DMSO Research Articles

Characterization Of Keratinases From Bacillus Spp.

The present study deals with the characterization of keratinases from Bacillus brevis and Bacillus cereus isolated from the poultry wastes. During the enzyme-substrate reaction, the crude keratinases of the two bacteria showed their maximum activity at 35 and 500C and pH 10 and pH 8 with optimum incubation period of 80 and 70 minutes, respectively. The keratinases showed their activity towards casein, keratin, BSA and gelatine. It was found that keratinases belongs to metalloprotease and serine protease. Ca2+, Mg2+ and Triton X-100 increased the activity of both the keratinases, while Cu2+ and Hg2+ decreased the activity. β-Mercaptoethanol and Dimethyl sulfoxide increased the crude keratinase activity of B. brevis and B. cereus respectively, while β-Mercaptoethanol had negative effect on keratinase of B. cereus. The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 7(1 &2):109-119, 2012.

Towards Single-Polymer-Based Fully Printed Textile-Based Flexible Ag2O-Zn Battery for Wearable Electronics

Printed textile-based flexible batteries are gaining attention in several applications, but they are becoming more relevant to the health care industry in terms of realizing wearable and skin-conformable electronic devices. A flexible battery must ideally be deformable along multiple directions. In this work, with an aim to develop a fully printed omnidirectional deformable battery, we report the fabrication process of a novel single-polymer-based flexible non-rechargeable planar Ag2O-Zn battery on a textile substrate using the stencil printing method. Except for the electrolyte, all the components of the battery, including the current collectors, the anode, the cathode, and the separator membrane, are fabricated using a single polymer, namely styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS). To fabricate the SEBS separator, we introduce the solvent evaporation-induced phase separation (SEIPS) process. In the SEIPS method, toluene and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are selected as the solvent–nonsolvent pair. The SEBS: toluene: DMSO system with a wt% ratio of 6:85:9 showed improved performance regarding the OCV tests. A polyacrylic acid (PAA)-based alkaline polymer gel is used as an electrolyte. The demonstrated process is simple, and, with suitable modifications, it should find its use in the development of digitally printed alkaline batteries.

Accurate Prediction of 1H NMR Chemical Shifts of Small Molecules Using Machine Learning

NMR is widely considered the gold standard for organic compound structure determination. As such, NMR is routinely used in organic compound identification, drug metabolite characterization, natural product discovery, and the deconvolution of metabolite mixtures in biofluids (metabolomics and exposomics). In many cases, compound identification by NMR is achieved by matching measured NMR spectra to experimentally collected NMR spectral reference libraries. Unfortunately, the number of available experimental NMR reference spectra, especially for metabolomics, medical diagnostics, or drug-related studies, is quite small. This experimental gap could be filled by predicting NMR chemical shifts for known compounds using computational methods such as machine learning (ML). Here, we describe how a deep learning algorithm that is trained on a high-quality, “solvent-aware” experimental dataset can be used to predict 1H chemical shifts more accurately than any other known method. The new program, called PROSPRE (PROton Shift PREdictor) can accurately (mean absolute error of <0.10 ppm) predict 1H chemical shifts in water (at neutral pH), chloroform, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methanol from a user-submitted chemical structure. PROSPRE (pronounced “prosper”) has also been used to predict 1H chemical shifts for >600,000 molecules in many popular metabolomic, drug, and natural product databases.

Vitrification of feline ovarian tissue: Comparison of protocols based on equilibration time and temperature

Global contraction of biodiversity pushed most members of Felidae into threatened or endangered list except the domestic cat (Felis catus) thence preferred as the best model for conservation studies. One of the emerging conservation strategies is vitrification of ovarian tissue which is field-friendly but not yet standardized. Thus, our main goal was to establish a suitable vitrification protocol for feline ovarian tissue in field condition. Feline ovarian tissue fragments were punched with biopsy punch (1.5 mm diameter) and divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was fresh control (Fr), while the other three were exposed to 3 vitrification protocols (VIT_CT, VIT_RT1 and VIT_RT2). VIT_CT involved two step equilibrations in solutions containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG) for 10 min each at 4 °C. VIT_RT1 involved three step equilibration in solutions containing DMSO, EG, polyvinylpyrrolidone and sucrose for 14 min in total at room temperature, while in VIT_RT2 all conditions remained the same as in VIT_RT1 except equilibration timing which was reduced by half. After vitrification and warming, fragments were morphologically evaluated and then cultured for six days. Subsequently, follicular morphology, cellular proliferation (expression of Ki-67, MCM-7) and apoptosis (expression of caspase-3) were evaluated, and data obtained were analysed using generalised linear mixed model and chi square tests. Proportions of intact follicles were higher in Fr (P = 0.0001) and VIT_RT2 (P = 0.0383) in comparison to the other protocols both post warming and after the six-day culture. Generally, most follicles remained at primordial state which was confirmed by the low expression of Ki-67, MCM-7 markers. In conclusion, VIT_RT2 protocol, which has lower equilibration time at room temperature has proven superior thus recommended for vitrification of feline ovarian tissue.

P35 Adaptation of a phenotypic screening assay to incorporate 384-well plates: opening the door to high-throughput screening

Abstract Introduction and aims High-throughput screening has significantly impacted drug discovery by increasing speed of experiments and reducing reagent and sample costs. We have previously developed several screening assays to measure myofibroblast inhibition via quantification of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, in a 96-well format. Currently, there are no drugs for the treatment of hypertrophic scarring, a major side-effect of burn injuries that occurs by myofibroblast transformation, leaving a huge gap in this sector. The aim for this project was to adapt our current assay for use in 384-well microplates. Methods Human primary dermal fibroblasts were transformed to myofibroblasts using 10 ng mL−1 transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. α-SMA expression was measured using the In-Cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, with cell viability measured using DRAQ5 nuclear staining. Assay accuracy and reliability was determined by calculating the robust z-factor, with guidelines set to an average score over 0.5, with a minimum score per plate above 0.4. To further validate the assay, concentration-response curves (CRCs) for the drug vehicle [dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)] and our tool compound (SB-505124) were constructed at varying concentrations, in coincubation with TGF-β1. Results Optimization of well metrics was performed, producing an average robust z-factor of 0.52, confirming the assay Results are reliable and reproducible. The DMSO CRC produced no significant drop in cell viability at concentrations that are expected to be used in the screening of compounds. Our tool compound (SB-505124) produced a concentration-dependant curve for the inhibition of myofibroblast transformation. Conclusions A 384-well assay has been designed, tested and validated for the determination of myofibroblast transformation in human primary dermal fibroblasts. The assay has been shown to deliver an average robust z-factor of above 0.5, it contains a positive control and is compatible with compounds stored in up to 100% DMSO.

Astilbin inhibited neutrophil extracellular traps in gouty arthritis through suppression of purinergic P2Y6 receptor

BackgroundGouty arthritis (GA), a common inflammatory condition triggered by monosodium urate crystal accumulation, often necessitates safer treatment alternatives due to the limitations of current therapies. Astilbin, a flavonoid from Smilax glabra Roxb, has demonstrated potential in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the anti-GA effect and its underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated. PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of astilbin in GA, focusing on its effects on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), as well as the potential molecular target of GA both in vitro and in vivo. Study designFirstly, astilbin inhibited the citrullinated histone H3 (Cit h3) protein levels and reduced the NETs formation in neutrophils stimulated by monosodium urate (MSU). Secondly, we wondered the effect of astilbin on migration of neutrophils and dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO)-differentiated HL-60 (dHL-60) cells under the stimulation of MSU. Then, the effect of astilbin on suppressing NETs through purinergic P2Y6 receptor (P2Y6R) and Interlukin-8 (IL-8)/ CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) pathway was investigated. Also, the relationship between P2Y6R and IL-8/CXCR2 was explored in dHL-60 cells under stimulation of MSU. Finally, we testified the effect of astilbin on reducing NETs in GA through suppressing P2Y6R and then down-regulating IL-8/CXCR2 pathway. MethodsMSU was used to induce NETs in neutrophils and dHL-60 cells. Real-time formation of NETs and migration of neutrophils were monitored by cell living imaging with or without MSU. Then, the effect of astilbin on NETs formation, P2Y6R and IL-8/CXCR2 pathway were detected by immunofluorescence (IF) and western blotting. P2Y6R knockdown dHL-60 cells were established by small interfering RNA to investigate the association between P2Y6R and IL-8/CXCR2 pathway. Also, plasmid of P2Y6R was used to overexpress P2Y6R in dHL-60 cells, which was employed to explore the role of P2Y6R in astilbin inhibiting NETs. Within the conditions of knockdown and overexpression of P2Y6R, migration and NETs formation were assessed by transmigration assay and IF staining, respectively. In vivo, MSU-induced GA mice model was established to assess the effect of astilbin on inflammation by haematoxylin-eosin and ELISA. Additionally, the effects of astilbin on neutrophils infiltration, NETs, P2Y6R and IL-8/CXCR2 pathway were analyzed by IF, ELISA, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting. ResultsUnder MSU stimulation, astilbin significantly suppressed the level of Cit h3 and NETs formation including the fluorescent expressions of Cit h3, neutrophils elastase, myeloperoxidase, and intra/extracellular DNA. Also, results showed that MSU caused NETs release in neutrophils as well as a trend towards recruitment of dHL-60 cells to MSU. Astilbin could markedly decrease expressions of P2Y6R and IL-8/CXCR2 pathway which were upregulated by MSU. By silencing P2Y6R, the expression of IL-8/CXCR2 pathway and migration of dHL-60 cells were inhibited, leading to the suppression of NETs. These findings indicated the upstream role of P2Y6R in the IL-8/CXCR2 pathway. Moreover, overexpression of P2Y6R was evidently inhibited by astilbin, causing a downregulation in IL-8/CXCR2 pathway, migration of dHL-60 cells and NETs formation. These results emphasized that astilbin inhibited the IL-8/CXCR2 pathway primarily through P2Y6R. In vivo, astilbin administration led to marked reductions in ankle swelling, inflammatory infiltration as well as neutrophils infiltration. Expressions of P2Y6R and IL-8/CXCR2 pathway were evidently decreased by astilbin and P2Y6R inhibitor MRS2578 either alone or in combination. Also, astilbin and MRS2578 showed notable effect on reducing MSU-induced NETs formation and IL-8/CXCR2 pathway whether used alone or in combination, parallelly demonstrating that astilbin decreased NETs formation mainly through P2Y6R. ConclusionThis study revealed that astilbin suppressed NETs formation via downregulating P2Y6R and subsequently the IL-8/CXCR2 pathway, which evidently mitigated GA induced by MSU. It also highlighted the potential of astilbin as a promising natural therapeutic for GA.

4-(Tris(4-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)aniline

4-(tris(4-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)aniline was prepared in a 63% yield utilizing a C–F activation strategy from a mixture of 4-(trifluoromethyl)aniline, 4-methylpyrazole, and KOH in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The identity of the product was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal analysis. An analysis of crystals grown from the layering method (CH2Cl2/acetone/pentane) indicated two distinct polymorphs of the title compound. Moreover, density functional theory calculations utilizing the MN15L density functional and the def2-TZVP basis set indicated that 4-(tris(4-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)aniline forms with similar energetics to the previously reported unmethylated analog.

Synthesis of low cost cathode electrocatalyst Pt‐Ni/CAB using DMSO as a solvent for low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell application

AbstractIn the present study, low cost platinum based bimetallic electrocatalyst Pt‐Ni/CAB with varying Pt to Ni atomic ratios 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 were successfully synthesized for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of the developed proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The solvothermal process was adopted for the synthesis of Pt‐Ni(3:1)/CAB, Pt‐Ni(1:1)/CAB, and Pt‐Ni(1:3)/CAB using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent at a temperature of 190°C which is very close to the boiling point. The Pt‐Ni/CAB exhibited the highest activity for the ORR in half‐cell and single cell PEMFC performance. The electrocatalysts Pt‐Ni(1:3)/CAB appeared with smallest crystalline FCC structures having crystallite size of 8.33 nm. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis also show that the Pt‐Ni(1:3)/CAB has smallest particle size of 1.67 ± 0.45 nm. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis shows Pt‐Ni(1:3)/CAB electrocatalyst offers less activation loss at ORR peak at a potential of 0.16 V as compared to Pt‐Ni(3:1)/CAB (ORR peak – 0.12) and Pt‐Ni(1:1)/CAB (ORR peak – 0.11). The synthesized Pt‐Ni(1:3)/CAB produced a maximum power density of 18.86 mW/cm2 at a maximum current density of 44.8 mA/cm2 with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.914 V at a room temperature of 33°C. The power density improved around 1.34 times when the cell temperature was raised from 33 to 70°C. The Pt‐Ni(1:3)/CAB cathode electrocatalyst could be used as economical to substitute costly commercial pure platinum based electrocatalyst.

Temporal dynamics of in vitro hemostatic function in platelets cryopreserved using a novel approach for rapid issuance.

Current procedures for thawing and issuing of cryopreserved platelets (CPPs) are laborious and have remained challenging in emergency settings such as blood banks and military operations. In this prospective study, a novel processing method designed to facilitate the rapid issuance of CPPs with no postthaw handling required was developed and functionally characterized in parallel with standard CPPs manufactured. Double-dose plateletpheresis units (n = 42) were cryopreserved at -80°C in 5%-6% dimethyl sulfoxide to produce matched pairs thawed successively over a 27-month period for comparison between two processing arms. In contrast to the standard CPPs manufactured as standalone units, platelets were frozen in tandem with resuspending plasma in a distinct partition as a single unit in the novel method, herein referred to as tandem CPPs. Postthaw (PT) CPPs from both arms were assessed at PT0-, 12-, and 24-h to measure platelet recovery, R-time (time to clot initiation; min), and maximum amplitude (MA; clot strength; mm) using thromboelastography. In the overall dataset, mean platelet recovery was higher (p < .0005) for tandem CPPs (83.9%) compared with standard CPPs (73.3%) at PT0; mean R-times were faster (p < .0005) for tandem CPPs (2.5-3.6 min) compared with standard CPPs (3.0-3.8 min); mean MA was higher for tandem CPPs (57.8-59.5 mm) compared with standard CPPs (52.1-55.8 mm) at each postthaw time point (p < .05). Robust temporal dynamics of superior hemostatic functionality were established for tandem CPPs over extended cryopreservation up to 27 months and 24 h of postthaw storage.

Enhanced supercapacitor performance through synergistic electrode design: Reduced graphene oxide-polythiophene (rGO-PTs) nanocomposite

In this investigation, we introduce an innovative method for the fabrication of a 2D/2D nanocomposite, involving the in-situ functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) with thiophene monomer. This approach employs a modified surfactant-based bi-solvent swollen liquid crystalline lamellar mesophase (SLCLM) nanoreactor system, utilizing dimethyl sulfoxide and water as primary solvents. The nanocomposite is formed via simultaneous reactions at both the edge and basal plane of GO with thiophene monomers, resulting in polymerization and reduction to generate graphene oxide-polythiophene (rGO-PTs) nanocomposite.We assess the pseudocapacitive properties of rGO-PTs in a 2 M HCl electrolyte. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) investigations reveal distinctive redox curves, indicative of the materials capacitive behaviour. In the galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) study, the rGO-PTs exhibits a discharge duration of 169.50 s within a potential window of −0.2 to 1 V at a current density of 7.5 A/g. This performance corresponds to a significantly higher specific capacitance of 1412 F/g, sustained over 10000 cycles as asymmetric capacitor. Notably, the rGO-PTs nanocomposite retains 106 % of its initial capacitance even after a number cycles, tested at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. The exceptional durability and electrochemical performance of the rGO-PTs nanocomposite position it as a promising alternative to conventional materials such as metals, metal oxides, pure carbonaceous substances, and polymers. The simplicity of the synthesis process, coupled with the nanocomposites outstanding electrochemical characteristics, underscores rGO-PTs potential for advancing in the field of energy storage and supercapacitor technology.

A new polyazomethine-based pyrazole moiety and its reinforced nanocomposites @ ZnO for antimicrobial applications

ABSTRACT A new class of biologically active polyazomethine/pyrazole and their related nanocomposites, polyazomethine/pyrazole/zinc oxide nanoparticles, have been successfully synthesized through the polycondensation technique in the form of polyazomethine pyrazole (PAZm/Py4–6) and polyazomethine/pyrazole/zinc oxide nanoparticles (PAZm/Py/ZnOa-c). The polymeric nanocomposites were prepared with a 5% loading of zinc oxide nanofiller using the same preparation technique, in addition to the help of ultrasonic radiation. The characteristics of the new polymers, such as solubility, viscometry, and molecular weight, were examined. All the polymers were completely soluble in the following solvents: concentrated sulfuric acid, formic acid, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and tetrahydrofuran. Furthermore, the weight loss of the polyazomethine pyrazole (4, 5, and 6) at 800 °C was 67%, 95%, and 86%, respectively, which indicates the thermal stability of these polymers. At 800 °C, the polyazomethine/pyrazole/zinc oxide nanoparticles (a, b, and c) lost 74%, 68%, and 75% of their weight, respectively. This shows that adding zinc oxide nanoparticles made these compounds more stable at high temperatures. The X-Ray diffraction pattern of the polyazomethine pyrazole (PAZm/Py4–6) shows a number of sharp peaks with varying intensities. The polymers that were studied had straight crystal structures. Furthermore, the measurements of polyazomethine/pyrazole/zinc oxide nanoparticles (PAZm/Py/ZnOa-c) indicate a good merging of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the matrix of polymers. The antimicrobial activity of polymers and polymer nanocomposites was tested against some selected bacteria and fungi. The synthesized polymer (c) shows the highest activity against the two types of gram-negative bacteria selected. Most tested compounds were found to be effective against gram-positive bacteria except polyazomethine pyrazole (PAZm/Py5) and polyazomethine pyrazole (PAZm/Py6), which do not exhibit any activity. The synthesized polymers and their related nanocomposites were tested for their ability to kill the chosen fungi. All of them were effective against Aspergillus flavus, but only polyazomethine pyrazole (PAZm/Py4) and polyazomethine/pyrazole/zinc oxide (PAZm/Py/ZnOc) were effective against Candida albicans.

Solvent-doped PEDOT:PSS: Structural transformations towards enhanced electrical conductivity and transferable electromagnetic shields

The enhanced electrical conductivity of solvent-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is attributed to the screening effect between PSS and PEDOT chains. Yet, the precise manner in which this effect influences the crystalline structure and conformation of PEDOT:PSS remains unclear. In this study, we utilize Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) to examine the conformational changes and two-dimensional (2D) crystalline structure of PEDOT:PSS when doped with a variety of solvents, including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), dimethylformamide (DMF), methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and acetone. Our observations unveil that solvent doping improves the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS by modifying its crystalline structure. This alteration leads to reduced inter-lamellar (d200) and π-π stacking (d010) distances, facilitating the formation of densely packed and well-ordered PEDOT crystallites in both face-on and edge-on orientations. Moreover, this doping process enhances the transferability and mechanical properties of drop-casted films, resulting in a flexible and transferable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield with exceptional total shielding effectiveness (SET) of 35.70 dB and specific shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of 7105.34 dB cm2.g−1.

Antidyslipidemic effect of ethanol extract of &lt;i&gt;Irvingia wombolu&lt;/i&gt; seeds in high fat diet induced dyslipidemic rat

The antidyslipidemic activity of Irvingia wombolu ethanol seeds extract was studied in high fat diet induced dyslipidemic rats.Forty five (45) Wstar rats were grouped into 5 groups of 9 rats each. The animals were allowed 7 days acclimatization period. Group 1 was the control group and it received normal rat chow and water throughout the study. Groups 2 to 5 were given high fat diet for 14 days after which they were given normal rat chow till the end of the study. At the end of the 14 days, group 2 was not treated while group 3-5 were treated with 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg b.w ethanol extract of Irvingia wombolu seeds respectively for 28 days. The lipid profile of animals was evaluated three times: first after 14 days induction period (phase 1) i.e day 0 of treatment, second was taken 14 days after treatment (phase 2), third was taken 28 days after treatment (phase 3). The study lasted for 49 days and dimethyl sulphoxide was used as a vehicle for the extract. In phase 1, all the groups fed with high fat diet showed an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) triglyceride, total cholesterol and a decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. In phase 2 there was a decrease in LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol level in addition to increase in HDL for animals in all the treatment groups. It was observed that in phase 3 only 250mg/kg group showed a progressive decrease in LDL, triglyceride, total cholesterol and an increase in HDL levels while 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w showed an increase in LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol level and a decrease in HDL. The result of the present study demonstrated the antidyslipidemic effect of ethanol extract of Irvingia wombolu seeds at lower dose.

Controlling Tin Halide Perovskite Oxidation Dynamics in Solution for Perovskite Optoelectronic Devices.

As a leading contender to replace lead halide perovskites, tin-based perovskites have demonstrated ever increasing performance in solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They tend to be processed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent, which has been identified as a major contributor to the Sn(II) oxidation during film fabrication, posing a challenge to the further improvement of Sn-based perovskites. Herein, we use NMR spectroscopy to investigate the kinetics of the oxidation of SnI2, revealing that autoamplification takes place, accelerating the oxidation as the reaction progresses. We propose a mechanism consistent with these observations involving water participation and HI generation. Building upon these insights, we have developed low-temperature Sn-based perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) processed at 60 °C, achieving enhanced external quantum efficiencies (EQEs). Our research underscores the substantial potential of low-temperature DMSO solvent processes and DMSO-free solvent systems for fabricating oxidation-free Sn-based perovskites, shaping the future direction in processing Sn-containing perovskite materials and optoelectronic devices.

Controlling Tin Halide Perovskite Oxidation Dynamics in Solution for Perovskite Optoelectronic Devices

As a leading contender to replace lead halide perovskites, tin‐based perovskites have demonstrated ever increasing performance in solar cells and light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). They tend to be processed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent, which has been identified as a major contributor to the Sn(II) oxidation during film fabrication, posing a challenge to the further improvement of Sn‐based perovskites. Herein, we use NMR spectroscopy to investigate the kinetics of the oxidation of SnI2, revealing that autoamplification takes place, accelerating the oxidation as the reaction progresses. We propose a mechanism consistent with these observations involving water participation and HI generation. Building upon these insights, we have developed low‐temperature Sn‐based perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) processed at 60 °C, achieving enhanced external quantum efficiencies (EQEs). Our research underscores the substantial potential of low‐temperature DMSO solvent processes and DMSO‐free solvent systems for fabricating oxidation‐free Sn‐based perovskites, shaping the future direction in processing Sn‐containing perovskite materials and optoelectronic devices.

Morphological evaluation of adult domestic cat testicular biopsy after vitrification.

Testicular biopsies (9 mm3) from domestic cats (n = 10) submitted to orchiectomy were submitted to equilibrium vitrification in the presence of ethylene glycol (EG) alone or combined with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as intracellular cryoprotectants, and sucrose or trehalose as extracellular cryoprotectants. The samples were vitrified with 40% EG or 20% EG + 20% DMSO, plus 0.1 M or 0.5 M of sucrose or trehalose. The study was divided into Step 1 and Step 2. In Step 1, intratubular cells (spermatogonia, spermatids, spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells) were quantified and classified as intact or degenerated (pyknotic and/or vacuolated cells). Cryodamage of seminiferous cords was determined by spermatogonia and Sertoli cell scoring of nuclei alterations, tubular basement membrane detachment, epithelium shrinkage, and tubular measures (total area, epithelium area, larger and smaller diameter, and height of the epithelium). In Step 2, Hoechst 33342 stain and propidium iodide (PI) fluorescent stain were used to assess the cell viability of the four best experimental groups in Step 1. The effect of treatments on all analyses was accessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Fisher's post hoc test at P < 0.05 significance was considered. In Step 1, the mean percentage of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells morphological integrity did not show a difference when using both sugars at different concentrations, but their morphology was more affected when DMSO was used. EG use associated with 0.1 M of sucrose or trehalose positively affected spermatocyte and spermatid morphology, respectively. The larger diameter and epithelium height of seminiferous tubules were increased using DMSO plus 0.5 M sucrose and DMSO plus 0.1 M trehalose. The changes in spermatogonial/Sertoli nucleoli visualization were best scored in the EG groups, while the nuclei condensation was lower with sucrose. The basement membrane was satisfactorily preserved with 0.1 M sucrose. In Step 2, the percentage of cell viability was higher when EG plus 0.1 M sucrose was used. Therefore, DMSO's negative effect on the vitrification of testicular biopsies of adult domestic cats was evident. The EG plus 0.1 M of sucrose or trehalose associations are the most suitable CPAs to preserve the testicular histology structure of adult domestic cats in vitrification.

Reversal of crystallization in cryoprotected samples by laser editing.

Advances in cryobiology techniques commonly target either the cooling or the warming cycle, while little thought has been given to ≪repair≫ protocols applicable during cold storage. In particular, crystallization is the dominant threat to cryopreserved samples but proceeds from small nuclei that are innocuous if further growth is forestalled. To this end, we propose a laser editing technique that locally heats individual crystals above their melting point by a focused nanosecond pulse, followed by amorphization during rapid resolidification. As a reference, we first apply the approach to ice crystals in cryoprotected solution and use Raman confocal mapping to study the deactivation of crystalline order. Then, we examine dimethyl sulfoxide trihydrate crystals that can germinate at low temperatures in maximally freeze concentrated regions, as commonly produced by equilibrium cooling protocols. We show how to uniquely identify this phase from Raman spectra and evidence retarded growth of laser-edited crystals during warming.

Co-Assembled Supramolecular Organohydrogels of Amphiphilic Zwitterion and Polyoxometalate with Controlled Microstructures.

The organization of modifiable and functional building components into various superstructures is of great interest due to their broad applications. Supramolecular self-assembly, based on rationally designed building blocks and appropriately utilized driving forces, is a promising and widely used strategy for constructing superstructures with well-defined nanostructures and diverse morphologies across multiple length scales. In this study, two homogeneous organohydrogels with distinct appearances were constructed by simply mixing polyoxometalate (phosphomolybdic acid, HPMo) and a double-tailed zwitterionic quaternary ammonium amphiphile in a binary solvent of water and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The delicate balance between electrostatic attraction and repulsion of anionic HPMo clusters and zwitterionic structures drove them to co-assemble into homogeneous organohydrogels with diverse microstructures. Notably, the morphologies of the organohydrogels, including unilamellar vesicles, onion-like vesicles, and spherical aggregates, can be controlled by adjusting the ionic interactions between the zwitterionic amphiphiles and phosphomolybdic acid clusters. Furthermore, we observed an organohydrogel fabricated with densely stacked onion-like structures (multilamellar vesicles) consisting of more than a dozen layers at certain proportions. Additionally, the relationships between the self-assembled architectures and the intermolecular interactions among the polyoxometalate, zwitterionic amphiphile, and solvent molecules were elucidated. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of polyoxometalate-zwitterionic amphiphile co-assembly, which are essential for the development of materials with specific structures and emerging functionalities.

Assessing Viscosity in Sustainable Deep Eutectic Solvents and Cosolvent Mixtures: An Artificial Neural Network-Based Molecular Approach.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are gaining recognition as environmentally friendly solvent alternatives for diverse chemical processes. Yet, designing DESs tailored to specific applications is a resource-intensive task, which requires an accurate estimation of their physicochemical properties. Among them, viscosity is crucial, as it often dictates a DES's suitability as a solvent. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) is introduced to accurately describe the viscosity of DESs and their mixtures with cosolvents. The ANN utilizes molecular parameters derived from σ-profiles, computed using the conductor-like screening model for the real solvent segment activity coefficient (COSMO-SAC). The data set comprises 1891 experimental viscosity measurements for 48 DESs based on choline chloride, encompassing 279 different compositions, along with 1618 data points of DES mixtures with cosolvents as water, methanol, isopropanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide, covering a wide range of viscosity measurements from 0.3862 to 4722 mPa s. The optimal ANN structure for describing the logarithmic viscosity of DESs is configured as 9-19-16-1, achieving an overall average absolute relative deviation of 1.6031%. More importantly, the ANN shows a remarkable extrapolation capacity, as it is capable of predicting the viscosity of systems including solvents (ethanol) and hydrogen bond donors (2,3-butanediol) not considered in the training. The ANN model also demonstrates an extensive applicability domain, covering 94.17% of the entire database. These achievements represent a significant step forward in developing robust, open source, and highly accurate models for DESs using molecular descriptors.

Effect of methanol extract of Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br tuber and its fractions on indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMany ethnopharmacological properties (anti-tumor, etc.) have been credited to Plectranthus esculentus tuber but the scientific basis has not been established.Aim of the study: To evaluate the effect of methanol extract of P. esculentus tuber (MEPET) (phase 1) and its fractions (phase 2) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats. Materials and methodsThe study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1, thirty-five male albino rats (6 weeks old) were divided into seven groups of five rats each: normal control (NC) received olive oil (subcutaneously) and water (orally); disease control (DC) received testosterone propionate (TP) (3 mg/kg) and water; test groups (1,2,3 and 4) received TP + MEPET at 100, 200, 400, 600 mg/kg respectively; positive control, received TP + finasteride (5 mg/70 kg). After 28 days, their relative prostate weights (RPW) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were determined. Phase 2, thirty rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each: NC received olive oil (subcutaneously daily) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (orally); DC received TP (3 mg/kg), and DMSO; test group 1 received TP and aqueous fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); test group 2 received TP and methanol fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); test group 3 received TP, and ethyl acetate fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); positive control received TP and finasteride (5 mg/70 kg). After 28 days, their erythrocyte sedimentation rates, RPW, prostate levels of PSA, DHT, inflammatory, apoptotic markers and prostate histology were determined. ResultsEthyl acetate fraction of MEPET modulated most of the parameters of BPH in the rats in a manner akin to finasteride as corroborated by prostate histology. ConclusionsEFPET could be useful in the treatment of BPH.