Avaliação do estresse oxidativo induzido por superfícies de titânio

Commercially pure Titanium (cp Ti) is a material largely used in orthopedic and dental implants due to its biocompatibility properties. Changes in the surface of cp Ti can determine the functional response of the cells such as facilitating implant fixation and stabilization, and increased roughness of the surface has been shown to improve adhesion and cellular proliferation. Various surface modification methods have been developed to increase roughness, such as mechanical, chemical, electrochemical and plasma treatment. An argon plasma treatment generates a surface that has good mechanical proprieties without chemical composition modification. Besides the topography, biological responses to the implant contribute significantly to its success. Oxidative stress induced by the biomaterials is considered one of the major causes of implant failure. For this reason the oxidative potential of titanium surfaces subjected to plasma treatment was evaluated on this work. CHO-k1 cells were cultivated on smooth or roughed Ti disks, and after three days, the redox balance was investigated measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, total antioxidant capacity and biomarkers of ROS attack. The results showed cells grown on titanium surfaces are subjected to intracellular oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide generation. Titanium discs subjected to the plasma treatment induced less oxidative stress than the untreated ones, which resulted in improved cellular ability. Our data suggest that plasma treated titanium may be a more biocompatible biomaterial.

Adesão, proliferação e genotoxicidade celular de celulose bacteriana modificada por plasma

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has a wide range of potential applications, namely as temporary substitute skin in the treatment of skin wounds, such as burns, ulcers and grafts. Surface properties determine the functional response of cells, an important factor for the successful development of biomaterials. This work evaluates the influence of bacterial cellulose surface treatment by plasma (BCP) on the cellular behavior and its genotoxicity potential. The modified surface was produced by plasma discharge in N2 and O2 atmosphere, and the roughness produced by ion bombardment characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cell adhesion, viability and proliferation on BCP were analysed using crystal violet staining and the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT) method. Genotoxicity was evaluated using the comet and cytokinesis block micronucleus assay. The results show that the plasma treatment changed surface roughness, producing an ideal cell attachment, evidenced by more elongated cell morphology and improved proliferation. The excellent biocompatibility of BCP was confirmed by genotoxicity tests, which showed no significant DNA damage. The BCP has therefore great potential as a new artificial implant

Avaliação in vitro da eficácia de produtos homeopáticos contendo momordica charantia através de bioensaios

Homeopathic medicines have been used for over two hundred years without the examination of their effects on in vivo and in vitro assays, due to the peculiarity of homeopathic preparations, the high dilution, which creates a challenge for the use of usual analytical techniques of quality control of medicine.Although there is scarcity of literature and variety of experiments, recently there have been some studies with few in vitro assays which have shown positive responses when evaluating the mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines which are able to act on a specific system.The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of homeopathic products containing Momordica charantia through bioassays.Homeopathic products were tested by the MTT to assess cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 (macrophage-like cells) and in tumor cells HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma cells), CHO K1 (Chinese hamster ovary cells), PANC-1 (human pancreas cancer cells) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer cells), dosage of inflammatory mediators NO, TNF-α and IL-6 released by RAW 264.7 cells, analysis of the death process and cell cycle changes of PC-3 by flow cytometry. The data demonstrate that homeopathic products of Momordica charantia did not show cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7, increased the production of inflammatory mediators by RAW 264.7 synergistically with LPS, showed cytotoxicity to PC-3 with change in its cell cycle inhibiting its proliferation, being the 30CH the most potent sample. Correlation studies were conducted in order to evaluate the possible in vitro applicable models to the quality control of homeopathic products with Momordica charantia. The data showed that the best applicable models in assessing the quality are the MTT to assess cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 and PC-3 in 24 hours for Momordica charantia fruit products and dosage of NO production by RAW 264.7 with and without LPS

Caracterização de cerâmicas porosas de alumina reforçada com zircônia produzidas pelo método da réplica

Porous ceramics have many applications: thermal insulation, catalytic support, materials to fire protection, filters, and others. There are many techniques to production of ceramic filters. One technique to obtain ceramic filters is the replication method. This method consists in the impregnation of polymeric foam with ceramic slurry followed by a heating treatment that will burn out the organic elements and sintering of the material, resulting of a replication of the original foam. To perform their functions ceramic filters must satisfy mechanical requirements and permeability parameters (darcian k1 and no-darcian k2). The permeability and the strength of the ceramic material are dependent of the pore size and pore distribution. To the use at high temperatures the evaluation of mechanical properties in these temperatures is necessary. In this work the mechanical behavior of two commercial porous ceramics (10 and 40 poros per inch) was studied these materials were submitted to compression and four-point flexure test (room temperature, at 1000 °C, after thermal shock). Density and porosity measurements, permeability tests and microstructural analysis by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) were realized. The Results showed that the decrease of mechanical strength of these materials, when submitted to thermal shock, occur for propagation of new cracks from cracks pre-existing and the permeability depends of the pore size

Recuperação e purificação de ramnolipídeos produzidos por pseudomonas aeruginosa P029-GVIIA utilizando melaço de cana como substrato

Biosurfactants are molecules produced by microorganisms mainly bacteria as Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Among the biosurfactants, rhamnolipids play an important role due to their tensoactive as well as emulsifying properties. Besides can be produced in a well consolidated way the production costs of biosurfactants are quite expansive mainly if downstream processing is goning to be considered. Actually, attention has been given to identification of biosurfactants as well as optimization of its fermentative processes including downstream ones. This work deals with the development of strategies to recovery and purification of rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa P029-GVIIA using sugar-cane molasses as substrate. Broth free of cells was used in order to investigate the best strategies to recovery and purification produced by this system. Between the studied acids (HCl and H2SO4) for the acid precipitation step, HCl was the best one as has been showed by the experimental design 24. Extraction has been carried out using petroleum ether and quantification has been done using the thioglycolic acid method. Adsorption studies were carried out with activated carbon in a batch mode using a 24 experimental design as well as combined with an hydrophobic resin Streamline Phenyl aiming to separate the produced biosurfactant. Biosurfactant partial identification was carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Experiments in batch mode showed that adsorption has been controlled mainly by pH and temperature. It was observed a reduction of 41.4% for the liquid phase and the solid phase it was possible to adsorb up to 15 mg of rhamnolipd/g of activated carbon. The kinetics of adsorption has been well fitted to a pseudo-first order reaction with velocity constant (k1) of 1.93 x 10-2 min-1. Experiments in packed bed ranging concentration on eluent (acetone) has been shown the highest recovery factor of 98% when pure acetone has been used. The combined effect if using activated carbon with an hydrophobic resin Streamline Phenyl has been shown successful for the rhamnolipids purification. It has been possible to purify a fraction of the crude broth with 98% of purity when the eluted of activated carbon packed bed was used with pure acetone

Tradução, adaptação cultural e propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira do Short-Form of the Mobility Assessment Tool (MAT-sf)

Objectives: to translate and assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian short-form of the Mobility Assessment Tool (MAT-sf) in Brazilians community elderly. Methds: the 12 items MAT-sf went through the process of translation and back translation into Portuguese of the Brazil, considering the semantic and cultural adaptation. In a sample of 150 aged 65-74 years living in the community, the instrument's psychometric properties were evaluated by analysis of convergent and construct validity and test-retest reliability. The main outcomes measures used for validation included in the battery of tests of physical ability, self-repor measures of functional limitations, health, depression, cognitive and sex. The test-retest reliability of the instrument was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), 40 subjects were reassessed after an interval of 14 days of assessment. Results: the concurrent validity for the MAT-sf was evidenced by significant correlations with SPPB (r = 0,53), number of functional limitations (r = -0,62) and depressive symptoms (r = -0,45). The construct validity of the instrument was measured by gradual and significant increase of the MAT-sf scores with high levels of physical performance and with positive self-reported health, also found that MAT-sf scores were statistically differents according to sex. The variation in MAT-sf scores (R2 = 0,41) was explained by SPPB, number of limitations for activities of daily life and depressive symptoms. High values for test-retest reliability was evidencend by ICC = 0,94, 95% CI = 0,90 0,97. Conclusions: the Brazilian version of the short-form of the Mobility Assessment Tool has values of validity and reliability to ensure its use in elderly populations living in communities

Análise do potencial genotóxico da superfície de titânio modificada por plasma

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Avaliação do caráter oxidante da violaceína

Violacein is a violet pigment isolated from many gram-negative bacteria, especially from Chromobacterium violaceum, a betaproteobacterium found in the Amazon River in Brazil. It has potential medical applications as an antibacterial, fungicide, anti-tryptanocidal, anti-ulcerogenic and anti-cancer drug, among others. Furthermore, its pro-oxidant activity has been suggested, but only in two specific tumor lineages. Thus, in the present study, the prooxidant effects of violacein were investigated in both normal and tumor cells, seeking to evaluate the cell responses. The evaluation of violacein cytotoxicity using the Trypan blue dye exclusion method indicated that CHO-K1 cells were more resistant than tumor HeLa cells. The oxidative stress induced by violacein was manifested as an increase in intracellular SOD activity in CHO-K1 and MRC-5 cells at a specific concentration range. Nevertheless, a decrease was detected specifically at 6-12 μM in HeLa and MRC-5 cells. Interestingly, the increase in SOD activity was not followed by a concomitant increase in catalase activity. Regarding to oxidative stress biomarkers, increased protein carbonylation and lipid hydroperoxides levels were detected respectively in CHO-K1 and MRC-5 cells treated with violacein at 1.5-3 μM and 3 μM, which may be an evidence that this compound causes oxidative stress specifically in these conditions. Additionally, it is believed that the decline in cell viability observed in MRC-5 cells and HeLa treated with violacein at 6-12 M is due to mechanisms not related to oxidative stress. Moreover, the results suggested that violacein might cause oxidative stress by increasing endogenous levels of O2 -, since the occurrence of an expressive change in SOD activity. In addition, in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of violacein in the absence of a biological system, the total antioxidant and iron chelating activity were evaluated, so that antioxidant activities were detected at 30 and 60 μM of violacein. Altogether, the results indicate that although oxidative stress is triggered by incubation with violacein, it did not seem to be high enough to cause serious damage to cell biomolecules in HeLa cells and only at specific concentrations in CHOK-1 and MRC-5 cells. Comparing the results obtained in cell culture and the in vitro antioxidant activity evaluation, the results confirmed that violacein presents opposing oxidant features when in presence or absence of a biological system and the antioxidant character only occurs at high concentrations of the pigment.

Avaliação do estresse oxidativo induzido por superfícies de titânio

Commercially pure Titanium (cp Ti) is a material largely used in orthopedic and dental implants due to its biocompatibility properties. Changes in the surface of cp Ti can determine the functional response of the cells such as facilitating implant fixation and stabilization, and increased roughness of the surface has been shown to improve adhesion and cellular proliferation. Various surface modification methods have been developed to increase roughness, such as mechanical, chemical, electrochemical and plasma treatment. An argon plasma treatment generates a surface that has good mechanical proprieties without chemical composition modification. Besides the topography, biological responses to the implant contribute significantly to its success. Oxidative stress induced by the biomaterials is considered one of the major causes of implant failure. For this reason the oxidative potential of titanium surfaces subjected to plasma treatment was evaluated on this work. CHO-k1 cells were cultivated on smooth or roughed Ti disks, and after three days, the redox balance was investigated measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, total antioxidant capacity and biomarkers of ROS attack. The results showed cells grown on titanium surfaces are subjected to intracellular oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide generation. Titanium discs subjected to the plasma treatment induced less oxidative stress than the untreated ones, which resulted in improved cellular ability. Our data suggest that plasma treated titanium may be a more biocompatible biomaterial.