ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of mesoporous silica for cancer targeting is increasing rapidly. The association between rigid model of nanoparticles such as mesoporous silica and biological compounds with affinity for oncological diseases is a very promising drug targeting system nowadays. METHODS: In this study, we used the mesoporous silica (SBA-15) associated with aptamer (functionalized for the tumor marker MUC-1). RESULTS: The results obtained in the characterization were quite interesting and demonstrated that the silica produced were very uniform and with a size range of 50-100 nm. Thus, the results of cytotoxicity demonstrated that there is no cytotoxicity related to the nanoparticle. CONCLUSION: We conclude that although further studies are required, the nanoparticle mesoporous silica model loaded with aptamer is very functional and its use can be widespread for other application especially in nuclear medicine.
Subject(s)
Aptamers, Peptide/administration & dosage , Aptamers, Peptide/chemistry , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Nanoparticles/administration & dosage , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Animals , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Humans , Mice , Mucin-1/metabolism , Neoplasms/metabolism , Particle Size , Porosity , SELEX Aptamer Technique/methods , Silicon Dioxide/administration & dosage , Silicon Dioxide/chemistry , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
The use of mesoporous silica in targeted cancer therapy is increasing daily. The combination of a rigid model of nanoparticles like mesoporous silica and biological compounds with an affinity for oncological diseases is the most promising drug-targeting system nowadays. In this study, we used the mesoporous silica SBA-15 combined with aptamer (functionalized for tumor with MUC1). The results obtained were of interest and showed the formation of the silica mesoporous structure. The impregnation methodology of mesoporous silica with the aptamer was also confirmed. Cytotoxicity results demonstrated that the particle associated with the aptamer has no cytotoxicity. We conclude that although further studies are required, the mesoporous silica nanoparticle model loaded with aptamer is very functional and can be used for other applications, especially in nuclear medicine.
Subject(s)
Aptamers, Nucleotide/therapeutic use , Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors , Drug Delivery Systems , Nanoparticles , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Silicon Dioxide/therapeutic use , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Humans , Models, BiologicalABSTRACT
Remediation methods for environmental contamination problems based on physical or chemical processes frequently present low efficiency and/or high costs. On the other hand, biological treatment is being proved to be an accessible alternative for soil and water remediation. Bioventing is commonly used for petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) spills. This process provides better subsurface oxygenation, thus stimulating degradation by indigenous microorganisms. In Brazil, gasoline and ethanol are routinely mixed; some authors suggest that despite gasoline high degradability, its degradation in the aquifer is hindered by the presence of much rapidly degrading ethanol. The present study evaluates a bioventing treatment of a gasoline-ethanol contaminated undisturbed residual soil from Rio de Janeiro. Contamination and treatment effects were monitored by conventional microbiology methods, chemical analysis, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. Results of culturable bacterial population counts show the effect of contamination and bioventing on the microbiota of gasoline and gasoline-ethanol containing soils; however, GPR responses to these variations are not conclusive and still need to be assessed.
