Characterization of PLGA microparticles as a drug carrier for 3-ethoxycarbonyl-2H-benzofuro[3,2-f]-1-benzopyran-2-one. Ultrastructural study of cellular uptake and intracellular distribution

Here we describe the application of microparticles (MPs) for the delivery and release of the drug a benzopsoralen. We also evaluated the intracellular distribution and cellular uptake of the drug by using an encapsulation technique for therapeutic optimization. MPs containing the compound 3-ethoxycarbonyl-2H-benzofuro[3,2-f]-1-benzopyran-2-one (psoralen A) were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique, and parameters such as particle size, drug encapsulation efficiency, effect of the encapsulation process on the drug's photochemistry, zeta potential, external morphology, and < i > in vitro release behavior were evaluated. The intracellular distribution of MPs as well as their uptake by tissues were monitored. Size distribution studies using dynamic ligh scattering and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the MPs are spherical in shape with a diameter of 1.4 mu m. They present low tendency toward aggregation, as confirmed by their zeta potential (+10.6 mV). The loading efficiency obtained was 75%. As a consequence of the extremely low diffusivity of the drug in aqueous medium, the drug release profile of the MPs in saline phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was much slower than that obtained in the biological environment. Among the population of peritoneal phagocytic cells, only macrophages were able to phagocytose poly-d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) MP. The use of psoralen A in association with ultraviolet light (360 nm) revealed morphological characteristics of cell damage such as cytoplasmic vesiculation, mitochondria condensation, and swelling of both the granular endoplasmatic reticulum and the nuclear membrane. These results indicate that PLGA MP could be a promising delivery system for psoralen in connection with ultraviolet irradiation therapy (PUVA).

Benzocaine-loaded polymeric nanocapsules: Study of the anesthetic activities

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

15d-PGJ2-loaded in nanocapsules enhance the antinociceptive properties into rat temporomandibular hypernociception

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Charged particle transverse momentum spectra in pp collisions at √s = 0:9 and 7 TeV

The charged particle transverse momentum (pT) spectra are presented for pp collisions at √s = 0:9 and 7TeV. The data samples were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and correspond to integrated luminosities of 231 μb-1 and 2.96 pb-1, respectively. Calorimeter-based high-transverse-energy triggers are employed to enhance the statistical reach of the high-pT measurements. The results are compared with leading and next-toleading order QCD and with an empirical scaling of measurements at different collision energies using the scaling variable xT - 2pT=ps over the pT range up to 136 GeV/c. Using a combination of xT scaling and direct interpolation at fixed pT, a reference transverse momentum spectrum at √s = 2:76TeV is constructed, which can be used for studying high-pT particle suppression in the dense QCD medium produced in heavy-ion collisions at that centre-of-mass energy. Copyright CERN.

Search for supersymmetry in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV in events with a single lepton, jets, and missing transverse momentum

Results are reported from a search for physics beyond the standard model in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7TeV, focusing on the signature with a single, isolated, high-transverse-momentum lepton (electron or muon), energetic jets, and large missing transverse momentum. The data sample comprises an integrated luminosity of 36 pb-1, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The search is motivated by models of new physics, including supersymmetry. The observed event yields are consistent with standard model backgrounds predicted using control samples obtained from the data. The characteristics of the event sample are consistent with those expected for the production of tt̄ and W+jets events. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the parameter space for the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model.

Measurement of the underlying event activity at the LHC with √s = 7 TeV and comparison with √s = 0:9 TeV

A measurement of the underlying activity in events with a jet of transverse momentum in the several GeV region is performed in proton-proton collisions at √ s = 0:9 and 7TeV, using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The production of charged particles with pseudorapidity |η|<2 and transverse momentum pT >0:5 GeV/c is studied in the azimuthal region transverse to that of the leading set of charged particles forming a track-jet. A significant growth of the average multiplicity and scalar-pT sum of the particles in the transverse region is observed with increasing pT of the leading trackjet, followed by a much slower rise above a few GeV/c. For track-jet pT larger than a few GeV/c, the activity in the transverse region is approximately doubled with a centreof- mass energy increase from 0:9 to 7TeV. Predictions of several QCD-inspired models as implemented in pythia are compared to the data.

Embriogênese somática e transformação genética de soja via biobal��stica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hidroquímica dos lagos Bolonha e Água Preta, mananciais de Bel��m-Pará

A Região Metropolitana de Bel��m é abastecida com água potável pela Companhia de Saneamento do Pará (COSANPA), que utiliza os mananciais do Utinga, lagos Bolonha e Água Preta, considerados os mais importantes da região, responsáveis pelo abastecimento de 75% dessa população. Os mananciais recebem diuturnamente contribuição das águas do rio Guamá, para manter seus níveis de água. A amostragem das águas (superficiais e fundo) foi feita em 12 pontos, 11 no lago Água Preta e 1 no lago Bolonha. Todas as coletas foram realizadas com o auxilio de uma garrafa hidrol��gica (Niskin). O trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os parâmetros abióticos como temperatura, turbidez, cor aparente, condutividade el��trica, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, nitrato, N-amoniacal, fosfato, sólidos suspensos e transparência da água, para avaliar seu comportamento frente a sazonal idade e hidrologia nos lagos. As variáveis hidrol��gicas estudadas foram vazões de entrada e saída dos lagos, precipitação pluviométrica, variação dos níveis de água e variação dos volumes de água. A batimetria no lago Água Preta foi realizada para obter dados atuais de profundidades médias. Aos resultados foi aplicado um tratamento estatístico a fim de avaliar as relações entre os parâmetros estudados. Os parâmetros turbidez, cor aparente e sólidos suspensos tiveram concentrações mais elevadas no período de menor precipitação pluviométrica e apresentaram valore variando entre 4 e 59 UNT; 15 a 550 mg L��¹ Pt Co e 1 a 57 mg L��¹, respectivamente. A condutividade el��trica mostrou distribuição semelhante à dos parâmetros físicos analisados, com maiores concentrações no período de menor precipitação pluviométrica, e variou de 35,40 µ S/cm¯¹ a 149,70 µ S/cm¯¹. Os nutrientes estudados (nitrato, N-amoniacal e fosfato) apresentaram valores máximos de 1,4 mg L��¹ 1,34 mg¯¹ e 1,6 mg L��¹., respectivamente.

Structural and thermal properties of spray-dried methotrexate-loaded biodegradable microparticles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Search for supersymmetry in events with b jets and missing transverse momentum at the LHC

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Measurement of the inclusive Z cross section via decays to tau pairs in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Missing transverse energy performance of the CMS detector

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Silicon(IV) phthalocyanine-loaded-nanoparticles for application in photodynamic process

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of biodegradable nanoparticles containing a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy. The poly (D,L lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles were studied by steady-state techniques, time-resolved fluorescence, and laser flash photolysis. The external morphology of the nanoparticles was established by scanning electron microscopy, and the biological activity was evaluated by in vitro cell culture by 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2,5 biphenyl) tetrazolium bromide assay. The particles were spherical in shape exhibiting a 435 nm diameter with a low tendency to aggregate. The loading efficiency was 77%. The phthalocyanine-loaded-nanoparticles maintained their photophysical behavior after encapsulation. The cellular viability was determined, obtaining 70% of cellular death. All the performed physical-chemical, photophysical, and photobiological measurements indicated that the phthalocyanine-loaded-nanoparticles are a promising drug delivery system for photodynamic therapy and photoprocesses. (C) 2012 Laser Institute of America.

PLGA microspheres containing bee venom proteins for preventive immunotherapy

Bee venom (BV) allergy is potentially dangerous for allergic individuals because a single bee sting may induce an anaphylactic reaction, eventually leading to death. Currently, venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the only treatment with long-lasting effect for this kind of allergy and its efficiency has been recognized worldwide. This therapy consists of subcutaneous injections of gradually increasing doses of the allergen. This causes patient lack of compliance due to a long time of treatment with a total of 30-80 injections administered over years. In this article we deal with the characterization of different MS-PLGA formulations containing BV proteins for VIT. The PLGA microspheres containing BV represent a strategy to replace the multiple injections, because they can control the solute release. Physical and biochemical methods were used to analyze and characterize their preparation. Microspheres with encapsulation efficiencies of 49-75% were obtained with a BV triphasic release profile. Among them, the MS-PLGA 34 kDa-COOH showed to be best for VIT because they presented a low initial burst (20%) and a slow BV release during lag phase. Furthermore, few conformational changes were observed in the released BV. Above all, the BV remained immunologically recognizable, which means that they could continuously stimulate the immune system. Those microspheres containing BV could replace sequential injections of traditional VIT with the remarkable advantage of reduced number of injections. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of chemical composition on the corrosion of dental alloys

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the oral environment on the corrosion of dental alloys with different compositions, using electrochemical methods. The corrosion rates were obtained from the current-potential curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The effect of artificial saliva on the corrosion of dental alloys was dependent on alloy composition. Dissolution of the ions occurred in all tested dental alloys and the results were strongly dependent on the general alloy composition. Regarding the alloys containing nickel, the Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Ti alloys released 0.62 mg/L of Ni on average, while the Co-Cr dental alloy released ions between 0.01 and 0.03 mg/L of Co and Cr, respectively.The open-circuit potential stabilized at a higher level with lower deviation (standard deviation: Ni-Cr-6Ti = 32 mV/SCE and Co-Cr = 54 mV/SCE). The potenciodynamic curves of the dental alloys showed that the Ni-based dental alloy with >70 wt% of Ni had a similar curve and the Co-Cr dental alloy showed a low current density and hence a high resistance to corrosion compared with the Ni-based dental alloys. Some changes in microstructure were observed and this fact influenced the corrosion behavior for the alloys. The lower corrosion resistance also led to greater release of nickel ions to the medium. The quantity of Co ions released from the Co-Cr-Mo alloy was relatively small in the solutions. In addition, the quantity of Cr ions released into the artificial saliva from the Co-Cr alloy was lower than Cr release from the Ni-based dental alloys.