Ultra-stable nano-micro bubbles in a biocompatible medium for safe delivery of anti-cancer drugs.

We conducted a series of experimental investigations to generate laser-stimulated millimeter bubbles (MBs) around silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and thoroughly examined the mechanism of bubble formation within this nanocomposite system. One crucial aspect we explored was the lifetime and kinetics of these bubbles, given that bubbles generated by plasmonic nanoparticles are known to be transient with short durations. Surprisingly, our findings revealed that the achieved lifetime of these MBs extended beyond seven days. This impressive longevity far surpasses what has been reported in the existing literature. Further analysis of the experimental data uncovered a significant correlation between bubble volume and its lifetime. Smaller bubbles demonstrated longer lifetimes compared to larger ones, which provided valuable insights for future applications. The experimental results not only confirmed the validity of our model and simulations but also highlighted essential characteristics, including extended lifetime, matching absorption coefficients, adherence to physical boundary conditions, and agreement with simulated system parameters. Notably, we generated these MBs around functionalized AgNPs in a biocompatible nanocomposite medium by utilizing low-power light excitation. By readily binding potent cancer drugs to AgNPs through simple physical mixing, these medications can be securely encapsulated within bubbles and precisely guided to targeted locations within the human body. This capability to deliver drugs directly to the tumor site, while minimizing contact with healthy tissues, can lead to improved treatment outcomes and reduced side effects, significantly enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients.

Preparation of injectable hydrophilic dextran/AgNPs nanocomposite product: White light active biomolecules as an antitumor agent.

Incidence of various cancers including melanoma continues to rise worldwide. While treatment options have expanded in the recent years, the benefit of these treatments suffer from short period of duration for many patients. Hence, new treatment options are highly desired. Here, we propose a method combining a Dextran/reactive-copolymer/AgNPs nanocomposite and a harmless visible light approach to obtain a plasma substitute carbohydrate-based nanoproduct (D@AgNP) that shows strong antitumor activity. Light-driven polysaccharide-based nanocomposite provided essential conditions for extra small (8-12nm) AgNPs capping with subsequent specific self-assembly into spherical-like cloud nanostructures. Obtained biocompatible D@AgNP are stable over six months at room temperature and demonstrated absorbance peak at 406 nm. New formulated nanoproduct revealed efficient anticancer properties against A375 with IC50 0.0035 mg/mL following 24-h incubation; complete cell death is achieved at 0.001 mg/mL and 0.0005 mg/mL by 24- and 48-h time points, respectively. SEM examination shows that D@AgNP altered the shape of the cell structure and damaged the cell membrane. TEM finding shows that D@AgNP are mostly localized at vesicles such as the endosomes, lysosomes and mitochondria. It is anticipated that the introduced new method serves as the cornerstone for improving the generation of biocompatible hydrophilic carbohydrate-based anticancer drugs.

Novel light-driven functional AgNPs induce cancer death at extra low concentrations.

The current study is aimed at preparing light-driven novel functional AgNPs- bio-hydrogel and evaluating anticancer potency against human melanoma cells. With an average size of 16-18 nm, the hydrogel nano-silver particle composite (AgNPs@C_MA_O) was synthesized using a soft white LED approach and analyzed by UV-Vis, DLS, FTIR, X-ray, SEM-EDX and TEM techniques. The anticancer activity of the obtained novel functionalized AgNPs@C_MA_O was tested in-vitro in the A375 melanoma cell line. Dose-response analysis showed that AgNPs at 0.01 mg/mL and 0.005 mg/mL doses reduced the viability of A375 cells by 50% at 24 and 48-h time-points, respectively. A375 cells treated with AgNPs@C_MA_O for 24 h at IC50 displayed abnormal morphology such as detachment edges and feet, shrinkage, membrane damage, and the loss of contact with adjacent cells. Our work is the first study showing that non-ionizing radiation mediated biofunctionalized AgNPs have an anti-tumoral effect at such a low concentration of 0.01 mg/mL. Our approach of using harmless wLED increased synergy between soft biopolymer compounds and AgNPs, and enhanced anticancer efficiency of the AgNPs@C_MA_O biohydrogel. Ultimately, the AgNPs accessed through the use of the wLED approach in colloidal syntheses can open new applications and combinatorial advanced cancer treatments and diagnostics.

Ag-carried CMC/functional copolymer/ODA-Mt wLED-treated NC and their responses to brain cancer cells.

The subject of this work is synthesis and characterization of novel multifunctional nanocomposite (8/2A-NC) consisting (1) carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a matrix biopolymer and poly (maleic acid-alt-acrylic acid) as a reactive synthetic partner matrix polymer; (2) octadecyl amine montmorillonite (ODA-MMT) reactive organoclay provide intercalated silicate layers structures and aqueous colloidal dispersing medium, and MMT as carriers and targeting agents for anticancer agents in drug delivery systems, respectively. ODA as a intercalated surfactant finely dispersed 8/2A NC and its compatibility with matrix polymers via the interfacial polarization (complexing) and functionalization of matrix polymers by amine (ODA) and carboxylic acids from both the CMC and copolymer; (3) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as in-situ generated onto matrix polymers with unique nano-size and morphology parameters was synthesized. Important material science and bioengineering aspects of these investigations included (a) novel approach in synthetic pathways; (b) effects of physical and chemical structural rearrangements; (c) effects of Light Emitting Dioda (LED)-treatment on the FT-IR spectra, XRD reflection parameters, SEM-TEM morphology and nano-size and diameter distribution of AgNPs onto matrix polymers; (d) positive effect of LED-treatment of 8/2A nanocomposite and its response to the MIAPaCa-2 and U87 human brain cancer cell lines were evaluated. Novel 8/2A-NC multifunctional drug consisting unique positive, intercalating and encapsulated core-shell morphology structures, nano-size (5.6 nm) and narrow diameter distribution (94%) of AgNPs onto matrix polymers [silver NPs (0.25%) in 8/2A NC (25%)] with highest volume of contact area compared with used cancer micro-cells show lowest cell viability as an excellent anticancer platform. 8/2A-NC is a novel multifunctional drug with intercalating and encapsulated core-shell morphology structures consisting of positively charged, non-randomly distributed AgNPs with a large contact area and low diameters (5-6 nm). The anticancer properties of (This factor is not conformed experimentally in work) this drug can be explained by the following structural factors: 8/2A-NC contains a combination of active sites from protonated hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine groups; Ag+-cations and ODA-MMT with high physical and chemical surface areas. We suggest this material be further explored for anti-cancer testing.

Multifunctional colloidal nanofiber composites including dextran and folic acid as electro-active platforms.

This work presents the fabrication and characterization of novel colloidal multifunctional polymer nanofiber composites (NFCs) from water dispersion blends of intercalated silicate layered nanocomposites of poly (2-vinyl-N-pyrrolidone)/octadecyl amine-montmorillonite (ODA-MMT) and dextran/ODA-MMT as matrix and partner polymer intercalated nanocomposites in the presence of NaOH and folic acid (FA) as doping agents by green reactive electrospinning. Chemical and physical structures, surface morphology and electrical properties were investigated. Effects of matrix/partner polymer ratios, doping agents, absorption time of NaOH, and temperature on electrical parameters of NFCs were evaluated. The presence of FA and increasing dextran fraction in NFCs resulted in reducing fiber diameter and improving diameter distribution. High complexing behaviors of matrix/partner polymer chains, organoclay, FA, and NaOH significantly improved conductivity parameters, especially 5-min of absorption time (≈10-2-10-3Sm-1). The conductivity of the samples decreased with increasing temperature. NFCs fabricated for the first time are promising candidates for various biomedical, electrochemical and electronic applications as electro-active platforms.