shown that the implementation of the program module has increased the level of skill formation — a creative solution
Biological impact of nanodiamond particles – label free, high-resolution methods for nanotoxicity assessment
Current methods for the assessment of nanoparticle safety that are based on 2D cell culture models and fluorescence-based assays show limited sensitivity and they lack biomimicry. Consequently, the health risks associated with the use of many nanoparticles have not yet been established. There is a need to develop in vitro models that mimic physiology more accurately and enable high throughput assessment. There is also a need to set up new assays that offer high sensitivity and are label-free. Here we developed ‘mini-liver’ models using scaffold-free bioprinting and used these models together with label-free nanoscale techniques for the assessment of toxicity of nanodiamond produced by laser-assisted technology. Results showed that NDs induced cytotoxicity in a concentration and exposure-time dependent manner. The loss of cell function was confirmed by increased cell stiffness, decreased cell membrane barrier integrity and reduced cells mobility. We further showed that NDs elevated the production of reactive oxygen species and reduced cell viability. Our approach that combined mini-liver models with label-free high-resolution techniques showed improved sensitivity in toxicity assessment. Notably, this approach allowed for label-free semi-high throughput measurements of nanoparticle-cell interactions, thus could be considered as a complementary approach to currently used methods
The protein corona determines the cytotoxicity of nanodiamonds: implications of corona formation and its remodelling on nanodiamond applications in biomedical imaging and drug delivery
The use of nanodiamonds for biomedical and consumer applications is growing rapidly. As their use
becomes more widespread, so too do concerns around their cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of
nanodiamonds correlates with their cellular internalisation and circulation time in the body. Both
internalisation and circulation time are influenced by the formation of a protein corona on the
nanodiamond surface. However, a precise understanding of both how the corona forms and evolves and
its influence on cytotoxicity is lacking. Here, we investigated protein corona formation and evolution in
response to two classes of nanodiamonds, pristine and aminated, and two types of proteins, bovine
serum albumin and fibronectin. Specifically, we found that a corona made of bovine serum albumin
(BSA), which represents the most abundant protein in blood plasma, reduced nanodiamond
agglomeration. Fibronectin (FN9-10), the second most abundant protein found in the plasma, exhibited
a significantly higher nanodiamond binding affinity than BSA, irrespective of the nanodiamond surface
charge. Finally, nanodiamonds with a BSA corona displayed less cytotoxicity towards nonphagocytic liver
cells. However, regardless of the type of corona (FN9-10 or BSA), both classes of nanodiamonds induced
substantial phagocytic cell death. Our results emphasise that a precise understanding of the corona
composition is fundamental to determining the fate of nanoparticles in the body
(Table 1) Heat flow data in the western Black Sea
Results of heat flow measurements are presented. On the basis of new data on structure of the sedimentary sequence, corrections are introduced that take account of effect of sedimentation. Diagrammatic maps of distribution of observed and deep-seated heat flow have been constructed. A hypothesis is offered that the regional zone of anomalously high heat-flow values on the northern continental slope has been controlled by processes of subsidence of an oceanic plate beneath its continental counterpart
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