Biodistribution of a high dose of diamond, graphite, and graphene oxide nanoparticles after multiple intraperitoneal injections in rats

Carbon nanoparticles have recently drawn intense attention in biomedical applications. Hence, there is a need for further in vivo investigations of their biocompatibility and biodistribution via various exposure routes. We hypothesized that intraperitoneally injected diamond, graphite, and graphene oxide nanoparticles may have different biodistribution and exert different effects on the intact organism. Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: the control and treated with nanoparticles by intraperitoneal injection (4 mg of nanoparticles/kg body weight) eight times during the 4-week period. Blood was collected for evaluation of blood morphology and biochemistry parameters. Photographs of the general appearance of each rat’s interior were taken immediately after sacrifice. The organs were excised and their macroscopic structure was visualized using a stereomicroscope. The nanoparticles were retained in the body, mostly as agglomerates. The largest agglomerates (up to 10 mm in diameter) were seen in the proximity of the injection place in the stomach serous membrane, between the connective tissues of the abdominal skin, muscles, and peritoneum. Numerous smaller, spherical-shaped aggregates (diameter around 2 mm) were lodged among the mesentery. Moreover, in the connective and lipid tissue in the proximity of the liver and spleen serosa, small aggregates of graphite and graphene oxide nanoparticles were observed. However, all tested nanoparticles did not affect health and growth of rats. The nanoparticles had no toxic effects on blood parameters and growth of rats, suggesting their potential applicability as remedies or in drug delivery systems

Promjene u sustavu grušanja krvi u junica holštajnsko-frizijske pasmine u tijeku klamidiozeb

The objective of this study was to describe changes in the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems of Holstein- Friesian (H-F) heifers infected naturally with Chlamydia spp. in Kazakhstan. Blood coagulation and morphology tests were performed in 30 heifers, including 20 infected animals (experimental group I) and 10 clinically healthy and uninfected animals (control group II). In the laboratory tests, the following blood parameters were determined: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), antithrombin III activity (ATIII), fibrinogen (FBG), D-dimer (D-D) concentrations, thrombocyte counts (PLT) and leukocyte counts (WBC). Decreased PT and APTT values in the blood plasma of heifers infected with Chlamydia spp. were indicative of intensified procoagulant activity in such an acute infection. Increased ATIII activity could point to the activation of the anticoagulant system to prevent excessive fibrin production in diseased animals. The results indicate that the hemostatic system was activated in heifers with symptoms of chlamydiosis, and regulatory mechanisms prevented the development of life-threatening conditions such as thrombosis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).ŚőCilj je ovog istraživanja bio opisati promjene u koagulacijskom i fibrinolitičkom sustavu holštajnskofrizijske pasmine junica prirodno zaraženih vrstama roda Chlamydia spp. u Kazakhstanu. Testovi grušanja krvi i morfološki testovi provedeni su na 30 junica od čega 20 zaraženih (pokusna skupina) i 10 klinički zdravih nezaraženih životinja (kontrolna skupina). Uporabom laboratorijskih testova određeni su sljedeći krvni pokazatelji: protrombinsko vrijeme, aktivirano parcijalno tromboplastinsko vrijeme, trombinsko vrijeme, aktivnost antitrombina III, fibrinogen, koncentracije D-dimera (D-D), broj trombocita i broj leukocita. Smanjene vrijednosti protrombinskog vremena i aktiviranog parcijalnog tromboplastinskog vremena junica zaraženih vrstama Chlamydia spp. bile su indikacija za pojačano prokoagulacijsku aktivnost kod takve akutne infekcije. Povećana aktivnost antitrombina III mogla bi upućivati na aktivaciju antikoagulacijskog sustava da bi se spriječila prevelika proizvodnja fibrina u oboljelih životinja. Rezultati upućuju na zaključak da je hemostazni sustav bio aktiviran u junica sa znakovima klamidioze te da su regulacijski mehanizmi spriječili razvoj po život opasnih stanja kao što je tromboza ili diseminirana intravaskularna koagulacija

Active Carbon-Based Nanomaterials in Food Packaging

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBN) are currently used in many biomedical applications. The research includes optimization of single grain size and conglomerates of pure detonated nanodiamond (DND), modified nanodiamond particles and graphene oxide (GO) in order to compare their bactericidal activity against food pathogens. Measurement of grain size and zeta potential was performed using the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method. Surface morphology was evaluated using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and confocal microscope. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed in order to confirm the crystallographic structure of detonation nanodiamond particles. Bacteriostatic tests were performed by evaluating the inhibition zone of pathogens in the presence of carbon based nanomaterials. Raman spectroscopy showed differences between the content of the diamond and graphite phases in diamond nanoparticles. Fluorescence microscopy and adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) determination methods were used to assess the bactericidal of bioactive polymers obtained by modification of food wrapping film using various carbon-based nanomaterials. The results indicate differences in the sizes of individual grains and conglomerates of carbon nanomaterials within the same carbon allotropes depending on surface modification. The bactericidal properties depend on the allotropic form of carbon and the type of surface modification. Depending on the grain size of carbon-based materials, surface modification, the content of the diamond and graphite phases, surface of carbon-based nanomaterials film formation shows more or less intense bactericidal properties and differentiated adhesion of bacterial biofilms to food films modified with carbon nanostructures

Yield and Grain Quality of Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Depending on the Different Farming Systems (Organic vs. Integrated vs. Conventional)

Genotype (cultivar), soil and climatic conditions, the agrotechnology used, and the interaction of the factors mentioned play a key role in the yield and quality of wheat grain. Currently, the European Union recommends the balanced use of mineral fertilisers and plant protection products in agricultural production (integrated production) or the use of only natural production methods (organic production). The aim of the study was to compare the yield and grain quality of four spring common wheat cultivars Harenda, Kandela, Mandaryna, and Serenada, grown under three farming systems: organic (ORG), integrated (INT), and conventional (CONV). A three-year field experiment was conducted between 2019 and 2021 at the Osiny Experimental Station (Poland, 51°27′ N; 22°2′ E). The results showed that significantly the highest wheat grain yield (GY) was obtained at INT, while the lowest was obtained at ORG. The physicochemical and rheological characteristics of the grain were significantly influenced by the cultivar factor and, with the exception of 1000 grain weight (TGW) and ash content (AC), by the farming system. There were also numerous interactions between the cultivar and farming systems, which suggests different performances of cultivars and, in fact, that some cultivars are better or worse suited to different production systems. The exceptions were protein content (PC) and falling number (FN), which were significantly highest in grain with CONV and lowest in grain with ORG farming systems

Nanotechnology in oncology - current state of knowledge

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary area of science devoted to the production and testing of nanostructures - defined as forms of the matter organizations the size of which does not exceed 100 nm. It is a quickly developing area of science with many applications in different areas of life, for example in engineering, computing, medicine, pharmacy, andagriculture. One of the problems of contemporary oncology is the low specificity of applied therapies. Most currently used chemiopharmaceuticals have systemic effects which not only affect cancer cells but alsohealthy tissues. Complications after chemotherapy observed in many patients are bone marrow deficiency(neutropenin, thrombocytopenia, anemia), damageto the nervous system (neurotoxicity), myocardium(cardiotoxicity) and pulmonary parenchyma. Similarly, in radiotherapy, ionizing radiation destroys the healthy tissues in the irradiation field. The side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue, skin reactions, and impairment of tissue and organ functions. According to studies, nanostructures are an opportunity to overcome these limitations. The most popular nanostructures used in medicine are liposomes, silver and gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, carbonnanotubes, and dendrimers. The purpose of this article is to present the current state of knowledge on the use of available nanotechnology solutions in pharmacology and cancer treatment