The present work aimed at the construction and characterization of a multilayer coating based on κ-carrageenan and quercetinloaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles (Np) by the layer-by-layer technique and the evaluation of its antioxidant capacity and potential cytotoxicity in vitro. The multilayered coating was successfully self-assembled, as confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Multilayered coatings showed to have antioxidant capacity, with a DPPH• radical scavenging activity of 31.32 ± 3.13% and a result of the FRAP assay of 799.41 ± 95.39 μM of ferrous ion (Fe 2+) equivalent. These coatings were also shown to be devoid of cell toxicity, as evaluated by determination of nitric oxide production and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. The alveolar macrophages culture was tested in the presence of the κ-carrageenan/quercetin-Np multilayer coating and showed a cell viability of 91.3 ± 9.6%. These results suggest that this multilayered coating is adequate for surfaces modification in view of biomedical and food industry applications.

Introduction: Could changes in Staphylococcus aureus cellular walls, which are commonly associated with multidrug resistance phenotype, influence their immune evasion mechanisms? Objective: To evaluate the microbicide response and survival of alveolar macrophages after in vitro infection with methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Material and methods: We used 20 adult, male, albino, Wistar rats. The alveolar macrophage samples were obtained after tracheostomy and bronchoalveolar lavage. The alveolar macrophages were cultured in the proportion of 1:1 cells/ml Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium/well and isolated by plate adhesion. For the assessment of immunological parameters, four systems were established: negative control, positive control, methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Results: When comparing MRSA and MSSA systems, there was no significant difference as to adhesion and phagocytosis rates, superoxide anion production and macrophage viability. By analyzing the kinetics of nitric oxide production, after 4 to 10 hours of cellular culture incubation, there was lower average production of this radical in the MRSA system when compared to MSSA. However, after 12 hours, no differences were detected between both systems. Conclusion: It is claimed that methicillin resistance may be a factor that influences the bacteria's ability to escape from macrophage microbicide response. Although the results of some immunological parameters were similar in the surveyed systems, the oscillations occurred during the production of nitric oxide may contribute significantly to the survival of Staphylococcus aureus.

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This study thus demonstrated that dietary restriction during lactation altered the number of alveolar macrophages in culture and the production of fusion proteins of offspring aged 42, 60 or 90 days but did not modify the expression of adhesion molecules important for the fusion of these cells.

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The tests demonstrate nutritional restriction during critical periods of development, although nutritional supplementation may compromise defense patterns in adulthood in a timely manner, preserving distinct signaling mechanism, so that the individual does not become widely vulnerable to infections by opportunistic pathogens.

Rev. Nutr., Campinas, 25 (5) R E S U M O ObjetivoAvaliar a influência da desnutrição neonatal sobre a produção de Interferon gama, Interleucina-12 e Interleucina-10 em cultura de macrófagos alveolares e linfócitos infectados, in vitro, com Staphylococcus aureus sensível/resistente à meticilina.