Fabrication of a sensitive sensor for determination of xanthine in the presence of uric acid and ascorbic acid by modifying a carbon paste sensor with Fe3O4@Au core–shell and an ionic liquid

ThermOxshield ion pair self assembly unleashing suppressed release

Poly (acrylic acid) (PAA), an anionic polymer was used to prepare ion pair self-assembly (IPSAM) with 4-(methylthio)aniline (MTA), a hydrophobic counter ion, which is responsive to temperature and oxidation. The IPSAM was formed when the carboxylic to amino group molar ratio was 7/3-5/5. The structure of the IPSAM nanoparticle was spherical whose diameter was 30-40 nm on the TEM images. The PAA/MTA ion pair showed the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) that hiked with increasing MTA content. When the MTA of the ion pair was oxidized by H2O2, the UCST was also increased. The amphiphilic property of the ion pair was responsible for interface activity which declined upon the oxidation of the MTA. The surface tension was low for the ratio of PAA/MTA (5/5), which made the 5/5 ratio suitable for further studies. The interaction between PAA and MTA, which was ionic, and the oxidation of MTA was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The release of payload (i.e. Nile red) in IPSAM was restrained below the UCST but it was triggered above the phase transition temperature possibly due to the disintegration of the IPSAM whereas on MTA oxidation the release was shielded due to more hydrophobicity. The release was found to be higher in tumor environment temperature which could be controlled with the input concentration of H2O2 giving a stable IPSAM. The cell viability results showed that IPSAM has no significant cytotoxicity and can serve as a drug carrier for stimulus-response.

Advances of liposomal mediated nanocarriers for the treatment of dermatophyte infections

Due to the adverse effects associated with long-term administration of antifungal drugs used for treating dermatophytic lesions like tinea unguium, there is a critical need for novel antifungal therapies that exhibit improved absorption and minimal adverse effects. Nanoformulations offer a promising solution in this regard. Topical formulations may penetrate the upper layers of the skin, such as the stratum corneum, and release an appropriate amount of drugs in therapeutic quantities. Liposomes, particularly nanosized ones, used as topical medication delivery systems for the skin, may have various roles depending on their size, lipid and cholesterol content, ingredient percentage, lamellarity, and surface charge. Liposomes can enhance permeability through the stratum corneum, minimize systemic effects due to their localizing properties, and overcome various challenges in cutaneous drug delivery. Antifungal medications encapsulated in liposomes, including fluconazole, ketoconazole, croconazole, econazole, terbinafine hydrochloride, tolnaftate, and miconazole, have demonstrated improved skin penetration and localization. This review discusses the traditional treatment of dermatophytes and liposomal formulations. Additionally, promising liposomal formulations that may soon be available in the market are introduced. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of dermatophyte infections and the role of liposomes in enhancing treatment.

Management of Brain Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disorders with Polymer-Based Nanoparticles as a Biocompatible Platform

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a protective barrier for the central nervous system (CNS) against drugs that enter the bloodstream. The BBB is a key clinical barrier in the treatment of CNS illnesses because it restricts drug entry into the brain. To bypass this barrier and release relevant drugs into the brain matrix, nanotechnology-based delivery systems have been developed. Given the unstable nature of NPs, an appropriate amount of a biocompatible polymer coating on NPs is thought to have a key role in reducing cellular cytotoxicity while also boosting stability. Human serum albumin (HSA), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), Polylactide (PLA), poly (alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA), gelatin, and chitosan are only a few of the significant polymers mentioned. In this review article, we categorized polymer-coated nanoparticles from basic to complex drug delivery systems and discussed their application as novel drug carriers to the brain.

A sensing platform based on Cu-MOF encapsulated Dawson-type polyoxometalate crystal material for electrochemical detection of xanthine

A promising sensing platform based on polyoxometalate-based metal-organic framework (POMOF) was established for sensitive electrochemical detection of xanthine (XA). In the unique structure of POMOF, the Dawson polyoxoanions P₂W₁₈ were encapsulated into 3D open copper-mixed ligand nanotube framework Cu-MOF, in which the cavity of the metal-organic framework provides a specific shelter to prevent the aggregation and loss of polyoxometalate in electrocatalytic reactions; meanwhile, unsaturated Cu(II) active sites of Cu-MOF can also serve as electrocatalytic active center. The POMOF-based sensor (CuMOFP₂W₁₈/XC-72R) was fabricated by using acetylene black (XC-72R) as a support material to enhance the conductivity of POMOF. The performances of the POMOF-based sensor were studied by using different electrochemical testing methods. The composite displayed remarkable electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of XA due to the synergistic effect of polyoxometalate (POM) and metal-organic framework (MOF). The electrochemical sensor demonstrated a wide linear range (0.5 μM-240 μM), low detection limit (0.26 μM), and excellent selectivity for detecting XA. Furthermore, the composite further demonstrated excellent reproducibility and great stability. More importantly, the proposed sensor was utilized to detect XA in real samples, which may provide a new way for early disease diagnosis.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology for the Management of Klebsiella pneumoniae-Related Infections

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that causes diseases such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bloodstream infections, bacteremia, and sepsis. The rise of multidrug-resistant strains has severely limited the available treatments for K. pneumoniae infections. On the other hand, K. pneumoniae activity (and related infections) urgently requires improved management strategies. A growing number of medical applications are using nanotechnology, which uses materials with atomic or molecular dimensions, to diagnose, eliminate, or reduce the activity of different infections. In this review, we start with the traditional treatment and detection method for K. pneumoniae and then concentrate on selected studies (2015-2022) that investigated the application of nanoparticles separately and in combination with other techniques against K. pneumoniae.

Synthesis characterization of Zn-based MOF and their application in degradation of water contaminants

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are currently popular porous materials with research and application value in various fields such as medicine and engineering. Aiming at the application of MOFs in photocatalysis, this paper mainly reviews the main synthesis methods of ZnMOFs and the latest research progress of Zn MOF-based photocatalysts to degrade organic pollutants in water, such as organic dyes. This nanomaterial is being used to treat wastewater and has proven to be very efficient because of its exceptionally large surface area and porous nature. The results show that Zn-MOFs are capable of high degradation of the above pollutants and over 90% of degradation was observed in publications. In addition, the reusability percentage was examined and studies showed that the Zn-MOF nanostructure has very good stability and can continue to degrade a high percentage of pollutants after several cycles. This review focuses on Zn-MOFs and their composites. First, the methods of synthesis and characterization of these compounds are given. Finally, the application of these composites in the process of photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants such as methylene blue, methyl orange, crystal violet, rhodamine B, etc. is explained.

Can nanomaterials support the diagnosis and treatment of human infertility? A preliminary review

Human infertilities are disorders that afflict many people all over the world. Both male and female reproductive systems must work together in a precise and coordinated manner and infertility has a wide range of problems for this system. Recent advances in nanomedicine immensely helped design the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to alleviate human infertility in both sexes. Nanoscience has recently been used by researchers to increase the detection limit of infertility-related biomarkers via fabricating sensitive nanobiosensors for detecting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), progesterone, and testosterone. At the same time, a variety of nanostructures, including magnetic nanoparticles (i.e., zinc nanoparticles, cerium nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles), nano-vitamins, extracellular vesicles, and spermbots, have shown promising outcomes in the treatment of human infertilities. Despite recent advancements, some nanostructures might have toxic effects on cells, especially germ cells, and must be optimized with the right ingredients, such as antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins, to obtain the right strategy to treat and detect human infertilities. This review presents recent developments in nanotechnology regarding impairments still faced by human infertility. New perspectives for further use of nanotechnology in reproductive medicine studies are also discussed. In conclusion, nanotechnology, as a tool for reproductive medicine, has been considered to help overcome current impairments.

Polyacrylic Acid Nanoplatforms: Antimicrobial, Tissue Engineering, and Cancer Theranostic Applications

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) is a non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer that gained lots of interest in recent years. PAA nano-derivatives can be obtained by chemical modification of carboxyl groups with superior chemical properties in comparison to unmodified PAA. For example, nano-particles produced from PAA derivatives can be used to deliver drugs due to their stability and biocompatibility. PAA and its nanoconjugates could also be regarded as stimuli-responsive platforms that make them ideal for drug delivery and antimicrobial applications. These properties make PAA a good candidate for conventional and novel drug carrier systems. Here, we started with synthesis approaches, structure characteristics, and other architectures of PAA nanoplatforms. Then, different conjugations of PAA/nanostructures and their potential in various fields of nanomedicine such as antimicrobial, anticancer, imaging, biosensor, and tissue engineering were discussed. Finally, biocompatibility and challenges of PAA nanoplatforms were highlighted. This review will provide fundamental knowledge and current information connected to the PAA nanoplatforms and their applications in biological fields for a broad audience of researchers, engineers, and newcomers. In this light, PAA nanoplatforms could have great potential for the research and development of new nano vaccines and nano drugs in the future.