Microfluidics for controlled self-assembly of cubosome nanoparticles of tunable size

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A versatile nanocarrierCubosomes, characterization, and applications

The impact of nanotechnology on the exponential growth of several research areas, particularly nanomedicine, is undeniable. The ability to deliver active molecules to the desired site could significantly improve the efficiency of medical treatments. One of the nanocarriers developed which has drawn researchers’ attention are cubosomes, which are nanosized dispersions of lipid bicontinuous cubic phases in water, consisting of a lipidic interior and aqueous domains folded in a cubic lattice. They stand out due to their ability to incorporate hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic compounds, their tortuous internal configuration that provides a sustained release, and the capacity to protect and safely deliver molecules. Several approaches can be taken to prepare this structure, as well as different lipids like monoolein or phytantriol. This review paper describes the different methods to prepare nanocarriers. As it is known, the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers are very important, as they influence their pharmacokinetics and their ability to incorporate and deliver active molecules. Therefore, an extensive characterization is essential to obtain the desired effect. As a result, we have extensively described the most common techniques to characterize cubosomes, particularly nanocarriers. The exceptional properties of the cubosomes make them suitable to be used in several applications in the biomedical field, from cancer therapeutics to imaging, which will be described. Taking in consideration the outstanding properties of cubosomes, their application in several research fields is envisaged.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, by Marie Skłodowska Curie grant (MSCA-RISE; FODIAC; 778388) and by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness factors Operational program—Norte 2020, COMPETE and National Funds through the FCT—under the project AgriFood XXI (NORTE- 01-0145-FEDER-000041). J.L.P. acknowledge the Instituto de Salud Carlos III for a “Sara Borrell” grant (CD19/00250), cofounded by European Social Fund (“El FSE invierte en futuro”). C.J.O.F. acknowledge the FCT for the grant SFRH/149/BD/14199/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Epidemiology of Salmonella in two different finishing swine barns in Brazil

Many finishing barns in Brazil have lamina d\u27agua , a continuous water flow at the back of solid-floored adjacent pens. Prevalence of Salmonella shedding and environmental contamination in finishing barns with lamina d\u27agua and without it were assessed through a cross sectional study conducted in 6 farms. No difference was found between the two systems. Sixteen Salmonella strains were isolated from 4 farms, comprising 6 serotypes: S. Agona, S. Typhimurium, S. Senftenberg, S. Sandiego, S. Rissen and S. Javiana. Serotypes varied among farms and differed from those recently identified in Brazil. Epidemiology of salmonella in swine farms is complex and might vary between farms or even between barns in a same farm

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolated from finishing pigs and environmental samples

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolates from pigs and environmental samples collected from modern swine facilities in Brazil. Sixteen samples from a total of 1,026 were positive to Salmonella and six serotypes were identified: Salmonella Typhimurium (1), Salmonella Agona (5), Salmonella Sandiego (4), Salmonella Rissen (1), Salmonella Senftenberg ( 4) and Salmonella Javiana (I). Resistance patterns were different among serotypes, but different isolates from a single serotype had the same antimicrobial pattern. The highest percentage of resistance was to tetracycline (100%), streptomycin (100%), nalidixic acid (100%), cefotaxime (12.5) and tobramycin ( 12.5). All serotypes were I 00% susceptible to ceftriaxone, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, gentamycin and chloramphenicol. Intermediate resistance to neomycin (93.5%), amikacin (12.5%) and trimethoprim (12.5%) was seen. The high resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin may be due to its extensive use in pig production

DETECÇÃO MOLECULAR DE HEMOPLASMAS EM BOVINOS E OVINOS EM SISTEMA DE CRIAÇÃO CONSORCIADA DO NORDESTE DO BRASIL – DADOS PRELIMINARES

Micoplasmas hemotrópicos (hemoplasmas) são microrganismos gram-negativos e que ficam aderidos aos eritrócitos de diversas espécies de mamíferos. Em pequenos ruminantes, Mycoplasma ovis, e em bovinos, Mycoplasma wenyonii e ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos’ são as espécies já descritas. Nessas espécies animais a transmissão dos hemoplasmas pode estar relacionada à infestação por carrapatos ou picadas de moscas hematófagas. A infecção por hemoplasmas pode causar anemia hemolítica aguda, porém os sinais clínicos diferem de acordo com a espécie de hemoplasma envolvido, do animal parasitado, idade e sistema de produção em que é criado. Embora a hemoplasmose tenha sido relatada causando perdas econômicas significativas na criação de ruminantes em todo o mundo, dados de hemoplasmas em sistema de criação consorciada são inexistentes. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é determinar a prevalência de hemoplasmas em bovinos e pequenos ruminantes provenientes de um sistema de criação consorciada no nordeste do Brasil. Até o momento, um total de 15 amostras (10 ovinos e cinco bovinos) foram triadas utilizando um protocolo de PCR para o gene 16S rRNA de hemoplasmas. As amostras positivas foram submetidas a uma PCR para o gene 23S rRNA de hemoplasmas. Todas as amostras foram positivas para o gene endógeno gliceraldeído 3-fosfato desidrogenase (gapdh). Todos as amostras de ovinos foram negativas para hemoplasmas. Três de cinco (60%) bovinos foram positivos para Mycoplasma spp. O estudo envolverá a triagem das amostras por PCR em tempo real

Substrate Coating Produced via Additive Manufacturing with Conducting Polymers: Assessment in The Development of Electrodes

The production of conductive and organic devices from a 3D printer represents a promising strategy for several areas. In particular, the synthesis of polypyrrole-coated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites can be considered an important step to produce conductive supports for 3D printing. Herein, it is reported the production of ABS samples through the additive manufacturing process (3D printing) accordingly to the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) method. The hydrophilic behavior was controlled by the surface treatment using air plasma for the following step of coating with polypyrrole (PPy) via an in situ polymerization, using two different oxidants: ferric chloride (FeCl3.6H2O) and ammonium persulfate (APS). The chemical, optical, surface, and electrical properties of these materials were characterized through Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, cyclic voltammetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), 4-probe electrical measurement, and mechanical tensile testing. The ABS/PPy (FeCl3) composite exhibited a low electrical contact resistance and better performance for applications that require electrodes with a good conductance level

Cathepsin K induces platelet dysfunction and affects cell signaling in breast cancer - molecularly distinct behavior of cathepsin K in breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer comprises clinically and molecularly distinct tumor subgroups that differ in cell histology and biology and show divergent clinical phenotypes that impede phase III trials, such as those utilizing cathepsin K inhibitors. Here we correlate the epithelial-mesenchymal-like transition breast cancer cells and cathepsin K secretion with activation and aggregation of platelets. Cathepsin K is up-regulated in cancer cells that proteolyze extracellular matrix and contributes to invasiveness. Although proteolytically activated receptors (PARs) are activated by proteases, the direct interaction of cysteine cathepsins with PARs is poorly understood. In human platelets, PAR-1 and -4 are highly expressed, but PAR-3 shows low expression and unclear functions. Methods: Platelet aggregation was monitored by measuring changes in turbidity. Platelets were immunoblotted with anti-phospho and total p38, Src-Tyr-416, FAK-Tyr-397, and TGF beta monoclonal antibody. Activation was measured in a flow cytometer and calcium mobilization in a confocal microscope. Mammary epithelial cells were prepared from the primary breast cancer samples of 15 women with Luminal-B subtype to produce primary cells. Results: We demonstrate that platelets are aggregated by cathepsin K in a dose-dependent manner, but not by other cysteine cathepsins. PARs-3 and -4 were confirmed as the cathepsin K target by immunodetection and specific antagonists using a fibroblast cell line derived from PARs deficient mice. Moreover, through co-culture experiments, we show that platelets activated by cathepsin K mediated the up-regulation of SHH, PTHrP, OPN, and TGF beta in epithelial-mesenchymal-like cells from patients with Luminal B breast cancer. Conclusions: Cathepsin K induces platelet dysfunction and affects signaling in breast cancer cells.Associacao Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue (Colsan)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Gynecol, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCOLSAN, Charitable Assoc Blood Collect, BR-04080006 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilAntonio Prudente Fdn, AC Camargo Canc Ctr, AC Camargo Hosp Biobank, Dept Pathol, BR-01509010 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Cellular Gynecol Lab, Dept Gynecol, Rua Napoleao Barros 608, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Gynecol, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Cellular Gynecol Lab, Dept Gynecol, Rua Napoleao Barros 608, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2012/19780-3FAPESP: 2012/19851-8FAPESP: 2009/53766-5Web of Scienc

Distribution and biological role of the oligopeptide-binding protein (OppA) in Xanthomonas species

In this study we investigated the prevalence of the oppA gene, encoding the oligopeptide binding protein (OppA) of the major bacterial oligopeptide uptake system (Opp), in different species of the genus Xanthomonas. The oppA gene was detected in two Xanthomonas axonopodis strains among eight tested Xanthomonas species. The generation of an isogenic oppA-knockout derivative of the Xac 306 strain, showed that the OppA protein neither plays a relevant role in oligopeptide uptake nor contributes to the infectivity and multiplication of the bacterial strain in leaves of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia). Taken together these results suggest that the oppA gene has a recent evolutionary history in the genus and does not contribute in the physiology or pathogenesis of X. axonopodis