The study presents the preparation and characterization of new scaffolds based on bacterial cellulose and keratin hydrogel which were seeded with adipose stem cells. The bacterial cellulose was obtained by developing an Acetobacter xylinum culture and was visualized using SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and elementally determined through EDAX (dispersive X-ray analysis) tests. Keratin species (β–keratose and γ-keratose) was extracted by hydrolytic degradation from non-dyed human hair. SEM, EDAX and conductometric titration tests were performed for physical–chemical and morphological evaluation. Cytocompatibility tests performed in vitro confirmed the material non-toxic effect on cells. The scaffolds, with and without stem cells, were grafted on the burned wounds on the rabbit’s dorsal region and the grafts were monitored for 21 days after the application on the wounds. The clinical monitoring of the grafts and the histopathological examination demonstrated the regenerative potential of the bacterial cellulose–keratin scaffolds, under the test conditions.
Nanoparticles are implemented in different biotechnological fields, and there is interest in their use in plant biology. Nanotechnology can help overcome the persistent limitations of using conventional fungicides in the management of plant diseases, contributing to a safer environment. Hence, this study is focused on evaluating the behavior of nanoparticles on two different strains of Fusarium oxysporum, which have a wide-ranging occurrence in tomato production and account for important economic losses. Fusarium oxysporum is an ascomycetous fungus that is well-known as a soilborne plant pathogen, adapted to any soil type, and it lives in different forms on organic materials. Gold–chitosan and carbon nanoparticles were suspended in potato dextrose agar growth media, and their antifungal activity was evaluated at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after incubation by measuring the diameter of fungal colonies. The results showed that the nanoparticles have antifungal properties against F. oxysporum, the fungal colony growth diameter being reduced. Likewise, it was observed that the colony diameter was smaller when the nanoparticle concentration increased. However, in the case of one F. oxysporum strain, the highest nanoparticle concentration applied during the experiment’s execution was not able to completely inhibit fungal growth.
The densities and distributions of airborne fungal spores known to cause respiratory tract disorders were monitored in three educational buildings located in different boroughs in Iaşi. Air samples from all locations were collected monthly over a period of 3 months (March-May 2011), using the Petri plate gravitational settling (passive) method. Petri plates containing nutrient media were exposed to room air for a 15-minute period, face upwards, to collect particles settling by gravity. A total of 6196 microfungal colonies were counted on 936 plates. During the sampling period 15 fungal genera were isolated and identified. Fungal spores density in the educational institution's air was within the sanitary level accepted for public buildings, with the exception of one high school classroom, which has the potential to put the occupants at risk of developing adverse health effects. Indoor results show differences for fungal genera distribution between the educational buildings. The dominant genera were represented by Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Alternaria with 41.7, 19.2, 13.7 and 11.2% of the total, respectively.
The paper presents the overall results of theoretical achievements and experimental details when designing a material for a textile fabric, which releases a drug for a specific pathology. It presents the conclusions of the researches on the development of textile support as an anti-allergic, anti-fungal and anti-psoriasis type, but also on toxicological, biocompatibility and therapeutic issues for establishing the amount of drug needed for the trans-dermal diffusion. This paper estimates the possibility of applying a cyclodextrin (Cyc) on a textile surface to form temporary reservoirs by complexing and subsequently releasing the drug under the action of cutaneous stimuli. One refers to the achievements of authors, and works submitted by other research groups in the area of textile substrates used as implant or underwear worn next to the skin. The results are analyzed both as a scientific communication and the possible application for a potential current industrial processing.
Due to the attack of the main pathogens agents in the wheat crop the wheat production is not exploited at the full potential. Powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust brown leaves are considered to be the most widespread and damaging diseases of wheat. In our country, the attack of these pathogens is present every year, with different intensities and it can cause production damages ranging from 3-4% to 20%. Due to this fact, the main attention of the farmers is to cultivate resistant wheat varieties to Blumeria graminis (DC.) Speer., Septoria tritici Rob. Desm. and Puccinia recondita Rob. et Desm. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the phytosanitary condition of 24 wheat varieties cultivated in 2011-2012 at the Ezăreni didactic Farm from University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iaşi, Romania, localized in the central area of Moldavia. This study contains data regarding the spread and evolution of the main pathogens that were observed at the 24 wheat varieties studied. These varieties showed different reactions to different pathogens observed in the same environmental conditions thus some of them were resistant to Blumeria graminis (DC.) Speer. and Septoria tritici Rob. ex. Desm. attack, and some recorded a disease incidence of 18.75% at the Puccinia recondita Rob. et Desm attack.
The work presents chemical procedures used to obtain a film or a hydrogel after hydrolyze treatment of hair at the temperature of 150oC and the pressure of 4.9 atm. In order to obtain the hydrogel, this treatment is followed by a stage of oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, and a stage of reduction with Na2S2O4 or, in another variant, a stage of oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and a treatment with NaOH in alcoholic medium, to form natrium cationic groups. The protein chains with sulphonic groups and natrium cations determine opposite electrostatic interactions, with the formation of a polymer loop that incorporate water. The evaluation of formed hydrogel was carried out by determining the swelling degree. We have used optical and SEM photomicrographs to determine morphological organization, and EDAX micropictures for chemical modifications. A cellulose film realized by growing Gluconoacetobacter xylinus bacteria was used as control sample.
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