Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/Withania somnifera extract nanofibers incorporating tadalafil-loaded nanoparticles for diabetic ulcers.

Background: Impaired inflammation and vascularization are common reasons for delayed diabetic wound healing. Nanoparticles (NPs)-in-nanofibers composites can manage diabetic wounds. A multifunctional scaffold was developed based on tadalafil (TDF)-loaded NPs incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol/Withania somnifera extract nanofibers. Materials & methods: TDF-loaded NPs were prepared and fully characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties. Extract of ashwagandha was prepared and a blend composed of TDF-loaded NPs, herbal extract and polyvinyl alcohol was used to prepare the whole composite. Results: The whole composite exhibited improved wound closure in a diabetic rat model in terms of reduced inflammation and enhanced angiogenesis. Conclusion: Results suggest that this multifunctional composite could serve as a promising diabetic wound dressing.

Nanoparticles-in-nanofibers composites: Emphasis on some recent biomedical applications.

Nanoparticles-in-nanofibers composites comprise an attractive approach for controlling release and delivery of many active molecules for versatile biomedical applications. Incorporation of drug-loaded nanoparticles within these composites can afford the encapsulation of one or more drug with sequential drug release, which can be tuned according to the assigned function. Moreover, existence of nanoparticles within the nanofibrous matrix was found to favor the morphological and mechanical properties of the developed composites. In this review, the latest biomedical advances for nanoparticles-in-nanofibers composites will be highlighted including; tissue regeneration, antimicrobial applications, wound healing, cancer management, cardiovascular disorders, ophthalmic applications, vaginal drug delivery, biosensors and biomedical filters. These composites incorporating multiple types of nanoparticles could be very promising drug delivery platforms.

Pterostilbene as a Phytochemical Compound Induces Signaling Pathways Involved in the Apoptosis and Death of Mutant P53-Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Pterostilbene is a natural nonflavonoid polyphenolic compound. It shows a remarkable range of biological activities, including antiproliferative, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant activity. However, the mechanism of action of PT in breast cancer cells containing mutant p53 protein has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the influence of PT on signaling pathways involved in the apoptosis of mutant p53-breast cancer cell lines. Immunocytochemistry and Western Immunoblotting techniques were used in this study. The present data showed that the viabilities and the proliferations of MDA-MB-231 and T-47D decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after treatment with different concentrations of PT. In addition, the morphological characteristics of both cell lines were changed after treatment with PT. Decreased protein expression of mutant p53 (R280 K, L194F) in MDA-MB-231 and T-47D breast cancer cell lines has also been achieved. In addition, overexpression of pro-apoptotic (Bax) protein, caspase-3 activity and histone release were increased after treatment of both cell lines with different PT concentrations. Furthermore, the protein expressions of cyclin D1, mTOR, and oncogenic ß-catenin were significantly downregulated after treatment of both cell lines with PT. In conclusion, downregulations of protein expression of mutant p53, cyclin D1, mTOR, and ß-catenin were increased after both cell lines had been treated with pterostilbene. PT could point to a promising use against the development and the progression of breast cancer as a natural therapeutic agent.