fariba dashtestani

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of very diverse viruses that cause a broad spectrum of diseases from mild to severe enteric, respiratory, systemic diseases, and common cold or pneumonia among humans and animals. This virus is associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and lung disease that lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). In December 2019, researchers identified a novel coronavirus type, called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), which was associated with symptoms of high fever, dry cough, headache, diarrhea, and reduction of White Blood Cells (WBC). Coronavirus-associated acute respiratory disease was named Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). No proven treatment has been discovered for COVID-19 so far, but researchers are trying to find the best effective way to treat this disease. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that facilitate the recovery of COVID-19 patients and reduce life-threatening complications are urgently needed now. Today, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and their secretion are utilized as one of the most applied tools to treat various diseases such as inflammation and cancer. MSC-derived vesicles are rich in various growth factors, cytokines, and interleukins that are produced and secreted under different physiological or pathological conditions. These vesicles were considered a suitable and effective tool in regeneration medicine because of their high power in repairing damaged tissues and modulating immune responses. Recently, evidence has shown MSC-derived vesicles through reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines could improve damaged tissues in COVID-19 patients. In addition to MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes, Natural Killer (NK) cells, T cells, and platelet lysates were used against viral infection. In this review, we tried to provide an overview of MSC secretion and immune cells for COVID-19 therapy.

In this research, preparation, characterization, and evaluation of TiO2 encapsulated into zeolitic imidazolate framework (TiO2@ZIF-8) nanophotocatalyst was investigated as an efficient photo-degradation of paraquat (PQ) herbicide from aqueous samples. This study was performed using a ZIF-8-based nanophotocatalyst and a reactor consisting of an ultraviolet (UV) source and a reaction chamber. The effects of various parameters including contaminant concentration, amount of nanophotocatalyst, and pH reaction time were investigated on the removal efficiency of contaminant by the TiO2@ZIF-8 nanophotocatalyst. The results showed by increasing the amount of the TiO2@ZIF-8 nanophotocatalyst and pH, the removal of paraquat showed an increase. The optimal condition was found as nanophotocatalyst concentration (0.05 g.L-1), pH (7) at room temperature for 15 min for removal of 99.8% paraquat. According to the results, TiO2@ZIF-8 emerged as an efficient, robust, and recyclable nanophotocatalyst, which is a potential and environmentally friendly process for the removal of toxic chemical herbicide as hazardous organic contaminants from aqueous samples. The facile fabrication approach and the enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2@ZIF-8 were highlighted and notably showed good reusability in 8 consecutive cycles.

Antibacterial materials are so significant in the textile industry, water disinfection, medicine, and food packaging. Unfortunately, organic compounds for sterilization show toxicity to the human body; therefore, the interest in inorganic disinfectants such as metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is increasing.
Nickel and nickel hydroxide nanoparticles (NiNPs and Ni(OH)2-NPs) were prepared and characterized by DLS, SEM, AFM and ATR. Antibacterial activity assay was carried by Spot on lawn method against two selected standard pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli (as Gram negative), S. aureus (as Gram positive) and multidrug resistance K. pneumonia and E. coli. Also the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined against two selected standard pathogenic bacteria and multidrug resistance K. pneumonia and
E. coli.
The formation of the NiNPs and Ni(OH)2-NPs were confirmed by DLS, SEM, AFM and ATR. Antibacterial activity of nanoparticles were confirmed against two selected standard pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and S. aureus. And also, NiNPs and Ni(OH)2-NPs revealed fair antibacterial effect against multidrug resistance K. pneumonia and E. coli based on MIC and MBC data. As well, the experimental data presented that the antibacterial activity of NiNPs was more than Ni(OH)2-NPs.
Based on the achieved results, NiNPs and Ni(OH)2-NPs show antibacterial activity against clinical patients bacteria (multidrug resistance K. pneumonia and E. coli(. Finally, the NPs evaluated in this study have promising properties for applications as antiseptic agent for environment; however, further studies are warranted such as study toxicity NPs on normal human cell line and other clinical bacteria.

Noble metal nanoparticles have a great potential for biological study, especially the use of gold nanoparticles is popular. In this work gold nanoparticles (GNPs), silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and gold-silver hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) synthesized and used as a carrier for electrochemical investigation of redox protein. Optical characterization of these nanoparticles was performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The optical absorption spectra of HNPs solution shows only one plasmon absorption, it is concluded that mixing of gold and silver leads to a homogeneous formation of alloy nanoparticles. LCR meter study shows the HNPs is best conductance in compare of GNPs and SNPs. Therefore, the electron transfer of the homogenous glucose oxidase (GOx), horse radish peroxides (HRP) and hemoglobin (Hb) was investigates by electrochemical method in presence of HNPs. They demonstrated quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms with a formal potential of -479, -178 and,168 mV in 50 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 respectively.

The employments in many countries are not proportionate to PhD graduates. Since, most of the PhD graduates expect academic careers. Whereas, one-fourth of PhD graduates could be faculty member and it means that many PhD graduates will be unemployment each year. This problem not only in Iran but also in many countries is a fundamental problem. In this regard, Nature journal published an article entitled “How to build a better PhD” to deal with the causes and solutions of the problem. This article summarized and translated that article published in Nature journal. In this paper, five solutions for improving employment of PhD graduates are offered.

In this report we highlight the crucial importance of advanced and cutting edge basics and fundamental research in today in rapid advancement of technology. Technology production in the context of consumer goods such as smart mobile phone has extraordinary impacts on the daily life of every human being. This report attempts to negate the belief that a country or a nation can become industrial or technological limb without prioritizing and capitalizing and advanced basic and fundamental research. In highlighting the above negating belief, we have studied the roles of various fundamental research results that have helped, successfully, to design and develop smart mobile phone technology. To make the report short and concise we have included only those classes of basic research results that Nobel Prize committee have selected as the ground-breaking results in basic science, that leaving out thousands of other effective fundamental research results that have played critical roles in the final successful product.

Graphene modified glassy carbon electrodes have been developed for the determination of calcium dobesilate in pharmaceutical formulations. The prepared graphene and CNTs were used as a conductive substrate for electrochemical study of calcium dobesilate. The direct electrochemistry of calcium dobesilate showed a reversible cyclic voltammogram with a formal potential of 133 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) for graphene modified electrodes in 0.1 M phosphate buffer. The linear concentration range of the sensor is 30-120 ngr for graphene modified electrode, respectively. The lifetime of biosensor is more than 2 weeks. The proposed modified electrode provides a new promising and alternative way to detect calcium dobesilate.