Ambient fine and coarse particles in Japan affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells differently and elicit varying immune response.

Ambient particulate matter (PM) epidemiologically exacerbates respiratory and immune health, including allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA). Although fine and coarse particles can affect respiratory tract, the differences in their effects on the upper and lower respiratory tract and immune system, their underlying mechanism, and the components responsible for the adverse health effects have not been yet completely elucidated. In this study, ambient fine and coarse particles were collected at three different locations in Japan by cyclone technique. Both particles collected at all locations decreased the viability of nasal epithelial cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), increased the production of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1ß from bronchial epithelial cells and APCs, and induced expression of dendritic and epithelial cell (DEC) 205 on APCs. Differences in inflammatory responses, but not in cytotoxicity, were shown between both particles, and among three locations. Some components such as Ti, Co, Zn, Pb, As, OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) showed significant correlations to inflammatory responses or cytotoxicity. These results suggest that ambient fine and coarse particles differently affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells and immune response, which may depend on particles size diameter, chemical composition and source related particles types.

[Trends of activities in international organization and authorities in each country regarding risk management of nanomaterials].

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that in 2015 the worldwide nanotechnology-related market will reach about US$1 trillion and will create about two million additional jobs. The field began with the general technical industry, including many areas of the pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural, and environmental/energy industries, and recently has expanded to the formulation of nanotechnology. In particular, elements of nanometer-sized research and development (R & D) in the areas of drug delivery systems and nanomedicine are attracting widespread interest. On the other hand, the potential negative effects on human health and the environment of nanomaterials manufactured on the industrial scale have not been investigated in detail. Therefore, although the risks have not been fully clarified, research institutions and international organizations such as the OECD are working in earnest to elucidate them. This paper outlines the status of initiatives in industry and regulatory conditions and trends in individual countries and institutions to determine the safety of nanomaterials from the perspective of international relations.

Poly(ethylene oxide) thin films produced by electrospray deposition: morphology control and additive effects of alcohols on nanostructure.

Nanostructured thin films were prepared by electrospray deposition (ESD) from poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) aqueous solution. The surface morphologies of the deposited films were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images revealed the correlations between the morphologies and the ESD conditions. By changing the applied voltage and solution properties such as viscosity, surface tension, conductivity, and molecular weight, PEO thin films with diverse nanostructures--from nanospheres to nanofibers--were fabricated. It was also revealed that the addition of alcohols to polymer solution, which enables simultaneously changing the viscosity, the surface tension, and the conductivity, enhanced the formation of the fibrous structure. These results indicate that the ESD method is potentially a useful option for producing nanoengineered polymer surface.

Surface morphology and biological activity of protein thin films produced by electrospray deposition.

Protein thin films were prepared by the electrospray deposition (ESD) method from aqueous solutions of alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) at different concentrations, and their surface morphologies and biological activities were characterized. The surface morphologies of the deposited films were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The SEM and AFM images showed that the film surfaces had a fine porous structure, in which the pore diameters ranged from 40 to 600 nm. The biological activities of the cross-linked protein films were tested by the mechanochemical method. The response to calcium ion (Ca(2+)) demonstrated that the biological activity of the films was preserved. These results indicate that the ESD method is potentially useful for the fabrication of active protein thin films. The freestanding protein thin films prepared by ESD and postdeposition cross-linking provide novel options for protein-based biomaterials.