Phyto-synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its bioactivity response towards nosocomial bacterial pathogens

In vitro assessment of the effect of magnetic fields on efficacy of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles by Alborzia kermanshahica

Cyanobacteria represent a rich resource of a wide array of unique bioactive compounds that are proving to be potent sources of anticancer drugs. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have shown an increasing potential as major therapeutic platforms and led to the production of higher levels of ROS that can present desirable anticancer properties. Chitosan-SeNPs have also presented antitumor properties against hepatic cancer cell lines, especially the Cht-NP (Chitosan-NPs), promoting ROS generation and mitochondria dysfunction. It is proposed that magnetic fields can add new dimensions to nanoparticle applications. Hence, in this study, the biosynthesis of SeNPs using Alborzia kermanshahica and chitosan (CS) as stabilizers has been developed. The SeNPs synthesis was performed at different cyanobacterial cultivation conditions, including control (without magnetic field) and magnetic fields of 30 mT and 60 mT. The SeNPs were characterized by uv-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and TEM. In addition, the antibacterial activity, inhibition of bacterial growth, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), as well as the antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of SeNPs, were performed. The results of uv-visible spectrometry, DLS, and zeta potential showed that 60 mT had the highest value regarding the adsorption, size, and stabilization in compared to the control. FTIR spectroscopy results showed consistent spectra, but the increased intensity of peaks indicates an increase in bond number after exposure to 30 mT and 60 mT. The results of the antibacterial activity and the inhibition zone diameter of synthesized nanoparticles showed that Staphylococcus aureus was more sensitive to nanoparticles produced under 60 mT. Se-NPs produced by Alborzia kermanshahica cultured under a 60 mT magnetic field exhibit potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties, making them a promising natural agent for use in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.

To control floating drug delivery system in a simulated gastric environment by adjusting the Shell layer formulation

Background

Gastroretentive drug delivery system (GDDS) are novel systems that have been recently developed for treating stomach diseases. The key function of all GDDS systems is to control the retention time in the stomach. However, research into the bulk density or entanglement of polymers, especially regarding their effects on drug float and release times, is scarce.

Methods

In this research, we prepared the floating core-shell beads carrying tetracycline. The ratio of chitosan and xanthan gum in the shell layer was changed to modify polymer compactness. Tetracycline was encapsulated in the alginate core.

Results

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, we observed that the shell formulation did not change the bead morphology. The cross-sectional images showed that the beads were highly porous. The interaction between anionic xanthan gum and cationic chitosan made the shell layer dense, resisting to the mass transfer in the shell layer. Due to the high mass transfer resistance to water penetration, the longer float and delivery time were caused by the dense surface of the beads. The cell culture demonstrated that floating core-shell beads were biocompatible. Importantly, the beads with tetracycline showed a significant prolonged anti-bacterial effect.

Conclusion

Research results proved that the floating and releasing progress of core-shell beads can be well controlled by adjusting the shell layer formulation that could promote the function of gastroretentive drugs.

Anti-cancer & anti-metastasis properties of bioorganic-capped silver nanoparticles fabricated from Juniperus chinensis extract against lung cancer cells

The current study evaluated the anti-cancer properties of bio-functionalized silver nanoparticles fabricated by Juniperus chinensis leaf extracts. The nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, Zeta potential and X-ray spectroscopy. Further, this study elucidated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nanoparticles for anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on human lung cancer cells (A549) and compared them with commercial drug cisplatin. The size of the spherical nanoparticle was 12.96 nm with negative zeta potential. Up-regulation of caspase 3,9 and p53, Annexin V-FITC/PI, DAPI staining, and ROS production indicated the remarkable apoptotic effect of AgNPs compared to cisplatin. Moreover, down-regulation of MMP2/MMP9 scratch and matrigel assays revealed anti-metastatic properties of AgNPs. Cell cycle analysis and downregulation of cyclin D1 indicated cancer cell cessation in the G0/G1 phase. Overall, the results revealed that the green-synthetized AgNPs had anti-metastasis and anti-proliferation effects on lung cancer cells in comparison to cisplatin with lower side effects on the normal cell line.

Conifer-Derived Metallic Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis and Biological Applications

The use of metallic nanoparticles in engineering and biomedicine disciplines has gained considerable attention. Scientists are exploring new synthesis protocols of these substances considering their small size and lucrative antimicrobial potential. Among the most economical techniques of synthesis of metallic nanoparticles via chemical routes, which includes the use of chemicals as metal reducing agents, is considered to generate nanoparticles possessing toxicity and biological risk. This limitation of chemically synthesized nanoparticles has engendered the exploration for the ecofriendly synthesis process. Biological or green synthesis approaches have emerged as an effective solution to address the limitations of conventionally synthesized nanoparticles. Nanoparticles synthesized via biological entities obtained from plant extracts exhibit superior effect in comparison to chemical methods. Recently, conifer extracts have been found to be effective in synthesizing metallic nanoparticles through a highly regulated process. The current review highlights the importance of conifers and its extracts in synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. It also discusses the different applications of the conifer extract mediated metallic nanoparticles.

Synthesis and characterization of microbial mediated cadmium oxide nanoparticles

Microbial mediated synthesis of metallic nanoparticles constitutes as effective and promising approach for the development of antibacterial materials in the field of bioengineering and biomedicine. We prepared Cadmium oxide nanoaprticles (CdO NPs) utilizing Penicillium oxalicum, and cadmium acetate solution via coprecipitate method. The elemental composition and morphology of these synthesized CdO NPs were examined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Furthermore, we evaluated the bactericidal potential of prepared CdO NPs using Escherichia coli (E.coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus), Bacillus cereus (B.cereus), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Dimethyl sulfoxide was used as negative control while erythromycin was used as positive control. The XRD spectrum revealed cubic crystalline nanoparticles with 22.94 nm size and UV showed absorbance peak at 297 nm with 2.5 eV band gap energy. FTIR depicted O─H and carboxylic groups along with CdO stretching vibration. EDS showed the presence of organic compounds on Cd and O over NPs surface. SEM results revealed the spherical shape of the CdO NPs. The synthesized NPs exhibited highly potent bactericidal activity against selected strains and demonstrated less optical density of 0.086 after 24 hr. Owing to the significant antibacterial activity of CdO NPs, the broad application prospects of these nanoparticles CdO NPs in extensive biomedical applications is indicated.

Phytosynthesized Metallic Nanoparticles-between Nanomedicine and Toxicology. A Brief Review of 2019's Findings

Phytosynthesized nanoparticles represent a continuously increasing field of research, with numerous studies published each year. However, with the emerging interest in this area, the quality of the published works is also continuously increasing, switching from routine antioxidant or antimicrobial studies on trivial microbial lines to antibiotic-resistant strains or antitumoral studies. However, this increasing interest has not been not reflected in the studies regarding the toxicological effects of nanoparticles (NPs); this should be a subject of greatest interest, as the increasing administration of NPs in general (and phytosynthesized NPs in particular) could lead to their accumulation in the environment (soil, water and living organisms). The present review aims to present the most recent findings in the application of phytosynthesized NPs as antimicrobial and antitumoral agents, as well as the results regarding their toxicological potential.

New avenues of controlling microbial infections through anti-microbial and anti-biofilm potentials of green mono-and multi-metallic nanoparticles: A review

Nanoparticles synthesized through the green route deserve special mention because this green technology is not only energy-efficient and cost-effective but also amenable to the environment. Various biological resources have been used for the generation of these 'green nanoparticles'. Biological wastes have also been focused in this direction thereby promoting the value of waste. Reports indicate that green nanoparticles exhibit remarkable antimicrobial activitiesboth singly as well as in combination with standard antibiotics. The current phenomenon of multi-drug resistance has resulted due to indiscriminate administration of high-doses of antibiotics followed by significant toxicity. In the face of this emergence of drug-resistant microbesthe efficacy of green nanoparticles might prove greatly beneficial. Microbial biofilm is another hurdle in the effective treatment of diseases as the microorganismsbeing embedded in the meshwork of the biofilmevade the antimicrobial agents. Nanoparticles may act as a ray of hope on the face of this challenge tooas they not only destroy the biofilms but also lessen the doses of antibiotics requiredwhen administered in combination with the nanoparticles. It should be further noted that the resistance mechanisms exhibited by the microorganisms seem not that relevant for nanoparticles. The current review, to the best of our knowledgefocuses on the structures of these green nanoparticles along with their biomedical potentials. It is interesting to note how a variety of structures are generated by using resources like microbes or plants or plant products and how the structure affects their activities. This study might pave the way for further development in this arena and future work may be taken up in identifying the detailed mechanism by which 'green' synthesis empowers nanoparticles to kill pathogenic microbes.

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using rhizome extract of Dysosma pleiantha and its antiproliferative effect against breast and human gastric cancer cells

Synthesis of biogenic metal nanoparticles using plant extract has gained considerable attention in recent years. The present study aims to synthesize and investigate the cytotoxic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Dysosma pleiantha rhizome extract. The green biosynthesis of AgNPs was verified by ultraviolet visible spectrometer, and characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results of microscopic studies revealed that the synthesized AgNPs were a spherical shape with an average size of 76 nm. We also examined the anti-cancer activity of biologically synthesized AgNPs. The dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed in the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 treated with biogenically synthesized AgNPs, and the IC₅₀ was recorded at 33.521  and 36.25 µM respectively. The DNA fragmentation analysis showed that the MDA-MB-231 cells treated with increasing concentrations of AgNPs significantly triggered the fragmentation of DNA. In addition, the synthesized AgNPs exhibited dose dependent cytotoxic potential against human gastric cancer cell lines and the IC₅₀ was recorded at 7.14 µM. Thus, the green biosynthesized AgNPs from D. pleiantha rhizome can be used in the novel development of anticancer drugs.