Alcohol-free synthesis, biological assessment, in vivo toxicological evaluation, and in silico analysis of novel silane quaternary ammonium compounds differing in structure and chain length as promising disinfectants.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are commonly used as disinfectants for industrial, medical, and residential applications. However, adverse health outcomes have been reported. Therefore, biocompatible disinfectants must be developed to reduce these adverse effects. In this context, QACs with various alkyl chain lengths (C12-C18) were synthesized by reacting QACs with the counterion silane. The antimicrobial activities of the novel compounds against four strains of microorganisms were assessed. Several in vivo assays were conducted on Drosophila melanogaster to determine the toxicological outcomes of Si-QACs, followed by computational analyses (molecular docking, simulation, and prediction of skin sensitization). The in vivo results were combined using a cheminformatics approach to understand the descriptors responsible for the safety of Si-QAC. Si-QAC-2 was active against all tested bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 13.65 to 436.74 ppm. Drosophila exposed to Si-QAC-2 have moderate-to-low toxicological outcomes. The molecular weight, hydrophobicity/lipophilicity, and electron diffraction properties were identified as crucial descriptors for ensuring the safety of the Si-QACs. Furthermore, Si-QAC-2 exhibited good stability and notable antiviral potential with no signs of skin sensitization. Overall, Si-QAC-2 (C14) has the potential to be a novel disinfectant.

Morphologically different hydroxyapatite nanoparticles exert differential genotoxic effects in Drosophila.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) occurs naturally in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and constitutes the hard structures in many organisms. Since synthetic nano-sized HAP (HAP-NPs) are used in orthopedic applications and for heavy metal remediation in aquatic and terrestrial media, both environment and humans are exposed to them. Due to the concerns about their potential hazards, the genotoxic effects that round/rod forms of HAP-NPs were investigated in Drosophila using the wing-spot and the comet assays. Furthermore, caspase activities were evaluated to examine the activation of cell death pathways. As a novelty, the expression of 36 genes involved in DNA repair was investigated, as a tool to indirectly determine DNA damage induction. Obtained sizes were 35-60 nm (roundHAP-NPs) and 45-90 nm (rodHAP-NPs) with a low Zeta-potential (-1.65 and 0.37 mV, respectively). Genotoxicity was detected in the wing-spot (round form), and in the comet assay (round and rod-like HA-NPs). In addition, increased expression of Caspases 3/7, 8, and 9 activities were observed. For both HAP forms, increased changes in the expression were observed for mismatch repair genes, while decreased expression was observed for genes involved in ATM, ATR, and cell cycle pathways. The observed changes in the repair pathways would reinforce the view that HAP-NPs have genotoxic potential, although more markedly in the round form. Thus, the environmental presence of engineered nanoparticles, including HAPs, raises concerns about potential effects on human health. It is essential that the effects of their use are carefully assessed and monitored to ensure safety and to mitigate any potential adverse effects.

Genotoxic potential of different nano-silver halides in cultured human lymphocyte cells.

Most antibacterial applications in nanotechnology are carried out using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). However, there is a dearth of information on the biological effects of AgNPs on human blood cells. In this study, the cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of ionic silver (Ag+), AgNP, silver bromide (AgBr), silver chloride (AgCl), and silver iodide (AgI) were evaluated through chromosome aberration (CA) test and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) test in human cultured lymphocytes in vitro. Furthermore, the potential damages that can cause to DNA were evaluated through alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay on isolated lymphocytes. The results showed that AgNPs exerted cytotoxic effects by reducing the cytokinesis-block proliferation index and mitotic index at 24 and 48 h. AgNPs also increased micronucleus (MN) formation at both exposure times in the cultured cells. Meanwhile, AgCl had no genotoxic effects on the human lymphocyte cultured cells but had a cytotoxic effect at high doses. AgNP, Ag+, AgBr, and AgI caused substantial DNA damage by forming DNA strand breaks. They may also have clastogenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on human lymphocyte cells. Based on the foregoing findings, silver nanomaterials may have genotoxic and cytotoxic potentials on human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro.

Monitoring of Thiamethoxam Resistance in Turkish House Fly Strains, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae).

Background: The house fly, Musca domestica, is vector for pathogens and parasites and causes economic damage to livestock by reducing forage conversion efficiency, negatively impacting weight gain and milk production. It has shown resistance to multiple insecticide classes. The aim of this research was to determine the susceptibility levels of seventeen field M. domestica strains to thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid insecticide, in Türkiye. Methods: Insecticide susceptibility of the house flies to thiamethoxam was determined using the WHO glass jar method. A probit analysis program was used to determine LD50 values, and then the resistance ratios were compared with insecticide-susceptible strain. Results: All strains were ≥18.5-fold resistant to thiamethoxam. The data showed that 10 out of 17 strains had either high or very high resistance levels. Our findings revealed that house flies from solid waste landfills in Samsun, Ankara, and Kocaeli exhibited higher resistance ratios compared to those found in animal shelters. Conversely, in Gaziantep, Antalya, Izmir and Erzurum, the exact opposite trend was observed. Regarding the LD50 values among solid waste storage areas, the lowest rate was obtained from Gaziantep (0.72 gr ai/m2), and the highest rate was obtained from Ankara (9.35 gr ai/m2). Furthermore, regarding the LD50 values among animal shelters, the lowest was obtained from Samsun (0.37 gr ai/m2), and the highest was obtained from Denizli (21800 gr ai/m2). Conclusion: The use of integrated control systems is recommended for controlling house fly populations, including insecticide class rotations for preventing, or at least, delaying the onset of resistance.

Human pulp tissue dissolution ability of different extracts of Sapindus mukorossi: An in vitro study.

Objective: Due to the many negative properties of sodium hypochlorite used in current root canal treatment, interest in biocompatible natural agents is increasing day by day. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether various extract solutions of Sapindus mukorossi have dissolution effects on human pulp tissues. Methods: Primarily powder extracts were obtained by extracting fruit shells of S. mukorossi in different solvents (ethanol, methanol, buthanol and distilled water). The test solutions were prepared and randomly separated into six groups with 10 samples in each group: ethanol extract, methanol extract, butanol extract, distilled water extract of S. mukorossi, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and the control group. Among these, S. mukorossi extracts were separated into two subgroups, depending on their concentration level (50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL). The pulp tissues of freshly extracted human molars were used for dissolution test. The weights of the pulpal tissues were measured and recorded for two times after the samples were placed in the solutions. Statistical analysis for all descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS 22 (P < 0.05). Results: Our results showed that maximum percent yield of preparation was obtained in methanol extract of S. mukorossi. Among all of the groups, the best dissolution capacity was seen in the NaOCl group (positive control group). Among S. mukorossi groups, the best tissue solvent solution was found in SMM group at 50 µg/mL and SMB group at 100 µg/mL. Conclusion: The different extracts of S. mukorossi had a capacity to dissolve pulp tissue but this capacity was less than NaOCl. Therefore, further studies will enable the creation of a commercial solution for clinical use by increasing the effectiveness of S. mukorossi while combining it with other endodontic irrigation solutions.

Thermally and photocatalytically active multifunctional porous coatings for high temperature applications.

In this study, the thermal catalytic powder mixtures of Mn, Ce and Co oxides supported on Al2O3 were synthesized. In order to obtain thermally active porous coating on the steel substrate, a binder solution produced via sol-gel method was used to bind the synthesized powder. Additionally by incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles to previously described thermally active coating, both thermally and photocatalytically active multifunctional surfaces were obtained. The self-cleaning property and the rate of volatile organic compounds (VOC) degradation of the coatings were studied, in which pyrazine, thiazole, maltol, vanillin and toluene were applied as VOC. In TiO2 applications UV illuminations were applied. In the self-cleaning performance tests using soybean oil, the thermally active coating was slightly better than the TiO2 containing coatings. Under UV illumination, the high rates of VOC (photo) degradation was achieved with the thermally and photocatalytically active coating.