Influenza poses a severe threat to human health in the world. However, developing a universal anti-viral strategy has remained challenging due to the presence of diverse subtypes as well as its high mutation rate, resulting in antigenic shift and drift. Here we developed an antiviral strategy using iron oxide nanozymes (IONzymes) to target the lipid envelope of the influenza virus.Methods: We evaluated the antiviral activities of our IONzymes using a hemagglutination assay, together with a 50% tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50) method. Lipid peroxidation of the viral envelope was analyzed using a maleic dialdehyde (MDA) assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The neighboring viral proteins were detected by western blotting.Results: We show that IONzymes induce envelope lipid peroxidation and destroy the integrity of neighboring proteins, including hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix protein 1, causing the inactivation of influenza A viruses (IAVs). Furthermore, we show that our IONzymes possess a broad-spectrum antiviral activity on 12 subtypes of IAVs (H1~H12). Lastly, we demonstrate that applying IONzymes to a facemask improves the ability of virus protection against 3 important subtypes that pose a threat to human, including H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9 subtype.Conclusion: Together, our results clearly demonstrate that IONzymes can catalyze lipid peroxidation of the viral lipid envelope to inactivate enveloped viruses and provide protection from viral transmission and infection.
Nanoemulsion provides an effective way for the efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly use for pesticides. In this study, the influence of the type, dosage of emulsifier, and emulsifying process on the formation and stability of nanoemulsion were investigated. On this basis, the optimal nanoemulsion formula loaded with pyriproxyfen was obtained. Pyriproxyfen (5%) and polyoxyethylene castor oil ether (6%; EL-20) were dissolved in hydrocarbon solvent (5%; S-100) with deionized water replenished to 100%. Compared with oil-in-water emulsion (EW) and emulsifiable concentrate (EC), the longest drying time ensured that the nanoemulsions had a more durable control effect. The pyriproxyfen-loaded nanoemulsions had a high pupation inhibition rate and 100% eclosion inhibition rate. In addition, at 7 and 14 days, the 50% lethal concentrations (LC 50 ) of pyriproxyfen-loaded nanoemulsions to Eisenia fetida were 1450.63 and 804.19 mg/kg, respectively, indicating their low acute toxicity to earthworms and environmental friendliness. Moreover, the pyriproxyfen-loaded nanoemulsions showed a low apoptosis rate (5.29%), whose value was considerably lower than that of EW (29.51%) and EC (9.45%), indicating a low toxicity to human hepatocyte L02 cells. This research facilitated the design and fabrication of nanoemulsions for water-insoluble pesticides to enhance the insecticidal activity, lower the cytotoxicity, and reduce environmental pollution of such chemicals.
Microcapsulses can be designed to effectively encapsulate, protect, and control the release of pesticides. In this study, emulsion-solvent evaporation method was used to fabricate microcapsules using dichloromethane as the solvent, polylactic acid (PLA) as the carrier materials, poly(vinyl alcohol) as the emulsifier, and β-cypermethrin as the entrapped pesticide. The effects of process parameters on the microcapsules characteristics (size, loading content, and encapsulation efficiency) were investigated. Also, the release behavior of the β-cypermethrin was measured experimentally and modeled mathematically. Kinetic analysis indicated that release mechanism of β-cypermethrin was compatible to Fickian diffusion. By optimizing the process parameters, β-cypermethrin-loaded microcapsules were successfully produced with spherical shape, smooth surface, high encapsulation efficiency (> 80%), and a range of pesticide contents. These parameters could be adjusted to achieve delivery systems with desirable release profiles. The results are beneficial to develop delivery systems for rational and effective usage of pesticides.
We developed a novel eugenol nanoemulsion with high stability and good biological activity, which may provide a promising and effective method for wound treatment in the healthcare area.
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