Anselmo Fortunato Ruiz Rodriguez

Photodynamic therapy mediated by acai oil (Euterpe oleracea Martius) in nanoemulsion: A potential treatment for melanoma.

Melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal form of skin cancer, responsible for >80% of deaths. Standard treatments for late-stage melanoma usually present poor results, leading to life-threatening side effects and low overall survival. Thus, it is necessary to rethink treatment strategies and design new tools for the treatment of this disease. On that ground, we hereby report the use of acai oil in nanoemulsion (NanoA) as a novel photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) used to treat melanoma in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. NIH/3T3 normal cells and B16F10 melanoma cell lines were treated with PDT and presented 85% cell death for melanoma cells, while maintaining high viability in normal cells. Flow cytometry indicated that cell death occurred by late apoptosis/necrosis. Tumor bearing C57BL/6 mice treated five times with PDT using acai oil in nanoemulsion showed tumor volume reduction of 82% in comparison to control/tumor group. Necrotic tissue per tumor area reached its highest value in PDT-treated mice, supporting PDT efficacy. Overall, acai oil in nanoemulsion was an effective photosensitizer, representing a promising source of new photosensitizing molecules for PDT treatment of melanoma, a tumor with an inherent tendency to be refractory for this type of therapy.

Lethal dose and clinical signs of Aeromonas hydrophila in Arapaima gigas (Arapaimidae), the giant fish from Amazon.

Aeromonas hydrophila is causing substantial economic losses in world aquaculture. This study determined the tolerance limit (LD50-96h) of A. hydrophila in Arapaima gigas, and also investigated the clinical signs after intradermal inoculation. Arapaima gigas fingerlings were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0 (control), 1.0×10(5), 1.0×10(6), 1.0×10(7), 1.0×10(9) and 1.0×10(10)CFU/mL of A. hydrophila for the determination of LD50-96h, which was 1.8×10(8)CFU/mL. In another trial with intradermal inoculation of 1.8×10(8)CFU/mL A. hydrophila, there was a 91.6% of mortality between 8 and 23h, and several clinical signs were found. As follows: depigmentation in the tegument, lesions in the tail and fins, loss of balance, reduction of respiratory movements, hemorrhagic foci, necrotic hemorrhages in the kidney, liver and swim bladder, splenomegaly, ascites in the abdominal cavity and hyperemia, enlargement of the gall bladder, among other clinical signs observed. The results showed that A. gigas has a relative tolerance to A. hydrophila when compared to other Neotropical fish species.

Synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties of polymer-Fe3O4 nanocomposite.

The chemical stability of magnetic particles is of great importance for their applications in medicine and biotechnology. The most challenging problem in physics of disordered systems of magnetic nanoparticles is the investigation of their dynamic properties. The chemical coprecipitation process was used to synthesize spherical magnetite nanoparticles of 14 nm. The as-prepared magnetite nanoparticles have been aged in the matrix. Magnetic properties and aging effect were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy at temperatures ranging from 77 to 300 K, and X-ray diffraction. At room temperature, the Mössbauer spectrum showed superparamagnetic behavior of the particles, while well-defined sextets were observed at 77K, indicating a blocked regime. The superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles can be used as microbead biosensors.

Tectona grandis leaf extract, free and associated with nanoemulsions, as a possible photosensitizer of mouse melanoma B16 cell

Over the past six years we have been studying extracts from tropical, specially Amazon, plants, to search for new sensitizers for photodynamic therapy of cancer and infectious diseases. Tectona grandis is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the mint family, Lamiaceae. That is native to south and southeast Asia, but since the end of the 20th century is also gaining ground in the Amazon. The present work aims to evaluate the photodynamic potential of hydro-alcoholic extract from Tectona grandis LF leaves (TGE) and the same extract prepared as the oil-water nanoemulsion (TGE-NE) against melanoma B16 F10 cells. The method for preparation of a stable nanoemulsion with ~20nm particles associated to the TGE (TGE-NE) was successfully developed. We have shown that both free and nanostructured presentations possess the ability to sensitize B16 F10 cells to red light of the LED in vitro. Photodynamic effect was observed for both TGE and TGE-NE because toxicity increased under illumination with red light. While TGE was highly toxic towards melanoma cells under illumination with red light of the LED, it also possessed significant dark toxicity towards both B16 F10 and murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. The TGE-NE showed reasonable photocytotoxicity and was much less toxic towards normal cells in the dark compared to free TGE.

Mössbauer Spectroscopic Studies of NiZn Ferrite Prepared by the Sol–Gel Method

This study was aimed to study the effect of Zn content on the hyperfine parameters and the structural variation of Ni 1-x Zn x Fe₂O₄ for x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. To achieve this, a sol?gel route was used for the preparation of samples and the obtained ferrites were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The formation of spinel phase without any impurity peak was identified by X-ray diffraction of all the samples. Moreover, the estimated crystallite size by X-ray line broadening indicates a decrease with increasing Zn content. This result was in agreement with the scanning electron microscopy result, indicating the reduction in grain growth with further zinc substitution. The room-temperature Mossbauer spectra show that the hyperfine fields at both the A and B sites decreased with increasing Zn content; however, the rate of reduction is not the same for different sites. Moreover, the best fit parameter showed that the quadrupole splitting values of B site increased from the pure nickel ferrite to the sample with x = 0.8.

Investigation of the Magnetic Behavior in Fe3O4 Ferrofluid Functionalized by Carapa Guianensis Oil

A ferrofluid based on Fe3O4 has been synthesized using the condensation method by coprecipitating aqueous solutions of FeSO4 and FeCl3 mixtures in NH4OH and treated further in order to obtain colloidal sols by creating a charge density on their surface and functionalized by carapa guianensis (andiroba oil). Aqueous sample with an average particle diameter ∼7 nm were studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy and dc magnetization measurements in the range of 4.2–250 K. The saturation magnetization (Ms) at 4.2 K was determined from M vs 1/H plots by extrapolating the value of magnetizations to infinite fields, to 5.6 emu/g and coercivity to 344 Oe. The low saturation magnetization value was attributed to spin noncollinearity predominantly at the surface. From the magnetization measurements a magnetic anisotropy energy constant (K) of 1×104 J/m3 was calculated. Fe3O4 spectra at room temperature showed a singlet due to superparamagnetic relaxation and a sextet at low temperature.

Determination of Iron in Vegetable Oil by Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy

The potential of Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) for the quantification of iron (Fe) in vegetable oil extracted from the fruit of the moriche palm (buriti) [ Mauritia flexuosa ] was evaluated. This green method enables direct measurements without previous sample handling. Twenty-five buriti samples were collected in Roraima (Brazil). The statistical models were developed using the technique of partial least squares (PLS) analysis and the data set was divided into two parts: one used for calibration (n = 20) and one used for testing (n = 5). First, the model was calibrated and cross-validated with the calibration data set so that the model was validated with the test data set to verify its prediction ability. To obtain reference data, the samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The coefficient of determination (R 2 ) was 0.9965 and the mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) obtained for iron (Fe) was 0.8067 (in ppm). The results showed that the prediction ability can be considered good for large quantification of iron intervals in vegetable oil, and the mean relative errors were less than ±7%. This indicated that the green method for the determination of iron (Fe) in vegetable oil by Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection can be used as an alternative method to the classic methods of analysis, because it does not use reagents harmful to the environment or operator, does not generate harmful waste, uses a fast technique, and there is minimal manipulation of the sample.

Growth, physiological and immune responses of Arapaima gigas (Arapaimidae) to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge and handling stress following feeding with immunostimulant supplemented diets

The current study tested the efficacy of a dietary immunostimulant additive (Aquate Fish™®) on the growth performance, and on the physiological and immune responses of Arapaima gigas. Two trials were carried out: a feeding trial for 30 days with the experimental diets and a challenge trial for 7 days, in which fish were bacterial challenge (Aeromonas hydrophila) following by 60 s handling stress. During the feeding trial, fingerlings were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 6, 9 and 12 g Aquate Fish™®/kg diet. Dietary supplementation did not influence feed intake, feed conversion and condition factor, but increased the final biomass, number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, hemoglobin, glucose, globulins and plasma triglycerides in fish fed at a concentration of 12 g/kg diet. After bacterial infection, mortality occurred only in fish fed control treatment, whereas respiratory burst of leukocytes, number of leukocytes and lymphocytes increased in fish that received 12 g of dietary supplementation. The results indicated that dietary supplementation with 12 g of Aquate Fish™® improved biomass and immunity performance of A. gigas fingerlings, without negatively affecting blood biochemical parameters.

Hematological and biochemical responses of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas, Arapaimidae) fed with diets containing a glucomannan product derived from yeast and algae

As caracteristicas hematologicas e bioquimicas de alevinos de pirarucu Arapaima gigas alimentados com diferentes concentracoes de mananoligossacarideos derivados de leveduras e algas na dieta foram avaliadas para verificar o efeito sobre sua fisiologia. Quatro tratamentos foram conduzidos com tres repeticoes (12 peixes em cada). O produto avaliado (MycosorbA+(r)) foi incorporado a racao comercial, em quatro niveis: 0, 1, 2 e 4 g kg-1 de racao, denominados M0%, M0,1%, M0,2% e M0,4%, respectivamente. Apos 45 dias de alimentacao, amostras de sangue de seis peixes de cada repeticao foram coletadas para realizacao das analises. O peso e comprimento foram obtidos para calculo do fator de condicao e ganho de peso, entretanto, nao foram observadas diferencas (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Assim como nao foram observadas alteracoes nos valores de hematocrito, hemoglobina, eritrocitos e indices hematimetricos dos pirarucus. A concentracao de glicose e triglicerides dos pirarucus dos grupos M0,1% e M0,2% foram significativamente menores que o tratamento M0%. Os peixes do tratamento M0,2% apresentaram niveis de albumina maior (P<0,05) que do M0% e M0,4%. Os peixes alimentados com M0,4% mostraram nivel de colesterol total significativamente maior que todos os demais tratamentos. MycosorbA+(r) contribuiu para o aumento das celulas de defesa de A. gigas, podendo ser utilizado nas concentracoes de 0,1% a 0,2%, devido ao aumento do numero de certas celulas de defesa e dos niveis plasmaticos de albumina e por nao ter sido observadas outras alteracoes nos parâmetros hematologicos, nos niveis plasmaticos de colesterol e triglicerides e no fator de condicao.

Photoacoustic spectroscopy study of Blepharocalyx salicifolius (Kunt) O. Berg.

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has revolutionized the fields of biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. It is a very simple, sensitive, and non-destructive technique that allows the determination of optical properties of bio-samples. The in vivo chlorophylls of the leaf have a recorded maximum absorption peak at 675 nm as against 665 nm of the in vitro chlorophylls. The intensity of purple pigmentationPhotoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has revolutionized the fields of biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. It is a very simple, sensitive, and non-destructive technique that allows the determination of optical properties of bio-samples. The in vivo chlorophylls of the leaf have a recorded maximum absorption peak at 675 nm as against 665 nm of the in vitro chlorophylls. The intensity of purple pigmentation in leaves of Blepharocalyx salicifolius (Kunt) O. Berg, is inversely correlated to the soil moisture levels, leaf water content and leaf water potentials. The applicability of PAS to biological samples was discussed. It allows the validation of existing emission models which are important for atmospheric process. A portable device for photoacoustic spectroscopy of plants and other photosynthetic tissues, cells and organelles is provided. Further, there is provided a method to measure photosynthesis of such tissues, cells and organelles.