The Potential Selective Cytotoxicity of Poly (L- Lactic Acid)-Based Scaffolds Functionalized with Nanohydroxyapatite and Europium (III) Ions toward Osteosarcoma Cells

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is malignant bone tumor, occurring in children and adults, characterized by poor prognosis. Despite advances in chemotherapy and surgical techniques, the survival of osteosarcoma patients is not improving significantly. Currently, great efforts are taken to identify novel selective strategies, distinguishing between cancer and normal cells. This includes development of biomimetic scaffolds with anticancer properties that can simultaneously support and modulate proper regeneration of bone tissue. In this study cytotoxicity of scaffolds composed from poly (L-lactic acid) functionalized with nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) and doped with europium (III) ions—10 wt % 3 mol % Eu3+: nHAp@PLLA was tested using human osteosarcoma cells: U-2 OS, Saos-2 and MG-63. Human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (HuASCs) were used as non-transformed cells to determine the selective cytotoxicity of the carrier. Analysis included evaluation of cells morphology (confocal/scanning electron microscopy (SEM)), metabolic activity and apoptosis profile in cultures on the scaffolds. Results obtained indicated on high cytotoxicity of scaffolds toward all OSA cell lines, associated with a decrease of cells’ viability, deterioration of metabolic activity and activation of apoptotic factors determined at mRNA and miRNA levels. Simultaneously, the biomaterials did not affect HuASCs’ viability and proliferation rate. Obtained scaffolds showed a bioimaging function, due to functionalization with luminescent europium ions, and thus may find application in theranostics treatment of OSA.

Immobilization of Planococcus sp. S5 Strain on the Loofah Sponge and Its Application in Naproxen Removal

Planococcus sp. S5, a Gram-positive bacterium isolated from the activated sludge is known to degrade naproxen in the presence of an additional carbon source. Due to the possible toxicity of naproxen and intermediates of its degradation, the whole cells of S5 strain were immobilized onto loofah sponge. The immobilized cells degraded 6, 9, 12 or 15 mg/L of naproxen faster than the free cells. Planococcus sp. cells immobilized onto the loofah sponge were able to degrade naproxen efficiently for 55 days without significant damage and disintegration of the carrier. Analysis of the activity of enzymes involved in naproxen degradation showed that stabilization of S5 cells in exopolysaccharide (EPS) resulted in a significant increase of their activity. Changes in the structure of biofilm formed on the loofah sponge cubes during degradation of naproxen were observed. Developed biocatalyst system showed high resistance to naproxen and its intermediates and degraded higher concentrations of the drug in comparison to the free cells.

Sub Carrier Analysis for QAM Modulation

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based wireless data transmission system is a multi-carrier system in which single higher rate data stream can be divided into multiple lower rate data streams. Modulation and De-Modulation technique play a major role in OFDM based data transmission system. Based on Modulation technique only, the frequency transformation method and encoding and decoding methods are enabled. Effective modulation techniques called as “Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)” modulation are used to design an OFDM System. Carrier signal is one of the important signals used to modulate the original signal. Analyzing the sub-carrier signal for getting the quality of the modulated signal.

Uniform carbon-coated CdS core–shell nanostructures: synthesis, ultrafast charge carrier dynamics, and photoelectrochemical water splitting

The improved PEC performance and in-depth charge carrier analysis were studied in CdS/C composites obtained by a facile synthesis.