Chitosan: A Green Approach to Metallic Nanoparticle/Nanocomposite Synthesis and Applications.

Chitosan, a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from chitin, has emerged as a highly promising instrument for the production and application of metal nanoparticles. The present review delves into the several functions of chitosan in the development and operation of metal nanoparticles, emphasizing its aptitudes as a green reducing agent, shape-directing agent, size-controlling agent, and stabilizer. Chitosan's special qualities make it easier to manufacture metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites with desired characteristics. Furthermore, there is a lot of promise for chitosan-based nanocomposites in a number of fields, such as metal removal, water purification, and photoacoustic, photothermal, antibacterial, and photodynamic therapies. This thorough analysis highlights the potential application of chitosan in the advancement of nanotechnology and the development of medicinal and environmental solutions.

Recent developments in cancer diagnosis and treatment using nanotechnology.

The article provides an insightful overview of the pivotal role of nanotechnology in revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and treatment. It discusses the critical importance of nanoparticles in enhancing the accuracy of cancer detection through improved imaging contrast agents and the synthesis of various nanomaterials designed for oncology applications. The review broadly classifies nanoparticles used in therapeutics, including metallic, magnetic, polymeric, and many other types, with an emphasis on their functions in drug delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy. It details targeting mechanisms, including passive and intentional targeting, to maximize treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects. Furthermore, the article addresses the clinical applications of nanomaterials in cancer treatment, highlights prospects, and addresses the challenges of integrating nanotechnology into cancer treatment.

Chitosan extraction from Amanita phalloides: yield, crystallinity, degree of deacetylation, azo dye removal and antibacterial properties.

Chitosan, a biopolymer obtained from chitin, is known for its remarkable adsorption abilities for dyes, drugs, and fats, and its diverse array of antibacterial characteristics. This study explores the extraction and characterization of chitosan from the mycelium of Amanita phalloides. The moisture content, ash content, water binding capacity, fat binding capacity, and degree of deacetylation of the extracted chitosan were determined. The chitosan exhibited a high yield of 70%, crystallinity of 49.07%, a degree of deacetylation of 86%, and potent antimicrobial properties against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The study also examined the adsorption capabilities of chitosan to remove methylene blue (MB) dye by analysing specific factors like pH, reaction time, and MB concentration using the response surface model. The highest degree of MB dye removal was 91.6% at a pH of 6, a reaction time of around 60 min and an initial dye concentration of 16 ppm. This experimental design can be applied for chitosan adsorption of other organic compounds such as dyes, proteins, drugs, and fats.

Evaluation of the implementation of the objective structured clinical examination in health sciences education from a low-income context in Tunisia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is well-established and designed to evaluate students' clinical competence and practical skills in a standardized and objective manner. While OSCEs are widespread in higher-income countries, their implementation in low-resource settings presents unique challenges that warrant further investigation. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the perception of the health sciences students and their educators regarding deploying OSCEs within the School of Health Sciences and Techniques of Sousse (SHSTS) in Tunisia and their efficacity in healthcare education compared to traditional practical examination methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2022, focusing on final-year Health Sciences students at the SHSTS in Tunisia. The study participants were students and their educators involved in the OSCEs from June 6th to June 11th, 2022. Anonymous paper-based 5-point Likert scale satisfaction surveys were distributed to the students and their educators, with a separate set of questions for each. Spearman, Mann-Whitney U and Krusakll-Wallis tests were utilized to test the differences in satisfaction with the OSCEs among the students and educators. The Wilcoxon Rank test was utilized to examine the differences in students' assessment scores in the OSCEs and the traditional practical examination methods. Results: The satisfaction scores were high among health sciences educators and above average for students, with means of 3.82 ± 1.29 and 3.15 ± 0.56, respectively. The bivariate and multivariate analyzes indicated a significant difference in the satisfaction between the students' specialities. Further, a significant difference in their assessment scores distribution in the practical examinations and OSCEs was also demonstrated, with better performance in the OSCEs. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence of the relatively high level of satisfaction with the OSCEs and better performance compared to the traditional practical examinations. These findings advocate for the efficacy of OSCEs in low-income countries and the need to sustain them.

Drug delivery methods based on nanotechnology for the treatment of eye diseases.

One of the most difficult tasks among the numerous medication delivery methods is ocular drug delivery. Despite having effective medications for treating ocular illness, we have not yet managed to develop an appropriate drug delivery strategy with the fewest side effects. Nanotechnology has the potential to significantly address the drawbacks of current ocular delivery systems, such as their insufficient therapeutic effectiveness and unfavourable side effects from invasive surgery or systemic exposure. The objective of the current research is to highlight and update the most recent developments in nano-based technologies for the detection and treatment of ocular diseases. Even if more work has to be done, the advancements shown here might lead to brand-new, very practical ocular nanomedicines.

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Green-Synthesized MgO and ZnO Nanoparticles from Two Plant Root Extracts.

The green approach-based nanoparticle synthesis is considered a more cost-effective and ecologically responsible method of producing nanoparticles than other standard techniques. A major accomplishment in resolving these issues is the use of nanoparticles for environmental pollution remediation. This article describes a simple method for producing MgO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale and Glycyrrhiza roots as the stabilizing and reducing agents, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersed X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy methods were used to characterize the biologically synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs). The XRD results showed that the mean crystallite sizes of synthesized ZnO and MgO NPs, which have excellent purity, are 12.35 nm and 4.83 nm, respectively. The spherical or elliptical shape of the synthesized NPs was confirmed by the SEM analysis. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized NPs against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was thoroughly investigated. With a medium zone of inhibition of 7 to 10 mm, the as-synthesized MgO NPs and ZnO NPs demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity towards various bacterial strains.

Fatty Acid Profile and Genetic Variants of Proteins Involved in Fatty Acid Metabolism Could Be Considered as Disease Predictor.

Circulating fatty acids (FA) have an endogenous or exogenous origin and are metabolized under the effect of many enzymes. They play crucial roles in many mechanisms: cell signaling, modulation of gene expression, etc., which leads to the hypothesis that their perturbation could be the cause of disease development. FA in erythrocytes and plasma rather than dietary FA could be used as a biomarker for many diseases. Cardiovascular disease was associated with elevated trans FA and decreased DHA and EPA. Increased arachidonic acid and decreased Docosahexaenoic Acids (DHA) were associated with Alzheimer's disease. Low Arachidonic acid and DHA are associated with neonatal morbidities and mortality. Decreased saturated fatty acids (SFA), increased monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) (C18:2 n-6 and C20:3 n-6) are associated with cancer. Additionally, genetic polymorphisms in genes coding for enzymes implicated in FA metabolism are associated with disease development. FA desaturase (FADS1 and FADS2) polymorphisms are associated with Alzheimer's disease, Acute Coronary Syndrome, Autism spectrum disorder and obesity. Polymorphisms in FA elongase (ELOVL2) are associated with Alzheimer's disease, Autism spectrum disorder and obesity. FA-binding protein polymorphism is associated with dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, peripheral atherosclerosis combined with type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase polymorphisms are associated with diabetes, obesity and diabetic nephropathy. FA profile and genetic variants of proteins implicated in FA metabolism could be considered as disease biomarkers and may help with the prevention and management of diseases.