The spatial distribution of the photostability of thionine in zeolite L nanochannels investigated by Photobleaching Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Dye photobleaching is a photochemical reaction that can be investigated locally using fluorescence microscopy techniques. In this study, a user-friendly computational tool to assist photobleaching experiments called Photobleaching Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (PbLIM) is presented. With this tool it is possible to recover the photobleaching kinetics spatially, where a photobleaching lifetime is generated for each pixel of the image. Our model was applied to the photobleaching process of thionine encapsulated into the one-dimensional nano-channels of Zeolite L (ZL), from where we gained insight into the molecular oxygen distribution inside the ZL channels, as well as the detailed photobleaching of the confined thionine. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and Owner Societies 2016

Antimicrobial Nanoplexes meet Model Bacterial Membranes: the key role of Cardiolipin

Antimicrobial resistance to traditional antibiotics is a crucial challenge of medical research. Oligonucleotide therapeutics, such as antisense or Transcription Factor Decoys (TFDs), have the potential to circumvent current resistance mechanisms by acting on novel targets. However, their full translation into clinical application requires efficient delivery strategies and fundamental comprehension of their interaction with target bacterial cells. To address these points, we employed a novel cationic bolaamphiphile that binds TFDs with high affinity to form self-assembled complexes (nanoplexes). Confocal microscopy revealed that nanoplexes efficiently transfect bacterial cells, consistently with biological efficacy on animal models. To understand the factors affecting the delivery process, liposomes with varying compositions, taken as model synthetic bilayers, were challenged with nanoplexes and investigated with Scattering and Fluorescence techniques. Thanks to the combination of results on bacteria and synthetic membrane models we demonstrate for the first time that the prokaryotic-enriched anionic lipid Cardiolipin (CL) plays a key-role in the TFDs delivery to bacteria. Moreover, we can hypothesize an overall TFD delivery mechanism, where bacterial membrane reorganization with permeability increase and release of the TFD from the nanoplexes are the main factors. These results will be of great benefit to boost the development of oligonucleotides-based antimicrobials of superior efficacy

Vivência teórico-prática inovadora no ensino de enfermagem Experiencia teórica y práctica de la enseñanza innovadora de la enfermería Theoretical and practical experience with an innovative approach to nursing education

Os cursos de enfermagem vêm investindo em inovações no processo formativo, apostando em metodologias ativas e problematizadoras, que ofereçam ao acadêmico vivências na realidade social. Objetiva-se relatar a vivência de ensino-aprendizagem vinculada a um projeto ampliado de ensino, pesquisa e extensão fundamentado nas teorias de enfermagem. Trata-se de um relato de experiência desenvolvida a partir de uma atividade teórico-prática, realizada por meio de visitas semanais de docentes e discentes de enfermagem às famílias em condições sociais, ambientais e econômicas vulneráveis. Os resultados mostram uma pedagogia ativa, dialógica e interativa, capaz de fomentar redes solidárias de cooperação e a promoção de ambientes polissêmicos, favorecidos pelas reflexões dos problemas sociais emergentes. Assim, instigar o protagonismo e empreendedorismo social na formação, a partir das teorias de enfermagem, significa desenvolver um conhecimento capaz de dialogar e integrar os diferentes saberes, pelo desenvolvimento de práticas em consonância com o exercício da cidadania e transformação social.<br>Los cursos de Enfermería vienen invirtiendo en la innovación del proceso formativo, haciendo apuestas en metodologías activas y problemáticas que traigan y ofrezcan a los académicos experiencias de la realidad social. Se objetiva relatar la experiencia de enseñanza y aprendizaje junto a un proyecto amplio de sabiduría, investigación y extensión basado en las teorías de enfermería. Se trata de un informe de experiencia desarrollada a partir de una actividad teórico-práctica a través de visitas semanales de profesores y estudiantes de enfermería a las familias adoptadas, en condiciones sociales, ambientales y socioeconómicas difíciles. Los resultados muestran una enseñanza activa, dialógica e interactiva, capaz de fomentar las redes solidarias de cooperación y la promoción de ambientes polisémicos, favorecido por las reflexiones de los problemas sociales emergentes. Por lo tanto, inculcar el protagonismo y el espíritu emprendedor social en la formación, a partir de las teorías de la enfermería, significa desarrollar un conocimiento capaz de dialogar e integrar los diferentes conocimientos, por el desarrollo de prácticas en consonancia con el ejercicio de la ciudadanía y la transformación social.<br>Nursing courses have been investing in innovations in the education process, betting on active and problematizing methodologies, which offer the nursing students experiences in social reality. This study aims to report teaching and learning experiences linked to a broadened teaching, research and extension program based on nursing theories. This is a report of experiences developed through a theoretical and practical activity carried out by means of weekly visits of nursing teachers and students to families living in precarious socioeconomic conditions as well as in poor environmental situation. The results show an active, dialogic and interactive pedagogy capable of fostering solidarity networks of cooperation and promoting a polysemic environment favored by the reflections on the emerging social problems. Thus, inciting the protagonism and social entrepreneurship in education on the basis of nursing theories meaning developing knowledge capable to dialog and integrate the different learning experiences through the development of practices in consonance with the exercise of citizenship and social transformation