Designing a functional nanoemulsion using lactose esters and modified monomers of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates to improve the anticancer activity of SN-38

Colon cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed and deadliest cancers worldwide hence the number of drug discoveries for the disease is still growing [1]. To improve the solubility and in vivo stability of promising chemotherapeutics numerous delivery systems are being designed and tested. Our study involved chemo-enzymatic methods to perform a novel emulsion to provide sufficient solubility and delivery for one of the most promising anticancer agents: SN-38 [2][3]. The oil phase consisted of selectively fluorinated monomers from bacterial poly-(R)-3-hydroxynononanoate-co-heptanoate (PHN) which are fully described in our previous studies (involving 1H NMR, 19F NMR, IR, UHPLC-MS/MS analysis). A mixture of PHN-monomer-based lactose esters (also previously described) and DMSO served as an emulsion stabiliser and water was the hydrophilic solvent. Dynamic Light Scattering analysis indicated the average size of micelles was 500–1000 nm and their stability was maintained for seven days. MTT assay showed that the novel emulsion significantly improved the activity of the investigated chemotherapeutic by decreasing the viability (IC50 and IC80 ) of the selected colon cancer cells (and concentrations were: 0.125 and 0.25 mg ml -1 ). An experiment on zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) showed relatively low toxicity of the carrier alone (embryos were treated with >0.4 mg ml -1 for 5 days). Experiments on mice with colon cancer explants (HCT116) indicated a drop in tumour growth inhibition factor (TGI) while treating them with SN-38 in the novel emulsion system compared to those treated only with SN-38 in DMSO. The results allowed for patent claim nr P.447923.Book of abstracts: 6th Symposium on Biotransformations for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry June 17-21, 2024, Kraków, Polan

Physiological Response of Three Grapevine Cultivars Grown In North-Western Poland to Mycorrhizal Fungi

West Pomerania (Poland) is located near the northern boundary of the range of viticulture (the coldest zone A). Unfavourable weather conditions can pose a serious threat to the cultivated vines. One of the treatments used to increase the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses is inoculation with symbiotic soil microorganisms. This paper focuses on the influence of mycorrhization on the changes in soil microbiology, the degree of colonization of roots by mycorrhizal fungi, and on selected physiologicalparameters of three grapevine cultivars (‘Pinot Noir’ on SO4 rootstock, ‘Regent’ on 5BB rootstock, and ‘Rondo’ on 125AA rootstock). The applied inoculation had a stimulating effect on the colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, as evidenced by higher mycorrhizal frequency and intensity in the mycorrhized plants. The mycorrhizal treatment increased the intensity of CO2 assimilation and transpiration. Mycorrhization reduced the efficiency of photosynthetic water use and increased stomatal conductance for water in the grapevines tested. The mycorrhizal treatment did not affect the concentration of assimilation pigments in vine leaves. The mycorrhization of grapevines had no effect on the values of initial fluorescence, maximum fluorescence, the maximum potential efficiency of photochemical reaction in PS II, the size of the pool of reduced electron acceptors in PS II, nor on the value of the PS II vitality index

Hydrostatic Pressure Sensing with High Birefringence Photonic Crystal Fibers

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the waveguiding properties of high birefringence photonic crystal fibers (HiBi PCF) is evaluated both numerically and experimentally. A fiber design presenting form birefringence induced by two enlarged holes in the innermost ring defining the fiber core is investigated. Numerical results show that modal sensitivity to the applied pressure depends on the diameters of the holes, and can be tailored by independently varying the sizes of the large or small holes. Numerical and experimental results are compared showing excellent agreement. A hydrostatic pressure sensor is proposed and demonstrated using an in-fiber modal interferometer where the two orthogonally polarized modes of a HiBi PCF generate fringes over the optical spectrum of a broad band source. From the analysis of experimental results, it is concluded that, in principle, an operating limit of 92 MPa in pressure could be achieved with 0.0003% of full scale resolution

Training IT specialists in designing computer workplaces

Artykuł jest podsumowaniem własnych doświadczeń autorów z prowadzenia szkoleń w zakresie projektowania miejsc pracy przy komputerze. Celem zajęć organizowanych metodą projektowania było przekazanie wiedzy i umiejętności użytkowników komputerów w zakresie usprawniania warunków pracy.This article describes the authors’ personal experience in conducting training courses in designing computer workplaces. Transfer of knowledge and abilities in improving computer users’ working conditions was the purpose of the design method classes