Influence of chemically and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles on in vitro viability and infectivity of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae.

Trichinellosis is a serious worldwide parasitic zoonosis. The available therapy for the treatment of Trichinella spiralis is not satisfactory. Therefore, the recovery of effective treatment is required. This work aimed at evaluating of the in vitro effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on muscle larvae of Trichinella. The present study investigated the larvicidal properties of chemical and myrrh AgNPs on muscle larvae (ML) of T. spiralis. The used AgNPs were chemically prepared using NaBH4 as reducing agent and biosynthesized using methanolic myrrh extract. Characterization of synthesized AgNPs was monitored via UV-vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The ML incubated with AgNPs at concentrations ranged from 1 µg/ml to 20 µg/ml. Chemical and biosynthesized AgNPs revealed marked larvicidal effect against ML of Trichinella. Additionally, this in vitro study showed degenerative changes affecting the cuticle of AgNPs treated ML. The effectiveness of AgNPs on the infectivity of Trichinella ML was also assessed. The results showed complete inhibition of the infectivity of ML exposed to sublethal doses of chemical and myrrh prepared AgNPs when used to infect animal models. This is the first report where myrrh synthesized AgNPs have been tested for their anthelminthic activity against Trichinella in an in vitro model.

Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer by Transdermal Delivery of α-Santalol through Breast Skin and Mammary Papilla (Nipple).

PURPOSE: Almost all breast cancers originate from epithelial cells lining the milk ducts in the breast. To this end, the study investigated the feasibility of localized transdermal delivery of α-santalol, a natural chemopreventive agent to the breast. METHODS: Different α-santalol formulations (cream, solution and microemulsion) were developed and the in vitro permeability was studied using excised animal (porcine and rat) and human breast skin/mammary papilla (nipple). The in vivo biodistribution and efficacy studies were conducted in female rats. A chemical carcinogenesis model of breast cancer was used for the efficacy studies. RESULTS: Phospholipid based α-santalol microemulsion showed the highest penetration through the nipple and breast skin. Delivery of α-santalol through the entire breast (breast skin and nipple) in vivo in rats resulted in significantly higher concentration in the mammary gland compared to transdermal delivery through the breast skin or nipple. There was no measurable α-santalol concentration in the blood. Transdermal delivery of α-santalol reduced the tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity. Furthermore, the tumor size was significantly reduced with α-santalol treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study demonstrate the feasibility of localized transdermal delivery of α-santalol for chemoprevention of breast cancer.