Genome-wide association studies of salinity tolerance in local aman rice.

The present study aimed to identify and characterize new sources of salt tolerance among 94 rice varieties from varied geographic origins. The genotypes were divided into five groups based on their morphological characteristics at both vegetative and reproductive stages using salinity scores from the Standard Evaluation System (SES). The experiment was designed as per CRD (Completely Randomized Design) with 2 sets of salinity treatments for 8 dS/meter and 12 dS/meter, respectively compared with one non-salinized control set. Using a Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) meter, assessments of the apparent chlorophyll content (greenness) of the genotypes were done to comprehend the mechanism underlying their salt tolerance.  To evaluate molecular genetic diversity, a panel of 1 K RiCA SNP markers was employed. Utilizing TASSEL 5.0 software, 598 filtered SNPs were used for molecular analysis. Whole-genome association studies (GWAS) were also used to investigate panicle number per plant (pn, tiller number per plant (till), SPAD value (spad), sterility (percent) (str), plant height (ph) and panicle length (pl. It is noteworthy that these characteristics oversee conveying the visible signs of salt damage in rice. Based on genotype data, diversity analysis divided the germplasm groups into four distinct clusters (I, II, III and IV). For the traits studied, thirteen significant marker-trait associations were discovered. According to the phenotypic screening, seven germplasm genotypes namely Koijuri, Asha, Kajal, Kaliboro, Hanumanjata, Akundi and Dular, are highly tolerant to salinity stress. The greenness of these genotypes was found to be more stable over time, indicating that these genotypes are more resistant to stress. Regarding their tolerance levels, the GWAS analysis produced comparable results, supporting that salinity-tolerant genotypes having minor alleles in significant SNP positions showed more greenness during the stress period. The Manhattan plot demonstrated that at the designated significant SNP position, the highly tolerant genotypes shared common alleles. These genotypes could therefore be seen as important genomic resources for accelerating the development and release of rice varieties that are tolerant to salinity.

Potential Impact of SOD2 (rs4880; p.Val16Ala) Variant with the Susceptibility for Childhood Bronchial Asthma.

Oxidative stress is a sophisticated situation that orignates from the accumulation of reactive free radicals within cellular compartments. The antioxidant mechanism of the MnSOD enzyme facilitates the removal of these lethal oxygen species from cellular components. The main goal of this pertained work is to study the contribution of the SOD2 (rs4880; p.Val16Ala) variant to the development of bronchial asthma among children. The study's design was carried out based on a total of 254 participants including 127 asthmatic children (91 atopic and 36 non-atopic) along with 127 unrelated healthy controls. Allelic discrimination analysis was executed using the T-ARMS-PCR protocol. This potential variant conferred a significant association with decreased risk of bronchial asthmatic children under allelic (OR = 0.56, P-value = 0.002), recessive (OR = 0.32, P-value = 0.011), and dominant (OR = 0.51, P-value = 0.040) models. Additionally, atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children indicated a protection against bronchial asthma development under allelic, and dominant models (p-value < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the SOD2*rs4880 variant was correlated with decreased risk of childhood bronchial asthma.

Functionalization of bacterial cellulose: Exploring diverse applications and biomedical innovations: A review.

The demand for the functionalization of additive materials based on bacterial cellulose (BC) is currently high due to their potential applications across various sectors. The preparation of BC-based additive materials typically involves two approaches: in situ and ex situ. In situ modifications entail the incorporation of additive materials, such as soluble and dispersed substances, which are non-toxic and not essential for bacterial cell growth during the production process. However, these materials can impact the yield and self-assembly of BC. In contrast, ex situ modification occurs subsequent to the formation of BC, where the additive materials are not only adsorbed on the surface but also impregnated into the BC pellicle, while the BC slurry was homogenized with other additive materials and gelling agents to create composite films using the casting method. This review will primarily focus on the in situ and ex situ functionalization of BC then sheds light on the pivotal role of functionalized BC in advancing biomedical technologies, wound healing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, bone regeneration, and biosensors.

Synthesis of tetrazole hybridized with thiazole, thiophene or thiadiazole derivatives, molecular modelling and antimicrobial activity.

Background: Tetrazole-based derivatives and their electronic structures have displayed interesting antimicrobial activity. Methods: The tetrazole-based hybrids linked with thiazole, thiophene and thiadiazole ring systems have been synthesized through various chemical reactions. The computational method DFT/B3LYP has been utilized to calculate their electronic properties. The antimicrobial effectiveness was investigated against representative bacterial and fungal strains. Additionally, the synthesized derivatives binding interaction was stimulated by docking program against PDB ID: 4URO as a model of the ATP binding domain of S. aureus DNA Gyrase subunit B. Results: The structures of the synthesized tetrazole-based derivatives were confirmed by IR, NMR, and Mass spectroscopic data. The DFT/B3LYP method showed that the thiadiazole derivatives 9a-c had lower ΔEH-L than the thiophenes 7a-c and thiazoles 5a-c. The hybrids 5b, 5c, and 7b exhibited proper antibacterial activity against Gram's +ve bacterial strains (S. aureus and S. pneumonia), while 9a displayed potent activity towards Gram's -ve bacterial strains (S. typhimurium and E. coli). Meanwhile, derivatives 5a-b, 7a, 7c, and 9c showed good effectiveness towards fungal strain (C. albicans). Conclusion: The study provides valuable tetrazole core-linked heterocyclic rings and opens the door to further research on their electrical characteristics and applications. Tetrazoles and thiazoles have antibacterial properties in pharmacological frameworks, making these hybrids potential lead molecules for drug development. The conclusion summarizes the data and suggests that the synthesized chemicals' interaction with a particular protein domain suggests focused biological activity.

Inhibition of Drp1 orchestrates the responsiveness of breast cancer cells to paclitaxel but insignificantly relieves paclitaxel-related ovarian damage in mice.

Chemoresistance and chemotherapy-related ovarian damage are well-reported in breast cancer (BC) young patients. Herein, the inhibition of the mitochondrial fission was invested to explore its chemosensitizing role in Paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant cells, and its ability to restore the ovarian integrity in mice receiving PTX or cisplatin chemotherapy. To establish these aims, PTX-resistance was generated in BC cells, which were treated with PTX in combination with Drp1 deficiency, via mdivi-1, or Drp1-specific siRNA transfection. Furthermore, the alterations in the ovarian structure and the endocrine-related hormones were explored in mice receiving repetitive doses of PTX or cisplatin. We found that combining PTX with mdivi-1 improved cell responsiveness to PTX, induced apoptosis- and autophagy-mediated cell death, and relieved cellular oxidative stress. Additionally, the expression of PCNA1 and cyclin B1 genes were downregulated, meanwhile, p53, p21, and mitochondrial fusion proteins (Mfu1&Mfu2) were increased. The in vivo investigations in mice demonstrated that PTX induced gonadotoxic damage similar to cisplatin, whereas dual treatment of mice with PTX+ mdivi-1 failed to restore their normal follicular count and the circulating levels of E2 and AMH hormones. These results suggested that combining Drp1 inhibition with PTX resensitized breast cancer cells to PTX but failed to offer enough protection against chemotherapy-related gonadotoxicity.

The blockage signal for PD-L1/CD274 gene variants and their potential impact on lung carcinoma susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1/CD274) gene plays a key function in suppressing anti-tumor immunity through binding to its receptor PD-1 on stimulated T lymphocytes. However, robust associations among diverse populations and lung susceptibility remain unclear. The tentative purpose of this research is to investigate whether PD-L1/CD274 polymorphisms modulate susceptibility to lung carcinoma using totalitarian techniques, including genetic analysis, and sophisticated bioinformatic methods. METHODS: PD-L1/CD274 (rs822336, rs2297136, and rs4143815) variants were genotyped in 126 lung carcinoma cases and 117 healthy controls using tetra-primer ARMS-PCR. Logistic regression and bioinformatics analyses assessed genetic associations. RESULTS: The rs2297136 GA genotype significantly increased lung cancer risk by 3.7-fold versus GG genotype (OR 3.69, 95 % CI 1.39-9.81, p = 0.016), with the minor A allele also increasing risk (OR 1.47, p = 0.044). In contrast, the rs4143815 CC genotype was associated with 70 % decreased cancer risk versus GG (OR 0.30, 95 % CI 0.11-0.87, p = 0.012), although the minor C allele itself was not significant. The rs822336 variant showed no association. Haplotype and multivariate analyses supported these findings. In silico predictions suggested functional impacts on PD-L1 expression and activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified novel associations between PD-L1/CD274 polymorphisms and susceptibility to lung cancer in Egyptians. The rs2297136 variant increased risk while the rs4143815 variant conferred protection, highlighting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in lung oncogenesis. Replication in larger cohorts and functional studies are warranted.

Drought-Induced miRNA Expression Correlated with Heavy Metal, Phenolic Acid, and Protein and Nitrogen Levels in Five Chickpea Genotypes.

Drought is a prime stress, drastically affecting plant growth, development, and yield. Plants have evolved various physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms to cope with drought. Investigating specific biochemical pathways related to drought tolerance mechanisms of plants through biotechnology approaches is one of the quickest and most effective strategies for enhancing crop production. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are the principal post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in plants during plant growth under biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, five different chickpea genotypes (Inci, Hasan bey, Arda, Seçkin, and Diyar 95) were grown under normal and drought stress. We recorded the expression levels of microRNAs in these genotypes and found differential expression (miRNA396, miR408, miRNA414, miRNA528, and miRNA1533) under contrasting conditions. Results revealed that miRNA414 and miRNA528 considerably increased in all genotypes under drought stress, and expression levels of miRNA418, miRNA1533, and miRNA396 (except for the Seçkin genotype) were found to be higher under the watered conditions. These genotypes were also investigated for heavy metal, phenolic acid, protein, and nitrogen concentrations under normal and drought stress conditions. The Arda genotype showed a significant increase in nitrogen (5.46%) and protein contents (28.3%), while protein contents were decreased in the Hasan bey and Seçkin genotypes subjected to drought stress. In the case of metals, iron was the most abundant element in all genotypes (Inci = 15.4 ppm, Hasan bey = 29.6 ppm, Seçkin = 37.8 ppm, Arda = 26.3 ppm, and Diyar 95 = 40.8 ppm) under normal conditions. Interestingly, these results were related to miRNA expression in the chickpea genotypes and hint at the regulation of multiple pathways under drought conditions. Overall, the present study will help us to understand the miRNA-mediated regulation of various pathways in chickpea genotypes.

Magnetic biopolymers' nanocomposites from chitosan, lignin and phycosynthesized iron nanoparticles to remediate water from polluting oil.

Targeting the remediation of oil pollution in water, the construction of super magnetic adsorbent nanocomposites (NCs) was achieved using the nanoparticles of chitosan (Cht), lignin (Lg) and phycosynthesized iron nanoparticles (Fe MNPs) using Gelidium amansii extract. The syntheses and conjugations of nanomaterials were authenticated via infrared spectral analysis and the structural physiognomies of them were appraised via electron microscopy and zeta analysis. The Lg NPs, Cht NPs, Fe MNPs and their composites (Lg/Cht MNCs) had mean particles' sizes of 42.3, 76.4, 14.2 and 108.3 nm, and were charged with - 32.7, + 41.2, + 28.4 and +37.5 mV, respectively. The magnetometer revealed the high magnetic properties of both Fe MNPs and Lg/Cht MNCs; the maximum swelling of Lg/Cht NPs (46.3 %), and Lg/Cht MNPs (33.8 %) was detected after 175 min. The diesel oil adsorption experiments with Lg/Cht MNPs, using batch adsorption practices, revealed the powerful potentiality of magnetic NCs to remove oil pollution in water; the maximum adsorption capacity (qt) was achieved with the conditions of pH = 7.5, adsorption period = 90 min and adsorbent dose = 200 mg/L. The magnetic Lg/Cht MNCs exhibited excellent recovery/reusability attributes for five adsorption cycles; the qt differences were negligible after the entire oil-adsorption cycles, with oil removal of >90 %. The innovative fabricated Lg/Cht MNCs could provide an effectual, sustainable and eco-friendly approach for the removal of pollutant oil in water resources.

Spectroscopic study to verify the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment through a delivery system of the sofosbuvir drug on chitosan and pycnogenol nanoparticles surface.

The target of the current study is to create a novel hybrid nanocomposite (Cs@Pyc.SOF) by combining the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug sofosbuvir with the nano antioxidant pycnogenol (Pyc) and nano biomolecules like chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs). The characterization procedure works to verify the creation of nanocomposite (NCP) using several different techniques. UV-Vis spectroscopy is used to measure SOF loading efficiency. The various concentrations of the SOF drug were used to determine the binding constant rate Kb, which was found to be 7.35 ± 0.95 min-1 with an 83% loading efficiency. At pH 7.4, the release rate was 80.6% after two hours and 92% after 48 h, whereas at pH 6.8, it was 29% after two hours and 94% after 48 h. After 2 and 48 h, the release rate in water was 38% and 77%, respectively. . The SRB technique for fast screening is used for the cytotoxicity test, where the investigated composites show a safety status and high viability against the examined cell line. The cytotoxicity assay of the SOF hybrid materials has been identified with cell lines like mouse normal liver cells (BNL). So, Cs@Pyc.SOF was recommended as a substitute medication for the therapy of HCV, but the results need clinical studies.

Avocado Seeds-Mediated Alleviation of Cyclosporine A-Induced Hepatotoxicity Involves the Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Proapoptotic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Previous studies reported disrupted hepatic function and structure following the administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) in humans and animals. Recently, we found that avocado seeds (AvS) ameliorated CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. As a continuation, herein we checked whether AvS could also attenuate CsA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Subcutaneous injection of CsA (5 mg/kg) for 7 days triggered hepatotoxicity in rats, as indicated by liver dysfunction, redox imbalance, and histopathological changes. Oral administration of 5% AvS powder for 4 weeks ameliorated CsA-induced hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by (1) decreased levels of liver damage parameters (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin), (2) resumed redox balance in the liver (reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), (3) downregulated hepatic expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes (X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)), and apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Casp3), (4) upregulated expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2, (5) reduced DNA damage, and (6) improved liver histology. These results highlight the ability of AvS to ameliorate CsA-induced hepatotoxicity via the inhibition of oxidative stress and proapoptotic ER stress.

Moxifloxacin Disrupts and Attenuates Aß42 Fibril and Oligomer Formation: Plausibly Repositioning an Antibiotic as Therapeutic against Alzheimer's Disease.

The aggregation of Aß42 is established as a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consequently, molecules that inhibit aggregation of peptide may lead to therapies to prevent or control AD. Several studies suggest that oligomeric intermediates present during aggregation may be more cytotoxic than fibrils themselves. In this work, we examine the inhibitory activity of an antibiotic MXF on aggregation (fibrils and oligomers) and disaggregation of Aß42 using various biophysical and microscopic studies. Computational analysis was done to offer mechanistic insight. The amyloid formation of Aß42 is suppressed by MXF, as demonstrated by the decrease in both the corresponding ThT fluorescence intensity and other biophysical techniques. The lag phase of amyloid formation doubled from 4.53 to 9.66 h in the presence of MXF. The addition of MXF at the completion of the fibrillation reaction, as monitored by ThT, led to a rapid, concentration dependent, exponential decrease in fluorescence signal that was consistent with loss of fibrils. We used TEM to directly demonstrate that MXF caused fibrils to disassemble. Our docking results show that MXF binds to both monomeric and fibrillar forms of Aß42 with significant affinities. We also observed breaking of fibrils in the presence of MXF through molecular dynamics simulation. These findings suggest that antibiotic MXF could be a promising lead compound with dual role as fibril/oligomer inhibitor and disaggregase for further development as potential repurposed therapeutic against AD.

Arthrospira platensis nanoparticles defeat against diabetes-induced testicular injury in rat targeting, oxidative, apoptotic, and steroidogenesis pathways.

Varieties of studies have been used to investigate the health benefits of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis); however, more research is needed to examine if its nano form may be utilized to treat or prevent several chronic diseases. So, we designed this study to explore the effect and the cellular intracellular mechanisms by which Arthrospira platensis Nanoparticles (NSP) alleviates the testicular injury induced by diabetes in male Wistar rats. Eighty Wistar male rats (n = 80) were randomly allocated into eight groups. Group 1 is untreated rats (control), Group 2 including STZ-induced diabetic rats with 65 mg/kg body weight STZ (STZ-diabetic), Group 3-5: including diabetic rats treated with NSP1, NSP2, and NSP3 at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg body weight, respectively, once daily orally by the aid of gastric gavage for 12 consecutive weeks and groups 6-8 include normal rats received NSP (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg body weight once daily orally. The identical volume of normal saline was injected into both control and diabetic rats. After 12 weeks of diabetes induction, the rats were killed. According to our findings, NSP administration to diabetic rats enhances the total body weight and the weight of testes and accessory glands; in addition, NSP significantly reduced nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in testicular tissue improved sperm parameters. Intriguingly, it raises testicular GSH and SOD activity by a significant amount (p < 0.05). As well, Oral administration of NSP to diabetic rats resulted in a decrease in the blood glucose levels, HA1C, induced in the diabetic group, which overcame the diabetic complications NSP caused down-regulation of apoptotic genes with upregulation of BCL-2 mRNA expression (p < 0.05) and prominent up-regulation of steroidogenesis genes expression level in testes in comparison to the diabetic rats which resulted in improving the decreased levels of testosterone hormone, FSH, and LH induced by diabetes. In the same way, our histopathological findings support our biochemical and molecular findings; in conclusion, NSP exerted a protective effect against reproductive dysfunction induced by diabetes not only through its high antioxidant and hypoglycemic action but also through its down-regulation of Apoptotic genes and up-regulation of steroidogenesis regulatory genes expression level in diabetic testes.

Inhibition of the Vancomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in Egypt Using Silver Nanoparticles.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that is sometimes resistant to vancomycin. In this study, the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) was studied. 100 isolates of S. aureus were identified based on biochemical and molecular evidence. The antibiotic susceptibility of the studied isolates was tested against 13 antibiotics by the disc diffusion method that showed 24 vancomycin-resistant isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were estimated by the agar dilution method to determine vancomycin intermediate-resistant S. aureus (VISA) and VRSA. The resistance gene cluster (vanA, vanR, vanH, and vanY) was amplified by PCR and then sequenced. Amplification of vanA and vanR genes showed that they are present in 21.4% and 14.3% of VRSA isolates, respectively, whereas none of the studied genes has been detected in VISA strains. A significant antimicrobial effect toward VRSA isolates using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from S. aureus and rosemary leaves was recorded. This study confirmed the existence of VRSA strains in Egypt. Furthermore, the use of silver nanoparticles inhibits these vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strains in vitro.

Correction: Almutairi et al. Application of Chitosan/Alginate Nanocomposite Incorporated with Phycosynthesized Iron Nanoparticles for Efficient Remediation of Chromium. Polymers 2021, 13, 2481.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to the published paper [...].

Analysis of Nuclear DNA Content and Karyotype of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), whose annual production is 26 million tons worldwide, is one of the main sources of protein and is known as one of the most important food sources. In this study, the karyotype variations and the genome size of four common bean genotypes in Turkey were investigated to determine whether the geographic variables in these regions affected the genome size and the karyotype parameters. In addition, it is known that as that the cytological and chromosomal parameters change under the influence of the climatic conditions of each region, appropriate and stable cytological methods for each plant facilitate and enable the determination of the chromosomal structure and the identification of specific chromosomes in the genotypes of the relevant region. Correct and valuable information such as this enables breeders and researchers to determine the correct shape and actual size of chromosomes. The genome size of the genotypes was measured with a flow cytometer, and chromosome analyses were performed with the squash method. For each genotype, the karyotype parameters, such as the number of somatic chromosomes, the Mean Total Chromosome Length (MTCL), the Mean Centromere Index (MCI), and the Mean Arm Ratio (MAR), were measured. The results showed that the highest and the lowest amounts of DNA per nucleus (3.28 pg and 1.49 pg) were observed in the Bitlis and Elazig genotypes. In addition, all genotype chromosome numbers were counted to be 2n = 2x = 22. The Mean Total Chromosome Length varied from 15.65 µm in Elazig to 34.24 µm in the Bitlis genotype. The Mean Chromosome Length ranged between 1.42 µm and 3.11 µm in the Elazig and Bitlis genotypes. The Hakkari and Van genotypes consist of eleven metacentric chromosomes, while the Bitlis and Elazig genotypes consist of ten metacentric chromosomes and one sub-metacentric chromosome. However, the Mean Centromere Index and Arm Ratio differed considerably among the genotypes. The highest (46.88) and the lowest (43.18) values of the Mean Centromere Index were observed in the Hakkari and Elazig genotypes, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest (1.15) and the highest (1.36) values of the Mean Arm Ratio were obtained in the Bitlis and Elazig genotypes, respectively. Eventually, intraspecies variations in genome size and chromosomal parameters were observed, and it was determined that the changes in nuclear DNA content and different chromosomal parameters among the four Phaseolus genotypes from four different regions of Turkey indicate the effect of climate change in the regions on these parameters. Such information in these areas can be used as useful information for the improvement of this plant and breeding programs.

On the binding reaction of loratadine with human serum acute phase protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.

Loratadine is an important anti-allergic drug. It is a second generation antihistamine drug used to treat allergic rhinitis, hay fever and urticaria. Human serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AG) is an important acute phase protein and its serum concentration is found to increase in inflammation and acute response.The binding interaction between loratadine and AG is studied using spectroscopy and molecular docking techniques. The results obtained from fluorescence quenching experiments demonstrated that the fluorescence intensity of AG is quenched by loratadine. Loratadine was found to bind AG with the binding constant of ≈104 at 298 K. The Gibb's free energy change was found to be negative for the interaction of loratadine with AG indicating the binding process is spontaneous. Binding of loratadine with AG induced ordered structures in the protein. Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were the main bonding forces between AG-loratadine as revealed by molecular docking results. This study suggests the importance of binding of anti-allergic drug to AG spatially in the diseases where the plasma concentration of AG increases many folds and interaction with this protein becomes significant. This study will help in design of drug dosage and adjustment accordingly to achieve optimal treatment outcome. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Application of Chitosan/Alginate Nanocomposite Incorporated with Phycosynthesized Iron Nanoparticles for Efficient Remediation of Chromium.

Biopolymers and nanomaterials are ideal candidates for environmental remediation and heavy metal removal. As hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) is a hazardous toxic pollutant of water, this study innovatively aimed to synthesize nanopolymer composites and load them with phycosynthesized Fe nanoparticles for the full Cr6+ removal from aqueous solutions. The extraction of chitosan (Cht) from prawn shells and alginate (Alg) from brown seaweed (Sargassum linifolium) was achieved with standard characteristics. The tow biopolymers were combined and cross-linked (via microemulsion protocol) to generate nanoparticles from their composites (Cht/Alg NPs), which had a mean diameter of 311.2 nm and were negatively charged (-23.2 mV). The phycosynthesis of iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) was additionally attained using S. linifolium extract (SE), and the Fe-NPs had semispherical shapes with a 21.4 nm mean diameter. The conjugation of Cht/Alg NPs with SE-phycosynthesized Fe-NPs resulted in homogenous distribution and stabilization of metal NPs within the polymer nanocomposites. Both nanocomposites exhibited high efficiency as adsorbents for Cr6+ at diverse conditions (e.g., pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial ion concentration) using batch adsorption evaluation; the most effectual conditions for adsorption were a pH value of 5.0, adsorbent dose of 4 g/L, contact time of 210 min and initial Cr6+ concentration of 75 ppm. These factors could result in full removal of Cr6+ from batch experiments. The composited nanopolymers (Cht/Alg NPs) incorporated with SE-phycosynthesized Fe-NPs are strongly recommended for complete removal of Cr6+ from aqueous environments.

The Identification of a Novel Unsymmetrical Azine as an Apoptosis Inducer in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Defects in the physiological mechanisms of apoptosis are one of the pivotal factors implicated in carcinogenesis. Thus, the development of novel compounds that target various apoptotic pathways has provided promising anticancer therapeutic opportunities. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the cytotoxic effects of a novel unsymmetrical azine against specific cancer cell lines and investigates the mechanism of cytotoxicity. METHODS: Molecular modeling was used to test the binding affinity of four new unsymmetrical azines to a model of an apoptosis inhibitor protein (XIAP). The compound with the highest binding affinity, C4, was further tested on different cell lines. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) were used to study apoptosis induction biochemically and morphologically. RESULTS: In comparison to cisplatin as a control, the compound C4 exhibited notable cytotoxicity against all tested cancer cell lines, especially the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116). Furthermore, C4-treated cells demonstrated marked overexpression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 as well as the tumor suppressor p53. On the other hand, the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was inhibited. On TEM examination, C4-treated HCT-116 cells showed classical structural signs of apoptosis. CONCLUSION: This study identifies a novel azine (C4), which induces remarkable cytotoxicity against the colorectal carcinoma cell line, mediated through apoptosis induction. These novel insights suggest C4 as a promising therapeutic agent in colorectal cancer.

Augmented anticancer activity of curcumin loaded fungal chitosan nanoparticles.

Fungal chitosan (FCt) from Amylomyces rouxii, with 88.7% deacetylation degree and 112.4 kDa molecular weight, was utilized for nanoparticles (NPs) formation via ionic gelation. FCt-NPs were employed as carriers for curcumin (CUR) to augment its availability and anticancer bioactivity. The synthesis of CUR/FCt-NPs composite was succeeded as evidenced from their FTIR spectra. The scanning micrographs of synthesized CUR/FCt-NPs indicated their spherical shapes and well-distribution; they had average diameters of 115 ± 21 nm and positive zeta potentials of +33.8 mV. The NPs loading capacity for CUR was 21.6% and the encapsulation efficiency reached 83.8%. The CUR was vastly released in the beginning 5 h then gradually released up to 90 h, with higher release in pH 5.2 than in pH 7.0. The treatment of cancer cells, HCT-116 and A-549, with CUR/FCt NPs lead to time-dependent decrement of cells' viability; the dead cells were 67.6% from HCT-116 and 73.8% from A-546 after 96 h of exposure. Fluorescent imaging indicated that most cancer cells entered the apoptosis phase after treatment with 150 µM of CUR/FCt-NPs for 72 h. The efficiency of FCt-NPs was proved as carriers for loading CUR and augmenting its anticancer activity toward human cancer cells, using these natural and biosafe agents.

Augmented control of drug-resistant Candida spp. via fluconazole loading into fungal chitosan nanoparticles.

Fungal chitosan (ACT) extraction from Amylomyces rouxii, its transforming into nano-form, loading with fluconazole (Flu) and evaluation of synthesized nanoconjugates against drug-resistant (DR) Candida spp., were investigated. The produced ACT was characterized with 112.4 kDa molecular weight and 88.7% deacetylation degree. Synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles (NACT), and loading them with Flu were succeeded, using ionic gelation protocol, to generate stable Flu/NACT nanoconjugate' particles with mean size of 82 nm and zeta potential of +3.36 mV. The NACT entrapment efficiency was 78.7% and the drug loading capacity was 60.2%. Flu slowly released from NACT during the first 5 h, then release dramatically increased to the maximum (94.8%) after 12 h. The infra-red spectrum of Flu/NACT nanoconjugates confirmed the strong cross-linkage between their molecules. The antimycotic activity of NACT and Flu/NACT was proved against DR strains of C. albicans (2 strains), C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata, using qualitative and quantitative assays; Flu/NACT exhibited significant powerful activity, which was confirmed via observations with scanning microscopy. Finished cotton textiles with Flu/NACT had augmented potentiality for inhibiting challenged DR Candida spp., using in vitro assay. Accordingly, the synthesis and application of Flu/NACT nanoconjugates was astoundingly recommended for controlling DR Candida spp.