Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Sci Total Environ 2020 Jun 23;741:140440. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China. Electronic address:

Lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) contamination seriously threatens agricultural production and food safety. This study aims to investigate Pb and Cu induced hormetic effect and toxicity mechanisms in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and establish reliable empirical models of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) transfer in the soil-plant system. Read More

Biol Trace Elem Res 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey.

In this study, the protective effects of chrysin (CR) on lead acetate (PbAc)-induced renal toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated with biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical methods. In the study, rats were given orally at 30 mg/kg/body weight (BW) PbAc after CR of 25 and 50 mg/kg/BW was administered to them orally (a total of 7 administrations for 7 days). The results showed that CR reduced urea and creatinine levels by alleviating PbAc-induced kidney damage. Read More

Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 29;10(7). Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, PAS, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland.

Background: The similarities between swine and humans in physiological and genomic patterns, as well as significant correlation in size and anatomy, make pigs an useful animal model in nutritional studies during pregnancy. In humans and pigs iron needs exponentially increase during the last trimester of pregnancy, mainly due to increased red blood cell mass. Insufficient iron supply during gestation may be responsible for the occurrence of maternal iron deficiency anemia and decreased iron status in neonates. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2020 24;15:4573-4589. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok 15-222, Poland.

Background: Therapeutic efficiency of ceragenins against cancers may be limited by lack of their hemocompatibility when high concentrations of molecules are required to reach a desired result. Synergistic effects observed upon administration of anticancer agents and metal nanoparticles may provide an opportunity to limit toxicity of immobilized ceragenins on the surface of metal nanoparticles and to improve their therapeutic efficiency at the same time. The aim of present work is to investigate the anticancer activities and hemocompatibility of nanoformulations consisting of ceragenin CSA-131 united with aminosilane-modified iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and prepared by 1) covalent bonding (MNP@CSA-131) or 2) by combining CSA-131 with MNP in 1:1 ratio (CSA-131 + MNP). Read More

In Vivo 2020 Jul-Aug;34(4):1729-1738

Laboratorio de Investigación Interdisciplinaria, Área de Nanoestructuras y Biomateriales, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad León, León, México

Background/aim: Chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Chi-NP) have gained attention because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and targetability under magnetic field. In this study, we investigated various biological properties of Chi-NP.

Materials And Methods: Chi-NP was prepared by mixing magnetic NP with chitosan FL-80. Read More

Free Radic Res 2020 Jul 1:1-11. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.

Ferroptosis is a type of iron-dependent, non-apoptotic cell death, which is typically induced by the suppression of phospholipid hydroperoxide-glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) activity and a corresponding elevation in lipid peroxidation products. While the inhibition of the xCT-mediated uptake of cystine commonly causes ferroptosis, the sensitivity of cells to the inhibition of the glutathione (GSH) synthesis by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) varies considerably. The objective of this study was to clarify the underlying mechanism responsible for these differential responses to the targeted inhibition of either the cysteine (Cys) supply to or GSH synthesis in the cells. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jun 29;10(1):10524. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze, 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy.

Thiosemicarbazones (TSC) and their metal complexes display diverse biological activities and are active against multiple pathological conditions ranging from microbial infections to abnormal cell proliferation. Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is considered one of the main targets of TSCs, yet, the existence of additional targets, differently responsible for the multifaceted activities of TSCs and their metal complexes has been proposed. To set the basis for a more comprehensive delineation of their mode of action, we chemogenomically profiled the cellular effects of bis(citronellalthiosemicarbazonato)nickel(II) [Ni(S-tcitr)] using the unicellular eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. Read More

J Bacteriol 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is formed in natural environments by both biotic and abiotic processes. It easily enters the cytoplasms of microorganisms, where it can disrupt growth by inactivating iron-dependent enzymes. It also reacts with the intracellular iron pool, generating hydroxyl radicals that can lethally damage DNA. Read More

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl 2020 Oct 27;115:111129. Epub 2020 May 27.

Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite 245, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Biodegradable metallic materials (BMMs) are expected to corrode gradually in vivo after providing the structural support to the tissue during its regeneration and healing processes. These characteristics make them promising candidates for use in stents. These endoprostheses are produced from metal alloys by casting and thermomechanical treatment. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 24;13(12). Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, FIME-Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Ingeniería Aeronáutica (CIIIA), Av. Universidad s/n. Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455, Mexico.

Increasingly stringent environmental regulations in different sectors of industry, especially the aeronautical sector, suggest the need for more investigations regarding the effect of environmentally friendly corrosion protective processes. Passivation is a finishing process that makes stainless steels more rust resistant, removing free iron from the steel surface resulting from machining operations. This results in the formation of a protective oxide layer that is less likely to react with the environment and cause corrosion. Read More

J Vis Exp 2020 Jun 10(160). Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Graduate Institute of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University;

Cerebral contusion is a severe medical problem affecting millions of people worldwide each year. There is an urgent need to understand the pathophysiological mechanism and to develop effective therapeutic strategy for this devastating neurological disorder. Intraparenchymal hemorrhage and post-traumatic inflammatory response induced by initial physical impact can aggravate microglia/macrophage activation and neuroinflammation which subsequently worsen brain pathology. Read More

J Colloid Interface Sci 2020 Jun 20;579:269-281. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Department of Urology, Key Laboratory of Urinary System Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, PR China. Electronic address:

The conventional Fenton reaction has played a vital role in the degradation of pollutants. However, this reaction is prone to forming iron mud, which causes secondary pollution. Additionally, most of the Fenton systems are in homogeneous forms and suffer from intrinsically short lifetimes, hydroxyl radicals that have short diffusion distances (OH) and non-recyclability. Read More

Environ Res 2020 Jun 21;188:109816. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA; Universidad Del Valle de México, 14370, Mexico.

Exposure to particulate air pollution is a major environmental risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, on a global scale. Both acute and chronic cardiovascular impacts have so far been attributed to particulate-mediated oxidative stress in the lung and/or via 'secondary' pathways, including endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. However, increasing evidence indicates the translocation of inhaled nanoparticles to major organs via the circulation. Read More

Rev Environ Health 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

The health risks brought by particles cannot be present via a sole parameter. Instead, the particulate matter oxidative potential (PM OP), which expresses combined redox properties of particles, is used as an integrated metric to assess associated hazards and particle-induced health effects. OP definition provides the capacity of PM toward target oxidation. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, 71710, Taiwan.

Cartap is a thiocarbamate pesticide widely-used to protect rice crops, one of the most mass-produced cereals worldwide. Effluents containing cartap pose serious environment and health risks due to the acute toxicity of this emerging contaminant. This work evaluates the capabilities of the Fenton process to efficiently remove cartap from water matrices. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jun 25;10(1):10332. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7QB, United Kingdom.

Atypical low-oxidation-state iron phases in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology are implicated in disease pathogenesis, as they may promote elevated redox activity and convey toxicity. However, the origin of low-oxidation-state iron and the pathways responsible for its formation and evolution remain unresolved. Here we investigate the interaction of the AD peptide β-amyloid (Aβ) with the iron storage protein ferritin, to establish whether interactions between these two species are a potential source of low-oxidation-state iron in AD. Read More

J Integr Plant Biol 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

The State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.

Iron is an essential microelement for plant growth. After uptake from the soil, iron is chelated by ligands and translocated from roots to shoots for subsequent utilization. However, the number of ligands involved in iron chelation is unclear. Read More

Nano Lett 2020 Jun 28. Epub 2020 Jun 28.

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, China.

Development of T/T dual-mode MRI contrast agents that can also treat cancer is an attractive prospect for personalized precision medicine. Unfortunately, conventional contrast agents can suffer from toxicity and lack any ability to treat cancer. An all-iron T/T MR imaging agent with photothermal and drug delivery capability would overcome these issues. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

This research with a factorial arrangement was undertaken to investigate physiological responses of ajowan plants to foliar treatment of salicylic acid (1 mM) and nano-FeO (3 mM) under various salinity levels (0, 4, 8, 12 dS m NaCl, respectively). Rising salinity enhanced sodium and endogenous SA contents, soluble sugars, protein, glycine betaine, proline, antioxidant enzymes activities, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation, while reduced potassium and iron contents, membrane stability index, leaf water content, leaf pigments, root and shoot biomasses, and seed yield. Application of particularly SA and SA+nano-FeO alleviated salt toxicity via enhancing K uptake, K/Na ratio, Fe content, endogenous level of SA, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase), and most of the osmolytes. Read More

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2020 Jun 21. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France.

Background: Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one first-line option therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not suitable for surgical resection.

Aims: We evaluated the effects of sunitinib plus doxorubicin-TACE on bleeding or liver failure.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with HCC were included in this randomized, double-blind study. Read More

J Clin Med 2020 Jun 19;9(6). Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are multifactorial illnesses of the intestine, to which microorganisms are contributing. Among the contributing microorganisms, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are suggested to be involved in the process of bowel inflammation due to the production of hydrogen sulfide (HS) by dissimilatory sulfate reduction. The aims of our research were to physiologically examine SRB in fecal samples of patients with IBD and a control group, their identification, the study of the process of dissimilatory sulfate reduction (sulfate consumption and HS production) and biomass accumulation. Read More

J Immunotoxicol 2020 Dec;17(1):144-152

Food and Drug Toxicology Research Center, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India.

The prevalence of iron (Fe) deficiency and subclinical lead (Pb) toxicity is high in developing countries like India, and information on their potential additive effects on immune responses is scant. The current study assessed immune parameters in dual Pb-exposed\Fe-deficient weanling SD rats. Rats were fed a control (CD) or Fe-deficient (ID) diet for 4 weeks and then evaluated for hemoglobin (Hb) and serum Fe status. Read More

J Neurochem 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

Pathological features of Parkinson's disease include the formation of Lewy bodies containing α-synuclein and the accumulation of iron in the substantia nigra. Previous studies have suggested that iron accumulation contributes to the Parkinson's disease pathology through reactive oxygen species production and accelerated α-synuclein aggregation. The current study examines the effects of commonly occurring H63D variant of the homeostatic iron regulatory (HFE) gene on α-synuclein pathology in cell culture and animal models. Read More

Int J Phytoremediation 2020 Jun 23:1-12. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Senior Superintendent Garden, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

The present study was intended to assess the potential of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and S4 in mitigation of arsenic (As) stress in . seedlings were subjected to As stress for 60 days. Reduced level of growth parameters including photosynthetic pigments, rate of photosynthesis and gas exchange characteristics was observed in seedlings subjected to As stress. Read More

Infect Immun 2020 Jun 22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

is a major human pathogen, where the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains is making all types of infections more challenging to treat. With a pressing need to develop alternative control strategies to use alongside or in place of conventional antibiotics, one approach is the targeting of established virulence factors. However, attempts at this have had little success to date, suggesting that we need to better understand how this pathogen causes disease if effective targets are to be identified. Read More

J Environ Public Health 2020 3;2020:8516105. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Kabale University, Box 317, Kabale, Uganda.

Background: Community consumption of herbal plants in developing countries is a common practice, however, scarcity of information on their physiochemical composition is a major public health concern. In Uganda, is of interest in rural communities due to its therapeutical action on both bacterial and protozoal parasites, however no studies have been conducted to assess the heavy metal concentrations in traditional plants used in alternative medicine. The aim of the study was to establish concentrations of heavy metals in , model the estimated daily intake (EDI), and assess both the non-cancer-related health risk using the target hazard quotient (THQ), and the risk related to cancer through the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for the Ugandan population. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020 Jun 18:129671. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Ephessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece. Electronic address:

Background: The use of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles of various chemical properties and architectures offers a new promising direction in gene delivery and silencing, cellular imaging and cancer imaging and treatment. The increasing applications of nanoparticles in medicine require that these engineered nanomaterials will come in contact with human cells without damaging essential tissues. Thus, efficient delivery must be achieved while minimizing cytotoxicity during passage through cell membranes to reach intracellular target compartments. Read More

Mol Aspects Med 2020 Jun 18:100866. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address:

Iron is a constituent of many metalloproteins involved in vital metabolic functions. While adequate iron supply is critical for health, accumulation of excess iron promotes oxidative stress and causes tissue injury and disease. Therefore, iron homeostasis needs to be tightly controlled. Read More

Toxicol Ind Health 2020 Jun 22:748233719893178. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Home Economics, Faculty of Specific Education, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

The possible renal and hepatic toxicities of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in bean cooking media were studied using 100 male albino mice. Two sublethal doses of EDTA were used to explore their toxic effects; 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, which corresponded to 1/100th and 1/10th of LD, respectively. Accordingly, the toxicity study was performed using 50 mice, divided into five groups ( = 10/group) as follows: group 1 (Gp1) served as a negative control and was orally administered normal saline; group 2 (Gp2) was administered the bean cooking medium; group 3 (Gp3) was administered EDTA (200 mg/kg); group 4 (Gp4) was administered bean cooking medium containing 20 mg/kg of EDTA; and group 5 (Gp5) was administered bean cooking medium containing 200 mg/kg of EDTA. Read More

J Environ Manage 2020 Sep 21;269:110756. Epub 2020 May 21.

Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Química, 38400-902, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. Electronic address:

This study presents the degradation of fipronil in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent by photo-Fenton at near neutral pH (pH 6.0) using Fe/Citrate complex. 83% of fipronil degradation was reached using a molar iron/citrate ratio of 1:3 (192 μmol L of Fe/576 μmol L of citrate). Read More

Environ Pollut 2020 Sep 14;264:114804. Epub 2020 May 14.

Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, PR China.

A large amounts of arable land is facing a high risk of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) pollution, which requires remediation using a low toxic agent. In this study, the remediation effect of amorphous iron pyrite (FeS) on Cr(VI) in Cr(VI)-contaminated soil was evaluated by systematically analyzing the variation of the leachability, bioaccessibility, phytotoxicity, and long-term stability of the remediated soil. The effectiveness of FeS on the leachability was assessed by alkaline digestion and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP); the effect on the bioaccessibility was evaluated via the physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and the Tessier sequential extraction; the effect on the phytotoxicity was assessed via phytotoxicity bioassay (seed germination experiments) based on rape (Brassica napus L. Read More

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2020 Jun 18. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Phytogenetic Resources, Faculty of Science and Techniques, University of Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mellal, Morocco.

In the present study, sheep manure (0%, 10% and 20% w/w) and biochar derived from coniferous tree woods (0%, 2.5% and 5% w/w) were incorporated into a multi-MTE contaminated soil from a former iron mine site and incubated for 10 days. A seeds of barley were grown in the amended soil and different morphological traits were measured after 30 days. Read More

ACS Infect Dis 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. In infection, it uses heme as a primary iron source and senses the availability of exogenous heme through the heme assimilation system (Has), an extra cytoplasmic function (ECF) σ-factor system. A secreted hemophore HasAp scavenges heme and, on interaction with the outer-membrane receptor HasR, activates a signaling cascade which in turn creates a positive feedback loop critical for sensing and adaptation within the host. Read More

Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020 29;8:537. Epub 2020 May 29.

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Macrophages are mainly divided into two phenotypes: M1-like (anti-tumoral, pro-inflammatory) and M2-like (pro-tumoral, anti-inflammatory). The more abundant M2-like phenotype of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) has been associated with poor prognosis in various cancers, therefore, many studies have been carried out to modulate TAMs to change from an M2 to M1-like phenotype as an effective way to suppress tumor growth. Previous study indicated that the FDA-approved Ferumoxytol is an iron oxide nanoparticle that has intrinsic tumor inhibiting properties and is accompanied by the increased presence of the pro-inflammatory, anti-tumoral M1-like phenotype. Read More

Toxicology 2020 Jun 12;441:152525. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Neurosurgery, M.S. Hershey Penn State University College of Medicine, M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States.

There is considerable interest in gene and environment interactions in neurodegenerative diseases. The HFE (homeostatic iron regulator) gene variant (H63D) is highly prevalent in the population and has been investigated as a disease modifier in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. We have developed a mouse model to interrogate the impact of this gene variant in a model of paraquat toxicity. Read More

Chem Commun (Camb) 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Depatment of Chemistry, Handique Girl's College, Guwahati, 781001, Assam, India.

A rationally designed iron(iii) complex (2a) with pendant ferrocene and naturally occurring coumarin (esculetin) shows LMCT transition-based mitochondria-targeted red-light (600-720 nm) induced apoptotic toxicity against cancer cells but remains innocuous in the dark and to normal cells. Read More

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2020 Jun 12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Basic Laboratory, Department of Oncology Laboratory, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China.

Purpose: Doublet combination chemotherapy is commonly considered a second-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China. This multi-institutional retrospective analysis evaluated and compared the efficacy between combination and mono-therapy after platinum-based first-line chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 335 patients who received second-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC. Read More

J Trace Elem Med Biol 2020 May 20;62:126555. Epub 2020 May 20.

School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.

Background: Neuromelanin-pigmented neurons, which are highly susceptible to neurodegeneration in the Parkinson's disease substantia nigra, harbour elevated iron levels in the diseased state. Whilst it is widely believed that neuronal iron is stored in an inert, ferric form, perturbations to normal metal homeostasis could potentially generate more reactive forms of iron capable of stimulating toxicity and cell death. However, non-disruptive analysis of brain metals is inherently challenging, since use of stains or chemical fixatives, for example, can significantly influence metal ion distributions and/or concentrations in tissues. Read More

Carbohydr Polym 2020 Aug 1;241:116355. Epub 2020 May 1.

School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address:

Many natural polysaccharides from bio-resources hold advantages of multi-functions, high efficiency, non-toxicity or low side effect, and have strong potentials in protection against alcoholic liver damages. This review summarized the bio-resources, chemical and structural characteristics of natural polysaccharides with potentials in inhibition against alcoholic liver damages, and also emphasized knowledge on correlations between their chemical structure and function. Approximately 95 species were confirmed in generation of hepatoprotective polysaccharides. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Jun 5. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain.

Chromium is considered an environmental pollutant of much concern whose toxicity depends, to a great extent, on its valence state, with Cr(VI) being more soluble, bioavailable, and toxic, compared to Cr(III). Nanoremediation is a promising strategy for the remediation of metal pollutants by changing their valence state. However, among other aspects, its effectiveness for soil remediation is seriously hampered by the interaction of nanoparticles with soil organic matter. Read More

Adv Mater 2020 Jun 4:e1906539. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.

Gadolinium-based chelates are a mainstay of contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the clinic. However, their toxicity elicits severe side effects and the Food and Drug Administration has issued many warnings about their potential retention in patients' bodies, which causes safety concerns. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are a potentially attractive alternative, because of their nontoxic and biodegradable nature. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 May 31;21(11). Epub 2020 May 31.

Postgraduate Research Institute of Science, Technology, Environment and Medicine, CY-3504 Limassol, Cyprus.

Ascorbic acid (AscH) is one of the most important vitamins found in the human diet, with many biological functions including antioxidant, chelating, and coenzyme activities. Ascorbic acid is also widely used in a medical practice especially for increasing the iron absorption and as an adjuvant therapeutic in the iron chelation therapy, but its mode of action and implications in the iron metabolism and toxicity are not yet clear. In this study, we used UV-Vis spectrophotometry, NMR spectroscopy, and EPR spin trapping spectroscopy to investigate the antioxidant/pro-oxidant effects of ascorbic acid in reactions involving iron and the iron chelator deferiprone (L1). Read More

J Hazard Mater 2020 May 15;398:122863. Epub 2020 May 15.

Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, China.

To develop an efficient heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst is of great importance for degrading organic pollutants. CeO was selected as the catalyst carrier. Prussian blue (PB) was chose as the iron resource for its sensitivity to HO and low toxicity. Read More

Arch Toxicol 2020 May 30. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Do Café S/nº, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil.

Metallic nanoparticles such as silver (Ag NPs) and iron oxide (FeO NPs) nanoparticles are high production volume materials due to their applications in various consumer products, and in nanomedicine. However, their inherent toxicities to human cells remain a challenge. The present study was aimed at combining lipidomics data with common phenotypically-based toxicological assays to gain better understanding into cellular response to Ag NPs and FeO NPs exposure. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2020 May 27;10(6). Epub 2020 May 27.

Department Hematology and Oncology, Jena University Hospital, D-07747 Jena, Germany.

Magnetite (FeO) particles with a diameter around 10 nm have a very low coercivity (H) and relative remnant magnetization (M/M), which is unfavorable for magnetic fluid hyperthermia. In contrast, cobalt ferrite (CoFeO) particles of the same size have a very high H and M/M, which is magnetically too hard to obtain suitable specific heating power (SHP) in hyperthermia. For the optimization of the magnetic properties, the Fe ions of magnetite were substituted by Co step by step, which results in a Co doped iron oxide inverse spinel with an adjustable Fe substitution degree in the full range of pure iron oxide up to pure cobalt ferrite. Read More

Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.

On November 2015, Samarco tailings dam in Mariana MG, Brazil, collapsed, releasing 62 million tons of tailings that advanced through 668 km of the Doce River and adjacent floodplain. Although being the worst environmental disaster in Brazil, little is known about consequences to aquatic biota. Here we evaluate the effects of the tailings mudflow on metal and arsenic concentration in fish and how concentration correlates with water and fish characteristics. Read More

PLoS One 2020 29;15(5):e0234009. Epub 2020 May 29.

Center of Calcium and Bone Research (COCAB), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

One of the potential contributing factors for iron overload-induced osteoporosis is the iron toxicity on bone forming cells, osteoblasts. In this study, the comparative effects of Fe3+ and Fe2+ on osteoblast differentiation and mineralization were studied in UMR-106 osteoblast cells by using ferric ammonium citrate and ferrous ammonium sulfate as Fe3+ and Fe2+ donors, respectively. Effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] and iron chelator deferiprone on iron uptake ability of osteoblasts were examined, and the potential protective ability of 1,25(OH)2D3, deferiprone and extracellular calcium treatment in osteoblast cell survival under iron overload was also elucidated. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2020 May 17;398:122860. Epub 2020 May 17.

Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Ecological Experimental Station of Red Soil, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yingtan 335211, China. Electronic address:

The inhibition of cadmium (Cd) absorption by selenium (Se) in rice may be associated with iron plaque (IP) formation, but the driving mechanisms are still unclear. This study investigated the effects of Se on the growth, oxidative toxicity, radial oxygen loss (ROL), IP formation, and Cd absorption of rice exposed to Cd. The results of this study showed that Cd stress elevated the levels of O- and HO and depressed superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Read More