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cancer; mechanoreceptors; mechanosensitive ion channels; piezo channels

Mechanical forces are an inherent element in the world around us. The effects of their action can be observed both on the macro and molecular levels. They can also play a prominent role in the tissues and cells of animals due to the presence of mechanosensitive ion channels (MIChs) such as the Piezo and TRP families. They are essential in many physiological processes in the human body. However, their role in pathology has also been observed. Recent discoveries have highlighted the relationship between these channels and the development of malignant tumors. Multiple studies have shown that MIChs mediate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of various cancer cells via various mechanisms. This could show MIChs as new potential biomarkers in cancer detection and prognosis and interesting therapeutic targets in modern oncology. Our paper is a review of the latest literature on the role of the Piezo1 and TRP families in the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis in different types of cancer.

Functionalized mesoporous silica; Polyphenolic extract; Polyphenolic extract encapsulation; Polyphenols delivery profile; Radical scavenger activity

The aim of this paper is to assess the properties of Mamaia (MM) grape pomace polyphenolic extract loaded onto pristine and functionalized MCM-41 mesoporous silica as potential ingredients for nutraceuticals or cosmetics. The chemical profile of hydroalcoholic polyphenolic extracts, prepared either by conventional extraction or microwave-assisted method, was analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) analysis, while their radical scavenger activity (RSA) was evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assays. The extract-loaded materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, thermogravimetric analysis, as well as RSA (DPPH and ABTS assays). The polyphenols release profiles from pristine and functionalized (with mercaptopropyl, propyl sulfonic acid, cyanoethyl and propionic acid moieties) MCM-41-type supports were determined in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) pH 5.7. For selected materials containing embedded phytochemicals, cellular viability, and oxidative stress level on immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3) were evaluated. A more acidic functional groups linked on silica pore walls determined a higher amount of phytochemicals released in PBS. The extract-loaded materials showed a good cytocompatibility on tested concentrations. The embedded extract preserved better the RSA over time than the free extract. The polyphenols-loaded MCM-41-type silica materials, especially MM@MCM-COOH material, demonstrated a good in vitro antioxidant effect on NIH3T3 cells, being potential candidates for nutraceutical or cosmetic formulations.

Cell electroporation; Finite element modeling; Holographic microscopy; Phase images; Membrane effect

Electroporation-based techniques are known for their potential to temporarily increase cells membrane permeability by controlled electric fields for transfer of non-permeant molecules; these techniques evolved in many useful biomedical applications. Current research in this domain addresses both experimental and computational analysis in a complementary manner. Numerical simulations, considering realistic cell shapes and field exposure conditions can complete the experimental investigations by opening insights and providing quantitative data. Our approach here provides cell models for EP simulations, based on experimental acquisition of images in a holographic microscopy setup and digital reconstruction of phase images of living attached B16F10 murine melanoma cells. A procedure to process and import phase images in dedicated finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics is described in detail. Based on such realistically shaped computational domains, the electric field problem is successively defined and solved under time-harmonic electric excitation, uniformly applied; the frequency dependent dielectric properties are set accordingly. Induced transmembrane voltage distribution is the representative numerical output of the analysis shown here for different expo sure conditions (membrane regions under stress, dielectric properties, field frequency), aiming to evaluate their potential efficiency on electroporation.