Development of nanoparticles derived from corn as mass producible bionanoparticles with anticancer activity

Recent studies showed that plant-derived nanoparticles (NPs) can be easily produced in high yields and have potential applications as therapeutic agents or delivery carriers for bioactive molecules. In this study, we selected corn as it is inexpensive to grow and mass-produced globally. Super sweet corn was homogenized in water to obtain corn juice, which was then centrifuged, filtered through a 0.45-μm-pore size syringe filter, and ultracentrifuged to obtain NPs derived from corn, or corn-derived NPs (cNPs). cNPs obtained were approximately 80 nm in diameter and negatively charged (− 17 mV). cNPs were taken up by various types of cells, including colon26 tumor cells and RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells, with selective reduction of the proliferation of colon26 cells. Moreover, cNPs induced tumor necrosis factor-α release from RAW264.7 cells. cNPs and RAW264.7 in combination significantly suppressed the proliferation of colon26/fluc cells. Daily intratumoral injections of cNPs significantly suppressed the growth of subcutaneous colon26 tumors in mice, with no significant body weight loss. These results indicate excellent anti-tumor activity of cNPs.

Method Development, Validation, Monitoring, Seasonal Effect and Risk Assessment of Multiclass Multi Pesticide Residues in Surface and Ground Water of New Alluvial Zone in Eastern India

A liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method consisting gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) determination of thirty six pesticides in environmental waters was standardized. The method was validated as per SANTE/11813/2017 guidelines. Effect of three seasons namely summer, monsoon and winter on monitoring of pesticide residues in environmental waters (river, pond and tube well) of rural area was studied and subsequently risk assessment was evaluated. Within two districts (Nadia and North 24paraganas) of new alluvial zone in eastern India, six different places were chosen for sampling of river water. On the contrary, six different ponds and tubewells as well were considered for sampling. 144 samples of 2 liter each (48 each of river, pond and tubewell water) of each district irrespective of seasons were analyzed during the study period. Each water sample (750 ml) was extracted with ethylacetate:dichloromethane (8:2). The total residue was reconstituted in acetone (1 ml) and analysed in GC-MS after proper filtration with 0.22 μm nylon syringe filter. Average percent recovery ranged from 77.84 to 118.15. Irrespective of seasons, maximum total organochlorine (OC) and organophosphorous (OP) pesticide residues were dominated respectively in river and pond water. Irrespective of types of environmental waters, monsoon (July to October) showed presence of total maximum pesticide residues. Risk Quotient (RQ) [acute and chronic] was calculated respectively in pond and river water. Only Seven water samples of tubewell were contaminated with butachlor and chlorpyriphos, although in non-significant average amount (< 0.1ngml-1), irrespective of seasons and thus safe for consumption.

Encapsulation of ε-Viniferin into Multi-Lamellar Liposomes: Development of a Rapid, Easy and Cost-Efficient Separation Method to Determine the Encapsulation Efficiency

Onion-type multi-lamellar liposomes (MLLs), composed of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and Tween 80, were analyzed for their ability to encapsulate ε-Viniferin (εVin), a resveratrol dimer. Their encapsulation efficiency (EE) was measured by UV-VIS spectroscopy using three different separation methods—ultracentrifugation, size exclusion chromatography, and a more original and advantageous one, based on adsorption filtration. The adsorption filtration method consists indeed of using syringe filters to retain the molecule of interest, and not the liposomes as usually performed. The process is rapid (less than 10 min), easy to handle, and inexpensive in terms of sample amount (around 2 mg of liposomes) and equipment (one syringe filter is required). Whatever the separation method, a similar EE value was determined, validating the proposed method. A total of 80% ± 4% of εVin was found to be encapsulated leading to a 6.1% payload, roughly twice those reported for resveratrol-loaded liposomes. Finally, the release kinetics of εVin from MLLs was followed for a 77 day period, demonstrating a slow release of the polyphenol.

Separation and determination of cadmium in water samples based on functionalized carbon nanotube by syringe filter membrane- micro solid-phase extraction

A simple and fast separation of cadmium (Cd) based on functionalized carbon nanotubes with 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (CNTs@DHSP) was achieved in water samples before a determination by atom trap flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AT-FAAS). In this study, Cd(II) ions were extracted by syringe filter membrane-micro solid phase extraction procedure(SFM-μ-SPE). Firstly, 20 mg of the CNTs@DHSP as solid-phase added to 20 mL of water sample in a syringe, then dispersed for 3 min after adjusting pH up to 7 and pass through SFM very slowly. After extraction, the Cd(II) ions were back-extracted from SFM/CNTs@DHSP by 1.0 mL of eluent in acidic pH. Finally, the cadmium concentration was measured by AT-FAAS. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range (2–90 µg L−1), LOD (0.75 µg L−1) and enrichment factor (19.6) were obtained (RSD<1.5%). The adsorption capacity of Cd(II) with the CNTs@DHSP was obtained about 152.6 mg g-1. The method was validated by certified reference materials (SRM, NIST) and ET-AAS in water samples.

Emulsion-free chitosan–genipin microgels for growth plate cartilage regeneration

The growth plate is a cartilage tissue near the ends of children’s long bones and is responsible for bone growth. Injury to the growth plate can result in the formation of a ‘bony bar’ which can span the growth plate and result in bone growth abnormalities in children. Biomaterials such as chitosan microgels could be a potential treatment for growth plate injuries due to their chondrogenic properties, which can be enhanced through loading with biologics. They are commonly fabricated via an emulsion method, which involves solvent rinses that are cytotoxic. Here, we present a high throughput, non-cytotoxic, non-emulsion-based method to fabricate chitosan–genipin microgels. Chitosan was crosslinked with genipin to form a hydrogel network, and then pressed through a syringe filter using mesh with various pore sizes to produce a range of microgel particle sizes. The microgels were then loaded with chemokines and growth factors and their release was studied in vitro. To assess the applicability of the microgels for growth plate cartilage regeneration, they were injected into a rat growth plate injury. They led to increased cartilage repair tissue and were fully degraded by 28 days in vivo. This work demonstrates that chitosan microgels can be fabricated without solvent rinses and demonstrates their potential for the treatment of growth plate injuries.

Facile syringe filter-enabled bacteria separation, enrichment, and buffer exchange for clinical isolation-free digital detection and characterization of bacterial pathogens in urine

The development of accelerated methods for pathogen identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for infectious diseases is necessary to facilitate evidence-based antibiotic therapy and reduce clinical overreliance on broad-spectrum...

Sulfamethizole functionalized graphene oxide for in-vitro separation and determination lead in blood serum of battery manufactories workers by syringe filter-dispersive- micro solid phase extraction

The toxic effect of lead (Pb) causes to anemia and iron deficiency in human body. So, the lead determination in blood/serum samples is very important. In this study, a novel adsorbent based on sulfamethizole functionalized on nanographene oxide (C3H10N4O2S2-NGO; SM-NGO) was used for extraction of Pb(II) from human blood, serum and plasma samples in battery manufactories workers by SF-D-µ-SPE. By procedure, 25 mg of SM-NGO mixed with 10 mL of human blood/serum or plasma samples and aspirated by 10 mL of syringe tube. After sonication of samples for 5 min, the Pb ions adsorbed based on sulfur of SM-NGO adsorbent at pH=6 and the solid phase separated by syringe coupled to Millex-FG hydrophobic PTFE membrane (0.2 µm). Then, the lead ions were back-extracted from SM-NGO/PTFE by elution phase with 0.5 mL of nitric acid solution (0.5 M). Finally, the concentrations of Pb(II) ions were determined by AT-FAAS.

Highly Sensitive and Rapid Quantitative Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Using an Image Cytometer

The gold standard for malaria diagnosis is microscopic examination of blood films by expert microscopists. It is important to detect submicroscopic and asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in people, therefore the development of highly sensitive devices for diagnosing malaria is required. In the present study, we investigated whether an imaging cytometer was useful for the highly sensitive quantitative detection of parasites. Whole blood samples were prepared from uninfected individuals spiked with Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Thereafter, erythrocytes were purified using a push column comprising of a syringe filter unit with SiO2-nanofiber filters. After adding the erythrocytes, stained with nuclear stain, to a six-well plate, quantitative detection of the parasites was performed using an image cytometer, CQ1. Imaging of 2.6 × 106 erythrocytes was completed in 3 min, and the limit of detection indicated parasitemia of 0.00010% (≈5 parasites/μL of blood). In addition to rapid, highly sensitive, and quantitative detection, the ease of application and economic costs, image cytometry could be efficiently applied to diagnose submicroscopic parasites in infected people from endemic countries.