Mn3O4 nanoparticles: Synthesis,characterization and their antimicrobial and anticancer activity against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines

Due to their inexpensive and eco-friendly nature, and existence of manganese in various oxidation states and their natural abundance have attained significant attention for the formation of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles (Mn₃O₄ NPs). Herein, we report the preparation of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles using manganese nitrate as a precursor material by utilization of a precipitation technique. The as-prepared Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles (Mn₃O₄ NPs) were characterized by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), High-Resolution Transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The antimicrobial properties of the as-synthesized Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles were investigated against numerous bacterial and fungal strains including S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, A. flavus and C. albicans. The Mn₃O₄ NPs inhibited the growth of S. aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 40 μg/ml and C. albicans with a MIC of 15 μg/ml. Furthermore, the Mn₃O₄ NPs anti-cancer activity was examined using MTT essay against A549 lung and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The Mn₃O₄ NPs revealed significant activity against the examined cancer cell lines A549 and MCF-7. The IC₅₀ values of Mn₃O₄ NPs with A549 cell line was found at concentration of 98 µg/mL and MCF-7 cell line was found at concentration of 25 µg/mL.     

Photoacoustic imaging of the human placental vasculature

Minimally invasive fetal interventions require accurate imaging from inside the uterine cavity. Twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition considered in this study, occurs from abnormal vascular anastomoses in the placenta that allow blood to flow unevenly between the fetuses. Currently, TTTS is treated fetoscopically by identifying the anastomosing vessels, and then performing laser photocoagulation. However, white light fetoscopy provides limited visibility of placental vasculature, which can lead to missed anastomoses or incomplete photocoagulation. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is an alternative imaging method that provides contrast for hemoglobin, and in this study, two PA systems were used to visualize chorionic (fetal) superficial and subsurface vasculature in human placentas. The first system comprised an optical parametric oscillator for PA excitation and a 2D Fabry‐Pérot cavity ultrasound sensor; the second, light emitting diode arrays and a 1D clinical linear‐array ultrasound imaging probe. Volumetric photoacoustic images were acquired from ex vivo normal term and TTTS‐treated placentas. It was shown that superficial and subsurface branching blood vessels could be visualized to depths of approximately 7 mm, and that ablated tissue yielded negative image contrast. This study demonstrated the strong potential of PA imaging to guide minimally invasive fetal therapies.      

感染家蚕浓核病毒BmDNV1对家蚕抗性和敏感品种生化参数的影响

在家蚕疾病中,病毒性疾病是危害茧产品的主要且最普遍的疾病。病毒性蚕软腐病是由BmIFV, BmDNV1 和 BmDNV2引起的。对印度种质库（Indian Germ plasm stock）中的BmDN V1有抗性和敏感的家蚕品种进行了鉴定。利用标准方法对在BmDNV1感染过程中抗性和敏感品系的主要有机成分的变化（包括总蛋白、碳水化合物和脂类）进行了检测。结果表明： 随着幼虫年龄的增长,对照组和处理组中有机成分（即蛋白质和碳水化合物）的含量也随之增长,但是处理组的增长水平明显地低于各自对照组的增长水平。接种BmDNV1后,与对照组比较,敏感品种体内的血淋巴和中肠组织的总蛋白的量显著地下降。在抗性品种,接种4天后的总蛋白的量有了显著地下降,之后,下降水平小于各自的对照组。在抗性和敏感品种中,血淋巴和中肠组织中的总碳水化合物的量略有下降。在变化不显著的抗性和敏感品种中,血淋巴和中肠组织中的脂质的量有显著地提高。在敏感家蚕品种,生化变化清晰地显示： BmDNV1感染消耗作为主要能量来源的总蛋白和碳水化合物。这些成分的损耗导致了被感染家蚕的生长受阻。     

Front Cover: Photoacoustic imaging of the human placental vasculature (J. Biophotonics 4/2020)

Successful therapy of twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome requires accurate imaging to guide laser photocoagulation of the anastomosing placental vessels. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is an alternative imaging method that provides contrast for hemoglobin, and in this study, it was used to visualize chorionic superficial and subsurface vasculature in human placentas. The strong potential of PA imaging to guide minimally invasive fetal therapies was demonstrated. Further details can be found in the article by Efthymios Maneas, Rosalind Aughwane, Nam Huynh, et al. ( e201900167 ).