Microwave radiation and thermal effects on the bioenergetics of isolated mitochondria.

AIMS: This study proposes to investigate the effects of microwave radiation and its thermal effects, compared to thermal effects alone, on the bioenergetics of mitochondria isolated from mouse liver. METHODS: The main parameters investigated in this study are mitochondrial respiration (coupled states: S3 and S4; uncoupled state), using a high-resolution respirometer, and swelling, using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Mitochondria irradiated at 2.45 GHz microwave with doses 0.085, 0.113 and 0.141 kJ/g, presented a decrease in S3 and uncoupled state, but an increase in S4. Conversely, mitochondria thermally treated at 40, 44 and 50 °C presented an increasing in S3 and S4, while uncoupled state was unaltered. Mitochondrial swelling increases as a function of the dose or temperature, indicating membrane damages in both cases. CONCLUSION: Microwave radiation and thermal effect alone indicated different bioenergetics mitochondria response. These results imply that the effects due to microwave in medical treatment are not exclusively due to the increase in temperature, but a combination of electromagnetic and thermal effects.

Formulations of curcumin and d-mannitol as a photolarvicide against Aedes aegypti larvae: Sublethal photolarvicidal action, toxicity, residual evaluation, and small-scale field trial.

Dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever are arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. In this regard, a number of techniques have emerged aiming to combat its proliferation. Elimination of Aedes aegypti larvae by photodynamic action has been reported as an efficient approach. In this regard, this study was aimed at synthetize and characterize formulations with different proportions (w/w) of the plant-based photolarvicidal curcumin and d-mannitol (CCD 1-4) and their evaluation on sublethal photolarvicidal efficiency, photodegradation profile,solubility, internalization, elimination time, persistence in simulated field, growth of microorganisms in water and the toxicity using an animal models (Zebrafish). CCD 3 (curcumin:d-mannitol 50:50 w/w) showed the best efficacy (LC50-24h = 0.01 mg/L), and also presented the shortest internalization and longest elimination time, 60 min and 8 days, respectively. This formulation caused an extrusion into the intestine and peritrophic membrane. Moreover, CCD 3 showed a photodegradation of 50% (in 24 h) under white fluorescent lamps. In a small-scale field trial, CCD 3 had a residual time of 14 days and abnormal microbial growth was not observed. Finally, CCD 3 did not present any toxicity in Zebrafish, after exposition for 24 h at 100 mg/L. Overall, these results raise the possibility of reducing virus transmission through the controlled photoinactivation of Aedes aegypti larvae using a non-toxic plant-based formulated photolarvicide.