Bioactive potential of morin loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles: A nobel and efficient antioxidant, antidiabetic and biocompatible abilities in in-silico, in-vitro, and in-vivo models

Activated carbon-coated iron oxide magnetic nanocomposite (IONPs@CtAC) loaded with morin hydrate for drug-delivery applications

Cancer is a major disease that affects millions of people around the world every year. It affects individuals of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Since drugs used to treat cancer cannot distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells, they cause systemic toxicity along with serious side effects. Recently, controlled drug-release systems have been developed to reduce the side effects caused by anticancer drugs used for treatment. Morin is an anticancer drug with a flavonol structure. It has been extensively researched for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, and antibacterial properties, especially found in Chinese herbs and fruits, and its multiple positive effects on different diseases. In this study, a nanocomposite with magnetic properties was synthesized by coating biocompatible activated carbon obtained using the fruits of the Celtis tournefortii plant on the surface of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. Characterization of the synthesized activated carbon-coated iron oxide magnetic nanocomposite was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The cytotoxic effects of the drug-loaded magnetic nanocomposite were examined in HT-29 (colorectal), T98-G (glioblastoma) cancer cell lines, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) healthy cell line. The morin loading and release behavior of the activated carbon-coated iron oxide magnetic nanocomposite were studied, and the results showed that up to 60% of the adsorbed morin was released within 4 h. In summary, activated carbon-coated iron oxide magnetic nanocomposite carriers have shown promising results for the delivery of the morin drug.

Exploring the Transformative Potential of Functionalized Mesoporous Silica in Enhancing Antioxidant Activity: A Comprehensive Review

Antioxidants are essential for reducing oxidative stress, protecting cells from damage, and supporting overall well-being. Functionalized mesoporous silica materials have garnered interest due to their flexible uses in diverse domains, such as drug delivery systems. This review aims to thoroughly examine and evaluate the progress made in utilizing functionalized mesoporous silica materials as a possible approach to enhancing antioxidant activity. The authors performed a thorough search of reliable databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Clarivate Web of Science, using precise keywords linked to functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles and antioxidants. The identified journals serve as the major framework for the main discussion in this study. Functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been reported to greatly enhance antioxidant activity by allowing for an increased loading capacity, controlled release behavior, the targeting of specific drugs, improved biocompatibility and safety, and enhanced penetration. The results emphasize the significant capacity of functionalized mesoporous silica (FSM) to bring about profound changes in a wide range of applications. FSM materials can be designed as versatile nanocarriers, integrating intrinsic antioxidant capabilities and augmenting the efficacy of current drugs, offering substantial progress in antioxidant therapies and drug delivery systems, as well as enhanced substance properties in the pharmaceutical field. Functionalized mesoporous silica materials are a highly effective method for enhancing antioxidant activity. They provide new opportunities for the advancement of cutting-edge treatments and materials in the field of antioxidant research. The significant potential of FSM materials to change drug delivery methods and improve substance properties highlights their crucial role in future breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical field and antioxidant applications.

Double-layer hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for ultrasound-guided photodynamic treatment

Cervical carcinoma persists as a major global public health burden. While conventional therapeutic modalities inevitably cause ablation of adjacent non-tumorous tissues, photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a targeted cytotoxic strategy through a photosensitizing agent (PS). However, the hydrophobicity and lack of selective accumulation of promising PS compounds such as zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) impedes their clinical translation as standalone agents. The present study sought to incorporate ZnPc within double-layer hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DHMSN) as nanocarriers to enhance aqueous dispersibility and tumor specificity. Owing to their compartmentalized design, the hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSN) demonstrated enhanced ultrasonic imaging contrast. Combined with the vaporization of the perfluorocarbon perfluoropentane (PFP), the HMSN-encapsulated ZnPc enabled real-time ultrasound monitoring of PDT treatment.In vivo, the innate thermal energy induced vaporization of the DHMSN-carried PFP to significantly amplify ultrasound signals from the tumor site. Results demonstrated biocompatibility, efficient PFP microbubble generation, and robust photocatalytic activity. Collectively, this investigation establishes ultrasound-guided PDT utilizing multi-layer HMSN as a targeted therapeutic strategy for cervical malignancies with mitigated toxicity.

Regulation of the P53 tumor suppressor gene and the Mcl-2 oncogene expression by an active herbal component delivered through a smart thermo-pH-sensitive PLGA carrier to improve Osteosarcoma treatment

Osteosarcoma (OS), a lethal malignancy, has witnessed an escalating incidence rate. Contemporary therapeutic strategies for this cancer have proven to be inadequate, primarily due to their extensive side effects and the lack of specificity in targeting the molecular pathways implicated in this disease. Consequently, this project is aimed to manufacture and characterize Poly (Lactic-co-glycolic acid) embodying curcumin, a phytocompound devoid of adverse effects which not only exerts an anti-neoplastic influence but also significantly modulates the genetic pathways associated with this malignancy. In this investigation, multiple formulations of PLGA-Cur were synthesized, and the choice of optimal formula was made considering the efficiency of nanoparticle encapsulation and the drug dispersion rate from synthesized PLGA. The selected formulation's physical and chemical attributes, such as its dimension, polydispersity index of the formulation, surface electrical charge, physical-spatial structure, and stability, were examined using methods, including Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and spectrophotometry. Subsequently, the absence of interaction between the drug and the system was assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and cellular uptake was evaluated using fluorescence microscopy. The smart system's responsiveness to environmental stimuli was determined using the dialysis bag method and its anti-tumor properties were investigated on the SAOS-2 cell line. Finally, to evaluate the system's genetic impact on bone cancer, the molecular quantification of the P53 tumor suppressor gene and the oncogene MCL-2 was analyzed using real-time PCR and their protein expression levels were also examined. The PLGAs synthesized in this study exhibited an encapsulation rate of 91.5 ± 1.16% and a maximum release rate of 71 ± 1%, which were responsive to various stimuli. The size of the PLGAs was 12.5 ± 321.2 nm, with an electric charge of -38.9 ± 2.6 mV and a PDI of 0.107, indicating suitable morphology and stability. Furthermore, both the system and the drug retained their natural properties after inoculation. The system was readily absorbed by cancer cells and effectively exerted its anti-cancer properties. Notably, the system had a significant impact on the mentioned genes' expression. The produced nanosystem, possessing optimal physicochemical properties, has the potential to enhance the anti-cancer efficacy of curcumin. This is achieved by altering molecular and genetic pathways within cancer cells, thereby positioning it as a viable adjunctive treatment modality and also synthesizing of this herbal base drug system consider as a completely novel method for cancer therapy that can efficiently modulate genetical pathways involved.

NiFe2O4@SiO2-Cu as a novel and efficient magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for regioselective synthesis of β-thiol-1,2,3-triazoles under benign conditions

A green, mild and eco-friendly approach for the three component one-pot regioselective synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles from thiiranes has been introduced in the presence of NiFe2O4@SiO2-Cu as a new and recoverable nanocatalyst. First, the NiFe2O4 nanoparticles have been produced through a solid-state reaction of hydrated nickel sulfate, hydrated iron(iii) nitrate, NaOH and NaCl salts, and then calcined at 700 °C. Next, in order to protect the ferrite particles from oxidation and aggregation, the NiFe2O4 was core-shelled using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and converted to NiFe2O4@SiO2. Finally, the novel NiFe2O4@SiO2-Cu nanocomposite was successfully prepared by adding copper(ii) chloride solution and solid potassium borohydride. The catalyst has been characterized by FT-IR, SEM, EDX, VSM, ICP-OES, TEM and XRD techniques. The 1,3-dipolar cyclization of 1,2,3-triazoles was performed successfully in water at room temperature in high yields. The recoverability and reusability of the heterogeneous NiFe2O4@SiO2-Cu have also been investigated using VSM, SEM and FT-IR analyses. The catalyst was used four times in consecutive runs without considerable loss of activity. The presented procedure provides significant benefits such as using water as a green solvent, absence of hazardous organic solvents, high yields, benign conditions and recyclability of the magnetic catalyst.

Stöber method and its nuances over the years

Some characteristics of silica-based materials, such as the control/adjustment of their physical and chemical properties, compatibility, and friendly-use synthesis methods, have held the attention of several scientific groups over the years. This condition of prominence becomes even more evident when we seek these characteristics at the micro- and/or nanoscale. Among existing methods to obtain these micro/nanomaterials, the Stöber method is the focus of this review. This method is known to enable the production of silica micro- or nanoparticles from reagents of medium-easy manipulation under mild conditions using equipment that is common in most laboratories. However, this method has many nuances that must be considered to guarantee accurate results, either in size or distribution, and to ensure result reproducibility. Thus, in this review, we discuss the effects of the primary components used in the synthesis of these materials (i.e., TEOS, ammonia, and water), as well as those of other reaction conditions, such as solvent, temperature, and ionic strength. Therefore, we discuss studies involving the synthesis and characterization of micro- and nanoparticles over the years to establish discussions between their experimental observations and proposed models. This review provides experimental observations about the synthesis of these materials, as well as discussions according to complementary and/or contradictory evidence found over the years. This review seeks to help those who intend to work with this method and provide certain key points that, in our experience, can be important to obtain desired results.