Advanced implications of nanotechnology in disease control and environmental perspectives

The experimental significance of isorhamnetin as an effective therapeutic option for cancer: A comprehensive analysis

Isorhamnetin (C16H12O7), a 3'-O-methylated derivative of quercetin from the class of flavonoids, is predominantly present in the leaves and fruits of several plants, many of which have traditionally been employed as remedies due to its diverse therapeutic activities. The objective of this in-depth analysis is to concentrate on Isorhamnetin by addressing its molecular insights as an effective anticancer compound and its synergistic activity with other anticancer drugs. The main contributors to Isorhamnetin's anti-malignant activities at the molecular level have been identified as alterations of a variety of signal transduction processes and transcriptional agents. These include ROS-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibition of mTOR and P13K pathway, suppression of MEK1, PI3K, NF-κB, and Akt/ERK pathways, and inhibition of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-1α expression. A significant number of in vitro and in vivo research studies have confirmed that it destroys cancerous cells by arresting cell cycle at the G2/M phase and S-phase, down-regulating COX-2 protein expression, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, MEK1, ERKs, and PI3K signaling pathways, and up-regulating apoptosis-induced genes (Casp3, Casp9, and Apaf1), Bax, Caspase-3, P53 gene expression and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway. Its ability to suppress malignant cells, evidence of synergistic effects, and design of drugs based on nanomedicine are also well supported to treat cancer patients effectively. Together, our findings establish a crucial foundation for understanding Isorhamnetin's underlying anti-cancer mechanism in cancer cells and reinforce the case for the requirement to assess more exact molecular signaling pathways relating to specific cancer and in vivo anti-cancer activities.

Cracking the Code: Enhancing Molecular Tools for Progress in Nanobiotechnology

Nature continually refines its processes for optimal efficiency, especially within biological systems. This article explores the collaborative efforts of researchers worldwide, aiming to mimic nature's efficiency by developing smarter and more effective nanoscale technologies and biomaterials. Recent advancements highlight progress and prospects in leveraging engineered nucleic acids and proteins for specific tasks, drawing inspiration from natural functions. The focus is developing improved methods for characterizing, understanding, and reprogramming these materials to perform user-defined functions, including personalized therapeutics, targeted drug delivery approaches, engineered scaffolds, and reconfigurable nanodevices. Contributions from academia, government agencies, biotech, and medical settings offer diverse perspectives, promising a comprehensive approach to broad nanobiotechnology objectives. Encompassing topics from mRNA vaccine design to programmable protein-based nanocomputing agents, this work provides insightful perspectives on the trajectory of nanobiotechnology toward a future of enhanced biomimicry and technological innovation.

Nano Revolution: "Tiny tech, big impact: How nanotechnology is driving SDGs progress"

Nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development. By manipulating materials at the nanoscale, researchers have unlocked new possibilities in various fields, including energy, healthcare, agriculture, construction, transportation, and environmental conservation. This paper explores the potential of nanotechnology and nanostructures in contributing to the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by improving energy efficiency and energy conversion, leading to a more sustainable and clean energy future, improving water purification processes, enabling access to clean drinking water for communities, enabling targeted drug delivery systems, early disease detection, and personalized medicine, thus revolutionizing healthcare, improving crop yields, efficient nutrient delivery systems, pest control mechanisms, and many other areas, therefore addressing food security issues. It also highlights the potential of nanomaterials in environmental remediation and pollution control. Therefore, by understanding and harnessing nanotechnology's potential, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders can work together toward a more sustainable future by achieving the 17 UN SDGs.

Nanomaterials and biochar mediated remediation of emerging contaminants

The unrestricted release of various toxic substances into the environment is a critical global issue, gaining increased attention in modern society. Many of these substances are pristine to various environmental compartments known as contaminants/emerging contaminants (ECs). Nanoparticles and emerging sorbents enhanced remediation is a compelling methodology exhibiting great potential in addressing EC-related issues and facilitating their elimination from the environment, particularly those compounds that demonstrate eco-toxicity and pose considerable challenges in terms of removal. It provides a novel technique enabling the secure and sustainable removal of various ECs, including persistent organic compounds, microplastics, phthalate, etc. This extensive review presents a critical perspective on the current advancements and potential outcomes of nano-enhanced remediation techniques such as photocatalysis, nano-sensing, nano-enhanced sorbents, bio/phyto-remediation, which are applied to clean-up the natural environment. In addition, when dealing with residual contaminants, special attention is paid to both health and environmental implications; therefore, an evaluation of the long-term sustainability of nano-enhanced remediation methods has been considered. The integrated mechanical approaches were thoroughly discussed and presented in graphical forms. Thus, the critical evaluation of the integrated use of most emerging remediation technologies will open a new dimension in environmental safety and clean-up program.

Strategies for mitigation of pesticides from the environment through alternative approaches: A review of recent developments and future prospects

Chemical-based peticides are having negative impacts on both the healths of human beings and plants as well. The World Health Organisation (WHO), reported that each year, >25 million individuals in poor nations are having acute pesticide poisoning cases along with 20,000 fatal injuries at global level. Normally, only ∼0.1% of the pesticide reaches to the intended targets, and rest amount is expected to come into the food chain/environment for a longer period of time. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the amounts of pesticides present in the soil. Physical or chemical treatments are either expensive or incapable to do so. Hence, pesticide detoxification can be achieved through bioremediation/biotechnologies, including nano-based methodologies, integrated approaches etc. These are relatively affordable, efficient and environmentally sound methods. Therefore, alternate strategies like as advanced biotechnological tools like as CRISPR Cas system, RNAi and genetic engineering for development of insects and pest resistant plants which are directly involved in the development of disease- and pest-resistant plants and indirectly reduce the use of pesticides. Omics tools and multi omics approaches like metagenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics for the efficient functional gene mining and their validation for bioremediation of pesticides also discussed from the literatures. Overall, the review focuses on the most recent advancements in bioremediation methods to lessen the effects of pesticides along with the role of microorganisms in pesticides elimination. Further, pesticide detection is also a big challenge which can be done by using HPLC, GC, SERS, and LSPR ELISA etc. which have also been described in this review.

Microbiome Dynamics: A Paradigm Shift in Combatting Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases have long posed a significant threat to global health and require constant innovation in treatment approaches. However, recent groundbreaking research has shed light on a previously overlooked player in the pathogenesis of disease-the human microbiome. This review article addresses the intricate relationship between the microbiome and infectious diseases and unravels its role as a crucial mediator of host-pathogen interactions. We explore the remarkable potential of harnessing this dynamic ecosystem to develop innovative treatment strategies that could revolutionize the management of infectious diseases. By exploring the latest advances and emerging trends, this review aims to provide a new perspective on combating infectious diseases by targeting the microbiome.

A potential cure for tumor-associated immunosuppression by Toxoplasma gondii

BACKGROUND

Recently, immunotherapy has become very hopeful for cancer therapy. Cancer treatment through immunotherapy has excellent specificity and less toxicity than conventional chemoradiotherapy. Pathogens have been used in cancer immunotherapy for a long time. The current study aims to evaluate the possibility of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) as a probable treatment for cancers such as melanoma, breast, ovarian, lung, and pancreatic cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nonreplicating type I uracil auxotrophic mutants of T. gondii can stimulate immune responses against tumors by reverse immunosuppression at the cellular level. T. gondii can be utilized to research T helper 1 (Th1) cell immunity in intracellular infections. Avirulent T. gondii uracil auxotroph vaccine can change the tumor's immunosuppression and improve the production of type 1 helper cell cytokines, i.e., Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and activate tumor-related Cluster of Differentiation 8 (CD8+) T cells to identify and destroy cancer cells. The T. gondii profilin protein, along with T. gondii secreted proteins, have been found to exhibit promising properties in the treatment of various cancers. These proteins are being studied for their potential to inhibit tumor growth and enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies. Their unique mechanisms of action make them valuable candidates for targeted interventions in ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer treatments.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the study underscores the significant potential of harnessing T. gondii, including its diverse array of proteins and antigens, particularly in its avirulent form, as a groundbreaking approach in cancer immunotherapy.

Nanotechnology Formulations Designed with Herbal Extracts and Their Therapeutic Applications - A Review

Because of the increasing demand for natural products, the development of nanoformulations containing natural active ingredients requires in-depth knowledge of the substances used, methods of obtaining, and stability profiles to ensure product quality, efficacy, and safety. Considering this, the bibliography of the last five years presented in databases (PubMed and Science Direct) was discussed in this work, discussing the study with medicinal plants to obtain active metabolites with therapeutic properties, as well as the different nano-systems responsible for carrying these molecules. Due to the wealth of biodiversity found in the world, many species are submitted to the extraction process for several purposes. However, identifying, classifying, and quantifying the constituents of herbal matrices are crucial steps to verify their therapeutic potential. In addition, knowing the techniques of production and elaboration of nanotechnology products allows the optimization of the incorporation of herbal extracts as an innovation target. For studies to be successful, it is necessary to exhaust experimental results that guarantee the efficacy, safety, and quality of natural nanosystems, with the objective of obtaining reliable answers in nanotechnology therapy.

Pegylated Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated with siRNA: Complexes Formation and Cytotoxicity

Drug delivery systems such as dendrimers, liposomes, polymers or gold/silver nanoparticles could be used to advance modern medicine. One significant pharmacological problem is crossing biological barriers by commonly used drugs, e.g., in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which have a problem of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricting drug delivery. Numerous studies have been conducted to find appropriate drug carriers that are safe, biocompatible and efficient. In this work, we evaluate pegylated gold nanoparticles AuNP14a and AuNP14b after their conjugation with therapeutic siRNA directed against APOE4. This genetic risk factor remains the strongest predictor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The study aimed to assess the biophysical properties of AuNPs/siAPOE complexes and to check their biological safety on healthy cells using human brain endothelial cells (HBEC-5i). Techniques such as fluorescence polarization, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential measurements and gel retardation assay showed that AuNPs form stable complexes with siRNA. Subsequently, cytotoxicity assays proved the biological safety of formed conjugates. Obtained results enabled us to find effective concentrations of AuNPs when complexes are formed and non-toxic for healthy cells. One of the studied nanoparticles, AuNP14b complexed with siRNA, displayed lower cytotoxicity (MTT assay, cells viability −74.8 ± 3.1%) than free nanoparticles (44.7 ± 3.6%). This may be promising for further investigations in nucleic acid delivery and could have practical use in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Study of MDM2 as Prognostic Biomarker in Brain-LGG Cancer and Bioactive Phytochemicals Inhibit the p53-MDM2 Pathway: A Computational Drug Development Approach

An evaluation of the expression and predictive significance of the MDM2 gene in brain lower-grade glioma (LGG) cancer was carried out using onco-informatics pipelines. Several transcriptome servers were used to measure the differential expression of the targeted MDM2 gene and search mutations and copy number variations. GENT2, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Onco-Lnc, and PrognoScan were used to figure out the survival rate of LGG cancer patients. The protein–protein interaction networks between MDM2 gene and its co-expressed genes were constructed by Gene-MANIA tool. Identified bioactive phytochemicals were evaluated through molecular docking using Schrödinger Suite Software, with the MDM2 (PDB ID: 1RV1) target. Protein–ligand interactions were observed with key residues of the macromolecular target. A molecular dynamics simulation of the novel bioactive compounds with the targeted protein was performed. Phytochemicals targeting MDM2 protein, such as Taxifolin and (-)-Epicatechin, have been shown with more highly stable results as compared to the control drug, and hence, concluded that phytochemicals with bioactive potential might be alternative therapeutic options for the management of LGG patients. Our once informatics-based designed pipeline has indicated that the MDM2 gene may have been a predictive biomarker for LGG cancer and selected phytochemicals possessed outstanding interaction results within the macromolecular target’s active site after utilizing in silico approaches. In vitro and in vivo experiments are recommended to confirm these outcomes.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Pharmacoinformatic Integrated Analysis of Bioactive Phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica (Neem) to Treat Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic hormonal and metabolic disorder in which our body cannot generate necessary insulin or does not act in response to it, accordingly, ensuing in discordantly high blood sugar (glucose) levels. Diabetes mellitus can lead to systemic dysfunction in the multiorgan system, including cardiac dysfunction, severe kidney disease, lowered quality of life, and increased mortality risk from diabetic complications. To uncover possible therapeutic targets to treat diabetes mellitus, the in silico drug design technique is widely used, which connects the ligand molecules with target proteins to construct a protein-ligand network. To identify new therapeutic targets for type 2 diabetes mellitus, Azadirachta indica is subjected to phytochemical screening using in silico molecular docking, pharmacokinetic behavior analysis, and simulation-based molecular dynamic analysis. This study has analyzed around 63 phytochemical compounds, and the initial selection of the compounds was made by analyzing their pharmacokinetic properties by comparing them with Lipinski’s rule of 5. The selected compounds were subjected to molecular docking. The top four ligand compounds were reported along with the control drug nateglinide based on their highest negative molecular binding affinity. The protein-ligand interaction of selected compounds has been analyzed to understand better how compounds interact with the targeted protein structure. The results of the in silico analysis revealed that 7-Deacetyl-7-oxogedunin had the highest negative docking score of −8.9 Kcal/mol and also demonstrated standard stability in a 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation performed with insulin receptor ectodomain. It has been found that these substances may rank among the essential supplementary antidiabetic drugs for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is suggested that more in vivo and in vitro research studies be carried out to support the conclusions drawn from this in silico research strategy.

Use of S2.2/DOX Magnetic Nanoliposomes in MR Molecule Imaging and Targeted Thermochemotherapy for Breast Cancer In Vitro

OBJECTIVE

To prepare S2.2/DOX magnetic nanoliposomes by combining the potential benefits of MNPs in MRI and the targeted performance of nano-drugs as an innovative method for integrated diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (BC).

METHODS

We created a S2.2-PEG-MZF/DOX molecular probe by using a lipid material to encapsulate PEG-MZF-NPs and doxorubicin (DOX), and a S2.2 aptamer to target MUC1 to conjugate with PEG-MZF/DOX nanoliposomes. The potential of probe for cell-specific targeting and magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging was evaluated by MR scanner and Prussian blue staining. Additionally, we explored the feasibility by using nanoliposome magnetic induction heating to interfere with MCF-7 (MUC1+) BC cells under the influence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF).

RESULTS

PEG-MZF-NPs were biologically safe. The T2 relaxation rate of PEG-MZF-NPs was found to inhibit T2 signal in a concentration-dependent manner, and the T2 signal of the S2.2-PEG-MZF molecular probe in MCF-7 cells was significantly lower than that in PEG-MZF-NPs group. Moreover, the T2 signal reduction was more pronounced in MCF-7 cells than in the hepatoma cell line HepG2 (MUC1-), suggesting a strong MRI potential of the S2.2-PEG-MZF molecular probe. The S2.2-PEG-MZF/DOX nanoliposome was able to achieve the desired temperature range for tumor hyperthermia (42-44 °C) in vitro. The S2.2-PEG-MZF/DOX nanoliposome accompanied by magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) could inhibit proliferation and invasion and induce apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The effects of this approach were significantly higher than those observed in the other groups.

CONCLUSION

We successfully developed a novel technique for BC diagnosis and treatment using thermochemotherapy under the guidance of MR molecular imaging. This approach holds great potential for improving the management of this devastating disease in the future.