Institute for Scintillation Materials

Zinc compounds are widely used in animal and poultry diets to improve metabolic processes, protect them from internal pathology and infectious diseases, and reduce the effects of negative environmental factors, including heat stress. The issue of finding innovative compounds with high bioavailability, low toxic parameters remains relevant, among those that meet these requirements, substances synthesized using nanotechnology stand out first of all. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of zinc carbonate nanoparticles on lipid metabolism in rats maintained under high-fat diet conditions. Achieving this goal required the performance of two tasks: first, it was necessary to determine changes in lipid metabolism indicators in animals to assess the possibility of using this model of dyslipidemia. Second, to establish the dynamics of level of triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and its lipoproteins during subchronic intake of zinc carbonate nanoparticles in different doses. For this purpose, four groups of male Wistar rats were formed – intact, receiving a standard diet; control and experimental groups 1 and 2, which used a high-fat diet. Also, animals of experimental groups 1 and 2 during the main observation period for 30 days received zinc carbonate nanoparticles orally once in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg b. w. Studied nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation method, had an initial pH value of 7.5, a concentration of 2.5 g/l and were stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (0.6 wt%). Results obtained indicate a pronounced dyslipidemia that occurred in rats that received a high-fat diet, in particular, in the control group of animals an increase in the level of triacylglycerols by 1.57–2.12 times, total cholesterol by 1.68–1.92 times, low-density lipoproteins by 58.8–80.6 %, as well as a decrease in the content of high-density lipoproteins by 14.2–29.8 %. Regarding the effect of zinc carbonate nanoparticles on lipid metabolism in rats of experimental groups, it should be noted that the effect was of a mitigating nature and contributed to a partial improvement in the indicators, which was most pronounced at the end of the experiment. Thus, on the 30th day of the main observation period, the level of triacylglycerols was lower than control values by 13.8 % in experimental group 1 and by 22.0 % in experimental group 2. Similar changes were noted in the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins – in experimental group 1 they decreased by 16.4 % and 18.9 %, respectively, and in experimental group 2 – by 19.1 % and 22.6 %. Also, under the action of nanoparticles, an increase in the content of high-density lipoproteins was observed by 18.8 % in experimental group 1 and by 27.1 % in experimental group 2, compared with control data. At the same time, all lipid metabolism indicators in experimental rats remained higher than the values of intact group throughout the experiment. Therefore, zinc carbonate nanoparticles have a positive effect on lipid metabolism in rats and require further studies to establish their effect on metabolic processes.

This study examines the regularities in polishing optical components made of copper and aluminum using dispersed systems of micro- and nanopowders. The results show that both the material removal rate and the wear intensity of the polishing powder increase with higher Q factors of the microresonator, as well as with longer lifetimes of quantum dots on the polished surface and clusters on the surface of polishing powder particles in the excited state. The volumetric wear coefficients and the most probable sizes of sludge and polishing-powder wear nanoparticles exhibit corresponding trends. The surface roughness parameters Ra, Rq, and Rmax increase linearly with the Q factor of the microresonator. Analysis of the dependence of the surface roughness parameter Rz and the ηm/Ra ratio on the most probable size of sludge nanoparticles indicates that using cerium dioxide powder dispersions for copper polishing fails to meet the required standards for optical surfaces, and for aluminum polishing, it does not offer sufficient material removal efficiency. The study substantiates the feasibility of employing copper metaborate micro- and nanopowder dispersions to polish optical copper and aluminum surfaces, achieving the required surface roughness at a high material removal rate. Theoretical values of the material removal rate during polishing with copper metaborate and cerium dioxide dispersions agree well with experimental data, showing a deviation of only 2–5%.

A bstract A first study is presented of the cross section for the scattering of same-sign W boson pairs via the detection of a τ lepton. The data from proton-proton collisions at the center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV were collected by the CMS detector at the LHC, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 . Events were selected that contain two jets with large pseudorapidity and large invariant mass, one τ lepton, one light lepton (e or μ ), and significant missing transverse momentum. The measured cross section for electroweak same-sign WW scattering is $${1.44}_{-0.56}^{+0.63}$$ times the standard model prediction. In addition, a search is presented for the indirect effects of processes beyond the standard model via the effective field theory framework, in terms of dimension-6 and dimension-8 operators.

The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide (H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>), hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anions, is crucial in cellular biology, acting as signaling agents and components of the immune response. However, elevated intracellular ROS levels can induce detrimental effects such as inflammation, damage to genetic material and proteins, and even cellular demise. Consequently, the precise regulation of ROS concentrations within biological systems presents a considerable challenge.Current methodologies for the luminescent detection of H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> encompass both organic compounds (e.g., dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, dihydrorhodamine, and Amplex Red from Invitrogen) and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs). Inorganic H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> sensors offer enhanced stability and the potential for reversible operation compared to their organic counterparts. Furthermore, H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> sensors based on NPs provide an advantage over organic sensors by enabling time-resolved measurements, allowing for the tracking of dynamic changes in H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> concentration. In contrast, organic sensors typically exhibit irreversible behavior, limiting their utility to determining the total accumulated H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> rather than real-time concentration monitoring. This investigation utilizes the luminescence intensity of Ce<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> in cerium oxide NPs (nanoceria) as a means to monitor H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> levels.Luminescent sensors formulated with fetal bovine serum (FBS)-stabilized nanoceria present several benefits for hydrogen peroxide sensing in biological environments characterized by high ionic strength. The presence of FBS not only enhances the colloidal stability of the cerium oxide nanoparticles but also promotes the reduction of Ce<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4+</sup> to Ce<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup>, resulting in an increased intensity of the Ce<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> luminescence emitted by the nanoparticles. This FBS-stimulated enhancement in NP luminescence intensity leads to improved sensitivity towards H<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>, exhibiting linear concentration dependencies across a broad range from tens of μM to hundreds of mM. Importantly, these luminescence sensors based on FBS-stabilized nanoceria demonstrate reversible behavior, attributed to the Ce<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> ↔ Ce<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4+</sup> regeneration capability within the nanoceria, enabling their repeated use in biological media.In summary, the developed FBS-stabilized cerium oxide nanoparticle-based luminescent sensors offer a stable, reversible, and highly sensitive approach for real-time monitoring of hydrogen peroxide levels in complex biological systems.

The protective role of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the use of GPx-mimetics for correction of various disorders associated with oxidative stress are widely discussed. Vanadate nanoparticles are able to decompose hydrogen peroxide and oxidize glutathione or other thiols by peroxidase-like mechanism. Previously, we have revealed the GPx activity of orthovanadate GdVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> nanoparticles, which exhibit geroprotective properties. In this study we compare the thiol peroxidase activity of orthovanadate nanoparticles ReVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> (Re = Y, Gd, La) and nanoceria CeO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2-x</inf> (2 nm) in relation to monothiols (200 µM GSH, 200 µM Cys) and dithiol (500 µM DTT) and evaluated the kinetic parameters of the reaction. The oxidation of thiols was monitored by spectroscopic techniques with DTNB (Ellman’s Reagent) in 10 mM Tris HCl buffer (pH 7.4). In contrast to GdYVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> NPs nanoparticles (2 nm), concentration dependence of reaction rate is non-linear for GdVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> and LaVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> nanoparticles, which are able to aggregate with reduced and oxidized glutathione. Kinetic indicators of the glutathione peroxidase reaction were obtained using Lineweaver-Burk curves. The correspondence of the experimentally determined reaction rate for different types of nanoparticles and the calculated kinetic parameters was found. The overall reaction rate is the highest for GdYVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> NPs for all three studied thiols, and the least for nanoceria. At the same time, unlike orthovanadate nanoparticles, nanoceria promotes the oxidation of thiols in the absence of peroxide (oxidase-like activity).

Inflammation is a critical early phase of wound healing, lasting from several hours to 3–5 days depending on the injury type, and serves as a primary defense mechanism against microbial infection. However, prolonged or excessive inflammation—characterized by overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the onset of oxidative stress—can markedly delay tissue repair. This issue is further exacerbated in the presence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and in patients with diabetes, who often exhibit impaired immune responses. Nanoparticles (NPs) with ROS-modulating properties have emerged as promising anti-inflammatory agents capable of addressing these challenges.In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing potential of GdVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> nanoparticles in vivo using three models: healthy mice, streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and a rat model of prostate inflammation. We also explored potential mechanisms underlying their therapeutic action.Our findings reveal that GdVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> NPs significantly accelerate wound closure in healthy mice and promote healing in diabetic models, where tissue regeneration is typically delayed. This reparative effect is attributed to their potent ROS-scavenging capacity, which mitigates oxidative stress and prevents inflammation-driven impairment of healing.Overall, these results highlight GdVO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>:Eu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> NPs as a promising therapeutic platform for enhancing wound repair, particularly in diabetic conditions characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Further investigation into their mechanisms and clinical translation is warranted.

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