Comparative Studies of Different Preservation Methods and Relative Freeze-Drying Formulations for Extracellular Vesicle Pharmaceutical Applications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been studied for years for their role as effectors and mediators of cell-to-cell communication and their potential application to develop new and increasingly performing nanotechnological systems for the diagnosis and/or treatment of many diseases. Given all the EVs applications as just isolated, functionalized, or even engineered cellular-derived pharmaceuticals, the standardization of reliable and reproducible methods for their preservation is urgently needed. In this study, we isolated EVs from a healthy blood cell line, B lymphocytes, and compared the effectiveness of different storage methods and relative freeze-drying formulations to preserve some of the most important EVs’ key features, i.e., concentration, mean size, protein content, and surface antigen’s expression. To develop a preservation method that minimally affects the EVs’ integrity and functionality, we applied the freeze-drying process in combination with different excipients. Since EVs are isolated not only from body fluids but also from culture media conditioned by the cells growing there, we decided to test both the effects of the traditional pharmaceutical excipient and of biological media to develop EVs solidified products with desirable appearance and performance properties. Results showed that some of the tested excipients, i.e., sugars in combination with dextran and glycine, successfully maintained the stability and integrity of EVs upon lyophilization. In addition, to evaluate the preservation of the EVs’ biological activity, we assessed the cytotoxicity and internalization ability of the reconstituted EVs in healthy (B lymphocytes) and tumoral (Burkitt’s lymphoma) cells. Reconstituted EVs demonstrated toxicity only toward the cancerous cells, opening new therapeutic opportunities for the oncological field. Furthermore, our study showed how some biological or cellular-conditioned fluids, commonly used in the field of cell cultures, can act not only as cryoprotectants but also as active pharmaceutical ingredients, significantly tuning the therapeutic effect of EVs, even increasing their cellular internalization

Strategy for the management of diabetic macular edema: the European Vitreo-Retinal Society macular edema study

Objective. To compare the efficacy of different therapies in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). Design. Nonrandomized, multicenter clinical study. Participants. 86 retina specialists from 29 countries provided clinical information on 2,603 patients with macular edema including 870 patients with DME. Methods. Reported data included the type and number of treatment(s) performed, the pre-and posttreatment visual acuities, and other clinical findings.The results were analyzed by the French INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). Main Outcome Measures. Mean change of visual acuity and mean number of treatments performed. Results.The change in visual acuity over time in response to each treatment was plotted in second order polynomial regression trend lines. Intravitreal triamcinolone monotherapy resulted in some improvement in vision. Treatmentwith threshold or subthreshold grid laser also resulted in minimal vision gain. Anti-VEGF therapy resulted in more significant visual improvement. Treatment with pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling alone resulted in an improvement in vision greater than that observed with anti-VEGF injection alone. In our DME study, treatment with vitrectomy and ILM peeling alone resulted in the better visual improvement compared to other therapies

Study of the synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles for their use in CO preferential oxidation (COPrOx)

CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the controlled precipitation method from a Ce(NO3)3 solution. To this end, two additives were used alternatively: ethylene glycol (EG) and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Their function was to reduce the particle size obtained after the synthesis. After precipitation and drying, nitrate and organic residuals must be removed, and the method employed for this step could affect the structure and size of the particles. This is an important issue for achieving contaminant-free measurements in catalytic tests. In order to optimize the residuals removing process, a thorough study of the species present and/or eliminated was carried out. Our findings show that a calcination temperature of at least 500 C is necessary in order to accomplish the complete removal of solvent and precursors such as NO 3 . Among the catalysts studied, the one prepared with EG showed the best activity for CO preferential oxidation. In order to study the effect of the residuals upon the catalytic activity, samples prepared using EG were calcined at different temperatures and tested for the COPrOx reaction. CO conversions for all the samples were between 80% and 93% at different temperatures. The best activity was obtained with the sample calcined at 500 C, which is in agreement with the minimum temperature necessary for the total elimination of residuals.Fil: Peiretti, Leonardo Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones En Catalisis y Petroquímica "ing. Jose Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones En Catalisis y Petroquímica "ing. Jose Miguel Parera"; ArgentinaFil: Tiscornia, Ines Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones En Catalisis y Petroquímica "ing. Jose Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones En Catalisis y Petroquímica "ing. Jose Miguel Parera"; ArgentinaFil: Miro, Eduardo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones En Catalisis y Petroquímica "ing. Jose Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones En Catalisis y Petroquímica "ing. Jose Miguel Parera"; Argentin

CeO2 and Co3O4-CeO2 nanoparticles: effect of the synthesis method on the structure and catalytic properties in COPrOx and methanation reactions

CeO2 and Co3O4–CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized, thoroughly characterized, and evaluated in the COPrOx reaction. The CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the diffusion-controlled precipitation method with ethylene glycol. A notably higher yield was obtained when H2O2 was used in the synthesis procedure. For comparison, two commercial samples of CeO2 nanoparticles (Nyacol®)—one calcined and the other sintered—were also studied. Catalytic results of bare CeO2 calcined at 500 °C showed a strong influence of the method of synthesis. Despite having similar BET area values, the CeO2 synthesized without H2O2 was the most active sample. Co3O4–CeO2 catalysts with three different Co/(Co + Ce) atomic ratios, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5, were prepared by the wet impregnation of the CeO2 nanoparticles. TEM and STEM observations showed that impregnation produced mixed oxides composed of small CeO2 nanoparticles located both over the surface and inside the Co3O4 crystals. The mixed oxide catalysts prepared with a cobalt atomic ratio of 0.5 showed methane formation, which started at 200 °C due to the reaction between CO2 and H2. However, above 250 °C, the reaction between CO and H2 became important, thus contributing to CO elimination with a small H2 loss. As a result, CO could be totally eliminated in a wide temperature range, from 200 to 400 °C. The methanation reaction was favored by the reduction of the cobalt oxide, as suggested by the TPR experiments. This result is probably originated in Ce–Co interactions, related to the method of synthesis and the surface area of the mixed oxides obtained.Fil: Peiretti, Leonardo Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica ; ArgentinaFil: Navascués, Nuria. Universidad de Zaragoza. Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón; EspañaFil: Tiscornia, Ines Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica ; ArgentinaFil: Miro, Eduardo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica ; Argentin

Chlorate as disinfection by-product in Turin drinking water treatment plant: formation, monitoring, solution possibilities

Chlorine dioxide application in drinking water disinfection avoids trihalomethanes, but it can generate other disinfection by-products (DBPs): chlorite and chlorate. This paper concerns chlorate ion formation during chlorine dioxide generation and oxidation reactions, in relation with the use of sodium hypochlorite solutions. This aspect is very important taking into account that current WHO Drinking water Guidelines suggest a limit of 700 µg/L for chlorate ion. SMAT (the drinking water supplier of the town of Turin, northern Italy) uses both chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite in its three surface water treatment plants, having a whole potentiality of about 40 M m3/y. This research considered the following issues: chlorate neo-formation processes, potential precursors and influencing conditions, and process and plant minimization intervents. The three treatment lines were analyzed by monitoring for nine months chlorate concentration in significant phases of the potabilization process and in the outflow, in order to detect the most critical conditions. Chlorate formation can be bound both to the natural degradation of hypochlorite, and to different dismutation phenomena occurring during disinfection. The first contribution can be more easily controlled: a refrigerated storage of hypochlorite was evaluated on laboratory and pilot scale, and taking into account its effectiveness to comply with WHO guidelines, this improvement will be shortly adopted in full scale

Chlorate as disinfection by-product in Turin drinking water treatment plant: formation, monitoring, solution possibilities

Chlorine dioxide application in drinking water disinfection avoids trihalomethanes, but it can generate other disinfection by-products (DBPs): chlorite and chlorate. This paper concerns chlorate ion formation during chlorine dioxide generation and oxidation reactions, in relation with the use of sodium hypochlorite solutions. This aspect is very important taking into account that current WHO Drinking water Guidelines suggest a limit of 700 µg/L for chlorate ion. SMAT (the drinking water supplier of the town of Turin, northern Italy) uses both chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite in its three surface water treatment plants, having a whole potentiality of about 40 M m3/y. This research considered the following issues: chlorate neo-formation processes, potential precursors and influencing conditions, and process and plant minimization intervents. The three treatment lines were analyzed by monitoring for nine months chlorate concentration in significant phases of the potabilization process and in the outflow, in order to detect the most critical conditions. Chlorate formation can be bound both to the natural degradation of hypochlorite, and to different dismutation phenomena occurring during disinfection. The first contribution can be more easily controlled: a refrigerated storage of hypochlorite was evaluated on laboratory and pilot scale, and taking into account its effectiveness to comply with WHO guidelines, this improvement will be shortly adopted in full scal

Grapevine Green Pruning Residues as a Promising and Sustainable Source of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds

Green pruning residues (GPRs) and leaves from 16 red and white Vitis vinifera L. cultivars from Piedmont (Italy) were studied. The investigated samples were extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction optimized by an experimental design, and quali- and quantitatively analyzed by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS. GPRs and leaves show a similar polyphenolic pattern, with quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, caftaric acid, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside as the main components, although in variable proportions. The HPLC results were related to the antioxidant activity, measured as total phenolic content and through DPPH and ABTS assays with similar results. Colorimetric in vitro assays, offline combined with HPLC-PDA analysis, determine which compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity in terms of radical scavenging abilities. Valorization of GPRs is a potential source of natural compounds that could be of interest in the health field, increasing their economic value together with a positive effect on the environment

Paisaje e infraestructura Interpretación para el ordenamiento, proyectación y gestión del territorio : instrumentos operativos Caso de estudio : la ciudad de Río Ceballos y su vinculación al Parque Metropolitano : corredor de las Sierras Chicas

Ponencia en VIII Jornadas de Investigación y II Jornadas de Investigación de Becarios y Doctorandos Encuentro y Reflexión : investigación + transferencia + desarrolloLa ciudad de Río Ceballos, no escapa a ese proceso de transformación local-global que ha incidido en sus relaciones externas e internas a nivel territorial impactando en su paisaje y sus preexistencias. A nivel de las relaciones externas las nuevas urbanizaciones, han modificado las lógicas de ocupación con un efecto derrame hacia sus bordes con abandono delos espacios turísticos y espacios productivos, el trasvasamiento de la cuenca alta y las zonas de riesgos inundables hoy urbanizadas, la falta de infraestructura de saneamiento, el no reconocimiento y valoración delas reservas hídricas y verdes, el paisaje natural, cultural con sus infraestructuras patrimoniales etc. que son algunas dela situaciones criticas que aumentan la vulnerabilidad de su territorio. A nivel de las relaciones internas el grado de contaminación y abandono de los cursos de aguas, la no legibilidad de los corredores ecológicos, el abandono de los espacios públicos, las reservas naturales urbanas con asentamientos espontáneos, los depósitos de residuos a cielo abierto, la contaminación de napas, la perdida de la actividad productiva derivada del turismo, la ausencias de servicios y equipamientos públicos en relación a las demandas de los nuevos pobladores, etc. son otras de las problemáticas que deberán ser parte de la agenda publica para mejorar la calidad de vida de la ciudad rescatando los valores simbólicos de la población, protegiendo los recursos naturales, y paisajísticos que caracterizan una ciudad con un patrimonio turístico y productivo deprimido.Fil: Álvarez, Teresita Nidia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Castellán, Walter. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Monguillot, Silvia Susana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Soneira, Francisco. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa Langou, Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Homola, Iván F. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Celiz, Yuliana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Peiretti, Paula. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Baglioni, Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; Argentin