scholarly journals Acute Toxicity and Efficacy of Nanomaterial based Decontamination Formulation Developed for Personal Decontamination against Chemical Warfare Agents

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
Anshoo Gautam ◽  
Gangavarapu K. Prasad ◽  
Deeksha Singh ◽  
Rajagopalan Vijayaraghavan
Keyword(s):  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Skin Irritation ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
The Body ◽  
Respiratory Pattern ◽  
Histological Evaluation ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Body Weight Index

Background: This study addresses the efficacy of nanomaterials based formulation developed for personal decontamination application against chemical warfare agents and used in Personal Decontamination Kit (PDK). It has the potential to decontaminate the skin of an individual, protective equipment, and small arms contaminated with chemical warfare agents. As this formulation has been developed for personal decontamination, risk of nanomaterial toxicity would always be there while sprinkling or applying to the affected area. It may get into the body through various routes specifically through the inhalation route. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo decontamination efficiency of the formulation and acute inhalation, intratracheal, intranasal, oral, dermal, and intraperitoneal toxicity of the formulation. Materials and Methods: 14 days survival was recorded for the evaluation of decontamination efficiency of this formulation. Various endpoints were considered while assessing the toxicity of Nanomaterial Decontamination Formulation which include Organ Body Weight Index (OBWI), serum biochemical parameters, and respiratory variables like tidal volume, respiratory rate, time of inspiration, time of expiration, etc. LD50 of the formulation were also determined for various routes. As skin is the primary organ to come in contact with the decontaminant, its primary skin irritation response has also been determined in this study. Results and Conclusion: It was found that there is no gross acute toxicity observed at different doses. Though there were some changes in the initial respiratory pattern, they were all later recovered. The preliminary histological evaluation did not show any adverse effect on various organs after exposure with NDF.

Some Possibilities to Study New Prophylactics against Nerve Agents

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 970-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bajgar ◽  
J. Kassa ◽  
T. Kucera ◽  
K. Musilek ◽  
D. Jun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Huperzine A ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition ◽  
Effective Prophylaxis ◽  
Warfare Agents

Nerve agents belong to the most dangerous chemical warfare agents and can be/were misused by terrorists. Effective prophylaxis and treatment is necessary to diminish their effect. General principles of prophylaxis are summarized (protection against acetylcholinesterase inhibition, detoxification, treatment “in advance” and use of different drugs). They are based on the knowledge of mechanism of action of nerve agents. Among different examinations, it is necessary to test prophylactic effectivity in vivo and compare the results with protection in vitro. Chemical and biological approaches to the development of new prophylactics would be applied simultaneously during this research. Though the number of possible prophylactics is relatively high, the only four drugs were introduced into military medical practice. At present, pyridostigmine seems to be common prophylactic antidote; prophylactics panpal (tablets with pyridostigmine, trihexyphenidyl and benactyzine), transant (transdermal patch containing HI-6) are other means introduced into different armies as prophylactics. Scavenger commercionally available is Protexia®. Future development will be focused on scavengers, and on other drugs either reversible cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., huperzine A, gallantamine, physostigmine, acridine derivatives) or other compounds.

Cutaneous challenge with chemical warfare agents in the SKH-1 hairless mouse. (I) Development of a model for screening studies in skin decontamination and protection

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 470-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Dorandeu ◽  
L. Taysse ◽  
I. Boudry ◽  
A. Foquin ◽  
F. Hérodin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfur Mustard ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Skin Penetration ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Hairless Mouse ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Liquid Form ◽  
Warfare Agents

Exposure to lethal chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is no longer only a military issue due to the terrorist threat. Among the CWAs of concern are the organophosphorus nerve agent O-ethyl-S-(2[di-isopropylamino]ethyl)methyl-phosphonothioate (VX) and the vesicant sulfur mustard (SM). Although efficient means of decontamination are available, most of them lose their efficacy when decontamination is delayed after exposure of the bare skin. Alternatively, CWA skin penetration can be prevented by topical skin protectants. Active research in skin protection and decontamination is thus paramount. In vivo screening of decontaminants or skin protectants is usually time consuming and may be expensive depending on the animal species used. We were thus looking for a suitable, scientifically sound and cost-effective model, which is easy to handle. The euthymic hairless mouse Crl: SKH-1 (hr/hr) BR is widely used in some skin studies and has previously been described to be suitable for some experiments involving SM or SM analogs. To evaluate the response of this species, we studied the consequences of exposing male anaesthetized SKH-1 mice to either liquid VX or to SM, the latter being used in liquid form or as saturated vapours. Long-term effects of SM burn were also evaluated. The model was then used in the companion paper (Taysse et al.1).

Cutaneous challenge with chemical warfare agents in the SKH-1 hairless mouse (II): Effects of some currently used skin decontaminants (RSDL and Fuller’s earth) against liquid sulphur mustard and VX exposure

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Taysse ◽  
F. Dorandeu ◽  
S. Daulon ◽  
A. Foquin ◽  
N. Perrier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Hairless Mouse ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Sulphur Mustard ◽  
Ethyl Methyl ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Fuller’S Earth

Using the hairless mouse screening model presented in the companion paper1 the aim of this study was to assess two skin decontaminating systems: Fuller’s earth (FE) and Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL) against two extremely toxic chemical warfare agents that represent a special percutaneous hazard, sulphur mustard (SM) and O-ethyl-S-(2[di-isopropylamino]ethyl)methyl-phosphonothioate (VX). Five minutes after being exposed on the back to either 2 µL of neat sulphur mustard or 50 µg.kg-1 of diluted VX, mice were decontaminated. Both systems were able to reduce blisters 3 days after SM exposure. However, RSDL was found to be more efficient than FE in reducing the necrosis of the epidermis and erosion. In the case of VX exposure, RSDL, whatever the ratio of decontaminant to toxicant used (RSDL 10, 20, 50), was not able to sufficiently prevent the inhibition of plasma cholinesterases taken as a surrogate marker of exposure and toxicity. Only FE reduced significantly the ChE inhibition. Some of these observations are different from our previous results obtained in domestic swine and these changes are thus discussed in the perspective of using SKH-1 hairless mice for the initial in vivo screening of decontaminants.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review on Nerve Chemical Warfare Agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1329-1333
Author(s):  
Gagan R
Keyword(s):  
Organophosphorus Compounds ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Nerve Agent ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
The Body ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Pralidoxime Chloride ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme ◽  
Neurological System

Abstract: The recent poisoning of Russian opposition figure and critic Alexei Navalny on August 20th , 2020 with a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent reminded the world of the use of chemical agents, especially nerve agents to eliminate individual targets or for mass destruction. Nerve agents are a class of organophosphorus compounds. Soman, Sarin, Tabun, Cyclosarin, VX are a few examples of nerve agents. Nerve agents affect a person by disrupting the mechanism by which nerve signals are passed in the body. They inhibit the action of acetylcholinesterase enzyme which is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine neurotransmitters leading to accumulation of acetylcholine in the body. Nerve agents have a range of chemical effects on the eye, gastro-intestinal (GI) tract, Central nervous system (CNS), Respiratory system, Cardiovascular system and Neurological system. The management of nerve agent poisoning is done by administering Atropine or Pralidoxime chloride or also by administering anticonvulsants like Benzodiazepines or Diazepam. This review presents all such detailed information on this class of chemical Warfare agents. Keywords: Chemical Warfare Weapon, Nerve Agents, Acetylcholinesterase, Toxicity, Instrumentation

NEUROLOGICAL FEATURES IN CHILDREN AND DIPHENYLARSINIC ACID PROBABLY DERIVED FROM CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (S 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Iwasaki ◽  
S Miyamoto ◽  
K Ishii ◽  
T Takeda ◽  
T Ohto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Neurological Features
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