Intraperitoneal injections of copper ferrite nanoparticles disturb blood, plasma, and antioxidant parameters of Wistar rats in a sex-specific manner.

The present study was designed to report the synthesis and characterization of copper ferrite nanoparticles (CF NPs) and their biocompatibility in Wistar rats. Coprecipitation method was used to generate CF NPs having average diameter of 14.06 nm. NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Six-week-old Wistar rats of both sexes intraperitoneally received 10 mg/ml saline/Kg body weight of CF NPs for 14 days. Control groups were maintained in parallel that received saline solution for 14 days through same route. Open field and novel object recognition tests, complete blood count, selected plasma parameters, antioxidants, and copper concentration in vital organs were determined in all treatments. Female rats treated with CF NPs had significantly higher platelet count (P = 0.05) and platelet crit (P = 0.05) and decreased plasma triglyceride concentration levels (P = 0.02) than control group. Female rats had significantly increased levels of superoxide dismutase (P = 0.01), catalase (P = 0.05), and malonaldehyde (P = 0.05) in the kidney, while male rats had significantly elevated levels of superoxide dismutase in the lungs (P = 0.01) as compared with respective control groups. Copper concentrations in the liver were significantly higher in both female (P = 0.04) and male (P = 0.05) rats exposed to CF NPs than control group. All other studied parameters of behavioral tests, blood biochemistry, antioxidant, and copper concentrations in the brain varied nonsignificantly (P > 0.05) when compared between CF NPs treated and untreated rats of both sexes. Intraperitoneal supplementation of CF NPs for 14 days disturbed the platelet count, plasma triglyceride concentration, copper levels in the liver, and antioxidant concentrations in the kidney of female Wistar rats. These parameters remained unaffected in male subjects.

Short-term exposure to titanium, aluminum and niobium (Ti-6Al-4Nb) alloy powder can disturb the serum low-density lipoprotein concentrations and antioxidant profile in vital organs but not the behavior of male albino mice.

A group of seven-week-old albino mice of both genders were orally administered with a suspension of 25 mg Ti-6Al-4Nb/ml of saline/kg body weight and evaluated in comparison with a control group of animals treated with saline. Evaluation of both the groups was conducted through behavioral tests (Rota rod, open field, novel object and light dark box test), blood biochemical tests [complete blood count and selected serum parameters ([cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, creatinine and triglycerides)] and on the basis of measured concentration of antioxidant metabolites (superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation) in vital organs (brain, heart, liver, kidney and lungs). Based upon the results of these tests, it has been found that the applied dose of Ti-6Al-4Nb alloy powder has not effect on physical and neurological outcome of these animals. However, it can increase low-density lipoprotein concentrations as well as disturb the H2O2 and lipid peroxidation associated metabolic pathways, especially in male albino mice. Whereas all other hematological indices and antioxidative stress parameters were unaffected.

Short term exposure to titanium, aluminum and vanadium (Ti 6Al 4V) alloy powder drastically affects behavior and antioxidant metabolites in vital organs of male albino mice.

Titanium, Aluminum and Vanadium (Ti 6Al 4V) alloy are frequently used as surgical implant but regarding their compatibility in living systems is limited. Ti 6Al 4V was prepared from high purity constituents and Ti 6Al 4V alloy powder (25 mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight) was gavaged to albino mice for 8 days. A saline treated control group was maintained in parallel. A series of behavioral (rota rod, light and dark box, open field and novel object) test performance, complete blood count, selected serum (HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides) parameters, antioxidant metabolites from vital organs (superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation) from vital organs and body weight were determined in both treatments. It was observed that rota rod test performance in male (P = 0.05) and novel object recognition capability in female mice (P = 0.04) were significantly reduced as compared to their respective control groups. Body weight, complete blood count and studied serum parameters remained unaffected when compared between two treatments of both genders. Concentration of superoxide dismutase in liver (P = 0.008), heart (P = 0.01) and lungs (P = 0.05) was significantly elevated while catalase concentration in liver (P = 0.001) was significantly decreased in female albino mice that were exposed to 25 mg/ml solvent/kg body weight of Ti 6 A l 4 V alloy powder. In case of male albino mice, superoxide dismutase concentration in lungs was reduced (P = 0.05) in mice exposed to Ti 6 A l 4 V alloy powder. In conclusion, our results indicated that short term exposure to 25 mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder supplementation had adversely affected selected aspects of behavior of albino mice in a gender specific manner. Analysis of antioxidant parameters in vital organs has demonstrated that the applied dose of Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder can disturb the H2O2 associated metabolic pathways in albino mice, especially in female mice. As this alloy is part of surgical implants, so we recommend that their effects in living systems must be extensively explored under variable dose and exposure time conditions to know more about their biocompatibility.

Effect of leaching with 5-6 N H2SO4 on thermal kinetics of rice husk during pure silica recovery.

Rice husk is a potential source for renewable energy and silica. To extract the maximum amount of silica, usually the rice husk is treated with strong acids that burn the organic part leaving behind a black residue. In this research, sulfuric acid is used as an oxidizing agent. Efforts are focused to find out more about the behavior of acid-treated rice husk by using thermal exposure, and results are compared with results for raw rice husk which is thermally exposed but not acid treated. Reaction ratio of rice husk combustion and energy of activation were calculated using the thermogravimetric data. Acid treatment was found influential in initiating degradation earlier compared to raw husk and an overall increase in value of activation energy was observed when heating rate was increased.