New optimization methods for designing rain stations network using new neural network, election, and whale optimization algorithms by combining the Kriging method.

In many studies of water and hydrological sources, estimation of the spatial distribution of precipitation based on point data recorded in rain gauge stations is of particular importance. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the network of rain gauge stations in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province with respect to the variance of Kriging and topography estimation in the region and to maintain or reduce the number of stations in the region (without incurring additional costs). A new neural network algorithm has been presented in the present study to determine the optimum rain gauge stations. In this study, a new method of meta-heuristic optimization algorithm based on biological neural systems and artificial neural networks (ANNs) has been proposed. The proposed method is called a neural network algorithm (NNA) and has been developed based on unique structure (ANNs). In order to evaluate the proposed method, the election and whale algorithms have been used. The election algorithm is a repetitive algorithm that works with a set of known solutions as a population, and the whale optimization algorithm is derived from the new nature based on the special bubble hunting strategy used by the vultures. The results showed that 22 stations of the existing network had no significant effect on rainfall estimation in the province and their removal to the optimal network is suggested. Therefore, the remaining 27 stations can be effective in optimizing the rain gauge network. The results of comparing the abovementioned algorithms showed that the neural network algorithm with a mean error of 0.06 mm has a higher ability to optimize the rain gauges than blue whale and election algorithms.

Synergistic Effect of Self-Assembled Curcumin and Piperine Co-Loaded Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles on Suppressing Cancer Cells.

OBJECTIVE: The combinational therapy is often considered as a desire in chemotherapy despite some limitations. This study aimed to encapsulate two natural-based drugs, curcumin (CUR), and piperine (PIP) into highly biocompatible albumin nanoparticles for anticancer applications. SIGNIFICANCE: A simultaneous exertion of CUR and PIP in a biocompatible drug delivery system with the minimum side effects and no limitations was achievable in this work for cancer treatment. METHODS: Curcumin and piperine co-loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (CUR-PIP-HSA-NPs) were synthesized by the self-assembly method. The effectiveness of the codelivery system was evaluated physically, chemically, and pharmaceutically. Moreover, the anticancer activity of CUR-PIP-HSA-NPs was studied on MCF-7 cells by MTT assay. RESULTS: CUR-PIP-HSA-NPs showed appropriate stability with an average particle size of 154.7 ± 5.2 nm. Loading of drugs was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. The drug encapsulation efficiencies (DEEs) of CUR and PIP in NPs were 85.3% ± 1.46% and 81.7%, ± 1.67%, respectively. Furthermore, the drug loading efficiency (DLE) of CUR-PIP-HSA-NPs was 8.71% ± 0.24%. The circular dichroism (CD) examination of the NPs confirmed that the conformational structure of albumin remained unchanged during the synthesis. In addition, the cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated the high potential of CUR-PIP-HSA-NPs against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in the presence of PIP as both bioenhancer and anticancer drug with the capability of suppressing the effect of multidrug resistance (MDR). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that CUR-PIP-HSA-NPs can be employed as a practical drug delivery system in cancer treatment with synergistic effects of both CUR and PIP.

Magnesium Increases the Protective Effect of Citicoline on Aluminum Chloride-induced Cognitive Impairment.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease is a popular neurodegenerative disorder which is growing in the elderly people. Exposure to environmental pollutant like aluminum could trigger or accelerate its involved mechanisms like tau phosphorylation. The current study will evaluate the effect of alone or co-administration of Citicoline or/and magnesium on the aluminum chloride induced memory impairment. METHODS: Male albino mice were randomly divided into different groups (n = 7). Memory impairment was induced via orally administration of 300 mg/kg Aluminum Chloride for 28 days. Based on respective group, animals received 100, 250, 500 mg/kg of Citicoline or 50, 100, 150 mg/kg of Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), intraperitoneally. In co-administration, 50 mg/kg of MgSO4 injected concomitantly with 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg of Citicoline. Rivastigmine (2 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was used as a positive control. Memory was evaluated using the Object Recognition Task (ORT) and Passive Avoidance Test (PAT). RESULTS: The studied doses of Citicoline or MgSO4 when administered individually showed significant increase in the discrimination index in ORT and latency time in the PAT compared to the Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) treated group. Concomitant injection of 50 mg/kg MgSO4 with the different doses of Citicoline strongly increased the above indices values in comparison to each alone. CONCLUSION: The findings show, individual administration of Citicoline or MgSO4 inverted the AlCl3-induced memory impairment in a dose independent manner. The addition of MgSO4 to the Citicoline showed a synergistic effect in the PAT and likely additive effect in the ORT.

Protective Effects of Citicoline and Benfotiamine Each Alone and in Combination on Streptozotocin-induced Memory Impairment in Mice.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that citicoline and benfotiamine can improve memory and learning through different mechanism of actions. The aim of this study was to compare the individual effects of benfotiamine (100, 200, 300 mg/kg) and citicoline (50, 100, 250, 500 mg/kg, gavage) and their co-administration on memory impairments in diabetic mice. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 140 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and benfotiamine and/or citicoline were administered for three weeks. Memory was evaluated using the object recognition task (ORT) and passive avoidance test (PAT). RESULTS: Results from ORT shows that citicoline at 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg and benfotiamine at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg and their combination (benfotiamine at 100 mg/kg added to citicoline at 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg) are equally effective in reversing the memory loss induced by STZ (p < 0.001). PAT results demonstrate that citicoline at 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg and benfotiamine at above doses did not improve the latency time when administered separately, but benfotiamine at a fixed dose of 100 mg/kg in the presence of citicoline at 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg increased the latency time and improved memory significantly. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in PAT, co-administration of benfotiamine and citicoline was more effective than either alone in improving memory. Regarding ORT, although benfotiamine added to citicoline improved memory notably, the difference between combination therapy and single-drug therapy was not considerable.

Reducing agent-free synthesis of curcumin-loaded albumin nanoparticles by self-assembly at room temperature.

The purpose of this study was to prepare curcumin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (CCM-BSA-NPs) by reducing agent-free self-assembly at room temperature. A 24 factorial design approach was used to investigate the CCM-BSA-NP preparation process at different pH values, temperatures, dithiothreitol amounts, and CCM/BSA mass ratios. Increasing the ionic strength enabled preparation of CCM-BSA-NPs at 25°C without reducing agent. CCM-BSA-NPs prepared under the optimized conditions at 25°C showed a particle size of 110±6nm, yield of 88.5%, and drug loading of 7.1%. The CCM-BSA-NPs showed strong antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects in glutamate-induced mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. This study suggests that ionic strength can be a key parameter affecting the preparation of albumin-based NPs.

Efficient delivery of therapeutic agents by using targeted albumin nanoparticles.

Albumin nanoparticles are one of the most important drug carriers for the delivery of therapeutic drugs, especially for the treatment of malignancies. This potential is due to their high binding capacity for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs and the possibility of surface modification. Accumulation of albumin-bound drugs in the tumor interstitium occurs by the enhanced permeability and retention effect, which is also facilitated by the 60-kDa glycoprotein transcytosis pathway and binding to secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine located in the tumor extracellular matrix. In addition, specific ligands such as monoclonal antibodies, folic acid, transferrin, and peptides can be conjugated to the surface of albumin nanoparticles to actively target the drug to its site of action. The albumin-bound paclitaxel, Abraxane, is one of the several therapeutic nanocarriers that have been approved for clinical use. By the development of Abraxane that demonstrates a higher response rate and improved tolerability and therapeutic efficiency in comparison with solvent-based formulation, and with consideration of its commercial success, albumin is attracting the interest of many biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies. This chapter explores the current targeted and nontargeted albumin-based nanoparticles that are in various stages of development for the delivery of therapeutic agents in order to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment.