Green synthesized cobalt nanoparticles from Trianthema portulacastrum L. as a novel antimicrobials and antioxidants.

Trianthema portulacastrum is a dietary and medicinal plant that has gained substantial importance due to its pharmacological properties. This plant was used for its various healing properties since the ancient period in ayurvedic system of medicine. The green synthesis technique is an eco-friendly as well as cost effective technique which can produce more biocompatible nanoparticles when compared with those fabricated by physio-chemical methods. Therefore, nanoparticles produced by green synthesis are credible alternatives to those which are produced by conventional synthesis techniques. This research mainly aims to produce nanoparticles with the methanolic leaf extract of T. portulacastrum. The optimized nanoparticles were further analyzed for anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties. Disk diffusion assay was used for the determination of the antimicrobial property and on the other hand, DPPH radical scavenging assay as well as hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity proved the antioxidant property of the formulation. The study revealed that Escherichia coli (gram negative strain) shows greater zone of inhibition when compared with Bacillus subtilis (gram positive bacteria). The nanoparticles have also been reported to show significant anti-fungal activity against the strains of Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum which proves its desirability for its further use against both bacterial as well as fungal infections. The novel formulation can be explored dually as antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.

A review of FDA approved drugs and their formulations for the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed solid cancers globally. Extensive research has been going on for decades to meet the challenges of treating solid tumors with selective compounds. This article aims to summarize the therapeutic agents which are either being used or are currently under approval for use in the treatment or mitigation of breast cancer by the US FDA, to date. A structured search of bibliographic databases for previously published peer-reviewed research papers on registered molecules was explored and data was sorted in terms of various categories of drugs used in first line/adjuvant therapy for different stages of breast cancer. We included more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, including both research and reviews articles, in order to provide readers an useful comprehensive information. A list of 39 drugs are discussed along with their current status, dose protocols, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, possible side effects, and marketed formulations. Another interesting aspect of the article included focusing on novel formulations of these drugs which are currently in clinical trials or in the process of approval. This exhaustive review thus shall be a one-stop solution for researchers who are working in the areas of formulation development for these drugs.

Phytochemical-conjugated bio-safe gold nanoparticles in breast cancer: a comprehensive update.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and is rated among one of the three common malignancies worldwide in combination with colon and lung cancer. The escalating mortality rate of breast cancer patients has captivated the attention of the present-day researchers to come up with new management options. According to WHO, early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management are the three cornerstones for controlling breast cancer incidences per year. Multidisciplinary theragnostic approaches for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have further enriched the therapeutic arsenal. Imaging and biopsy play a significant role in the diagnosis of breast cancer. The treatment plan mostly initiates with general surgery or radiation therapy followed up with adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant therapy. Conventional chemotherapeutics in breast cancer suffer from toxicity and lack of site specificity. Bio-safe gold nanoparticles hold sufficient promise for bridging this gap. Diverse phytochemicals-based synthesis routes to arrive at nano-dimensional gold with spotlight on reaction mechanisms, reaction variables, specific advantages, toxicity and their influence in breast cancer conditions are the focus of this work. This review marks the first attempt to explore the potential of phytochemical-derived nano-gold in breast cancer treatment.

Folic acid modified gold nanoparticle for targeted delivery of Sorafenib tosylate towards the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Preparing a controlled release dosage form for specific locations within the body is one of the most challenging tasks in the present times. Moreover, green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is attaining greater significance because of their high biocompatibility and negligible toxicity. Gold nanoparticles, among them, are considered to be one of the best modes of drug delivery system for the treatment of various diseases. The excellent properties of gold nanoparticles make them a potential carrier for carrying and releasing drugs at the specified location in a controlled manner. In this research, gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) has been prepared by green synthesis for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. These AuNPs has been further modified with FA-b-PEG copolymer for the targeted delivery of the drug Sorafenib tosylate. The selected drug works on VEGF receptors in the region of retinal neovascularisation. The optimized dosage form prepared from gold chloride and ginger extract has been characterized. Histopathological studies as well as fundus photography has been used for the in-vivo characterisation of the prepared dosage form and it has been found that it can be quite an effective treatment for retinal neovascularisation in patients of diabetic retinopathy.