Osteoarthritis causes the degradation of the articular cartilage and periarticular bones. Trace elements influence the growth, development and condition of the bone tissue. Changes to the mineral composition of the bone tissue can cause degenerative changes and fractures. The aim of the research was to determine the content of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the tibia, the femur and the meniscus in men and women who underwent a knee replacement surgery. Samples were collected from 50 patients, including 36 women and 14 men. The determination of trace elements content were performed by ICP-AES method, using Varian 710-ES. Average concentration in the tissues of the knee joint teeth amounted for cadmium 0.015, nickel 0.60, copper 0.89 and zinc 80.81 mg/kg wet weight. There were statistically significant differences in the content of cadmium, copper and zinc in different parts of the knee joint. There were no statistically significant differences in the content of cadmium, nickel, copper and zinc in women and men in the examined parts of the knee joint. Among the elements tested, copper and nickel showed a high content in the connective tissue (the meniscus) compared to the bone tissue (the tibia and the femur).
Fe-encapsulated multiwall
carbon nanotubes (Fe@MWCNTs) are candidates
for magnetically targeted Drug Delivery Systems (mt-DDSs) against
breast cancer. However, their full potential as versatile and biosafe
vectors has yet to be developed. Key challenges that remain are relating
surface functionalization to cytotoxicity and inducing selective cytotoxicity
to cancer cells. We have studied quantitative uptake of pristine and
functionalized Fe@MWCNTs (f-Fe@MWCNTs) in correlation to their in vitro cytotoxicity. Human monocyte macrophages (HMMs)
and T47D breast cancer cells were selected as models to test selective
cytotoxicity. [2+1]-Cycloaddition of nitrenes to Fe@MWCNTs yielded
both effective functionalization and drug “tethering”.
Hydrophilization of Fe@MWCNTs was critical for efficient active cell
uptake. f-Fe@MWCNTs were considerably more toxic to T47D cells than
HMMs, in spite of longer exposure times of the latter. Eventually,
Fe@MWCNTs loaded with 5-fluorouracil in a β-cyclodextrin cage
or with covalently linked purpurin emerged as the most cytotoxic and
steerable in a magnetic field toward promising mt-DDSs.
Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) can provide an ideal surface for osteogenic cell attachment and proliferation with further successful osteointegration. However, the same surface is attractive for bacteria due to similar mechanisms of adhesion in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. This issue requires the application of additional surface treatments for effective prevention of postoperative infectious complications. In the present work, ZrNb alloy was treated in a Ca-P solution with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the development of a new oxide layer that hosted osteogenic cells and prevented bacterial adhesion. For the PEO, 0.5 M Ca(H2PO2)2 solution with 264 mg L−1 of round-shaped AgNPs was used. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used for morphology and chemical analysis of the obtained samples; the SBF immersion test, bacteria adhesion test, and osteoblast cell culture were used for biological investigation. PEO in a Ca-P bath with AgNPs provides the formation of a mesoporous oxide layer that supports osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation. Additionally, the obtained surface with incorporated Ag prevents bacterial adhesion in the first 6 h after immersion in a pathogen suspension, which can be an effective approach to prevent infectious complications after implantation.
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