Toxicological Aspects of Carbon Nanotubes, Fullerenes and Graphenes.

Nanomedicines exhibit unbelievable capability in overcoming the hurdles faced in biological applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene-family nanomaterials and fullerenes are a class of engineered nanoparticles that have emerged as a new option for possible use in drug/gene delivery for life-threatening diseases. Their adaptability to pharmaceutical applications has opened new vistas for biomedical applications. Successful applications of this family of engineered nanoparticles in various fields may not support their use in medicine due to inconsistent data on toxicity as well as the lack of a centralized toxicity database. Inconsistent toxicological studies and lack of mechanistic understanding have been the reasons for limited understanding of their toxicological aspects. These nanoparticles, when underivatized or pristine, are considered as safe, however less reactive. The derivatized forms or functionalization changes their chemistry significantly to modify their biological effects including toxicity. They can cause acute and long term injuries in tissues by penetration through the the blood-air barrier, blood-alveolus barrier, blood-brain barrier, and blood-placenta barrier. and by accumulating in the lung, liver, and spleen . The toxicological effects are manifested through inflammatory response, DNA damage, apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis. Other factors that largely influence the toxicity of carbon nanotubes, graphenes and fullerenes are the concentration, functionalization, dimensional and surface topographical factors. Thus, a better understanding of the toxicity profile of CNTs, graphene-family nanomaterials and fullerenes in humans, animals and the environment is of significant importance, to improve their biological safety, to facilitate their wide biological application and for the successful commercial application. The exploration of appropriate cell lines to investigate specific receptors and intracellular targets as well as chronic toxicity beyond the proof-of-concept is required.

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in India: State of the nation and priorities for research.

BACKGROUND: Few COVID-19 vaccines were anticipated in India in early 2021. However, little was known about COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among the public. We conducted a nationwide study to understand the public's perception about COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020. METHOD: An online survey was deployed using a multi-item validated questionnaire via social media websites and networking platforms for adults in India. We asked participants about vaccination willingness, concerns about vaccination, and their sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Nationwide, 1638 participants from 27 states/union territories took the survey where the majority of the participant were males (55%), 18-30 years old (52%), urban dwellers (69%), college-educated (81%), without a history of COVID-19 infection (92%). More than a fifth were either unaware of the vaccines (20.63%) or were not sure if they will get the vaccine (27%), and 10% refused to obtain the vaccine. Almost 70% of the population had concerns regarding the vaccines. Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in awareness about vaccine and acceptability were observed based on age, educational qualifications, and employment status. CONCLUSION: While the majority of Indians would accept the vaccine, given the large population of India, even a small proportion of hesitant individuals would translate to millions of unvaccinated individuals. Strategic measures and policy decisions to enhance the rate of COVID-19 vaccination should be continuously planned and implemented in India.

Antidiabetic activity of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. and Raphanus sativus Linn. leaf extracts.

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