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For the first time, transplants with moss-bags and mussels together were applied to study the water quality in standing water bodies. The tested species: Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. and Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) were collected from unpolluted sites and analyzed to obtain background levels. Then, the moss and mussels were left in cages for a period of 30 days in three reservoirs where both are not present naturally. Two of the reservoirs suffer from old industrial contamination and one is affected by untreated wastes. Twenty-four compounds were studied, among them trace elements Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and organic priority substances: six polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The trace element accumulation was significant after the exposition period in all studied stations. PBDEs and SCCPs were also accumulated up to two times more in the moss tissues. PBDEs in the mussels exceeded the environmental quality standard (EQS). The applied combined transplants, and especially the moss-bags, revealed severe contamination with heavy metals not detected by the water samples. The moss and the mussel followed a different model of trace element and PBDEs accumulation. The SCCPs levels were alarmingly high in all plant samples. The study confirmed PBDEs and SCCPs as bioaccumulative compounds and suggested that an EQS for SCCPs in biota needs to be established.

Chronic, multifactorial illnesses of the gastrointestinal tract include inflammatory bowel diseases. One of the greatest methods for regulated medicine administration in a particular region of inflammation is the nanoparticle system. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been utilized as drug delivery systems in the pharmaceutical industry. The goal of the current study is to synthesize drug-loaded Ag NPs using a previously described 3-methyl-1-phenylbutan-2-amine, as a mebeverine precursor (MP). Methods: A green, galactose-assisted method for the rapid synthesis and stabilization of Ag NPs as a drug-delivery system is presented. Galactose was used as a reducing and capping agent forming a thin layer encasing the nanoparticles. Results: The structure, size distribution, zeta potential, surface charge, and the role of the capping agent of drug-loaded Ag NPs were discussed. The drug release of the MP-loaded Ag NPs was also investigated. The Ag NPs indicated a very good drug release between 80 and 85%. Based on the preliminary results, Ag NPs might be a promising medication delivery system for MP and a useful treatment option for inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, future research into the potential medical applications of the produced Ag NPs is necessary.

The applicability of MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles as a new sorbent for group pre-concentration of V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb was investigated and compared with that of magnetite nanoparticles. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) of target analytes based on sorption of their hydrophobic complexes with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) on the surface of unmodified nanoparticles (NPs) was optimized. Magnetic NPs with retained metal complexes were easily separated from the bulk solution by a permanent magnet applied for 5 min. Analyte restoration in the final solution was accomplished by heating with 0.5 mL of 7 mol L À1 nitric acid. The obtained solutions were suitable for continuous nebulization in ICP-MS. Spectral and non-spectral matrix effects for urine analysis (direct and after SPE) were studied and adequate calibration strategies are suggested. Under optimized conditions the magnetically assisted SPE procedure enables enrichment of target analytes by factors of between 7.4 and 10, with linear dynamic ranges of 1-100 mg L À1 for V, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb and 10-1000 mg L À1 for Zn, As, Se and method detection limits in the interval 0.01-0.7 mg L À1 . The relative standard deviations (RSD%, for 10 mg L À1 V, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb and for 100 mg L À1 Zn, As, Se, n ¼ 6) were less than 5.5%. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analysing urine certified reference material SeronormÔ Trace Elements Urine 201205 and obtained recoveries were in the range 85-109%. For correct determination of As and Se in urine, a preliminary microwave sample treatment with a mixture HNO 3 + H 2 O 2 was needed, but it led to a worsening of method detection limits. The developed method was successfully applied for analysis of human urine.