Composition Of Microparticles Research Articles

Seasonal and Distributional Changes in the Composition and Flux of Anthropogenic Microparticles in the Surface Waters of the Charles River, Massachusetts, United States

Plastic is a growing global environmental problem. While much of the focus of anthropogenic microparticles has focused on microplastics and their occurrence in marine systems, anthropogenic microparticles are found in freshwater systems. The Charles River is a highly impacted and historically important river within Massachusetts and runs for 80 miles within the state of MA through a variety of land uses. Microparticle concentrations were found to vary along the length of the river and ranged in concentrations from 1–19 pieces/L, with generally higher concentrations downstream. Microfibers were the dominant (72%) type of microparticles found, and the majority (avg 76%) of microparticles were synthetic. The highest estimated flux of microparticles occurred in May, with an estimated flux of 2 billion microparticles per day via the Charles River into the Boston Harbor. The average annual concentration of microparticles was correlated with land use, with higher concentrations occurring in regions with higher impervious coverage and in areas designated as industrial or high-density residential. Polyester, polypropylene, and polyamides were the dominant plastic polymers. However, seasonal changes in the relative importance of each polymer, along with changes in the abundance and flux rates, indicate that there would be seasonal variability in the type of microparticles exported. Changes in composition occurred between stations and between the head and mouth of the river, suggesting particle retention due to either deposition, degradation, or biological consumption.

Droplet Microfluidics Powered Hydrogel Microparticles for Stem Cell-Mediated Biomedical Applications.

Stem cell-related therapeutic technologies have garnered significant attention of the research community for their multi-faceted applications. To promote the therapeutic effects of stem cells, the strategies for cell microencapsulation in hydrogel microparticles have been widely explored, as the hydrogel microparticles have the potential to facilitate oxygen diffusion and nutrient transport alongside their ability to promote crucial cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Despite their significant promise, there is an acute shortage of automated, standardized, and reproducible platforms to further stem cell-related research. Microfluidics offers an intriguing platform to produce stem cell-laden hydrogel microparticles (SCHMs) owing to its ability to manipulate the fluids at the micrometer scale as well as precisely control the structure and composition of microparticles. In this review, the typical biomaterials and crosslinking methods for microfluidic encapsulation of stem cells as well as the progress in droplet-based microfluidics for the fabrication of SCHMs are outlined. Moreover, the important biomedical applications of SCHMs are highlighted, including regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, scale-up production of stem cells, and microenvironmental simulation for fundamental cell studies. Overall, microfluidics holds tremendous potential for enabling the production of diverse hydrogel microparticles and is worthy for various stem cell-related biomedical applications.

Trojan Microparticles : A Composite Nanoparticle Delivery System

Abstract: In recent years, microparticulate systems have drawn growing attention as a viable strategy for delivering cells, proteins, and medications to target areas. The Nanoparticles-in-Microparticles System (NiMS) is a drug delivery method that combines nano- and microparticles to deliver medications or genes to particular bodily regions with precision. A promising method for achieving dual or multiple functions inside a formulation is the development of nanoparticle-in-microparticle systems (NiMS). NiMS comprises a microparticle (M.P.) matrix and one or more nanoparticles (N.P.s). The N.P.s can be designed to provide specific functionality, such as targeted drug delivery or imaging, while the M.P. matrix can be tailored to provide sustained release or protect the N.P.s from degradation. NiMS offer several advantages over traditional formulations, including the ability to control release profiles and achieve site-specific delivery. By combining different types of N.P.s and M.P.s, it is possible to create formulations that release drugs at different rates or with different kinetics, allowing for tailored treatment regimens. Additionally, by lowering off-target effects and boosting efficacy, the site-specific targeting offered by NiMS can enhance the therapeutic index of medications. Microparticles are small, micron-sized particles that can be loaded with therapeutic agents and designed to deliver them to specific tissues in the body. The pharmaceutical sector is developing microparticulate delivery systems for oral, pulmonary, and cutaneous administration. For instance, a promising strategy for treating respiratory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is the development of inhalable microparticles (COPD). Moreover, the use of microparticles for topical drug delivery is being studied, where they can be formulated into creams, gels, or patches for treating skin disorders. The composition of microparticles is crucial for successful tissue regeneration because the particles must be biocompatible and able to interact with the cells in the targeted tissue. In addition, the size and shape of the particles can affect their behavior and how they interact with cells. Chemical and biological sensors and devices, optical detectors, electronic components, and nanoscale production depend on nanostructures because they offer unique properties, such as increased surface area and enhanced reactivity, which can be exploited to create more efficient and effective devices.

Modification of Living Diatom, Thalassiosira weissflogii, with a Calcium Precursor through a Calcium Uptake Mechanism: A Next Generation Biomaterial for Advanced Delivery Systems.

The diatom's frustule, characterized by its rugged and porous exterior, exhibits a remarkable biomimetic morphology attributable to its highly ordered pores, extensive surface area, and unique architecture. Despite these advantages, the toxicity and nonbiodegradable nature of silica-based organisms pose a significant challenge when attempting to utilize these organisms as nanotopographically functionalized microparticles in the realm of biomedicine. In this study, we addressed this limitation by modulating the chemical composition of diatom microparticles by modulating the active silica metabolic uptake mechanism while maintaining their intricate three-dimensional architecture through calcium incorporation into living diatoms. Here, the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii was chemically modified to replace its silica composition with a biodegradable calcium template, while simultaneously preserving the unique three-dimensional (3D) frustule structure with hierarchical patterns of pores and nanoscale architectural features, which was evident by the deposition of calcium as calcium carbonate. Calcium hydroxide is incorporated into the exoskeleton through the active mechanism of calcium uptake via a carbon-concentrating mechanism, without altering the microstructure. Our findings suggest that calcium-modified diatoms hold potential as a nature-inspired delivery system for immunotherapy through antibody-specific binding.

Embedded Printing of Hydrogels and Watery Suspensions of Cells in Patterned Granular Baths.

Bioprinting within support media has emerged as the superior alternative to conventional extrusion printing. Not only because it allows for more freedom over the shapes that can be printed but also because it allows for the printing of inks that would not retain shape fidelity in freeform deposition such as watery liquids. Apart from functioning as mechanical support during embedded printing, hydrogel microparticle support media can provide the unique advantage of offering distinct chemotactic cues to cells printed in the baths by varying the composition of the hydrogel microparticles. There is great potential in compartmentalized granular baths consisting of different hydrogel particle materials in the field of tissue engineering, as these allow for the local inclusion of properties or cues to guide tissue development. In this work, we present a method to create compartmentalized embedding baths by printing multiple granular hydrogel materials that are widely used in tissue engineering. After adapting the volume fraction (φp) of the particles in the bath, we print within them using both inks composed of hydrogel or of cells and other particles suspended in watery liquid. Our process consists of the following three steps: First, the hydrogel microparticles are packed at a φp that allows them to be extruded while being reversibly jammed, facilitating the localized deposition of the granular media to form a compartmentalized bath. Second, each granular media is deposited in succession to create a packed suspension compartment, and by adding liquid post deposition, φp is reduced to allow for embedded printing. Finally, we demonstrate the printing of multiple inks within the compartmentalized embedding bath and highlight the distinct differences between using inks composed of hydrogels or inks composed of particles suspended in watery liquid. This approach combines the advantages of embedded printing through the use of granular media with the added ability to pattern multiple bioactive granular materials to locally affect the behavior of cells printed within the bath. We expect that this workflow will allow researchers to create spatially compartmentalized, customized bioactive embedding baths that allow for the embedded printing of inks composed of hydrogels, cells, and other particles adapted to their need.

Quantifying platinum binding on protein-functionalized magnetic microparticles using single particle-ICP-TOF-MS.

This work describes an analytical procedure, single particle-inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-TOF-MS), that was developed to determine the platinum binding efficiency of protein-coated magnetic microparticles. SP-ICP-TOF-MS is advantageous due to its ability to quasi-simultaneously detect all nuclides (7Li-242Pu), allowing for both platinum and iron (composition of magnetic microparticles) to be measured concurrently. This method subsequently allows for the differentiation between bound and unbound platinum. The 1 μm magnetic microparticles were fully characterized for their iron concentration, particle concentration, and trace element composition by bulk digestion-ICP-MS and SP-ICP-TOF-MS. The results of both approaches agreed with the certificate values. Using the single particle methodology the platinum loading was quantified to be to 0.18 ± 0.02 fg per particle and 0.32 ± 0.02 fg per particle, for the streptavidin-coated and azurin-coated microparticles, respectively. Both streptavidin-coated and the azurin-coated microparticles had a particle-platinum association of >65%. Platinum bound samples were also analyzed via bulk digestion-based ICP-MS. The bulk ICP-MS results overestimated platinum loading due to free platinum in the samples. This highlights the importance of single particle analysis for a closer inspection of platinum binding performance. The SP-ICP-TOF-MS approach offers advantages over typical bulk digestion methods by eliminating laborious sample preparation, enabling differentiation between bound/unbound platinum in a solution, and quantification of platinum on a particle-by-particle basis. The procedure presented here enables quantification of metal content per particle, which could be broadly implemented for other single particle applications.

Anthropogenic Microparticles in Sea-Surface Microlayer in Osaka Bay, Japan.

The abundance, distribution, and composition of microparticles (MPs) in the sea-surface microlayer (S-SML, less than 100 μm of sea surface in this experiment) and in bulk water (1 m under the sea surface) were investigated to evaluate the pollution level of MPs in Osaka Bay in Japan. Both seawater fractions were collected at eight sites including ship navigation routes, the coastal area, and the center of Osaka Bay for 2021-2023. MPs were filtered for four size ranges (10-53, 53-125, 125-500, and >500 μm) and then digested with H2O2. MPs' abundance was microscopically assessed; and polymer types of MPs were identified by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). For the 22 collections performed along eight sites, the average MPs' abundance was 903 ± 921 items/kg for S-SML, while for the 25 collections performed along the same sites, the average MPs' abundance was 55.9 ± 40.4 items/kg for bulk water, respectively. MPs in both S-SML and bulk water exhibited their highest abundance along the navigation routes. The smallest MPs (10-53 μm) accounted for 81.2% and for 62.2% of all MPs in S-SML and in bulk water among all sites, respectively. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was the major type of MPs identified while minor ones were polyethylene, polyesters, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, etc. PMMA comprised 95.1% of total MPs in S-SML and 45.6% of total MPs in bulk water. In addition, PMMA accounted for 96.6% in S-SML and 49.5% in bulk water for the smallest MP category (10-53 μm). It can be assumed that the MP sources were marine paints-primarily APPs (antifouling paint particles)-as well as land coatings. Sea pollution due to microparticles from ship vessels should be given proper attention.

ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЕ МОСКОВСКОГО МЕГАПОЛИСА: МОНИТОРИНГ ХИМИЧЕСКОГО СОСТАВА МИКРОЧАСТИЦ В СИСТЕМЕ “АТМОСФЕРА - СНЕГ - ДОРОЖНАЯ ПЫЛЬ - ПОЧВЫ - ПОВЕРХНОСТНЫЕ ВОДЫ”

A methodological framework for a system of ecological and geochemical monitoring of urban landscapes has been developed based on a joint analysis of the chemical composition of microparticles in transit (atmospheric aerosol and precipitation, river water and suspended sediments) and depositing (road dust, snow and soil covers, bottom sediments) environments. For automated monitoring on the territory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory, the Aerosol Complex has been created, and seasonal variations in mass concentrations of PM10, black carbon, metals, metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric aerosol and precipitation in the Moscow megacity has been analyzed. In the aerosol-precipitation subsystem, a high washout capacity of precipitation with respect to Pb, Sb, As, Ni, Mg, K, Al, and S in the aerosols has been revealed. The enrichment of PM10 with metals and metalloids decreases in the snow-road dust-soil series, and Sb, W, Bi, Sn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mo, and Zn are accumulated in PM10 in all three environments. The particles of PM10 suspended matter and of the Moskva River bottom sediments play a key role in transport and accumulation of Pb, Cu, Ni, and V.

Moscow Megacity Pollution: Monitoring of Chemical Composition of Microparticles in the Atmosphere–Snow–Road Dust–Soil–Surface Water System

Moscow Megacity Pollution: Monitoring of Chemical Composition of Microparticles in the Atmosphere–Snow–Road Dust–Soil–Surface Water System

Numerical Simulation of the Production of Core-Shell Microparticles

Conventional methods that are commonly used for the preparation of microbubble delivery systems include sonication, high-shear emulsification, and membrane emulsification. However, these methods present significant disadvantages, namely, poor control over the particle size and distribution. To date, engineering core-shell microparticles remains a challenging task. Thus, there is a demand for new techniques that can enable control over the size, composition, stability, and uniformity of microparticles. Microfluidic techniques offer great advantages in the fabrication of microparticles over the conventional processes because they require mild and inert processing conditions. In this work, we present a numerical study based on the finite volume method, for the development of capsules by considering the rheological properties of three phases, air, a perfluorohexane (C6 F14) and a polymeric solution constituted of a solution of 0.25% w/v alginate. This methodology allows studying the stability and behavior of microparticles under different processing conditions.

Morphological and Mineralogical Characteristics of Atmospheric Microparticles and Chemical Pollution of Street Dust in the Moscow Region

Comprehensive morphological and mineralogical studies of atmospheric microparticles sampled on the roof of the museum complex and near roads in the town of Istra, Moscow region, have been carried out. Morphological research at different hierarchical levels revealed the multicomponent composition of microparticles and made it possible to identify the most characteristic groups of microparticles of natural and anthropogenic origin. The composition of the studied atmospheric microparticles is dominated by mineral grains of quartz and feldspars; biotite and calcite are singly noted, which reflects the ecological and geographical conditions of their formation, namely the Central Russian mineralogical province. A small share of technogenic particles in the composition of aerosol fallout indicates a low level of technogenic load and a favorable environmental situation in the study area, largely due to the protective functions of the forest park zone. The results of determining the material composition and calculating the enrichment factors also indicate a low level of technogenic impact on the natural environment.

Thermostimulated crystal structure transformation of the polymineral clay submicron particles

Changes in the structure of phyllosilicate microparticles of submicron fractions of polymineral clay with an average size of 290 nm, as well as changes in the positions of impurity ions of transition metals in the crystal lattice, were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The main composition of microparticles included clinochlore, montmorillonite, calcite, and quartz. Structural transformations were stimulated by heating the samples to 1200 K at a rate of 10 K/min. A decrease in the number of crystal structures of microparticles was recorded due to the amorphization of montmorillonite, the decomposition of calcite, and the formation of sillimanite. Structural rearrangements of crystal cells containing impurity paramagnetic ions Fe3+ and Mn2+ in submicron particles of clinochlore and montmorillonite, accompanied by displacements and changes in the chemical bonds of these ions, were recorded by the ion-electron paramagnetic resonance method. It is shown that when microparticles were heated to 1200 K, the impurity paramagnetic ions of transition metals did not go beyond their crystal cells.

Microplastic in northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) and common murres (Uria aalge) from the Monterey Bay, California USA - Insights into prevalence, composition, and estrogenic activity

Microplastic (particle size <5 mm) is considered an emerging threat to the marine environment, yet data are limited for coastal ecosystems. To provide information related to microplastic in a coastal system, we used alkaline tissue digestion and Raman spectroscopy to quantify the prevalence and composition (e.g. fiber, fragment, foam, etc.) of anthropogenic microparticles in the digestive tracts of northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax, anchovy, n = 24), and common murres (Uria aalge, murre, n = 19) from the Monterey Bay, California USA. We also determined microplastic prevalence and composition in seawater (n = 12 17-h sampling periods representing ∼46,000 L sampled) from two Monterey Bay intake systems (Moss Landing, CA and Santa Cruz, CA USA). Microparticles recovered from murre digestive tracts were assessed for estrogenic activity using an in-vitro estrogen receptor activation assay. Suspected anthropogenic microparticles based on visual characteristics were recovered from all sample types with ∼2 particles per 1000 L from the seawater sampling periods, 58% prevalence in anchovies, and 100% prevalence in murres. Across samples of seawater, anchovies, and murres, the most abundant microparticle type found were fibers (78%), followed by fragments (13%), foam (6%), film (2%), and beads (1%). Raman spectroscopy identified 57% of microparticles (excluding dye-prominent and unknown) as plastic (synthetic, semi-synthetic, or blends). Almost one quarter (23%) of the murre digestive tracts contained microparticles that exhibited estrogenic activity. Our study describes the widespread occurrence, composition, and potential estrogenic activity of microplastic in the Monterey Bay and provides important information to aid in the understanding of microplastic contamination in coastal systems.

Assessment of the influence of the composition of atmospheric microparticles on redox homeostasis of alveolar macrophages

Introduction. The components and dimensions of suspended particulate matter (SPM) depend on territory, the sources of generation. The aim is to assess the relationship between the quality and dispersed composition of atmospheric SPMs with oxidative and antioxidant processes in alveolar macrophages. Materials and methods. The impact of actual multi component pollution of the surface layer of atmospheric air on alveolar macrophages (AMs) of Wistar rats was modelled. Correlations between the characteristics of AMs and pollution were assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results. The predominant contribution of the quality characteristics of SPM has been founded. The effect of the dispersed composition increases with an increase of the finely dispersed particles fraction. Metal particles have caused oxidative damage to lipids, with the formation of stable lipid products. The antioxidant system (AOS) has been characterized by the activation of compensatory response. Mineral components have caused irreversible oxidative damage to lipid and protein compounds, activating the thioredoxin formation. Soot particles have showed the most pathogenic effect, leading to oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The AOS stress was accompanied by an increase in the formation of oxidized glutathione and thioredoxin, which performs restoration of proteins and DNA. Limitations. Our study characterizes the response of the AMs of a particular territory. Conclusion. The established tendencies characterize the impact of composition of SPMs of the urban atmospheric on AMs. The study made it possible to identify the most sensitive criteria for the response of AMs upon contact with atmospheric SPMs (thioredoxin, protein carbonyl, 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine).

Microfluidic emulsification techniques for controllable emulsion production and functional microparticle synthesis

Emulsions play important roles in template synthesis of functional microparticles for myriad fields. The size, shape, composition and structure of emulsion droplets generally determine those features of the resultant microparticles and their functions. Precise control over these features of emulsions is vital to template synthesis of controllable application-oriented microparticles with advanced functions. This review summarizes recent progress on microfluidic emulsification techniques for controllable emulsion production and functional microparticle synthesis. First, versatile microfluidic emulsification techniques for controllable generation of emulsions from simple single emulsions to complex multiple emulsions are introduced. The flexible structural changes of emulsions induced by regulating the mesoscale structures of packed surfactant molecules at the interfaces are discussed. Then, rational synthesis of microparticles with controllable sizes, shapes, compositions, structures and functions from emulsion templates are introduced. The rational design of emulsion templates and interplay between the shape, structure and composition of microparticles to achieve desired functions for applications such as controlled release, water remediation, and catalysis are highlighted. Particularly, interplay between the mesoscale structures of functional components in the emulsion templates and the fine structures and advanced functions of certain microparticles, is discussed. Finally, future development of microfluidics in controllable emulsion production and microparticle synthesis is discussed.

Screening of optimum composition of superparamagnetic nanocomposite microparticles modified with various layered double hydroxides for phosphorus removal

Superparamagnetic nanocomposite microparticles (NCMPs) modified with various layered double hydroxides (LDHs) (MgFe, MgAl and their Zr-doped equivalents) were investigated for phosphorus (P) removal. Screening of optimum composition was performed based on the P removal performance of NCMP@LDH particles as well as their magnetic separability in a flow-through column as a function of NCMP content (100–1000 mg) and stability as a function of LDH content (20–100%). The results showed that except for NCMP@MgFe-Zr, all the other particles exhibited a partial dissolution of LDH components at each of the examined LDH contents. However, NCMP@MgFe-Zr showed no dissolution up to a LDH content of 60% at all, whereas a partial dissolution occurred at a LDH content of 80 and 100%. Results of magnetic separability test revealed that the NCMP@MgFe-Zr composed of 500 mg magnetic particle (NCMP) and 60% LDH was separated from the solution with a separation efficiency of 96.9%, while lower NCMP contents resulted in lower separation efficiencies. P removal efficiency and specific removal capacity of the NCMP@MgFe-Zr with the optimized composition was found to be 18.5% and 53.1 mg/g, respectively. The crystal structure, chemical composition, surface morphology, crystallite size and particle size distribution, functional groups and magnetic properties of the NCMP and NCMP@MgFe-Zr particles were confirmed by various characterization analysis. The observed results clearly demonstrates that the NCMP@MgFe-Zr with the optimized composition remained stable during the removal experiments and enabled the removal of P under the conditions of acidic pH and relatively high P concentration without LDH dissolution.

Investigation of the influence of the features of the deposition process on the structural features of microparticles in PVD coatings

The article discusses the specifics of the formation of the coating structure when the vacuum arc evaporator with controlled accelerated motion of a cathode spot of Arc-PVD (CAA-PVD) is used. The article also presents the results of the studies focused on the relationship between the shape and the crystalline structure of the microparticles formed during the coating deposition process and the spatial arrangement of a sample in the chamber of the unit. The influence of the structure of the contact zone between a microparticle and the substrate surface on the crystalline structure of a microparticle was analyzed. The conducted experiments detected the relationship between a solidified microparticle and its initial size. The studies focused on the phase composition of microparticles confirmed a hypothesis on the formation of a nitride shell around a metallic core.

Quantitative Determination of Ivermectin in Polymer Microspheres

Introduction. Ivermectin is known as a veterinary agent with a wide spectrum of action against endo-and exoparasites of farm animals, which makes its use promising. Therefore, the possibility of creating prolonged parenteral dosage forms using polymer biodegradable carriers is currently being investigated. To carry out their quality control, a method of quantitative determination of the active substance is necessary. Most of the previously proposed methods are characterized by time-consuming sample preparation, complex composition of the mobile phase or a long analysis time, therefore, during the development of an injectable prolonged preparation of ivermectin based on polycaprolactone microparticles, a new method for the quantitative determination of ivermectin was proposed, which is simple and suitable for use in production.Aim. Development of a method for the quantitative determination of ivermectin in the composition of polycaprolactone microparticles and its validation.Materials and methods. Microparticles with ivermectin were used as the object of the study. The method of quantitative determination of ivermectin in the test sample was developed on a high-performance liquid chromatograph Dionex UltiMate 3000 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA), equipped with a diode-matrix detector.Results and discussion. In this paper, various conditions for the quantitative determination of ivermectin in the composition of polymer microparticles are studied. Based on the obtained data and results, a method has been developed that has optimal sample preparation and analysis conditions.Conclusion. As a result of the development, the conditions for the analysis were selected, which allow us to evaluate the quantitative content of ivermectin in the sample. The method was validated for the parameters specificity, analytical area, linearity, trueness, repeatability, intermediate precision.

Shell-formation mediated surface composition of uniform two-component microparticles fabricated by micro-fluidic spray drying: Effect of component size and solubility

This work is aimed to study the effects of component size and solubility on the surface composition of spray dried (SD) uniform two-component particles fabricated by micro-fluidic spray dryer. Various precursor liquid consisting of small molecular of methionine (Met, 33 g/L) or lysine (Lys, 739 g/L) and large-sized silica (12 nm) were prepared by adjusting the mass ratio of components. X-ray energy dispersive results showed that the respective enrichment degree (De) of Met and Lys on the surface of SD-M1S9 and -L1S9 prepared at 150 °C were 182 ± 9% and 125 ± 14%. The De of hydrophobic Met for SD-M1S1 and -M9S1 were 46 ± 9% and 4 ± 2%, respectively, whereas relative hydrophilic Lys mainly distributed internal of the particle meanwhile the De of silica on the surface for SD-L1S1 and -L9S1 were 17 ± 4% and 12 ± 1%, respectively. Drying temperature (120 and 180 °C) showed more apparent effect on the De of amino acid for the particles of less amino acid. The possible formation mechanism of surface composition and the surface composition impact on the wettability of particles were explored. These results provide new guidance for manufacturing functional SD powders with various components.

Identification of the phase composition of solid microparticles in the nasal mucosa of patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis using Raman microspectroscopy

Solid particles, predominantly in micron and submicron sizes, have repeatedly been observed as a threat to a human health unique compared to the other textures of the same materials. In this work, the hypothesis the solid metal-based particles play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was investigated in patients who had not responded positively to medication. In the group of 40 randomly selected patients indicated for surgical mucotomy, the presence of solid micro- and submicron particles present in their nasal mucosa was assessed. For comparison, a set of 13 reference samples from patients without diagnosed chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was evaluated. The analysis was performed using Raman microspectroscopy. The advantage of this method is the direct identification of compounds. The main detected compounds in the mucosa samples of patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis were TiO2, carbon-based compounds, CaCO3, Ca(Fe, Mg, Mn)(CO3)2 MgCO3, Fe2O3, BaSO4, FeCO3 and compounds of Al and Si, all of which may pose a health risk to a living organism. In the reference samples, only TiO2 and amorphous carbon were found. In the control group mucosa, a significantly lower presence of most of the assessed compounds was found despite the longer time they had to accumulate them due to their higher mean age. Identification and characterisation of such chemicals compounds in a living organism could contribute to the overall picture of the health of the individual and lead to a better understanding of the possible causes not only in the chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, but also in other mucosal and idiopathic diseases.