Microalgal Peloids for Cosmetic and Wellness Uses.

Peloids have been used for therapeutic purposes since time immemorial, mainly in the treatment of locomotor system pathologies and dermatology. Their effects are attributed to their components, i.e., to the properties and action of mineral waters, clays, and their biological fraction, which may be made up of microalgae, cyanobacteria, and other organisms present in water and clays. There are many studies on the therapeutic use of peloids made with microalgae/cyanobacteria, but very little research has been done on dermocosmetic applications. Such research demonstrates their potential as soothing, regenerating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agents. In this work, a method for the manufacture of a dermocosmetic peloid is presented based on the experience of the authors and existing publications, with indications for its characterization and study of its efficacy.

Comparative Study of Microcalorimetric Behavior of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

To analyze the microcalorimetric behaviour of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and to test the prospective use of microcalorimetry in the early diagnosis of infections by enterobacteria. For our experiments we used cultures of E. coli, P. mirabilis and K. pneumoniae. For the experimental setup, we used a Calvet microcalorimeter with the constant temperature of 309 K inside. Using the measured difference of heat power generated by the cells over time, we obtained growth graphs of the three bacterial species grown at different densities. The generated curves have characteristic plot that repeats for each bacterial species at all the concentrations studied. We observed an inversely proportional relationship between inoculum size and the time until signal detection; the smaller inoculum, the longer time for the signal detection. In all conducted experiments, even with low number of bacteria (10 CFU/ml) as inoculum, we could identify bacterial growth in the sample within 8 hours. Microcalorimetry could be an efficient technique used for the early detection and identification of enterobacteria in a culture medium.

Magnetic silica nanoparticle cellular uptake and cytotoxicity regulated by electrostatic polyelectrolytes-DNA loading at their surface.

Magnetic silica nanoparticles show great promise for drug delivery. The major advantages correspond to their magnetic nature and ease of biofunctionalization, which favors their ability to interact with cells and tissues. We have prepared magnetic silica nanoparticles with DNA fragments attached on their previously polyelectrolyte-primed surface. The remarkable feature of these materials is the compromise between the positive charges of the polyelectrolytes and the negative charges of the DNA. This dual-agent formulation dramatically changes the overall cytotoxicity and chemical degradation of the nanoparticles, revealing the key role that surface functionalization plays in regulating the mechanisms involved.