Assessment on the photocatalytic and phytotoxic activities using ecobenevolently synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles from the root extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra

The present study is the first attempt to utilize the root extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra as a novel biological route for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3NPs) under optimized conditions. The process variables namely concentration of ferric chloride, root extract of G. glabra and temperature were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to obtain high yield. Phytochemicals mediated the reduction process and served as capping and stabilizing agent. The biosynthesized Fe2O3NPs characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy exhibited a prominent peak at 350 nm. The crystallinity and valence state of Fe2O3NPs was confirmed by XRD and XPS. The surface functionalization of the nanoparticles was confirmed from the presence of functional groups in the FT-IR spectrum. The FESEM analysis revealed the biosynthesized Fe2O3NPs are irregular and the EDX spectrum recorded the presence of iron and oxygen in the synthesized nanoparticles. The biosynthesized Fe2O3NPs exhibited an appreciable photocatalytic activity against methylene blue under sunlight with a maximum decolorisation efficiency of 92% within 180 min of reaction time. The experimental data of adsorption studies well fitted with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study proved to be spontaneous, feasible and endothermic in nature. The phytotoxicity study revealed 92% germination and increased seedling growth in the green gram seeds exposed to Fe2O3NPs. Hence the study established the efficiency of biosynthesized of Fe2O3NPs in photocatalytic and phytotoxic activities.

Comparison of different methods for synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles and investigation of their cellular properties, and antioxidant potential

Iron oxide nanoparticles could play a useful role in lung cancer therapy. Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by plant mediated synthesis, chemical, and microbial mediated synthesis. iron oxide nanoparticle polyethylene glycol cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (Fe2O3@PEG@CDDP(, iron oxide nanoparticle polyethylene glycol (Fe2O3@PEG), and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) were evaluated for their antioxidant,and in vitro cytotoxicity tests. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), mapping, and zeta potential were used to characterize the synthesized iron oxides NPs. Cell toxicity was determined using A549 and HFF cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The antioxidant scavenging activity of Fe2O3@PEG@CDDP, Fe2O3@PEG, and CDDP displayed IC50 values (11.96, 26.74, and 3.17 μg/ml) and (8.54, 11.4, and 1.14 μg/ml) in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. Nanoparticles obtained from plant mediated synthesis method showed the great antioxidant activity. Results showed that, green-method synthesized nanoparticles were the most effective at killing cancer cells. Thus, the characteristics of nanoparticles from green synthesis are more valuable than the other methods. Green synthesis is environmental friendly cost-effective, and easy approach for synthesize NPs.

Anti-inflammatory potential of baicalein combined with silk fibroin protein in a zebrafish model (Danio rerio)

Baicalein (BA) is a flavonoid with wide-ranging pharmacological activity. However, its biological evaluation is hampered by its low solubility in aqueous medium, making forms of incorporation that improve its solubility necessary. In the present study, BA was combined with a solution of silk fibroin protein (SF), a biomaterial used too as a drug carrier, to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of this combination, in vivo, in an experimental model, zebrafish (Danio rerio). Baicalein-silk fibroin (BASF) improved the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radical scavenging rate (95%) in comparison with BA in solution. The acute toxicity study and histopathological analysis in zebrafish showed that BASF has low cytotoxic potential, except for the maxim dose of 2000 mg/kg. The use of BA in combination with SF enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoids by inducing inflammatory peritoneal edema through carrageenan and achieved 77.6% inhibition of abdominal edema at a dose of 75 mg/kg. The results showed that the BASF, significantly increases the bioavailability and therapeutic effect of flavonoids and several results observed in this study may help in the development of new drugs.

Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticle-Loaded Liposome-Based Nanoarchitectonics for Cancer Management: In Vitro Drug Release Analysis

Silver nanoparticles act as antitumor agents because of their antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. The present study aims to develop silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes for the effective management of cancer. Silver nanoparticle-encapsulated liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method coupled with sonication. The prepared liposomes were characterized by DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering analysis), FESEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope), and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy). The in vitro drug release profile of the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes was carried out using the dialysis bag method and the drug release profile was validated using various mathematical models. A high encapsulation efficiency of silver nanoparticle-loaded liposome was observed (82.25%). A particle size and polydispersity index of 172.1 nm and 0.381, respectively, and the zeta potential of -21.5 mV were recorded. FESEM analysis revealed spherical-shaped nanoparticles in the size range of 80-97 nm. The in vitro drug release profile of the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes was carried out using the dialysis bag method in three different pHs: pH 5.5, pH 6.8, and pH 7.4. A high silver nanoparticle release was observed in pH 5.5 which corresponds to the mature endosomes of tumor cells; 73.32 ± 0.68% nanoparticle was released at 72 h in pH 5.5. Among the various mathematical models analyzed, the Higuchi model was the best-fitted model as there is the highest value of the correlation coefficient which confirms that the drug release follows the diffusion-controlled process. From the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, it was confirmed that the drug release is based on anomalous non-Fickian diffusion. The results indicate that the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes can be used as an efficient drug delivery carrier to target cancer cells of various types.

Inorganic nanoparticle-based advanced cancer therapies: promising combination strategies

Inorganic nanoparticles for drug delivery in cancer treatment offer many potential advantages because they can maximize therapeutic effect through targeting ligands while minimizing off-target side-effects through drug adsorption and infiltration. Although inorganic nanoparticles were introduced as drug carriers, they have emerged as having the capacity for combined therapeutic capabilities, including anticancer effects through cytotoxicity, suppression of oncogenes and cancer cell signaling pathway inhibition. The most promising advanced strategies for cancer therapy are as synergistic platforms for RNA interference (siRNA, miRNA, shRNA) and as synergistic drug delivery agents for the inhibition of cancer cell signaling pathways. The present work summarizes relevant current work, the promise of which is suggested by a projected compound annual growth rate of ∼20% for drug delivery alone.

Polystyrene micro(nano)plastics damage the organelles of RBL-2H3 cells and promote MOAP-1 to induce apoptosis

The ubiquity of microplastics increases the exposure risks and health threats to humans. In this study, rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells were exposed to polystyrene particles (PS-particles) of 50 nm, 500 nm and 5 µm to investigate organelle damage and the mechanism of cell death. PS-particles induced oxidative stress, which in turn led to mitochondrial and lysosomal damage, arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and finally caused apoptosis. Anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) were down regulated, and pro-apoptotic genes (Bax) and a key gene (caspase-3) in apoptosis were upregulated. The molecular mechanism of apoptosis was further explored via the combination of transcriptome sequencing, RT-qPCR verification and small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology. The modulator of apoptosis-1 (MOAP-1) was significantly upregulated, and apoptosis was abolished by knocking down MOAP-1. This finding clarifies that PS-particles promote MOAP-1 to induce apoptosis. Hence, PS-particles may promote the binding of MOAP-1 and Bax, which ultimately activates caspase-3 and causes apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. The 50-nm PS-particles resulted in the most serious mitochondrial damage and apoptosis. Eventually, PS-particles cause oxidative stress, damage organelles and induce apoptosis by promoting MOAP-1. Altogether, our study emphasizes the need to assess the cytotoxicity of micro(nano)plastics and helps to predict the health risks.

HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of paclitaxel and baicalein: pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic applications

Aim: A novel HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of paclitaxel (PTX) and baicalein (BAC). Materials & methods: The analytes were resolved in a C18 column using the aqueous solution of formic acid (0.10% v/v) and MeOH (30:70 v/v). Results: The developed method was found to be linear over the concentration ranges 0.039-10 μg/ml and 0.019-10 μg/ml for PTX and BAC, respectively. The lower limits of quantification obtained were 0.042 μg/ml and 0.361 μg/ml for PTX and BAC, respectively. Conclusion: The developed method was found to be precise and accurate as per the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines, for simultaneous estimation of PTX and BAC, having an application in formulation development and bioanalytical studies.

A glutathione-responsive silica-based nanosystem capped with in-situ polymerized cell-penetrating poly(disulfide)s for precisely modulating immuno-inflammatory responses

HYPOTHESIS

Precise modulation of immuno-inflammatory response is crucial to control periodontal diseases and related systemic comorbidities. The present nanosystem with the controlled-release and cell-penetrating manner enhances the inflammation modulation effects of baicalein in human gingival epithelial cells (hGECs) for better oral healthcare.

EXPERIMENTS

We constructed a red-emissive mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based nanosystem with cell-penetrating poly(disulfide) (CPD) capping, through a facile in-situ polymerization approach. It was featured with a glutathione-responsive manner and instant cellular internalization capacity for precisely delivering baicalein intracellularly. Laboratory experiments assessed whether and how the nanosystem per se with the delivered baicalein could modulate immuno-inflammatory responses in hGECs.

FINDINGS

The in-situ polymerized CPD layer capped the nanoparticles and yet controlled the release of baicalein in a glutathione-responsive manner. The CPD coating could facilitate cellular internalization of the nanosystem via endocytosis and thiol-mediated approaches. Notably, the intracellularly released baicalein effectively downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines through inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. The nanosystem per se could modulate immuno-inflammatory responses by passivating the cellular response to interlukin-1β. This study highlights that the as-synthesized nanosystem may serve as a novel multi-functional vehicle to modulate innate host response via targeting the NF-κB pathway for precision healthcare.

Ovalbumin coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a nanocarrier for chlorogenic acid to promote the anticancer efficacy on MDA-MB-231 cells

Chlorogenic acid (5-CQA), a phenolic acid abundant in plants and herbs, has various beneficial effects on human health. However, 5-CQA undergoes biotransformation during gastrointestinal digestion, which affects its biological accessibility....

Tris-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazolyl Borate Zinc(II) Complexes: Synthesis, DNA/Protein Binding and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Studies

Zn(II) complexes bearing tris[3-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazolyl] borate (Tppy) ligand (1-3) was synthesized and examined by spectroscopic and analytical tools. Mononuclear [TppyZnCl] (1) has a Zn(II) centre with one arm (pyrazolyl-pyridyl) dangling outside the coordination sphere which is a novel finding in TppyZn(II) chemistry. In complex [TppyZn(H2O)][BF4] (2) hydrogen bonding interaction of aqua moiety stabilizes the dangling arm. In addition, solution state behaviour of complex 1 confirms the tridentate binding mode and reactivity studies show the exogenous axial substituents used to form the [TppyZnN3] (3). The complexes (1-3) were tested for their ability to bind with Calf thymus (CT) DNA and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) wherein they revealed to exhibit good binding constant values with both the biomolecules in the order of 104-105 M-1. The intercalative binding mode with CT DNA was confirmed from the UV-Visible absorption, viscosity, and ethidium bromide (EB) DNA displacement studies. Further, the complexes were tested for in vitro cytotoxic ability on four triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, HCC1937, and Hs 578T). All three complexes (1-3) exhibited good IC50 values (6.81 to 16.87 μM for 24 h as seen from the MTS assay) results which indicated that these complexes were found to be potential anticancer agents against the TNBC cells.

Targeting Engineered Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer in women globally after lung cancer. Presently, the most important approach for BC treatment consists of surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The latter therapeutic methods are often unsuccessful in the treatment of BC because of their various side effects and the damage incurred to healthy tissues and organs. Currently, numerous nanoparticles (NPs) have been identified and synthesized to selectively target BC cells without causing any impairments to the adjacent normal tissues or organs. Based on an exploratory study, this comprehensive review aims to provide information on engineered NPs and their payloads as promising tools in the treatment of BC. Therapeutic drugs or natural bioactive compounds generally incorporate engineered NPs of ideal sizes and shapes to enhance their solubility, circulatory half-life, and biodistribution, while reducing their side effects and immunogenicity. Furthermore, ligands such as peptides, antibodies, and nucleic acids on the surface of NPs precisely target BC cells. Studies on the synthesis of engineered NPs and their impact on BC were obtained from PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. This review provides insights on the importance of engineered NPs and their methodology for validation as a next-generation platform with preventive and therapeutic effects against BC.

Synergistic effect of anethole and doxorubicin alleviates cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and ER stress and promotes ROS-mediated apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells

The heterogeneity and poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have limited the treatment options and made clinical management challenging. This has nurtured a major effort to discover druggable molecular targets. Currently, chemotherapy is the primary treatment strategy for this disease. Doxorubicin is the most frequently used chemotherapeutic drug for TNBC and due to the fact that chemotherapeutic drugs have a lot of side effects, we evaluated the synergistic effect of the phytocompound anethole and doxorubicin. The cytotoxic effect of anethole in combination with doxorubicin on MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated by various parameters, including apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, DNA damage, and cell proliferation. Furthermore, mitochondrial membranepotential (MMP), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also evaluated in the cells treated with/without anethole and doxorubicin. Expression of the apoptotic proteins was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Initial evaluation of cytotoxicity of anethole on MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated preferential suppression of cell proliferation and when treated along with doxorubicin it showed enhanced cytotoxicity with a synergistic effect. Cell cycle analysis revealed arrest at different stages of the cell cycle, such as sub G0-G1, G0-G1, S, and G2M in various treatment groups and apoptotic cell death was subsequently evident with propidium iodide (PI) staining. The synergistic action of anethole and doxorubicin effectively induced mitochondrial membrane potential loss, which, in turn, led to a burst of ROS production, which eventually produced unfolded protein response by damaging the ER. Synergistic anticancer effect was observed on exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to anethole and doxorubicin in inducing cell death.

Synthesis and evaluation of iridium(III) complexes on antineoplastic activity against human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells

The study was intended to determine the antineoplastic effects of two new iridium(III) complexes [Ir(ppy)₂(PTTP)](PF₆) (1) (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine) and [Ir(piq)₂(PTTP)](PF₆) (2) (piq = 1-phenylisoquinoline, PTTP = 2-phenoxy-1,4,8,9-tetraazatriphenylene). In MTT assay, the ligand PTTP displayed ineffective inhibition on cell growth in SGC-7901, BEL-7402, HepG2 as well as NIH3T3 cell lines, while complexes 1 and 2 showed high cytotoxic activity on SGC-7901 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.5 ± 0.1 µM and 4.4 ± 0.6 µM, respectively. Cellular uptake, cell cloning experiments, wound healing assay and cell cycle arrest indicated that the two complexes can inhibit the cell proliferation in SGC-7901 and induce cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential suggested that the two complexes induced cell apoptosis through disrupting mitochondrial functions. Further, western blot analysis illustrated that the two complexes caused apoptosis via regulating expression levels of Bcl-2 family proteins. Moreover, complex 1 could suppress tumor growth in vivo with an inhibitory rate of 49.41%. Altogether, these results demonstrated that complexes 1 and 2 exert a potent anticancer effect against SGC-7901 cells via mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and have a potential to be developed as antineoplastic drug candidates for human gastric cancer.

Recent Advances in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

A silent monster, breast cancer, is a challenging medical task for researchers. Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women with respect to other cancers. A case of breast cancer is diagnosed among women every 19 seconds, and every 74 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world. Several risk factors, such as genetic and environmental factors, favor breast cancer development. This review tends to provide deep insights regarding the genetics of breast cancer along with multiple diagnostic and therapeutic approaches as problem-solving negotiators to prevent the progression of breast cancer. This assembled data mainly aims to discuss omics-based approaches to provide enthralling diagnostic biomarkers and emerging novel therapies to combat breast cancer. This review article intends to pave a new path for the discovery of effective treatment options.

Enhancement of bioavailability and bioactivity of diet-derived flavonoids by application of nanotechnology: a review

Flavonoids, which are a class of polyphenols widely existing in food and medicine, have enormous pharmacological effects. The functional properties of flavonoids are mainly distributed to their anti-oxidative, anticancer, and anti-inflammatoryeffects, etc. However, flavonoids' low bioavailability limits their clinical application, which is closely related to their intestinal absorption and metabolism. In addition, because of the short residence time of oral bioactive molecules in the stomach, low permeability and low solubility in the gastrointestinal tract, flavonoids are easy to be decomposed by the external environment and gastrointestinal tract after digestion. To tackle these obstacles, technological approaches like microencapsulation have been developed and applied for the formulation of flavonoid-enriched food products. In the light of these scientific advances, the objective of this review is to establish the structural requirements of flavonoids for appreciable anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, and elucidate a comprehensive mechanism that can explain their activity. Furthermore, the novelty in application of nanotechnology for the safe delivery of flavonoids in food matrices is discussed. After a literature on the flavonoids and their health attributes, the encapsulation methods and the coating materials are presented.

Mechanistic Study on Thymoquinone Conjugated ZnO Nanoparticles Mediated Cytotoxicity and Anticancer Activity in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

In the current era, development of molecular techniques involves nanotechniques and the synthesis of nanoparticles is considered as the preferred field in nanotechnology.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present work is to analyze the anticancer activity of the thymoquinone conjugated ZnO nanoparticles and to understand its mechanism of action in triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

METHODS

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have extensive applications and it was synthesized using a chemical precipitation method. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the major bioactive component of the seeds of Nigella sativa. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. Thymoquinone coated nanoparticles were checked for its efficiency. The cytotoxicity of ZnO, TQ and TQ conjugated ZnO nanoparticles against MDA-MB-231. Colony forming and cell migration assay were performed to measure the proliferative competence of the breast cancer cells on exposure to nanoparticles. The mechanism of apoptosis was probed by assessing MMP, interplay between ER stress and ROS.

RESULTS

The results of the characterization techniques confirmed the particles synthesized were ZnO and TQ-ZnO nanoparticles. pH dependent release of the compound was observed. Anti-proliferative effect that impairs the formation of colony was found to be enhanced in cells exposed to combined treatment with the nanoconjugate.

CONCLUSION

Hence, the TQ conjugated ZnO nanoparticles can act as an efficient carrier for drug delivery at the target site in TNBC cells.

Fabatin-loaded silica nanoparticle-induced apoptosis via mitochondrial dysfunction: targeting the PI3K/AKT molecular pathway as a therapeutic implication against triple negative breast cancer

Mechanism induced by F-SNP on inducing apoptosis in triple negative breast cancer.

Sitosterol-fabricated chitosan nanocomplex induces apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial dysfunction in lung cancer animal model: an enhanced synergetic drug delivery system for lung cancer therapy

Lung carcinoma is an aggressive form of cancer, with an increasing rate of morbidity, dismal outlook, poor prognosis and limited therapeutic approaches.

Iron oxide nanoparticle-induced hematopoietic and immunological response in rats

The application and use of iron oxide nanoparticless (IONPs) in the biomedical field are steadily increasing, although it remains uncertain whether IONPs are safe or should be used with caution. In the present study, we investigated the toxicity profile of ultrafine IONPs in rats administered with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg IONPs/kg body wt intravenously once a week for 4 weeks. IONP treatment reduces bone marrow-mononuclear cell proliferation, increases free radical species and DNA damage leading to growth arrest and subsequently apoptosis induction at 15 and 30 mg doses. It also induces apoptosis in undifferentiated hematopoietic stem cells. IONP treatment significantly increased the pro-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin (IL)-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) level in serum. The induction in inflammation was likely mediated by splenic M1 macrophages (IL-6 and TNF-α secretion). IONP treatment induces splenocyte apoptosis and alteration in the immune system represented by reduced CD4+/CD8+ ratio and increased B cells. It also reduces innate defense represented by lower natural killer cell cytotoxicity. IONP administration markedly increased lipid peroxidation in the spleen, while the glutathione level was reduced. Similarly, superoxide dismutase activity was increased and catalase activity was reduced in the spleen of IONP-treated rats. At an organ level, IONP treatment did not cause any significant injury or structural alteration in the spleen. Collectively, our results suggest that a high dose of ultrafine IONPs may cause oxidative stress, cell death, and inflammation in a biological system.

Enhanced apoptogenesis and oncogene regulatory mechanism of troxerutin in triple negative breast cancer cells

Triple negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) is an aggressive form of cancer, with high rates of morbidity, mortality, poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. The objective of the present study was to elaborate the anticancer activity of Troxerutin (TXN) in TNBC/MDA-MB-231 cells. Herein, we demonstrated the inhibitory effects of TXN on the breast cancer cell growth via induction of apoptosis. Mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm), DNA damage and apoptotic nuclear changes were analyzed by flowcytometry, AO/EtBr and Hoechst staining, respectively. Furthermore, apoptotic protein and gene expressions were analyzed by western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Our results indicated that TXN induces apoptosis as evidenced by inhibit the cell proliferation, enhanced apoptotic activation, altered mitochondrial membrane potential and elevated level of DNA damage in TNBC cells. Furthermore, the TXN inhibit anti-apoptotic protein expression with the subsequent upregulation of Cytochrome c, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Thus, TXN induces apoptosis in TNBC cells through inducing nuclear damage and altered apoptotic marker expressions. Therefore, TXN might be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.

A review of nanotechnology-based approaches for breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in which the three major receptors i.e. estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), are absent is known to express the most aggressive phenotype and increased metastasis which results in the development of resistance to chemotherapy. It offers various therapeutic advantages in treating BC and TNBC. Nanotechnology offers various unique characteristics such as small size (nanometric), active and passive targeting, and the ability to attach multiple targeting moieties, controlled release, and site-specific targeting. This review focuses on conventional drug therapies, recent treatment strategies, and unique therapeutic approaches available for BC and TNBC. The role of breast cancer stem cells in the recurrence of BC and TNBC has also been highlighted. Several chemotherapeutic agents delivered using nanocarriers such as polymeric nanoparticles/micelles, metallic/inorganic NPs, and lipid-based NPs (Liposome, solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs)), etc. with excellent responses in the treatment of BC/TNBC along with breast cancer stem cells have been discussed in details. Moreover, the application of nanomedicine including CRISPR nanoparticle, exosomes for the treatment of BC/TNBC and other molecular targets available such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), etc. for further exploration have also been discussed.

Combination Therapy and Nanoparticulate Systems: Smart Approaches for the Effective Treatment of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has become one of the biggest concerns for oncologists in the past few decades because of its unpredictable etiopathology and nonavailability of personalized translational medicine. The number of women getting affected by breast cancer has increased dramatically, owing to lifestyle and environmental changes. Besides, the development of multidrug resistance has become a challenge in the therapeutic management of breast cancer. Studies reveal that the use of monotherapy is not effective in the management of breast cancer due to high toxicity and the development of resistance. Combination therapies, such as radiation therapy with adjuvant therapy, endocrine therapy with chemotherapy, and targeted therapy with immunotherapy, are found to be effective. Thus, multimodal and combination treatments, along with nanomedicine, have emerged as a promising strategy with minimum side effects and drug resistance. In this review, we emphasize the multimodal approaches and recent advancements in breast cancer treatment modalities, giving importance to the current data on clinical trials. The novel treatment approach by targeted therapy, according to type, such as luminal, HER2 positive, and triple-negative breast cancer, are discussed. Further, passive and active targeting technologies, including nanoparticles, bioconjugate systems, stimuli-responsive, and nucleic acid delivery systems, including siRNA and aptamer, are explained. The recent research exploring the role of nanomedicine in combination therapy and the possible use of artificial intelligence in breast cancer therapy is also discussed herein. The complexity and dynamism of disease changes require the constant upgrading of knowledge, and innovation is essential for future drug development for treating breast cancer.

Rhynchosia rufescens AgNPs enhance cytotoxicity by ROS-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cell lines

The present study deals with the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Rhynchosia rufescens and to evaluate its cytotoxic effect mediated through induced apoptosis. The reduction and capping of phytoconstituents was confirmed using FTIR demonstrating O-H and C-H stretching at different peaks. The size and the shape of the particle were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrating 1 μm to 100 nm in size and the composition of compounds in the AgNPs were revealed using XRD and EDX. The results of the antioxidant assays revealed that the synthesized AgNPs had significant radical scavenging potential in dose-dependent inhibition with 22-64% for DPPH and 25-41% for ferric reducing antioxidant power assay at the concentrations of 20-100 μg/ml. Further, the synthesized AgNPs demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 26 ± 1.0 μg/ml by the MTT assay. Cytotoxicity was confirmed using AO/EtBr and DAPI staining method where nuclear condensation and fragmentation of cancer cells was observed after treatment with nanoparticle. The results were further confirmed by flow cytometry analysis which revealed the occurrence of apoptosis during the S phase in cell cycle exposing the potential of the AgNPs against MCF-7 cancer cell. From the results, we conclude that the synthesized AgNPs from Rhynchosia rufescens exhibited multifunctional properties. Graphical abstract.

α-Santalol functionalized chitosan nanoparticles as efficient inhibitors of polo-like kinase in triple negative breast cancer

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1) is a protein kinase that plays a significant role in the initiation, maintenance, and completion of mitotic processes in the cell cycle.

Controllable silicon nanostructures featuring stable fluorescence and intrinsic in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer activity

In this manuscript, we demonstrate that the in situ growth of fluorescent silicon (Si) nanomaterials is stimulated when organosilicane molecules interact with different green teas, producing multifunctional Si nanomaterials with controllable zero- (e.g., nanoparticles), two- (e.g., nanosheets), and three- (e.g., nanospheres) dimensional nanostructures. Such green tea-originated Si nanomaterials (GTSN) exhibit strong fluorescence (quantum yield: ∼19-30%) coupled with ultrahigh photostability, as well as intrinsic anti-cancer activity with high specificity (e.g., the GTSN can accurately kill various cancer cells, rather than normal cells). Taking advantage of these unique merits, we further performed systematic in vitro and in vivo experiments to interrogate the mechanism of the green tea- and GTSN-related cancer prevention. Typically, we found that the GTSN entered the cell nuclei and induced cell apoptosis/death of cancer cells. The prepared GTSN were observed in vivo to accumulate in the tumour tissues after 14-d post-injection, leading to an efficient inhibition of tumour growth. Our results open new avenues for designing novel multifunctional and side-effect-free Si nanomaterials with controllable structures.

Facile and low-cost synthesis of pure hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles from naturally occurring laterites and their superior adsorption capability towards acid-dyes

Hematite nanoparticles have a broad range of outstanding applications such as in wastewater treatment, electrolytic studies, and photoelectrochemical and superparamagnetic applications. Therefore, the development of facile and novel methods to synthesize hematite nanoparticles using low-cost raw materials is an important and timely requirement. In this study, we have developed a facile economical route to synthesize hematite nanoparticles, directly from the naturally occurring material laterite. Laterite is a rock that is rich in Fe and Al with extensive distribution in large mineable quantities in many countries around the world, though not yet utilized for major industrial applications. In this method, ferric ions in the laterite were leached out using acid and the solution obtained was hydrolyzed with slow-release hydroxyl ions which were acquired by aqueous decomposition of urea. The resulted precursor was calcined to obtain hematite nanoparticles. Characterization data shows that the final product is comprised of spherical hematite nanoparticles with a narrow particle size vs. frequency distribution with an average particle diameter of 35 nm. The synthesized product has a purity of over 98%. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles show an excellent adsorption percentage as high as 70%, even when the initial dye concentration in water is 5000 ppm and the amount of material is minimal, towards acid dyes which are excessively used in textile based industries. Such acid dyes are a threat to the environment when they are released into water bodies by industries in massive quantities. Therefore synthesized hematite nanoparticles are ideal to treat dye wastewater in industrial effluents because such nanoparticles are low cost and economical, and the synthesis procedure is rather facile and effective.

High purity hematite nanoparticles have been synthesized by a facile method using naturally occurring laterites for industrial dye effluent treatment applications.