Luteolin mediated synthesis of rod-shaped rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticles: Assay of their biocompatibility

Luteolin, a flavone ingredient: Anticancer mechanisms, combined medication strategy, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical researches

Current pharmaceutical research is energetically excavating the pharmacotherapeutic role of herb-derived ingredients in multiple malignancies' targeting. Luteolin is one of the major phytochemical components that exist in various traditional Chinese medicine or medical herbs. Mounting evidence reveals that this phytoconstituent endows prominent therapeutic actions on diverse malignancies, with the underlying mechanisms, combined medication strategy, and pharmacokinetics elusive. Additionally, the clinical trial and pharmaceutical investigation of luteolin remain to be systematically delineated. The present review aimed to comprehensively summarize the updated information with regard to the anticancer mechanism, combined medication strategies, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical researches of luteolin. The survey corroborates that luteolin executes multiple anticancer effects mainly by dampening proliferation and invasion, spurring apoptosis, intercepting cell cycle, regulating autophagy and immune, inhibiting inflammatory response, inducing ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, as well as epigenetic modification, and so on. Luteolin can be applied in combination with numerous clinical anticarcinogens and natural ingredients to synergistically enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignancies while reducing adverse reactions. For pharmacokinetics, luteolin has an unfavorable oral bioavailability, it mainly persists in plasma as glucuronides and sulfate-conjugates after being metabolized, and is regarded as potent inhibitors of OATP1B1 and OATP2B1, which may be messed with the pharmacokinetic interactions of miscellaneous bioactive substances in vivo. Besides, pharmaceutical innovation of luteolin with leading-edge drug delivery systems such as host-guest complexes, nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsion, microspheres, and hydrogels are beneficial to the exploitation of luteolin-based products. Moreover, some registered clinical trials on luteolin are being carried out, yet clinical research on anticancer effects should be continuously promoted.

The role of quercetin in the formation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles for nanomedical applications

The current work aimed to synthesize and characterize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) using quercetin (QE) and evaluate their biological activities, i.e., anti-hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity effects. The crystallographic phase and morphology of biosynthesized QE-TiO₂NPs were characterized by XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and TEM/FE-SEM (Transmission/Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) micrographs. Functional groups involved in the synthesis process were determined by FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy). Based on the characterization results, selected QE-TiO₂NPs showed a rutile phase, spherical shape, and a size range of 7.3-39 nm. The QE-TiO₂NPs did not show a hemolytic effect. They indicated 95.3% red blood cells (RBCs) membrane stabilization activity and 82.6% inhibition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation, similar to a standard drug, which proved their anti-inflammatory effects. The attained results from cytotoxicity studies revealed the toxic effects of QE-TiO₂NPs with IC50 values below 100 and 50 μg/mL for human breast cancer cells of MCF-7 and melanoma cancer cells of A375, respectively. These NPs did not significantly affect normal skin fibroblast cells up to 50 μg/mL and only showed a 16% inhibition rate on the cell viability at 100 μg/mL. These NPs also induced excessive ROS generation. This work established the blood/biocompatibility and excellent nanomedical applications of biosynthesized QE-TiO₂NPs.

Mechanism of Action of Clove and Ginger Herbal Formulation-Mediated TiO2 Nanoparticles Against Lactobacillus Species: An In Vitro Study

Introduction:

With its numerous practical applications, the usage of nanotechnology in the medical profession has been a godsend in our modern technological era. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a semiconducting metal oxide with superior inherent qualities which can be utilized in various applications across various fields. Taking into account all of the above information, the current study focused on the mechanism of action of TiO2 nanoparticles mediated by clove and ginger herbal formulations against Lactobacillus species.

Materials and Methods:

Extract of clove and ginger herbal formulation-mediated TiO2 nanoparticles was obtained with acetone in the ratio of 10:1, yielding 9 mg/mL. After overnight incubation and further serial dilutions, the solution was introduced into microplate wells with cultured Lactobacillus species for 4 hours. A 5% of test solution was added into Kimble tubes containing Muller-Hinton broth along with the plant extract, followed by recording of minimum inhibitory concentrations at certain time intervals. The number of samples used for each concentration was 4 using the convenience method. The grouping sample was 3, i.e. test group, antibiotic and positive control group. The results were statistically analysed following one-way analysis of variances using SPSS software version 22.

Result:

Optical density determines the degree of scattering of light that is produced by a bacterium within a culture plate. The more the bacteria, the more the light is scattered. The results ( P < .005) show that as the concentration increases, the value of optical density decreases which proves that there occurs a bactericidal process that results in the reduced bacterial count.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that TiO2 nanoparticles enhanced with clove and ginger might be used as an antibacterial agent against Lactobacillus species.

Potential of green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles for enhancing seedling emergence, vigor and tolerance indices and DPPH free radical scavenging in two varieties of soybean under salinity stress

BACKGROUND

Considering titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) role in plant growth and especially in plant tolerance against abiotic stress, in the present work, TiO₂ NPs were green synthesized using an aqueous solution of Aloe vera leaf extract as a capping agent and titanium tetrachloride as a precursor. These green synthesized TiO₂ NPs were characterized using different techniques: UV spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results revealed that synthesized TiO₂ NPs possess a tetragonal morphology with a size ranging from 10 to 25 nm. Additionally, the present work evaluated the effects of three concentrations of TiO₂ NPs (0, 30 and 50 ppm) and six NaCl concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) and their interactions with respect to germination parameters, vigor indices, oxidative stress and DPPH free radical scavenging of two varieties of soybean (Glycine max L. var. 22 and 35).

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that all germination traits and vigor indices were negatively affected under all salinity levels. Also, the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased by increasing the NaCl concentrations in two soybean varieties. Most interestingly, TiO2 NPs (30 ppm) mediated positive effects on germination parameters, reducing H2O2 and MDA contents by enhancing antioxidant (decreasing IC50) whereas 50 ppm showed an intermediate response under both control and saline soil conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the growth enhancement effects of TiO₂ NPs application as well as its ameliorative potential in dealing with salinity.

New Green Approaches in Nanoparticles Synthesis: An Overview

Nanotechnology is constantly expanding, with nanomaterials being more and more used in common commercial products that define our modern life. Among all types of nanomaterials, nanoparticles (NPs) occupy an important place, considering the great amount that is produced nowadays and the diversity of their applications. Conventional techniques applied to synthesize NPs have some issues that impede them from being appreciated as safe for the environment and health. The alternative to these might be the use of living organisms or biological extracts that can be involved in the green approach synthesis of NPs, a process that is free of harmful chemicals, cost-effective and a low energy consumer. Several factors, including biological reducing agent concentration, initial precursor salt concentration, agitation, reaction time, pH, temperature and light, can influence the characteristics of biologically synthesized NPs. The interdependence between these reaction parameters was not explored, being the main impediment in the implementation of the biological method on an industrial scale. Our aim is to present a brief review that focuses on the current knowledge regarding how the aforementioned factors can control the size and shape of green-synthesized NPs. We also provide an overview of the biomolecules that were found to be suitable for NP synthesis. This work is meant to be a support for researchers who intend to develop new green approaches for the synthesis of NPs.