Zebrafish or Danio rerio: A New Model in Nanotoxicology Study

Nanotoxicology represents a new research area in toxicology that allows to evaluate the toxicological properties of nanoparticles in order to determine whether and to what extent they represent an environmental threat. Behavior, fate, transport, and toxicity of nanoparticles are influenced to their particular properties and of several environmental factors. The mechanisms underlying the toxicity of nanomaterials have recently been studied specially in aquatic organisms. In particular, in recent years, the use of Danio rerio or zebrafish as an animal model system for nanoparticle toxicity assay increased exponentially. In this review, we compare the recent researches employing zebrafish, adults or embryos, for different nanoparticles’ toxicity assessment

Effect of Lipoic Acid on the Biochemical Mechanisms of Resistance to Bortezomib in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is an extracranial solid cancer and the most common cancer in infancy. Despite the standard treatment for NB is based on the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin, chemoresistance occurs over the time. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of bortezomib (BTZ) (50 nM) on NB cell viability and how lipoic acid (ALA) (100 μM) modifies pharmacological response to this chemotherapeutic agent. Cell viability was assessed by ATP luminescence assay whereas expression of oxidative stress marker (i.e., heme oxygenase-1) and endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins was performed by real-time PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. Our data showed that BTZ treatment significantly reduced cell viability when compared to untreated cultures (about 40%). Interestingly, ALA significantly reduced the efficacy of BTZ (about 30%). Furthermore, BTZ significantly induced heme oxygenase-1 as a result of increased oxidative stress and such overexpression was prevented by concomitant treatment with ALA. Similarly, ALA significantly reduced BTZ-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress as measured by reduction in BiP1 and IRE1α, ERO1α, and PDI expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that BTZ efficacy is dependent on cellular redox status and such mechanisms may be responsible of chemoresistance to this chemotherapeutic agent

Ag/ZnO/PMMA nanocomposites for efficient water reuse

This work attempts to produce photocatalytic surfaces for large-scale applications by depositing nanostructured coatings on polymeric substrates. ZnO/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites were prepared by low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZnO on PMMA substrates. In addition, to increase the photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of ZnO films, Ag nanoparticles were added on ZnO surfaces using plasma-enhanced ALD. The morphology, crystallinity, and chemical composition of the specimens were meticulously examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The noteworthy photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was proved by the degradation of the following organic pollutants in aqueous solution: methylene blue, paracetamol, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The antibacterial properties of the samples were tested using Escherichia coli as a model organism. Moreover, the possible toxic effects of the specimens were checked by biological tests. The present results unambiguously indicate the Ag/ZnO/PMMA nanocomposite as a powerful tool for an advanced wastewater treatment technology.peer-reviewe

Correction: Ferruggia et al. Effectiveness of a Novel Compound HAIR & SCALP COMPLEX on Hair Follicle Regeneration. <i>Cosmetics</i> 2024, <i>11</i>, 10

In the original publication [...

Effectiveness of a Novel Compound HAIR & SCALP COMPLEX on Hair Follicle Regeneration

Background: People lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day and generate new ones from stem cells in hair follicles, but in those suffering from baldness, the stem cells remain inactive and are unable to regenerate new hair. Although 9% of hair follicles remain in telogen at any time, a variety of factors, including growth factors and cytokines, promote the transition from telogen to anagen and the subsequent stimulation of hair growth. Methods: We compared in vitro, on cultures of human hair follicles, the effect on hair growth and regeneration of the dermal papilla of plant-derived nanovesicles, exosomes from cord blood stem cells and bovine colostrum, a mixture of growth factors and cytokines purified from bovine colostrum, called GF20, and a new compound called HAIR & SCALP COMPLEX obtained by adding exosomes isolated from colostrum to GF20. Results: The analyses demonstrated a significant increase in the growth of the bulb and the regeneration of the dermal papilla in the samples treated with HAIR & SCALP COMPLEX compared to the other elements tested. Conclusions: In this research, we propose a possible new treatment that could help significantly slow down hair loss and encourage new hair growth: HAIR & SCALP COMPLEX

Hypleurochilus bananensis (Poll, 1959) (Pisces, Blenniidae) u talijanskom moru: rasprostranjenost, stanište i spolni dimorfizam

Hypleurochilus bananensis is one of the rarest species of Blenniidae in the Mediterranean Sea. Only few records have been made in the whole Basin. Due to its rarity, H. bananensis is poorly studied and little is known about its biology. In this study, we provide additional data on this rare species. In particular, we describe its habitat, sexual dimorphism, presence and distribution with several new records in both Tyrrhenian and Ionian Sea. Studies were conducted in the period from 2011 to 2014. Observations were carried out both by snorkelling and SCUBA diving. In the natural environment, we observed the behavior and coloration in both sexes. For two mature sampled specimens of both sexes, we examined the morphology, providing the first detailed information about the differences between them. Sexual dimorphism is very pronounced and past descriptions of this species were based only on female specimens. This could lead to misidentification cases. Indeed, especially the morphology and chromatic pattern of the male are similar to those of other combtooth blennies species. Furthermore, we report data about reproduction, habitat preference and consideration about its presence in Italian seas.Hypleurochilus bananensis jedna je od najrjeđih vrsta slingurke (Blenniidae) u Sredozemnom moru. U cijelom mediteranskom bazenu zabilježene su samo nekoliko puta. Zbog svoje rijetkosti, H. bananensis donosimo dodatne podatke o ovoj rijetkoj vrsti. Posebice opisujemo njihova staništa, spolni dimorfizam, te njihovu prisutnost i raspodjelu s nekoliko novih zapisa u Tirenskom i Jonskom moru. Istraživanja su provedena u razdoblju od 2011. do 2014. godine. Metode korištene prilikom promatranja su ronjenje s disalicom i SCUBA ronjenje. U prirodnom okruženju promatrali smo ponašanje i koloraciju obaju spolova. Ispitivali smo morfologiju kod dvije odrasle jedinke oba spola i iznijeli prve detaljne informacije o razlikama među njima. Spolni dimorfizam je vrlo izražen i prošli opisi ove vrste temeljili su se samo na ženskim primjercima. Ovo bi moglo dovesti do pogrešne identifikacije slučajeva. Doista, posebice morfologija i kromatski uzorak mužjaka, slični su onima drugih vrsta češljouste babice. Štoviše, naša izvješća donose podatke koji se tiču reprodukcije, preferencija staništa i razmatranja njihove prisutnosti u talijanskim morima

Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Aquatic Microenvironments Affect Sperm Metabolism and Fertilization of <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> (Lamark, 1819)

The continuous and unregulated discharge of wastes and pollutants into the aquatic environment has required constant monitoring of the risks incurred by aquatic ecosystems. Alarmism arises from plastic pollution as larger artifacts release nanoscale fragments that can contact free-living stages such as gametes, embryos, and larvae. Specifically, the interaction between spermatozoa, released in water in externally fertilizing species, and the surrounding microenvironment is essential for successful fertilization. Activation and kinematics of movement, proper maintenance of ionic balance, and chemotactism are processes highly sensitive to even minimal perturbations caused by pollutants such as polystyrene nanoplastics. Spermatozoa of Mytilus galloprovincialis (M. galloprovincialis), an excellent ecotoxicological model, undergo structural (plasma membrane ruptures, DNA damage) and metabolic (reduced motility, fertilizing capacity) damage upon exposure to 50 nm amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics (nPS-NH2). Nanoplastics of larger diameter (100 nm) did not affect sperm parameters. The findings highlighted the negative impact that plastic pollution, related to nanoparticle diameter and concentration, could have on sperm quality and reproductive potential of organisms, altering the equilibrium of aquatic ecosystems

In vivo exposure of the marine sponge Chondrilla nucula Schmidt, 1862 to cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) and its potential use for bioremediation purposes

The study aimed to test the cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) bioaccumulation capacity of the marine sponge Chondrilla nucula and to measure the expression of metallothioneins (MTs) by a western blotting assay to explore metal tolerance and its potential use as a bioremediator in contaminated coastal areas. C. nucula was sampled in a protected marine area in order to perform experiments on organisms living in a healthy environment. Under laboratory conditions, the sponges were exposed to increasing concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb in tanks filled with artificial seawater set up for the experiments. For each metal, three waterborne concentrations (mgL 121) of Cd (0.02\u20130.04-0.08), Cu (0.1\u20130.2-0.4) and Pb (0.2\u20130.4-0.8) were considered separately. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis. Significant differences in bioaccumulation across levels of each metal were highlighted. Moreover, the amount accumulated in sponges increased proportionately with increasing levels of exposure for each metal as well as MT expression after Cd and Pb exposure. The results demonstrate the efficiency of C. nucula in accumulating high levels of Cu, but a low tolerance to progressively higher concentrations for Cd and Pb. The study suggests the suitability of the use of this species in bioremediation plans for moderately contaminated environments. However, the biological response in the field should be verified by the use of transplanted organisms from a control site to a polluted site