Optimization of Novel Human Acellular Dermal Dressing Sterilization for Routine Use in Clinical Practice.

Gamma rays and electrons with kinetic energy up to 10 MeV are routinely used to sterilize biomaterials. To date, the effects of irradiation upon human acellular dermal matrices (hADMs) remain to be fully elucidated. The optimal irradiation dosage remains a critical parameter affecting the final product structure and, by extension, its therapeutic potential. ADM slides were prepared by various digestion methods. The influence of various doses of radiation sterilization using a high-energy electron beam on the structure of collagen, the formation of free radicals and immune responses to non-irradiated (native) and irradiated hADM was investigated. The study of the structure changes was carried out using the following methods: immunohistology, immunoblotting, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It was shown that radiation sterilization did not change the architecture and three-dimensional structure of hADM; however, it significantly influenced the degradation of collagen fibers and induced the production of free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. More importantly, the observed effects did not disrupt the therapeutic potential of the new transplants. Therefore, radiation sterilization at a dose of 35kGy can ensure high sterility of the dressing while maintaining its therapeutic potential.

Monitoring of toxicity during degradation of selected pesticides using ionizing radiation.

The optimization of experimental conditions for radiolytic removal of organic pollutants from water and waste with the use of ionizing radiation via controlling the concentration of target compound(s) requires also monitoring the toxicity changes during the process. Commonly used herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba were shown to increase toxicity measured with the Microtox test at low irradiation doses resulting from formation of more toxic transient products, which can be decomposed at larger doses. The changes of toxicity were examined with respect to dose magnitude and the presence of commonly occurring scavengers of radiation.

[The development of radiation technologies since Maria Sklodowska-Curie]. / Od Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie do wspólczesnych technologii radiacyjnych.

The article was written on the occasion of the 100. anniversary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Maria Sklodowska-Curie. The United Nations General Assembly honoured this event by announcing the year 2011 the International Year of Chemistry. Maria Sklodowska-Curie was i.a. the initiator of radiation chemistry, a branch of science analyzing the chemical effects that matter shows when exposed to ionizing radiation. The development of this branch resulted in radiation technologies' applications in many fields of industry, medicine, agriculture, protection of the environment, space research and science. Our point of departure was the article Sur l'etude des courbes de probabilité relatives a l'action des rayons X sur les bacilles that Maria Sklodowska-Curie published in 1929 in the Bulletin of the Académie des sciences. In this study, she presented--for the first time ever--the curves of the so called radiation inactivation, i.e. the relationship between the bacteria life expectancy and the dose of radiation absorbed by it. From the today's point of view, it can be stated that the researcher laid the foundations of the methods of radiation sterilization and material processing by means of radiation. In this context, we recall the history of the first accelerator installation devised and built in 1968 at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology in Warsaw. Basing on experiences with the linear electron accelerator, the LAE 13/9 was completed in 1992 as the so far only Polish industrial installation for radiation sterilization of medical products and transplants as well as for food irradiation.