Comparative Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Chemical Reduction Procedures, AFM and DLS Size Analysis.

The size of silver nanoparticles plays a crucial role in their ultimate application in the medical and industrial fields, as their efficacy is enhanced by decreasing dimensions. This study presents two chemical synthesis procedures for obtaining silver particles and compares the results to a commercially available Ag-based product. The first procedure involves laboratory-based chemical reduction using D-glucose (C6H12O6) and NaOH as reducing agents, while the second approach utilizes trisodium citrate dehydrate (C6H5Na3O7·2H2O, TSC). The Ag nanoparticle suspensions were examined using FT-IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, which indicated the formation of Ag particles. The dimensional properties were investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and confirmed by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The results showed particle size from microparticles to nanoparticles, with a particle size of approximately 60 nm observed for the laboratory-based TSC synthesis approach.

Goat milk proteins enriched with Agaricus blazei Murrill ss. Heinem extracts: Electrophoretic, FTIR, DLS and microstructure characterization.

This study aimed to characterize mixtures of goat milk proteins and Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) extracts (aqueous, AE and polysaccharides, PE). The mixtures showed stable particles with ζ-potential more negative than -41.1 mV. The addition of AMB extracts to goat milk did not result in a significant particle size change, whereas their addition to heated goat milk significantly increased mean particle diameter (from 194 nm to 225 nm). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that ABM extracts provoked changes in the secondary structure of goat milk proteins and interactions between polysaccharides and milk proteins predominantly via hydrogen and/or glycoside bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The milk protein profiles revealed proteolytic activity in mixtures with AE resulting in the formation of five new polypeptides. The different microstructures of mixtures with AE and PE were found by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). A schematic representation of possible milk proteins-ABM extracts interactions has been given.

Water-Soluble Pristine C60 Fullerene Inhibits Liver Alterations Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rat.

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species is the main cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression. Water-soluble pristine C60 fullerene is a powerful and non-toxic antioxidant, therefore, its effect under rat HCC model and its possible mechanisms were aimed to be discovered. Studies on HepG2 cells (human HCC) demonstrated C60 fullerene ability to inhibit cell growth (IC50 = 108.2 µmol), to induce apoptosis, to downregulate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, to upregulate vimentin and p53 expression and to alter HepG2 redox state. If applied to animals experienced HCC in dose of 0.25 mg/kg per day starting at liver cirrhosis stage, C60 fullerene improved post-treatment survival similar to reference 5-fluorouracil (31 and 30 compared to 17 weeks) and inhibited metastasis unlike the latter. Furthermore, C60 fullerene substantially attenuated liver injury and fibrosis, decreased liver enzymes, and normalized bilirubin and redox markers (elevated by 1.7-7.7 times under HCC). Thus, C60 fullerene ability to inhibit HepG2 cell growth and HCC development and metastasis and to improve animal survival was concluded. C60 fullerene cytostatic action might be realized through apoptosis induction and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase downregulation in addition to its antioxidant activity.