Anticancer effect and laser photostability of ternary graphene oxide/chitosan/silver nanocomposites on various cancer cell lines.

Aims: The development of nanocomposites (NCs) of antitumor activity provides a new paradigm for fighting cancer. Here, a novel NC of green synthetic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan (Cs) NPs was developed. Materials & methods: The prepared GO/Cs/Ag NCs were analyzed using various techniques. Cytotoxicity of the NCs was evaluated against different cancer cell lines by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Results: GO/Cs/Ag NCs are novel and highly stable. UV-Vis showed two peaks at 227 and 469 nm, indicating the decoration of AgNPs on the surface of GO/Cs NPs. All tested cell lines were affected by GO/Cs NPs and GO/Cs/Ag NCs. Conclusion: The results indicate that GO/Cs/Ag NCs were present on tested cell lines and are a promising candidate for cancer therapy.

Nose-to-brain delivery of 18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid using optimized lipid nanocapsules: A novel alternative treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most relevant form of dementia affecting people worldwide. AD was reported to be associated with increased oxidative stress ending up with neuronal damage. 18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), triterpenoid aglycone of glycyrrhizin, was reported for its powerful antioxidant activities. However, its high molecular weight and lipophilicity are two major obstacles that limit its use and cause very low brain bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to formulate the GA in lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) for enhanced nose-to-brain delivery, as well as to elucidate its potential neuroprotective effect in AD. The optimized GA-loaded LNCs exhibited nanometric size range, good stability over 6 months, sustained drug release over 24 h and high steady state flux and permeability coefficient across nasal mucosa over 8 h. In-vivo studies were conducted on five groups; control, scopolamine (SCOP)-treated, SCOP + GA-LNCs, SCOP + oral GA suspension, and SCOP + intranasal GA suspension groups. Intranasal administration of GA-LNCs, at a reduced dose of 1 mg/kg, improved scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats evidenced by behavioral testing, histological examination, and oxidative stress markers; catalase and superoxide dismutase. Collectively, GA-loaded LNCs (with 50 times lower dose) may provide a promising remedy for AD patients worldwide.

Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Nano-Formulation on Growth, Antioxidant Potential, Fillet Quality, Immunity, Autophagy-Related Genes and Aeromonas hydrophila Resistance in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

In modern aquaculture, enriching Nile tilapia's diet with omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) not only plays an important role in its general health but also fortifies its fillet with omega-3-PUFAs. However, the major challenge affecting their delivery is their high instability due to oxidative deterioration. Thus, the prospective incorporation of omega-3-PUFAs into nanocarriers can enhance their stability and bioactivity. In this regard, the effect of reformulated omega-3-NPs was investigated on Nile tilapia's performance, flesh antioxidant stability, immunity, and disease resistance. Four fish groups supplemented with omega-3-PUFAs-loaded nanoparticles (omega-3 NPs) at levels of 0, 1, 2, and 3 g/kg diet and at the end of feeding trial fish challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish performance (weight gain and feed conversion) was improved in groups supplemented with omega-3-NPs (2 and 3 g/kg diet). The deposition of omega-3-PUFAs in fish flesh elevated with increasing dietary omega-3-NPs. Simultaneously the oxidative markers (H2O2, MDA, and reactive oxygen species) in fish flesh were reduced, especially with higher omega-3-NPs. Post-challenge, downregulation of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and caspase-1 were noticed after dietary supplementation of omega-3-NPs. Moreover, mRNA expression of autophagy-related genes was upregulated while the mTOR gene was downregulated with higher omega-3 NPs levels. Lower expression of A. hydrophila ahyI and ahyR genes were detected with omega-3 NPs supplementation. In conclusion, omega-3-NPs application can fortify tilapia flesh with omega-3-PUFAs and augment its performance, immunity, and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila.

Crystal Growth of Cubic and Hexagonal GaN Bulk Alloys and Their Thermal-Vacuum-Evaporated Nano-Thin Films.

In this study, we investigate a novel simple methodology to synthesize gallium nitride nanoparticles (GaN) that could be used as an active layer in light-emitting diode (LED) devices by combining the crystal growth technique with thermal vacuum evaporation. The characterizations of structural and optical properties are carried out with different techniques to investigate the main featured properties of GaN bulk alloys and their thin films. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) delivered images in bulk structures that show micro rods with an average diameter of 0.98 µm, while their thin films show regular microspheres with diameter ranging from 0.13 µm to 0.22 µm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the bulk crystals reveals a combination of 20% hexagonal and 80% cubic structure, and in thin films, it shows the orientation of the hexagonal phase. For HRTEM, these microspheres are composed of nanoparticles of GaN with diameter of 8-10 nm. For the optical behavior, a band gap of about from 2.33 to 3.1 eV is observed in both cases as alloy and thin film, respectively. This article highlights the fabrication of the major cubic structure of GaN bulk alloy with its thin films of high electron lifetime.