Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Naringi crenulate leaf extract: Key challenges for anticancer activities

Nanoparticle-mediated diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer

By virtue of their advanced physicochemical properties, nanoparticles have attracted significant attention from researchers for application in diverse fields of medical science. Breast cancer, presenting a high risk of morbidity and mortality, frequently occurs in women and is considered a malignant tumor. Globally, breast cancer is considered the second leading cause of death. Accordingly, its poor prognosis, invasive metastasis, and relapse have motivated oncologists and nano-medical researchers to develop highly potent nanotherapies to cure this deadly disease. In this case, nanoparticles have emerged as responsive platforms for breast cancer management, providing new approaches to improve the diagnostic accuracy, deliver targeted therapies, and limit the progression of this disease. Recently, smart nano-carriers encapsulating drugs, ligands, and tracking probes have been developed for the specific therapy of breast cancers. Further, efforts have been devoted to developing various nano-systems with minimal toxicity. The aim of this review is to present a background on novel nanotheranostic methods that can be employed to diagnose and treat breast cancers and encourage readers to focus on the development of novel nanomedicine for breast cancers and other deadly diseases. In this context, we discuss different methods for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of breast cancers using different metal and metal oxide nanoparticles.

Upcycling of sugar refining mud solid waste as a novel adsorbent for removing methylene blue and Congo red from wastewater

The feasibility of utilizing the mud solid waste (MSW) produced during the carbonation process of sugar refining as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for the water removal of methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR), being highly utilized organic dyes representing cationic and anionic species, respectively is presented. Prior to its use, the MSW was dried at 110 °C for 24 h and sieved through a 100-mesh screen. The chief constituent of the MSW utilized was CaCO3, with a point of zero charge (PZC) found at pH 8.4 and 7.96 m2 g-1 total surface area. XRD and FTIR data indicate the presence of interactions between the dyes and the MSW surface, indicating effective adsorption. Different variables, such as initial dye concentration, MSW weight, solution pH, contact time, and temperature, were all examined to determine the optimal dye removal conditions. A central composite design (CCD) approach based on response surface methodology (RSM) modeling was utilized to identify statistically significant parameters for MB and CR adsorption capacities onto the MSW adsorbent. The removal equilibrium was typically reached in 120 minutes, with the greatest removal efficiency of CR taking place at pH 2 and 328 K, while the highest MB removal efficiency was obtained at pH 12 and 296 K. Kinetic studies suggest the adsorption of both dyes on the MSW follow pseudo-second-order rates, as evident through the high correlations obtained. Linearized and non-linearized Langmuir models showed strong correlations indicating maximum adsorption capacities of 86.6 and 72.3 mg g-1 for MB and CR, respectively. High regeneration and reusability potential of the MSW was demonstrated especially for the adsorption of CR, where the removal efficiency was nearly constant throughout five adsorption cycles, ranging from 93 to 91%, while the reduction in the removal for MB was much more significantly impacted, diminishing from 95 to 79% after the five cycles.

Isothermic and Kinetic Study on Removal of Methylene Blue Dye Using Anisomeles malabarica Silver Nanoparticles: An Efficient Adsorbent to Purify Dye-Contaminated Wastewater

Remediation of industrial discharged dyes to the water bodies is much needed in the current scenario. Here in this, we prepared silver nanoparticles using Anisomeles malabarica. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared study, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. All the characterization studies suggested that the formation of silver nanoparticles was successful. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were used as an adsorbent to adsorb the methylene blue. To achieve this, optimum pH of the adsorbent to adsorb the dye was studied, and it was found to be pH 7. The adsorbent dose to adsorb the dye was found to be 0.1 g/L. From the isotherm theoretical studies, it was found that the adsorption isotherm follows Langmuir adsorption, and the $q_{\max }$ was found to be 97.08. From the kinetic study, the rate of the reaction follows the pseudosecond-order kinetics with $\text{regression}>0.9$ . From the study, it was inferred the nanoparticles synthesized can act as a good adsorbent and can be used to purify the wastewater contaminated with methylene blue.

Synergistic Antifungal Efficiency of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles with Itraconazole against Multidrug-Resistant Candidal Strains

Fungal infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are considered one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Moreover, antifungal medications used in conventional antifungal treatment revealed poor therapeutic effectiveness and possible side effects such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and myelotoxicity. Therefore, the current study was developed to determine the antifungal effectiveness of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their synergistic efficiency with antifungal drugs against multidrug-resistant candidal strains. The AgNPs were greenly synthesized using the aqueous peel extract of Punica granatum. In addition, AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and zeta potential analysis. In this regard, UV-vis analysis indicated SPR of AgNPs at 396 nm, while the particle size distribution revealed that the average particle size was 18.567 ± 1.46 nm. The surface charge of AgNPs was found to be −15.6 mV, indicating their stability in aqueous solutions. The biofabricated AgNPs indicated antifungal activity against Candida tropicalis, C. albicans, and C. glabrata strains showing inhibitory zone diameters of 23.78 ± 0.63, 21.38 ± 0.58, and 16.53 ± 0.21 mm, respectively while their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be 2.5 µg/mL against C. tropicalis strain. AgNPs and itraconazole revealed the highest synergistic activity against the multidrug-resistant strain, C. glabrata, recording a synergism percentage of 74.32%. In conclusion, the biogenic AgNPs in combination with itraconazole drug exhibited potential synergistic activity against different candidal strains indicating their potential usage in the bioformulation of highly effective antifungal agents.

Antineoplastic effectiveness of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Onopordum acanthium L. extract (AgNPs-OAL) toward MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The present research was done to investigate the anticancer properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) fabricated using bioactive extract of Onopordum acanthium L. (AgNPs-OAL) against breast cancer cells MDA_MB231 in vitro.

METHODS

The determination studies of AgNPs-OAL were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. Interestingly, the FESEM image observed the spherical shape of AgNPs-OAL with the range of 1-100 nm.

RESULTS

As AgNP-OAL exhibited significant cytotoxicity properties on breast cancer MDA_MB231 cells with IC₅₀ values of 66.04 µg/mL, while lowing toxicity toward normal human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells with IC₅₀ values of 101.04 µg/mL was evaluated. Further, up-regulation of apoptotic Bax and CAD gene expressions were confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) technique results. Moreover, enhanced cell cycle population (sub-G1), annexin V/PI staining, acridine orange and ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, Hoescht 33,258 dye, and generation of reactive oxygen species were observed in AgNP-OAL-treated MDA_MB231 cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The green-synthesized AgNP-OAL has promising anticancer efficiency that can trigger apoptosis pathways in the MDA_MB231 breast cancer cells.