Aims: To compare levels and activity of the growth factors between fresh and lyophilized platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Methods: Analysis of platelet concentration using fibroblast and human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures were compared between fresh and lyophilized PRP obtained from peripheral blood. Results: After lyophilization, 54% of platelets were intact whereas the fresh showed no aggregation with agonists (levels under 20%). The concentration of growth factors (VEGF, EGF, TGF-β and PDGF) in both products were similar. Fresh and lyophilized PRPs induced proliferation in the fibroblasts at 24 h (0.303 vs 0.300, respectively). Conclusion: Lyophilized PRP appears to be an alternative to fresh PRP and the results evidenced the role of growth factors as a key element in the activity of this product.

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Hybrid nanoparticles have shown promise in biomedical applications; however, their seamless integration into clinical settings remains challenging. Here, we introduce a novel metal oxide polymer hybrid nanoparticle (NP) with a high affinity for nucleic acids. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) were initially synthesized via the co-precipitation method and subjected to comprehensive characterization. Subsequently, block-copolymers were synthesized using the Reversible Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) technique, employing the zwitterionic PMPC (Poly (2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine)) and the cationic PDMAEMA (Poly(2-(Dimethylamino) Ethyl Methacrylate)) with varying degrees of polymerization. In vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated the biocompatibility of the synthesized nanoparticles, with no observed toxicity up to a concentration of 150 ug/mL. The cationic polymer PDMAEMA facilitated the facile coating of IONP, forming the IONPP complex, consisting of a 13.27 metal core and a 3.1 nm block-copolymer coating. Subsequently, the IONPP complex was functionalized with a DNA aptamer specifically targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer, forming IONPPP. The block-copolymer exhibited an EC50 of 7.07 ug/mL and demonstrated enhanced recognition efficiency in HER2-amplified SKBR3 cells. Our study presents a comprehensive IONPPP characterization capable of binding short DNA sequences and targeting proteins such as HER2. This newly developed nanoparticle holds significant potential for cancer cell identification and isolation, offering promising prospects in cancer research and clinical applications.

Ultraviolet C (UVC) light has long been used as a sterilizing agent, primarily through devices that emit at 254 nm. Depending on the dose and duration of exposure, UV 254 nm can cause erythema and photokeratitis and potentially cause skin cancer since it directly modifies nitrogenated nucleic acid bases. Filtered KrCl excimer lamps (emitting mainly at 222 nm) have emerged as safer germicidal tools and have even been proposed as devices to sterilize surgical wounds. All the studies that showed the safety of 222 nm analyzed cell number and viability, erythema generation, epidermal thickening, the formation of genetic lesions such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine-(6-4)-pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PPs) and cancer-inducing potential. Although nucleic acids can absorb and be modified by both UV 254 nm and UV 222 nm equally, compared to UV 254 nm, UV 222 nm is more intensely absorbed by proteins (especially aromatic side chains), causing photooxidation and cross-linking. Here, in addition to analyzing DNA lesion formation, for the first time, we evaluated changes in the proteome and cellular pathways, reactive oxygen species formation, and metalloproteinase (MMP) levels and activity in full-thickness in vitro reconstructed human skin (RHS) exposed to UV 222 nm. We also performed the longest (40 days) in vivo study of UV 222 nm exposure in the HRS/J mouse model at the occupational threshold limit value (TLV) for indirect exposure (25 mJ/cm2) and evaluated overall skin morphology, cellular pathological alterations, CPD and 6-4PP formation and MMP-9 activity. Our study showed that processes related to reactive oxygen species and inflammatory responses were more altered by UV 254 nm than by UV 222 nm. Our chronic in vivo exposure assay using the TLV confirmed that UV 222 nm causes minor damage to the skin. However, alterations in pathways related to skin regeneration raise concerns about direct exposure to UV 222 nm.