Pharmaceutical nanotechnology: from the bench to the market

Background Nanotechnology is considered a new and rapidly emerging area in the pharmaceutical and medicinal field. Nanoparticles, as drug delivery systems, impart several advantages concerning improved efficacy as well as reduced adverse drug reactions. Main body Different types of nanosystems have been fabricated including carbon nanotubes, paramagnetic nanoparticles, dendrimers, nanoemulsions, etc. Physicochemical properties of the starting materials and the selected method of preparation play a significant aspect in determining the shape and characteristics of the developed nanoparticles. Dispersion of preformed polymers, coacervation, polymerization, nano-spray drying and supercritical fluid technology are among the most extensively used techniques for the preparation of nanocarriers. Particle size, surface charge, surface hydrophobicity and drug release are the main factors affecting nanoparticles physical stability and biological performance of the incorporated drug. In clinical practice, many nanodrugs have been used for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications and are being investigated for various indications in clinical trials. Nanoparticles are used for the cure of kidney diseases, tuberculosis, skin conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, different types of cancer as well as preparation of COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion In this review, we will confer the advantages, types, methods of preparation, characterization methods and some of the applications of nano-systems.

The Improvement in Surface Properties of Metallic Implant via Magnetron Sputtering: Recent Progress and Remaining Challenges

Bioceramic coatings on metallic implants provide a wear-resistant and biocompatible layer, that own ability to develop bone-like apatite in physiological environments to ensure bonding with hard tissues. These bioceramics primarily belong to Calcium Phosphates (CaPs), bioactive glasses, and glass-ceramics. Several techniques are used to deposit these coatings such as; electrophoretic deposition (EPD), plasma spray (PS), and Radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RFMS). Most of these techniques require a high-temperature operation or sintering treatment. This causes either thermal decomposition of bioceramic or results in delamination and cracking of the bioceramic coating due to differences in thermal expansion behavior of metals and bioceramics. RFMS is primarily carried out either at room temperature. However, annealing is performed or substrate is heated at various temperatures ∼400–1,200°C for 2 or 4 h under dry argon (very low temperature compared to other techniques) to ensure crystallization of bioceramics and improve coating adhesion. Chemical composition stability and excellent surface finish are the premium features of RFMS, due to less heat involvement. Moreover, RFMS has the unique ability to develop one-unit/ multilayered composite coatings and the flexibility of in-situ reactions to yield oxides and nitrides. Single or multiple targets can be employed with the insertion of Oxygen and Nitrogen to yield versatile coatings. Due to this attractive set of features RFMS has a strong potential in the field of bioceramic coatings. In recent years, several multifunctional bioceramic coatings have been deposited on metallic substrates using RFMS for biomedical applications. This review focuses on the recent efforts made in order to deposit multifunctional bioceramic RFMS coatings with surface characteristics necessary for biomedical applications and highlights future directions for the improved biological performance of RFMS bioceramic coatings.

Expanding the Gap: An Updated Look Into Sex Differences in Running Performance

Males consistently outperform females in athletic endeavors, including running events of standard Olympic distances (100 m to Marathon). The magnitude of this percentage sex difference, i.e., the sex gap, has evolved over time. Two clear trends in sex gap evolution are evident; a narrowing of the gap during the 20th century, followed by a period of stability thereafter. However, an updated perspective on the average sex gap from top 20 athlete performances over the past two decades reveals nuanced trends over time, indicating the sex gap is not fixed. Additionally, the sex gap varies with performance level; the difference in absolute running performance between males and females is lowest for world record/world lead performances and increases in lower-ranked elite athletes. This observation of an increased sex gap with world rank is evident in events 400 m and longer and indicates a lower depth in female competitive standards. Explanations for the sex difference in absolute performance and competition depth include physical (physiological, anatomical, neuromuscular, biomechanical), sociocultural, psychological, and sport-specific factors. It is apparent that females are the disadvantaged sex in sport; therefore, measures should be taken to reduce this discrepancy and enable both sexes to reach their biological performance potential. There is scope to narrow the sex performance gap by addressing inequalities between the sexes in opportunities, provisions, incentives, attitudes/perceptions, research, and media representation.

The Host-Plant Origin Affects the Morphological Traits and the Reproductive Behavior of the Aphid Parasitoid Aphelinus mali

Diversifying agroecosystems through habitat management inside or outside production fields can provide alternative hosts and/or prey for natural enemies. In semi-natural habitats, parasitoids may find alternative host-plant complexes (HPC) that could allow their development when pest hosts are scarce in the field. However, morphological and physiological differences between alternative and targeted HPCs could affect the preference and fitness of the parasitoids, possibly altering their efficacy in regulating pests. In the present study, we examined two Aphelinus mali parasitoid populations developing on Eriosoma lanigerum from two host plants (Malus domestica-apple trees and Pyracantha coccinea). We hypothesized that A. mali from both HPCs will show different life history traits and behaviors because primary and alternative host-plants are known to induce variations in parasitoid biological performance. Our findings indicate that A. mali originating from E. lanigerum on P. coccinea parasitized more aphids and are smaller than those originating from E. lanigerum on apple. Furthermore, these parasitoids did not significantly vary their ability to attack and oviposit apple E. lanigerum, suggesting that P. coccinea could function as a suitable banker plant for A. mali. We discuss the potential use of P. coccinea in conservation biological control of E. lanigerum in apple orchards.

Biological performance of a bioabsorbable Poly (L-Lactic Acid) produced in polymerization unit: in vivo studies

Background: The biomaterials engineering goal is to manufacture a biocompatible scaffold that adequately supports or improves tissue regeneration after implantation of the biomaterial in the injured area. Many requirements are demanded for a biomaterial, such as biocompatibility, elasticity, degradation time, and a very important factor is its cost of importation or synthesis, making its application inaccessible to some countries. Studies about biomaterials market show that Polylactic acid (PLLA) is one of the most used polymers, but expensive to produce. It becomes important to prove the biocompatibility of the new PLLA and to find strategies to produce biocompatible biopolymers at an acceptable production cost. Methods: In this work, the polylactic acid biomaterial was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The polymer was submitted to initial in vivo biocompatibility studies in 12 New Zealand female rabbits, assigned to two groups: (1) Lesion and PLLA group (n = 6), (2) Lesion No PLLA group (n = 6). Each group was divided into two subgroups at six and nine months post-surgical time. Before euthanasia clinical and biochemical studies were performed and after that tomographic (CT), histological (Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson's trichrome) and histomorphometric analyses were performed to evaluate the injury site and prove biocompatibility. The final cost of this polymer was analyzed. Results: The statistical studies of hemogram and hepatocyte enzymes, showed that there were no significant differences between the groups for any of the times studied, in any of the variables considered and the results of CT and histology showed that there was an important process of neoregeneration. The cost analysis showed the biopolymer synthesis is between R$3,06 - R$5,49 cheaper than the import cost. Conclusions: It was possible to synthesize the PLLA biopolymer by cyclic ring opening, which proved to be biocompatible, potential osteoregenerative and cheaper than other imported biopolymers.

Investigating barotrauma in juvenile salmon passing through a very low head turbine using response surface methodology

Although hydropower is a clean source of energy, in some cases, it can jeopardize the life of some species of riverine fish. Very Low Head (VLH) water turbine is an innovative design that aims at reducing the adverse effects of such hydroelectric facilities. In this research, two methodologies are integrated to investigate barotrauma in juvenile salmons passing through this particular turbine. First, to quantify barotrauma, we implement a method known as BioPA (Biological Performance Assessment) by combining the results of some laboratory experiments on juvenile Chinook salmon moving through a simulated turbine passage with the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the flow field in this environment. In the second part, we added surrogate-based modeling as a tool, which enabled us to study the effects of two geometrical parameters on the environmental performance of the VLH turbine with low computational costs. The results indicate a significant dependency between the installation angle of the VLH turbine and the severity of the barotrauma of this particular fish. In addition, further investigations suggest that the region near the middle of blades is the safest for fish in the case of decompression.