Ultrastructural characteristics of the accumulation of iron nanoparticles in the intestine of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) under aquaculture.

During the development of nanotechnology, the production of many substances containing nanoparticles leads to the release of various nanoparticles into the environment, including the water ecosystem. The main goal of the current research was to study the ultrastructural characteristics of the entry and bioaccumulation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the small intestine of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758), as well as the pathomorphological changes in the fish organism. Two different doses (10 and 100 mg) of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were fed to fingerlings for 7 days and then intestinal samples were taken and studied. It was found that the extent of damages was boosted within the increment of nanoparticle concentration. The sequence and bioaccumulation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the small intestine of fish occurred as below: firstly, the nanoparticles passed into microvilli located in the apical part of enterocytes in the mucosa layer, from there into the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells, including cytoplasmatic organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, lysosomes, fat granules), and then into a lamina propria of the mucosa of the small intestine and passed into the endothelium of the blood vessels and to the erythrocytes of the vessels which located in the lumen. It was determined that although the nanoparticles were up to 30 nm in size, only particles with a maximum size of 20 nm could penetrate the intestinal wall. Thus, the release of Fe3O4 nanoparticles into the environment in high doses has a negative effect on the living ecosystem, including the body of fish living in the water.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of Irradiated Grape Snails (Helix pomatia) and Investigation of Biophysical Parameters.

A study of grape snails (Helix pomatia) using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy method, where shells were exposed to ionizing gamma radiation, indicated that the effect of radiation up to certain doses results in the emergence of magnetic properties in the organism. The identification of the EPR spectra of the body and shell parts of the control and irradiated grape snails separately showed that more iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles are generated in the body part of the grape snail compared to the shells. A linear increase in free radical signals (g = 2.0023) in the body and shell parts of grape snails, and a non-monotonic change in the broad EPR signal (g = 2.32) characterizing iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles was determined depending on the dose of ionizing gamma radiation. Additionally, the obtained results showed that grape snails can be used as bioindicators for examining the ecological state of the environment. At the same time, the radionuclide composition of the body and shell parts of the grape snails and their specific activities were determined by CANBERRA gamma spectroscopy. The FTIR spectra of mucin, a liquid secreted by snails, were recorded.

The Investigation of the Chemical Composition and Applicability of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized with Amygdalus communis (Almond) Leaf Aqueous Extract as Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents.

The current work's main objective was to determine the chemical composition of Amygdalus communis (AC) leaf extract and examine the antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of biosynthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The chemical composition of AC leaf extract was determined using LC-ESI/MS/MS to detect compounds that may be responsible for the reducing, stabilizing, and capping steps in the synthesis of nanoparticles and their biological activities. The AC-AuNPs were spherical, with a particle size lower than 100 nm and a face-centered cubic structure. The EDX spectrum confirmed the formation of AuNPs and a negative zeta potential value (-27.7 mV) suggested their physicochemical stability. The in vitro cytotoxic efficacy of the AC-AuNPs against colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), glioma (U118), and ovarian (Skov-3) cancer cell lines and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) was evaluated by MTT assay. CaCo-2 cell proliferation was effectively inhibited by the AC-AuNPs at concentrations between 25 and 100 g mL-1. The AC-AuNPs exerted preeminent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis with an MIC of 0.02 µg/mL, whilst good activity was shown against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Candida albicans yeast with an MIC of 0.12 µg/mL. Ultimately, the results support the high antibacterial and anticancer potential of biosynthesized AuNPs from AC leaf extract.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Allium cepa L. Peel Extract, Their Antioxidant, Antipathogenic, and Anticholinesterase Activity.

The present work deals with the green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Allium cepa (yellowish peel) and the evaluation of its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticholinesterase activities. For the synthesis of AgNPs, peel aqueous extract (200 mL) was treated with a 40 mM AgNO3 solution (200 mL) at room temperature, and a color change was observed. In UV-Visible spectroscopy, an absorption peak formation at ~439 nm was the sign that AgNPs were present in the reaction solution. UV-vis, FE-SEM, TEM, EDX, AFM, XRD, TG/DT analyses, and Zetasizer techniques were used to characterize the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The crystal average size and zeta potential of AC-AgNPs with predominantly spherical shapes were measured as 19.47 ± 1.12 nm and -13.1 mV, respectively. Pathogenic microorganisms Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans were used for the Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) test. When compared to tested standard antibiotics, AC-AgNPs demonstrated good growth inhibitory activities on P. aeuruginosa, B. subtilis, and S. aureus strains. In vitro, the antioxidant properties of AC-AgNPs were measured using different spectrophotometric techniques. In the ß-Carotene linoleic acid lipid peroxidation assay, AC-AgNPs showed the strongest antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 116.9 µg/mL, followed by metal-chelating capacity and ABTS cation radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 120.4 µg/mL and 128.5 µg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory effects of produced AgNPs on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes were determined using spectrophotometric techniques. This study provides an eco-friendly, inexpensive, and easy method for the synthesis of AgNPs that can be used for biomedical activities and also has other possible industrial applications.

Migrasomes and exosomes; different types of messaging vesicles in podocytes.

Podocytes, highly specified kidney epithelial cells, live under several pathological stimuli and stresses during which they adapt themselves to keep homeostasis. Nevertheless, under extreme stress, a complex scenario of podocyte damage and its consequences occur. Podocyte damage causes foot process effacement and their detachment from the glomerular basement membrane, leading to proteinuria. Podocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs), mainly microparticles and exosomes are considered as signaling mediators of intercellular communication. Recently, it has been shown that throughout the injury-related migration procedure, podocytes are capable of releasing the injury-related migrasomes. Evidence indicates that at the early stages of glomerular disorders, increased levels of pEVs are observed in urine. At the early stage of nephropathy, pEVs especially migrasomes seem to be more sensitive and reliable indicators of podocyte stress and/or damage than proteinuria. This review highlights the current knowledge of pEVs and their values for the diagnosis of different kidney diseases.

The necessity to revise Koch's postulates and its application to infectious and non-infectious diseases: a mini-review.

Advances in the science have promoted all aspects of human's life; these, in turn, have changed many principles and scientific postulates. Koch's postulates, since the beginning of their implementation, have been one of the important subjects involving complications and misinterpretations regarding the causal relationship of microbe-hosts. These postulates have been shown not to be correct in some cases including the inability of some microbes to grow in the culture medium, viruses, or anaerobic bacteria. Today, due to some new scientific facts like the social behaviors of bacteria, such as quorum sensing, there are serious problems regarding the definition of whole microbial effects; these include microbiomes and viromes, as well as their interaction with the existing eukaryotics, the complicated relations between bacteria, L-forms, and cell wall-deficient bacteria, and the important role of microbes in the development of non-infectious diseases. So, the application of Koch's postulates to explain the causal relationships between host-microbes could be difficult. Therefore, nowadays, even the molecular Koch's postulates are not accountable. Also, according to the new scientific discoveries, various criteria such as changes in the immune system, pathology, and clinical findings, along with the results of daily laboratory tests, should be used to apply Koch's postulates in the etiologic studies. Otherwise, the possible etiologic relationships between the host-microbes cannot be verified due to numerous complications; certainly, the relationship between the doctor and the lab is ultimately weakened. Therefore, public health, prevention, and much of the antimicrobial treatments will also remain in a state of ambiguity.

Global trends of hand and wrist trauma: a systematic analysis of fracture and digit amputation using the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study.

BACKGROUND: As global rates of mortality decrease, rates of non-fatal injury have increased, particularly in low Socio-demographic Index (SDI) nations. We hypothesised this global pattern of non-fatal injury would be demonstrated in regard to bony hand and wrist trauma over the 27-year study period. METHODS: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 was used to estimate prevalence, age-standardised incidence and years lived with disability for hand trauma in 195 countries from 1990 to 2017. Individual injuries included hand and wrist fractures, thumb amputations and non-thumb digit amputations. RESULTS: The global incidence of hand trauma has only modestly decreased since 1990. In 2017, the age-standardised incidence of hand and wrist fractures was 179 per 100 000 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 146 to 217), whereas the less common injuries of thumb and non-thumb digit amputation were 24 (95% UI 17 to 34) and 56 (95% UI 43 to 74) per 100 000, respectively. Rates of injury vary greatly by region, and improvements have not been equally distributed. The highest burden of hand trauma is currently reported in high SDI countries. However, low-middle and middle SDI countries have increasing rates of hand trauma by as much at 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Certain regions are noted to have high rates of hand trauma over the study period. Low-middle and middle SDI countries, however, have demonstrated increasing rates of fracture and amputation over the last 27 years. This trend is concerning as access to quality and subspecialised surgical hand care is often limiting in these resource-limited regions.

Epidemiology of facial fractures: incidence, prevalence and years lived with disability estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study.

BACKGROUND: The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) has historically produced estimates of causes of injury such as falls but not the resulting types of injuries that occur. The objective of this study was to estimate the global incidence, prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) due to facial fractures and to estimate the leading injurious causes of facial fracture. METHODS: We obtained results from GBD 2017. First, the study estimated the incidence from each injury cause (eg, falls), and then the proportion of each cause that would result in facial fracture being the most disabling injury. Incidence, prevalence and YLDs of facial fractures are then calculated across causes. RESULTS: Globally, in 2017, there were 7 538 663 (95% uncertainty interval 6 116 489 to 9 493 113) new cases, 1 819 732 (1 609 419 to 2 091 618) prevalent cases, and 117 402 (73 266 to 169 689) YLDs due to facial fractures. In terms of age-standardised incidence, prevalence and YLDs, the global rates were 98 (80 to 123) per 100 000, 23 (20 to 27) per 100 000, and 2 (1 to 2) per 100 000, respectively. Facial fractures were most concentrated in Central Europe. Falls were the predominant cause in most regions. CONCLUSIONS: Facial fractures are predominantly caused by falls and occur worldwide. Healthcare systems and public health agencies should investigate methods of all injury prevention. It is important for healthcare systems in every part of the world to ensure access to treatment resources.

Anti-microbial activity of curcumin nanoformulations: New trends and future perspectives.

Curcumin has been used in numerous anti-microbial research because of its low side effects and extensive traditional applications. Despite having a wide range of effects, the intrinsic physicochemical characteristics such as low bioavailability, poor water solubility, photodegradation, chemical instability, short half-life and fast metabolism of curcumin derivatives limit their pharmaceutical importance. To overcome these drawbacks and improve the therapeutic ability of curcuminoids, novel approaches have been attempted recently. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems can increase the efficiency of curcumin in several diseases, especially infectious diseases. These innovative strategies include polymeric nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanoemulsion, nanocomposite, nanofibers, liposome, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), polymeric micelles, quantum dots, polymeric blend films and nanomaterial-based combination of curcumin with other anti-bacterial agents. Integration of curcumin in these delivery systems has displayed to improve their solubility, bioavailability, transmembrane permeability, prolong plasma half-life, long-term stability, target-specific delivery and upgraded the therapeutic effects. In this review paper, a range of in vitro and in vivo studies have been critically discussed to explore the therapeutic viability and pharmaceutical significance of the nano-formulated delivery systems to elevate the anti-bacterial activities of curcumin and its derivatives.

Effects of quercetin loaded nanostructured lipid carriers on the paraquat-induced toxicity in human lymphocytes.

Paraquat (PQ) as a herbicide and an environmental pollutant with increasing importance due to its toxicity to humans and animals. This study aimed to evaluate the protective and antioxidant activity of quercetin loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (QNLC) against toxicity induced by PQ. Blood lymphocytes were prepared using Ficoll polysaccharide and subsequently by gradient centrifugation. The QNLC was prepared using an ultra-sonication method, which was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lysosome membrane integrity, Bax and Bcl2 gene expression were evaluated in human isolated lymphocytes. The results showed spherical QNLCs with nano-size range (52.7 nm) and high drug encapsulation efficiency (98.5% -96%). The results also indicated that PQ induced cell death, as well as ROS production, decreased by QNLC in human lymphocytes. Also, QNLC meaningfully restored MMP reduction, lysosomal membrane destabilization, and lipid peroxidation and were capable of preventing PQ-treated change in Bax and Bcl2 gene expression. We report that QNLC, have a significantly higher capacity to prevent PQ-induced toxicity than Q itself. It is suggested that the QNLC is a promising antioxidant for drug delivery to be used as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for PQ poisoning.

pH- and thermo-sensitive MTX-loaded magnetic nanocomposites: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro studies on A549 lung cancer cell and MR imaging.

In the current study, we proposed a facile method for fabrication of multifunctional pH- and thermo-sensitive magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) as a theranostic agent for using in targeted drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To this end, we decorated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), best known for their pH- and thermo-sensitive properties, respectively. We also conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to polymer matrix acting as drug container to enhance the drug encapsulation efficacy. Methotroxate (MTX) as a model drug was successfully loaded in MNCs (M-MNCs) via surface adsorption onto MSNs and electrostatic interaction between drug and carrier. The pH- and temperature-triggered release of MTX was concluded through the evaluation of in vitro release at both physiological and simulated tumor tissue conditions. Based on in vitro cytotoxicity assay results, M-MNCs significantly revealed higher antitumor activity compared to free MTX. In vitro MR susceptibility experiment showed that M-MNCs relatively possessed high transverse relaxivity (r2) of about 0.15 mM-1·ms-1 and a linear relationship between the transverse relaxation rate (R2) and the Fe concentration in the M-MNCs was also demonstrated. Therefore, the designed MNCs can potentially become smart drug carrier, while they also can be promising MRI negative contrast agent.

Ultrastructural investigation of iron oxide nanoparticles accumulation in the liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758).

In recent years, the intensive production of nanoparticles with a wide application has led to their transfer to the environment, including the water ecosystem. The accumulation of nanoparticles in fish, causing various pathological changes in the host, raises certain concerns. In the current study, we investigated the penetration and bioaccumulation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, in the liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758). Common carp juveniles were exposed to Fe3O4 nanoparticles at concentrations of 10 and 100 mg. After 7 days, their livers were examined by light and transmission electron microscopes. Compared to normal fish's liver, after using a small concentration (10 mg) of nanoparticles, changes were observed in erythrocytes, hepatocytes, intracellular canaliculi, and bile ducts of the liver. At a high concentration (100 mg), the intensity of changes increased significantly. The liver's capsule was damaged, and a considerable number of hepatocytes were completely destroyed. Additionally, the walls of blood vessels and biliary ductule walls was notably disturbed. It was found that the intensity of pathologies occurring in the liver, increases proportionally with higher concentrations of nanoparticles. Confirmation via electron microscopic methods revealed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles, when administered with food to common carp, enter the fish's liver through erythrocytes localized in the lumen of blood vessels. From there, they traverse through the endothelium of vessels, proceed to hepatocytes, including cytoplasmic organelles, intracellular canaliculi, biliary ductules, and eventually reach the bile ducts. Fe3O4 nanoparticles in all structural elements of fish liver was up to 20 nm. Therefore, high concentrations of nanoparticles in the environment harms the bodies of aquatic organisms, including fish. The changes identified in the liver of common carp in the present study are valuable information in assessing possible risks to other components of the aquatic ecosystem and organisms.

Green-Synthesized Characterization, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Applications of CtAC/MNPs-Ag Nanocomposites.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance, caused by the improper use of antibiotics, is a significant challenge in combating infectious diseases, leading to millions of annual fatalities. The occurrence of antimicrobial side effects catalyzes the investigation of novel antimicrobial compounds and sources of drugs. Consequently, the research on biological activity that is conducted on plants, plant extracts, and compounds that are produced from plant components is of utmost significance. In this study, CtAC/MNPs were obtained by the reaction of activated carbon (AC) obtained from the fruits of the Celtis tournefortii (Ct) plant and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and a CtAC/MNPs-Ag nanocomposite was synthesized by the reduction in silver ions added to the reaction. The synthesized CtAC/MNPs and CtAC/MNPs-Ag nanocomposites were analyzed spectroscopically (FTIR, XRD), microscopically (SEM, EDX), optically (DLS), electrochemically (zeta potential) and magnetically (VSM). The antibacterial activities of CtAC/MNPs and CtAC/MNPs-Ag nanocomposites against S. aureus and E. coli were investigated by microdilution method using minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disk diffusion methods. Antioxidant activity study, including total phenolic content and DPPH and cuprac assays, revealed the remarkable effect of the CtAC/MNPs-Ag nanocomposite. This study has the advantages of obtaining CtAC/MNPs and CtAC/MNPs-Ag nanocomposites in a short time without requiring energy, and most importantly, the reaction takes place without using any toxic substances. In addition, according to the data obtained in the study, the CtAC/MNPs-Ag nanocomposite is thought to shed light on biomedical research.

Recent progresses in natural based therapeutic materials for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that causes increased memory loss, mood swings, behavioral disorders, and disruptions in daily activities. Polymer scaffolds for the brain have been grown under laboratory, physiological, and pathological circumstances because of the limitations of conventional treatments for patients with central nervous system diseases. The blood-brain barrier prevents medications from entering the brain, challenging AD treatment. Numerous biomaterials such as biomolecules, polymers, inorganic metals, and metal oxide nanoparticles have been used to transport therapeutic medicines into the nervous system. Incorporating biocompatible materials that support neurogenesis through a combination of topographical, pharmacological, and mechanical stimuli has also shown promise for the transfer of cells to replenish dopaminergic neurons. Components made of naturally occurring biodegradable polymers are appropriate for the regeneration of nerve tissue. The ability of natural-based materials (biomaterials) has been shown to promote endogenous cell development after implantation. Also, strategic functionalization of polymeric nanocarriers could be employed for treating AD. In particular, nanoparticles could resolve Aß aggregation and thus help cure Alzheimer's disease. Drug moieties can be effectively directed to the brain by utilizing nano-based systems and diverse colloidal carriers, including hydrogels and biodegradable scaffolds. Notably, early investigations employing neural stem cells have yielded promising results, further emphasizing the potential advancements in this field. Few studies have fully leveraged the combination of cells with cutting-edge biomaterials. This study provides a comprehensive overview of prior research, highlighting the pivotal role of biomaterials as sophisticated drug carriers. It delves into various intelligent drug delivery systems, encompassing pH and thermo-triggered mechanisms, polymeric and lipid carriers, inorganic nanoparticles, and other vectors. The discussion synthesizes existing knowledge and underscores the transformative impact of these biomaterials in devising innovative strategies, augmenting current therapeutic methodologies, and shaping new paradigms in the realm of Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Determination of chemical components of the endemic species Allium turcicum L. plant extract by LC-MS/MS and evaluation of medicinal potentials.

The Allium turcicum L. (Zuzubak) plant as a cultivated vegetable have various health benefits and consumed as a food. Due to the shortcoming evidence in literature and the importance of this plant in folk medicine, in the present study, for the first time, we evaluated the bioactive profile of components (using LC-MS/MS), cytotoxicity, anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial prospectives of Zuzubak methanol extract. Reported results show that the extract is rich in bioactive compounds and has anticancer activity with breast cancer cells (MCF-7), human prostate cancer cells (DU-145), and Human osteosarcoma cancer Cell lines of (IC50) in dose dependent manner in the concentration range of 31.25 µg/mL and 2000 µg/mL for 24 and 48 h. Western blotting results determined that the extract significantly suppressed the growth of U2OS, MCF-7, and DU-145 cancer cells by down expression of Ang-1 (angiogenic protein) and Beclin-1 (autophagy protein) and overexpression of Bax (a proapoptotic protein). The oxidative stress indices showed a reduction in RPE-1 and MCF-7 cells and an upsurge in U2OS and DU-145 cells. Additionally, the antimicrobial assay showed suppression of the growth of various pathogenic microorganisms in 4.00-8.00 µg/concentrations of Zuzubak extract using the microdilution method. The phytochemicals identified showed promising anticancer, antioxidant effects, and antimicrobial properties, representing a valuable herbal source for drug development studies.

Individual and combinative effect of NaCl and γ-radiation on NADPH-generating enzymes activity in corn (Zea mays L.) sprouts.

Being a universal reducing agent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) plays an important role in the cellular metabolism and the implementation of anti-stress reactions in plants. There are only a few enzymes that ensure the NADPH pool formation in cells. Among them, the most important are glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, EC 1.1.1.49), malate dehydrogenase decarboxylating (DMDH, malic enzyme, EC 1.1.1.40) and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-IDH, EC 1.1.1.42). The presented investigation is devoted to studying the influence of the individual and combinative effects of NaCl and γ-radiation as abiotic stress factors on biometric indicators and activity of these NADPH-generating enzymes, on organic content, and the formation of paramagnetic centers as defense reaction in corn (Zagatala-68 genotype) sprouts. It was found that 100 mM NaCl had an inhibitory effect on the development of sprouts. Relatively lower doses (50 Gy and 100 Gy) of γ-radiation had a positive, but its higher doses (150 Gy and 200 Gy) had a negative effect on this process. 500 Gy was a lethal dose (LD) for the corn sprouts. Combinative stress in all cases considerably delayed the development of sprouts. G6PDH showed the highest activity in the first, whereas, NADP-IDH showed the same activity in the last days of the experiment. All three enzymes, especially the G6PDH, have been activated in both root and stem tissues under the influence of stress factors (either radiation or salt). Combinative stress (γ-radiation + salt) also led to an induction of these activities which was necessary to neutralize the negative consequences of stress factors. Stress factors in all cases also had a negative effect on the content of organic matter in seedlings. Ionizing gamma radiation, which resulted in the formation of new paramagnetic centers as an anti-stress defense reaction in many cases was observed in wheat seedlings, but not in corn sprouts, which clearly shows that there are some differences in the protective mechanisms of these C3- and C4-types of plants to γ-radiation.

Natural and synthetic nanovectors for cancer therapy.

Nanomaterials have been extensively studied in cancer therapy as vectors that may improve drug delivery. Such vectors not only bring numerous advantages such as stability, biocompatibility, and cellular uptake but have also been shown to overcome some cancer-related resistances. Nanocarrier can deliver the drug more precisely to the specific organ while improving its pharmacokinetics, thereby avoiding secondary adverse effects on the not target tissue. Between these nanovectors, diverse material types can be discerned, such as liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanostructures, nanoparticles, nanowires, etc., each of which offers different opportunities for cancer therapy. In this review, a broad spectrum of nanovectors is analyzed for application in multimodal cancer therapy and diagnostics in terms of mode of action and pharmacokinetics. Advantages and inconveniences of promising nanovectors, including gold nanostructures, SPIONs, semiconducting quantum dots, various nanostructures, phospholipid-based liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, extracellular and exome vesicles are summarized. The article is concluded with a future outlook on this promising field.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated Diospyros kaki L. (Persimmon): determination of chemical composition and evaluation of their antimicrobials and anticancer activities.

The eco-friendly synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) using biological materials is an encouraging and innovativeness approach to nanotechnology. Among other synthesizing methods, biological methods are chosen because of their high efficiency and purity in many aspects. In this work, using the aqueous extract obtained from the green leaves of the D. kaki L. (DK); silver nanoparticles were synthesized in a short time and simply with an eco-friendly approach. The properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized using various techniques and measurements. In the characterization data of AgNPs, Maximum absorbance at 453.34 nm wavelengths, the average size distribution of 27.12 nm, the surface charge of -22.4 mV, and spherical appearance were observed. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis was used to assess the compound composition of D. kaki leaf extract. The chemical profiling of the crude extract of D. kaki leaves revealed the presence of a variety of phytochemicals, predominantly phenolics, resulting in the identification of five major high-feature compounds: two major phenolic acids (Chlorogenic acid and Cynarin), and tree flavonol glucosides (hyperoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, and quercetin-3- D-xyloside). The components with the highest concentrations were cynarin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin-3- D-xyloside, hyperoside, and quercetin-3-glucoside, respectively. Antimicrobial results were determined by a MIC assay. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against the human and food pathogen Gram (+ and -) bacteria and good antifungal activity against pathogenic yeast. It was determined that 0.03-0.050 µg/mL concentrations ranges of DK-AgNPs were growth suppressive concentrations on all pathogen microorganisms. The MTT technique was used to study the cytotoxic effects of produced AgNPs on cancer cell lines (Glioblastoma (U118), Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), Human Ovarian Sarcoma (Skov-3) cancer cell lines, and Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDF) healthy cell line). It has been observed that they have a suppressive effect on the proliferation of cancerous cell lines. After 48 h of treatment with Ag-NPs, the DK-AgNPs were found to be extremely cytotoxic to the CaCo-2 cell line, inhibiting cell viability by up to 59.49% at a concentration of 50 g mL-1. It was found that the viability was inversely related to the DK-AgNP concentration. The biosynthesized AgNPs had dose-dependent anticancer efficacy. Because of the high concentration of bioactive chemicals in Diospyros kaki, it may be employed as a biological resource in medicinal applications. DK-AgNPs were shown to be an effective antibacterial agent as well as a prospective anticancer agent. The results provide a potential approach for the biogenic production of DK-AgNPs utilizing D. kaki aqueous leaf extract.

A mechanistic review of pharmacological activities of homeopathic medicine licorice against neural diseases.

The use of medicinal plants has grown in popularity in recent decades because, as natural ingredients, they have fewer adverse effects and are more effective than synthetic alternatives. As a small perennial herb, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Licorice) has been investigated for its therapeutic efficacy against neural disorders mainly ischemic stroke as well as the neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease which has been attributed to its HMGB inhibitory function, reactive oxygen scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of current review is to review the evidence for the pharmacological effects of licorice and its vital active components on neurological disorders and the underlying signaling networks. We reviewed Papers published from 2000.1.1 up to 2 January 2023 in web of science, Google Scholar and PubMed data bases using key words including "Licorice," "Glycyrrhiza glabra L.," "Glycyrrhizic acid," "brain," "neurodegenerative disease," "Alzheimer's," and "Parkinson" were used to search in title/abstracts. Licorice extract and/or its active components can be used safely in therapeutic doses for optimizing the management of a multiple neurodegenerative disorders, and hampering the extent of neural tissue injury and neurologic deficits subsequent to cerebrovascular accidents.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles based on the Raphanus sativus leaf aqueous extract and their toxicological/microbiological activities.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have several uses. Many scientists are working on producing AgNPs from plant extracts for use as biomedicines against drug-resistant bacteria and malignant cell lines. In the current study, plant-based AgNPs were synthesized using Raphanus sativus L. (RS) leaf aqua extract. Different concentrations of AgNO3 were used to optimize the synthesis process of RS-AgNPs from the aqueous leaf extract. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to analyze the generated materials. Furthermore, to evaluate the biological properties of the obtained materials, Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) pathogen strains were used for the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Subsequently, healthy cell lines (human dermal fibroblast (HDF)) and cancerous cell lines (glioma/U118, Ovarian/Skov-3, and colorectal adenocarcinoma/CaCo-2) were engaged to determine the cytotoxic effects of the synthesized NPs. The cytotoxic and anti-pathogenic potential of AgNPs synthesized by the proposed green approach was investigated. The results were encouraging compared to the standards and other controls. Plant-based AgNPs were found to be potential therapeutic agents against the human colon cancer cell (CaCo-2) and showed strong inhibitory activity on Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus growth. The RS-AgNPs generated have highly effective antimicrobial properties against pathogenic bacteria. Our findings also show that green RS-AgNPs are more cytotoxic against cancerous cell lines than normal cell lines. Synthesized nanoparticles with desirable morphology and ease of preparation are thought to be promising materials for antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and catalytic applications.