Role In Consumer Products Research Articles

Surface Active Agents and Their Health-Promoting Properties: Molecules of Multifunctional Significance.

Surface active agents (SAAs) are molecules with the capacity to adsorb to solid surfaces and/or fluid interfaces, a property that allows them to act as multifunctional ingredients (e.g., wetting and dispersion agents, emulsifiers, foaming and anti-foaming agents, lubricants, etc.) in a widerange of the consumer products of various industrial sectors (e.g., pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, detergents, food, etc.). Given their widespread utilization, there is a continuously growing interest to explore their role in consumer products (relevant to promoting human health) and how such information can be utilized in order to synthesize better chemical derivatives. In this review article, weaimed to provide updated information on synthetic and biological (biosurfactants) SAAs and their health-promoting properties (e.g., anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-aging) in an attempt to better define some of the underlying mechanism(s) by which they exert such properties.

Sodium Selenite Protects Against Silver Nanoparticle-Induced Testicular Toxicity and Inflammation.

Metal nanomaterials hold great potential and play an important role in consumer products. However, the increasing use of nanomaterials has raised concern over inadvertent exposure and potential risks for human health and the environment. Henceforth, in vivo testing of nanoparticles and protection against its toxicity is required. Using rat as an animal model, effect of sodium selenite (Se), an essential trace element, on rat testes exposed to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was evaluated. Male rats were treated with AgNPs (5mg/kg/b.w) i/p or Se (0.2mg/kg/b.w) by gavage. AgNP administration decreased Glutathione (GSH) levels and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). However, treatment with Se increased GSH levels and activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx compared with AgNP-treated group and decreased the level of MDA and inflammatory biomarkers significantly (p<0.05) as compared with AgNP-treated group. Light microscopic analyses also revealed that AgNP induced histopathological changes in testes tissue. Further, protection by Se on biochemical results was confirmed by alleviation of the histopathological changes in the tissue. Results show the adverse effects of AgNPs on the male reproductive tract, particularly spermatogenesis, and suggest that Se possesses significant potential in reducing AgNP-induced testicular toxicity.

Effects of silver nanoparticles on neonatal testis development in mice.

BackgroundMetal nanoparticles (MNPs) play an important role in consumer products. An increasing use of MNPs has raised concerns about potential risks for human health. Therefore, in vivo tests of MNPs are urgently required. Using mice as a model animal, the aim of the present study was designed to investigate the effect of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on spermatogenesis in neonatal mice.MethodsAgNPs were synthesized using Bacillus funiculus. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using various analytical techniques such as UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The prepared AgNPs were used to investigate testis development in neonatal mice. Institute of Cancer Research neonatal male mice were used in all experiments and were treated with different doses (0, 1, and 5 mg/kg) of AgNPs five times (interval of 3 days from postnatal day [PND] 8–21) by abdominal subcutaneous injection.ResultsThe results showed that the sperm abnormalities such as quality and quantity were significantly increased by the synthesized AgNPs. The diameter of the convoluted tubules shrank significantly in mice treated with AgNPs on PND28 and PND42. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that the E1f1ay, Gsta4, and Fdx1 genes were up-regulated, and the Amh, Cx43, and Claudin-11 genes were down-regulated in response to AgNPs exposure on PND28; however, these genes recovered at PND60. AgNPs had no effect on the recombination levels of chromosomes in germ cells.ConclusionThese results demonstrated the adverse effects of AgNPs on the male reproductive tract, particularly spermatogenesis and the quality of sperm. This study suggests that the development of nanomaterials should be safer and non-toxic to the living organisms and the potential reprotoxicity of AgNPs should be investigated more carefully.

Impact of Metal Nanoparticles on Germ Cell Viability and Functionality

Metal nanoparticles play an increasing role in consumer products, biomedical applications and in the work environment. Therefore, the effects of nanomaterials need to be properly understood. This applies especially to their potential reproductive toxicology (nanoreprotoxicity), because any shortcomings in this regard would be reflected into the next generation. This review is an attempt to summarize the current knowledge regarding the effects of nanoparticles on reproductive outcomes. A comprehensive collection of significant experimental nanoreprotoxicity data is presented, which highlight how the toxic effect of nanoparticles can be influenced, not only by the particles' chemical composition, but also by particle size, surface modification, charge and to a considerable extent on the experimental set-up. The period around conception is characterized by considerable cytological and molecular restructuring and is therefore particularly sensitive to disturbances. Nanoparticles are able to penetrate through biological barriers into reproductive tissue and at least can have an impact on sperm vitality and function as well as embryo development. Particularly, further investigations are urgently needed on the repetitively shown effect of the ubiquitously used titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the development of the nervous system. It is recommended that future research focuses more on the exact mechanism behind the observed effects, because such information would facilitate the production of nanoparticles with increased biocompatibility.

Technology Transfer: The Role of Consumer Products for Individuals with Disabilities

Technology Transfer: The Role of Consumer Products for Individuals with Disabilities

Consumer interest in safety related standards for European consumer products

In this paper the role of consumer products in contributing to accidental injuries and the need for concrete measures to improve product safety are highlighted. In connection with these measures, the importance of standards will be discussed, and in particular the need for a strong consumer input in the developmental process of new standards. Suggestions for strengthening consumer input in standardization work, in particular in the field of product safety, are presented.