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This work aimed to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles for use in drug encapsulation. The polymer nanoparticles were produced using miniemulsion polymerization technique. Monomer miniemulsion showed moderate stability and polymer average particle size was about 90 nm. PMMA nanoparticles were tested for toxicity in human leukemic cell strain K562 and they did not show any adverse effect on cell viability. Therefore, poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles are suitable to encapsulate antitumor agents.

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Interfacial properties rhamnolipids from an extract produced by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were analyzed in this study. The extract of rhamnolipid was characterized by surface tension in different conditions; interfacial tension with different hydrocarbons; critical micelle concentration under different pH and temperatures; particle size and emulsification capacity using laser light profiling. It was observed that the rhamnolipids extract are sensitive to variations in pH, thermostable and function as good emulsificant for emulsification of methyl methacrylate. The emulsion stability order in function of the oil phase was methyl methacrylate > emulsions of castor oil > emulsion n-heptane > emulsion toluene > emulsion hexadecane > octane emulsion. The data presented show that rhamnolipid extracts may be used to formulate stable emulsions of methyl methacrylate. This process can be used to do nano/microsphere of polymethyl methacrylate.

Exposure to pesticides by the rural population is increasing worldwide. Pesticides can induce the development of different diseases such as cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. This study analysed the clinical symptoms and haematological changes of a rural population in Conceição do Castelo, Espirito Santo, Brazil. For evaluation of symptomatology exposure to pesticides, 142 rural workers were interviewed. Of these, 22 workers were selected for haematological tests randomly as to evaluate haematological changes during the period of exposure to pesticides. Haematological analyses showed that erythrocytes, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular (VCM) volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) are in accordance with the reference intervals in haematology. Variations in the concentrations of rods and neutrophils indicates that exposure to pesticides increases the amount of those cells. Haematological disorders in rural workers exposed to pesticides can be correlated with reported symptoms. The results described in this study are relevant to the health public and reinforce the concern about the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

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