Physicochemical characterization and potential cancer therapy applications of hydrogel beads loaded with doxorubicin and GaOOH nanoparticles.

A new type of hybrid polymer particles capable of carrying the cytostatic drug doxorubicin and labeled with a gallium compound was prepared. These microparticles consist of a core and a hydrogel shell, which serves as the structural matrix. The shell can be employed to immobilize gallium oxide hydroxide (GaOOH) nanoparticles and the drug, resulting in hybrid beads with sizes of approximately 3.81 ± 0.09 µm. The microparticles exhibit the ability to incorporate a remarkably large amount of doxorubicin, approximately 0.96 mg per 1 mg of the polymeric carrier. Additionally, GaOOH nanoparticles can be deposited within the hydrogel layer at an amount of 0.64 mg per 1 mg of the carrier. These nanoparticles, resembling rice grains with an average size of 593 nm by 155 nm, are located on the surface of the polymer carrier. In vitro studies on breast and colon cancer cell lines revealed a pronounced cytotoxic effect of the hybrid polymer particles loaded with doxorubicin, indicating their potential for cancer therapies. Furthermore, investigations on doping the hybrid particles with the Ga-68 radioisotope demonstrated their potential application in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The proposed structures present a promising theranostic platform, where particles could be employed in anticancer therapies while monitoring their accumulation in the body using PET.

Wing measurement can be used to identify European blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance.

Correct species identification is a crucial step in research and the practice of forensic entomology. At the moment the most common and widely used tool for this purpose are taxonomic keys based on morphological characters. During recent decades molecular methods have been used more and more often for species identification. Automated species identification can also be based on wing measurements. This method proved to be reliable in the case of some groups of necrophagous Diptera from various geographical regions. Up to now, this method has not been applied to a wide range of species of European Calliphoridae. We have used 968 specimens representing 15 species and 6 genera. Identification was based on 15 landmarks located at wing vein junctions. Wing shape differed markedly between the studied species. The overall correct classification rate at the level of species was 97.1%. Seven species, including Calliphora vomitoria, Chrysomya albiceps, Phormia regina, Protophormia terraenovae and Lucilia sericata were identified without error. Lucilia caesar and Lucilia illustris, which are considered relatively difficult to distinguish, were correctly classified in 93.0% and 94.1% cases, respectively. The correct classification rate at the level of genera was 99.2%. The results presented here suggest that wing measurements are a promising alternative to other methods of identification of necrophagous Calliphoridae. This method can be particularly useful for identification of large samples of females collected during carrion succession studies. It can also be used to double check identification performed by a taxonomist using traditional methods.