Enhanced antimicrobial activity of the food-protecting nisin peptide by bioconjugation with silver nanoparticles

Nisin is an antimicrobial peptide widely used in the food industry. The efficacy of nisin has decreased due to the development of resistant bacteria. For instance, bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus have resistance by digesting nisin using the nisinase enzyme. The efficacy of nisin could be improved using bioconjugation with metal nanoparticles. Here we synthesized silver nanoparticles using the extract of Cymbopogon citratus; then, we bioconjugated those silver nanoparticles with nisin to form a nanosilver bioconjugate. Silver nanoparticles and silver bioconjugate were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, zeta potential measurement and transmission electron microscopy. In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of both silver nanoparticles and silver bioconjugate was evaluated against selected food spoilage microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes, S. aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium moniliforme. Results show that the antimicrobial potential of nisin increased after bioconjugation with silver nanoparticles. Further, we developed agar film containing nanosilver bioconjugate and also evaluated its antimicrobial activity against selected food spoilage microorganisms. The agar film demonstrated maximum activity against P. fluorescens, of 19 mm, and the minimum against F. moniliforme, of 12 mm. Overall, agar film containing nisin and silver nanoparticles can be used against food spoilage microorganisms.     

白藜芦醇对血管生成的抑制作用

研究了白藜芦醇在体外和体内实验中抗血管生成的活性 .研究发现 ,白藜芦醇在体外实验中能明显抑制ECV30 4细胞的增殖 (作用 4 8h的IC50 是 5 9.4 μgmL-1,作用 72h的IC50 为 32 .0 μgmL-1)和迁移 (IC50 为 1.6 μgmL-1) .在其作用下 ,ECV30 4细胞在胶原凝胶上形成管腔样结构的数目明显减少 (IC50 为 39.1μgmL-1) .白藜芦醇在发挥抑制作用的有效浓度范围内无明显的细胞毒性 .在体内实验中 ,白藜芦醇能明显抑制鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜新血管的形成 .图 1表 3参 10     

Nanosystems for drug delivery of coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant present in the human body. Coenzyme Q10 has an essential role in various biochemical reactions. The deficiency of coenzyme Q10 in the body leads to disorders including neurological degeneration, ageing and cancer. Clinical trials have tested coenzyme Q10 as a drug or a dietary supplement. However, the major pharmaceutical issue of coenzyme Q10 delivery is its high molecular weight and poor water solubility. This limitation leads to its poor oral bioavailability. Several methods have been designed to overcome the poor water solubility of coenzyme Q10, such as size reduction and ionization. This article presents nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for coenzyme Q10 with special emphasis on pharmacokinetic perspectives and clinical relevance. Systems include nanoparticles, solid dispersions, liposomes, nanoemulsions, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, nanostructured lipid carriers, cyclodextrins and nanocapsules.     

Cyclodextrin-based delivery systems for dietary pharmaceuticals

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The food industry is increasingly seeking innovative solutions for enhancing the bioavailability and clinical efficacy of phytochemicals. In this regard,...     

环境样品中总钒、钒（Ⅴ）和钒（Ⅳ）分离测定方法探讨

钒是一种重要的生命冗索,同时也是环境污染物之一,因此环境样品及生命有机体中微量钒的测定具有重要的实际意义,是预测和评估其对人体健康、环境发全影响的重要前提之一。环境中钒主要以Ⅳ价和V价存在,因而对钒的测定方法研究主要集中在Ⅳ和Ⅴ价化合物的分离分析上,对Ⅴ（Ⅴ）和Ⅴ（Ⅳ）的分离方法,和光谱法、催化动力法、极谱法、酶学反应法等测定Ⅴ（Ⅴ）、Ⅴ（Ⅳ）和Ⅴ的方法进行了综述。     

多环芳烃生物修复中的表面活性剂

由于其致癌、致突变和致畸性，多环芳烃(PAHs)成为环境中一类重要的有机污染物。生物修复是一种经济和有效的修复污染土壤的方法。由于PAHs低的水溶性、强的吸附性，使其生物可利用性降低，不利于生物修复。添加表面活性剂是一种常见的加强PAHs生物利用性的方法。文章概述了近年来在多环芳烃生物修复中关于表面活性剂的研究进展。     

食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性的研究方法和应用进展

食品安全问题是直接关系到人民健康的重大民生问题。随着民众生活质量的不断提升,人们对食物质量的关注度越来越高。目前,重金属污染问题是食品安全的一个重要议题。而且,食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性的测定结果已逐渐代替重金属的全量结果进行评价。因此,本文系统介绍了生物可给性和生物有效性的定义及相关关系,综述了生物可给性和生物有效性的多种研究方法的适用性及优缺点,着重总结了饮食习惯和肠道微生物对重金属生物可给性和生物有效性的影响,指出研究者应根据自己的研究目的选择不同的体外消化方法,饮食习惯和肠道微生物均极大地影响着食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性,并在此基础上对食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性研究今后的发展方向进行了展望。     

Biofabrication of calcium phosphate nanoparticles using the plant Mimusops elengi

Nanoparticles are now widely applied in products. The synthesis of nanomaterials using biological materials is an emerging field, notably for medical applications because biologically derived compounds can be safe. For instance, calcium phosphate is a natural biomineral that possesses an excellent biocompatibility due to its chemical similarity to human hard tissue such as bone and teeth. Here, we synthesized calcium phosphate nanoparticles by using bark extract of Spanish cherry (Mimusops elengi). Calcium phosphate nanoparticles showed an absorbance at 275 nm by UV–visible analysis and particle size of 25 nm by nanoparticle tracking and analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of aromatic amines as a capping and reducing agent. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of polydispersed spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm. Measurements of zeta potential revealed the stability of the synthesized calcium phosphate nanoparticles. These particles demonstrated antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. We conclude that the synthesis of calcium phosphate nanoparticles by using a M. elengi is easy, eco-friendly and scalable.     

Manganese toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster: extension of the life span by resveratrol

The effect of resveratrol was studied on the life span and motor activity of Drosophila melanogaster treated with manganese (Mn). Two days after emerging from the pupa, male wild type D. melanogaster were fed for 13 days with corn media containing 15?mM Mn. Thereafter, Drosophila were divided into six groups of 300 flies each: (1) the flies remained treated with Mn; (2) began treatment with 0.43?mM resveratrol (Mn-resveratrol group); (3) received no additional treatment (Mn-no treatment group); (4) simultaneously fed with Mn and resveratrol (Mn?+?resveratrol group). In addition, a control (5) with no treatment and another group (6) fed only with resveratrol after emerging from the pupa were included. All Mn-treated flies (group 1) were dead on the 25th day. The life span in the resveratrol group was 91?±?0.33 days (mean?±?S.E.M.) and in Mn-resveratrol flies was 83?±?2 days. These two values were significantly higher than those detected in the control (5) and Mn-no treatment (group 3) flies whose life span were 68?±?0.33 and 67?±?2.31 days, respectively. The Mn?+?resveratrol-fed flies had a markedly higher life span (31?±?1.53 days) than Mn-fed flies (23?±?0.88 days). In the flies that received Mn (Mn and Mn?+?resveratrol groups), the motor activity decreased significantly with respect to control (groups 5) and the Mn–resveratrol and resveratrol groups. In conclusion, resveratrol increased significantly the life span of Mn-treated D. melanogaster.     

Tissue distribution of antimony (Sb) in piglets orally given graded levels of Sb (V)

The potential risks from oral intake of soil antimony (Sb) depends mainly on the amount of metal ingested and its bioavailability. Relative bioavailability may be determined by comparing Sb present in soil to a reference compound, taking into account accumulation in different target tissues or excretion. However, due to the lack of scientific knowledge concerning the fate of Sb in the organism, there is a need to study the absorption and distribution of Sb in order to select target tissues for assessment of bioavailability of Sb in soils. Thus, 45 piglets were exposed to a soluble pentavalent antimony salt (KSb(OH)₆), for 15 days at concentrations ranging from 0–1600 µg Sb/kg body weight (BW) per day. Following the exposure period, blood, plasma, liver, spleen, kidneys, hair, bone, bile and urine were obtained to measure Sb concentrations by ICP-MS. Results showed that tissue Sb levels were dose-related. Higher Sb concentrations were found in urine, kidneys, hair, bone and liver. Sb(V) was not detectable in blood and plasma. In the case of highly contaminated soil with soluble forms of Sb in concentrations ranging from 200–1600 µg Sb/kg BW, kidneys, liver and spleen are the most reliable compartments to determine Sb bioavailability from soil. However, for the soils with lower levels of contamination and a low Sb bioaccessibility, urine may serve as a relevant compartment.     

淡水水体溶解有机氮对有毒藻种的生物有效性

溶解有机氮(Dissolved organic nitrogen,DON)是多数天然水体中溶解氮的主要组成部分。天然水体DON是许多微生命体包括有毒藻种的氮营养源,在供水安全以及水体富营养化等方面的生态环境效应不容忽视。文章系统地介绍了淡水水体DON含量与来源、生物有效性与估算方法,以及对有毒藻种生长的影响。DON的来源是影响水体中DON含量动态特征的关键因素。DON来源包括陆地径流,植物碎屑,土壤淋溶液,沉积物释放,大气沉降,藻类、大型植物、细菌与细胞死亡或自我分解,微型及大型浮游动物捕食和排泄、分泌物释放等。研究表明约有12%～72%的DON可迅速被生物所利用,具显著差异,究其原因可能是其来源组成、化学本质(分子质量与极性)、测试生物组成、是否有细菌作用等因素造成的。不同藻种具有不同氮源利用能力,DON对藻类生长具有直接或间接的作用,并可能影响藻类群落结构(有毒藻类成为优势种)。考虑到水环境保护与饮用水安全供水的重要性,未来研究应重视淡水水体DON生物有效性与其化学本质的揭示,尤其是对有毒藻种。     

食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性的研究方法和应用进展

食品安全问题是直接关系到人民健康的重大民生问题。随着民众生活质量的不断提升,人们对食物质量的关注度越来越高。目前,重金属污染问题是食品安全的一个重要议题。而且,食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性的测定结果已逐渐代替重金属的全量结果进行评价。因此,本文系统介绍了生物可给性和生物有效性的定义及相关关系,综述了生物可给性和生物有效性的多种研究方法的适用性及优缺点,并着重论述了饮食习惯和肠道微生物对重金属生物可给性和生物有效性的影响。研究结果表明：研究者应根据自己的研究目的选择不同的体外消化方法,饮食习惯和肠道微生物均极大的影响着食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性。最后,本文对食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性的研究提出了几点展望：一、需加强食物中重金属复合污染的研究;二、进一步加强肠道微生物对食物中重金属的生物可给性和生物有效性的影响的研究;三、特别需加强中式饮食习惯下对食物中重金属的生物有效性的影响的研究。     

Use of different soft tissues of Perna viridis a s biomonitors of bioavailability and contamination by heavy metals (Cd,Cu, Fe,Pb, Ni,and Zn) in a semi-enclosed intertidal water,the Johore Straits

Green-lipped mussels, Perna viridis, were collected from the eastern and western parts of the Johore Straits in September 2004 and January 2005. Based on the heavy metal concentrations in the different soft tissues (gonad, foot, mantle, gills, muscle, and remaining soft tissues) of these mussel samples, the eastern part of the Johore Straits (which is divided into two portions by a causeway), recorded higher levels of bioavailability and contamination by Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn when compared to the western part, while Kg. Pasir Puteh in the eastern part was found to record the highest bioavailability and contamination by heavy metals. The use of different soft tissues of P. viridis as biomonitors of bioavailability and contamination by Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn in the semi-enclosed Johore Straits is proposed, since erroneous results due to spawning and the problem of defecation before dissection could be overcome. Hence, a more accurate interpretation of the bioavailability and contamination by heavy metals in coastal waters could be obtained. To our knowledge, this is the most detailed study on the bioavailability and contamination of heavy metals in the Johore Straits on the Malaysian side of the waterway carried out by using the different soft tissues and metal distribution based on the Mussel Watch approach.     

Nanocarrier-mediated co-delivery systems for lung cancer therapy: recent developments and prospects

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Research has recently focused on combinational therapy using nanocarriers to overcome the obstacles associated with conventional therapy of lung cancer. The...     

农田土壤镉生物有效性及暴露评估研究进展

随着工业化和城市化进程的发展,我国在农田土壤污染领域面临较大挑战,其中镉(Cd)为最优先控制元素之一。农田土壤Cd污染风险类型为健康风险,其主要暴露途径为经土壤-植物系统,并经膳食进入人体。在当前的土壤Cd风险评估中,一般不考虑生物有效性问题,这使得风险评价中实际暴露评估的不确定性普遍偏高。所以,近年来欧洲国家有许多研究者提出将生物有效性因素放在土壤污染物风险评价框架内。基于此,本文立足于农田系统,并从土壤、植物、污染物及环境因素等4个方面详细综述了农田土壤Cd生物有效性的影响因素及其作用机理。其次,分别综述了近年来土壤Cd生物有效性预测模型和土壤Cd膳食暴露评估模型研究进展。最后,分析了我国土壤重金属风险评价中存在的不足,并对农田土壤Cd暴露评估发展态势和研究方向进行了初步预测,以期为农田土壤Cd健康风险评估及安全基准研究提供一定参考。     

Toxicity and degradation of the insecticide monocrotophos

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Monocrotophos, commonly named Azodrin or Nuvacron, is an organophosphate insecticide, which in spite of ban is preferred due to its high efficacy against...     

Aggregation and dissolution of silver nanoparticles in a laboratory-based freshwater microcosm under simulated environmental conditions

Silver nanoparticles (NP) are used in several applications, including their use as antimicrobial agents in textiles, personal care, and other domestic products. As such, there is a high potential for the release of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in the aquatic environment. In aquatic ecosystems, nanomaterials are affected by abiotic factors, such as temperature, that alter their chemistry and influence their fate in the environment. Preliminary studies indicate that NP tend to form aggregates which are potentially more recalcitrant than unaggregated NP. These and other fate processes are largely dependent on both the characteristics of the NP and that of the environment. In this study, lab experiments were conducted to investigate the physicochemical properties and temperature solubility of AgNP (<100 nm) that may potentially influence the fate and behavior of AgNP in the aqueous environment. Results indicated that, under these tested conditions, AgNP may be transformed in size and thereby affect fate, bioavailability, and toxicity. In this study, a novel method was used to determine whether AgNP would form agglomerates, or behave as isolated particles, or dissolve when in aqueous media and under different environmental conditions. The new aspects evaluated in this study demonstrated that AgNP are transformed in both size and state under variable environmental conditions.     

Higher Cd adsorption on biogenic elemental selenium nanoparticles

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic metal contaminating the environment and ending up in wastewaters. There is therefore a need for improved methods to remove Cd by adsorption. Biogenic elemental selenium nanoparticles have been shown to adsorb Zn, Cu and Hg, but these nanoparticles have not been tested for Cd removal. Here we studied the time-dependency and adsorption isotherm of Cd onto biogenic elemental selenium nanoparticles using batch adsorption experiments. We measured ζ-potential values to assess the stability of nanoparticles loaded with Cd. Results show that the maximum Cd adsorption capacity amounts to 176.8 mg of Cd adsorbed per g of biogenic elemental selenium nanoparticles. The ζ-potential of Cd-loaded nanoparticles became less negative from ?32.7 to ?11.7 mV when exposing nanoparticles to an initial Cd concentration of 92.7 mg L^?1. This is the first study that demonstrates the high Cd uptake capacity of biogenic elemental selenium nanoparticles, of 176.8 mg g^?1, when compared to that of traditional adsorbents such as carboxyl-functionalized activated carbon, of 13.5 mg g^?1. An additional benefit is the easy solid–liquid separation by gravity settling due to coagulation of Cd-loaded biogenic elemental selenium nanoparticles.     

Efficient preparation of greener N-doped carbon nanotube composites for water treatment by the microwave polyol method

N-doped carbon nanotubes have unique structures and strong interactions with metal nanoparticles due to the presence of nitrogen. There is actually a need for nanoparticles to treat water, without leaching of toxic metals. Here, we synthesized nanocomposites by deposition of Ag and Fe nanoparticles on N-doped carbon nanotubes with a surface area of 52 m²/g and 2 % N content to form nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the nanocomposites revealed that the best dispersion of the deposited nanoparticles was achieved by the microwave-assisted polyol method. The Ag and Fe nanoparticles were indeed monodispersed and uniformly distributed on the surface of the N-doped carbon nanotubes. Deposition could be achieved in 5 min. The wet impregnation and deposition–precipitation methods gave composites with agglomerated nanoparticles. We observed that leaching of Fe and Ag into water was also influenced by the preparation method. No leaching of nanoparticles was observed when the composites were prepared by the microwave polyol method. This synthesis is therefore efficient with less energy and time. The strong metal/N-doped carbon nanotube interactions render these composites suitable for use in water purification.     

Comparison of the bioavailability of Cr and Fe bound with natural colloids of different origins and sizes to two marine bivalves

Recent studies have demonstrated the significant role of colloidal microparticles or macromolecules in the biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in aquatic environments. In this study, the influences of different colloidal organic carbon (COC) concentrations, colloidal sizes and colloidal origins (estuarine vs coastal) on the bioavailability of two trace metals (Cr and Fe) to the green mussel Perna viridis and the clam Ruditapes philippinarum were examined under laboratory conditions. Natural colloids were isolated by cross-flow ultrafiltration and were radiclabeled with ⁵⁹Fe and ⁵¹Cr before being exposed to the mussels and clams. The uptake of colloid-bound Cr and Fe was compared with the uptake of low molecular weight complexed metals (<1 kDa). Both natural colloid-bound Cr and Fe were bioavailable to the green mussels and clams. The uptake of both colloidal Cr and Fe by the two bivalves was much higher than that of their counterparts in a low molecular weight fraction, implying that colloidal binding enhanced considerably the bioavailability of Cr and Fe to the bivalves. The magnitude to which Cr uptake was enhanced, due to its binding with colloids, was much greater than that of Fe. There was no significant difference in the measured dry weight concentration factor of the metals between the two COC concentrations. Similarly, the COC concentration did not influence metal uptake when all the experiments were considered together. There was generally no major difference in the metal bioavailability between the two different sizes of colloids isolated from the coastal waters (1–10 kDa and 10 kDa-0.2 μm), whereas metals bound with the larger size colloids isolated from the estuarine waters were more bioavailable than metals bound with the smaller size colloids. The bioavailability of Cr and Fe bound with the colloids from estuarine waters was generally lower than those bound with colloids from the coastal waters. This study demonstrated that the geochemical properties of colloids (origin) and the chemical properties of metals are critical in affecting the bioavailability of colloid-bound metals to marine bivalves. Published online: 21 June 2002