Dendritic cell-derived exosome (DEX) therapy for digestive system cancers: Recent advances and future prospect.

Tumor-mediated immunosuppression is a fundamental obstacle to the development of dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines, which despite their ability to stimulate host anti-tumor CD8 T cell immunity, have not been able to generate meaningful therapeutic responses. Exosomes are inactive membrane vesicles that are nanoscale in size and are produced by the endocytic pathway. They are essential for intercellular communication. Additionally, DC-derived exosomes (DEXs) contained MHC class I/II (MHCI/II), which is frequently complexed with antigens and co-stimulatory molecules and is therefore able to prime CD4 and CD8 T cells that are specific to particular antigens. Indeed, vaccines with DEXs have been shown to exhibit better anti-tumor efficacy in eradicating tumors compared to DC vaccines in pre-clinical models of digestive system tumors. Also, there is room for improvement in the tumor antigenic peptide (TAA) selection process. DCs release highly targeted exosomes when the right antigenic peptide is chosen, which could aid in the creation of DEX-based antitumor vaccines that elicit more targeted immune responses. Coupled with their resistance to tumor immunosuppression, DEXs-based cancer vaccines have been heralded as the superior alternative cell-free therapeutic vaccines over DC vaccines to treat digestive system tumors. In this review, current studies of DEXs cancer vaccines as well as potential future directions will be deliberated.

Chitosan-based nanofibrous scaffolds for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review.

Nowadays, there is a wide range of deficiencies in treatment of diseases. These limitations are correlated with the inefficient ability of current modalities in the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Therefore, there is a fundamental need for the development of novel approaches to overcome the mentioned restrictions. Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles, with remarkable physicochemical and mechanical properties, are FDA-approved biomaterials with potential biomedical aspects, like serum stability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesivity, non-immunogenicity, anti-inflammatory, desirable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, etc. CS-based materials are mentioned as ideal bioactive materials for fabricating nanofibrous scaffolds. Sustained and controlled drug release and in situ gelation are other potential advantages of these scaffolds. This review highlights the latest advances in the fabrication of innovative CS-based nanofibrous scaffolds as potential bioactive materials in regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems, with an outlook on their future applications.

The interaction between lncRNAs and transcription factors regulating autophagy in human cancers: A comprehensive and therapeutical survey.

Autophagy, as a highly conserved cellular process, participates in cellular homeostasis by degradation and recycling of damaged organelles and proteins. Besides, autophagy has been evidenced to play a dual role through cancer initiation and progression. In the early stage, it may have a tumor-suppressive function through inducing apoptosis and removing damaged cells and organelles. However, late stages promote tumor progression by maintaining stemness features and induction of chemoresistance. Therefore, identifying and targeting molecular mechanisms involved in autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for human cancers. Multiple transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of autophagy by modulating the expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs). In addition, a wide array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of regulatory ncRNAs, have been evidenced to regulate the function of these autophagy-related TFs through tumorigenesis. Subsequently, the lncRNAs/TFs/ATGs axis shows great potential as a therapeutic target for human cancers. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize new findings about the role of lncRNAs in regulating autophagy-related TFs with therapeutic perspectives.

Magnetic nanocomposite based on chitosan-gelatin hydrogel embedded with copper oxide nanoparticles: A novel and promising catalyst for the synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives.

Nanocatalysts are vital in several domains, such as chemical processes, energy generation, energy preservation, and environmental pollution mitigation. An experimental study was conducted at room temperature to evaluate the catalytic activity of the new gelatin-chitosan hydrogel/CuO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite in the asymmetric Hantzsch reaction. All components of the nanocomposite exhibit a synergistic effect as a Lewis acid, promote the reaction. Dimedone, ammonium acetate, ethyl acetoacetate, and other substituted aldehydes were used to synthesize diverse polyhydroquinoline derivatives. The nanocomposite exhibited exceptional efficacy (over 90 %) and durability (retaining 80 % of its original capacity after 5 cycles) as a catalyst in the one-pot asymmetric synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives. Also, turnover numbers (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) have been checked for catalyst (TON and TOF = 50,261 and 100,524 h-1) and products. The experiment demonstrated several benefits, such as exceptional product efficacy, rapid reaction time, functioning at ambient temperature without specific requirements, and effortless separation by the use of an external magnet after the reaction is finished. The results suggest the development of a magnetic nanocatalyst with exceptional performance. The composition of the Ge-CS hydrogel/CuO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was thoroughly analyzed using several methods including FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, VSM, BET, and TGA. These analyses yielded useful information into the composition and characteristics of the nanocomposite, hence further enhancing the knowledge of its possible uses.

Getting to know ovarian cancer: Focusing on the effect of LncRNAs in this cancer and the effective signaling pathways.

This article undertakes a comprehensive investigation of ovarian cancer, examining the complex nature of this challenging disease. The main focus is on understanding the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the context of ovarian cancer (OC), and their regulatory functions in disease progression. Through extensive research, the article identifies specific lncRNAs that play significant roles in the intricate molecular processes of OC. Furthermore, the study examines the signaling pathways involved in the development of OC, providing a detailed comprehension of the underlying molecular mechanisms. By connecting lncRNA dynamics with signaling pathways, this exploration not only advances our understanding of ovarian cancer but also reveals potential targets for therapeutic interventions. The findings open up opportunities for targeted treatments, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches in addressing this complex disease and driving progress in ovarian cancer research and treatment strategies.

The association of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls with lipid profile and liver enzymes in umbilical cord blood samples.

Evidence on prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and its effects on newborns and potential biological mechanisms is not well defined yet. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether PCBs are associated with lipid profile and non-invasive markers of hepatocyte injuries in samples of blood obtained from the umbilical cord. This study included 450 mothers-newborn pairs. Umbilical levels of PCBs were measured using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrophotometry (GC/MS). Lipid profile including low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), as well as liver enzymes i.e., alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), γ-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined from umbilical cord blood samples. Quantile g-computation analysis was applied to evaluate the collective influence of PCBs on both lipid profiles and liver enzymes, along with the impact of lipid profiles on liver enzymes. Exposure to the mixture of PCBs was significantly associated with increases in ALP, AST, ALT, and GGT levels in cord blood samples, with increments of 90.38 U/L (95%CI: 65.08, 115.70, p < 0.01), 11.88 U/L (95%CI: 9.03, 14.74, p < 0.01), 2.19 U/L (95%CI:1.43, 2.94, p < 0.01), and 50.67 U/L (95%CI: 36.32, 65.03, p < 0.01), respectively. Additionally, combined PCBs exposure was correlated with significant increases in umbilical TG, TC, and LDL-C levels, with values of 3.97 mg/dL (95%CI: 0.86, 7.09, p = 0.01), 6.30 mg/dL (95%CI: 2.98, 9.61, p < 0.01), and 4.63 mg/dL (95%CI: 2.04, 7.23, p < 0.01) respectively. Exposure to the mixture of lipids was linked to elevated levels of AST and GGT in umbilical cord blood samples. Furthermore, a noteworthy mediating role of TC and LDL-C was observed in the association between total PCBs exposure and umbilical cord blood liver enzyme levels. Overall our findings suggested that higher levels of umbilical cord blood PCBs and lipid profile could affect liver function in newborns.

A versatile magnetic nanocomposite based on cellulose-cyclodextrin hydrogel embedded with graphene oxide and Cu2O nanoparticles for catalytic application.

The study focused on creating a novel and environmentally friendly nanocatalyst using cellulose (Cell), ß-Cyclodextrin (BCD), graphene oxide (GO), Cu2O, and Fe3O4.The nanocatalyst was prepared by embedding GO and Cu2O into Cell-BCD hydrogel, followed by the in-situ preparation of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles to magnetize the nanocomposite. The effectiveness of this nanocatalyst was evaluated in the one-pot, three-component symmetric Hantzsch reaction for synthesizing 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives with high yield under mild conditions. This novel nanocatalyst has the potential for broad application in various organic transformations due to its effective catalytic activity, eco-friendly nature, and ease of recovery.

Dual-mode colorimetric and fluorescence biosensors for the detection of foodborne bacteria.

Due to the growing demand for detection technologies, there has been significant interest in the development of integrated dual-modal sensing technologies, which involve combining two signal transduction channels into a single technique, particularly in the context of food safety. The integration of two detection signals not only improves diagnostic performance by reducing assumptions, but also enhances diagnostic functions with increased application flexibility, improved accuracy, and a wider detection linear range. The top two output signals for emerging dual-modal probes are fluorescent and colorimetric, due to their exceptional advantages for real-time sensitive sensing and point-of-care applications. With the rapid progress of nanotechnology and material chemistry, the integrated colorimetric/fluorimetric dual-mode systems show immense potential in sensing foodborne pathogenic bacteria. In this comprehensive review, we present a detailed summary of various colorimetric and fluorimetric dual-modal sensing methods, with a focus on their application in detecting foodborne bacteria. We thoroughly examine the sensing methodologies and the underlying principles of the signal transduction systems, and also discuss the challenges and future prospects for advancing research in this field.

Advances in chitosan-based hydrogels for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications: A comprehensive review.

The treatment of diseases, such as cancer, is one of the most significant issues correlated with human beings health. Hydrogels (HGs) prepared from biocompatible and biodegradable materials, especially biopolymers, have been effectively employed for the sort of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, including drug delivery systems, biosensors, and tissue engineering. Chitosan (CS), one of the most abundant bio-polysaccharide derived from chitin, is an efficient biomaterial in the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. CS-based HGs possess some potential advantages, like high values of bioactive encapsulation, efficient drug delivery to a target site, sustained drug release, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, high serum stability, non-immunogenicity, etc., which made them practical and useful for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. In this review, we summarize recent achievements and advances associated with CS-based HGs for drug delivery, regenerative medicine, disease detection and therapy.

Chitosan-gelatin hydrogel incorporating polyvinyl alcohol and MnFe double-layered hydroxide nanocomposites with biological activity.

In this research, a novel nanocomposite scaffold was developed based on a natural chitosan-gelatin (CS-Ge) hydrogel by incorporating synthetic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and MnFe layered double hydroxides (LDHs). The CS-Ge/PVP/MnFe LDH nanocomposite hydrogels was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The biological tests conducted showed cell viability of the healthy cell line exceeding 95 % after 48 and 72 h. Additionally, the nanocomposite demonstrated high antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa bacteria biofilm, as confirmed through Anti-biofilm assays. Furthermore, mechanical tests revealed that the storage modulus was greater than the loss modulus (G'/G" > 1), confirming the appropriate elastic state of the nanocomposite.

Hyperbaric Oxygen in Combination with Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Synergistically Enhance Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) following trauma is a devastating neurological event that can lead to loss of sensory and motor functions. However, the most effective measures to prevent the spread of damage are treatment measures in the early stages. Currently, we investigated the combined effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) along with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in the recovery of SCI in rats. Ninety male mature Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly planned into five equal groups (n = 18). In addition to sham group that only underwent laminectomy, SCI rats were allocated into 4 groups as follows: control group; HBO group; EGCG group; and HBO + EGCG group. Tissue samples at the lesion site were obtained for stereological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular evaluation. In addition, behavioral tests were performed to assess of neurological functions. The finding indicated that the stereological parameters, antioxidant factors (CAT, GSH, and SOD), IL-10 gene expression levels and neurological functions were considerably increased in the treatment groups in comparison with control group, and these changes were more obvious in the HBO + EGCG group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, we observed that the density of apoptotic cells and gliosis, the biochemical levels of MDA and the expression levels of inflammatory genes (TNF-α and IL-1ß) in the treatment groups, especially the HBO + EGCG group, were considerably reduced in comparison with control group (P < 0.05). We conclude that co-administration of HBO and EGCG has a synergistic neuroprotective effects in animals undergoing SCI.

Correction: Immobilized Ni on TMEDA@ßSiO2@αSiO2@Fe3O4: as a novel magnetic nanocatalyst for preparation of pyrido[2,3-d:6,5-d']dipyrimidines.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA01720F.].

Supporting wound healing by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy in combination with scaffold, hydrogel, and matrix; State of the art.

Non-healing wounds impose a huge annual cost on the survival of different countries and large populations in the world. Wound healing is a complex and multi-step process, the speed and quality of which can be changed by various factors. To promote wound healing, compounds such as platelet-rich plasma, growth factors, platelet lysate, scaffolds, matrix, hydrogel, and cell therapy, in particular, with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are suggested. Nowadays, the use of MSCs has attracted a lot of attention. These cells can induce their effect by direct effect and secretion of exosomes. On the other hand, scaffolds, matrix, and hydrogels provide suitable conditions for wound healing and the growth, proliferation, differentiation, and secretion of cells. In addition to generating suitable conditions for wound healing, the combination of biomaterials and MSCs increases the function of these cells at the site of injury by favoring their survival, proliferation, differentiation, and paracrine activity. In addition, other compounds such as glycol, sodium alginate/collagen hydrogel, chitosan, peptide, timolol, and poly(vinyl) alcohol can be used along with these treatments to increase the effectiveness of treatments in wound healing. In this review article, we take a glimpse into the merging scaffolds, hydrogels, and matrix application with MSCs therapy to favor wound healing.

miR-495-3p as a promising tumor suppressor in human cancers.

Noncoding RNAs are a type of cellular RNA not having the ability to translate into proteins. As an important type of ncRNA with a length of about 22 nucleotides (nt), microRNAs were revealed to contribute to regulating the various cellular functions via regulating the protein translation of target genes. Among them, available studies proposed that miR-495-3p is a pivotal player in cancer pathogenesis. These studies showed that the expression level of miR-495-3p decreased in various cancer cells, suggesting its tumor suppressor role in cancer pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are the important regulators of miR-495-3p via sponging it, leading to increased expression levels of its target genes. Moreover, miR-495-3p was shown to have a promising potential to be a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker in cancer. MiR-495-3p also could affect the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy agents. Here, we discussed the molecular mechanisms of miR-495-3p in various cancer including breast cancer. In addition, we discussed the miR-495-3p potential as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker as well as its activity in cancer chemotherapy. Finally, we discussed the current limitations regarding the use of microRNAs in clinics and the future prospects of microRNAs.

Immobilized Ni on TMEDA@ßSiO2@αSiO2@Fe3O4: as a novel magnetic nanocatalyst for preparation of pyrido[2,3-d:6,5-d']dipyrimidines.

In the current body of research, a very quick and effectual procedure for the synthesis of pyrido[2,3-d:6,5-d']dipyrimidines has been developed. This method is accomplished through the one-pot multi-component reaction of 2-thiobarbituric acid, NH4OAc and aldehydes utilizing Ni-TMEDA@ßSiO2@αSiO2@Fe3O4 as a novel mesoporous nanomagnetic catalyst at room temperature. This protocol is one of the few reports of the preparation of these derivatives without the use of conventional heating as well as energies such as microwave and ultrasound radiation. The characterization of the prepared catalyst was well accomplished by different techniques such as FT-IR, ICP-OES, SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, VSM, TGA, EDX and Elemental mapping. This organometallic catalyst was reusable for seven times with negligible decrement in its catalytic performance. In addition, all of the products were produced with high TON and TOF values, which demonstrates that our catalyst has a very high level of activity in the preparation of pyrido[2,3-d:6,5-d']dipyrimidines.

Doxorubicin-loaded micelles in tumor cell-specific chemotherapy.

Nanomedicine is a field that combines biology and engineering to improve disease treatment, particularly in cancer therapy. One of the promising techniques utilized in this area is the use of micelles, which are nanoscale delivery systems that are known for their simple preparation, high biocompatibility, small particle size, and the ability to be functionalized. A commonly employed chemotherapy drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), is an effective inhibitor of topoisomerase II that prevents DNA replication in cancer cells. However, its efficacy is frequently limited by resistance resulting from various factors, including increased activity of drug efflux transporters, heightened oncogenic factors, and lack of targeted delivery. This review aims to highlight the potential of micelles as new nanocarriers for delivering DOX and to examine the challenges involved with employing chemotherapy to treat cancer. Micelles that respond to changes in pH, redox, and light are known as stimuli-responsive micelles, which can improve the targeted delivery of DOX and its cytotoxicity by facilitating its uptake in tumor cells. Additionally, micelles can be utilized to administer a combination of DOX and other drugs and genes to overcome drug resistance mechanisms and improve tumor suppression. Furthermore, micelles can be used in phototherapy, both photodynamic and photothermal, to promote cell death and increase DOX sensitivity in human cancers. Finally, the alteration of micelle surfaces with ligands can further enhance their targeted delivery for cancer suppression.