Algae-meditated route to cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticle: differential expression profile of MALAT1 and GAS5 LncRNAs and cytotoxic effect in human breast cancer

How Synthesis of Algal Nanoparticles Affects Cancer Therapy? - A Complete Review of the Literature

The necessity to engineer sustainable nanomaterials for the environment and human health has recently increased. Due to their abundance, fast growth, easy cultivation, biocompatibility and richness of secondary metabolites, algae are valuable biological source for the green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). The aim of this review is to demonstrate the feasibility of using algal-based NPs for cancer treatment. Blue-green, brown, red and green micro- and macro-algae are the most commonly participating algae in the green synthesis of NPs. In this process, many algal bioactive compounds, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, alkaloids, flavonoids and phenols, can catalyze the reduction of metal ions to NPs. In addition, many driving factors, including pH, temperature, duration, static conditions and substrate concentration, are involved to facilitate the green synthesis of algal-based NPs. Here, the biosynthesis, mechanisms and applications of algal-synthesized NPs in cancer therapy have been critically discussed. We also reviewed the effective role of algal synthesized NPs as anticancer treatment against human breast, colon and lung cancers and carcinoma.

Progressing nanotechnology to improve targeted cancer treatment: overcoming hurdles in its clinical implementation

The use of nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the detection and treatment of cancer. Developments in protein engineering and materials science have led to the emergence of new nanoscale targeting techniques, which offer renewed hope for cancer patients. While several nanocarriers for medicinal purposes have been approved for human trials, only a few have been authorized for clinical use in targeting cancer cells. In this review, we analyze some of the authorized formulations and discuss the challenges of translating findings from the lab to the clinic. This study highlights the various nanocarriers and compounds that can be used for selective tumor targeting and the inherent difficulties in cancer therapy. Nanotechnology provides a promising platform for improving cancer detection and treatment in the future, but further research is needed to overcome the current limitations in clinical translation.

Biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles from Bacillus coagulans induced reactive oxygen species generation and apoptotic and anti-metastatic activities in breast cancer cells

The present study examined the anticancer capabilities of Bacillus coagulans supernatant-produced copper oxide nanoparticles (BC-CuONPs) on MCF-7 and SKBR3 cancer cells. The X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential techniques were used to characterize BC-CuONPs. This study also investigated the cellular and molecular processes of NPs' anti-proliferative and apoptotic properties on human breast cancer cells and compared them to the commercial pharmaceutical tamoxifen. The size of the spherical NP was from 5 to 47 nm with negative zeta potential. The MTT results showed the great cytotoxic effect of BC-CuONPs against breast cancer cells. The BC-CuONPs inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The up-regulation of BCL2-associated X (BAX), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21), Caspase 3 (CASP3), and Caspase 9 (CASP9), the down-regulation of BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2), Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation results suggested that BC-CuONPs had a significant apoptotic impact when compared to the control. Scratch tests and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor gene (VEGF) down-regulation demonstrated that BC-CuONPs had anti-metastatic activity. The cell cycle analysis and down-regulation of Cyclin D1 (CCND1) and cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) revealed that cancer cells were arrested in the sub-G1 phase. Finally, the results showed that the secondary metabolites in the supernatant of Bacillus coagulans could form CuONPs, and biogenic BC-CuONPs showed anti-metastasis and anticancer properties on breast cancer cells while having less adverse effects on normal cells. Therefore, the synthesized CuONPs using B. coagulans supernatant can be shown as a potential candidate for a new therapeutic strategy in cancer management.

Cinchona officinalis Phytochemicals-Loaded Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Induce Cytotoxicity and Stimulate Apoptosis in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

The present study aimed to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles loaded with quinine and alkaloids-rich Cinchona officinalis (Peruvian bark) stem bark extract, and further evaluate their cytotoxic effect and apoptosis mechanisms in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Nanoparticles were prepared by biological reduction of iron oxide with Cinchona officinalis extract, using the green synthesis method. The nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro cytotoxicity analyses of Cinchona officinalis extract, ferrous oxide, and Cinchona officinalis extract-loaded iron oxide nanoparticles (CO-NPs) were carried out using the MTT test for 24 h and 48 h. We found that CO-NPs reduced the MCF-7 cell viability with IC₅₀ values of 16.2 and 9 µg/mL in 24 h and 48 h, respectively. In addition, CO-NPs were tested with normal hMSCs to determine their toxicity, and we did not find noticeable cytotoxicity. Confocal fluorescent microscopy revealed that CO-NPs efficiently increased the nuclear condensation and chromatin damage in propidium iodide staining; meanwhile, there was decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in CO-NPs-treated MCF-7 cells. In addition, AO-EB staining confirmed the late apoptotic and apoptotic morphology of cancer cells. Further gene expression analysis confirmed that the upregulation of tumor suppressors, Cdkn1A, Prb, and p53 was significantly increased, and inflammatory traits such as TNF-α and Nf-κb were increased in cancer cells treated with CO-NPs. Apoptotic stimulators such as Bax and caspase-3 expression were highly significantly increased, while mdm-2 and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased. Overall, the enhanced cytotoxic potential of the Cinchona officianlis stem bark extract loaded CO-NPs versus free Cinchona officianlis extract might be due to the functional stabilization of bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, quinine, flavonoids, phenolics, etc., into the iron oxide, providing bioavailability and internalization of cinchona metabolites intracellularly.

SERS/TERS Characterization of New Potential Therapeutics: The Influence of Positional Isomerism, Interface Type, Oxidation State of Copper, and Incubation Time on Adsorption on the Surface of Copper(I) and (II) Oxide Nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to investigate how the oxidation state of copper (Cu(I) vs Cu(II)), the nature of the interface (solid/aqueous vs solid/air), positional isomerism, and incubation time affect the functionalization of the surface of copper oxide nanostructures by [(butylamino)(pyridine)methyl]phenylphosphinic acid (PyPA). For this purpose, 2-, 3-, and 4-isomers of PyPA and the nanostructures were synthesized. The nanostructure were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which proved the formation of spherical Cu₂O nanoparticles (Cu₂ONPs; 1500–600 nm) and leaf-like CuO nanostructures (CuONSs; 80–180/400–700 nm, width/length). PyPA isomers were deposited on the surface of NSs, and adsorption was investigated by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS). The changes of adsorption on the surface of copper oxide NSs caused by the above-mentioned factors were described and the enhancement factor on this substrate was calculated.

Comparison of therapeutic effects of encapsulated Mesenchymal stem cells in Aloe vera gel and Chitosan-based gel in healing of grade-II burn injuries

Treatment of burn injuries with Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a great promise due to their unique properties. As two natural and functional wound dressing, Chitosan and Aloe-Vera gel assist wound regeneration by providing a proper environment. In the current study, we aimed to compare the effect of encapsulated BMSCs in Chitosan-based gel and Aloe-Vera gel on the healing of grade-II burn injuries compared to other groups in the rat. After creation of a 2 × 2 cm grade-II burn on dorsal skin of rats, treatments were performed for each group. The wound closure rate and healing properties were evaluated by histopathological analysis on 7, 14, 21 and, 28 days post-treatment. The expression rate of VEGF, Collagen-I and Collagen-III genes was also assessed on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 performing qRT-PCR. The full wound healing with inconsiderable scar formation was achieved for Aloe-vera/BMSCs and Chitosan/BMSCs group on 28th day post-treatment. Pathological results also demonstrated the highest angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation for Aloe-vera/BMSCs and Chitosan/BMSCs groups respectively. The expression level of VEGF, Collagen-I, and Collagen-III genes was significantly higher in these groups on days 14 and 21, compared to other groups. Results demonstrated the synergistic effect of BMSCs when combined with Chitosan or Aloe-vera gel enhanced the healing process of wound healing more than chitosan gel treatment. Therefore, this gel can be considered as effective approaches for treatment of burn injuries.

Breast cancer drug delivery by novel drug-loaded chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles

Background

Breast cancer is one of the most challenging cancers among women which is considered one of the most lethal cancers to this date. From the time that cancer has been discovered, finding the best therapeutic method is still an ongoing process. As a novel therapeutic method, nanomedicine has brought a vast number of materials that could versatilely be used as a drug carrier. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel black pomegranate peel extract loaded with chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles to treat breast cancer cells.

Results

The morphology and size distribution of the nanoparticles studied by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, scanning, and transitional electron microscopy showed the spherical shape of the nanoparticles and their promising size range. Studies by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, and zeta sizer confirmed the synthesis, substantial crystallinity, magnetic potential of the nanoparticles, and their satisfactory stability. The DPPH assay revealed that the obtained black pomegranate peel extract has 60% free radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity studies by MTT and LDH assay carried out on NIH/3T3, MBA-MB-231, and 4T1 cells confirmed that the magnetic nanoparticles had no significant cytotoxicity on the cells. However, the drug-loaded nanoparticles could significantly eradicate cancerous cells which had more efficiency comparing to free drug. Furthermore, free drug and drug-loaded nanoparticles had no toxic effect on normal cells.

Conclusion

Owing to the results achieved from this study, the novel drug-loaded nanoparticles are compatible to be used for breast cancer treatment and could potentially be used for further in vivo studies.