Morshedi, D. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2022

The impact of alpha-synuclein aggregates on blood-brain barrier integrity in the presence of neurovascular unit cells

The role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is to control trafficking of biomolecules and protect the brain. This function can be compromised by pathological conditions. Parkinsons disease (PD) is characterized by the accumulation of -synuclein aggregates (SN-AGs) such as oligomers and fibrils, which contribute to disease progression and severity. Here we study how SN-AGs affect the BBB in in vitro co-culturing models consisting of human brain endothelial hCMEC/D3 cells alone and co-cultured with astrocytes and neurons/glial cells. When cultivated on their own, hCMEC/D3 cells were compromised by SN-AGs, which decreased cellular viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, wound healing activity, TEER and permeability parameters, as well as increased the levels of ROS and NO. Co-culturing of these cells with activated microglia also increased BBB impairment according to TEER and systemic immune cell transmigration assays. In contrast, hCMEC/D3 cells co-cultured with astrocytes or dopaminergic neurons or simultaneously treated with their conditioned media showed increased resistance against SN-AGs. Our work demonstrates the complex relationship between members of the neurovascular unit (NVU) (perivascular astrocytes, neurons, microglia, and endothelial cells), SN-AGs and BBB. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=118 SRC="FIGDIR/small/504449v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (39K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ab1086org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ca0d5borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@132f39eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@183ae6_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Adsorption of Azo Dyes by a Novel Bio-Nanocomposite Based on Whey Protein Nanofibrils and Montmorillonite: Equilibrium Isotherm and Kinetic Modeling

Excessive discharge of hazardous azo dyes into the aquatic ecosystem is a global environmental concern. Here, we develop a green approach to remediate dye pollutions in water by fabricating an easy-separable bio-nanocomposite, based on whey protein concentrate, its nanofibrils, and montmorillonite nano-clay. To characterize the nanocomposite, we used SEM, FT-IR, XRD, and BET techniques. Nanofibrils lead to a uniform dispersion of montmorillonite in the whey protein matrix and also reinforce the nanocomposite. The adsorption efficacy was monitored in a batch system, using cationic dyes (Chrysoidine-G, Bismarck brown-R), reactive dyes (reactive black-5, reactive orange-16), acid dyes (acid red-88, acid red-114), and direct dyes (direct violet-51, Congo red). This nanocomposite adsorbed different dye classes, cationic dyes quicker (> 82%, after 4 h), and reactive dyes slower. Then, the effect of initial dye concentration, pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature on Chrysoidine-G adsorption was explored. The adsorbent showed a high removal (>93%) for a wide concentration range of Chrysoidine-G, also acidic pH and higher temperature are more favorable for the process. Equilibrium adsorption parameters were reasonably fitted with a linear (Nernst) isotherm model. The results indicated the existence of an unlimited number of absorption sites, i.e. no saturation was achieved under our experimental conditions (qmax(Exp)= 731 mg/g). Kinetic data were fitted with pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. We conclude that this nanocomposite is a green adsorbent with potential use for wastewater treatment and related purposes. HighlightsO_LIWe produced an easy-separable bio-nanocomposite using whey nanofibrils and MMT, with high adsorption capacity C_LIO_LINanofibrils help disperse MMT particles uniformly in the WP matrix C_LIO_LIThe adsorbents performance was compared to the adsorbents in absence of MMT and nanofibrils C_LIO_LIThis composite adsorbs cationic, anionic, direct and reactive azo dyes with different kinetics C_LIO_LIAdsorption isotherms and kinetics are studied in detail C_LI O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=82 SRC="FIGDIR/small/394205v3_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (43K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13aa68eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18cc8c0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1cff49eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c4de1c_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

bioengineering↗