Investigating preparation and characterisation of diphtheria toxoid-loaded on sodium alginate nanoparticles.

This paper aims to investigate the preparation and characterisation of the alginate nanoparticles (NPs) as antigen delivery system loaded by diphtheria toxoid (DT). For this purpose, both the loading capacity (LC) and Loading efficiency (LE) of the alginate NPs burdened by DT are evaluated. Moreover, the effects of different concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride on the NPs physicochemical characteristics are surveyed in addition to other physical conditions such as homogenization time and rate. To do so, the NPs are characterised using particle size and distribution, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release study and FT-IR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the effects of homogenization time and rate on the NPs are assessed. At the meantime, the NPs LC and efficiency in several DT concentrations are estimated. The average size of the NPs was 400.7 and 276.6 nm for unloaded and DT loaded, respectively. According to the obtained results, the zeta potential of the blank and DT loaded NPs are estimated as -23.7 mV and -21.2 mV, respectively. Whereas, the LC and LE were >80% and >90%, in that order. Furthermore, 95% of the releasing DT loaded NPs occurs at 140 h in the sustained mode without any bursting release. It can be concluded that the features of NPs such as morphology and particle size are strongly depended on the calcium chloride, sodium alginate concentrations and physicochemical conditions in the NPs formation process. In addition, appropriate concentrations of the sodium alginate and calcium ions would lead to obtaining the desirable NPs formation associated with the advantageous LE, LC (over 80%) and sustained in vitro release profile. Ultimately, the proposed NPs can be employed in vaccine formulation for the targeted delivery, controlled and slow antigen release associated with the improved antigen stability.

In-vitro Study of Hottentotta Schach Crude Venom Anticancer Effects on MCF-7 and Vero Cell Lines.

Scorpion venoms contain potentially useful pharmacological agents. Several studies demonstrate that the venoms of some scorpions induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of cancer cells; therefore, they have been investigated for isolating anticancer components. In this study, antitumor effects of Hottentotta schach crude venom on MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) as test group and Vero (African green monkey kidney normal cell line) as control group were analyzed. Cell toxicity was analyzed using MTT and neutral red (NR) uptake assays and apoptosis induction was analyzed using comet assay and caspase-3 activity. Oxidative stress following Hottentotta schach crude venom treatment was analyzed using nitrite oxide (NO) determination assay, reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase enzyme activity assays. Results showed that crude venom (25-200 µg/mL) induced apoptosis and inhibited the growth of MCF-7 and to a lesser extent in Vero cell lines. Nitrite oxide concentration increased while glutathione concentration and catalase enzyme activity were decreased in MCF-7 cells; however, results in Vero cells were reversed completely. It can be concluded that Hottentotta schach crude venom disturbs the oxidation and reduction potential in cancer cells and ultimately induce apoptosis. So this venom can be used as a good source for isolation and designing new anticancer drugs.