The aim of this study is to assess the potential for disruption of the lipid bilayer by C-60 suspended in water. We selected a C-60 suspension that has previously been shown to provoke cell membrane destabilisation in vivo. Phase contrast microscopy and computer aided image analysis results show that C-60 causes shape transformations and rupture of unilamellar phospholipid vesicles, indicative of changes in their average mean curvature. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that C-60 provokes disruptions of external membranes of multilamellar vesicles only after freeze and thaw cycles. Here, the liposomes undergo breakage and annealing steps which increase the probability for fullerenes to insert into the MLVs. Our experimental findings confirm the potential of C-60 to reconstruct lipids in biological membranes.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2451279
In the current work, we used a test system with terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber) fed with food spiked with Cu NPs or soluble Cu salt for 14 days. Cu content was analyzed in the digestive glands, gut, and the 'rest' of the body. Similar patterns of (i) assimilated and depurated amounts of Cu, (ii) Cu body distribution, and (iii) effect on isopods feeding behavior were observed regardless of whether the animals were fed with Cu NPs or soluble Cu salt spiked food. Thus, Cu ions and not Cu NPs were assimilated by the digestive gland cells. The comparison of the in vitro data on solubilization of Cu NPs and in vivo data on Cu accumulation in the animal tissues showed that about 99% of accumulated copper ions was dissolved from ingested Cu NPs in the digestive system of isopods.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2658127