Alginate-Derivative Encapsulated Carbon Coated Manganese-Ferrite Nanodots for Multimodal Medical Imaging

Management of hypertension addressing hyperuricaemia: introduction of nano-based approaches

Uric acid (UA) levels in blood serum have been associated with hypertension, indicating a potential causal relationship between high serum UA levels and the progression of hypertension. Therefore, the reduction of serum UA level is considered a potential strategy for lowering and mitigating blood pressure. If an individual is at risk of developing or already manifesting elevated blood pressure, this intervention could be an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan. By addressing hyperuricaemia, practitioners may subsidize the optimization of blood pressure regulation, which illustrates the importance of addressing UA levels as a valuable strategy within the broader context of hypertension management. In this analysis, we outlined the operational principles of effective xanthine oxidase inhibitors for the treatment of hyperuricaemia and hypertension, along with an exploration of the contribution of nanotechnology to this field.

8-Anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate-Conjugated Carbon-Coated Ferrite Nanodots for Fluoromagnetic Imaging, Smart Drug Delivery, and Biomolecular Sensing

BACKGROUND

Superparamagnetic properties and excitation independence have been incorporated into carbon-decorated manganese ferrite nanodots (MnFe@C) to introduce an economical and safer multimodal agent for use in both T1-T2 MRI and fluorescence-based imaging to replace the conventional highly toxic heavy metal contrast agents.

METHODS

The surface conjugation of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) to MnFe@C nanodots (ANS-MnFe@C) enhances both longitudinal and transverse MRI relaxation, improves fluorescence for optical imaging, and increases protein detection sensitivity, showing higher multimodal efficacy in terms of molar relaxivity, radiant efficiencies, and fluorescence sensitivity compared to MnFe@C.

RESULTS

The band gap energy was determined using Tauc's equation to be 3.32 eV, while a 72% quantum yield demonstrated that ANS-MnFe@C was highly fluorescent, with the linear range and association constant calculated using the Stern-Volmer relation. The synthesized ANS-MnFe@C demonstrated excellent selectivity and sensitivity for bovine serum albumin (BSA), with a nanomolar detection limit of 367.09 nM and a broad linear range from 0.015 to 0.225 mM.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, ANS-MnFe@C holds ease of fabrication, good biocompatibility, as assessed in A375 cells, and an effective pH-sensitive doxorubicin release profile to establish anticancer activity in lung cancer cell line (A549), highlighting its potential as an affordable therapeutic agent for multimodal imaging, drug delivery, and protein sensing.

Harmony in nature's elixir: a comprehensive exploration of ethanol and nano-formulated extracts from Passiflora incarnata leaves: unveiling in vitro cytotoxicity, acute and sub-acute toxicity profiles in Swiss albino mice

We analyzed the toxic effect of the ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata (EEP) and its nanoformulation (N-EEP) in the in vitro and in vivo models (zebrafish embryos and Swiss albino mice). The EEP composition was verified by phytochemical and GC-MS analysis. The synthesized N-EEP was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro results showed both EEP and N-EEP have a dose-dependent effect in L132 cells (normal embryonic lung cells). In zebrafish embryos, no developmental changes were observed for both EEP and N-EEP at 200 µg/ml. The acute and sub-acute toxicity of EEP and N-EEP was identified by oral administration in Swiss albino mice. A single-day oral dose of EEP and N-EEP at different concentrations was administered for acute toxicity, and changes in body weight, food, water intake, temperature, respiration rate, skin color changes, and eye color till 72 h was observed. In a sub-acute toxicity study, 28 days oral administration of different concentrations of EEP and N-EEP was done. Hematological analysis, serum hepatic biochemical parameter analysis, and histopathological analysis for the liver, kidney, spleen, intestine, and heart were performed. The results indicated that lower than 600 mg/kg of EEP and N-EEP can safely be used for the remediation of a spectrum of diseases.

Theranostic Approaches for Gastric Cancer: An Overview of In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide and a serious public health concern. This high death rate is mostly caused by late-stage diagnoses, which lead to poor treatment outcomes. Radiation immunotherapy and targeted therapies are becoming increasingly popular in GC treatment, in addition to surgery and systemic chemotherapy. In this review, we have focused on both in vitro and in vivo research, which presents a summary of recent developments in targeted therapies for gastric cancer. We explore targeted therapy approaches, including integrin receptors, HER2, Claudin 18, and glutathione-responsive systems. For instance, therapies targeting the integrin receptors such as the αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins have shown promise in enhancing diagnostic precision and treatment efficacy. Furthermore, nanotechnology provides novel approaches to targeted drug delivery and imaging. These include glutathione-responsive nanoplatforms and cyclic RGD peptide-conjugated nanoparticles. These novel strategies seek to reduce systemic toxicity while increasing specificity and efficacy. To sum up, the review addresses the significance of personalized medicine and advancements in gastric cancer-targeted therapies. It explores potential methods for enhancing gastric cancer prognosis and treatment in the future.

Relationship between urinary tract infections and serum vitamin D level in adults and children- a literature review

Over time, researchers have accumulated significant evidence indicating that vitamin D deficiency not only impacts skeletal health but also contributes to the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. The risk of low serum 1, 25(OH)2D3 level ultimately directs the way to morbidity, the beginning of new diseases, and numerous infections. Infections are the first entity that affects those with vitamin D deficiency. The common infection is urinary tract infection (UTI), and its relationship with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency remains controversial. This infection affects both men and women, but comparatively, women are more prone to this infection because of the short length of the urethra, which makes an easy entry for the bacteria. The low level of serum vitamin D increases the risk of UTIs in children. Recurrent UTIs are one of the major weaknesses in women; if left untreated, they progress to appallingly serious conditions like kidney dysfunction, liver damage, etc. Hence improving the vitamin D status may help to improve the immune system, thus making it more resistant to infections. In this review, we have focused on examining whether vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are the causes of UTIs and the association between them in women and children. We have also described the connection between vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency with UTIs and additional nanotechnology- based treatment strategies.

Theranostic dye entrapped in an optimized blended-polymer matrix for effective photodynamic inactivation of diseased cells

Despite the wide range of treatment options available for cancer therapy, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical procedures, each of these treatments has a different side-effect profile and leaves the patient with no option but to choose. Due to their insensitivity and nonspecificity, conventional treatments damage normal cells together with cancer cells. In recent years, a significant amount of attention has been focused on photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for cancer and drug-resistant microbes. An activated photosensitizer is used as a part of the procedure along with oxygen molecules and a specific wavelength of light belonging to the visible or NIR spectral zone. A light-sensitive laser dye, rhodamine 6G (R6G), was used in the present study as a photosensitizer, taking a challenge to improve the aqueous solubility and ROS quantum yield using optimum concentration (160 mg/ml) of chitosan-alginate (Cs-Alg) blended polymeric nanoformulations. As evidenced by steady-state spectrophotometric and fluorometric measurements, ROS quantum yield increases three-fold over aqueous solution along with solubility gaining that was validated by PDT experiment using human epithelial carcinoma (KB) cell line. Phantom optical imaging was taken using the IVIS imaging system to establish the formulations as a fluorescence-based optical contrast agent, and zebrafish embryos were used to establish their safe in vivo use. The release profile of R6G was fitted using kinetic models, which followed the Non-Fickian kinetic profile. In conclusion, we recommend the formulations as a potential theranostic agent that will aid in PDT-based therapy in conjunction with optical imaging-based diagnosis.

Advancements in the synthesis of carbon dots and their application in biomedicine

As a sort of fluorescent carbon nanomaterial with a particle size of less than 10 nm, carbon dots (CDs) have their own merits of good dispersibility in water, stable optical properties, strong chemical inertness, stable optical properties, and good biosecurity. These excellent peculiarities facilitated them like sensing, imaging, medicine, catalysis, and optoelectronics, making them a new star in the field of nanotechnology. In particular, the development of CDs in the fields of chemical probes, imaging, cancer therapy, antibacterial and drug delivery has become a hot topic in current research. Although the biomedical applications in CDs have been demonstrated in many research articles, a systematic summary of their role in biomedical applications is scarce. In this review, we introduced the basic information of CDs in detail, including synthesis approaches of CDs as well as their favorable properties including photoluminescence and low cytotoxicity. Subsequently, the application of CDs in the field of biomedicine was emphasized. Finally, the main challenges and research prospects of CDs in this field were proposed, which might provide some detailed information in designing new CDs in this promising biomedical field.

Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and antimicrobial and anticancer activities of two-dimensional ZnO nanosheets

Active pharmaceutical ingredients have emerged as an environmentally undesirable element because of their widespread exploitation and consequent pollution, which has deleterious effects on living things. In the pursuit of sustainable environmental remediation, biomedical applications, and energy production, there has been a significant focus on two-dimensional materials (2D materials) owing to their unique electrical, optical, and structural properties. Herein, we have synthesized 2D zinc oxide nanosheets (ZnO NSs) using a facile and practicable hydrothermal method and characterized them thoroughly using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The 2D nanosheets are used as an efficient photocatalyst for antibiotic (herein, end-user ciprofloxacin (CIP) was used as a model antibiotic) degradation under sunlight. It is observed that ZnO NSs photodegrade ~ 90% of CIP within two hours of sunlight illumination. The molecular mechanism of CIP degradation is proposed based on ex-situ IR analysis. Moreover, the 2D ZNO NSs are used as an antimicrobial agent and exhibit antibacterial qualities against a range of bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and MIC of the bacteria are found to be 5 μg/l and 10 μg/l, respectively. Despite having the biocompatible nature of ZnO, as-synthesized nanosheets have also shown cytotoxicity against two types of cancer cells, i.e. A549 and A375. Thus, ZnO nanosheets showed a nontoxic nature, which can be exploited as promising alternatives in different biomedical applications.

Unveiling the Role of Nano-Formulated Red Algae Extract in Cancer Management

Cancer is one of the major causes of death, and its negative impact continues to rise globally. Chemotherapy, which is the most common therapy, has several limitations due to its tremendous side effects. Therefore, developing an alternate therapeutic agent with high biocompatibility is indeed needed. The anti-oxidative effects and bioactivities of several different crude extracts of marine algae have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we synthesized the aqueous extract (HA) from the marine algae Amphiroa anceps, and then, a liposome was formulated for that extract (NHA). The extracts were characterized using different photophysical tools like dynamic light scattering, UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and GC-MS analysis. The SEM image revealed a size range of 112-185 nm for NHA and the GC-MS results showed the presence of octadecanoic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid in the majority. The anticancer activity was studied using A549 cells, and the NHA inhibited the cancer cells dose-dependently, with the highest killing of 92% at 100 μg/mL. The in vivo studies in the zebrafish model showed that neither the HA nor NHA of Amphiroa anceps showed any teratogenic effect. The outcome of our study showed that NHA can be a potential drug candidate for inhibiting cancer with good biocompatibility up to a dose of 100 μg/mL.

Encapsulating Rhodamine 6G in Oxidized Sodium Alginate Polymeric Hydrogel for Photodynamically Inactivating Cancer Cells

INTRODUCTION

As cancer therapy progresses, challenges remain due to the inherent drawbacks of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, gene therapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal. Moreover, due to their associated side effects, conventional treatments affect both cancerous and normal cells, making photodynamic therapy (PDT) an attractive alternative.

METHODS

As a result of its minimal toxicity, exceptional specificity, and non-invasive characteristics, PDT represents an innovative and highly promising cancer treatment strategy using photosensitizers (PSs) and precise wavelength excitation light to introduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vicinity of cancer cells.

RESULTS

Poor aqueous solubility and decreased sensitivity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) prevent its use as a photosensitizer in PDT, necessitating the development of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) hydrogelated nanocarriers to enhance its bioavailability, targeted distribution, and ROS-quantum yield. The ROS quantum yield increased from 0.30 in an aqueous environment to 0.51 when using alginate-based formulations, and it was further enhanced to 0.81 in the case of OSA.

CONCLUSION

Furthermore, the nanoformulations produced fluorescent signals suitable for use as cellular imaging agents, demonstrating contrast-enhancing capabilities in medical imaging and showing minimal toxicity.

Supremacy of nanoparticles in the therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia

Background and purpose

The reciprocal translocation of the ABL gene from chromosome 9 to chromosome 22 near the BCR gene gives rise to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The translocation results in forming the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL) tyrosine kinase. CML results in an increase in the number of white blood cells and alteration in tyrosine kinase expression. CML prognosis includes three stages, namely chronic, accelerated, and blast. The diagnosis method involves a CT scan, biopsy, and complete blood count. However, due to certain disadvantages, early diagnosis of CML is not possible by traditional methods. Nanotechnology offers many advantages in diagnosing and treating cancer.

Experimental approach

We searched PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using the keywords Philadelphia chromosome, bionanotechnology, tyrosine kinase pathway, half-life, passive targeting, and organic and inorganic nanoparticles. The relevant papers and the classical papers in this field were selected to write about in this review.

Key results

The sensitivity and specificity of an assay can be improved by nanoparticles. Utilizing this property, peptides, antibodies, aptamers, etc., in the form of nanoparticles, can be used to detect cancer at a much earlier stage. The half-life of the drug is also increased by nanoformulation. The nanoparticle-coated drugs can easily escape from the immune system.

Conclusion

Depending on their type, nanoparticles can be categorized into organic, inorganic and hybrid. Each type has its advantages. Organic nanoparticles have good biocompatibility, inorganic nanoparticles increase the half-life of the drugs. In this review, we highlight the nanoparticles involved in treating CML.

Potential Applications of Nanoparticles in Improving the Outcome of Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer is managed using conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of both. Each of these therapies has its own limitations, such as the indiscriminate killing of normal as well as cancer cells, the solubility of the chemotherapeutic drugs, rapid clearance of the drugs from circulation before reaching the tumor site, the resistance of cancer cells to radiation, and over-sensitization of normal cells to radiation. Other treatment modalities include gene therapy, immunological checkpoint inhibitors, drug repurposing, and in situ cryo-immune engineering (ICIE) strategy. Nanotechnology has come to the rescue to overcome many shortfalls of conventional therapies. Some of the nano-formulated chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as nanoparticles and nanostructures with surface modifications, have been used for effective cancer cell killing and radio sensitization, respectively. Nano-enabled drug delivery systems act as cargo to deliver the sensitizer molecules specifically to the tumor cells, thereby enabling the radiation therapy to be more effective. In this review, we have discussed the different conventional chemotherapies and radiation therapies used for inhibiting lung cancer. We have also discussed the improvement in chemotherapy and radiation sensitization using nanoparticles.

Phosphorus-carrying cascade molecules: inner architecture to biomedical applications

Cascade molecules are nearly uniform-sized macromolecules of small molecules or linear polymer cores built around symmetric branching units. A wide range of biological properties can be achieved with phosphorus-containing dendrimers, depending on their terminal functions, ranging from biomaterials to imaging, drug delivery, and acting as a drug by themselves. This feature article presents significant examples of phosphorus-containing dendrimers used to develop biochips, support cell cultures, carry or deliver biomacromolecules and drugs, bioimaging, and combinational benefits. Because of the thermal stability, ferrocene function, and physical and chemical properties of phosphorus, dendrimers show greater rigidity, mobility, and strength. These dendrimers will be discussed as having a favorable effect on cell growths, especially on neuronal cells, as well as human immune cells like natural killer cells and monocytes, which have a crucial part in preventing cancerous and viral infections. Several phosphorus dendrimers are effective as drugs by themselves (drug per se) and show their activity against neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, inflammation, ocular hypertension, and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in both in vivo and in vitro. The present review discusses the synthetic route, fabrications, and biomedical applications of phosphorus-containing dendrimers. The toxicity of these dendrimers was also reported.