Simultaneous Imaging and Photodynamic-Enhanced Photothermal Inhibition of Cancer Cells Using a Multifunctional System Combining Indocyanine Green and Polydopamine-Preloaded Upconversion Luminescent Nanoparticles

This work introduces a novel multifunctional system called UPIPF (upconversion-polydopamine-indocyanine-polyethylene-folic) for upconversion luminescent (UCL) imaging of cancer cells using near-infrared (NIR) illumination. The system demonstrates efficient inhibition of human hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cells through a combination of NIR-triggered photodynamic therapy (PDT) and enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT). Initially, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) are synthesized using a simple thermal decomposition method. To improve their biocompatibility and aqueous dispersibility, polydopamine (PDA) is introduced to the UCNP via a ligand exchange technique. Indocyanine green (ICG) molecules are electrostatically attached to the surface of the UCNP-polydopamine (UCNP@PDAs) complex to enhance the PDT and PTT effects. Moreover, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified folic acid (FA) is incorporated into the UCNP-polydopamine-indocyanine-green (UCNP@PDA-ICGs) nanoparticles to enhance their targeting capability against cancer cells. The excellent UCL properties of these UCNP enable the final UCNP@PDA-ICG-PEG-FA nanoparticles (referred to as UPIPF) to serve as a potential candidate for efficient anticancer drug delivery, real-time imaging, and early diagnosis of cancer cells. Furthermore, the UPIPF system exhibits PDT-assisted PTT effects, providing a convenient approach for efficient cancer cell inhibition (more than 99% of cells are killed). The prepared UPIPF system shows promise for early diagnosis and simultaneous treatment of malignant cancers.

Pluronic-F-127-Passivated SnO2 Nanoparticles Derived by Using Polygonum cuspidatum Root Extract: Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Properties

Nanotechnology has emerged as the most popular research topic with revolutionary applications across all scientific disciplines. Tin oxide (SnO₂) has been gaining considerable attention lately owing to its intriguing features, which can be enhanced by its synthesis in the nanoscale range. The establishment of a cost-efficient and ecologically friendly procedure for its production is the result of growing concerns about human well-being. The novelty and significance of this study lie in the fact that the synthesized SnO₂ nanoparticles have been tailored to have specific properties, such as size and morphology. These properties are crucial for their applications. Moreover, this study provides insights into the synthesis process of SnO₂ nanoparticles, which can be useful for developing efficient and cost-effective methods for large-scale production. In the current study, green Pluronic-coated SnO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) utilizing the root extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum have been formulated and characterized by several methods such as UV-visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies. The crystallite size of SnO₂ NPs was estimated to be 45 nm, and a tetragonal rutile-type crystalline structure was observed. FESEM analysis validated the NPs' spherical structure. The cytotoxic potential of the NPs against HepG2 cells was assessed using the in vitro MTT assay. The apoptotic efficiency of the NPs was evaluated using a dual-staining approach. The NPs revealed substantial cytotoxic effects against HepG2 cells but failed to exhibit cytotoxicity in different liver cell lines. Furthermore, dual staining and flow cytometry studies revealed higher apoptosis in NP-treated HepG2 cells. Nanoparticle treatment also inhibited the cell cycle at G0/G1 stage. It increased oxidative stress and promoted apoptosis by encouraging pro-apoptotic protein expression in HepG2 cells. NP treatment effectively blocked the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in HepG2 cells. Thus, green Pluronic-F-127-coated SnO₂ NPs exhibits enormous efficiency to be utilized as an talented anticancer agent.

Ultrasound-, subcritical water- and ultrasound assisted subcritical water-derived Tartary buckwheat polyphenols show superior antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity in human liver carcinoma cells

The effects of ultrasound-assisted (UAE), subcritical water (SWE) and ultrasound assisted-subcritical water (UA-SWE) treatments on tartary buckwheat polyphenol yield, composition, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity in human liver carcinoma cells were studied. Folin Ciocalteu assay was used to measure total free phenol content (TFPC), and ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and TEAC assays were used to measure antioxidant activity (AA). Polyphenol characterization was done by LC-MS and cell antioxidant activity (CAA) and cytotoxicity were done using the 2,2'-Azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride [ABAP] and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide [MTT] assays respectively. The highest polyphenol yield was obtained by SWE (53.3 mg g^-1), followed by UA-SWE (31.8 mg g^-1), UAE (19.3 mg g^-1) and HWE (4.2 mg g^-1). Also, SWE had the highest TFPC (7.9 mgGAE/gdw). UAE and UA-SWE showed no differences with TFPC being 6.6 and 6.8 mgGAE/gdw, respectively. The control method (HWE) had the largest number of phenolic compounds identified (25), followed by UAE, SWE and UA-SWE which had 20, 13 and 11 phenolics respectively. Beside phenolic acids, all treatments extracted a number of flavonoids such as flavan-3-ols (catechin-7-O-glucoside, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin, epicatechin), flavonols (kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, rutin, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide hyperin), flavones (vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isoorientin) and anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, Cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside). SWE gave the highest AA for all tests. However, the AA of those obtained by UAE and UA-SWE did not vary (P < 0.05), but were higher than HWE. Different extracts had best AA at different concentrations (HWE, 300; UAE, 250; SWE, 150; UA-SWE, 200 μg/mL). The IC₅₀ of AA were 270.8 ± 21.3, 198.1 ± 16.0, 97.9 ± 13.5, and 150.4 ± 12.8 μg/mL, respectively for HWE, UAE, SWE and UA-SWE. Generally, SWE and UA-SWE showed the highest cytotoxic activities, followed by UAE, with HWE being the lowest. IC₅₀ of cytotoxicity were 76.1 ± 3.3, 79.5 ± 7.0 and 92.6 ± 4.9 µg/mL for SWE, UA-SWE and UAE, respectively. SWE is a promising method for polyphenol extraction and its combination with ultrasound should be optimized for high yield and conservation of bioactivity.