N-Acetylcysteine as a treatment for sulphur mustard poisoning

Chitosan derivatives are difficult to electrospun because they have poor flexibility of their polyelectrolyte chains. Based on extensive trails, we have successfully electrospun chitosan polymer and, subsequently, coated on non-woven polypropylene utilizing Nanospider technology. This experimentally developed nanofibrous webs of various densities were coated on non-woven fabric and, subsequently, stitched with activated carbon sphere (ACS) adhered composite fabric. Biological filtration and chemical protection were evaluated and the optimized density offering the highest value with meeting specified comfort was assessed. Results showed that optimized web morphology of 0.43 g m−2 is the best for integration with nuclear, biological and chemical absorbent layer of low ACS add-on in all aspects of comfort and protective behaviours. This will be meeting stringent defence protective requirements and lowering down the weight of suit by approximately 25%. An attempt has also been made in this research to protect from sulphur mustard chemical warfare agent by using both theories: (a) barrier techniques and (b) disintegrating the trapped molecules via functionalization of the web. Result shows that first molecules get trapped by in web layer (barrier effect) and subsequently destroyed by hydrolysis mechanism. Scanning microscopic image shows web is acting as barrier layer by trapping sulphur mustard particles. Optimized web of 0.43 g m−2 was functionalized with zinc (Zn) oxide and the presence of Zn particles was confirmed by imaging techniques. Crystalline and thermal analysis depicts that structural changes were found in sulphur mustard spotted functionalized web. Raman spectra show chemically disintegrated hydrolysed products of sulphur mustard. Bacterial filtration efficiency, antimicrobial and comfort properties were measured for assessing the introduction of nanowebs for biological protection and chemical protection in newly created multilayered fabric structure with low ACS add-on (180 g m−2). The initial encouraging outcome of this research expects whether the multilayered fabric could be introduced in the suit.

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Reactions of sulphur mustard on impregnated carbons

Journal of Hazardous Materials ◽

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2004.09.003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 116 (3) ◽

pp. 213-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

G PRASAD ◽

B SINGH

Keyword(s):

Sulphur Mustard

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The induction and repair of inter-strand DNA cross-links (ICL) with sulphur mustard (SM) in normal and DNA repair deficient human cells

Toxicology Letters ◽

10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.398 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 205 ◽

pp. S110

Author(s):

R. Stetina ◽

P. Jost ◽

H. Svobodova

Keyword(s):

Dna Repair ◽

Human Cells ◽

Sulphur Mustard ◽

Cross Links

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Interaction Of Magnetic Field And Sulphur-mustard In Animals

[1990] Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society ◽

10.1109/iembs.1990.691915 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Z. Milosavljevic ◽

M. Cvetkovic ◽

N. Dekleva ◽

M. Radojkovic ◽

V. Majic

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Sulphur Mustard

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Monoisopropylglutathione ester protects A549 cells from the cytotoxic effects of sulphur mustard

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/096032719701601102 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 636-644 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Christopher D Lindsay ◽

Joy L Hambrook ◽

Alison F Lailey

Keyword(s):

Cell Viability ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

A549 Cell ◽

High Performance ◽

Gentian Violet ◽

A549 Cells ◽

Rapid Onset ◽

Neutral Red ◽

Biochemical Basis ◽

Sulphur Mustard

1 The A549 cell line was used to assess the toxicity of sulphur mustard (HD), using gentian violet (GV) and neutral red (NR) dyes as indicators of cell viability. It was found that exposure to concentrations in excess of 40 ?M HD resulted in a rapid onset of toxicity. 2 The ability of monoisopropylglutathione ester (MIPE) to protect A549 cells against the effects of a 100 ?M challenge dose ofHD was determined using the NR and GV assays. It was found that MIPE (8 mM) could protect cells against the effects ofHD though MIPE had to be present at the time of HD challenge. Cultures protected with MIPE were two times more viable than HD exposed cells 48 h after HD challenge when using the GV and NR assays to assess viability. Observations by phase contrast microscopy of NR and GV stained cultures confirmed these findings. Addition of MIPE after previously exposing the A549 cultures to HD (for up to 5 min) maintained cell viability at 72% compared to 37% for unprotected cultures, after which time viability fell significantly so that at 10 min there was no difference in viability between the MIPE treated and untreated cultures. 3 Pretreating A549 cultures with MIPE for 1 h followed by its removal prior to HD challenge did not maintain cell viability. Treatment of cultures with HD for 1 h followed by addition of MIPE did not maintain the viability of the cultures, thus the window within which it was possible for MIPE to rescue cell cultures from the effects of HD was of short duration. 4 High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the biochemical basis of the actions of MIPE. It was found that whilst intracellular levels of cysteine were increased up to 40-fold following treatment of A549 cell cultures with MIPE, levels of reduced glutathione did not rise. The lack of protection seen in cultures pretreated with MIPE for 1 h prior to HD exposure suggests that raising intracellular cysteine levels was not an effective strategy for protecting cells from the effects of HD. The protection observed is probably due to extra cellular inactivation of HD by MIPE.

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Histopathological changes in Yucatan minipig skin following challenge with sulphur mustard. A sequential study of the first 24 hours following challenge

International Journal of Experimental Pathology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2613.1997.d01-236.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 9-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

R.F.R. BROWN ◽

P. RICE

Keyword(s):

Histopathological Changes ◽

Sulphur Mustard ◽

Sequential Study

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Sulphur mustard

Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.mpmed.2011.11.007 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 82-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paul Rice

Keyword(s):

Sulphur Mustard

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Protection of human upper respiratory tract cell lines against sulphur mustard toxicity by hexamethylenetetramine (HMT)

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/096032719801700703 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 373-379 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

D J Andrew ◽

C D Lindsay

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Chemical Warfare Agent ◽

Chemical Warfare ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Sulphur Mustard ◽

Human Lung Cells ◽

Effective Prophylaxis ◽

Upper Respiratory

1. Sulphur mustard (`mustard gas', HD) is a highly toxic chemical warfare agent which affects the skin and respiratory tract. The primary targets of inhaled HD are the epithelia of the upper respiratory tract. Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) has been shown to protect human lung cells against HD toxicity and has also been shown to be effective in vivo against the chemical warfare agent phosgene. The ability of HMT to protect against the toxicity of HD was investigated in the human upper respiratory tract cell lines BEAS-2B and RPMI 2650. 2. HD was highly toxic to both cell lines, with LC50 values of 15 - 30 mM. HMT, at a concentration of 10 mM, was shown to protect the cell lines against the toxic effects of 20 mM and 40 mM HD. Results demonstrated that it was necessary for HMT to be in situ at the time of exposure to HD for effective cytoprotection. No protection was seen when cells were treated with HMT following exposure to HD, or where HMT was removed prior to HD exposure. 3. Results suggest that HMT may be effective prophylaxis for exposure to HD by inhalation.

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