Search results for " TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICS"

2018

Marine sponges are a very attractive and rich source in the production of novel bioactive compounds. The sponges exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. The genus Amphimedon consists of various species, such as viridis, compressa, complanata, and terpenensis, along with a handful of undescribed species. The Amphimedon genus is a rich source of secondary metabolites containing diverse chemical classes, including alkaloids, ceramides, cerebrososides, and terpenes, with various valuable biological activities. This review covers the literature from January 1983 until January 2018 and provides a complete survey of all the compounds isolated from the genus Amphimedon and the associate…

Immuno-toxicological Evaluation of the Adjuvant Formulations for Experimental Anti-meningococcal Vaccines without Aluminium Hydroxide

2019

International audience; The proteoliposomes and cochleates are used as adjuvants for vaccines since they are potent immune stimulators. However, the hyper stimulation of the immune system provoked by adjuvants can cause immunetoxicological side effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate the toxic and immuno-toxicological effects of new adjuvants for anti-meningococci vaccines based on neo-proteoliposomes (nPL) and neocochleates (nCh), in Balb/c mice that were administered doses of 15 µg each, over periods of 14 days through intramuscular route and three inoculations with the same doses through intranasal route, every 7 days. The Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy show…

Microextraction with phases containing nanoparticles.

2015

In this article, the state of the art of microextraction techniques that involve nanoparticles or nanomaterials (NPs) is reviewed, with special emphasis on the applications described in the biomedical field. The uses and advantages of the different types of NPs such as carbon nanotubes (either single- and multi-walled) and other carbon-based materials, metallic NPs, including gold, silver and magnetic NPs, and silica NPs are summarized. The main strategies used to modify the selectivity, extractive capacity and/or the stability of NPs through a chemical reaction are also reviewed. The potential advantages of NPs in different forms of off-line and on-line microextraction are discussed, and …

Electron paramagnetic resonance in a biomedical laboratory

2013

Analysis of MSCs' secretome and EVs cargo: Evaluation of functions and applications

2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can exert different functions and can be used in several medical fields. In the last years, MSC properties have been attributed to their secreted factors such as soluble proteins, cytokines and growth factors. Moreover, a key role is played by the extracellular vesicles (EVs) which lead a heterogeneous cargo of proteins, lipids and small and long non-coding RNAs that interfere with the pathways of the recipient cells. Due to the safeness and easiness in obtaining the secretome, its use is becoming a turning point for the application in physiological and pathological fields. This review summarizes the most recent studies on the use of MSCs secretome, focusing on…

Caged Dexamethasone/Quercetin Nanoparticles, Formed of the Morphogenetic Active Inorganic Polyphosphate, are Strong Inducers of MUC5AC

2021

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a widely distributed polymer found from bacteria to animals, including marine species. This polymer exhibits morphogenetic as well as antiviral activity and releases metabolic energy after enzymatic hydrolysis also in human cells. In the pathogenesis of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the platelets are at the frontline of this syndrome. Platelets release a set of molecules, among them polyP. In addition, the production of airway mucus, the first line of body defense, is impaired in those patients. Therefore, in this study, amorphous nanoparticles of the magnesium salt of polyP (Mg-polyP-NP), matching the size of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, were pr…

Therapeutic Strategies To Counteract Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA Biofilm‐Associated Infections

2021

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as one of the leading causes of persistent human infections. This pathogen is widespread and is able to colonize asymptomatically about a third of the population, causing moderate to severe infections. It is currently considered the most common cause of nosocomial infections and one of the main causes of death in hospitalized patients. Due to its high morbidity and mortality rate and its ability to resist most antibiotics on the market, it has been termed a “superbug”. Its ability to form biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces seems to be the primarily means of MRSA antibiotic resistance and pervasiveness. Importantly, more tha…

Procedure for the Screening of Eggs and Egg Products to Detect Oxolonic Acid, Ciprofloxacin, Enrofloxacin, and Sarafloxacin Using Micellar Liquid Chr…

2019

A method based on micellar liquid chromatography was developed to determine oxolinic acid, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and sarafloxacin in eggs and egg products. The antimicrobial drugs were obtained in a micellar solution which was directly injected. The analytes were resolved using a C18 column and a mobile phase of 0.05 M sodium dodecyl sulfate—7.5% 1-propanol—0.5% triethylamine, buffered at pH 3 with phosphate salt, running under the isocratic mode. The signal was monitored by fluorescence. Validation was successfully performed according to the EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC in terms of specificity, calibration range (LOQ to 1 mg/kg), linearity (R2 &gt

Use of Micellar Liquid Chromatography to Determine Mebendazole in Dairy Products and Breeding Waste from Bovine Animals

2020

Mebendazole is an anthelmintic drug used in cattle production. However, residues may occur in produced food and in excretions, jeopardizing population health. A method based on micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) was developed to determine mebendazole in dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, and curd) and nitrogenous waste (urine and dung) from bovine animals. Sample treatment was expedited to simple dilution or solid-to-liquid extraction, followed by filtration and direct injection of the obtained solution. The analyte was resolved from matrix compounds in less than 8 min, using a C18 column and a mobile phase made up of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)&ndash

Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Mediterranean Sea

2022

Seawater could be considered a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. In this communication, we evaluated the presence of bacterial strains in seawater collected from different coasts of Sicily by combining microbiological and molecular methods. Specifically, we isolated viable bacteria that were tested for their antibiotic resistance profile and detected both antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes. Both antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio and Aeromonas, and specific antibiotic resistance genes were found in the seawater samples. Alarming levels of resistance were determined towards cefazolin, streptomycin, amoxicillin/clavulanic aci…