Recent Advances in Synergistic Effect of Nanoparticles and Its Biomedical Application.

The synergistic impact of nanomaterials is critical for novel intracellular and/or subcellular drug delivery systems of minimal toxicity. This synergism results in a fundamental bio/nano interface interaction, which is discussed in terms of nanoparticle translocation, outer wrapping, embedding, and interior cellular attachment. The morphology, size, surface area, ligand chemistry and charge of nanoparticles all play a role in translocation. In this review, we suggest a generalized mechanism to characterize the bio/nano interface, as we discuss the synergistic interaction between nanoparticles and cells, tissues, and other biological systems. Novel perceptions are reviewed regarding the ability of nanoparticles to improve hybrid nanocarriers with homogeneous structures to enhance multifunctional biomedical applications, such as bioimaging, tissue engineering, immunotherapy, and phototherapy.

Theranostic efficiency of biosurfactants against COVID-19 and similar viruses - A review.

The world has witnessed an extreme vulnerability of a pandemic during 2020; originated from China. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is infecting and beginning deaths in thousands to millions, creating of the global economic crisis. Biosurfactants (BSs) can carry the prevention, control and management of pandemic out through diverse approaches, such as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, hygienic and environmental. The microbiotas having virulent intrinsic properties towards starting as easily as spreading of diseases (huge morbidity and mortality) could be inhibited via BSs. Such elements could be recognised for their antimicrobial activity, capability to interact with the immune system via micelles formation and in nanoparticulate synthesis. However, they can be used for developing novel and more effective therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, non-toxic formulations, vaccines, and effective cleaning agents. Such approaches can be utilized for product development and implemented for managing and combating the pandemic conditions. This review emphasized on the potentiality of BSs as key components with several ways for protecting against unknown and known pathogens, including COVID-19.

Strategies for the Development of Metallic-Nanoparticle-Based Label-Free Biosensors and Their Biomedical Applications.

Label-free biosensors offer accurate sensing capabilities due to the reliable quantification of biological and biochemical processes. These devices function by establishing a dynamic interaction of analyte and receptor molecules and convert this interaction into a measurable signal through a transducer. In recent decades, label-free biosensors have attracted attention in biomedical applications due to the ease of linking nanomaterials with bioreceptor molecules. In this review, recent advances in sensitivity, specificity, and sensing mechanism related to label-free biosensors of metallic nanoparticles of gold, silver, aluminium, copper, and zinc oxide are presented. Selected sensing methods based on fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, metal-enhanced fluorescence, and electrochemical sensors are discussed. New measurement techniques and rapid progress of label-free biosensors are going to play a vital role in the real-time detection of biomarkers in clinical samples, such as blood plasma, serum, and urine, as well as in targeted drug delivery. Future trends of these label-free biosensing mechanisms and their development are also discussed.

Mechanophysical Cues in Extracellular Matrix Regulation of Cell Behavior.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a macromolecular network that can provide biochemical and structural support for cell adhesion and formation. It regulates cell behavior by influencing biochemical and physical cues. It is a dynamic structure whose components are modified, degraded, or deposited during connective tissue development, giving tissues strength and structural integrity. The physical properties of the natural ECM environment control the design of naturally or synthetically derived biomaterials to guide cell function in tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is an important field that explores physical cues of the ECM to produce new viable tissue for medical applications, such as in organ transplant and organ recovery. Understanding how the ECM exerts physical effects on cell behavior, when cells are seeded in synthetic ECM scaffolds, is of utmost importance. Herein we review recent findings in this area that report on cell behaviors in a variety of ECMs with different physical properties, i.e., topology, geometry, dimensionality, stiffness, and tension.

Designed growth of porous 2D Nb2O5 with Ag nano-particles for differential detection of UV-A and UV-C.

We demonstrate the differential detection of UV-A (ultra-violet 320-400 nm region) and UV-C (100-280 nm) using porous two-dimensional (2D) Nb2O5 and additional Ag nano-particle decoration. The 2D Nb2O5, which has band-absorption edge near the UV-A zone, was synthesized by thermodynamic conversion of 2D material NbSe2 (Nb2O5 has lower Gibbs formation energy than NbSe2). For the differential detection (to distinguish with UV-C absorption), we decorated the Ag nano-particles on the Nb2O5 surface. By coating Ag nano-particles, we can expect (i) a decrease in the area of light absorption by the Ag-coated area, and (ii) an increase of surface plasmon absorption by Ag nano-particles, especially the UV-A region, resulting in strong intensity ratio change UV-A/UV-C.

Recyclable Photo-Thermal Nano-Aggregates of Magnetic Nanoparticle Conjugated Gold Nanorods for Effective Pathogenic Bacteria Lysis.

We describe the nucleophilic hybridization technique for fabricating magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) around gold nanorod (AuNR) for desired photo-thermal lysis on pathogenic bacteria. From the electromagnetic energy conversion into heat to the surrounding medium, a significant and quicker temperature rise was noted after light absorption on nanohybrids, at a controlled laser light output and optimum nanoparticle concentration. We observed a similar photo-thermal pattern for more than three times for the same material up on repeated magnetic separation. Regardless of the cell wall nature, superior pathogenic cell lysis has been observed for the bacteria suspensions of individual and mixed samples of Salmonella typhi (S.typhi) and Bacillus subtilis (B.subtilis) by the photo-heated nanoparticles. The synthesis of short gold nanorod, conjugation with magnetic nanoparticle and its subsequent laser exposure provides a rapid and reiterated photo-thermal effect with enhanced magnetic separation for efficient bactericidal application in water samples. Resultant novel properties of the nano-aggregates makes them a candidate to be used for a rapid, effective, and re-iterated photo-thermal agent against a wide variety of pathogens to attain microbe free water.

Graphene Oxide Based Fluorometric Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide in Milk.

We report a highly rapid, visual, precise, selective and sensitive analytical method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in milk using Graphene oxide (GO) with 2',7'-dichlorfluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). A 1000 µL aliquots of 10-fold diluted samples (high and low-fat milk) directly onto the 100 µL of GO and 100 µL of 100 µM DCFH-DA produced green colour under Ultraviolet light at 365 nm. The analytical feature of our proposed method includes low detection limit (10 mmol mL⁻¹) and satisfactory recovery values for samples. The presence of H202 in milk is a major concern because it constitutes a public health hazard. Many milk indursties are using H2O2 as a preservative, but if the concentration increases then it causes so many health problems such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer and diabetes. Present methods show an easy way for detecting H2O2 generally require considerable time and laboratory facilities. The chemical tests have sufficient sensitivity to detect wide linear range of H2O2 concentration.

Synergistic Effect of SiO2 and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles in Autophagy Modulation.

Rapid advancements in nanotechnology have expanded its applications and synergistic impact on modern nanosystems. The comprehensive assessment of nanomaterials' safety for human exposure has become crucial and heightened. In addition to the characterization of cell proliferation and apoptosis, probing the implication of autophagy is vital for understanding the ramification of nanomaterials. Hence, HEK-293 kidney cells were employed to understand the changes in induction and perturbation of autophagy in cells by iron oxide (Fe3O4) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles. Interestingly, Fe3O4 worked as a potent modulator of the autophagy process through its catalytic performance, which can develop better than that of SiO2 nanoparticles mechanism, stressing their therapeutic implication in the understanding of cell behaviors. The quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured along with the process of autophagy during cell growth. This modulated autophagy will help in cell fate determination in complementary therapy for disease treatment, provide a clinical strategy for future study.

Gold Nanorod Density-Dependent Label-Free Bacteria Sensing on a Flake-like 3D Graphene-Based Device by SERS.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an effective technique for biosensing, enabling label-free detection of biomolecules with enhanced sensitivity. There is a tremendous probability of signal failure in Raman frequencies because of the scattering of the Raman radiation in liquids, effective SERS improvement is required to reduce this issue when considering liquid specimens. We examined a liquid bacterial sample, investigating the electrostatic interactions of the bacterial samples with gold nanorods (AuNRs) and graphene. We established a voltage-gated 3D graphene functionalized with an AuNR-based device on the silicon substrate for SERS measurements when the applied voltage ranges from 0 to 3 V. Moreover, AuNRs density-susceptible bacterial sample analysis with varied concentrations of bacterial samples has also been described. Using bacterial SERS analysis, the bacterial components amide II (1555-1565 cm-1) and amide III (1250-1350 cm-1) have been discovered for both bacteria, Gram-positive, Listeria monocytogenes and Gram-negative, Salmonella typhi. Our fabricated device affords an interesting label-free, rapid, and reproducible bacterial sample analysis based on the density of the AuNRs when functionalizing flake-like 3D graphene, which can help facilitate label-free bacteria sensing platforms.

Fabrication of tunable silica-mineralized nanotubes using flagella as bio-templates.

Bacterial flagella are particularly attractive bio-templates for nanotubes due to their tubular structures and small inner and outer diameters. In this work, flagella isolated from Salmonella typhimurium were used as templates for silica-mineralized nanotubes. The process involved pretreatment of flagella with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), followed by the addition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). By controlling the concentration of TEOS and the reaction time, we developed a simple and precise method for creating silica-mineralized flagella nanotubes (SMFNs) with various thicknesses of the silica layer. It is demonstrated that flagella can be utilized for the fabrication of SMFNs with tunable thickness. A thicker silica layer was obtained as the concentration ratio of TEOS and reaction time was increased. The present experimental evidence has shown the feasibility of using such fabrication techniques to manufacture nanotubes without genetic modification of flagella which retain the original morphology.

Recent Insights into NIR-Light-Responsive Materials for Photothermal Cell Treatments.

Controlling cells using photo-responsive materials is highly indispensable in the current biomedical sector. Considering the potential side effects of nanoparticles, it has become a challenge to control cells with photo-responsive materials. Recent studies have described several methods for controlling cell behavior using nanoparticles subjected to the near-infrared (NIR) laser light operating at the wavelength of 808 nm to 980 nm and at the power densities of 0.33 to 0.72 W·cm-2. The challenge here is the preparation of biocompatible nanoparticles for both in vivo and in vitro studies and understanding cell behavior with an external light source recommended for biological application. Earlier studies have well documented many approaches and associated mechanisms for controlling cell behavior and the interaction between nanoparticles, cells, and appropriate external light sources. In this review, various nanomaterials such as metal nanomaterials and carbon-based nanomaterials are compared systematically regarding the effects of controlling cell behavior and inflammation by studying their mechanisms, route of administration, dose, and adverse effects such as toxicity and the interaction of nanoparticles with a specific wavelength of the light. Future directions should focus on stable and efficient light-responsive materials with minimal cytotoxicity.

Success of nano-vaccines against COVID-19: a transformation in nanomedicine.

INTRODUCTION: The vaccines being used against COVID-19 are composed of either non-viral or viral nanoparticles (NPs). Nanotechnology-based vaccine technology was studied for its potentially transformative advancement of medicine. AREAS COVERED: NPs protect the encapsulated mRNA in vaccines, thereby enhancing the stability of the ribonucleic acids and facilitating their intact delivery to their specific targets. Compared to liposomes, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are unique and, through their rigid morphology and better cellular penetrability, render enhanced cargo stability. To explore nanotechnology-mediated vaccine delivery and its potential in future pandemics, we assessed articles from various databases, such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, including editorial/research notes, expert opinions, and collections of data from several clinical research trials. In the current review, we focus on the nanoparticulate approach of the different SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and explore their success against the pandemic. EXPERT OPINION: The mRNA-based vaccines, with their tremendous efficacy of ~95% (under phase III-IV clinical trials) and distinct nanocarriers (LNPs), represent a new medical front alongside DNA and siRNA-based vaccines.

Corrigendum to: GSK-3 Inhibitors in the Regulation and Control of Colon Carcinoma.

The author requested to add a co-author after the publication of the original article [1]. In this correction, the author has been added in the article entitled "GSK-3 Inhibitors in the Regulation and Control of Colon Carcinoma" in the journal "Current Drug Targets" 2021; 22(13), 1485-1495. Details of the error and a correction are provided here. The original editorial can be found online at 10.2174/1389450122666210204203950 We regret any errors and apologize to the readers. Original: Sitansu S. Nanda1, Md Imran Hossain1, Heongkyu Ju2 and Dong Kee Yi1,* 1Department of Chemistry, Myongji University, Yongin, 03674, South Korea; 2Department of Physics, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Corrected: Sitansu S. Nanda1, Md Imran Hossain1, Heongkyu Ju2, Georgia C. Papaefthymiou3 and Dong Kee Yi1,* 1Department of Chemistry, Myongji University, Yongin, 03674, South Korea; 2Department of Physics, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 3Department of Physics, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania19085, USA.

Impact of Indazole Scaffold as Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent.

Heterocycles consisting of a nitrogen atom, Indazole, is a pungent, biological, heterocyclic, bicyclic compound possessing electron-rich portions. Indazole is composed of two nitrogen atoms put under the azoles family, further called isoindazolone. It is colorless solid nitrogen- containing heterocyclics with atomic formula-C7H6N2 are extraordinary scaffolds, still identified as isoindazole. Therefore, analogs of Indazole have experienced expert approaches in later times because of its special biological properties, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti- HIV and antihypertensive actions. 1H-indazole and 2H-indazole are two toutomeric forms of Indazole. Sometimes, indazole produces three tautomeric forms that are 1H, 2H and 3H tautomers of indazole. 1H-indazole is reliable than 2H-indazole. We should note that a series of derivatives of indazole having 2H toutomers follow hybridization of cyclic systems and act as anti-inflammatory as well as anti-microbial compounds. It formed Indazole itself and derivatives of Indazole in natural products. A sequence of N-methyl-3-aryl inazoles has dominant against bacterial strains like xanthomon as campstris, Baillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium and a fungal strain candida albicans found by in-vitro anti-microbial study of indazole derivatives.

Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of coronavirus disease: a review.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019 and subsequently, declared a pandemic. As of 3 June 2021, 172,493,290 individuals have acquired COVID-19 and 3,708,334 patients have died worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. AREAS COVERED: This review explores epidemiology; virology; pathogenesis; genomic variations; mode of transmission; clinical occurrence; diagnosis; and treatment with antiviral agents, antibiotics, and supportive therapies. It covers a nanotechnology-based treatment approach and emphasizes the importance of herbal and marine antiviral drugs. The review attempts to explain current advances in research, prevention, and control of COVID-19 spread through artificial intelligence and vaccine development status under cosmopolitan consideration. EXPERT OPINION: While COVID-19 research is advancing at full capacity, the discovery of drugs or vaccines that can fight the pandemic is necessary. Human survival in such a critical situation will be possible only with the development of strong immunity by opting for exercise, yoga, and consumption of hygienic food and beverages. Therefore, education about COVID-19 lethality and its impact on livelihood is important. The pandemic has also shown positive effects on the environment, such as a significant reduction in environmental pollution and global warming and improvement in river water quality.

Fibres and films made from DNA and CTMA-modified DNA embedded with gold nanorods and organic light-emitting materials.

The scaffolding of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) makes DNA molecules effective templates for hosting various types of nanomaterials. Recently, electrospun fibres formed by a variety of polymers have begun to see use in a number of applications, such as filtration in energy applications, insulation in thermodynamics and protein scaffolding in biomedicine. In this study, we constructed electrospun fibres and thin films made of DNA and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMA)-modified DNA (CDNA) embedded with dyes, organic light-emitting materials (OLEMs), and gold nanorods (GNRs). These materials provide significant advantages, including selectivity of dimensionality, solubility in organic and inorganic solvents, and functionality enhancement. In addition, coaxial fibres made of CDNA were constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing relatively complex fibres with an electrospinner. To determine the basic physical characteristics of the fibres and thin films containing GNRs and OLEMs, we conducted current measurements, photoluminescence (PL) measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The currents in DNA and CDNA were found to exhibit Ohmic behaviour, while the PL emission could be controlled by OLEMs. In addition, the XPS provided the chemical configuration of samples, and the UV-Vis spectra revealed the plasmon resonance of GNR. Due to their simple fabrication and enhanced functionality, these DNA and CDNA fibres and thin films could be used in various devices (e.g., filters or blocking layers) and sensors (e.g., gas detectors and bio sensors) in a number of industries.

Nanohybridization of silica-coated Au nanorods and silica nanoballs.

We report on the successful surface passivation of various aspect ratios, in the range of 1.5-12, Au-nanorods by silica. A coating layer thickness in the range of 2 nm-50 nm was achieved. The silica-coated Au rods were further used to fabricate wettable, low dimensional nanohybrids, composed of silica-coated Au rods with silica nanoballs adsorbed on their surface. The optical, chemical, and morphological properties of the nanohybrids were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, and zeta-potential analysis.

Surface morphology changes of graphene on flexible PET substrate upon thermal annealing.

The performance of a polymer photovoltaic device using multilayered graphene on an amorphous PET substrate as the electrode was studied. The changes in surface morphology of graphene coated polyethylene terephthalate (PETG) substrate upon thermal annealing were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and current-voltage characteristics. The root mean square (RMS) roughness of PETG substrate before annealing was 36.5 nm that decreased to 11.5 nm after 10 min thermal annealing at 110 degrees C. The mean grain size of the substrate decreased from 2301 nm2 to 848 nm2. The PETG surface became smooth when thermally annealed as the voids created by the bubbles in the graphene layer were filled up with thermal expansion of the PET substrate. However, cracks present initially on the graphene due to surface stress between the graphene and PET layer grew further upon annealing that deteriorated the device performance. This study on the graphene surface morphology change upon annealing and the consequent drop in device performance vis-à-vis an ITO glass electrode shows potential drawback of solar cell device fabrication on such flexible substrates.

Vertical pillar-superlattice array and graphene hybrid light emitting diodes.

We report a type of device that combines vertical arrays of one-dimensional (1D) pillar-superlattice (PSL) structures with 2D graphene sheets to yield a class of light emitting diode (LED) with interesting mechanical, optical, and electrical characteristics. In this application, graphene sheets coated with very thin metal layers exhibit good mechanical and electrical properties and an ability to mount, in a freely suspended configuration, on the PSL arrays as a top window electrode. Optical characterization demonstrates that graphene exhibits excellent optical transparency even after deposition of the thin metal films. Thermal annealing of the graphene/metal (Gr/M) contact to the GaAs decreases the contact resistance, to provide enhanced carrier injection. The resulting PSL-Gr/M LEDs exhibit bright light emission over large areas. The result suggests the utility of graphene-based materials as electrodes in devices with unusual, nonplanar 3D architectures.

GSK-3 Inhibitors in the Regulation and Control of Colon Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Glycogen syntheis kinase (GSK-3) inhibitors are novel therapeutic agents for treating various types of cancer, such as breast, lung, and gastric cancer. No pathological changes have been found by the morphological examination of GSK-3. OBJECTIVES: This review describes recent procedures using GSK-3 inhibitors, primarily in treating colon carcinoma. Furthermore, it also explains the mechanism of action of different GSK-3 inhibitors in treating various types of cancers and proposes some additional mechanisms may be useful for further research on GSK-3 inhibitors for cancers, including colon carcinoma. RESULTS: The majority of the cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions are stimulated by the transformation of membrane-bound arachidonic acid (AA) to eicosanoids, a transformation that promotes for the viability, proliferation, and spread of cancer. GSK-3 inhibitors can reinstate hostility to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) responsiveness in gastric adenocarcinoma cells. GSK-3, the final enzyme in glycogen synthesis, is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates varied sequences that are more than a hundred in number, within proteins in an array of heterogeneous pathways. It is an essential module of an exceptionally large number of cellular processes, playing a fundamental role in many metabolic processes and diseases. Many patients diagnosed with colon cancer achieve long-term remission with outstanding survival through the GSK-3 inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Prior to the extensive application of these proposed mechanisms of GSK-3 inhibitor, further evaluation and clinical studies are needed. Only after the completion of appropriate clinical studies and morphological examinations, would extensive application be apprpriate.