Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Nat Commun 2018 12 5;9(1):5188. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.

Meradimate is a broad-spectrum ultraviolet absorber used as a chemical filter in commercial sunscreens. Herein, we explore the ultrafast photodynamics occurring in methyl anthranilate (precursor to Meradimate) immediately after photoexcitation with ultraviolet radiation to understand the mechanisms underpinning Meradimate photoprotection. Using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, signal from the first singlet excited state of methyl anthranilate shows an oscillatory behavior, i. Read More

Plast Surg Nurs 2018 Oct/Dec;38(4):158-161

Alfredo Siller, BS, is medical student, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Scott C. Blaszak, BS, is medical student, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Michelle Lazar, is college student, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Edit B. Olasz Harken, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She is co-founder of Harken Derm LLC.

As skin cancer prevalence continues to rise, the importance of sun protection, including sunscreen use, has become accepted in the public. Sunscreens are divided into two main categories based on the type of their active ingredient, organic and inorganic ultraviolet (UV) filters. It has been shown that inorganic filters are more effective at blocking forms of UV light, both UVA and UVB, as compared with organic filters because organic sunscreens absorb and convert radiation whereas inorganic sunscreens reflect radiation. Read More

Anal Chem 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Octocrylene (OC) is an ingredient used in many sunscreens and cosmetics worldwide. Our group evaluated the toxicity of OC in corals. Adult Pocillopora damicornis coral was treated with OC at concentrations of 5, 50, 300 and 1000 µg/L. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2018 Nov 27;656:316-321. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Green Engineering & Resources Research Group (GER), Department of Chemistry and Process & Resource, E.T.S.I.I.T. University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros, s/n., 39005 Santander, Spain.

The Mediterranean region is, by far, the leading tourism destination in the world, receiving more than 330 million tourists in 2016. This tourism is undertaken mostly for seaside holidays, and during the summer season concentrates between 46% and 69% of the total international arrivals; this is equivalent to a density of 2.9 tourists per meter of Mediterranean coast, or double this number taking into account the local/permanent population in addition. Read More

J Clin Pharm Ther 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Kitzen Pharmaceutical Consulting, Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

What Is Known And Objective: Hawaii will ban two major ingredients of sunscreens. This article reviews the reasons and future directions. Hawaii recently enacted legislation that will ban the use of two major ingredients of the majority of commonly used sunscreens. Read More

MBio 2018 Nov 27;9(6). Epub 2018 Nov 27.

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

Scytonemin is a dimeric indole-phenol sunscreen synthesized by some cyanobacteria under conditions of exposure to UVA radiation. While its biosynthetic pathway has been elucidated only partially, comparative genomics reveals that the scytonemin operon often contains a cluster of five highly conserved genes ( cluster) of unknown function that is widespread and conserved among several bacterial and algal phyla. We sought to elucidate the function of the cluster in the cyanobacterium by constructing and analyzing in-frame deletion mutants (one for each gene and one for the entire cluster). Read More

J Pharm Sci 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 645 S Newstead Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

The potential for inadvertent inhalation of over-the-counter (OTC) aerosol/powder drug products for topical application requires understanding of the characteristic size distributions of the airborne particles or droplets generated when these products are used as per the directions on the product label. Particle/droplet size is an important factor in determining the depth of particle penetration into the respiratory system following inhalation. Because particles penetrating beyond the larynx into the lung may lead to adverse respiratory effects, OTC aerosol/powder drug product particle size distribution is important to characterize. Read More

J Biomed Mater Res A 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Library, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.

Nanoparticulate titanium dioxide (nano TiO ) is extensively applied in biological tissue engineering materials, food additives, cosmetics, and sunscreens. Numerous studies to date have demonstrated that nano TiO penetrates through the digestive system and possibly the blood circulation, leading to accumulation in the ovary and consequent reproductive toxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of nano TiO on the female reproductive system remain to be established. Read More

Nanoscale 2018 Nov;10(46):21985-21993

Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, Tartu 50411, Estonia.

In the search for novel tools to combat cancer, nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted a lot of attention. Recently, the controlled release of cancer-cell-killing metal ions from doped NPs has shown promise, but fine tuning of dissolution kinetics is required to ensure specificity and minimize undesirable toxic side-effects. Theoretical tools to help in reaching a proper understanding and finally be able to control the dissolution kinetics by NP design have not been available until now. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Therapeutics Research Centre, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Sansom Institute, City East Campus, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address:

Zinc oxide is a widely used broad-spectrum sunscreen, but concerns have been raised about the safety of its nanoparticle (NP) form. We studied the safety of repeated application of agglomerated zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs applied to human volunteers over 5 days by assessing the skin penetration of intact ZnO-NPs and zinc ions and measuring local skin toxicity. Multiphoton tomography with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy was used to directly visualize ZnO-NP skin penetration and viable epidermal metabolic changes in human volunteers. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address:

The findings of a new study by Mohammed et al. show that after repeated hourly or daily topical applications typically used for sunscreens, zinc oxide nanoparticles do not penetrate into the viable epidermis or cause toxicity in human skin. This important study confirms that the known benefits of using zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen clearly outweigh the perceived risks of using nanosunscreens. Read More

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.

Photoprotection has become integral in the prevention of keratinocyte cancer and photoaging. Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters such as oxybenzone and octinoxate have become controversial due to their potential impact on the environmental and their potential human health risks. As such, inorganic UV filters, zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO ) have become paramount in discussions about photoprotection. Read More

Nanoscale 2018 Nov;10(46):21960-21970

Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) based nanomaterials (NMs) are among the most produced NMs worldwide. When irradiated with light, particularly UV, TiO2 is photoactive, a property that is explored for several purposes. There are an increasing number of reports on the negative effects of photoactivated TiO2 on non-target organisms. Read More

Contact Dermatitis 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Dermatology, CHU St Pierre, Brugmann and HUDERF, Brussels, Belgium.

A 37-year-old woman with a history of mild atopic dermatitis involving her antecubital flexures and sporadically her face presented with face eczema of one year duration. Due to acne and solar brown spots, she had applied a retinoic acid containing cream for one year and she had slowly developed recalcitrant face eczema that was unsuccessfully treated with different moisturizing creams, corticosteroid creams and sunscreens. As her face eczema further worsened the patient was referred for patch testing. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Oct 27;122:549-554. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, 30 Pildong-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Long-time exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is harmful and causes various skin problems. Natural sun blockers have been drawing considerable attention recently. Even though lignin, an abundant aromatic polymer from plants, is a natural UV screening agent, its unfavorable dark color hinders its high value-added applications in sunscreens and cosmetics. Read More

Nanotechnology 2019 Jan;30(2):025501

School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China.

Foodborne pathogens are perpetual threats to human and animal health. Detection of pathogens requires accurate, sensitive, rapid and point-of-care diagnostic assays. In this study, we described a simple and sensitive electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assay to detect the deadly bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 by [Formula: see text]-coated ZnO nanorods arrays (NAs). Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2018 Nov 5. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Use of sunscreens on the face is becoming popular, and patients with melasma are prescribed sunscreen for use on the face. Results of a few Western studies on the effect of sunscreen use on serum vitamin D concentration are not applicable to Indian conditions.

Aims: To examine the effect of use of a high sun protection factor (SPF 50+, PA++++) sunscreen on face in patients with melasma on serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2018 Nov 8:1-5. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

c Direzione Medica Cantabria Labs Difa Cooper Caronno Pertusella ( VA ), Italy.

Background: Treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) and field cancerization with photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective therapeutic approach with a significant reduction in the number of AK lesions (-75% or more) associated with a significant cosmetic improvement of the photodamaged skin. Recently, also, the daylight PDT (DL-PDT) has proven to be as effective as the conventional PDT (C-PDT), but with a better tolerability. After C-PDT and DL-PDT it is advised to use photoprotection strategies to improve the clinical evolution and prevent the appearance of new AK lesions that usually appear 3-6 months after the last phototherapy session. Read More

Lancet Planet Health 2018 Nov;2(11):e465-e466

Program for Clinical Research, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Electronic address:

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2018 Nov 13;10(47):40411-40423. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Chemical Engineering , Rowan University , 201 Mullica Hill Road , Glassboro , New Jersey 08028-1701 , United States.

Sun protection is a global concern, and maximizing sunscreen stability and efficacy depends partially on the prevention of UV filters recrystallization. We aimed to study the efficacy of hydrophobic solubilizers in preventing the recrystallization of solid hydrophobic UV filters in predissolutions, sunscreen formulations, and during simulated human use. Recrystallization of UV filters induced by ultrasonication, temperature variation, or simulated human application was analyzed by different methods. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2018 Dec 22;205:182-192. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - FURG, Brazil. Electronic address:

Although some studies have showed the effects of different crystalline structures of nTiO (anatase and rutile) and their applicability in several fields, few studies has analyzed the effect of coexposure with other environmental contaminants such as copper. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate if the coexposure to nTiO (nominal concentration of 1 mg/L; anatase or rutile) can increase the incorporation and toxic effect induced by Cu (nominal concentration of 56 μg/L) in different tissues of Linmoperna fortunei after 120 h of exposure. Our results showed that the coexposure increased the accumulation of Cu in the gills and adductor muscle independently of the crystalline form and can positively or negatively modulate the antioxidant system, depending on the tissue analyzed. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2018 Dec 21;205:130-139. Epub 2018 Oct 21.

South Sea Environment Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Faculty of Marine Environmental Science, University of Science and Technology (UST), Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are increasingly used in various products as coating and additive materials for household goods, personal-care products, and drug delivery systems. Because of their broad applications, the potential risks to nontarget organisms associated with their input into aquatic environments have generated much concern. We investigated the acute toxicity, morphological responses, and potential impact on physiology and metabolism in polyps exposed to spherical ZnO NPs of either 20 nm (ZnO NP) or 100 nm (ZnO NP). Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

L'Oréal Research and Innovation Campus, Clichy, France.

Background: Regular exposure to ultraviolet rays is high in India, where most Indians present Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV and V.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and compare the effectiveness of two sunscreen products on Indian skin types IV and V with pigmentation irregularities.

Methods: A randomized, uncontrolled and investigator-blinded, single-center study enrolled adult men and women (18-45 years) with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV (28° < individual typological angle <10°) and V (10° < individual typological angle < -30°) with pigmentary abnormalities seen on the face in adults (actinic lentigines and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation), who did not use sunscreens. Read More

Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2018 Oct 31;32(1):22-31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Background/aims: The data available on the skin permeability of ethylhexyl triazone (EHT), a widely used high-molecular-weight (823.1-Da) UV filter, are scarce and obtained only via in vitro studies. Therefore, we evaluated in vivo the penetration of EHT in human stratum corneum by the tape stripping technique. Read More

Se Pu 2018 Nov;36(11):1112-1118

Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.

To develop a rapid, effective, and accurate method for the simultaneous determination of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, and florfenicol in human blood by pass-through cleanup solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), novel nano-titania-coated modified magnetic graphene oxide (TiO-Mag-GO) is used as the PRiME pass-through cleanup solid-phase extraction sorbent for the cleanup of blood phospholipids. The chromatographic separation was performed on an Eclipse Plus C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2018 Nov;19(Suppl 1):40-44

Buenos Aires Skin, Avenida Cordoba 1184, 10 Piso. (1055), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The solar radiation range has harmful and beneficial effects. Sunscreens, which selectively block specific spectral regions, may potentially interfere with skin homeostasis. For instance, the ultraviolet (UV) B waveband produces erythema and DNA damage; simultaneously, it induces pre-vitamin D synthesis. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 3;650(Pt 2):3101-3109. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

University of Maryland Baltimore County, Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Engineering 314, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. Electronic address:

Globally, the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in the environment has raised critical questions on ecological and human health, but few efforts have focused on the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Here, 43 antibiotics, 3 estrogenic hormones, and 5 ultraviolet-filters (UV-filters), which are active ingredients in a variety of personal care products, were measured in water, sediment, and oyster tissue from 14 sites along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Fluoroquinolone, macrolide, and sulfonamide antibiotics were detected in water samples. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 6;30:103. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Observatory Cape Town, South Africa.

Angioedema is a type-1 hypersensitivity reaction that can be life threatening. It affects the skin airways and the gastrointestinal tract. Henna is a green powder used to dye skin and nails. Read More

J Biomed Opt 2018 Oct;23(10):1-11

Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, Center for Innovation, Technology and Education, São José dos Campos, Brazil.

We present the use of Raman spectroscopy for determination of functional characteristics of insect repellents and sunscreens by identifying the active ingredients of these products applied topically to the skin. Commercial formulations of insect repellents and sunscreens (SPF 15 and 30) were obtained, and Raman spectra were obtained from the formulations and from volunteers' skins with topical applications of such products compared to controls. The results indicated that, for insect repellents, the peaks at 527 and 1003  cm  -  1 were markers of the presence of the active ingredient diethyl toluamide in the skin, while for sunscreens, the peaks at 1177, 1288, and 1611  cm  -  1, associated to octinoxate, benzophenone-3, and avobenzone, were markers of the presence of solar filters in the skin. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2018 11;13:6359-6374. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Catalysis Science and Technology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Introduction: The potential of layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a host of multiple ultraviolet-ray absorbers was investigated by simultaneous intercalation of benzophenone 4 (B4) and Eusolex 232 (EUS) in Zn/Al LDH.

Methods: The nanocomposites were prepared via coprecipitation method at various molar ratios of B4 and EUS.

Results: At equal molar ratios, the obtained nanocomposite showed an intercalation selectivity that is preferential to EUS. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2018 Oct 21;18(10). Epub 2018 Oct 21.

Department of Engineering, University of Messina, I-98166 Messina, Italy.

In this paper, the development of a nanoporous TiO₂ array-modified Ti electrode for photo-electrochemical (PEC) sensing of dopamine (DA) is reported. A porous TiO₂ array-modified electrode was fabricated from the controlled anodic oxidation of a Ti working electrode of commercial screen-printed electrodes (SPE). The anodization process and the related morphological and microstructural transformation of the bare Ti electrode into a TiO₂/Ti electrode was followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy (DR-UV-Vis). Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Jan 9;215:605-618. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Chemistry, Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química (CISQ), University of La Rioja, C/ Madre de Dios 51, E-26006 Logroño La Rioja, Spain. Electronic address:

The photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen with TiO nanoparticles (NPs) and UV light and with graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) 2D nanosheets and visible light are proposed and compared as advanced oxidation treatments for the removal of ibuprofen in water. By-products formed with both photocatalytic systems have been tentatively identified based on the results of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, using a quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer in positive and negative ionization modes, which allowed to obtain the elementary composition of their precursors and fragment ions. The removal of ibuprofen and the by-product formation were studied at three pH values. Read More

J Photochem Photobiol B 2018 Dec 13;189:119-123. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Depart. of Biological Sciences, University of Region of Cariri - URCA, Av. Cel Antonio Luiz, 1161, CEP 63105-000 Crato, Ceará, Brazil.. Electronic address:

Photooxidative damage affects cellular lipids, proteins and DNA in addition to being involved in the pathobiochemistry of erythema formation, premature skin aging, photodermatoses development and skin cancer. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid esters protect plant tissues against harmful UV-radiation. This study aimed to evaluate the sun protection factor of several Brazilian plant extracts in relation to UVB radiation absorption, which causes skin cancer, and to correlate the findings with their antioxidant activity, as well as with total phenol and flavonoid content. Read More

J Environ Sci (China) 2018 Dec 4;74:126-133. Epub 2018 Mar 4.

School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.

The combined ecological toxicity of TiO nanoparticles (nano-TiO) and heavy metals has been paid more attention. As the common pollutants in water environment, surfactants could affect the properties of nanoparticles and heavy metals, and thus further influence the combined toxicity of nano-TiO and heavy metals. In this study, the effects of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and Tween 80 on the single and combined toxicities of Cd and nano-TiO to Escherichia coli (E. Read More

J Environ Sci (China) 2018 Dec 3;74:107-115. Epub 2018 Mar 3.

Department of Chemistry (BK21+) and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

To achieve enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of lindane, we prepared metal-semiconductor composite nanoparticles (NPs). Zn@ZnO core-shell (CS) nanocomposites, calcined ZnO, and Ag-doped ZnO (ZnO/Ag) nanostructures were prepared using pulsed laser ablation in liquid, calcination, and photodeposition methods, respectively, without using surfactants or catalysts. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Read More

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2018 Oct 19;19(1):65. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Nanoparticles are widely utilized in many products such as cosmetics and sunscreens. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of hesperidin (HSP) on nano zinc oxide particles (nZnO) induced oxidative stress in rat livers.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each and exposed to single administration of nZnO intraperitoneally (600 mg/kg bwt) and HSP (100 mg/kg bwt) by gavage. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 11;651(Pt 2):2391-2399. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Biology and Chemistry and State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address:

The benzophenone (BP) organic ultraviolet (UV) filters have been measured in seawater at ng/L to μg/L levels, but more data on their effects in non-target marine organisms are needed. Corals can be exposed to BPs due to wastewater discharges and coastal recreational activities. In this study, toxicities and bioaccumulation of BP-1 (2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone), BP-3 (oxybenzone), BP-4 (sulisobenzone) and BP-8 (dioxybenzone) to larvae and adults of two coral species, Pocillopora damicornis and Seriatopora caliendrum, were assessed at concentrations ranging from 0. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Jan 8;215:323-332. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, VNU-HCM, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam. Electronic address:

Titania (TiO) as a commercial photocatalyst has been continually struggling due to the limitation of ultraviolet light response and the high recombination rate of photoinduced carriers. The development of heterojunction nanostructures provides great promise to achieve the activation by visible light and suppress the photoinduced electron-hole pairs recombination. Herein, we synthesized a SnO and TiO nanotube heterojunction (SnO/TNT) via a one-step hydrothermal strategy and systematically investigated NO photocatalytic degradation over the SnO/TNTs heterojunction under visible light at the parts per billion level. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Jan 8;215:280-293. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Organic Chemical Industrial Waste Water Disposal Resource Reuse, Nanjing 210023, PR China.

A novel nanosheet of Mo/N-codoped TiO nanorods immobilized on carbon nanofibers (MNTC nanosheet) was self-synthesized through two facile steps. The Mo/N-doped TiO nanorods dispersed through in situ growth on the network constructed by long and vertical carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The fabricated MNTC nanosheet displayed superb photocatalytic activity of methylene blue (MB), and the degradation ratio by the MNTC nanosheet was nearly twice than that of pure nanoparticles. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2018 28;13:5909-5924. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an 223300, China,

Background: Nanoparticulate titanium dioxide (nano-TiO) enters the body through various routes and causes organ damage. Exposure to nano-TiO is reported to cause testicular injury in mice or rats and decrease testosterone synthesis, sperm number, and motility. Importantly, nano-TiO suppresses testosterone production by Leydig cells (LCs) and impairs the reproductive capacity of animals. Read More

Reprod Toxicol 2018 Dec 11;82:111-123. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Division of Systems Biology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States.

2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (HMB) is an ultraviolet light-absorbing compound that is used in sunscreens, cosmetics and plastics. HMB has been reported to have weak estrogenic activity by in vivo and in vitro studies, making it a chemical with potential reproductive concern. To explore if prenatal and lactational HMB exposure alters gene expression profiles of the developing reproductive organs, we performed microarray analysis using the prostate and testis of postnatal day (PND) 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats offspring exposed to 0, 3000, or 30,000 ppm of HMB from gestational day 6 through PND 21. Read More

Int J Pharm 2018 Dec 11;553(1-2):220-228. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Normandie Univ, UNILEHAVRE, FR 3038 CNRS, URCOM, 76600 Le Havre, France. Electronic address:

The objective of the present study was to develop, characterize and evaluate the clinical efficacy of topical formulations containing or not active substances and UV-filters, separate and in combination. To this end a stable formulation was developed to which four aqueous active substances and four lipophilic UV-filters were added. The formulations were then submitted to microscopic characterization by light microscopy, to particle size measurement, and to macroscopic characterization by rheology and texture analysis. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 25;651(Pt 2):1653-1660. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, China. Electronic address:

The pollution of antibiotics, including tetracyclines (TCs), in aquatic environments has become an issue of concern in recent years. Herein, an in situ sampling of TCs in pig breeding wastewater that utilizes the technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), based on commercial nanosized ZnO (nanoZnO) particles as the potential effective binding agent and a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane as the diffusion layer, was developed. The diffusion coefficients of tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC) in a PES membrane at 25 °C were (1. Read More

Tissue Cell 2018 Oct 19;54:80-93. Epub 2018 Aug 19.

Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Despite its wide range of application, cyclophosphamide (CP) exhibits a wide range of adverse effects including reproductive toxicity. The emerging field of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) therapy may provide a new hope for prevention of CP induced gonadal toxicity. Herein, we aim to investigate the possible role of ZnO NPs as a new strategy to protect against CP induced testicular injury. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 27;649:1189-1197. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA. Electronic address:

Microbial and emerging chemical contaminants are unwanted constituents in reclaimed wastewater, due to the health concerns of using the water for agricultural irrigation, aquifer recharges, and potable water. Removal of these contaminants is required but it is currently challenging, given that there is no simple treatment technology to effectively remove the mixture of these contaminants. This study examined the effectiveness of ZnO-assisted photocatalytic degradation of several constituents, including 1,4-dioxane, trihalomethanes (THMs), triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC), antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), under low intensity of UV exposure. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 11;650(Pt 1):1440-1450. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Marine Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, USA. Electronic address:

Bivalves from the cooling reservoirs of electrical power plants (PP) are exposed to the chronic heating and chemical pollution making them a suitable model to study the combined effects of these stressors. We investigated the effect of in situ exposures to chemical and thermal pollution in the PP cooling ponds on the metabolic responses of unionid bivalves (Unio tumidus) to a novel widespread pollutant, ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO). Male U. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 11;650(Pt 1):1112-1121. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.

Pharmaceuticals have been frequently detected in various water bodies, posing potential threat to human health and ecological environment. In this work, ZnFe-LDH derived mixed metal oxides (ZnO/ZnFeO, ZnFeMMO) were innovatively adopted to modulate the g-CN photocatalytic performance for the enhanced degradation of ibuprofen (IBF) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) as targeted pollutants. Characterization analyses indicated that the g-CN/ZnFeMMO composites were in the feature of rationally-designed microarchitecture, increased specific surface area, improved light absorbance and efficient charge separation, thereby resulting in promoted photocatalytic activities. Read More

J Photochem Photobiol B 2018 Nov 8;188:159-176. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Centre of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.

Owing to the emerging applications of DNA-functionalized TiO nanocrystals towards DNA damage detection, it is inevitable to understand the better chemistry as well as in-depth molecular interaction phenomena. Fundamentally, energy difference underlies the layer-by-layer construction, resulted in the increase of the interaction energy and thus, altering the electrochemical behavior. Herein, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed using DMol3 and DFTB+ codes successfully to elucidate the structural, electronics, and vibrational properties of the layer-by-layer components composing ss-DNA/dopamine/TiO/FTO. Read More

Int J Pharm 2018 Dec 8;552(1-2):401-406. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Unprotected chronic exposure to solar radiation can contribute to premature skin cancer and sunscreens are a key factor to avoid those detrimental effects. Currently, there is a growing interest in the photoprotector and antioxidant potential of bioactive substances, such as rutin, that could increase the sun protection factor (SPF) value and, also, donate multifunctional characteristics to sunscreens. Recent in vitro findings indicated that rutin, when incorporated into sunscreens, can provide antioxidant activity and SPF improvement. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2018 Oct 11. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

King's College London, St John's Institute of Dermatology, London, SE1 9RT, U.K.

Background: Sun protection factor (SPF) is assessed with sunscreen applied at 2 mg cm . People typically apply around 0·8 mg cm and use sunscreen daily for holidays. Such use results in erythema, which is a risk factor for skin cancer. Read More