In this study raw and steamed Pleurotus ostreatus were dried and ground and fractionated by sieving into four granulometric classes (< 200 µm, 200-250 µm, 250-355 µm and > 355 µm) and unsieved powders. The combined steam cooking and sieving improved the content of total polyphenols (+ 59.45%), flavonoids (+ 76.47%), condensed tannins (+ 68.75%) and trace elements (+ 45.51% Fe, + 63.63% Cu, + 62.42% Mn, + 121.11% Zn, and + 53.52% Se) as well as in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant activities in the finest fraction < 200 µm compared to the raw powder. It was found that the intake at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight of the finest fractions of raw and steamed powders by the stressed rats had more of a hepatoprotective effect marked by a reduction in the level of transaminases ALAT and ASAT. This work opens a new approach for valuing edible mushrooms in the development of new food products with high antioxidant value.

The GdAl3(BO3)4:xPr3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 5.0 mol%) phosphors were prepared through solid state reaction route and characterized for various lighting applications. Powder X-ray diffraction investigations revel rhombohedral structure matched to JCPDS card no. 83-1907. The morphological studies confirm the agglomeration of particles with different size and shape. The emission spectra show various emission transitions originating from Pr3+:(3P1,0, 1D2) emission states to their lower lying energy states upon 274 nm NUV excitation with a red shift for x > 0.5 mol%. The colour perception analysis results an intense red luminescence due to efficient energy transfer from Gd3+ to Pr3+ ions. The temperature-dependent luminescence investigations show good thermal stability even beyond 150°C with an activation energy of 0.24 eV. The observed experimental results show the potentiality of GdAl3(BO3)4:0.5 Pr3+ phosphor for red emitting devices and red component in phosphor converted white LEDs.

BACKGROUND: Physiologically based kinetic models facilitate the safety assessment of inhaled engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). To develop these models, high quality datasets on well-characterized ENMs are needed. However, there are at present, several data gaps in the systemic availability of poorly soluble particles after inhalation. The aim of the present study was therefore to acquire two comparable datasets to parametrize a physiologically-based kinetic model.
METHODS: Rats were exposed to cerium dioxide (CeO2, 28.4 ± 10.4 nm) and titanium dioxide (TiO2, 21.6 ± 1.5 nm) ENMs in a single nose-only exposure to 20 mg/m3 or a repeated exposure of 2 × 5 days to 5 mg/m3. Different dose levels were obtained by varying the exposure time for 30 min, 2 or 6 h per day. The content of cerium or titanium in three compartments of the lung (tissue, epithelial lining fluid and freely moving cells), mediastinal lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney, blood and excreta was measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) at various time points post-exposure. As biodistribution is best studied at sub-toxic dose levels, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein, total cell numbers and differential cell counts were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
RESULTS: Although similar lung deposited doses were obtained for both materials, exposure to CeO2 induced persistent inflammation indicated by neutrophil granulocytes influx and exhibited an increased lung elimination half-time, while exposure to TiO2 did not. The lavaged lung tissue contained the highest metal concentration compared to the lavage fluid and cells in the lavage fluid for both materials. Increased cerium concentrations above control levels in secondary organs such as lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney, urine and faeces were detected, while for titanium this was found in lymph nodes and liver after repeated exposure and in blood and faeces after a single exposure.
CONCLUSIONS: We have provided insight in the distribution kinetics of these two ENMs based on experimental data and modelling. The study design allows extrapolation at different dose-levels and study durations. Despite equal dose levels of both ENMs, we observed different distribution patterns, that, in part may be explained by subtle differences in biological responses in the lung.

Quaternary phosphonium salts, a significant category of organophosphorus compounds, have garnered substantial attention from chemists due to their wide range of applications across various research areas. These compounds are utilized in organic synthesis, catalysis, medicinal chemistry, natural materials, and coordination chemistry. Their versatility and effectiveness in these fields make them valuable tools in scientific research. Despite their extensive use in various applications, the potential of quaternary phosphonium compounds as fluorescent agents for revealing latent fingerprints (LFPs) remains largely unexplored, presenting an exciting opportunity for further research and development in forensic science. In this study, we designed molecules that combine the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) chromophore with triphenylphosphine to create a series of novel AIE amphiphiles, namely TPP1, TPP2, and TPP3. Through precise adjustment of the carbon chain length between the phenoxy group and the terminal triphenylphosphine, we were able to finely tune the nanostructures and hydrophobicity of the materials. TPP3 emerged as the optimal candidate, possessing the ideal particle size and hydrophobicity to effectively bind to LFPs, thus enabling efficient fingerprint visualization with enhanced fluorescence upon aggregation. Our findings introduce an innovative approach to fingerprint visualization, offering high selectivity, superior imaging of level 3 structures, and long-term effectiveness (up to 30 days). Additionally, TPP3\'s outstanding performance in imaging level 3 structures of LFPs is beneficial for analyzing incomplete LFPs and identifying individuals. By significantly improving the detection and analysis of LFPs, this approach ensures more accurate and reliable identification, making it invaluable for forensic investigations and security measures. The adaptability of these compounds to various fingerprint surfaces highlights their potential in diverse practical applications, enhancing their utility in both forensic science and security fields. This versatility allows for precise fingerprint visualization across different scenarios, making them a critical tool for advancing biometric and security technologies.

Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are extracellular vesicles secreted by either Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. These BMVs typically possess a diameter between 20 and 250 nm. Due to their size, when these BMVs are suspended in another medium, they could be constituents of a colloidal system. It has been hypothesized that investigating BMVs as colloidal particles could help characterize BMV interactions with other environmentally relevant surfaces. Developing a more thorough understanding of BMV interactions with other surfaces would be critical for developing predictive models of their environmental fate. However, this bio-colloidal perspective has been largely overlooked for BMVs, despite the wealth of methods and expertise available to characterize colloidal particles. A particular strength of taking a more colloid-centric approach to BMV characterization is the potential to quantify a particle\'s attachment efficiency (α). These values describe the likelihood of attachment during particle-particle or particle-surface interactions, especially those interactions which are governed by physicochemical interactions (such as those described by DLVO and xDLVO theory). Elucidating the influence of physical and electrochemical properties on these attachment efficiency values could give insights into the primary factors driving interactions between BMVs and other surfaces. This chapter details methods for the characterization of BMVs as colloids, beginning with size and surface charge (i.e., electrophoretic mobility/zeta potential) measurements. Afterward, this chapter will address experimental design, especially column experiments, targeted for BMV investigation and the determination of α values.

UNASSIGNED: The liver\'s regenerative capacity allows it to repair itself after injury. Extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs) in the liver\'s interstitial space are crucial for signal transduction, metabolism, and immune regulation. Understanding the role and mechanism of liver-derived EVPs in regeneration is significant, particularly after partial hepatectomy, where the mechanisms remain unclear.
UNASSIGNED: A 70% hepatectomy model was established in mice, and EVPs were isolated and characterized using electron microscopy, nanocharacterization, and Western blot analysis. Combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed β-sitosterol enrichment in EVPs and activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway during regeneration. The role of β-sitosterol in EVPs on the Hedgehog pathway and its targets were identified using qRT-PCR, Western blot analysis. The regulation of carnitine synthesis by this pathway was determined using a dual luciferase assay. The effect of a β-sitosterol diet on liver regeneration was verified in mice.
UNASSIGNED: After 70% hepatectomy, the liver successfully regenerated without liver failure or death. At 24 hours post-surgery, tissue staining showed transient regeneration-associated steatosis (TRAS), with increased Ki67 positivity at 48 hours. EVPs displayed a spherical lipid bilayer structure with particle sizes of 70-130 nm. CD9, CD63, and CD81 in liver-derived EVPs were confirmed. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed EVPs supplementation significantly promoted carnitine synthesis and fatty acid oxidation. Tissue staining confirmed accelerated TRAS resolution and enhanced liver regeneration with EVP supplementation. Mass spectrometry identified β-sitosterol in EVPs, which binds to Smo protein, activating the Hedgehog pathway. This led to the nuclear transport of Gli3, stimulating Setd5 transcription and inducing carnitine synthesis, thereby accelerating fatty acid oxidation. Mice with increased β-sitosterol intake showed faster TRAS resolution and liver regeneration compared to controls.
UNASSIGNED: Liver-derived EVPs promote regeneration after partial hepatectomy. β-sitosterol from EVPs accelerates fatty acid oxidation and promotes liver regeneration by activating Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis are major health problems. Although different techniques and drugs are clinically available for the diagnosis and therapy of the disease, novel approaches regarding radiolabeled drug delivery systems are researched. Hence, in the present study, it was aimed to design, prepare, and characterize 99mTc-radiolabeled and tofacitinib citrate-encapsulated microsphere loaded poloxamer in situ gel formulations for the intra-articular treatment. Among nine different microsphere formulations, MS/TOFA-9 was chosen as the most proper one due to particle size, high encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release behavior. Poloxamer 338 at a concentration of 15% was used to prepare in situ gel formulations. For intra-articular administration, microspheres were dispersed in an in situ gel containing 15% Poloxamer 338 and characterized in terms of gelation temperature, viscosity, rheological, mechanical, and spreadability properties. After the determination of the safe dose for MS/TOFA-9 and PLX-MS/TOFA-9 as 40 µL/mL in the cell culture study performed on healthy cells, the high anti-inflammatory effects were due to significant cellular inhibition of fibroblasts. In the radiolabeling studies with 99mTc, the optimum radiolabeling condition was determined as 200 ppm SnCl2 and 0.5 mg ascorbic acid, and both 99mTc-MS/TOFA-9 and 99mTc-PLX-MS/TOFA-9 exhibited high cellular binding capacity. In conclusion, although further in vivo experiments are required, PLX-MS/TOFA-9 was found to be a promising agent for intra-articular injection in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aqueous suspensions containing crystalline drug in the sub-micron range is a favorable platform for long-acting injectables where particle size can be used to obtain a desired plasma-concentration profile. Stabilizers are added to the suspensions and screened extensively to define the optimal formulation composition. In the initial formulation screening the amount of drug compound can be limited, necessitating milling methods for small-volume screening predictable for scale-up. Hence, adaptive focused ultrasound was investigated as a potential milling method for rapid small-volume suspensions by identifying the critical process parameters during preparation. Suspensions containing drug compounds with different mechanical properties and thereby grindability, i.e., cinnarizine, haloperidol, and indomethacin with brittle, elastic, and plastic properties, respectively, were investigated to gain an understanding of the manufacturing with adaptive focused acoustics as well as comparison to already established milling techniques. Using a DoE-design, peak incident power was identified as the most crucial process parameter impacting the milling process for all three compounds. It was possible to decrease the sizes of drug particles to micron range after one minute of focused ultrasound exposure which was superior compared to other milling techniques (e.g., non-focused ultrasound exposure). The addition of milling beads decreased the drug particle sizes even further, thus to a lower degree than other already established milling techniques such as milling by dual centrifugation. This study thereby demonstrated that adaptive focused ultrasonication was a promising method for rapid homogenization and particle size reduction to micron range for different compounds varying in grindability without altering the crystalline structure.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly evolving field and has been extensively studied in biological applications. An understanding of the factors that influence nanoparticle diffusion in biofluids can aid in the development of diverse technologies. The development of real-time, label-free tracking technologies would allow the expansion of current knowledge of the diffusion and activity of nanoparticles. Fluorescence-based microscopy is one of the most widespread tools to monitor and track nanoparticle dynamics; however, the influence of fluorescent tags on diffusion and biological activity is still unclear. In this study, we experimentally determined the diffusion coefficient of gold nanoparticles using a label-free, optical tracking technique and evaluated the influence of protein concentration, charge and diameter on nanoparticle diffusion through biological media. We dispersed positively- and negatively-charged nanoparticles with diameters varying from 10 to 100 nm in a common cell culture media with different concentrations of serum proteins. Our results show that dynamic protein interactions influence nanoparticle diffusion in the range of serum concentrations tested. Experimental regimes to obtain quantitative information on the factors that influence the dynamics of nanoparticles in biological media have been developed.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar macrophages (AMs) have been predicted to affect the pulmonary clearance of nanomaterials; however, their qualitative and quantitative roles are poorly understood. In this study, carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) were instilled into the lungs of Wistar rats at 30, 100, and 300 µg/rat. The concentrations of particles in organs, including the lung, lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN), liver, spleen, and kidney, were evaluated at days 0 (immediately after instillation), 1, 7, 28, 60, and 90 post-instillation.
RESULTS: The results indicated a multimodal pulmonary clearance pattern for CBNPs: slow clearance until day 28, fast clearance from days 28 to 60, and slow clearance from days 60 to 90. To determine the mechanism of this unique clearance pattern, CBNPs were instilled into AM-depleted rats using clodronate liposomes (CLO). At 28 days after instillation, the CBNP levels in the lungs treated with CLO showed about 31% higher reduction than in normal rats. In addition, the concentration of CBNPs in LALN treated with CLO significantly increased on day 28, whereas in normal rats, no detectable levels were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: This result highlights that the prolonged retention of poorly soluble NPs in the lung until day 28 is mediated by the phagocytosis of AMs, and the fast clearance between days 28-60 is due to the turnover time of AMs, estimated around 1-2 months after birth. Similarly, new generations of AMs mediate the slow phase between days 60 and 90. However, further studies are needed to understand the multimodal clearance mechanism and the modulation of pulmonary clearance of poorly soluble NPs.