scholarly journals X-ray inactivation of RNA viruses without loss of biological characteristics

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Babak Afrough ◽  
Jonathan Eakins ◽  
Sarah Durley-White ◽  
Stuart Dowall ◽  
Stephen Findlay-Wilson ◽  
...  

AbstractIn the event of an unpredictable viral outbreak requiring high/maximum biosafety containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4), X-ray irradiation has the potential to relieve pressures on conventional diagnostic bottlenecks and expediate work at lower containment. Guided by Monte Carlo modelling and in vitro 1-log10 decimal-reduction value (D-value) predictions, the X-ray photon energies required for the effective inactivation of zoonotic viruses belonging to the medically important families of Flaviviridae, Nairoviridae, Phenuiviridae and Togaviridae are demonstrated. Specifically, it is shown that an optimized irradiation approach is attractive for use in a multitude of downstream detection and functional assays, as it preserves key biochemical and immunological properties. This study provides evidence that X-ray irradiation can support emergency preparedness, outbreak response and front-line diagnostics in a safe, reproducible and scalable manner pertinent to operations that are otherwise restricted to higher containment BSL3 or BSL4 laboratories.

Author(s):  
Ann Chidester Van Orden ◽  
John L. Chidester ◽  
Anna C. Fraker ◽  
Pei Sung

The influence of small variations in the composition on the corrosion behavior of Co-Cr-Mo alloys has been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), and electrochemical measurements. SEM and EDX data were correlated with data from in vitro corrosion measurements involving repassivation and also potentiostatic anodic polarization measurements. Specimens studied included the four alloys shown in Table 1. Corrosion tests were conducted in Hanks' physiological saline solution which has a pH of 7.4 and was held at a temperature of 37°C. Specimens were mechanically polished to a surface finish with 0.05 µm A1203, then exposed to the solution and anodically polarized at a rate of 0.006 v/min. All voltages were measured vs. the saturated calomel electrode (s.c.e.).. Specimens had breakdown potentials near 0.47V vs. s.c.e.


Author(s):  
Janet H. Woodward ◽  
D. E. Akin

Silicon (Si) is distributed throughout plant tissues, but its role in forages has not been clarified. Although Si has been suggested as an antiquality factor which limits the digestibility of structural carbohydrates, other research indicates that its presence in plants does not affect digestibility. We employed x-ray microanalysis to evaluate Si as an antiquality factor at specific sites of two cultivars of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactvlon (L.) Pers.). “Coastal” and “Tifton-78” were chosen for this study because previous work in our lab has shown that, although these two grasses are similar ultrastructurally, they differ in in vitro dry matter digestibility and in percent composition of Si.Two millimeter leaf sections of Tifton-7 8 (Tift-7 8) and Coastal (CBG) were incubated for 72 hr in 2.5% (w/v) cellulase in 0.05 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0. For controls, sections were incubated in the sodium acetate buffer or were not treated.


Author(s):  
A. J. Tousimis

The elemental composition of amino acids is similar to that of the major structural components of the epithelial cells of the small intestine and other tissues. Therefore, their subcellular localization and concentration measurements are not possible by x-ray microanalysis. Radioactive isotope labeling: I131-tyrosine, Se75-methionine and S35-methionine have been successfully employed in numerous absorption and transport studies. The latter two have been utilized both in vitro and vivo, with similar results in the hamster and human small intestine. Non-radioactive Selenomethionine, since its absorption/transport behavior is assumed to be the same as that of Se75- methionine and S75-methionine could serve as a compound tracer for this amino acid.


Author(s):  
N.K.R. Smith ◽  
K.E. Hunter ◽  
P. Mobley ◽  
L.P. Felpel

Electron probe energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (XRMA) offers a powerful tool for the determination of intracellular elemental content of biological tissue. However, preparation of the tissue specimen , particularly excitable central nervous system (CNS) tissue , for XRMA is rather difficult, as dissection of a sample from the intact organism frequently results in artefacts in elemental distribution. To circumvent the problems inherent in the in vivo preparation, we turned to an in vitro preparation of astrocytes grown in tissue culture. However, preparations of in vitro samples offer a new and unique set of problems. Generally, cultured cells, growing in monolayer, must be harvested by either mechanical or enzymatic procedures, resulting in variable degrees of damage to the cells and compromised intracel1ular elemental distribution. The ultimate objective is to process and analyze unperturbed cells. With the objective of sparing others from some of the same efforts, we are reporting the considerable difficulties we have encountered in attempting to prepare astrocytes for XRMA.Tissue cultures of astrocytes from newborn C57 mice or Sprague Dawley rats were prepared and cultured by standard techniques, usually in T25 flasks, except as noted differently on Cytodex beads or on gelatin. After different preparative procedures, all samples were frozen on brass pins in liquid propane, stored in liquid nitrogen, cryosectioned (0.1 μm), freeze dried, and microanalyzed as previously reported.


Author(s):  
Eva-Maria Mandelkow ◽  
Ron Milligan

Microtubules form part of the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells. They are hollow libers of about 25 nm diameter made up of 13 protofilaments, each of which consists of a chain of heterodimers of α-and β-tubulin. Microtubules can be assembled in vitro at 37°C in the presence of GTP which is hydrolyzed during the reaction, and they are disassembled at 4°C. In contrast to most other polymers microtubules show the behavior of “dynamic instability”, i.e. they can switch between phases of growth and phases of shrinkage, even at an overall steady state [1]. In certain conditions an entire solution can be synchronized, leading to autonomous oscillations in the degree of assembly which can be observed by X-ray scattering (Fig. 1), light scattering, or electron microscopy [2-5]. In addition such solutions are capable of generating spontaneous spatial patterns [6].In an earlier study we have analyzed the structure of microtubules and their cold-induced disassembly by cryo-EM [7]. One result was that disassembly takes place by loss of protofilament fragments (tubulin oligomers) which fray apart at the microtubule ends. We also looked at microtubule oscillations by time-resolved X-ray scattering and proposed a reaction scheme [4] which involves a cyclic interconversion of tubulin, microtubules, and oligomers (Fig. 2). The present study was undertaken to answer two questions: (a) What is the nature of the oscillations as seen by time-resolved cryo-EM? (b) Do microtubules disassemble by fraying protofilament fragments during oscillations at 37°C?


Author(s):  
Guru Kumar Dugganaboyana ◽  
Chethankumar Mukunda ◽  
Suresh Darshini Inakanally

In recent years, green nanotechnology-based approaches using plant materials have been accepted as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach with various biomedical applications. In the current study, AgNPs were synthesized using the seed extract of the Eugenia uniflora L. (E.uniflora). Characterization was done using UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. The formation of AgNPs has confirmed through UV-Visible spectroscopy (at 466 nm) by the change of color owing to surface Plasmon resonance. Based on the XRD pattern, the crystalline property of AgNPs was established. The functional group existing in seed of E.uniflora extract accountable for the reduction of Ag+ ion and the stabilization of AgNPs was investigated. The morphological structures and elemental composition was determined by SEM and EDX analysis. With the growing application of AgNPs in biomedical perspectives, the biosynthesized AgNPs were evaluated for their antibacterial and along with their antidiabetic potential. The results showed that AgNPs are extremely effective with potent antidiabetic potential at a very low concentration. It also exhibited potential antibacterial activity against the three tested human pathogenic bacteria. Overall, the results highlight the effectiveness and potential applications of AgNPs in biomedical fields such as in the treatment of acute illnesses as well as in drug formulation for treating various diseases such as cancer and diabetes. It could be concluded that E. uniflora seed extract AgNPs can be used efficiently for in vitro evaluation of their antibacterial and antidiabetic effects with potent biomedical applications.


Author(s):  
Bhikshapathi D. V. R. N. ◽  
Arun Kumar Jarathi ◽  
Suresh Gande ◽  
Viswaja Medipally ◽  
Ramesh Bomma

Background and the purpose of the study: Risedronate sodium inhibits osteoclast bone resorption and modulates bone metabolism. Risedronate has a high affinity for hydroxyapatite crystals in bone and is a potent antiresorptive agent. In the present investigation efforts were made to improve the bioavailability of risedronate sodium by increasing the residence time of the drug through sustained-release matrix capsule formulation via gastroretentive mechanism. Capsules were prepared by wet granulation technique. The influence of gel forming agents, amount of risedronate and total weight of capsules on physical properties, in vitro buoyancy, drug release, FTIR, DSC, X-ray studies were investigated. The release mechanisms were explored and explained by applying zero order, first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer equations. The selected formulations were subjected to stability study at 40 °C/75% RH, 25 °C/60% RH for the period of three months. For all formulations, kinetics of drug release from capsules followed Higuchi’s square root of time kinetic treatment heralding diffusion as predominant mechanism of drug release. Formulation containing 25 mg HPMC K4M and 75 mg HPMC K100 LV (F-8) showed zero order release profile. There was no significant change in the selected formulation, when subjected to accelerated stability conditions over a period of three months. X-ray imaging in six healthy human volunteers revealed a mean gastric retention period of 5.60 ± 0.77 hrs for the selected formulation. Stable, sustained release effervescent floating capsules of risedronate sodium could be prepared by wet granulation technique.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 1714-1717
Author(s):  
Roxana Ionela Vasluianu ◽  
Norina Consuela Forna ◽  
Elena Raluca Baciu ◽  
Mirela Zaltariov ◽  
Lavinia Vasiliu ◽  
...  

The anti-erosion effect of fluoride on the enamel surface was investigated by ATR-FTIR, SEM and EDX techniques. Four extracted teeth (two incisors and two premolars) were initially bleached with carabamide peroxide and etched with ortho-phosphoric acid then fluoride treatment was applied. Significant differences in enamel composition and morphology were observed providing the effect of fluoride application in remineralization of teeth. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to probe the changes in enamel structure. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed higher content in F of teeth enamel. Morphology changes revealed a re-mineralization of enamel surface after the treatment with fluoride gel.


Nanomedicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Valdir Uchôa Teixeira ◽  
Fátima Raquel Azevedo Maia ◽  
Mariana Carvalho ◽  
Rui Reis ◽  
Joaquim Miguel Oliveira ◽  
...  

Aim: To established a simple, controlled and reproducible method to synthesize gallium (Ga)-coated polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles (NPs). Materials & methods: PDA NPs were synthesized in alkali medium with posterior Ga shell formation due to ion chelation on the NP surface. Results: The obtained results with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of Ga on the PDA NP surface. The cytotoxicity of Ga-coated PDA NPs was evaluated in vitro at different concentrations in contact with human adipose-derived stem cells. Further cell analysis also demonstrated the benefit of Ga-coated PDA NPs, which increased the cell proliferation rate compared with noncoated PDA NPs. Conclusion: This study indicated that Ga could work as an appropriate shell for PDA NPs, inducing cell proliferation at the analyzed concentrations.


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