Magdalena Stevanović

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts · Institute of Technical Sciences

To compare the effects of organic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs, Se0) and inorganic sodium selenite (NaSe, Na2SeO3, Se4+) on the antioxidant response in maternal and fetal rat liver, pregnant females were treated with two forms of selenium (Se) at equivalent doses during gestation (0.5 mg SeNPs or 0.5 mg NaSe/kg body weight/day). Structural paramet...

In recent years, biopolymer-based nano-drug delivery systems with antioxidative properties have gained significant attention in the field of pharmaceutical research. These systems offer promising strategies for targeted and controlled drug delivery while also providing antioxidant effects that can mitigate oxidative stress-related diseases. General...

In this work, we synthesized a new composite material comprised of previously formulated resveratrol nanobelt-like particles (ResNPs) and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), namely ResSeNPs. Characterization was provided by FESEM and optical microscopy, as well as by UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy, the last showing hydrogen bonds between ResNPs and SeNPs...

Recently, many studies have shown various beneficial effects of polyphenol resveratrol (Res) on human health. The most important of these effects include cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, osteoinductive, and anti-microbial effects. Resveratrol has cis and trans isoforms, with the trans isoform being more stable and...

The chemical element selenium (Se) is a nonmetal that is in trace amounts indispensable for normal cellular functioning. During pregnancy, a low Se status can increase the risk of oxidative stress. However, elevated concentrations of Se in the body can also cause oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the effects of BSA-stabilized Se nanopar...

Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging nosocomial pathogen resistant to a wide spectrum of antibiotics, with great potential to form a biofilm, which further aggravates treatment of infections caused by it. Therefore, searching for new potent agents that are efficient against A. baumannii seems to be a necessity. One of them, which has already been...

One of the major issues related to medical devices and especially urinary stents are infections caused by different strains of bacteria and fungi, mainly in light of the recent rise in microbial resistance to existing antibiotics. Lately, it has been shown that nanomaterials could be superior alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Generally, nan...

Aims: To investigate the synergistic activity of colistin and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against pandrug-resistant (PDR) Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods and results: Chequerboard and time-kill assays were employed to explore the potential synergistic interactions between colistin and SeNPs against A. baumannii isolates (8), previously deter...

Multidrug-resistant bacterial strains represent an emerging global health threat and a great obstacle for bone tissue engineering. One of the major components of the extracellular matrix of the bone is a collagen protein, while selenium is an element that has antimicrobial potential, and is also important for bone metabolism and bone health. Here w...

Cadmium (Cd) ranks seventh on the list of most significant potential threats to human health based on its suspected toxicity and the possibility of exposure to it. It has been reported that some bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have the ability to bind heavy metal ions. We therefore investigated the capacity of eight EPS-producing lactobacilli t...

We report an innovative low-cost wet precipitation synthesis method for gelatin-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (GM ZnO NPs) at the interface between the gelatin hydrogel and aqueous electrolyte. Diffusion of ammonia through the hydrogel matrices with different gelatin contents induced precipitation of the product in contact with the surface of t...

Editorial on the Research Topic Antimicrobial Nanostructured Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites

Although selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have gained attention in the scientific community mostly through investigation of their anticancer activity, a great potential of this nanomaterial was recognized recently regarding its antimicrobial activity. The particle form, size, and surface chemistry have been recognized as crucial parameters determinin...

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are specific form of this element that has recently become the subject of numerous research, especially in the field of biomedicine. Several synthesis procedures for obtaining SeNPs have been developed so far, among those including reduction of selenium salts are the most frequently used. In this work, it is examined...

An increasing lack of available therapeutic options against Acinetobacter baumannii urged researchers to seek alternative ways to fight this extremely resistant nosocomial pathogen. Targeting its virulence appears to be a promising strategy, as it offers considerably reduced selection of resistant mutants. In this study, we tested antibiofilm poten...

Cell scaffolds are often used in cell transplantation as they provide a solid structural support to implanted cells and can be bioengineered to mimic the native extracellular matrix. Gadolinium fluoride nanoparticles (Gd-NPs) as a contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were incorporated into poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/chitosan scaffold...

Nanotechnology has great potential in the biomedical field. Among other nanomaterials, inorganic nanoparticles have become extremely important since they possess unique physicochemical properties influenced by their specific surface structure. Consequently, inorganic nanoparticles exhibit enhanced functionalities such as biological response, antiba...

Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microspheres as a carrier for sustained release of antibacterial agent, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), were developed. The obtained PCL/SeNPs microspheres were in the range 1–4 μm with the encapsulation efficiency of about 90%. The degradation process and release behavior of SeNPs from PCL microspheres were investigated...

The aim of this study was to test the potential of high molecular weight exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by the putative probiotic strain Lactobacillus paraplantarum BGCG11 (EPS CG11) to alleviate inflammatory pain in Wistar rats. The EPS CG11 was isolated from bacterial surface and was subjected to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) a...

Nanotechnology has great potential in the field of medicine and pharmacy because nano objects have comparable dimensions to biological entities. Polymer-based particles play an integral role as vehicles in the controlled delivery of different forms and types of active substances, such as anticancer drugs, antihypertensive and immunomodulatory agent...

Copolymer poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is extensively investigated for various biomedical applications such as controlled drug delivery or carriers in the tissue engineering. In addition, zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely used in biomedicine especially for materials like dental composites, as a constituent of creams for the treatment of a variety...

We present two coaxial chambers for measurements of the complex permittivity of solid and liquid samples, in a frequency range that is in the transition between lower frequencies, where parallel-plate capacitor techniques are used, and higher (microwave) frequencies, where antennas, open coaxial lines, and waveguides are employed. Using a network a...

A common limitation of using polymeric micro- and nanoparticles in long-term conservation is due to their poor physical and chemical stability. Freeze-drying is one of the most convenient methods that enable further reconstitution of micro- and nanoparticles for therapeutical use. Nevertheless, this process generates various stresses during freezin...

Metallic nanoparticles have attracted much attention and have found applications in diff erent fields such as medicine, pharmacy, controlled drug delivery, optics, electronics, and other areas. Among the most promising nanomaterials with antibacterial and antiviral properties are metallic nanoparticles (silver, gold, platinum, etc), which exhibit i...

Nanospheres of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) with sizes smaller than 200nm were produced by combining the freeze drying method and the physicochemical solvent/non-solvent approach. The influence of various types of cryoprotectants (poly(glutamic acid) (PGA) or sacharose) and their concentrations on the outcome of freeze-dried poly(ɛ-caprolactone) part...

The global rise in the resistance of pathogens to conventional antibiotics has created an intensive search for alternative materials with antimicrobial properties. This study is performed with an intention to investigate the combined effects of poly(l-glutamic acid)-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNpPGA) and ascorbic acid (AscH) encapsulated within...

Water-soluble antioxidant (ascorbic acid, vitamin C) were encapsulated together with poly(L-glutamic acid)-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNpPGA) within a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymeric matrix and their synergistic effects were studied. The PLGA/AgNpPGA/ascorbic-acid particles synthesized by a physicochemical method with solvent/non-sol...

We report a simple and green procedure for the preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanocrystals via solvothermal synthesis. The nanocrystal synthesis was carried out under mild conditions in the water-ethanol-oleic acid solvent system with the use of the oleate anion as a surface modifier of nanocrystals and glucose as a reducing agent. Specific con...

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) particles were prepared by physicochemical method with solvent/non-solvent systems. The synthetic polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and natural polymer poly(α,γ,l-glutamic acid) (PGA), were used as stabilizers and their influence on size and morphology of the particles was examined. The results were compared with those o...

Poly(glutamic acid) (PGA) is a carboxylic functionalized polypeptide that has been object of intensive research.PGA is a hydrophilic, biodegradable, and naturally available biopolymer usually produced by various strains of Bacillus. Its biological properties such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and nonimmunogenicity qualify it as an important bio...

Silver nanoparticles (AgNps) were prepared by modified chemical reduction with poly (α, γ, l-glutamic acid) (PGA) as capping agent. These Ag/PGA nanoparticles (AgNpPGAs) were highly stable over long periods of time without signs of precipitation. In addition to obtaining stable AgNpPGAs, a further aim was to examine their encapsulation in the poly(...

A simple and green chemical method has been developed to synthesize stable bare and capped silver nanoparticles based on the reduction of silver ions by glucose and capping by poly(α,γ,L-glutamic acid) (PGA). The use of ammonia during synthesis was avoided. PGA has had a dual role in the synthesis and was used as a capping agent to make the silver...

Highly stable dispersions of nanosized silver particles were synthesized using a straightforward, cost-effective, and ecofriendly method. Nontoxic glucose was utilized as a reducing agent and poly-α, γ, L-glutamic acid (PGA), a naturally occurring anionic polymer, was used as a capping agent to protect the silver nanoparticles from agglomeration an...

Porous, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) materials were prepared by physicochemical solvent/non-sol- vent method with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer and with silicone oil, paraffin, hydrogen peroxide or sodium chloride as a porogen. The obtained PLGA particles without porogens are non-agglomerated, uniform and with particle size o...

We investigated the genotoxic responses to two types of TiO2 nanoparticles (<25 nm anatase: TiO(2)-An, and <100 nm rutile: TiO2-Ru) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Under the applied exposure conditions the particles were agglomerated or aggregated with the size of agglomerates and aggregates in the micrometer range, and were not cytotoxic. TiO2-An,...

The major goals of the present study were to examine the effects of the type of release medium on the resulting drug release kinetics and to get further insight into the underlying drug release mechanisms. Spherical micro and nanoparticles were prepared by a physicochemical solvent/nonsolvent method with polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a surfactant and ch...

Nanoparticles of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) in the size range 90-150 nm were produced using the physicochemical method with solvent/non-solvent systems. The encapsulation of the ascorbic acid in the polymer matrix was performed by homogenization of the water and organic phases. In vitro degradation and release tests of PLGA nanoparticles...

In this work, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a model protein, was encapsulated by the precipitation method with additional step of homogenization, using polymer poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA). The purpose of this study was to expand the application of a modified precipitation method to HRPloaded PDLLA spheres and to find optimal conditions for preparing...

Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) powder composed of uniform particles with the mean particle size in the range of 110-170 nm was obtained from commercial granules. Ascorbic acid in different concentrations was encapsulated into the poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) particles. Degradation of the latter in terms of morphological changes in the physiological...

Export Date: 18 October 2014

Biodegradable polymers have become the materials of choice for a variety of biomedical applications. In particular, poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles have been studied as a material for drug delivery with the controlled release. In this paper we are describing a simple method for obtaining the system for targeted and controlled delivery o...

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is essential for preserving optimal health and is used by the body for many purposes. The problem is that ascorbic acid easily decomposes into biologically inactive compounds making its use very limited in the field of pharmaceuticals, dermatological and cosmetics. By encapsulating the ascorbic acid into a polymer matrix i...

Biodegradable micro-and nanospheres made of poly-l-lactide (PLLA) are very potent drug or antigen delivery systems with inherent potential for drug and antigen targeting. The objective of this study is to formulate modified PLLA microparticles with defined size and shape that can efficiently bind bioactive component. The effects of some process var...

Copolymer poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) is used for obtaining the systems for controlled delivery of medicaments. Its specific characteristics make it suitable for various researches where its synthesis is performed in different ways. Using the system for controlled delivery of medicaments, an equal concentration of the medicament is achieved in t...

Fine particles made of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (DLPLG) are excellent candidates for controlled release of delivering drugs and genes, because of their degradable nature. The preparation of DLPLG submicron spheres poses serious challenges that are not necessarily present when preparing macroparticles. In the present paper, DLPLG powder is produce...

This paper is covering new, simplistic method of obtaining the system for controlled delivery of the ascorbic acid. Copolymer poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (DLPLG) nanoparticles are produced using physical method with solvent/nonsolvent systems where obtained solutions were centrifuged. The encapsulation of the ascorbic acid in the polymer matrix...