Therapeutic Intervention with Dietary Chitosan Nanoparticles Alleviates Fish Pathological and Molecular Systemic Inflammatory Responses against Infections

Marine bio-sourced chitosan nanoparticles (CSNP) are antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents beneficial for fish medicine. Herein, dietary CSNP was investigated for the amelioration of the systemic inflammatory responses of an induced fish model. One hundred and forty-four rainbow trout were assigned to one pathogen-free and non-supplemented group (negative control), and three challenged groups: non-supplemented (positive control), CSNP-preventive, and CSNP-therapeutic. After a feeding experiment extended for 21 days, the organosomatic indices (OSI) and molecular aspects were assessed. After a challenge experiment extended for further 28 days, CSNP-therapeutic intervention was assessed on fish survival and systemic inflammatory responses on pathology, histo-morphology, and molecular aspects. With CSNP administration, OSI nonsignificantly decreased and the relative expression of targeted inflammatory-mediator genes was significantly increased. The CSNP-therapeutic fish showed an RPS of 80% as compared to the positive control group, and CSNP-therapeutic administration retained the highest gene expression augmentation up to 28 days after the challenge. Notably, the splenic reticulin fibers framework of the CSNP-therapeutic group retained the highest integrity among the groups during the infection. After recovery, reticulin fibers density in the CSNP-therapeutic samples was significantly higher than in the negative control group, which indicates high innate immunity. Thus, CSNP showed promising biotherapeutic features enhancing fish resistance against infections.     

Alginate Microsphere Encapsulation of Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles: A Novel Strategy for Intraperitoneal Drug Delivery

Alginate hydrogels have been broadly investigated for use in medical applications due to their biocompatibility and the possibility to encapsulate cells, proteins, and drugs. In the treatment of peritoneal metastasis, rapid drug clearance from the peritoneal cavity is a major challenge. Aiming to delay drug absorption and reduce toxic side effects, cabazitaxel (CAB)-loaded poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) nanoparticles were encapsulated in alginate microspheres. The PACAlg alginate microspheres were synthesized by electrostatic droplet generation and the physicochemical properties, stability, drug release kinetics, and mesothelial cytotoxicity were analyzed before biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy were studied in mice. The 450 µm microspheres were stable at in vivo conditions for at least 21 days after intraperitoneal implantation in mice, and distributed evenly throughout the peritoneal cavity without aggregation or adhesion. The nanoparticles were stably retained in the alginate microspheres, and nanoparticle toxicity to mesothelial cells was reduced, while the therapeutic efficacy of free CAB was maintained or improved in vivo. Altogether, this work presents the alginate encapsulation of drug-loaded nanoparticles as a promising novel strategy for the treatment of peritoneal metastasis that can improve the therapeutic ratio between toxicity and therapeutic efficacy.     

Yak interferon-alpha loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for controlled release

To explore the potential of a novel animal interferon formulation for controlled release, the yak interferon-alpha (IFN-α) glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the purified recombinant IFN-α was encapsulated into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) by double emulsion solvent evaporation (w/o/w) method. The particle size and zeta potential of IFN-α-loaded SLN were 124.2 ± 10.2 nm and −11.2 ± 0.6 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of IFN-α and loading capacity of the SLN were 83.7 ± 4.5% and 1.73 ± 0.15%, respectively. In vitro release study and antiviral assay demonstrated that the IFN-α released from the SLN in a 16-day period exhibited antiviral activity in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and showed a release pattern of an initial burst release followed by a sustained and slow release. Cytotoxicity assay in cell culture demonstrated that the SLN were not toxic. The results of this exploratory study suggest that the IFN-α-loaded SLN could be a useful formulation for controlled release in veterinary therapeutics.     

纳米载铜蒙脱石对生长肥育猪生产性能

摘要：试验旨在研究日粮中添加纳米载铜蒙脱石对生长育肥猪生产性能及血液生化指标的影响。选取72头健康“杜×大×长”三元杂交断奶仔猪,随机分为3组,每组3个重复,每个重复8头(公母各半)。分别饲喂基础日粮（对照组）、基础日粮+20 mg/kg泰乐菌素+100 mg/kg磺胺二甲基嘧啶(SM2)（试验Ⅰ组）和基础日粮+1500 mg/kg纳米载铜蒙脱石（MMT-Cu）（试验Ⅱ组）。比较研究MMT-Cu和泰乐菌素＋磺胺二甲基嘧啶对生长肥育猪生产性能及血液生化指标的影响。结果表明,与对照组和试验Ⅰ组相比,试验Ⅱ组料重比、血清ALB、SUN、Ch、TP含量极显著下降(P<0.01);血钙含量、GTP活性极显著提高（P<0.01）;TP和GLU含量显著下降 (P<0.05)。因此,纳米载铜蒙脱石提高了生长肥育猪的料重比,并对血清中ALB 、Ca、GPT、SUN、TG、Ch、TP、GLU均产生不同程度的影响。     

Nutritional significance of amino acids,vitamins and minerals as nutraceuticals in poultry production and health – a comprehensive review

Nutraceuticals have gained immense importance in poultry science recently considering the nutritional and beneficial health effects of their constituents. Besides providing nutritional requirements to birds, nutraceuticals have beneficial pharmacological effects, for example, they help in establishing normal physiological health status, prevent diseases and thereby improve production performance. Nutraceuticals include amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc. which are important for preventing oxidative stress, regulating the immune response and maintaining normal physiological, biochemical and homeostatic mechanisms. Nutraceuticals help in supplying nutrients in balanced amounts for supporting the optimal growth performance in modern poultry flocks, and as a dietary supplement can reduce the use of antibiotics. The application of antibiotic growth enhancers in poultry leads to the propagation of antibiotic-resistant microbes and drug residues; therefore, they have been restricted in many countries. Thus, there is a demand for natural feed additives that lead to the same growth enhancement without affecting the health. Nutraceuticals substances have an essential role in the development of the animals’ normal physiological functions and in protecting them against infectious diseases. In this review, the uses of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as well as their mode of action in growth promotion and elevation of immune system are discussed.     

美洲大蠊提取物CⅡ-3纳米粒对免疫力低下小鼠的免疫调节作用

研究美洲大蠊(俗称蟑螂)提取物CⅡ-3纳米粒对免疫力低下小鼠免疫功能的改善作用。制备美洲大蠊提取物CⅡ-3纳米粒,并建立免疫功能低下小鼠模型,将小鼠随机分为正常对照组和模型组(灌胃生理盐水,0.2mL/10g),辅料组(灌胃空白纳米粒,40mg/kg,0.2mL/10g),阳性对照组(灌胃左旋咪唑,40mg/kg,0.2mL/10g),CⅡ-3组(灌胃美洲大蠊提取物CⅡ-3,40mg/kg,0.2mL/10g),CⅡ-3纳米粒5个剂量组(灌胃美洲大蠊提取物CⅡ-3纳米粒10、20、40、80、160mg/kg,0.2mL/10g),各组连续给药15d后,检测小鼠外周血白细胞、红细胞、血小板;脏器指数;巨噬细胞吞噬功能;血清中免疫球蛋白IgG、IgM的含量。研究结果显示,CⅡ-3纳米粒各剂量组均可以显著提高免疫低下小鼠的白细胞数量(P<0.05);能显著提高免疫力低下小鼠的肝脏、脾脏和胸腺指数(P<0.01);可显著提高其巨噬细胞吞噬能力(P<0.05)和免疫力低下小鼠血清中IgG、IgM的含量(P<0.01),说明CⅡ-3纳米粒有改善免疫力低下小鼠免疫功能的作用。     

The effect of copper nanoparticles and copper (II) salt on redox reactions and epigenetic changes in a rat model

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a diet containing different levels of Cu in two different chemical forms (carbonate and nanoparticles) on redox reactions and epigenetic changes in a rat model. For 4 weeks, five experimental groups (eight rats in each) were fed diets with two dosages of added Cu (standard—6.5 mg/kg or half of the standard dosage—3.25 mg/kg, and as a negative control no additional Cu in the mineral mixture) in two forms (standard—CuCO₃ and copper nanoparticles). Addition of Cu nanoparticles resulted in higher Cp (ceruloplasmin) activity and LOOH (lipid peroxides) and MDA (malondialdehyde) content, as well as decrease the CAT (catalase) activity and level of PC (protein carbonyl), 3‐NT (3‐nitrotyrosine), 8‐OHdG (8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine), GSH + GSSG (total glutathione) and DNA methylation. Reducing the dose of copper resulted in a decrease in the level of LOOH and GSH + GSSG as well as CAT activity, but increased the level of PC and methylated DNA. Based on these evidence, we concluded that addition of copper nanoparticles in the diet reduces protein oxidation and nitration as well as DNA oxidation and methylation. Lowering the level of Cu in the diet increases the oxidation of proteins and DNA methylation.     

固体脂质纳米增强抗菌药物对胞内金黄色葡萄球菌活性的研究进展

金黄色葡萄球菌导致的乳房炎是危害奶牛养殖业最严重的疾病之一。抗菌药在胞内极易排出或失活,导致奶牛金黄色葡萄球菌乳房炎治疗效果差且容易复发。纳米粒子具有在巨噬细胞和上皮细胞等多种细胞中积累的能力,可提高药物在胞内的浓度和胞内停留时间,这使得它们可用于治疗细胞内感染。本文对固体脂质纳米抗金黄色葡萄球菌感染的研究进展进行综述,以指导和推动固体脂质纳米在治疗金黄色葡萄球菌乳腺炎方面的应用。     

纳米微粒材料生物学活性研究进展

综述了纳米微粒的生物学效应及其免疫调节、抗菌、抗肿瘤等多种生物学活性.