A Novel Voltametric Measurements of Beta Blocker Drug Propranolol on Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Carbon Black Nanoparticles

A new voltametric method for highly sensitive propranolol (PROP) determination was developed. A glassy carbon electrode modified with a hybrid material made of carbon black (CB) and Nafion was used as the working electrode. The preconcentration potential and time were optimized (550 mV and 15 s), as well as the supporting electrolyte (0.1 mol L−1 H2SO4). For 15 s preconcentration time, linearity was achieved in the range 0.5–3.5 μmol L−1 and for 120 s in 0.02–0.14 μmol L−1. Based on the conducted calibration (120 s preconcentration time) limit of detection (LOD) was calculated and was equal to 7 nmol L−1. To verify the usefulness of the developed method, propranolol determination was carried out in real samples (tablets and freeze-dried urine). Recoveries were calculated and were in the range 92–102%, suggesting that the method might be considered as accurate. The repeatability of the signal expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was equal to 1.5% (n = 9, PROP concentration 2.5 µmol L−1). The obtained results proved that the developed method for propranolol determination might be successfully applied in routine laboratory practice.

Carbon Black Nanoparticles Selectively Alter Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Expression in vitro and in vivo in Female Mice

Toxic effects of nanoparticles on female reproductive health have been documented but the underlying mechanisms still need to be clarified. Here, we investigated the effect of carbon black nanoparticles (CB NPs) on the pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are key regulators of gonadal gametogenesis and steroidogenesis. To that purpose, we subjected adult female mice to a weekly non-surgical intratracheal administration of CB NPs at an occupationally relevant dose over 4 weeks. We also analyzed the effects of CB NPs in vitro, using both primary cultures of pituitary cells and the LβT2 gonadotrope cell line. We report here that exposure to CB NPs does not disrupt estrous cyclicity but increases both circulating FSH levels and pituitary FSH β-subunit gene (Fshb) expression in female mice without altering circulating LH levels. Similarly, treatment of anterior pituitary or gonadotrope LβT2 cells with increasing concentrations of CB NPs dose-dependently up-regulates FSH but not LH gene expression or release. Moreover, CB NPs enhance the stimulatory effect of GnRH on Fshb expression in LβT2 cells without interfering with LH regulation. We provide evidence that CB NPs are internalized by LβT2 cells and rapidly activate the cAMP/PKA pathway. We further show that pharmacological inhibition of PKA significantly attenuates the stimulatory effect of CB NPs on Fshb expression. Altogether, our study demonstrates that exposure to CB NPs alters FSH but not LH expression and may thus lead to gonadotropin imbalance.

Exposure to carbon black nanoparticles during pregnancy aggravates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury in offspring: an intergenerational effect

Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) are one of the most frequently used nanoparticles. Exposure to CBNPs during pregnancy (PrE to CBNPs) can directly induce inflammation, lung injury and genotoxicity in dams, and results in abnormalities in offspring. However, whether exposure to CBNPs during pregnancy enhances the susceptibility of offspring to environmental stimuli remains unknown. To address this issue, in this study, we intranasally treated pregnant mice with mock or CBNPs from gestational day (GD) 9 to GD18, and F1 and F2 offspring were normally obtained. By intratracheal instillation of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to trigger a classic animal model for acute lung injury, we intriguingly found that after LPS treatment, F1 and F2 offspring after exposure during pregnancy to CBNPs both exhibited more pronounced lung injury symptoms, including more degenerative histopathological changes, vascular leakage, elevated MPO activity and activation of inflammation-related signaling transduction, compared to F1 and F2 offspring in the mock treatment group, suggesting PrE to CBNPs would aggravate LPS-induced lung injury in offspring, and this effect is intergenerational. We also observed that PrE to CBNPs upregulated the mRNA expression of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt) 1/3a/3b and DNA hypermethylation in both F1 and F2 offspring, which might partially account for the intergenerational effect. Together, our study demonstrates for the first time that PrE to CBNPs can enhance sensitivity to LPS in both F1 and F2 offspring, and this intergenerational effect may be related to DNA hypermethylation caused by CBNPs.

Carbon Black Nanoparticles Exposure Induces Intestinal Flora Dysbiosis and Consequent Activation of Gut-Liver Axis Leading to Liver Lipid Accumulation in Zebrafish

Background:Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) are a major carbonaceous nanomaterial, which have been widely left in the environment. The integrity of the gut-liver axis function is critical to the survival of animals. Therefore, we studied the effects of three concentrations of CBNPs (50, 100, 200 mg/L) on zebrafish intestines, liver and intestinal flora. Results:The results showed that CBNPs exposure could reduce the diversity of intestinal flora, change the structure of core microbial populations, enhance the permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and cause changes in genes related to tight junctions in intestinal tissues. The H&E staining and Oil red O staining showed that CBNPs exposure would lead to vacuolar degeneration and lipid accumulation in zebrafish liver. Further detection of glycolipid metabolism related genes showed that CBNPs exposure induced the up-regulation of glycolysis related genes PFKFB3, LDHA, and LEPr, reduces the expression of glycogen synthase kinase GSK-3b, and increases lipid transport and production related genes PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, LIPC, apoa4, Fabp2 and Fabp11 expression. Conclusions:In brief, our data demonstrated that CBNPs exposure induced intestinal microflora disturbance in zebrafish can lead to liver lipid accumulation.

THE EFFECT OF ADDITION NANOPARTICLES ON SHRINKAGE PROPERTY OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT

Two types of nanomaterial: Tio2 nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon black NPs have used in this research to study their effect on compressive strength, shrinkage and flow table tests Cement mortar. The mixing ratio was 1:2.7:0.485 (cement, sand, water/cement ratio) for compressive strength test and 1:2 (cement, sand) with the water/cement ratio was a variable value for dry shrinkage test. The two nanoparticles’ ratios are (0.25%, 0.75%, 1.25 % and 1.75%) by weight of the Portland cement. The test results show that the highest value of compressive strength was obtained when using Tio2 at 1.25% wt. of cement. But when using carbon black nanoparticles, the greatest value was obtained when adding it with a ratio of 1.75 % wt. of cement. Using two NPs when added to cement mortar has a negative effect on the shrinkage value.