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[EN] Microorganisms that can act as biocleaning agents can potentially be isolated from existing graffiti. In this study, a total of 30 different isolates of bacteria, fungi and yeasts were obtained from black, blue, red and silver graffiti coatings exposed outdoors conditions for 10 years. An additional strain was obtained from samples of black powdered graffiti exposed under laboratory conditions for 5 years. Each of the isolates from the most prolific sources (i.e. red and silver graffiti coatings and black powdered graffiti) was evaluated alone and in combination with Tween? 20, to determine their potential as biocleaning agents, in test tube assays. Two strains isolated from the red graffiti coating (identified as Candida parapsilosis) and one strain isolated from the black powered graffiti (identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis) performed best alone. The quantity of live cells throughout the trials and biofilm formation indicated that both strains were able to utilize the paint as a substrate. When the microorganisms isolated were combined with Tween? 20, the quantity of live cells increased notably throughout the incubation time, and turbidity and graffiti discoloration were observed. Infrared spectroscopic examination revealed that R. erythropolis performed the best alone, while the addition of Tween? 20 to C. parapsilosis enhanced the oxidative degradation of the graffiti., J.S. Pozo-Antonio is grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) for a post-doctoral contract (Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion, IJCI-2017-3277). P. Sanmartin is grateful for financial support from the Xunta de Galicia (grant ED431C 2018/32).

MSc (Pharmaceutics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus The oral administration route is a non-invasive, cost-effective route that is associated with high patient compliance, especially among the elderly and children. Excipients are frequently added to the active ingredient to contribute to a pharmaceutical formulation that is stable, easy to formulate and has increased patient compliance. Ideally, excipients should be chemically inert. Surfactants, in particular, should not alter the permeability or transport of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. However, several studies relating to surfactant characterisation have proven that permeability of tissue could be affected by surfactants. The aim of this study was to determine if selected surfactants had altering effects on intestinal drug permeation. For this purpose, membrane permeability of a model compound was evaluated across excised pig intestinal tissue mounted in a Sweetana-Grass diffusion apparatus. The bidirectional transport of Rhodamine 123 (Rho123), a substrate of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporter with fluorescent properties, was measured in the presence of five surfactants and a bile salt, namely Brij® 58, Tween® 20, Span® 20, Cremophor® CO40 and sodium deoxycholate. The surfactants were added at three different concentrations, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% (w/v), to investigate if the addition of these surfactants had any influence on the membrane permeability of Rho123 and if these effects were concentration dependent. The samples were withdrawn over a period of 120 min, from either the apical or the basolateral chambers, and fluorescence was measured with a microplate reader. The results indicated that polyoxyl 20 cetyl ether (Brij® 58) mediated an increase in Rho123 transport in the apical to basolateral direction at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0% (w/v), and a decrease in the basolateral to apical direction at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0% (w/v) when compared to the Rho123 control group, indicating the inhibition of P-gp related efflux in a concentration dependent manner. Polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil (Cremophor® CO40) and Polysorbate 20 (Tween® 20) mediated no mentionable change in Rho123 transport in the apical to basolateral direction, while a decrease in the transport of the marker was seen in the basolateral to apical direction. This could indicate that P-gp related efflux was inhibited. Sorbitan monolaurate (Span® 20) mediated no effect on Rho123 transport in the apical to basolateral direction but mediated a significant decrease in the P-gp mediated efflux of Rho123. Sodium deoxycholate resulted in an increase in Rho123 transport in the apical to basolateral direction in a concentration dependent manner, and a decrease in transport in the basolateral to apical direction, in a concentration dependent manner when compared to the Rho123 control. P-gp was possibly inhibited and consequently efflux was decreased. The trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values decreased in the presence of all the surfactants in both directions of transport, indicating that the surfactants possibly opened tight-junctions. The results of the study confirmed that excipients, such as surfactants, can and do have altering effects on drug permeability by means of efflux inhibition and possible opening of tight junctions, which may lead to altered bioavailability of the co-administered drug. Masters

Cristian Berce,1,* Ciprian Lucan,2,* Bobe Petrushev,3,4 Sanda Boca,5 Mirela Miclean,6 Orsolya Sarpataki,7 Simion Astilean,5 Anca Buzoianu,8 Ciprian Tomuleasa,3,9 Anca Bojan9,10 1Animal Facility, 2Department of Surgery, 3Research Center for Functional Genomics and Translational Medicine, 4Department of Pathology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 5Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microscopy Center, Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences – Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, 6Institute for Research in Analytical Instruments, 7Department of Pathophysiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 8Department of Pharmacology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 9Department of Hematology, Ion Chiricuta Oncology Institute, 10Department of Hematology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj Napoca, Romania *These authors contributed equally to this work Introduction: The present study aimed at evaluating the biodistribution of Tween®20-gold nanoparticle (GNP) conjugates and their potential toxicity on the bone marrow before moving on to Phase I clinical trials.Materials and methods: Tween®20-conjugated GNPs were injected intravenously for 21days in male Crl:CD1(ICR) mice. Body weight of the mice was evaluated each day. After the sub-chronic Tween®20-GNPs administration, blood samples were harvested, and a full blood count was done individually. Total Au quantity from all major organs was assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. One femur and the sternum obtained from each animal were used for histological assessment.Results: Our data showed that the Tween®20-GNP conjugates were found in large quantities in the bladder. Au was shown to accumulate in the hematopoietic bone tissue, with significant side effects such as leucopoiesis and megakaryopoiesis. The mice had a higher white blood cell and platelet count as opposed to the control group. This suggested that the previously described leukopenic effects of isoflurane were overridden by the leucopoietic effects of Tween®20-GNPs.Conclusion: It was uncertain whether the mice were reactive to Au as it is a foreign substance to the tissues or whether the side effects observed were a precursor condition of a more severe hematological condition. Au was found to be hepatotoxic, urging the need for further studies in order to achieve better in vivo compliance and exploit the immense potential of GNPs in cancer pharmacology. Keywords: GNPs, Tween®20, in vivo toxicology