PreS/MD: Predictor of Sensitization Hazard for Chemical Substances Released From Medical Devices

Detection of skin sensitization hazards in medical device materials using a combination of three alternative in vitro testing methods

This study attempted to detect the skin sensitization hazards of medical device materials by combining multiple in vitro alternative testing methods. Nine materials were extracted using organic solvents, and the re-dissolved solutions were evaluated using the Amino acid Derivative Reactivity Assay (ADRA), Epidermal Sensitization Assay (EpiSensA), and human Cell Line Activation test (h-CLAT). The combined results of each test were compared with those of the Guinea Pig Maximization Test (GPMT) results. The findings of ADRA and h-CLAT were consistent with the GPMT results for seven of the nine materials, and EpiSensA was consistent with the GPMT results for eight of the nine materials. The findings of the "2 out of 3" and Sequential Testing Strategy (STS) approaches were compared with the GPMT results. The GMPT results for all nine materials were correctly predicted when the "2 out of 3" approach was used. When the STS was used, it correctly predicted the GMPT results for eight of the nine materials. Therefore, integrating the ADRA, EpiSensA, and h-CLAT may provide an effective testing method for detecting skin sensitization hazards of organic solvent extracts from medical device materials.

Meeting report of the 37th International Conference on Antiviral Research in Gold Coast, Australia, May 20-24, 2024, organized by the International Society for Antiviral Research

The 37th International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR) was held in Gold Coast, Australia, May 20-24, 2024. ICAR 2024 featured over 75 presentations along with two poster sessions and special events, including those specifically tailored for trainees and early-career scientists. The meeting served as a platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research, with presentations and discussions covering novel antiviral compounds, vaccine development, clinical trials, and therapeutic advancements. A comprehensive array of topics in antiviral science was covered, from the latest breakthroughs in antiviral drug development to innovative strategies for combating emerging viral threats. The keynote presentations provided fascinating insight into two diverse areas fundamental to medical countermeasure development and use, including virus emergence at the human-animal interface and practical considerations for bringing antivirals to the clinic. Additional sessions addressed a variety of timely post-pandemic topics, such as the hunt for broad spectrum antivirals, combination therapy, pandemic preparedness, application of in silico tools and AI in drug discovery, the virosphere, and more. Here, we summarize all the presentations and special sessions of ICAR 2024 and introduce the 38th ICAR, which will be held in Las Vegas, USA, March 17-21, 2025.

In Silico Prediction of Skin Sensitization for Compounds via Flexible Evidence Combination Based on Machine Learning and Dempster-Shafer Theory

Skin sensitization is increasingly becoming a significant concern in the development of drugs and cosmetics due to consumer safety and occupational health problems. In silico methods have emerged as alternatives to traditional in vivo animal testing due to ethical and economic considerations. In this study, machine learning methods were used to build quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models on five skin sensitization data sets (GPMT, LLNA, DPRA, KeratinoSens, and h-CLAT), achieving effective predictive accuracies (correct classification rates of 0.688-0.764 on test sets). To address the complex mechanisms of human skin sensitization, the Dempster-Shafer theory was applied to merge multiple QSAR models, resulting in an evidence-based integrated decision model. Various evidence combinations and combination rules were explored, with the self-defined Q3 rule showing superior balance. The combination of evidence such as GPMT and KeratinoSens and h-CLAT achieved a correct classification rate (CCR) of 0.880 and coverage of 0.893 while maintaining the competitiveness of other combinations. Additionally, the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) method was used to interpret important features and substructures related to skin sensitization. A comparative analysis of an external human test set demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed method. Finally, to enhance accessibility, the workflow was implemented into a user-friendly software named HSkinSensDS.

Research progress of implantation materials and its biological evaluation

With the development of modern material science, life science and medical science, implantation materials are widely employed in clinical fields. In recent years, these materials have also evolved from inert supports or functional substitutes to bioactive materials able to trigger or promote the regenerative potential of tissues. Reasonable biological evaluation of implantation materials is the premise to make sure their safe application in clinical practice. With the continual development of implantation materials and the emergence of new implantation materials, new challenges to biological evaluation have been presented. In this paper, the research progress of implantation materials, the progress of biological evaluation methods, and also the characteristics of biocompatibility evaluation for novel implantation materials, like animal-derived implantation materials, nerve contact implantation materials, nanomaterials and tissue-engineered medical products were reviewed in order to provide references for the rational biological evaluation of implantable materials.

Predictions of the Biological Effects of Several Acyclic Monoterpenes as Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils Extracted from Plants

Acyclic terpenes are biologically active natural products having applicability in medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics and other practices. Consequently, humans are exposed to these chemicals, and it is necessary to assess their pharmacokinetics profiles and possible toxicity. The present study considers a computational approach to predict both the biological and toxicological effects of nine acyclic monoterpenes: beta-myrcene, beta-ocimene, citronellal, citrolellol, citronellyl acetate, geranial, geraniol, linalool and linalyl acetate. The outcomes of the study emphasize that the investigated compounds are usually safe for humans, they do not lead to hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and endocrine disruption, and usually do not have an inhibitory potential against the cytochromes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics, excepting CYP2B6. The inhibition of CYP2B6 should be further analyzed as this enzyme is involved in both the metabolism of several common drugs and in the activation of some procarcinogens. Skin and eye irritation, toxicity through respiration and skin-sensitization potential are the possible harmful effects revealed by the investigated compounds. These outcomes underline the necessity of in vivo studies regarding the pharmacokinetics and toxicological properties of acyclic monoterpenes so as to better establish the clinical relevance of their use.