Special Issue: Novel Methods for Labeling Nanomaterials for Biological and Environmental Tracing Radiolabeling of Nanomaterials: Advantages and Challenges

Quantifying the distribution of nanomaterials in complex samples is of great significance to the toxicological research of nanomaterials as well as their clinical applications. Radiotracer technology is a powerful tool for biological and environmental tracing of nanomaterials because it has the advantages of high sensitivity and high reliability, and can be matched with some spatially resolved technologies for non-invasive, real-time detection. However, the radiolabeling operation of nanomaterials is relatively complicated, and fundamental studies on how to optimize the experimental procedures for the best radiolabeling of nanomaterials are still needed. This minireview looks back into the methods of radiolabeling of nanomaterials in previous work, and highlights the superiority of the “last-step” labeling strategy. At the same time, the problems existing in the stability test of radiolabeling and the suggestions for further improvement are also addressed.

DeepCarc: Deep Learning-Powered Carcinogenicity Prediction Using Model-Level Representation

Carcinogenicity testing plays an essential role in identifying carcinogens in environmental chemistry and drug development. However, it is a time-consuming and label-intensive process to evaluate the carcinogenic potency with conventional 2-years rodent animal studies. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative approaches to providing reliable and robust assessments on carcinogenicity. In this study, we proposed a DeepCarc model to predict carcinogenicity for small molecules using deep learning-based model-level representations. The DeepCarc Model was developed using a data set of 692 compounds and evaluated on a test set containing 171 compounds in the National Center for Toxicological Research liver cancer database (NCTRlcdb). As a result, the proposed DeepCarc model yielded a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.432 for the test set, outperforming four advanced deep learning (DL) powered quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models with an average improvement rate of 37%. Furthermore, the DeepCarc model was also employed to screen the carcinogenicity potential of the compounds from both DrugBank and Tox21. Altogether, the proposed DeepCarc model could serve as an early detection tool (https://github.com/TingLi2016/DeepCarc) for carcinogenicity assessment.

New Perspectives for the Use of Potentilla alba Rhizomes to Treat Thyroid Gland Impairments

Potentilla alba is a valuable medicinal plant that has been highly praised even before its first appearance in herbal books; however, it has now been forgotten in Western Europe. Currently, this species is used in Eastern Europe as a remedy to treat dysentery and various thyroid gland dysfunctions. The present review summarizes the advances in the phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological research related to this plant species. Clinical trials that have been conducted to date support its traditional use for treating thyroid disorders, although its exact mechanism of action, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics data are missing.

Review of Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics

Aim of this article is to review the literature about toxic chemicals in cosmetics, to emphasize the importance of toxicological research in cosmetology and to support the campaign for safe cosmetics. There is a need for the establishment of higher standards in cosmetology in a way of raising awareness about toxic chemicals that should be avoided, promoting safer cosmetics and transforming cosmetic industry into safe and non-toxic.

URARIA PICTA (JACQ.): A REVIEW ON ETHNOMEDICAL USES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY, AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

The aim of this systematic review is to provide an in-depth study of ethnological uses, phyto-chemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicological research in Uraria picta (Jacq.), to identify remaining gaps, and to provide a basis for future research. By searching for the words “U. picta” and “Prishnaparni” in electronic databases such as SciFinder, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, information on common uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities was systematically collected. Phytochemical analysis of U. picta shows various components such as alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, phenols, and saponins. The extracts and their isolated components showed numerous in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, including urinary tract diseases, tumors, edema, smoking, and dyspnea. On the other hand, searches of patent databases found almost seven applications, highlighting the differences between a large number of published scientific articles and non-existent patent applications. This event demonstrates the technological potential of undiscovered species. Ethnographic research shows that U. picta, an important Asian medicinal plant, is used to treat many diseases. In this review, the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and ethnological properties of various morphological parts of the U. picta plant are highlighted. Future research has provided information for commercial research and has shown that this herb has tremendous potential for pharmaceutical and nutritional applications.

Features of the bioecological state of water bodies in the Leningrad region and de-eutrophication measures

Natural waters are polluted by sewage, industrial and transport waste leads to a decrease the oxygen content in the water and the disappearance of valuable fish species. As a result, the eutrophy of the reservoir develops - the saturation of reservoirs with biogenic elements, accompanied by an increase in the biological productivity of water basins. The purpose of the work was to study the bioecological state of water basins in the Luga district of the Leningrad region, the prospects for de-eutrophication. The monitoring data of water bodies were studied and factors influencing the bioecological state of water bodies were considered. Physicochemical, sanitary and microbiological, parasitological and toxicological research methods were used in the work. Objects of research: the rivers Obla and Svinechnaya; lakes Toloni and Omchino. All this is a very unfavorable factor and indicates strong water pollution. To combat the eutrophication of water bodies, preventive and regulatory measures are used. A promising prevention of eutrophication is a biotechnological method, including the cultivation of plants in the coastal zone, breeding of herbivorous fish, the use of the method of algolization (introduction of a chlorella suspension).

Circular RNAs in Toxicology

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of closed, long, non-coding RNAs, which have attracted significant attention in recent years. CircRNAs exhibit unique functions and are characterized by stable expression in various tissues across different species. Because the identification of circRNA in plant viroids in 1976, numerous studies have been conducted to elucidate its generation as well as expression under normal and disease conditions. The rapid development of research focused on the roles of circRNAs as biomarkers in diseases such as cancers has led to increased interests in evaluating the effects of toxicants on the human genetics from a toxicological perspective. Notably, increasing amounts of chemicals are generated in the environment; however, their toxic features and interactions with the human body, particularly from the epigenetic viewpoint, remain largely unknown. Considering the unique features of circRNAs as potential prognostic biomarkers as well as their roles in evaluating health risks following exposure to toxicants, the aim of this review was to assess the latest progress in the research concerning circRNA, to address the role of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in diseases and processes occurring after exposure to toxic compounds. Another goal was to identify the gaps in understanding the interactions between toxic compounds and circRNAs as potential biomarkers. The review presents general information about circRNA (ie, biogenesis and functions) and provides insights into newly discovered exosome-contained circRNA. The roles of circRNAs as potential biomarkers are also explored. A comprehensive review of the available literature on the role of circRNA in toxicological research (ie, chemical carcinogenesis, respiratory toxicology, neurotoxicology, and other unclassified toxicological categories) is included.