Biocidal mechanism of green synthesized thyme loaded silver nanoparticles (GTAgNPs) against immune evading tricky methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 090 (MRSA090) at a homeostatic environment

The tricky defense mechanism of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 090 easily evades innate immune system to establish its journey in the body. Till today, the exact mechanism and toxicity of green silver nanoparticles to bacteria is an elusive question. To address this issue, synthesized a green thyme loaded silver nanoparticles (GTAgNPs), characterized and its toxicity to MRSA090 was evaluated. The synthesized GTAgNPs showed controlled the particle size of 75 nm having anti-microbial property effective at 1 mg/mL confirmed by membrane destabilization validated by surface alterations through bioelectrochemistry, SEM., and AFM. The GTAgNPs showed negligible toxicity to PBMC and anti-cancer property against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. The blood compatibility of GTAgNPs, delaying coagulation, and down-regulating the virulence genes MRSA090 such as Coa and SpA. These studies conclude the GTAgNPs tested the first time against MRSA090 and strongly presume that designing of the anti-staphylococcal drug from an active molecule of thyme plant being a natural source can gain more attention for medicine against MRSA infections in future.     

Proteomics as a tool for examining the toxicity of heavy metals

Examining the toxic effects of heavy metals on protein expression can be useful for gaining insight into the biomolecular mechanisms of toxicity and for identifying potential candidate metal-specific protein markers of exposure and response. In this article, we present the state of the art of proteomics in metal-toxicity-related studies. We consider different methods used for sample preparation that depend on the nature of the sample (plants, microorganisms and animals). We also describe different proteomic strategies, both gel-based and gel-free technologies, including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and multi-dimensional protein-identification technology (MudPIT). We critically review the advantages and the disadvantages of such techniques and discuss the main studies carried out so far. We also comment on future applications and potential research interests within this field.     

Fluoroalkene chemistry: Part 3. Reactions of arylthiols with perfluoroisobutene, perfluoropropene and chlorotrifluoroethene

Reactions of perfluoroisobutene (PFIB), perfluoropropene (PFP) and chlorotrifluoroethene (CTFE) with benzenethiol and 2-methoxybenzenethiol in acetonitrile, with potassium carbonate as base, were compared. PFIB reacted with benzenethiol to give ketene thioacetal (CF₃)₂CC(SAr)₂ and with 2-methoxybenzenethiol to give mono- and bis-vinyl species (CF₃)₂CCFSAr and (CF₃)₂CC(SAr)₂. PFP reacted with both thiols to give the addition product CF₃CFHCF₂SAr and vinyl isomers CF₃CFCFSAr (6:1 E/Z ratio). CTFE reacted with several methoxy-substituted arylthiols to give addition products of structure CFClHCF₂SAr. The arylthiols used throughout the study imitate biological thiols. Inhalation toxicities of the fluoroalkenes decrease in the order PFIB > PFP > CTFE and correlate with their reactivities towards the model thiols, supporting the current view that their toxicity relates to their ability to react with biological thiols.     

Advances in analytical techniques for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like PCBs

Analytical techniques for the determination of polychorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) and dioxin-like PCBs (DLPCB) are reviewed. The focus of the review is on recent advances in methodology and analytical procedures. The paper also reviews toxicology, the development of toxic equivalent factors (TEF) and the determination of toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values. Sources, occurrence and temporal trends of PCDD/PCDF are summarized to provide examples of levels and concentration ranges for the methods and techniques reviewed.     

Targeting platinum anti-tumour drugs: Overview of strategies employed to reduce systemic toxicity

Selective drug delivery is an important approach with great potential for overcoming problems associated with the systemic toxicity of chemotherapy, in particular, platinum-based chemotherapy. Finding successful strategies for the targeting of platinum anticancer drugs has therefore been a subject of extensive research. This review paper gives an overview of some of the different approaches that have recently been used in the development of targeted platinum anticancer drugs.     

Kinetic,Equilibrium and Isotherm Studies of Cadmium Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Oxidized Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and the Functionalized Ones with Thiosemicarbazide and Their Toxicity Investigations: A Comparison

The multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were first oxidized by nitric acid to form a MWCNT‐COOH. Then, it was modified with thiosemicarbazide to produce MWCNT‐semi. Thus, these carbon materials, MWCNTs, MWCNT‐COOH and MWCNT‐semi, have been used as efficient adsorbents for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions. The influence of variables including pH, concentration of the cadmium, amount of adsorbents and contact time was investigated by the batch method. The kinetic studies carried out using different kinetic models such as pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, and intraparticle diffusion models. The sorption process with each adsorbent was well described by pseudo‐second‐order kinetics which it was agreed well with the experimental data. The values of regression coefficient of various adsorption isotherms like Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin to obtain the characteristic parameters of each model have been carried out. The results showed which the Langmuir isotherm for all adsorbents and Tempkin model for MWCNT‐COOH and MWCNT‐semi was found to best represent the measured sorption data. Toxicity of these samples was evaluated in human embryonic kidney HEK293 and human breast cancer SKBR3 cell lines after culturing cells for 24 h. Cellular investigations showed that the modified MWCNTs in particular MWCNT‐semi have considerably significant toxic impact on SKBR3 as compared to HEK293 at concentration 3 µg/mL.     

Top 200 Medicines: Can New Actions be Discovered Through Computer-aided Prediction?

Abstract

Computer-aided prediction of the biological activity spectra by the program PASS was applied to a set of 130 pharmaceuticals from the list of the Top 200 medicines. The known pharmacological effects were found in the predicted activity spectra in 93.2% of cases. Additionally, the probability of some supplementary effects was also predicted to be significant, including angiogenesis inhibition, bone formation stimulation, possible use in cognition disorders treatment, multiple sclerosis treatment, etc. These predictions, if confirmed experimentally, may become a cause for a new application of pharmaceuticals from the Top 200 list. Most of known side and toxic effects were also predicted by PASS. PASS predictions at earlier R&D stages may thus provide a basis for finding new “leads” among already launched drugs and may help direct more attention to those particular effects of pharmaceuticals in clinical use which become apparent only in a small part of the population and require additional precautions.