ABSTRACT
In this work, the biocompatibility and antibacterial activities of novel SnO2 nanowire coatings prepared by electron-beam (E-Beam) evaporation process at low temperatures were studied. The nanowire coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The results of in vitro cytotoxicity and cell proliferation assays suggested that the SnO2 nanowire coatings were nontoxic and promoted the proliferation of C2C12 and L929 cells (> 90% viability). Cellular activities, cell adhesion, and lactate dehydrogenase activities were consistent with the superior biocompatibility of the nanowire materials. Notably, the nanowire coating showed potent antibacterial activity against six different bacterial strains. The antibacterial activity of the SnO2 material was attributed to the photocatalytic nature of SnO2. The antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of the newly developed SnO2 nanowire coatings may enable their use as coating materials for biomedical implants.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis , Biocompatible Materials/chemical synthesis , Nanotechnology/methods , Nanowires/chemistry , Tin Compounds/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Biocompatible Materials/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Lasers , Materials Testing , Mice , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Surface Properties , Tin Compounds/chemical synthesis , Tin Compounds/pharmacology , Titanium/chemistry , Volatilization , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
Enrofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone derivative used for treating urinary tract, respiratory and skin infections in animals. However, low solubility and low bioavailability prevented it from using on humans. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is an inert, non toxic polymer with excellent hydrophilic properties, besides it can enhance bioavailability by forming drug polymer conjugates. With the aim of increasing solubility and bioavailability, enrofloxacin thin films were prepared using PVP as a polymer matrix. The obtained oral thin films exhibited excellent uniformity and mechanical properties. Swelling properties of the oral thin films revealed that the water uptake was enhanced by 21%. The surface pH has been found to be 6.8±0.1 indicating that these films will not cause any irritation to oral mucosa. FTIR data of the oral thin films indicated physical interaction between drug and polymer. SEM analysis revealed uniform distribution of drug in polymer matrix. In vitro drug release profiles showed enhanced release profiles (which are also pH dependant) for thin films compared to pure drug. Antibacterial activity was found to be dose dependent and maximum susceptibility was found on Klebsiella pneumonia making this preparation more suitable for respiratory infections.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Fluoroquinolones/administration & dosage , Povidone/chemistry , Administration, Oral , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Calorimetry, Differential Scanning , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Liberation , Enrofloxacin , Fluoroquinolones/chemistry , Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Negative Bacteria/growth & development , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Positive Bacteria/growth & development , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Solubility , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
The microbial diversity and biogeochemical potential associated with a northern Saskatchewan uranium mine water-tailings interface was examined using culture-dependent and -independent techniques. Morphologically-distinct colonies from uranium mine water-tailings and a reference lake (MC) obtained using selective and non-selective media were selected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identification, revealing that culturable organisms from the uranium tailings interface were dominated by Firmicutes and Betaproteobacteria; whereas, MC organisms mainly consisted of Bacteroidetes and Gammaproteobacteria. Ion Torrent (IT) 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis carried out on extracted DNA from tailings and MC interfaces demonstrated the dominance of Firmicutes in both of the systems. Overall, the tailings-water interface environment harbored a distinct bacterial community relative to the MC, reflective of the ambient conditions (i.e., total dissolved solids, pH, salinity, conductivity, heavy metals) dominating the uranium tailings system. Significant correlations among the physicochemical data and the major bacterial groups present in the tailings and MC were also observed. Presence of sulfate reducing bacteria demonstrated by culture-dependent analyses and the dominance of Desulfosporosinus spp. indicated by Ion Torrent analyses within the tailings-water interface suggests the existence of anaerobic microenvironments along with the potential for reductive metabolic processes.
Subject(s)
Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/genetics , Biota , Uranium , Water , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Bacteriological Techniques , Cluster Analysis , Culture Media/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Environmental Microbiology , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Saskatchewan , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
PIP: 10% of the Anganwadis population from the Bangalore Urban Block, 1055 families, were interviewed in a study of infant feeding practices, prevailing traditions and customs and the effect of urban slums. A great need for health education, nutritional education and an increase in female literacy were found in addition to improvements in the general social welfare of the families. Although breast milk and honey were commonly chosen for the 1st feeds of infants, some cases of delayed breast feeding were reported due to a superstitious belief that a mother cannot lactate before the 2nd day or that the colostrum may be harmful to the infant. Sometimes ceremonies were performed to mark the beginning of breast feeding. Despite the overall poor diet of the mothers, most of the mothers did not begin supplemental feeding until the 7-12 month period. 90.8% of the mothers were ignorant to supplementary feeding practices and had therefore started such feeding practices late. Most of the mothers were laborers who left the children to surrogates. 2 other unhealthy practices cited were the use of diluted milk and the use of unclean utensils.^ieng
