A comparative study of the structure and cytotoxicity of polytetrafluoroethylene after ion etching and ion implantation

The ion-plasma treatment has been widely used for modifying the surface structure of polymers in order to improve their properties, but it can lead to destruction of the surface and, as a consequence, to an increase in their toxicity. A comparative study of the structure and cytotoxicity of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) after the ion etching (IE) and ion implantation (II) for 10 min with energy densities of 363 and 226 J/cm², respectively, has been performed. It has been shown that, unlike the ion implantation, the ion etching results in the destruction of the polymer and in the appearance of the cytotoxicity. The factors responsible for this effect, which are associated with the bulk and surface treatment, as well as with the influence of the temperature, have been discussed.     

Sorption recovery of rubidium ions from highly mineralized solutions to obtain rubidium chloride of reagent grade

Recovery of Rb⁺ ions from highly mineralized solutions with a granulated composite sorbent of the composition K_0.92–1.0Cu_1.50–1.54[Fe(CN)₆] · 4.9SiO₂ in the multiple-cycle mode was studied.     

Neuronal store-operated calcium entry pathway as a novel therapeutic target for Huntington's disease treatment

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion within Huntingtin (Htt) protein. In the phenotypic screen we identified a class of quinazoline-derived compounds that delayed a progression of a motor phenotype in transgenic Drosophila HD flies. We found that the store-operated calcium (Ca(2+)) entry (SOC) pathway activity is enhanced in neuronal cells expressing mutant Htt and that the identified compounds inhibit SOC pathway in HD neurons. The same compounds exerted neuroprotective effects in glutamate-toxicity assays with YAC128 medium spiny neurons primary cultures. We demonstrated a key role of TRPC1 channels in supporting SOC pathway in HD neurons. We concluded that the TRPC1-mediated neuronal SOC pathway constitutes a novel target for HD treatment and that the identified compounds represent a novel class of therapeutic agents for treatment of HD and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders.     

Sorption and kinetic properties of radiocesium-selective organomineral sorbents

Comparative analysis of the sorption and kinetic properties was carried out for organomineral sorbents synthesized by two routes: (1) from an organomineral suspension and (2) from aqueous-organic solutions.