Cutting-edge Advances in Nanocarrier-Facilitated Topical Drug Delivery Systems for Targeted Skin Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review.

Skin cancer is one of the most common and complex types of the disease, resulting in a high mortality rate worldwide. Skin cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, etc. In most cases, a patient's condition and the type of skin cancer determine the recommended treatment options. As a result of poor penetration of the drug into stratum corneum or lesions, low efficacy, and higher concentrations of active pharmaceutical ingredients required to achieve a therapeutic effect, the efficacy of skin cancer therapy has been limited. The high dose requirement, as well as poor bioavailability at the site of action, causes skin inflammation, which greatly hinders drug absorption. This review mainly focuses on research on nanocarriers for sitespecific and controlled delivery of therapeutics for skin cancer treatment. The information related to various nanocarriers systems for skin cancer will be illustrated. This also focused on patents, clinical trials, and research carried out in the field of liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, nanoparticles, microemulsion, nanoemulsions, gels, nanogels, hydrogels, dendrimers, and nanofibers for treating skin cancer. Nanotechnology-based therapy has shown great promise in controlling skin cancer and can be used to deliver drugs more effectively.

Electrospun nanofibers as advanced wound dressing materials: comparative analysis of single-layered and multilayered nanofibers containing polycaprolactone, methylcellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol.

The dressing materials that provide surface protection, bacteriostatic activities, and tissue regeneration are important for the treatment and management of complex wounds. This study aimed to evaluate the wound-healing properties of electrospun nanofibers containing a blend of methylcellulose (MC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The nanofibers were tested in single-layered (S-NFs) and multilayered (M-NFs) forms (PCL/MC-PVA/PCL). In vitro scratch assay using L929 cells and in vivo experiments on Wistar rats were conducted. The results showed that both S-NFs and M-NFs significantly accelerated wound closure by promoting cell migration. M-NFs demonstrated superior wound healing activity compared to S-NFs. Additionally, M-NFs exhibited faster skin epithelization compared to S-NFs. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the absence of irritation or lesions on the healed wound surface. Overall, the study concluded that these polymeric nanofibers have the potential to be used as self-wound healing dressings. They are safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible.

Maize Seedlings Colonization with Serendipita indica and Its Colonization Efficiency Analysis.

Maize is one of the most important crops in the world, and ensuring its successful growth and productivity is crucial for global food security. One way to enhance maize growth and productivity is by improving the colonization of its roots by beneficial microorganisms. In this regard, Serendipita indica, a plant growth-promoting fungus, has gained attention for its ability to enhance plant growth and productivity, especially in cereal crops and medicinal plants. Previous studies have shown that S. indica can colonize various plant species, including maize, but the efficiency of the colonization process in maize seedlings has not been extensively characterized. This protocol outlines a method for efficient colonization of maize seedlings with the beneficial fungus S. indica. The protocol includes the preparation of stock solutions, maintenance and growth of S. indica, surface sterilization and germination of seeds, preparation of S. indica chlamydospores, and colonization of maize plants with S. indica. The advantages of this protocol include the use of surface sterilization techniques that minimize contamination, the production of a large number of viable chlamydospores, and efficient colonization of maize seedlings with S. indica. This protocol may be useful for researchers studying the role of S. indica in promoting plant growth and combating biotic and abiotic stress. Additionally, this protocol may be used in the development of biofertilizers using S. indica as a means of increasing crop yields and reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Overall, this protocol offers a reliable and efficient method for colonizing maize seedlings with S. indica and may have potential applications in the agricultural industry. This study also provides a valuable tool for researchers interested in studying plant-microbe interactions in maize and highlights the potential of S. indica as a biocontrol agent to enhance maize productivity under adverse conditions. Key features • This protocol builds upon the method developed by Narayan et al. (2022), and its application optimized for the root endophytic symbiotic fungus S. indica. • This protocol also allows for histochemical analysis to visualize the colonized fungal spores in the root cells of host plant species. • This protocol helps in mathematical calculation of the percent colonization or efficiency of colonization. • This protocol utilizes readily available laboratory equipment, including a light microscope, autoclave, and laminar flow hood, ensuring ease of reproducibility in other research laboratories.

Progresses in Nano-Enabled Platforms for the Treatment of Vaginal Disorders.

BACKGROUND: The most common vaginal disorders are within the uterus. According to the latest statistics, vaginal disorders occur in 50% to 60% of females. Although curative treatments rely on surgical therapy, still first-line treatment is a non invasive drug. Conventional therapies are available in the oral and parenteral route, leading to nonspecific targeting, which can cause dose-related side effects. Vaginal disorders are localized uterine disorders in which intrauterine delivery via the vaginal site is deemed the preferable route to mitigate clinical drug delivery limitations. OBJECTIVE: This study emphasizes the progress of site-specific and controlled delivery of therapeutics in the treatment of vaginal disorders and systemic adverse effects as well as the therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: Related research reports and patents associated with topics are collected, utilized, and summarized the key findings. RESULTS: The comprehensive literature study and patents like (US 9393216 B2), (JP6672370B2), and (WO2018041268A1) indicated that nanocarriers are effective above traditional treatments and have some significant efficacy with novelty. CONCLUSION: Nowadays, site-specific and controlled delivery of therapeutics for the treatment of vaginal disorders is essential to prevent systemic adverse effects and therapeutic efficacy would be more effective. Nanocarriers have therefore been used to bypass the problems associated with traditional delivery systems for the vaginal disorder.

Integrated omics approaches for flax improvement under abiotic and biotic stress: Current status and future prospects.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) or linseed is one of the important industrial crops grown all over the world for seed oil and fiber. Besides oil and fiber, flax offers a wide range of nutritional and therapeutic applications as a feed and food source owing to high amount of α-linolenic acid (omega-3 fatty acid), lignans, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Periodic losses caused by unpredictable environmental stresses such as drought, heat, salinity-alkalinity, and diseases pose a threat to meet the rising market demand. Furthermore, these abiotic and biotic stressors have a negative impact on biological diversity and quality of oil/fiber. Therefore, understanding the interaction of genetic and environmental factors in stress tolerance mechanism and identification of underlying genes for economically important traits is critical for flax improvement and sustainability. In recent technological era, numerous omics techniques such as genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, phenomics, and ionomics have evolved. The advancements in sequencing technologies accelerated development of genomic resources which facilitated finer genetic mapping, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection in major cereal and oilseed crops including flax. Extensive studies in the area of genomics and transcriptomics have been conducted post flax genome sequencing. Interestingly, research has been focused more for abiotic stresses tolerance compared to disease resistance in flax through transcriptomics, while the other areas of omics such as metabolomics, proteomics, ionomics, and phenomics are in the initial stages in flax and several key questions remain unanswered. Little has been explored in the integration of omic-scale data to explain complex genetic, physiological and biochemical basis of stress tolerance in flax. In this review, the current status of various omics approaches for elucidation of molecular pathways underlying abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in flax have been presented and the importance of integrated omics technologies in future research and breeding have been emphasized to ensure sustainable yield in challenging environments.

Sulfur nutrition and its role in plant growth and development.

Sulfur is one of the essential nutrients that is required for the adequate growth and development of plants. Sulfur is a structural component of protein disulfide bonds, amino acids, vitamins, and cofactors. Most of the sulfur in soil is present in organic matter and hence not accessible to the plants. Anionic form of sulfur (SO42-) is the primary source of sulfur for plants that are generally present in minimal amounts in the soil. It is water-soluble, so readily leaches out of the soil. Sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds act as signaling molecules in stress management as well as normal metabolic processes. They also take part in crosstalk of complex signaling network as a mediator molecule. Plants uptake sulfate directly from the soil by using their dedicated sulfate transporters. In addition, plants also use the sulfur transporter of a symbiotically associated organism like bacteria and fungi to uptake sulfur from the soil especially under sulfur depleted conditions. So, sulfur is a very important component of plant metabolism and its analysis with different dimensions is highly required to improve the overall well-being of plants, and dependent animals as well as human beings. The deficiency of sulfur leads to stunted growth of plants and ultimately loss of yield. In this review, we have focused on sulfur nutrition, uptake, transport, and inter-organismic transfer to host plants. Given the strong potential for agricultural use of sulfur sources and their applications, we cover what is known about sulfur impact on the plant health. We identify opportunities to expand our understanding of how the application of soil microbes like AMF or other root endophytic fungi affects plant sulfur uptake and in turn plant growth and development.

State-of-the-Art and Projected Developments of Nanofiber Filter Material for Face Mask Against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 epidemic was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. It is difficult to foresee the future length and severity; it may extend to weeks, months, or even years to deplete the energy and resources of the health care facilities and the providers as there is marginal to no pharmacological medication available to treat the Covid-19. Unless an effective pharmacological treatment such as medicines and vaccines is developed and released publicly, wearing protective face masks and protecting personal health and hygiene is merely a choice to avoid the Covid-19 spread. This review summarizes the background knowledge on the Covid-19 disease and currently available face masks for highly infectious disease primary prevention. According to recent studies of Covid-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, nanotechnologists have provided a revolutionary approach that involves both pharmacological and non-pharmacological steps, one of which is the use of nanofibers in facemasks and respirators. METHODS: Various researches carried out in the field of nanomask and patented reports based on the application of nanomask were reviewed. CONCLUSION: The most recent developments of nanofibers, including research publications, patents and commercial products in Covid-19 prevention, are extensively reviewed from scientific literature and appropriately represented in this study.

Metal transporters in organelles and their roles in heavy metal transportation and sequestration mechanisms in plants.

Heavy metal toxicity is one of the major concerns for agriculture and health. Accumulation of toxic heavy metals at high concentrations in edible parts of crop plants is the primary cause of disease in humans and cattle. A dramatic increase in industrialization, urbanization, and other high anthropogenic activities has led to the accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soil, which has consequently disrupted soil conditions and affected crop yield. By now, plants have developed several mechanisms to cope with heavy metal stress. However, not all plants are equally effective in dealing with the toxicity of high heavy metal concentrations. Plants have modified their anatomy, morphophysiology, and molecular networks to survive under changing environmental conditions. Heavy metal sequestration is one of the essential processes evolved by some plants to deal with heavy metals' toxic concentration. Some plants even have the ability to accumulate metals in high quantities in the shoots/organelles without toxic effects. For intercellular and interorganeller metal transport, plants harbor spatially distributed various transporters which mainly help in uptake, translocation, and redistribution of metals. This review discusses different heavy metal transporters in different organelles and their roles in metal sequestration and redistribution to help plants cope with heavy metal stress. A good understanding of the processes at stake helps in developing more tolerant crops without affecting their productivity.

Plant mineral transport systems and the potential for crop improvement.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Nutrient transporter genes could be a potential candidate for improving crop plants, with enhanced nutrient uptake leading to increased crop yield by providing tolerance against different biotic and abiotic stresses. The world's food supply is nearing a crisis in meeting the demands of an ever-growing global population, and an increase in both yield and nutrient value of major crops is vitally necessary to meet the increased population demand. Nutrients play an important role in plant metabolism as well as growth and development, and nutrient deficiency results in retarded plant growth and leads to reduced crop yield. A variety of cellular processes govern crop plant nutrient absorption from the soil. Among these, nutrient membrane transporters play an important role in the acquisition of nutrients from soil and transport of these nutrients to their target sites. In addition, as excess nutrient delivery has toxic effects on plant growth, these membrane transporters also play a significant role in the removal of excess nutrients in the crop plant. The key function provided by membrane transporters is the ability to supply the crop plant with an adequate level of tolerance against environmental stresses, such as soil acidity, alkalinity, salinity, drought, and pathogen attack. Membrane transporter genes have been utilized for the improvement of crop plants, with enhanced nutrient uptake leading to increased crop yield by providing tolerance against different biotic and abiotic stresses. Further understanding of the basic mechanisms of nutrient transport in crop plants could facilitate the advanced design of engineered plant crops to achieve increased yield and improve nutrient quality through the use of genetic technologies as well as molecular breeding. This review is focused on nutrient toxicity and tolerance mechanisms in crop plants to aid in understanding and addressing the anticipated global food demand.

Crosstalk between phytohormones and secondary metabolites in the drought stress tolerance of crop plants: A review.

Drought stress negatively affects crop performance and weakens global food security. It triggers the activation of downstream pathways, mainly through phytohormones homeostasis and their signaling networks, which further initiate the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SMs). Roots sense drought stress, the signal travels to the above-ground tissues to induce systemic phytohormones signaling. The systemic signals further trigger the biosynthesis of SMs and stomatal closure to prevent water loss. SMs primarily scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) to protect plants from lipid peroxidation and also perform additional defense-related functions. Moreover, drought-induced volatile SMs can alert the plant tissues to perform drought stress mitigating functions in plants. Other phytohormone-induced stress responses include cell wall and cuticle thickening, root and leaf morphology alteration, and anatomical changes of roots, stems, and leaves, which in turn minimize the oxidative stress, water loss, and other adverse effects of drought. Exogenous applications of phytohormones and genetic engineering of phytohormones signaling and biosynthesis pathways mitigate the drought stress effects. Direct modulation of the SMs biosynthetic pathway genes or indirect via phytohormones' regulation provides drought tolerance. Thus, phytohormones and SMs play key roles in plant development under the drought stress environment in crop plants.

Metagenomic Analysis of the Microbial Diversity in Solid Waste from Okhla Landfill, New Delhi, India.

The Okhla landfill site is consistently in the news for having pollution levels higher than the city average. Here, we report the taxonomic characterization of the microbial diversity of Okhla landfill solid waste. The metagenome analyses revealed the microbial and metabolic diversity of the site.

Study of 5-Fluorouracil Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Treatment of Skin Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to formulate, characterize and in-vitro cytotoxicity of 5-Fluorouracil loaded controlled release nanoparticles for the treatment of skin cancer. The patents on nanoparticles (US8414926B1), (US61654404A), (WO2007150075A3) etc. helped in the selection polymers and method for the preparation of nanoparticles. METHODS: In the present study nanoparticles were prepared by simple ionic gelation method using various concentrations of chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Several process and formulation parameters were screened and optimized using 25-2 fractional factorial design. The prepared nanoparticles were evaluated for particle size, shape, charge, entrapment efficiency, crosslinking mechanism and drug release study. RESULTS: The optimized 5-Fluorouracil loaded nanoparticle were found with particle size of of 320±2.1 nm, entrapment efficiency of 85.12%± 1.1% and Zeta potential of 29mv±1mv. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering technique revealed spherical particles with uniform size. The invitro release profile showed controlled release up to 24 hr. Further study was carried using A375 basal cell carcinoma cell-line to elucidate the mechanism of its cytotoxicity by MTT assay. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the possibility of delivering 5-Fluorouracil to skin with enhanced encapsulation efficiency indicating effectiveness of the formulation for treatment of basal cell carcinoma type of skin cancer.

Formulation, Characterization and In vitro Cytotoxicity of 5-Fluorouracil Loaded Polymeric Electrospun Nanofibers for the Treatment of Skin Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to formulate, characterize and conduct in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil loaded polymeric electrospun nanofibers for the treatment of skin cancer. The patents on electrospun nanofibers (US9393216B2), (US14146252), (WO2015003155A1) etc. helped in the selection of polymers and method for the preparation of nanofibers. METHODS: In the present study, the fabrication of nanofibers was done using a blend of chitosan with polyvinyl alcohol and processed using the electrospinning technique. 5-fluorouracil with known chemotherapeutic potential in the treatment of skin cancer was used as a drug carrier. 24-1 fractional factorial screening design was employed to study the effect of independent variables like the concentration of the polymeric solution, applied voltage (kV), distance (cm), flow rate (ml / hr) on dependent variables like % entrapment efficiency and fiber diameter. RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize fiber diameter and morphology. Results showed that the fiber diameter of all batches was found in the range of 100-200 nm. The optimized batch results showed the fiber diameter of 162.7 nm with uniform fibers. The tensile strength obtained was 190±37 Mpa. Further in vitro and ex vivo drug release profile suggested a controlled release mechanism for an extended period of 24 hr. The 5-fluorouracil loaded electrospun nanofibers were found to decrease cell viability up to ≥50% over 24 hr, with the number of cells dropping by ~ 10% over 48 hr. As the cell viability was affected by the release of 5-fluorouracil, we believe that electrospun nanofibers are a promising drug delivery system for the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) skin cancer. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the possibility of delivering 5-Fluorouracil loaded electrospun nanofiber to skin with enhanced encapsulation efficiency indicating the effectiveness of the formulation for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma type of skin cancer.

Recent Patents on Polymeric Electrospun Nanofibers and Their Applications in Drug Delivery.

BACKGROUND: In the recent years, polymeric nanofibers have gained lots of attention in the area of drug delivery applications. Owing to its simplicity, ease of composition method and high drug loading capacity, it provides various benefits for the therapeutic applications. Nanofibers are useful for the delivery of antibiotics, anticancer drugs, analgesic's agents and various proteins for drug delivery applications. Electrospinning method is widely used method for the preparation of nanofibers, based on their feasibility background for scale-up process from laboratory to the industrial applications. METHOD: A literature review was conducted to summarize the reported articles as well as patents that have been granted and filed for work related to nanofibers in drug delivery. Efforts have been made to include various types of research undertaken by the researchers for the fabrication of nanofiber and its application in drug delivery system. RESULTS: In this paper, a detailed information is reported about researches and developments related to electrospun polymer nanofibers including its fabrication process, structure, properties, characterization, applications, and patent. Amongst all the patents available, 18 most relevant granted patents and 14 filed patents was summarized in the review article. CONCLUSION: We expect that these fundamental applications of nanofibers could help the researchers to develop and gain knowledge about nanofibers in drug delivery application.