In vitro toxicity of naringin and berberine alone, and encapsulated within PMMA nanoparticles.

Phytochemical compounds, such as naringin and berberine, have been used for many years due to their antioxidant activities, and consequently, beneficial health effects. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of naringin, berberine and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated with naringin or berberine and their possible cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects on mouse fibroblast (NIH/3 T3) and colon cancer (Caco-2) cells. According to the results of the study, it was found that the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition antioxidant activity of naringin, berberine, and naringin or berberine encapsulated PMMA NPs, was significantly increased at higher tested concentrations due to the antioxidant effects of naringin, berberine and naringin or berberine encapsulated PMMA NPs. As a result of the cytotoxicity assay, after 24-, 48- and 72-h of exposure, all of the studied compounds caused cytotoxic effects in both cell lines. Genotoxic effects of studied compounds were not registered at lower tested concentrations. Based on these data, polymeric nanoparticles encapsulated with naringin or berberine may contribute to new treatment approaches for cancer, but further in vivo and in vitro research is required.

Is a non-cytotoxic and non-genotoxic novel bioinspired dipeptide structure synthesis possible for theragnostic applications?

The diagnosis and treatment of the diseases in a certain coordination is a subject that has been emphasized in recent years. Theragnostics approaches allow simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer. An ideal theragnostic should be biocompatible and can be used safely in humans. Although several types of theragnostics have been developed, none of yet satisfied these criteria. Bioinspired materials with noble metal centers encapsulating therapeutic and imaging agents were shown to possess theragnostic activities. In this study, it was aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of self-assembly of diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) dipeptides presence of mercury (Hg2+) ions to be used for theragnostic. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies were done in mouse fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cells by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assays, respectively. It was found that cell viability decreased in a dose-dependent manner in 24-, 48-, and 72-h treatment. Also, Phe-Phe dipeptides did not cause any significant changes in DNA damage at the concentrations of 1, 2, and 5 mg/mL in 4- and 24-h exposures. In the 48-h exposure, Phe-Phe peptide exposure at concentrations of 2 and 5 mg/mL caused a significant increase in DNA damage and in the 72-h of exposure, a significant increase in DNA damage was observed at all studied concentrations. According to the results of the study, it can be said that Phe-Phe dipeptides presence of Hg2+ ions are biocompatible and can be used safely for theragnostic purposes.