Polymeric nanoparticles as an oral delivery system for biocontrol agents for the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Abstract

AIM: To investigate polymeric nanoparticles as an oral delivery system for protein biocontrol agents for control of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula.

METHODS: Insulin-loaded poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate) (PECA) nanoparticles were prepared using interfacial polymerisation, and characterised for size, zeta potential, and efficiency of encapsulation of insulin. In-vitro release of insulin-loaded PECA nanoparticles was quantified using reverse-phase highpressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The in-vivo pharmacokinetics of insulin in PECA nanoparticles was investigated following I/V administration, and when injected directly into the caecum alone or in conjunction with the permeation enhancer EDTA. Blood samples were collected at intervals from ?5 to 180 minutes, and the concentration of insulin in plasma was quantified using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) validated for possum plasma.

RESULTS: Poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles were produced with a uniform particle size of 200–300 nm, and the mean entrapment of insulin was 78%. In-vitro release of insulin from the PECA nanoparticles was controlled, although incomplete, and approximately 30% of the insulin remained entrapped. The bioavailability of insulin when administered in a PECA nanoparticulate formulation injected directly into the caecum was <1%, and was not increased by addition of the permeation enhancer.

CONCLUSIONS: The nanoparticulate formulations investigated as part of this study resulted in low bioavailability of the peptide insulin in the brushtail possum.     

Bioremediation and reuse of shrimp aquaculture effluents to farm whiteleg shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei : a first approach

Shrimp aquaculture effluents were bioremediated in a two‐phase system (System A) using the black clam Chione fluctifraga and the benthic microalgae Navicula sp., and then reused to farm whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. In the experimental design, Systems B and C had an identical structure as System A, but no clams or microalgae were added. System B received the same shrimp effluents while System C received only estuarine water. Shrimp raw effluents had a poor water quality. System A improved the water quality by decreasing the concentrations of total nitrogen, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, total suspended solids (TSS) and organic suspended solids (OSS). System B also decreased the concentration of TAN, TSS and OSS via sedimentation, but the effect was less pronounced than that observed in System A. Shrimp reared in the bioremediated effluents (System A) had better production (3166 kg ha^?1) and higher survival (89.2%) than those reared in effluents from Systems B (2610 kg ha^?1, 75.1%) and C (2874 kg ha^?1, 82.1%). It is concluded that the bioremediation system was moderately efficient and the bioremediated effluents were suitable to farm L. vannamei.     

STUDY OF THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN IODINE AND MINERAL NUTRIENTS IN LETTUCE PLANTS

Iodine is vital to human health, and iodine bio-fortification programs help improve the human intake through plant consumption. Essential processes in plants that can be altered by iodine bio-fortification include the nutritional state of plants. The main objective of this work was to determine whether mineral nutrient concentrations were affected by the application of different forms (iodide [I^?] vs. iodate [IO₃ ^?]) and dosages (0, 20, 40, and 80 μM) of iodine, to ascertain the influence of this trace element in Lactuca sativa var. longifolia plants. The application of 80 μM of I^? significantly reduced the nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) to below the optimal ranges established for this crop. The IO₃ ^? treatments represented optimal maintenance of the nutritional state for most of the nutrients and even an improvement of nutrients as important as magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe).     

Increased free amino acid contents of the invasive weed Ageratina adenophora and the effects on its specialist herbivore Procecidochares utilis

In order to verify the escape‐from‐enemy hypothesis from the changes of nutrient substance and fitness of natural enemies on alien plants, contents of free amino acids in native and invasive plant populations of Ageratina adenophora and life history parameters of specialist herbivore Procecidochares utilis reared on these plants were investigated. Our results showed that the contents of glycine, valine, γ‐aminobutyric acid, proline, serine, alanine, and arginine in the invasive plants were higher than those in the native plants of A. adenophora. There was a shorter developmental duration and higher fecundity of P. utilis when fed on the invasive plants. The results indicated a possible fitness tradeoff of natural enemies between invasive and native plants arose from nutrient substance changes.     

Temperature preference and oxygen consumption of the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacépède) acclimated to different temperatures

The behavioural and metabolic responses of the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacépède) to temperature were determined to define optimal thermal conditions. The final preferendum of largemouth bass juveniles determined with acute and gravitation methods was independent of the method (29.0–28.1 °C). The displacement velocity in the horizontal thermal gradient of bass juveniles was 22.4 cm h⁻¹ in the light phase and 22.6 cm h⁻¹ in the dark phase. Oxygen consumption rates in the largemouth bass increased significantly (P<0.05) from 48.8 to 69.4 mg O₂ Kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ with an increase in the acclimation temperature from 20 to 33 °C. The temperature quotient (Q₁₀) in the juveniles was 1.37–2.00 in the range of acclimation temperatures of 26–29 and 29–32 °C. The optimum temperature range for growth calculated using Jobling's equation was 28.1–28.6 °C and for Q₁₀ values 26–29 °C. The results are discussed in relation to the use of this information in aquaculture.     

NUTRITIONAL BALANCE CHANGES IN LETTUCE PLANT GROWN UNDER DIFFERENT DOSES AND FORMS OF SELENIUM

The mineral composition and maintenance of mineral balance are important to growth and development of plants. The selenium (Se) has not been described as an essential element for plants, although there are studies that have demonstrated to interaction between Se with other mineral nutrients. The aim was to evaluate the influence that Se application at different rates and forms exerts on the nutritional state in lettuce plants. The plants were grown under different treatments: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 120 μmol L^?1 as sodium selenate [Na₂SeO₄ or Na₂SeO₃]. All the plants growth under controlled conditions. The results showed changes in some of the essential nutrients inside of plants such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca). The effect of Se depended largely on the Se from was applied to the culture medium. Thus, the selenite application had a stronger effect on the nutritional state of the plant.     

Oil-Water Interface Templating of Mesoporous Macroscale Structures

Ordered mesostructured porous silicas that are also macroscopically structured were created by control of the interface on two different length scales simultaneously. Micellar arrays controlled the nanometer-scale assembly, and at the static boundary between an aqueous phase and an organic phase, control was achieved on the micrometer to centimeter scale. Acid-prepared mesostructures of silica were made with the p6, Pm3n, and the P63/mmc structures in the form of porous fibers 50 to 1000 micrometers in length, hollow spheres with diameters of 1 to 100 micrometers, and thin sheets up to 10 centimeters in diameter and about 10 to 500 micrometers in thickness. These results might have implications for technical applications, such as slow drug-release systems or membranes, and in biomineralization, where many processes are also interface-controlled.