Assessing the Ameliorative Effect of Selenium Cinnamomum verum, Origanum majorana, and Origanum vulgare Nanoparticles in Diabetic Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Cinnamomum verum, Origanum majorana, and Origanum vulgare have been used in traditional medicine for a long time to treat diabetes because of their promising therapeutic effects. The combination of these plants (COO) was tested to improve their efficacy using selenium nanoparticles (Se-COO-NPs) and gum Arabic (GA) as stabilizers for sustained release. Phenolic compounds of plants were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). GA-Se-COO-NPs were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods and evaluated in diabetic zebrafish. The ultraviolet spectrum was assessed to confirm the formation of plasmon resonance at 267 nm. The obtained particle size of selenium nanospheres was 65.76 nm. They were maintained in a stable form for 5 months at 4 °C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images demonstrated the presence of individual spherical nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed the interaction between COO extract and selenium, exhibiting good entrapment efficiency (87%). The elemental analysis of COO extract and GA-COO-SeNPs confirmed that NPs were obtained. The zebrafish were exposed to a high glucose concentration for two weeks, and type 2 diabetes and oxidative stress responses were induced. In diabetic zebrafish, treatment with NPs showed antilipidemic and hypoglycemic effects, high survivability, and reduced levels of glucose, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipids in the blood. This group this had a higher survivorship rate than the diabetic control. The results demonstrated that GA-Se-COO-NPs have high antidiabetic potential, most likely because of the synergic effects of phenolic compounds and Se nanoparticles.

Effects of TiO2 Nanoparticles Incorporation into Cells of Tomato Roots.

In this study, tomato plants were grown in vitro with and without incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles in Murashige and Skoog (MS) growth medium. The aim of this study was to describe the morphological (area and roundness cell) and mechanical (Young's Modulus) change in the different tissue of tomato root, epidermis (Ep), parenchyma (Pa), and vascular bundles (Vb), when the whole plant was exposed to TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) techniques were used to identify changes into the root cells when TiO2 NPs were incorporated. TiO2 NPs incorporation produces changes in the area, roundness, and Young's Modulus of the tomato root. When tomato root is exposed to TiO2 NPs, the Ep and Vb area size decreases from 260.92 µm2 to 160.71 µm2 and, 103.08 µm2 to 52.13 µm2, respectively, compared with the control area, while in Pa tissue the area size was increased considerably from 337.72 mm2 to 892.96 mm2. Cellular roundness was evident in tomato root that was exposed to TiO2 NPs in the Ep (0.49 to 0.67), Pa (0.63 to 0.79), and Vb (0.76 to 0.71) area zones. Young's Modulus in Pa zone showed a rigid mechanical behavior when tomato root is exposed to TiO2 NPs (0.48 to 4.98 MPa control and TiO2 NPs, respectively). Meanwhile, Ep and Vb were softer than the control sample (13.9 to 1.06 MPa and 6.37 to 4.41 MPa respectively). This means that the Pa zone was stiffer than Ep and Vb when the root is exposed to TiO2 NPs. Furthermore, TiO2 NPs were internalized in the root tissue of tomato, accumulating mainly in the cell wall and intercellular spaces, with a wide distribution throughout the tissue, as seen in TEM.

Multiwall and bamboo-like carbon nanotubes from the Allende chondrite: A probable source of asymmetry.

This study presents multiwall and bamboo-like carbon nanotubes found in samples from the Allende carbonaceous chondrite using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). A highly disordered lattice observed in this material suggests the presence of chiral domains in it. Our results also show amorphous and poorly-graphitized carbon, nanodiamonds, and onion-like fullerenes. The presence of multiwall and bamboo-like carbon nanotubes have important implications for hypotheses that explain how a probable source of asymmetry in carbonaceous chondrites might have contributed to the enantiomeric excess in soluble organics under extraterrestrial scenarios. This is the first study proving the existence of carbon nanotubes in carbonaceous chondrites.

Aislamiento y caracterización celular de exosomas de plasma para su uso como biomarcadores de diagnóstico / Isolation and cellular characterization of exosomes from plasma for their use as diagnostic biomarkers / Purificação e caracterização celular de exossomos para seu uso como biomarcadores de diagnóstico

Los exosomas son vesículas membranosas extracelulares esenciales en la comunicación intercelular a larga distancia, viajan en los fluidos corporales y entregan mensajes moleculares dirigidos a la mayoría de las células de todo el organismo. La liberación de mensajes vía exosomas ocurre en forma de ADN, ARN o proteínas; dicha liberación se ha asociado a diferentes condiciones fisiológicas normales y patológicas, como el cáncer. Por lo anterior, el aislamiento eficiente y caracterización celular de exosomas de plasma es clave para su uso como biomarcadores no invasivos de diversas enfermedades. En el presente estudio se purificaron exosomas a partir de muestras clínicas de plasmas de pacientes previamente diagnosticados con retinoblastoma y de individuos sanos como control. Los exosomas recuperados fueron caracterizados a nivel celular por microscopia electrónica de transmisión empleando una técnica de criogenia. Para demostrar la correcta purificación de exosomas se confirmó la presencia de las proteínas transmembranales CD63 y CD81 mediante immunoblot. Adicionalmente de los exosomas purificados, se identificaron ARNs pequeños no codificantes llamados microARNs. En general, se describe la purificación y caracterización celular de exosomas obtenidos de plasma humano para su potencial uso como biomarcadores.

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles essential in intercellular communication; they act as vehicles of broad scope. They are travelling in body fluids and delivering molecular messages to cells in the organism. Messages released by exosomes like DNA, RNA and proteins are associated with different pathological conditions including cancer. Therefore, the efficient isolation and cellular characterization of exosomes from plasma is essential to use them as biomarkers in many diseases. Here, exosomes were purified from patients diagnosed with pediatric cancer and healthy individuals as control. The exosomes recovered were characterized using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the presence of CD63 and CD81 transmembrane proteins was confirmed using Western blot. Besides, miRNAs presence was identified from exosomes. This work describes a complete technique to isolate and characterize exosomes from human plasma, recognizing their potential as biomarkers.

Os exossomos são vesículas membranosas extracelulares essenciais na comunicação intercelular de longa distância; eles viajam em fluidos corporais e entregam mensagens moleculares dirigidas à maioria das células de todo o organismo. A liberação de mensagens através dos exossomos ocorre em forma de DNA, RNA ou proteínas; essa liberação foi associada a diferentes condições fisiológicas normais e patológicas, tais como o câncer. Por tudo isso, o eficiente isolamento e caracterização celular de exossomos de plasma é chave para sua utilização como biomarcadores não invasivos de várias doenças. No presente estudo, exossomos foram purificados a partir de amostras clínicas de plasmas de pacientes que tinham sido diagnosticados previamente com retinoblastoma e de indivíduos saudáveis como controle. Os exossomos recuperados foram caracterizados a nível celular por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão usando uma técnica de criogenia. Para demonstrar a correta purificação dos exossomos, foi confirmada a presença de proteínas transmembranares CD63 e CD81 usando inmunoblot. Além dos exossomos purificados foram identificados ARNs não codificantes pequenos chamados microARNs. Em geral os métodos de purificação e caracterização celular de exossomos obtidos de plasma humano são descritos por seu potencial utilização como biomarcadores.