Evaluation of the effect of lecithin and nanolecithin in repairing membrane damage, maintaining membrane integrity, and improving human sperm function in the freezing-thawing process.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of lecithin nanoparticles on sperm quality during cryopreservation. METHODS: In phase one, sperm-freezing media were prepared with lecithin concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) and lecithin nanoparticles of various sizes (50-100, 100-200, and ≥ 200 nm). Post-thaw, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lipid peroxidation (measured by malondialdehyde, MDA), and DNA fragmentation were evaluated. In phase two, the acrosomal reaction was assessed in the best and worst-performing groups from phase one. DiI labeling detected interactions between lecithin nanoparticles and the sperm membrane. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) examined the sperm membrane's surface structure and lecithin binding sites. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) assessed height differences in the sperm surface layer in the best-performing group from phase one. RESULTS: The group treated with 1% lecithin nanoparticles (50-100 nm) showed significantly increased viability post-thaw compared to other groups, with reduced DNA fragmentation and MDA levels. While motility significantly decreased in all groups compared to before freezing levels, lower concentrations, and smaller particle sizes yielded better results. MMP also significantly decreased across all groups with no significant differences. The acrosomal reaction significantly decreased with 1% lecithin nanoparticles (50-100 nm) compared to the 2% (≥ 200 nm) group. DiI-labeled nanoparticles and FESEM revealed that lecithin nanoparticles primarily bound to and infiltrated the sperm membrane, particularly in the head and postacrosomal regions. CONCLUSIONS: Lecithin nanoparticles effectively bind to the sperm membrane, protecting it during the freeze-thaw process and improving sperm viability.

A Bibliometric and In Silico-Based Analysis of Anti-Lung Cancer Compounds from Sea Cucumber.

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world. However, current curative approaches for treating this type of cancer have some weaknesses. Therefore, scientists are attempting to discover new anti-lung cancer agents. Sea cucumber is a marine-derived source for discovering biologically active compounds with anti-lung cancer properties. To explore the anti-lung cancer properties of sea cucumber, we analyzed surveys using VOSviewer software and identified the most frequently used keywords. We then searched the Google Scholar database for compounds with anti-lung cancer properties within that keyword family. Finally, we used AutoDock 4 to identify the compounds with the highest affinity for apoptotic receptors in lung cancer cells. The results showed that triterpene glucosides were the most frequently identified compounds in studies examining the anti-cancer properties of sea cucumbers. Intercedenside C, Scabraside A, and Scabraside B were the three triterpene glycosides with the highest affinity for apoptotic receptors in lung cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that anti-lung cancer properties of sea cucumber-derived compounds have been examined in in silico conditions. Ultimately, these three components displayed anti-lung cancer properties in in silico conditions and may be used for the manufacture of anti-lung cancer agents in the near future.

Enhancing differentiation of menstrual blood-derived stem cells into female germ cells using a bilayer amniotic membrane and nano-fibrous fibroin scaffold.

Three-dimensional nanofiber scaffolds offer a promising method for simulating in vivo conditions within the laboratory. This study aims to investigate the influence of a bilayer amniochorionic membrane/nanofibrous fibroin scaffold on the differentiation of human menstrual blood mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MenSCs) into female germ cells. MenSCs were isolated and assigned to four culture groups: (i) MenSCs co-cultured with granulosa cells (GCs) using the scaffold (3D-T group), (ii) MenSCs using the scaffold alone (3D-C group), (iii) MenSCs co-cultured only with GCs (2D-T group), and (iv) MenSCs without co-culture or scaffold (2D-C group). Both MenSCs and GCs were independently cultured for two weeks before co-culturing was initiated. Flow cytometry was employed to characterize MenSCs based on positive markers (CD73, CD90, and CD105) and negative markers (CD45 and CD133). Additionally, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry were used to characterize the GCs. Differentiated MenSCs were analyzed using real-time PCR and immunostaining. The real-time PCR results demonstrated significantly higher levels of VASA expression in the 3D-T group compared to the 3D-C, 2D-T, and 2D-C groups. Similarly, the SCP3 mRNA level in the 3D-T group was notably elevated compared to the 3D-C, 2D-T, and 2D-C groups. Moreover, the expression of GDF9 was significantly higher in the 3D-T group when compared to the 3D-C, 2D-T, and 2D-C groups. Immunostaining results revealed a lack of signal for VASA, SCP3, or GDF9 markers in the 2D-T group, while some cells in the 3D-T group exhibited positive staining for all these proteins. These findings suggest that the combination of a bilayer amniochorionic membrane/nanofibrous fibroin scaffold with co-culturing GCs facilitates the differentiation of MenSCs into female germ cells.

Folate-modified and curcumin-loaded dendritic magnetite nanocarriers for the targeted thermo-chemotherapy of cancer cells.

A novel multifunctional nanoplatform constructed from methoxy-PEGylated poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) generation 3 dendrimers with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) entrapped in their core, containing curcumin as the payload drug and folic acid (folate) as the targeting ligand (abbreviated as FA-mPEG-PAMAM G3-CUR@SPIONs), is presented in this study. SPIONs entrapped in the core of the nanocomplex may act as a hyperthermia agent and generate localized heat upon excitation with an alternating magnetic field (AMF), thus enabling a thermo-chemotherapy strategy for cancer treatment. Accordingly, the cytotoxic effect and the mode of cell death triggered by the nanocomplex in combination with AMF were evaluated on two different cancer cell lines with various folate receptor (FR) expression levels, including KB nasopharyngeal cancer cells overexpressing FRs as the model and MCF-7 breast cancer cells with low level of FRs as the blank sample. The obtained results showed that KB cell death was greater than the cell death observed in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, a majority of cell death in both cell lines were related to apoptosis when the folate-modified nanocomplex was used instated of the non-folate-modified nanocomplex. Therefore, functionalizing the nanocomplex with folate modulated the response to thermo-chemotherapy by shifting the cell death pathways toward apoptosis.