The in-vivo assessment of Turkish propolis and its nano form on testicular damage induced by cisplatin.

OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin (CP), which are associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, may adversely affect the reproductive system. This study tests whether administration of propolis and nano-propolis (NP) can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats with testicular damage induced by CP. METHODS: In this study, polymeric nanoparticles including propolis were synthesized with a green sonication method and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and wet scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, 56 rats were divided into the following seven groups: control, CP, propolis, NP-10, CP + propolis, CP + NP-10, and CP + NP-30. Propolis (100 mg/kg), NP-10 (10 mg/kg), and NP-30 (30 mg/kg) treatments were administered by gavage daily for 21 d, and CP (3 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose. After the experiment, oxidative stress parameters, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), and apoptotic pathways including B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured in testicular tissues. Furthermore, sperm quality and weights of the testis, epididymis, right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were evaluated. RESULTS: Propolis and NP (especially NP-30) were able to preserve oxidative balance (decreased MDA levels and increased GSH, CAT, and GPx activities) and activate apoptotic pathways (decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2) in the testes of CP-treated rats. Sperm motility in the control, CP, and CP + NP-30 groups were 60%, 48.75%, and 78%, respectively (P < 0.001). Especially, NP-30 application completely corrected the deterioration in sperm features induced by CP. CONCLUSION: The results show that propolis and NP treatments mitigated the side effects of CP on spermatogenic activity, antioxidant situation, and apoptosis in rats.

Antitumor Efficacy of Ceranib-2 with Nano-Formulation of PEG and Rosin Esters.

Ceranib-2 is a recently discovered, poorly water-soluble potent ceramidase inhibitor, with the ability to suppress cancer cell proliferation and delay tumor growth. However, its poor water solubility and weak cellular bioavailability hinder its use as a therapeutic agent for cancer. PEGylated rosin esters are an excellent platform as a natural polymer for drug delivery applications, especially for controlling drug release due to their degradability, biocompatibility, capability to improve solubility, and pharmacokinetics of potent drugs. In this study, stable aqueous amphiphilic submicron-sized PEG400-rosin ester-ceranib-2 (PREC-2) particles, ranging between 100 and 350 nm in a 1:1 mixture, were successfully synthesized by solvent evaporation mediated by sonication.Conclusion: Stable aqueous PEGylated rosin ester nanocarriers might present a significant solution to improve solubility, pharmacokinetic, and bioavailability of ceranib-2, and hold promises for use as an anticancer adjacent drug after further investigations.

In-situ engineered MXene-TiO2/ BiVO4 hybrid as an efficient photoelectrochemical platform for sensitive detection of soluble CD44 proteins.

Interfacial charge-carrier recombination is a bottle-neck issue restricting photoelectrochemical biosensors advancement in the wearable clinical electronics. In this study, we propose a simple approach to construct a highly efficient photoactive heterojunction capable of functioning as an active substrate in PEC biosensing of CD44 proteins. Taking the advantage of high photocatalytic activity of BiVO4, and biocompatible yet conductive 2D-Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, a workable heterojunction was constructed between in-situ formed TiO2 from the partially oxidized Ti3C2Tx and lysine functionalized BiVO4 (TiO2/MX-BiVO4). The interfacial arrangement was ideal for promoting fast charge transfer from photo-excited BiVO4 and TiO2 to Ti3C2Tx, constructing an energy level-cascade that permits minimal charge-carrier recombination besides robust photocatalytic redox activity. The PEC biosensor relies on the ligand-protein interaction, where hyaluronic acid was directly immobilized over TiO2/MX-BiVO4 based on the interactions between carboxyl of lysine and amino moieties of hyaluronic acid. The PEC biosensor response depends on the inhibition in the measured photo-oxidation current of mediator species, i.e., ascorbic acid after the addition of CD44 proteins. The superior photo-activity, and robust heterojunction arrangement, produced a sensitive signal capable of recognizing CD44 in the wide concentration window of 2.2 × 10-4 ng mL-1 to 3.2 ng mL-1 with a low-detection limit of 1.4 × 10-2 pg mL-1. The strong interaction between lysine functionalized BiVO4 and hyaluronic acid enabled biosensor to exhibit robust antifouling characteristics towards similar proteins such as PSA and NSE. The quantification of CD44 protein from real-blood serum samples further confirmed the biosensor's reliability for clinical application.

Turkish Propolis and Its Nano Form Can Ameliorate the Side Effects of Cisplatin, Which Is a Widely Used Drug in the Treatment of Cancer.

This study was performed to determine the effects of chitosan-coated nano-propolis (NP), which is synthesized via a green sonochemical method, and propolis on the side effects of cisplatin (CP), which is a widely used drug in the treatment of cancer. For this aim, 56 rats were divided into seven groups, balancing their body weights (BW). The study was designed as Control, CP (3 mg/kg BW at single dose of CP as intraperitoneal, ip), Propolis (100 mg/kg BW per day of propolis by gavage), NP-10 (10 mg/kg BW of NP per day by gavage), CP + Propolis (3 mg/kg BW of CP and 100 mg/kg BW of propolis), CP + NP-10 (3 mg/kg CP and 10 mg/kg BW of NP), and CP + NP-30 (3 mg/kg BW of CP and 30 mg/kg BW of NP). Propolis and NP (especially NP-30) were preserved via biochemical parameters, oxidative stress, and activation of apoptotic pathways (anti-apoptotic protein: Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic protein: Bax) in liver and kidney tissues in the toxicity induced by CP. The NP were more effective than propolis at a dose of 30 mg/kg BW and had the potential to ameliorate CP's negative effects while overcoming serious side effects such as liver and kidney damage.

In Situ Growth of CuWO4 Nanospheres over Graphene Oxide for Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Immunosensing of Clinical Biomarker.

Procalcitonin (PCT) protein has recently been identified as a clinical marker for bacterial infections based on its better sepsis sensitivity. Thus, an increased level of PCT could be linked with disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this study, we describe the construction of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) PCT immunosensing platform based on it situ grown photo-active CuWO4 nanospheres over reduced graphene oxide layers (CuWO4@rGO). The in situ growth strategy enabled the formation of small nanospheres (diameter of 200 nm), primarily composed of tiny self-assembled CuWO4 nanoparticles (2-5 nm). The synergic coupling of CuWO4 with rGO layers constructed an excellent photo-active heterojunction for photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing. The platform was then considered for electrocatalytic (EC) mechanism-based detection of PCT, where inhibition of the photocatalytic oxidation signal of ascorbic acid (AA), subsequent to the antibody-antigen interaction, was recorded as the primary signal response. This inhibition detection approach enabled sensitive detection of PCT in a concentration range of 10 pg·mL-1 to 50 ng.mL-1 with signal sensitivity achievable up to 0.15 pg·mL-1. The proposed PEC hybrid (CuWO4@rGO) could further be engineered to detect other clinically important species.

Influence of ultrasound irradiation on the intrinsic viscosity of guar gum-PEG/rosin glycerol ester nanoparticles.

Novel Guar Gum (GG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer blends with rosin glycerol ester (RE) nanoparticle was synthesized under ultrasonic irradiation at different composition ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 2:1, and 4:1). The intrinsic viscosities of the nanoparticles were investigated using ultrasound irradiation to determine the miscibility of the blends in solution as affected by salt, sonication time, temperature, and pH. The intrinsic viscosities of the nanosystems were compared with five different models, including Huggins, Kraemer, Tanglertpaibul-Rao, Higiro, and Rao. The Tanglertpaibul-Rao was the best model and the intrinsic viscosities of 138,27, 142,94 and 163,29 dl/g were reported for GG-PEG/RE (1:1,1:2,1:4), respectively. The viscosity results reveal that the blend containing 1:2 (GG-PEG/RE) was an optimum miscible blend. The miscibility behaviour of the polymeric nanoparticles was investigated using the voluminosity (VE), shape factor (υ), creaming index (CI) parameter, and the Krigbaum and Wall parameter (Δb), which account for the intermolecular interactions. When compared to the intrinsic viscosity results of the nanoparticles, the miscibility-improving effect of sub-300 nm GG-PEG/RE nanoparticles is clearly proven due to the ultrasonic effect. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used for characterization of the polymeric nanoparticles.

Formation and distribution of ZnO nanoparticles and its effect on E. coli in the presence of sepiolite and silica within the chitosan matrix via sonochemistry.

In this study, a new bio-nanocomposite was prepared and characterized with a focus on the formation of hexagonal ZnO and orthorhombic zinc silicate (Zn2SiO3(OH)2) phases under ultrasonic irradiation. Chitosan/sepiolite/ZnO and chitosan/silica/ZnO bio-nanocomposites were synthesized using a simple solution method in which extreme physical and chemical conditions created by cavitation within the chitosan solution allowed for the transformation of aqueous Zn(OH)2 to crystallized ZnO and Zn2SiO3(OH)2 in room temperature. Both the loading of sepiolite and silica with the zinc precursor significantly influenced the morphology and crystalline structure of the product, however, different zinc compounds were observed. Sepiolite was exfoliated, resulting in a fine, even colloidal solution through ultrasonic dispersion. Exfoliation of sepiolite nanofibers led to the homogeneous dispersion of Zinc in the form of Zn(OH)2 in chitosan matrix. When the same procedure was conducted using the silica component, a formation of ZnO and Zn2SiO3(OH)2 was observed, components that were not observed when the procedure was conducted using sepiolite. The average crystalline size of ZnO was calculated as 36nm for ZnO. In addition, the quantities of crystalline and the ZnO phase volume was determined as 15%. Through zone of inhibition, the silica nanocomposite was discovered to have antibacterial activity. In contrast, the sepiolite compound did not exhibit these properties. We thus hypothesize that HO radicals, formed during ultrasonic irradiation trigger the formation of a silicate ion (SiO32-) and formation of ZnO and Zn2SiO3(OH)2 species in chitosan/silica/ZnO bio-nanocomposite, which causes to exhibit these antibacterial properties against Gram-negative E. coli. Chemical characterization and dispersion of the structure of the ZnO and Zn2SiO3(OH)2 phases were done using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy techniques (SEM) with EDAX and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution on heat and acid treated sepiolites.

In this work adsorption of uranium on natural, heat and acid treated sepiolite was studied. For acid treatment HCl and H(2)SO(4) were used separately. Heat and acid treatment caused some changes in sepiolite such as surface area, micropore volume (cm(3)/g) and average pore diameter (A). Different amounts of Mg ions were extracted from the lattice depending on the type of acid. After acid treatment with HCl, the amount of Mg left in the sepiolite changed a little. During H(2)SO(4) treatment the sepiolite structure was progressively transformed into amorphous silica. These heat and acid treatments changed adsorption capacity and mechanism of uranium on sepiolite. Data obtained from the adsorption experiments were applied to Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption isotherms. Using these isotherms different adsorption capacities were found for natural and treated sepiolite samples. The capacity values were 3.58x10(-3), 3.14x10(-3), 2.78x10(-3) and 1.55x10(-3)mol/g for HCl treated, heat treated, natural and H(2)SO(4) treated sepiolite samples, respectively. In order to evaluate the adsorption mechanism adsorption energies were calculated by the D-R isotherm. According to the adsorption energy values uranium fixed to the natural and heat treated sepiolite surface with ion exchange (12.75 and 12.12 kJ/mol, respectively). Simple physical attractions were the driving force for adsorption on HCl and H(2)SO(4) treated ones (6.62 and 6.87 kJ/mol, respectively).

The effect of various cations and pH on the adsorption of U(VI) on Amberlite IR-118H resin.

The effects of various metal cations and pH on the adsorption of uranium(VI) on strongly acidic cation exchanger Amberlite IR-118H (AIR-118H) were studied. The metal cations suppress U(VI) adsorption differently depending on their ionic radii. Adsorption of U(VI) on AIR-118H peaks at pH 3.4, which was attributed to the occurrence of different forms of U(VI) at different pH values. The adsorption data were then processed using the Frumkin-Fowler-Guggenheim equation, and the standard free energy of adsorption was calculated.

Thermodynamic and kinetic investigations of uranium adsorption on amberlite IR-118H resin.

The adsorption behavior of uranium(VI) on a strongly acidic cation exchanger amberlite IR-118H has been studied as a function of the solution concentration and temperature. Results have been analyzed by Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption isotherms. The mean energy of adsorption 7.14kJmol(-1) was calculated from the D-R adsorption isotherm. In order to understand the significance of the diffusion mechanisms and to accurately estimate the diffusivities inside the adsorbent particles, a model for uranium(VI) adsorption on amberlite IR-118H was used. The rate constants have been calculated for 293, 313 and 333K using Lagergren equation and the activation energy (E(a)) was derived using the Arhenius equation. The thermodynamic quantities for the process of adsorption have been estimated by plotting Ln K(D) versus 1/T. The DeltaH(o) and DeltaG(o) values of uranium(VI) adsorption on amberlite IR-118H show endothermic heat of adsorption; higher temperatures favor the process.

Kinetics of isotopic exchange between strontium polymolybdate and strontium ions in aqueous solution.

A heterogeneous isotopic exchange reaction of strontium polymolybdate in strontium chloride solution was studied using 90Sr as a tracer. The effects of low and high strontium chloride concentration on the rate and mechanism of the isotopic exchange reaction were investigated. It was found that, at high concentrations, the rate is independent of strontium concentration, but, at low concentrations, the rate is proportional to the strontium concentration. These results support a hypothesis that, at low concentrations, the rate is controlled by film diffusion, whereas at high concentrations it is controlled by particle diffusion. Experiments were performed at 293, 303 and 313 K. Activation energy of isotopic exchange reaction and thermodynamic parameters deltaH*, deltaS*, and deltaG* were calculated using the Arrhenius and Eyring equations. The results also indicated that recrystallization is a predominant factor in the present exchange reaction.

The adsorption behavior of natural sand in contact with uranium contaminated seawater.

This study was undertaken to investigate the interaction between uranium contaminated seawater and the sand in contact with this seawater. Adsorption data have been evaluated from column experiments of seawater from Marmara, Black Sea and Mediterranean contaminated with 10(-7)M uranium. The uranium uptake on the fractionated and non-fractionated sand of these sea have been measured as a function of time. The adsorption proceeds via a rather fast stage followed by a slower one. Results could be correlated with particle size and porosity of the sand. Adsorption isotherms are also derived from amount of adsorbed uranium vs. time plots and the results have been analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushckevich (D R) isotherm equations over the entire range of uranium concentrations. By fitting the data to D-R isotherm, we have calculated the adsorption energy and decided to type of the adsorption.