The paper aims to investigate the cytotoxic effect on tumor cells of irradiated AuNPs in green light and subsequently functionalized with HS-PEG-NH 2. The toxicity level of gold conjugates after their functionalization with DOX and TAT peptide was also evaluated. The AuNPs were prepared using the modified Turkevich method and exposed to visible light at a wavelength of 520 nm prior their PEGylation. The optical properties were analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy, the surface modification was investigated using FTIR and XPS spectroscopies and their sizes and morphologies were evaluated by TEM and DLS techniques. DOX and TAT peptide were linked to the surface of PEGylated AuNPs by reacting their amino groups with glycidyloxypropyl of PEGylated DOX or TAT conjugates under mild conditions at room temperature and in the presence of ethanol as catalyst. The conjugates containing DOX or DOX and TAT have been characterized by fluorescence and FTIR techniques. The changes of electrochemical features were observed using cyclic voltammetry, suggesting a better stability of irradiated nanoparticles. By mass spectrometry it was confirmed that the compounds of interest were obtained. The cell viability test showed that irradiated and non-irradiated nanoparticles coated with PEG are not toxic in normal cells. Tumor cell viability analysis showed that the PEGylated nanoparticles modified with DOX and TAT peptide were more effective than pristine DOX, indicating cytotoxicity up to 10% higher than non-irradiated ones. The presence of gold nanomaterials (AuNPs) in biomedicine and particularly in antitumor therapy still remains a topic of wide debate, as evidenced by the tremendous amount of scientific works on this issue in recent years 1-3. An impressive number of research studies have straightened their efforts toward the use of AuNPs in enhancing the efficiency of cancer treatment, due to their ease production and chemical functionalization of their surface 4,5. Gold nanoparticles are feasible to be developed as versatile nontoxic carriers for drug release as long as they are able to be conjugated with different molecules, including chemotherapeutics, antibodies, peptides, ligands, and other structures which are likely to promote a great capacity to penetrate the tumor site, resulting in a predominant accumulation of bioactive agent in the tumor region 6,7. On the other hand, the passive anticancer effect based on the accumulation strategy of AuNPs at the tumor site is limited by the inherent heterogeneities of tumor vasculature 8. It was shown that nanoparticle concentration in the target tissue is influenced by renal clearance rate, and also by activation of immune system mechanisms such as opsonization or nonspecific particle phagocytosis, fulfilled by the reticuloendothelial system (RES).

Background/Aims: The present study investigates the effects of pregabalin (PGB), acetaminophen (ACET) and tenoxicam (TNX) administration in somatic and visceral nociception, using the tail flick test and the writhing test in mice. Methods: In the tail flick test, the substances were administered orally and the latency time response was recorded 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after administration. In the writhing test, pain responses were scored every 5 min during a 30-min period after intraperitoneal injection of diluted acetic acid. Results: Our study demonstrated that oral administration of the combination PGB-ACET resulted in a stronger increase of latency reaction - statistically significant after 15 min compared to TNX and after 30 min compared to PGB in tail flick test. In the writhing test, the combination PGB-ACET, but also PGB-TNX, resulted in a stronger decrease of writhe numbers - statistically significant compared to the effects of the separate administration of each substance. This decrease was more intense in animals treated with the combination PGB-ACET than with PGB-TNX. Conclusion: These results suggest an antinociceptive activity which may be a consequence of the synergic action of the substances.

Background: Dietary n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have a role in preventing cardiovascular and hepatic diseases. However, their effects might differ significantly depending on individual dietary patterns. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids (FA), administered in different schedules, on hepatic and aortic histological structure, lipid profile, and body weight (BW) in male Wistar rats under standard (SD), high-fat diet (HFD) and mixed feeding conditions. Methods: PUFA treatment consisted of the administration of 50 mg/kg fish oil (FO) daily by oral gavage. HFD was obtained by adding a suspension of 4% cholesterol, thiouracil and cholic acid to the animals' drinking water. The rats were maintained on the diets for 6 weeks, and different schedules of PUFA administration were used. At 14, 28, and 42 days, the morphology of liver and aortic samples and the levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides (TG) were assessed.

We aimed to investigate the effects of two nitric oxide donors in acute inflammation in rats. The experiment was carried out on white Wistar rats, randomly distributed in 4 groups of 5 animals each; the substances were administered intraperitoneally as follows: Group 1 (SS): saline solution 0.1mL/100 g body weight (control); Group 2 (IND): indometacin 150 mg/kg body weight; Group 3 (NEB): nebivolol 1 mg/kg body weight; Group 4 (GSNO): S-nitroso-glutathione 1 mg/kg body weight. An experimental model of acute hind paw inflammation with carrageenan was used for the researches. The influence of the nitric oxide donors on blood parameters, specific inflammatory and immune markers was evaluated 24 h, respectively 72 hours after the injection of irritant agent. The experimental protocol was implemented according to the recommendations of our University Committee for Research and Ethical Issues. The administration of nitric oxide donors nebivolol and S-nitroso-glutathione was accompanied by a substantial diminution of paw edema, as well as by an important decrease in the percent of lymphocytes, a reduction of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha values. The effects of nebivolol were more accentuated than of S-nitroso-glutathione, but less intense than of indomethacin in the experiment. The treatment with nebivolol and S-nitroso-glutathione produced anti-inflammatory effects on local acute inflammation in the carrageenan-induced paw edema test in rats.

This study investigated the effects of flaxseed and vitamin E on diabetic nephropathy lesions in an experimental-induced model of diabetes in hamsters. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in male Golden Syrian hamsters, and diabetic animals were fed either standard diet, or standard diet supplemented with flaxseed (150 g/kg diet), vitamin E (400 mg a-tocopherol/kg diet) or combination of flaxseed and vitamin E in the same dosages, for 20 weeks. Kidney histological evaluation of the diabetic hamsters revealed histological lesions characteristic for diabetic nephropathy, while supplementation of the diet with flaxseed and/or vitamin E improved histological aspects of diabetic nephropathy.