Seznam abstraktů 2024: POSTEROVÁ SEKCE D

Microplastics originating from the degradation of plastic waste are considered a global concern for the environment, with microplastic fibers from synthetic textiles being responsible for the majority of microplastic pollution. Over the past few decades, there has also been a notable increase in the production of synthetic polymeric materials in the form of nanofibers for various applications. Despite this fact, knowledge in the field of aging of nanofibrous materials is very limited. To evaluate the effects of polymer aging, accelerated aging techniques involving high-energy irradiation are commonly used. This work focuses on the impact of β-irradiation on electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a semicrystalline biodegradable polyester widely used in medical applications; thus, any potentially formed fiber fragments pose less risk to the environment and health compared to non-biodegradable counterparts. The impact of irradiation was evaluated in terms of the mechanical properties of the prepared nanofibrous mats. Additionally, the effects on fiber morphology and crystallinity were assessed, as well as the impact of irradiation on the biocompatibility of the material.
ACKNOWLEGMENT: This work was developed thanks to the financial support of the student grant competition project (SGS-2024-4481) from the Technical University of Liberec.

The water management sector in the Czech Republic is not fully prepared to fulfill the capabilities of the circular economy because technological costs prevent the strategic decision of the use of technologies with the use of waste purified water or new alternative sources. The governments of many countries are trying to introduce new, very ambitious targets to limit the anthropogenic impacts of climate change and water reuse has a very significant potential in this regard. Water itself is largely an undervalued and also the most polluted component of the environment. Population growth in general, increased industrial growth and urbanization have increased the demand for water. Wastewater treatment is becoming essential to ensure the continued existence of the human species, but under the current policy of using water resources, it is possible and probable that the availability of water resources for the population will be lost. Wastewater, on the other hand, offers the potential for further use to meet the demand for water. From the consumer's point of view, purified water is an alternative source with an unlimited supply. The question is whether it is possible to keep user contamination completely under control and at an acceptable level. The clean-up process is complex in relation to the possible interactions between technical, environmental and economic links that are associated with public health.
Water from the hydrant network is a water supply for the population. At the same time, however, it also fulfills the function of fire water to secure the area. The fire brigades of the Czech Republic use the backbone hydrant network to secure the tasks, especially extinguishing fires. However, in crisis situations of the state, for exampe lack of drinking water could take away valuable liquid from the population. Firefighters use both natural and man-made water sources to fight fires and that is why the idea of using purified wastewater is actively coming to the forefront of interest not only for the environmentally minded. This topic is very controversial in many ways. Changing the way fire water is provided will save water used for fire purposes. The current layout of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) allows for rapid and operational provision of fire water with the possibility of pumping from open water or with a constructed pumping station, unless there is no other suitable natural or multipurpose source of fire water in the respective municipality or settlement.

Micro and nanoplastics have emerged as ubiquitous contaminants in the environment, posing potential risks to ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on elucidating the uptake and distribution of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in cress (Lepidium sativum) stems using Raman spectral imaging. Through this technique, we quantified the concentration of micro and nanoplastics within the plant tissue and characterized their morphological properties, including size, shape, and spatial distribution. Our results provide insights into the interaction between plastics and plants, highlighting the potential pathways for plastic contamination in the food chain and informing strategies for mitigating plastic pollution. Understanding the occurrence and degradation of these plastics is crucial, as they can negatively affect aquatic habitats and potentially disrupt both ecosystems and human health. Future research should explore the long-term effects of plastic exposure on plants and further elucidate the mechanisms of plastic uptake, translocation, and potential transfer through food chains. In conclusion, our research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary efforts in addressing plastic pollution's complex challenges. By advancing our knowledge of plastics interactions with plants, we contribute to informed decision-making for sustainable environmental management and underscore the need for proactive measures to mitigate plastic pollution's impact on ecosystems.

Fullerene molecules have a size of nanoparticles. They are used in the production of nanomaterials in various fields such as medicine, chemistry, electronics and others.
Potential toxic effects of FDs on the aquatic environment was analyzed using binding affinity of 169 FDs to ten human proteins (1D6U, 1E3K, 1GOS, 1GS4, 1H82, 1OG5, 1UOM, 2F9Q, 2J0D, 3ERT) obtained from the Protein Data Bank (pdb) which showed high similarity to proteins from aquatic species. In addition, we focused on the binding activity of FDs to the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is a target of the toxin in minnows and Daphnia magna and causes the inhibition of this enzyme. To confirm the possible mechanism of action, an analysis of the structural aquatic toxicity alerts obtained from ToAlert was performed [1].
Counter-propagation artificial neural network (CPANN) models were used to determine the most important factors in terms of descriptors expressing the electronic, size, topological, stereo and other properties of FDs that affect binding to proteins associated with aquatic toxicity [1].
We have highlighted the structural characteristics of FDs with the greatest impact on aquatic species that help prioritize FDs before manufacturing decisions are made.

Over the past years, the development, production, and occurrence of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) is steadily rising, resulting in increased exposure to the human body. Therefore, concerns arise about the safety of TiO2 NPs. Due to their small size, TiO2 NPs can enter the human body through different ways and via subsequent blood transport, can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate the biological effects of TiO2 NPs in neuronal cells to understand their potential neurotoxicity.
We aimed to assess the biological effects of commercially available TiO2 P25 NPs using human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). SH-SY5Y cells were treated with 0 100 µg·mL-1 TiO2 P25 NPs for 24-72 h. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used as a positive control. After incubation with nanomaterials, we evaluated dehydrogenase activity, oxidative stress focusing on the change in glutathione levels, nuclear condensation, and fragmentation in SH-SY5Y cells.
The results showed a dose-dependent decrease of the dehydrogenase activity, changes of glutathione levels, and nuclear condensation and fragmentation of SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to tested nanomaterials. In conclusion, TiO2 P25 NPs caused a significant impairment of SH-SY5Y cells.
This study was supported by the FCHT/SGS/2024/002 project.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, 25 nm in size of crystallites (TiO2 P25 NPs), are one of the most widely used nanoparticles in industry due to their variability in applications. Because of their small size, they can easily permeate into the human body and cause cell impairment.
Our aim was to characterize a biological effect of TiO2 P25 NPs in the human neuroblastoma cell line. Because the arrangement of cell culture conditions can significantly influence the results, we aimed to compare the biological effect of TiO2 P25 NPs treatment in the SHSY5Y cell line cultured as a 2D monolayer and in 3D spheres. Cells were exposed to 0-100 µg·mL-1 TiO2 P25 NPs for up to 48 h. We used the measurement of dehydrogenase activity and glutathione levels to characterize the cell damage. In addition, fluorescence microscopy was used to detect cell morphology changes.
In conclusion, we established a 3D model of SH-SY5Y cell culture. We found changes in dehydrogenase activity and glutathione levels after 24 and 48 h of incubation with TiO2 P25 NPs. We also observed changes in 3D cultured cells treated with TiO2 P25 NPs confirming that 3D cultures of SH-SY5Y cells were less sensitive to TiO2 P25 NPs effect than 2D monolayer cells.
This study was supported by the FCHT/SGS/2024/002 project.

This study aims to verify the environmental safety of additive technologies and demonstrate the potential impacts of 3D print degradation in medical applications. The in vitro effects of nanoparticles (NPs) produced as a by-product during 3D printing by selective laser melting of 316L grade stainless steel metal powder were investigated. The NPs were characterized by microscopic methods and tested for immune response in a model of human blood. The experimental data indicated no impact on the viability of 316L NPs at the tested doses. However, functional immune assays demonstrated a significant immunosuppressive effect of the NPs. Monocyte phagocytic activity was moderately stimulated (17 %), while there were no substantial changes in the phagocytic activity and respiratory burst of granulocytes. A notable dose-dependent increase in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was observed in blood cultures treated with NPs. Conversely, IL-8 chemokine levels were significantly suppressed. The levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 were reduced by only a single concentration of NPs. These findings can help minimize potential health risks and highlight the need for further research. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This research was supported by the student projects SP2020/6, SP2023/095, and SP2024/053 of VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. This research was created as part of the project No. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004631; Materials and technologies for sustainable development within the Jan Amos Komensky Operational Program financed by the European Union and from the state budget of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Education, youth and sports.

Applications of composite materials require subsequent mechanical processing to achieve the final shape of the designed parts and their assembly. However, mechanical processing of polymeric materials with fiber reinforcement generates dust. The generation of dust during the machining of fiber composites poses health and environmental risks. The morphology and concentration of these dust particles determine the severity of these potential risks. Some toxicological studies describe potential health risks associated with machining composites, but with the expanding application of these materials, this issue and its elimination have not received sufficient attention.
This study addresses the issue of dust particle generation during the milling of carbon fiber composite material with implications for human health. The study aimed to determine, using a scanning electron microscope, how large dust particles are generated under different cutting conditions and what the effects are on, the amount of these particles.
During the evaluation of dust particles, 3 types of dust particles were captured, characterized as fine dust (mixture of matrix and reinforcement), loose fibers of different lengths and so-called fragments, clusters of fibers with matrix. It is the fine dust form containing micro-sized fibre particles that is most harmful to human health.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are endowed with a tunable, readily functionalized surface, rendering them promising for biomedical applications such as drug delivery. However, their interactions with immune cells remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the interaction of amino-, carboxyl-, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-terminated NDs with primary human immune-competent cells. First, using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyToF), we analyzed the impact of NDs on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and found an increase in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), a subset of DCs that are critically involved in antiviral responses. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that NDs triggered a vigorous type I interferon response through the endosomal Toll-like receptors, TLR7 and TLR9. In contrast, TiO2 nanoparticles of comparable size and similar surface functionalization did not elicit TLR7 or TLR9 activation. Subsequent analyses revealed that NDs were readily internalized by PBMCs, yet no cytotoxicity was detected. Taken together, NDs were shown here to be non-cytotoxic while triggering a virus-like response in pDCs. These findings deepen our understanding of ND interactions with the immune system and yield new insights for future biomedical applications of NDs.

Several experimental strategies have been formulated to develop theranostic liposomes by incorporating both drugs and various imaging contrast agents. Liposome kinetic and cracking could be potentiated by external forces (ultrasound and electro-magnetic). Gd and Fe-oxide are contrast agents, detectable by histological electro microscopy and tomography. In order to reveal possible adverse effects of Gd-liposome and Fe-oxide-liposome that may precede visible manifestation of cytotoxicity, we exposed dermal model to both type of liposomes for 24h, and relative changes of cell viability, ROS and metal deposit inside the cytoplasm and nuceus were quantified. The biodistribution of Gd and Fe-oxide on dermal and subdermal layer was also investigated and the kinetic model was described.
Results revealed that Gd-liposomes and Fe-liposomes have very similar size (115 versus 122 nm) similar zeta potential and subdermal distribution during 24h. It has been demonstrated the gadolinium and iron-oxide liposomes are stable particles in dermis and subdermal region, still detectable after 24h as compact nanobodies with high contrast under electron microscopy in dermal tissue. Only 1-3% of liposomes were internalized inside the cells.
The simple dose of 20 ug per 1cm2 of dermal tissue resulted to very low apoptosis and generation of ROS during 24h. The multiple doses resulted to higher ROS concentration for Gd variant only. The multiple doses combined with mechanical and electro-magnetic forces resulted to significant apoptosis for both type of liposomes.
Acknowledgement: TACR - project FW01010106 „Development of new generation medical devices by means of the translational medicine and physical interventions principle".