Cytotoxic Activity of Cu/TiO2 Nanoparticles on Uterine-Cervical Cancer Cells.

Nanoparticles based on metal oxides serve as carrier matrices for molecules of biological interest. In this work, we used different copper complexes that were coupled to TiO2 nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were prepared with the sol-gel method. The Cu/TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized through ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen physisorption analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Their biological activity was determined through DNA degradation and their cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells. The Cu/TiO2 nanoparticles presented a pore size between 2 and 6 nm, the size of nanoparticles agglomerates was between 100 and 500 nm. The nanoparticles of Cu/TiO2 degraded DNA starting at 15 min. The half maximal inhibitory concentration in HeLa cells depends on the used cooper complexes, the kinetics of cell death is of first order. Results revealed that these nanoparticles could be applied in uterine-cervical cancer treatment.

Circulating Concentrations of Advanced Glycation end Products, its Association With the Development of Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is characterized by the production and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are one of the key mechanisms in the development of its chronic complications. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To assess the serum AGEs concentration by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) developed in our laboratory, to establish reference values in healthy population and to evaluate the diagnostic potential of measuring longitudinal changes in circulating AGEs concentrations to predict the development of DM. METHODS: Clinical and metabolic parameters were obtained from a cohort of 781 Mexican people, initially and then seven years later. AGEs were quantified by a specific RIA. Associations of the changes in circulating levels of AGEs with the appearance of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and the development of DM were evaluated. RESULTS: Diabetic subjects had higher circulating levels of AGEs than normoglycemic subjects or individuals with IFG in both samples studied (471 vs. 246 and 342 µU/mL, p <0.001; and 912 vs. 428 and 519 µU/mL, p <0.001; respectively). A multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that subjects who had AGEs concentration ≥400 µU/mL in the baseline sample had a relative risk ratio of 1.98 to develop IFG seven years later (p = 0.003). While the subjects who had AGEs concentration ≥450 µU/mL in the baseline sample had a relative risk ratio of 10.7 to develop DM seven years later (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating AGEs concentration is a good early marker to predict risk of developing DM.