Synthesis of nanocomposites of iron oxide/gold (Fe3O4/Au) loaded on activated carbon and their application in water treatment by using sonochemistry: Optimization study

This paper focuses on the finding best operational conditions using response surface methodology (RSM) for Rhodamine123 (R123) and Disulfine blue (DSB) dyes removal by ultrasound assisted adsorption onto Au-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon (Au-Fe₃O₄ NPs-AC). The influences of variables such as initial R123 (X₁) and DSB concentration (X₂), pH (X₃), adsorbent mass (X₄) and sonication time (X₅) on their removal were investigated by small central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology. The significant variables and the possible interactions among variables were investigated and estimated accordingly. The best conditions were set as: 4min, 4.0, 0.025g, 13.5 and 26.5mgL^-1 for sonication time, pH, adsorbent weight, initial R123 and DSB concentration, respectively. At above conditions, the adsorption equilibrium and kinetic follow the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, respectively. The maximum monolayer capacity (Q_max) of 71.46 and 76.38mgg^-1 for R123 and DSB show sufficiency of model for well presentation of experimental data.

A traditional poly herbal medicine "Le Pana Guliya" induces apoptosis in HepG2 and HeLa cells but not in CC1 cells: an in vitro assessment

"Le Pana Guliya" (LPG) is a polyherbal formulation which is used to treat different types of cancers in traditional medicine. In this study we describe in vitro efficacy and mechanism of action of LPG on two cancer cell lines (HepG2 and HeLa) compared with a normal cell line CC1. The MTT, LDH assays and protein synthesis were used to study antiproliferative activity of LPG while NO synthesis and GSH content were assayed to determine the oxidative stress exerted by LPG. Rhodamine 123 staining, caspase 3 activity, DNA fragmentation and microscopic examination of cells stained with ethidium bromide/acridine orange were used to identify the apoptosis mechanisms associated with LPG. The LPG showed the most potent antiproliferative effect against the proliferation of HepG2 and HeLa cells with an EC50 value of 2.72 ± 1.36 and 19.03 ± 2.63 µg/mL for MTT assay after 24 h treatment respectively. In contrast, CC1 cells showed an EC50 value of 213.07 ± 7.71 µg/mL. Similar results were observed for LDH release. A dose dependent decrease in protein synthesis was shown in both cancer cell types compared to CC1 cells. The reduction of GSH content and elevation of cell survival with exogenous GSH prove that the LPG act via induction of oxidative stress. LPG also stimulates the production of NO and mediates oxidative stress. Rhodamine 123 assay shows the mitochondrial involvement in cell death by depletion of Δψ inducing downstream events in apoptosis. This results in increase in caspase-3 activity eventually DNA fragmentation and LPG induced apoptotic cell death. In conclusion the present study suggested that the LPG exerted an anticancer activity via oxidative stress dependent apoptosis. Therefore present study provides the scientific proof of the traditional knowledge in using LPG as an anticancer agent.

Establishment and characterization of an MDCK cell line stably-transfected with chicken Abcb1 encoding P-glycoprotein

Chicken P-glycoprotein (chP-gp), encoded by Abcb1, determines the bioavailability because of its effect on pharmacokinetics of various drugs. However, comprehensive studies on chP-gp are still limited. In this study, the chicken full-length cDNA was first successfully cloned and then stably expressed in MDCK cell line. The open reading frame of chicken Abcb1 consists of 3864 nucleotides, encoding for a 1287-amino acid protein. Sequence alignments analysis showed that chicken P-gp had high identities with the homologues of turkey (95%), human (72%), pig (72%), rat (71%) and cattle (68%). The efflux ratio of rhodamine123 (Rho123, a human P-gp substrate) in chAbcb1 transfected MDCK cells was significantly higher than that in the wild type MDCK cell (6.24 vs 1.64, P<0.05), suggesting a good transporting function of chicken P-gp overexpressed in the transfected cell. Importantly, MDCK-chAbcb1 cells, unlike Caco-2 cells, exhibited biphasic saturation kinetics in transporting Rho123. In conclusion, an MDCK cell line stably expressing chAbcb1 was successfully established, which could provide a new cell model to screen its substrates and inhibitors and study the drug-drug interaction medicated via chicken P-gp.