Oxidative stress is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of ... more Oxidative stress is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to neutralize them [...]
This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics... more This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contac
ABSTRACT Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) are nanomaterials composed of double layered aluminosilicate... more ABSTRACT Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) are nanomaterials composed of double layered aluminosilicate minerals with a predominantly hollow tubular structure in submicron range. HNTs are characterized by a wide range of applications in anticancer therapy, sustained agent delivery, being particularly interesting because of their tunable release rates and fast adsorption rates. However systematic investigations of their acoustic properties are still poorly documented. This paper shows a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of HNTs as scatterers at conventional ultrasonic frequencies (5.7 - 7 MHz) in low range of concentrations (1.5-5 mg/mL). Different samples of HNT (diameter: 40-50 nm; length: 0.5 to 2 microns, empty lumen diameter: 15-20 nm) containing agarose gel were imaged through a commercially available echographic system and acquired data were processed through a dedicated prototypal platform in order to extract the average ultrasonic signal amplitude associated to the considered sample. Relationships have been established among backscatter, HNT concentration and the employed echographic frequency. Our results demonstrated that improvement in image backscatter could be achieved incrementing HNT concentration, determining a non-linear signal enhancement due to the fact that they are poly-disperse in length. On the other hand the effect of different echographic frequencies used was almost constant at all concentrations, specifically using higher values of echographic frequency allows yielding a signal enhanced of a factor 1.75±0.26.
Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for e... more Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a signi cant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced growth inhibition. In addition, we have specially emphasized on the mechanism of cell survival in the experimental species with effective notation to antioxidant defence system during Cd induced toxicity. Experimentally, we primed the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with low-dose gamma radiation prior to Cd treatment. On the other hand, gamma-radiated and Cd-treated organisms were considered as positive controls. We calculated the rate of cell death, the deployment of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GSR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, the role of oxidative stress related genes was analysed computationally to delineate their involvement in cell death/survival, suggesting that the low-dose priming of gamma radiation enhances the Cd tolerance by alterating cell/death pathways and other biochemical responses.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The development of fluorescent biolabels for specific targeting and controlled drug release is of... more The development of fluorescent biolabels for specific targeting and controlled drug release is of paramount importance in biological applications due to their potential in the generation of novel tools for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the controlled delivery of its agonists already proved to have beneficial effects both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report the synthesis and multiple functionalization of highly fluorescent CdSe/CdS quantum rods for specific biolabeling and controlled drug release. After being transferred into aqueous media, the nanocrystals were made highly biocompatible through PEG conjugation and covered by a carbohydrate shell, which allowed specific GLUT-1 recognition. Controlled attachment of dopamine through an ester bond also allowed hydrolysis by esterases, yielding a smart nanotool for specific biolabeling and controlled drug release.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, Jun 1, 2004
Amino acids U 0400 The First Synthesis of Glucosylgalactosyl Hydroxylysine (Glu-Gal-Hyl), an Impo... more Amino acids U 0400 The First Synthesis of Glucosylgalactosyl Hydroxylysine (Glu-Gal-Hyl), an Important Biological Indicator of Collagen Turnover.-Compound (VIII) is reported to be a good building block for the synthesis of more complex glycosides of crosslinked hydroxylysine present in collagen.-(ALLEVI*, P.; ANASTASIA, M.;
Glyconanoparticles which present carbohydrate and amino groups motifs at their surface were produ... more Glyconanoparticles which present carbohydrate and amino groups motifs at their surface were produced. These particles were highly stable and soluble in aqueous solutions. The presence of the carbohydrate groups also allowed the inclusion of more strongly binding groups, without affecting solubility. The binding of a model DNA, plasmid by these nanoparticles was studied by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and gel electrophoresis. Significant differences between the nanoparticles based on their affinities for the DNA were found, with implications for their potential use as nonviral gene delivery agents.
Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their dev... more Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their development and reproduction due to the resulting physiological and metabolic abnormalities, leading to lower crop productivity. They must thus change their way of adapting to survive in such a hostile environment without sacrificing their healthy growth, development, reproductive capacity, or survival. The mode of adaptation involves a complex relationship of signalling cascades that govern gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which consequently produces altered but adapted biochemical and physiochemical parameters. Algae have been reported to have altered their physicochemical and molecular perspectives as a result of exposure to a variety of HMMs. Hence, in this review, we focused on how microalgae alter their physicochemical and molecular characteristics as a tolerance mechanism in response to HMM-induced stress. Furthermore, physiological and biotechn...
Polymeric nanoparticles made of the copolymer Poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide) were p... more Polymeric nanoparticles made of the copolymer Poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide) were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. Two different surfactants, polyvinyl alcohol and dextran, and a mixture of the two were employed. The three types of nanoparticles were used as hosting carriers of two chemotherapeutic drugs, the hydrophilic doxorubicin and the hydrophobic SN-38. The morphostructural characterization showed similar features for the three types of nanoparticles, while the drug encapsulation efficiency indicated that the dextran-based systems are the most effective with both drugs. Cellular studies with breast cancer cells were performed to compare the delivery capability and the cytotoxicity profile of the three nanosystems. The results show that the unloaded nanoparticles are highly biocompatible at the administered concentrations and confirmed that dextran-coated nanoparticles are the most efficient vectors to release the two drugs, exerting cytotoxic activi...
Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their dev... more Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their development and reproduction due to the resulting physiological and metabolic abnormalities, leading to lower crop productivity. They must thus change their way of adapting to survive in such a hostile environment without sacrificing their healthy growth, development, reproductive capacity, or survival. The mode of adaptation involves a complex relationship of signalling cascades that govern gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which consequently produces altered but adapted biochemical and physiochemical parameters. Algae have been reported to have altered their physicochemical and molecular perspectives as a result of exposure to a variety of HMMs. Hence, in this review, we focused on how microalgae alter their physicochemical and molecular characteristics as a tolerance mechanism in response to HMM-induced stress. Furthermore, physiological and biotechn...
Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for e... more Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a significant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced gr...
Neuropeptides are mainly secreted from the human central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropep... more Neuropeptides are mainly secreted from the human central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropeptides bind to its cognate rhodopsin-like G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and perform various physiological functions. Conventional cancer treatments in clinical practice still present many drawbacks due to the lack of selectivity toward the target cell, drug-resistance, and side-effects, thus pushing for the development of new therapeutic agents and therapies. Recent research suggests that neuropeptides influence cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis and, therefore, they could be exploited as a target for novel anticancer therapies. Very recently, targeted approaches that inhibit neuropeptides and their associated receptors are being developed in cancer treatment. This review focuses on various neuropeptides and their potential utility as drug targets by different inhibitors as a recently identified approach to cancer prevention, with particular emphasis on ...
Natural polyphenols have a wide variety of biological activities and are taken into account as he... more Natural polyphenols have a wide variety of biological activities and are taken into account as healthcare materials. Resveratrol is one such natural polyphenol, belonging to a group known as stilbenoids (STBs). Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is mainly found in grapes, wine, nuts, and berries. A wide range of biological activities has been demonstrated by resveratrol, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, and antiaging effects, and many more are still under research. However, as with many other plant-based polyphenol products, resveratrol suffers from low bioavailability once administered in vivo due to its susceptibility to rapid enzyme degradation by the body’s innate immune system before it can exercise its therapeutic influence. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the best use of resveratrol by creating a proper resveratrol delivery system. Nanomedicine and nanodelivery systems utilize nanoscale materials as diagnostic tools ...
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems mimic the structural complexity of the tissue microen... more Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems mimic the structural complexity of the tissue microenvironment that includes the extracellular matrix (ECM) in addition to the cellular components Thus, 3D culture systems are increasingly important as they resemble the ECM-cell and cell-cell physical interactions occurring in vivo. So far, several scaffold-based culture systems and techniques have been proposed as valuable approaches for large-scale production of spheroids, but often suffering of poor reproducible conditions or high costs of production. In this work we present a reliable 3D culture system based on collagen I-blended agarose hydrogels and show how the variation of the agarose weight percentage affects the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogel, being that with a lower amount of agarose more permeable, softer and more prone to degradation compared to hydrogels with higher agarose concentrations. We have also evaluated the effect of the different physic...
Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for e... more Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a significant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced gr...
The increasing drug resistance of infectious microorganisms is considered a primary concern of gl... more The increasing drug resistance of infectious microorganisms is considered a primary concern of global health care. The screening and identification of natural compounds with antibacterial properties have gained immense popularity in recent times. It has previously been shown that several bioactive compounds derived from marine algae exhibit antibacterial activity. Similarly, polyphenolic compounds are generally known to possess promising antibacterial capacity, among other capacities. Phlorotannins (PTs), an important group of algae-derived polyphenolic compounds, have been considered potent antibacterial agents both as single drug entities and in combination with commercially available antibacterial drugs. In this context, this article reviews the antibacterial properties of polyphenols in brown algae, with particular reference to PTs. Cell death through various molecular modes of action and the specific inhibition of biofilm formation by PTs were the key discussion of this review....
Oxidative stress is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of ... more Oxidative stress is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to neutralize them [...]
This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics... more This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contac
ABSTRACT Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) are nanomaterials composed of double layered aluminosilicate... more ABSTRACT Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) are nanomaterials composed of double layered aluminosilicate minerals with a predominantly hollow tubular structure in submicron range. HNTs are characterized by a wide range of applications in anticancer therapy, sustained agent delivery, being particularly interesting because of their tunable release rates and fast adsorption rates. However systematic investigations of their acoustic properties are still poorly documented. This paper shows a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of HNTs as scatterers at conventional ultrasonic frequencies (5.7 - 7 MHz) in low range of concentrations (1.5-5 mg/mL). Different samples of HNT (diameter: 40-50 nm; length: 0.5 to 2 microns, empty lumen diameter: 15-20 nm) containing agarose gel were imaged through a commercially available echographic system and acquired data were processed through a dedicated prototypal platform in order to extract the average ultrasonic signal amplitude associated to the considered sample. Relationships have been established among backscatter, HNT concentration and the employed echographic frequency. Our results demonstrated that improvement in image backscatter could be achieved incrementing HNT concentration, determining a non-linear signal enhancement due to the fact that they are poly-disperse in length. On the other hand the effect of different echographic frequencies used was almost constant at all concentrations, specifically using higher values of echographic frequency allows yielding a signal enhanced of a factor 1.75±0.26.
Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for e... more Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a signi cant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced growth inhibition. In addition, we have specially emphasized on the mechanism of cell survival in the experimental species with effective notation to antioxidant defence system during Cd induced toxicity. Experimentally, we primed the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with low-dose gamma radiation prior to Cd treatment. On the other hand, gamma-radiated and Cd-treated organisms were considered as positive controls. We calculated the rate of cell death, the deployment of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GSR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, the role of oxidative stress related genes was analysed computationally to delineate their involvement in cell death/survival, suggesting that the low-dose priming of gamma radiation enhances the Cd tolerance by alterating cell/death pathways and other biochemical responses.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The development of fluorescent biolabels for specific targeting and controlled drug release is of... more The development of fluorescent biolabels for specific targeting and controlled drug release is of paramount importance in biological applications due to their potential in the generation of novel tools for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the controlled delivery of its agonists already proved to have beneficial effects both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report the synthesis and multiple functionalization of highly fluorescent CdSe/CdS quantum rods for specific biolabeling and controlled drug release. After being transferred into aqueous media, the nanocrystals were made highly biocompatible through PEG conjugation and covered by a carbohydrate shell, which allowed specific GLUT-1 recognition. Controlled attachment of dopamine through an ester bond also allowed hydrolysis by esterases, yielding a smart nanotool for specific biolabeling and controlled drug release.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, Jun 1, 2004
Amino acids U 0400 The First Synthesis of Glucosylgalactosyl Hydroxylysine (Glu-Gal-Hyl), an Impo... more Amino acids U 0400 The First Synthesis of Glucosylgalactosyl Hydroxylysine (Glu-Gal-Hyl), an Important Biological Indicator of Collagen Turnover.-Compound (VIII) is reported to be a good building block for the synthesis of more complex glycosides of crosslinked hydroxylysine present in collagen.-(ALLEVI*, P.; ANASTASIA, M.;
Glyconanoparticles which present carbohydrate and amino groups motifs at their surface were produ... more Glyconanoparticles which present carbohydrate and amino groups motifs at their surface were produced. These particles were highly stable and soluble in aqueous solutions. The presence of the carbohydrate groups also allowed the inclusion of more strongly binding groups, without affecting solubility. The binding of a model DNA, plasmid by these nanoparticles was studied by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and gel electrophoresis. Significant differences between the nanoparticles based on their affinities for the DNA were found, with implications for their potential use as nonviral gene delivery agents.
Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their dev... more Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their development and reproduction due to the resulting physiological and metabolic abnormalities, leading to lower crop productivity. They must thus change their way of adapting to survive in such a hostile environment without sacrificing their healthy growth, development, reproductive capacity, or survival. The mode of adaptation involves a complex relationship of signalling cascades that govern gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which consequently produces altered but adapted biochemical and physiochemical parameters. Algae have been reported to have altered their physicochemical and molecular perspectives as a result of exposure to a variety of HMMs. Hence, in this review, we focused on how microalgae alter their physicochemical and molecular characteristics as a tolerance mechanism in response to HMM-induced stress. Furthermore, physiological and biotechn...
Polymeric nanoparticles made of the copolymer Poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide) were p... more Polymeric nanoparticles made of the copolymer Poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide) were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. Two different surfactants, polyvinyl alcohol and dextran, and a mixture of the two were employed. The three types of nanoparticles were used as hosting carriers of two chemotherapeutic drugs, the hydrophilic doxorubicin and the hydrophobic SN-38. The morphostructural characterization showed similar features for the three types of nanoparticles, while the drug encapsulation efficiency indicated that the dextran-based systems are the most effective with both drugs. Cellular studies with breast cancer cells were performed to compare the delivery capability and the cytotoxicity profile of the three nanosystems. The results show that the unloaded nanoparticles are highly biocompatible at the administered concentrations and confirmed that dextran-coated nanoparticles are the most efficient vectors to release the two drugs, exerting cytotoxic activi...
Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their dev... more Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their development and reproduction due to the resulting physiological and metabolic abnormalities, leading to lower crop productivity. They must thus change their way of adapting to survive in such a hostile environment without sacrificing their healthy growth, development, reproductive capacity, or survival. The mode of adaptation involves a complex relationship of signalling cascades that govern gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which consequently produces altered but adapted biochemical and physiochemical parameters. Algae have been reported to have altered their physicochemical and molecular perspectives as a result of exposure to a variety of HMMs. Hence, in this review, we focused on how microalgae alter their physicochemical and molecular characteristics as a tolerance mechanism in response to HMM-induced stress. Furthermore, physiological and biotechn...
Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for e... more Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a significant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced gr...
Neuropeptides are mainly secreted from the human central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropep... more Neuropeptides are mainly secreted from the human central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropeptides bind to its cognate rhodopsin-like G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and perform various physiological functions. Conventional cancer treatments in clinical practice still present many drawbacks due to the lack of selectivity toward the target cell, drug-resistance, and side-effects, thus pushing for the development of new therapeutic agents and therapies. Recent research suggests that neuropeptides influence cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis and, therefore, they could be exploited as a target for novel anticancer therapies. Very recently, targeted approaches that inhibit neuropeptides and their associated receptors are being developed in cancer treatment. This review focuses on various neuropeptides and their potential utility as drug targets by different inhibitors as a recently identified approach to cancer prevention, with particular emphasis on ...
Natural polyphenols have a wide variety of biological activities and are taken into account as he... more Natural polyphenols have a wide variety of biological activities and are taken into account as healthcare materials. Resveratrol is one such natural polyphenol, belonging to a group known as stilbenoids (STBs). Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is mainly found in grapes, wine, nuts, and berries. A wide range of biological activities has been demonstrated by resveratrol, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, and antiaging effects, and many more are still under research. However, as with many other plant-based polyphenol products, resveratrol suffers from low bioavailability once administered in vivo due to its susceptibility to rapid enzyme degradation by the body’s innate immune system before it can exercise its therapeutic influence. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the best use of resveratrol by creating a proper resveratrol delivery system. Nanomedicine and nanodelivery systems utilize nanoscale materials as diagnostic tools ...
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems mimic the structural complexity of the tissue microen... more Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems mimic the structural complexity of the tissue microenvironment that includes the extracellular matrix (ECM) in addition to the cellular components Thus, 3D culture systems are increasingly important as they resemble the ECM-cell and cell-cell physical interactions occurring in vivo. So far, several scaffold-based culture systems and techniques have been proposed as valuable approaches for large-scale production of spheroids, but often suffering of poor reproducible conditions or high costs of production. In this work we present a reliable 3D culture system based on collagen I-blended agarose hydrogels and show how the variation of the agarose weight percentage affects the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogel, being that with a lower amount of agarose more permeable, softer and more prone to degradation compared to hydrogels with higher agarose concentrations. We have also evaluated the effect of the different physic...
Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for e... more Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a significant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced gr...
The increasing drug resistance of infectious microorganisms is considered a primary concern of gl... more The increasing drug resistance of infectious microorganisms is considered a primary concern of global health care. The screening and identification of natural compounds with antibacterial properties have gained immense popularity in recent times. It has previously been shown that several bioactive compounds derived from marine algae exhibit antibacterial activity. Similarly, polyphenolic compounds are generally known to possess promising antibacterial capacity, among other capacities. Phlorotannins (PTs), an important group of algae-derived polyphenolic compounds, have been considered potent antibacterial agents both as single drug entities and in combination with commercially available antibacterial drugs. In this context, this article reviews the antibacterial properties of polyphenols in brown algae, with particular reference to PTs. Cell death through various molecular modes of action and the specific inhibition of biofilm formation by PTs were the key discussion of this review....
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