Alginate hydrogel-PCL/gelatin nanofibers composite scaffold containing mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes sustain release for regeneration of tympanic membrane perforation.

Exosomes are among the most effective therapeutic tools for tissue engineering. This study demonstrates that a 3D composite scaffold containing exosomes can promote regeneration in rat tympanic membrane perforation (TMP). The scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), degradation, PBS adsorption, swelling, porosity, and mechanical properties. To confirm the isolation of exosomes from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs), western blot, SEM, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were performed. The Western blot test confirmed the presence of exosomal surface markers CD9, CD81, and CD63. The SEM test revealed that the isolated exosomes had a spherical shape, while the DLS test indicated an average diameter of 82.5 nm for these spherical particles. MTT assays were conducted to optimize the concentration of hAMSCs-exosomes in the hydrogel layer of the composite. Exosomes were extracted on days 3 and 7 from an alginate hydrogel containing 100 and 200 µg/mL of exosomes, with 100 µg/mL identified as the optimal value. The optimized composite scaffold demonstrated improved growth and migration of fibroblast cells. Animal studies showed complete tympanic membrane regeneration (TM) after five days. These results illustrate that a scaffold containing hAMSC-exosomes can serve as an appropriate tissue-engineered scaffold for enhancing TM regeneration.

Preparation and characterization of 3D bioprinted gelatin methacrylate hydrogel incorporated with curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles for in vivo wound healing application.

This study developed a biomimetic composite bioink consisting of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) /chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting. Additionally, curcumin(Cur)-loaded nanoparticles were incorporated which increased the proliferation and antibacterial activity of biomimetic skin constructs. The hydrogel, curcumin-loaded NPs, and the biocomposite was characterized chemically and physically. The results indicated proper modified gelatin with tunable physical characteristics, e.g., swelling ratio and biodegradability up to 1200 % and 25 days, respectively. In addition, the characterized CSNPs showed good distribution with a size of 370 nm and a zeta potential of 41.1 mV. We investigated the mechanical and cytocompatibility properties of chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated in hydrogel for emulating an extracellular matrix suitable for skin tissue engineering. CSNPs entrapped in GelMA (15 % w/v) exhibited controlled drug release during 5 days, which was fitted into various kinetic models to study the mass transfer mechanism behavior. Also, the composite hydrogels were effective as a barrier against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at a concentration of 50 µg/ml nanoparticles in GelMA 15 %. Furthermore, the biocomposite was applied on Wistar rats for wound healing. As a result, this study provides a GelMA-NP50-Cur3 scaffold that promotes cell proliferation and decreases microbial infections in wounds.

A green approach for preparation of chitosan/hydroxyapatite/graphitic carbon nitride hydrogel nanocomposite for improved 5-FU delivery.

Reducing the side effects of cancer treatment methods is an important issue. The loading efficiency and sustained release of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) have been significantly improved by creating a new method. A nanocarrier with pH sensitivity has been developed through the w/o/w emulsification method. It is loaded with 5-FU and comprises of chitosan (CS), hydroxyapatite (HAp), and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). g-C3N4 nanosheets were incorporated in CS/HAp hydrogel to improve the entrapment and loading efficiency. Drug loading efficiency and entrapment efficiency reached 48 % and 87 %, respectively, and the FTIR and XRD tests verified evidence of the formation of chemical bonds among the drug and nanocarrier. Structural analysis was done using FE-SEM. DLS and zeta potential were employed to obtain average size distribution and surface charge. The release profile of 5-FU in various conditions shows the nanoparticles' pH dependence, and the nanocomposite's controlled release is consistent with the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. Cell apoptosis and cytotoxicity were evaluated in vitro using flow cytometry and MTT analysis. The biocompatibility of CS/HAp/g-C3N4 against MCF-7 cells was shown by the MTT method and confirmed by flow cytometry. CS/HAp/g-C3N4@5-FU led to the highest apoptosis rate in MCF-7 cells, indicating the nanocarrier's efficiency in killing cancer cells. These data indicate that the designed CS/HAp/g-C3N4@5-FU can be a potential drug for treating cancer cells.

Fabrication and optimization of multilayered composite scaffold made of sulfated alginate-based nanofiber/decellularized Wharton's jelly ECM for tympanic membrane tissue engineering.

In this study, we fabricated a novel multilayer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/alginate sulfate (ALG-S) nanofiber/decellularized Wharton's Jelly ECM (d-ECM) composite for tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs) tissue engineering (TE). Initially, electrospun PVA/ALG-S scaffolds with different blend ratios were fabricated. The influence of ALG-S ratio on surface morphology, mechanical, physical and biological properties of the nanofibers was studied. Secondly, 3-layer composites were developed as a combination of PVA/ALG-S nanofibers and d-ECM to take synergic advantages of electrospun mats and d-ECM. As part of the evaluation of the effects of d-ECM incorporation, the composite's mechanical properties, in vitro degradation, swelling ratio, and biological activities were assessed. The MTT assay showed that PVA/ALG-S nanofibers with 50:50 ratio provided a more desirable environment to support cell growth. A composite containing 25 mg/cm2 d-ECM was determined as the optimal composite through MTT assay, and this composite was used for animal studies inducing TMP regeneration. According to the in vivo studies, the optimal composite not only stimulated the healing of TMPs but also shortened the healing period. These results suggest that a multilayer nanofiber/hydrogel composite could be a potential platform for regenerating TMPs.

Targeted Anticancer Drug Delivery Using Chitosan, Carbon Quantum Dots, and Aptamers to Deliver Ganoderic Acid and 5-Fluorouracil.

Breast cancer is a malignancy that affects mostly females and is among the most lethal types of cancer. The ligand-functionalized nanoparticles used in the nano-drug delivery system offer enormous potential for cancer treatments. This work devised a promising approach to increase drug loading efficacy and produce sustained release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Ganoderic acid (GA) as model drugs for breast cancer. Chitosan, aptamer, and carbon quantum dot (CS/Apt/COQ) hydrogels were initially synthesized as a pH-sensitive and biocompatible delivery system. Then, CS/Apt/COQ NPs loaded with 5-FU-GA were made using the W/O/W emulsification method. FT-IR, XRD, DLS, zeta potentiometer, and SEM were used to analyze NP's chemical structure, particle size, and shape. Cell viability was measured using MTT assays in vitro using the MCF-7 cell lines. Real-time PCR measured cell apoptotic gene expression. XRD and FT-IR investigations validated nanocarrier production and revealed their crystalline structure and molecular interactions. DLS showed that nanocarriers include NPs with an average size of 250.6 nm and PDI of 0.057. SEM showed their spherical form, and zeta potential studies showed an average surface charge of +37.8 mV. pH 5.4 had a highly effective and prolonged drug release profile, releasing virtually all 5-FU and GA in 48 h. Entrapment efficiency percentages for 5-FU and GA were 84.7±5.2 and 80.2 %±2.3, respectively. The 5-FU-GA-CS-CQD-Apt group induced the highest cell death, with just 57.9 % of the MCF-7 cells surviving following treatment. 5-FU and GA in CS-CQD-Apt enhanced apoptotic induction by flow cytometry. 5-FU-GA-CS-CQD-Apt also elevated Caspase 9 and downregulated Bcl2. Accordingly, the produced NPs may serve as pH-sensitive nano vehicles for the controlled release of 5-FU and GA in treating breast cancer.

P3HB from CH4 using methanotrophs: aspects of bioreactor, fermentation process and modelling for cost-effective biopolymer production.

P3HB (poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate), an energy-storage compound of several microorganisms, can be used as bioplastics material. P3HB is completely biodegradable under aerobic and aerobic conditions, also in the marine environment. The intracellular agglomeration of P3HB was examined employing a methanotrophic consortium. Supplanting fossil, non-degradable polymers by P3HB can significantly reduce the environmental impact of plastics. Utilizing inexpensive carbon sources like CH4 (natural gas, biogas) is a fundamental methodology to make P3HB production less costly, and to avoid the use of primary agricultural products such as sugar or starch. Biomass growth in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in general and in Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) manufacture in specific could be a foremost point, so here the authors focus on natural gas as a proper carbon source and on the selection of bioreactors to produceP3HB, and in future further PHA, from that substrate. CH4 can also be obtained from biomass, e.g., biogas, syngas methanation or power-to-gas (synthetic natural gas, SNG). Simulation software can be utilized for examination, optimizing and scale-up of the process as shown in this paper. The fermentation systems continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR), forced-liquid vertical loop bioreactor (VTLB), forced-liquid horizontal tubular loop bioreactor (HTLB), airlift (AL) fermenter and bubble column (BC) fermenter were compared for their methane conversion, kLa value, productivity, advantages and disadvantages. Methane is compared to methanol and other feedstocks. It was discovered that under optimum processing circumstances and using Methylocystis hirsuta, the cells accumulated 51.6% cell dry mass of P3HB in the VTLB setup.

Preparation and characterization of pH-sensitive chitosan/starch/MoS2 nanocomposite for control release of curcumin macromolecules drug delivery; application in the breast cancer treatment.

In this work, chitosan (CS), Starch (S), and Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) were combined to create a nanocarrier that was utilized to treat breast cancer using the MCF-7 cell line. To analyze the features of the nanocarrier, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) tests were performed, respectively, to discover physical interactions and chemical bonding. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analyses were performed and reported to determine the structural characteristics and morphology of nanoparticles, size distribution, and surface charge of nanocarriers, respectively. The average size of the nanocomposite was measured at around 279 nm, and the surface charge of the nanocarrier was determined to be +86.31 mV. The entrapment and drug loading efficiency of nanocarriers were 87.25 % and 46.5 %, respectively, which is an acceptable value. The kinetics and release mode of the drug were investigated, and it was found that the synthesized nanocarrier was sensitive to pH and that its release was stable. The amount of the nanocarriers' toxicity and cell death were evaluated using MTT tests and flow cytometry, respectively. In the present study, the nanocarrier was wholly nontoxic and had anticancer properties against the MCF-7 cell line. This nanocarrier is very important due to its non-toxicity and sensitivity to pH and can be used in drug delivery and medical applications.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan/carbon quantum dots/Fe2O3 nanocomposite comprising curcumin for targeted drug delivery in breast cancer therapy.

Curcumin, a natural compound with promising anti-cancerous features, suffers from a number of shortcomings such as low chemical stability, bioavailability, and solubility, which impedes its application as an alternative for conventional cancer therapy. In this study, curcumin comprising Fe2O3/Chitosan/CQDs was fabricated through double emulsion method (W/O/W) for the first time to exploit its anticancer features while alleviating its limitation, making this nanocomposite promising in targeted drug delivery. Chitosan, a hydrophilic biopolymer, has incorporated to constitute an adhesive pH-sensitive matrix that can trap the hydrophobic drug resulting in controlled drug release in cancerous environment. Carbon quantum dots render luminescence and water solubility properties, which is favorable for tracing drug release and bio imaging along with enhancement of biocompatibility. Fe2O3 can improve chemical stability and bioavailability in addition to anti-cancerous property. XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed the physical interaction between the drug and fabricated nano composite in addition to chemical bonding between the prepared nano composite. Matrix and spherical structure of the formed drug is corroborated by FESEM analysis. DLS analysis' results determine the mean size of the nano composite at about 227.2 nm and zeta potential result is indicative of perfect stability of the fabricated drug. Various kinetic models for drug release were fitted to experimental data in order to investigate the drug release in which Korsmeyer-Peppas' model was the predominant release system in cancerous environment. In vitro studies through flow cytometry and MTT assay exerted noticeable cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 cell lines. It can be deduced from these results that curcumin encapsulated with CS/CQDs/Fe2O3 nanocomposites is an excellent alternative for targeted drug delivery.

Green synthesis of chitosan/polyacrylic acid/graphitic carbon nitride nanocarrier as a potential pH-sensitive system for curcumin delivery to MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

A novel pH-sensitive nanocarrier containing chitosan (CS), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was designed via water/oil/water (W/O/W) emulsification to administer curcumin (CUR) drug. g-C3N4 nanosheets with a high surface area and porous structure were produced via simple one-step pyrolysis process using thiourea as precursor, and incorporated into CS/PAA hydrogel. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to assess the crystalline structure of the nanocarrier and the interactions between its components, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed a spherical structure and confirmed the g-C3N4 impregnation into the CS/PAA matrix. Zeta potential and dynamic light scattering (DLS) provided information about the surface charge and average size distribution. High CUR loading and entrapment efficiencies were obtained, which were further improved upon addition of g-C3N4. The release kinetics of drug-loaded CS/PAA/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were investigated at pH = 5.4 and pH = 7.4, and the results showed an excellent controlled pH-sensitive release profile. Cell apoptosis and in vitro cytotoxicity were investigated using flow cytometry and MTT analyses. CS/PAA/g-C3N4/CUR resulted in the highest rate of apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, demonstrating the excellent nanocomposite efficacy in eliminating cancerous cells. CS/PAA hydrogel coated with g-C3N4 shows great potential for pH-sensitive controlled drug release.

Carboxymethyl cellulose/starch/reduced graphene oxide composite as a pH-sensitive nanocarrier for curcumin drug delivery.

Nanocomposites are promising drug carriers to treat terminal cancers with few adverse effects. Herein, nanocomposite hydrogels composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/starch/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were synthesized via a green chemistry approach and then encapsulated in double nanoemulsions to act as pH-responsive delivery systems for curcumin, a potential antitumor drug. A water/oil/water nanoemulsion containing bitter almond oil served as a membrane surrounding the nanocarrier to control drug release. DLS and zeta potential measurements were used to estimate the size and confirm the stability of curcumin-loaded nanocarriers. The intermolecular interactions, crystalline structure and morphology of the nanocarriers were analyzed through FTIR spectroscopy, XRD and FESEM, respectively. The drug loading and entrapment efficiencies were significantly improved compared to previously reported curcumin delivery systems. In vitro release experiments demonstrated the pH-responsiveness of the nanocarriers and the faster curcumin release at a lower pH. The MTT assay revealed the increased toxicity of the nanocomposites against MCF-7 cancer cells compared to CMC, CMC/RGO or free curcumin. Apoptosis was detected in MCF-7 cells via flow cytometry tests. The results obtained herein support that the developed nanocarriers are stable, uniform and effective delivery systems for a sustained and pH-sensitive curcumin release.

Green synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone/titanium dioxide hydrogel nanocomposite modified with agarose macromolecules for sustained and pH-responsive release of anticancer drug.

Cancer, as one of the most challenging diseases of the last century, has a significant number of patients and deaths every year. Various strategies have been explored for the treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy is one of the methods of treating cancer. Doxorubicin is one of the compounds used in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. Due to their unique properties and low toxicity, metal oxide nanoparticles are effective in combination therapy and increase the effectiveness of anti-cancer compounds. The limited in vivo circulatory period, poor solubility, and inadequate penetration of doxorubicin (DOX) restrict its use in cancer treatment, notwithstanding its attractive characteristics. It is possible to circumvent some of the difficulties in cancer therapy by using green synthesized pH-responsive nanocomposite consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), titanium dioxide (TiO2) modified with agarose (Ag) macromolecules. TiO2 incorporation into the PVP-Ag nanocomposite resulted in limited increased loading and encapsulation efficiencies from 41 % to 47 % and 84 % to 88.5 %, respectively. DOX diffusion among normal cells is prevented by the PVP-Ag-TiO2 nanocarrier at pH = 7.4, though the acidic intracellular microenvironments activate the PVP-Ag-TiO2 nanocarrier at pH = 5.4. Characterization of the nanocarrier was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential. The average particle size and the zeta potential of the particles showed values of 349.8 nm and +57 mV, respectively. In vitro release after 96 h showed a release rate of 92 % at pH 7.4 and a release rate of 96 % at pH 5.4. Meanwhile, the initial release after 24 h was 42 % for pH 7.4 and 76 % for pH 5.4. As shown by an MTT analysis on MCF-7 cells, the toxicity of DOX-loaded PVP-Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite was substantially greater than that of unbound DOX and PVP-Ag-TiO2. After integrating TiO2 nanomaterials into the PVP-Ag-DOX nanocarrier, flow cytometry data showed a greater stimulation of cell death. These data indicate that the DOX-loaded nanocomposite is a suitable alternative for drug delivery systems.

Electrochemical nanobiosensor based on reduced graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles for ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-128.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most prevalent cancers in children and microRNA-128 is amongst the most useful biomarkers not only for diagnosis of ALL, but also for discriminating ALL from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, a novel electrochemical nanobiosensor based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been fabricated to detect miRNA-128. Cyclic Voltametery (CV), Square Wave Voltametery (SWV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) have been applied to characterize the nanobiosensor. Hexacyanoferrate as a label-free and methylene blue as a labeling material were used in the design of the nanobiosensors. It was found that the modified electrode has excellent selectivity and sensitivity to miR-128, with a limit of detection of 0.08761 fM in label-free and 0.00956 fM in labeling assay. Additionally, the examination of real serum samples of ALL and AML patients and control cases confirms that the designed nanobiosensor has the potential to detect and discriminate these two cancers and the control samples.

Assessment of synthesized chitosan/halloysite nanocarrier modified by carbon nanotube for pH-sensitive delivery of curcumin to cancerous media.

Constructing a system to carry medicine for more effective remedy of cancer has been a leading challenge, as the number of cancer cases continues to increase. In this present research, a curcumin-loaded chitosan/halloysite/carbon nanotube nanomixture was fabricated by means of water/oil/water emulsification method. The drug loading efficiency (DL) and entrapment efficiency (EE), as a result, reached 42 % and 88 %, respectively and FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed the bonding between the drug and nanocarrier. Morphological observation through FE-SEM and characterization through DLS analysis demonstrated that the average size of nanoparticles is 267.37 nm. Assessment of release within 96 h in pH 7.4 and 5.4 showed sustained release. For more investigation, release data was analyzed by diverse kinetic models to understand the mechanism in the release procedure. An MTT assay was also carried out, and the results illustrated apoptosis induction on MCF-7 cells and exhibited ameliorated cytotoxicity of the drug-loaded nanocomposite compared to the free curcumin. These findings suggest that the unique pH-responsive chitosan/halloysite/carbon nanotube nanocomposite might make a good option for drug delivery systems, particularly for the cancer treatment.

Optimization of electrospun CQDs-Fe3O4-RE loaded PVA-cellulose nanofibrils via central composite design for wound dressing applications: Kinetics and in vitro release study.

Wound skin infections can cause significant morbidity and even mortality. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are a type of nano cellulose that have reached notable attention due to their inimitable properties. In this study, in order to prepare a novel wound dressing, CNFs are composited with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to enhance mechanical properties and increase cell proliferation and migration. Also, carbon quantum dots (CQDs)- Fe3O4 was introduced as a novel antibacterial, and rosemary extract (RE) was composited with this to reduce its cell toxicity. PVA - CNFs/ CQDs- Fe3O4- RE nanofiber was prepared using the electrospinning method. Then, to maximize tensile strength, total elongation, and percentage swelling of PVA - CNFs/ CQDs- Fe3O4- RE electrospun nanofiber, parameters of crosslinking duration and the concentration of CQDs- Fe3O4-RE were optimized employing central composite design, and optimized electrospun nanofiber (OEN) as a novel wound dressing was prepared. Results exhibited, the high antibacterial properties of CQDs-Fe3O4-RE. Also, CNFs and CQDs- Fe3O4-RE increased the tensile strength of OEN. Moreover, CNFs and RE reduce wound area percentages and increase the percentage of cell viability, respectively. Therefore, OEN was introduced as a suitable wound dressing due to its appropriate surface roughness, mechanical properties, WVTR, biodegradation, prolonged release, non-toxicity, and high cell proliferation and migration ability.

Chitosan/silk fibroin/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot/α-tricalcium phosphate nanocomposite electrospinned as a scaffold for wound healing application: In vitro and in vivo studies.

A highly porous nanofibrous network that can functionalize antibacterial and therapeutic agents can be considered a suitable option for skin wound healing. In this study, α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP)/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) nanocomposite was synthesized and then applied to the fabrication of novel chitosan (CS)/silk fibroin (SF)/N-CQDs/α-TCP wound dressing via electrospinning system. The prepared nanomaterials were well characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, scanning and transmission electron microscopes analyses, and antibacterial assay. Furthermore, nanofibers were evaluated regarding their physical properties, such as tensile behavior, water uptake capacity, and water contact angle. The results reveal that CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP showed lower MIC values against E. coli and S. aureus (1.45 ± 0.26 mg/mL and 1.59 ± 0.12 mg/mL) compared to other synthesized materials. Also, in-vitro investigations were performed, and the MTT assay on the HFF cell line revealed that CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber could possess good biocompatibility. Interestingly, the scratch test proved that faster cell migration and proliferation occurred in the presence of CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP 73.23 ± 2.71 %). Finally, we examined the wound healing ability of CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber using an animal model. The results confirmed that produced nanofiber could efficiently promote wound closure by 96.73 ± 1.25 % in 12 days. Histopathological analyses verified accelerated re-epithelization and well-structured epidermis in CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber-treated group. Based on our findings, the CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber with excellent antimicrobial properties is highly suitable for wound healing and skin tissue regeneration applications.

Biocompatibility evaluation of polyethersulfone-pyrolytic carbon composite membrane in artificial pancreas.

Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are widely used in medical devices, especially intravascular devices such as intravascular bioartificial pancreases. In the current work, the pure PES and PES-pyrolytic carbon (PyC) composite membranes were synthesized and permeability studies were conducted. In addition, the cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility of the pure PES and PES-PyC membranes were investigated. These materials were characterized using peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) activation, platelet activation, platelet adhesion, ß-cell viability and proliferation, and ß-cell response to hyperglycemia. The results showed that platelet activation decreased from 87.3% to 27.8%. Any alteration in the morphology of sticking platelets was prevented, and the number of attached platelets decreased by modification with PyC. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay corroborated that PBMC activation was encouraged by the PyC-modified PES membrane surface. It can be concluded that PES-modified membranes show higher hemocompatibility than pure PES membranes. ß-cells cultured on all the three membranes displayed a lower rate of proliferation although the cells on the PES-PyC (0.1 wt. %) membrane indicated a slightly higher viability and proliferation than those on the pure PES and PES-PyC (0.05 wt. %) membranes. It shows that the PES-PyC (0.1 wt. %) membrane possesses superior cytocompatibility over the other membranes.

Nanoemulsion carriers of porous γ-alumina modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone and carboxymethyl cellulose for pH-sensitive delivery of 5-fluorouracil.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a cytotoxic drug with a low half-life. These features can cause some problems such as burst drug release and numerous side effects. In the present study, a pH-sensitive nanocomposite of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/γ-alumina developed by using water in oil in water (W/O/W) double emulsion method. The fabricated emulsion has been employed as the 5-FU carrier to investigate its effects on drug half-life, side effects, drug loading efficiency (DLE), and drug entrapment efficiency (DEE). Analyzing the FTIR and XRD indicated the successful loading of 5-FU into the nanocarrier and affirmed the synthesized nanocomposite's chemical bonding and crystalline features. Furthermore, by using DLS and Zeta potential assessment, size and undersize distribution, as well as the stability of the drug-loaded nanocomposite were determined, which demonstrated the monodisperse and stable nanoparticles. Moreover, the nanocomposites with spherical shapes and homogeneous surfaces were shown in FE-SEM, which indicated good compatibility for the constituents of the nanocomposites. Moreover, by employing BET analysis the porosity has been investigated. Drug release pattern was studied, which indicated a controlled drug release behavior with above 96 h drug retention. Besides, the loading and entrapment efficiencies were obtained 44 % and 86 %, respectively. Furthermore, the curve fitting technique has been employed and the predominant release mechanism has been determined to evaluate the best-fitted kinetic models. MTT assay and flow cytometry assessment has been carried out to investigate the cytotoxic effects of the fabricated drug-loaded nanocomposite on MCF-7 and normal cells. The results showed enhanced cytotoxicity and late apoptosis for the PVP/CMC/γ-alumina/5-FU. Based on the MTT assay outcomes on normal cell lines (L929), which indicated above 90 % cell viability, the biocompatibility and biosafety of the synthesized nanocarrier have been confirmed. Moreover, due to the porosity of the PVP/CMC/γ-alumina, this nanocarrier can exploit from high specific surface area and be more sensitive to environmental conditions such as pH. These outcomes propose that the novel pH-sensitive PVP/CMC/γ-alumina nanocomposite can be a potential candidate for drug delivery applications, especially for cancer therapy.

Wound dressing based on PVA nanofiber containing silk fibroin modified with GO/ZnO nanoparticles for superficial wound healing: In vitro and in vivo evaluations.

Silk fibroin (SF), extracted from Bombyx mori, has unique physicochemical properties to achieve an efficient wound dressing. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/ZnO NPs/silk fibroin nanocomposite was made, and an innovative nanofiber of SF/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/RGO/ZnO NPs was ready with the electrospinning technique and successfully characterized. The results of MIC and OD analyses were used to investigate the synthesized materials' antibacterial effects and displayed that the synthesized materials could inhibit growth against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. However, both in vitro cytotoxicity (MTT) and scratch wound studies have shown that RGO/ZnO NPs and SF/PVA/RGO/ZnO NPs are not only non-toxic to NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, but also can cause cell viability, cell proliferation, and cell migration. Furthermore, improving the synthesized nanofiber's structural properties in the presence of RGO and ZnO NPs has been confirmed by performing tensile strength, contact angle, and biodegradation analyses. Also, in a cell attachment analysis, fibroblast cells had migrated and expanded well in the nanofibrous structures. Moreover, in vivo assay, SF/PVA/RGO/ZnO NPs nanofiber treated rats and has been shown significant healing activity and tissue regeneration compared with other treated groups. Therefore, this study suggests that SF/PVA/RGO/ZnO NPs nanofiber is a hopeful wound dressing for preventing bacteria growth and improving superficial wound repair.

Synthesis of a novel pH-responsive Fe3O4/chitosan/agarose double nanoemulsion as a promising Nanocarrier with sustained release of curcumin to treat MCF-7 cell line.

Nanotechnology, using drug carriers, has gained remarkable achievements in treating cancer by inhibiting the adverse effects of traditional therapeutic methods, such as applying curcumin. Using chitosan could help to target tumors, without harming healthy cells. Also, magnetic iron oxide provides a high specific area to increase the capability of the nano-scale vehicle to load curcumin. A double emulsion hydrogel of Fe3O4/chitosan/agarose was synthesized and curcumin was loaded with loading and entrapment efficacies of 48.25 % and 87.5 %, respectively. The crystalline nature of the nanocomposites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transforms spectroscopy investigated the functional groups of the components. The results of DLS and zeta potential showed proper particle size and surface charge, which are important for making the EPR effect and stability of the developed drug delivery system. The release profile of curcumin from the nanocarrier presented a sustained and pH-responsive release, avoiding overdosage and decreasing side effects. The best kinetic model that the release data could be fitted on was Hixon-Crowell. Finally, from the cytotoxicity of the prepared nanocomposite, it was concluded that the nanocarrier is biocompatible, and from flow cytometry analysis, a high apoptosis percentage proved that the effect of the designed drug delivery system on MCF-7 cell lines is programmed. Hence, this curcumin-loaded double emulsion could mitigate cancer therapy restrictions, with a minimum toxic effect on cultured cells.