Nanomedicine Research Journal
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Winter 2024

Streptokinase is being successfully used as a thrombolytic agent for restoring the blood flow following thromboembolism and myocardial infarction. However, high immunogenicity of the drug has limited its use in clinics. To overcome this limitation, several approaches including PEGylation, use of polymeric particles and liposomes have been suggested. Here, an overview of options for encapsulating the streptokinase has been provided. The suggested options in the literature include PEGylation, polymeric nano/micro-capsules and liposomes. In each approach, efficacy, side effect(s) and pharmacokinetic profile of streptokinase has been evaluated. The data show that while efficacy of streptokinase does not appear to change importantly, side effects and pharmacokinetics have been improved.

The objective of the study was to examine the antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory, and anti-leishmanial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from the extract of Phyllanthus emblica leaves.

UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, FESEM, and Zeta potential were used to examine the green synthesized nanoparticles. A DPPH free radical scavenging assay was used to study the antioxidant activity.  Anti-inflammatory activity was conducted to observe the inhibition of protein denaturation. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the anti-leishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani.

The UV–Vis spectroscopy study at the band of 440 nm confirmed the fabrication of nanoparticles. FTIR confirmed the ingredients in P. emblica leaf extract which is responsible for capping and reducing the AgNPs. FESEM reported the AgNPs synthesized in the size range of 40–50 nm. The results showed a simple and feasible approach for obtaining aqueous monodispersive AgNPs. Furthermore, the biological potential of the biosynthesized AgNPs was examined. Concerning this, the dose-dependent antioxidant potential of AgNPs was identified to be comparable to standard ascorbic acid. This also applies to the anti-inflammatory properties. The study findings indicate that all concentrations of AgNPs exhibit anti-leishmanial action. After being exposed for 72 hours, the concentration of 100 µg/mL of AgNPs exhibited the most potent anti-leishmanial activity, achieving 100% effectiveness. Further, the IC50 content of AgNPs on L. donovani after 24, 48, and 72 hours was calculated to be 45.88, 36.86, and 24.81 µg/mL, respectively.

The results stated that the synthesized AgNPs using P. emblica leaves have the most potent in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-leishmanial activity. Further investigation into its potential biomedical applications is needed.

One of the most potentially hazardous diseases, prostate cancer has a high morbidity and mortality rate. Polymeric matrix drug-eluting implants have become widely employed, and modeling their behavior is becoming more and more prominent. It is always difficult to achieve effective drug delivery and release of it into specific tumor sites. One of the most significant purposes of this investigation, is the enhancement of the anticancer effects of prostate cancer treatment by co-delivering anticancer multi-drugs with PU-PCL films. The films were recognized utilizing SEM  (scanning electron microscopy) while the material was being characterized. In addition, the MTT assay and flow cytometry (Annexin V/PI staining) have been employed to assess cell viability at various times. A dialysis approach was used to investigate the drug release characteristics of DOX and Ezetimibe in films in vitro for 5 days. To optimize pharmacokinetic profiles and reduce systemic toxicity induced by drugs, we loaded polymeric PU-PCL films with ezetimibe (EZ) and doxorubicin (DOX). Co-delivery of EZ and DOX via film-carrier demonstrated improved anticancer effects when compared to free drug delivery. The co-delivery of DOX and EZ drugs by PU-PCL films improved anticancer effects while reducing systemic toxicity, suggesting clinical usage of drug-resistant prostate cancer therapy.

The green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) can be achieved through the use of eco-friendly and readily available herbal extracts. In this particular study, the aqueous root extract of Biebersteinia multifidi (B. multifidi) plant was used to prepare pure zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as well as Ag-doped ZnO NPs (Ag/ZnO NPs) at concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10%. The physicochemical features of NPs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and UV-Vis spectrophotometer techniques. The findings exhibited that Ag ions were effectively doped in the ZnO structure based on PXRD and EDX analyses, while FESEM indicated that the obtained NPs were spherical with an increase in particle size as silver was introduced into the ZnO structure. To assess their cytotoxicity performance, MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was performed on brain glioblastoma cells (U87) using both pure ZnO NPs and Ag-doped ZnO NPs. The findings indicated that Ag-doped ZnO NPs had a higher toxicity on U87 cells compared to pure ZnO NPs, suggesting that doping can enhance the cytotoxic performance of ZnO NPs.

Populations suffer from chronic disorders especially hypothyroidism. To decrease thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and medicate hypothyroidism in patients were diagnosed with thyroid cancer and nodular thyroid disease, levothyroxine is utilized clinically.  Applications of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in various fields of medicine have attracted much attention. Loading levothyroxine onto the nanostructured Cu(II)-MOFs, Cu(II)-BTC, as well as subsequent drug release behavior were studied. Nanostructured Cu(II)-BTC was used to load and release the drug levothyroxine. The obtained results confirmed that besides effects regarding the stability and release of the levothyroxine in phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.4, 10 mM), surface characteristics would affect compounds affinity towards particles. The morphology investigation of the surface roughness was characterized by SEM and AFM. Drug loading amount was determined by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The drug release profiles are characterized by UV spectrophotometry in phosphate buffer solution (PBS), which confirms that they are released in their active form. The release of levothyroxine was studied by detecting in 7 days. The concentration of levothyroxine increased; it was achieved to normal limitation (12.5 μg mL-1). Based on the results, 10 μM concentration of levothyroxine was determined within 24 h as IC50 concentration in WJMSCs. A comparison of levothyroxine and loading levothyroxine showed that the amount of levothyroxine cytotoxicity was significantly higher than loading levothyroxine (P <0.05). Also, there were significant morphological changes such as shrinkage in treated cells with levothyroxine than loading levothyroxine.

Exosomes are nanovesicular vehicles capable of transporting different cargoes. Based on their characteristics, exosomes are proposed as a class of vehicles for targeted delivery of therapeutics. We aimed to establish a HEK293T stable cell line capable of secreting GRP78-specific scFv-targeted exosomes.

The pLEX-LAMP2b-GRP78 construct was developed by enzymatic replacement of DARPin in pLEX-LAMP2b-DARPin with a GRP78-specific scFv. pLEX-LAMP2b-GRP78 (or TurboGFP as control), psPAX2, and pMD2.G plasmids were co-transfected into HEK293T cells, and produced lentiviruses were harvested. Different multiplicities of infection (MOI; 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, and 240) were used for the transduction of HEK293T to select the most appropriate one as assessed by flow cytometry. Transduced HEK293T cells were subject to puromycin selection and the presence of the scFv was assessed in the established cell line at the DNA, transcript, and protein levels by PCR, RT-PCR, and Western blotting, respectively.

pLEX-LAMP2b-GRP78 was successfully developed. Co-transfection resulted in the expression of GFP by HEK293T in the control group 48 hours following transfection. The MOI of 60 was selected as 10% of cells were GFP+ 72 hours following transduction. Following puromycin selection, the presence of the integrated scFv DNA and transcript was confirmed. Moreover, Western blotting results confirmed the presence of the His-tagged scFv in the established cell line.

HEK293T cells can be engineered for the production of targeted exosomes which could be applied for therapeutic purposes. Moreover, scFvs are potent targeting domains that could be leveraged for the development of targeted exosomes.

In this work, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized by green tea plant extract as an easy, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and reliable synthesis. The silver nanocomposite with different amounts of starch (0.5, 1, 1.5 g) were prepared. Then, the methylene blue (MB) dye degradation and the antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite were evaluated as an environmental challenge.

The samples were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) for observation size and morphology, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) for determination elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for investigation functional groups, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) for confirmation crystalline structure.  The catalytic properties of the synthesized samples were studied in MB degradation. 

The maximum degradation (more than 90%) was related to Ag NP with 0.5 g of starch. The antibacterial activity of Ag NPs and nanocomposites was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as Gram-positive and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) as Gram-negative bacteria. The samples indicated inhibitory activity with suitable inhibition zone and were more effective against S. aureus as compared to P. aeruginosa. 

In general, the green synthesis of Ag NP-starch has good catalytic potential in MB degradation in an aqueous medium in a short time with high efficiency.

The research investigated the performances of pristine and Si-doped fullerenes (C20 and SiC19) as an adsorbent and sensor for the removal and detection of methyl paraben (MP) using density functional theory computations. The results indicated that MP interaction with C20 is experimentally impossible, endothermic, and non-spontaneous, suggesting that C20 is not an effective adsorbent for the removal of MP. On the other hand, MP adsorption on the surface of SiC19 is experimentally feasible, exothermic, spontaneous, and thermodynamically reversible, indicating that SiC19 could be a potential adsorbent for the removal of MP. The study also scrutinized the effects of water as the solvent and changing temperature on the thermodynamic parameters. The findings revealed that both parameters do not have any meaningful effects on the interactions in the case of both adsorbents. Additionally, the Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) analysis showed that SiC19is more conductive than C20. Moreover, the bandgap of C20 did not experience significant changes during the adsorption process, while the bandgap of SiC19 decreased from 5.840 eV to 3.270 eV. This implies that Si-doped fullerene can be utilized as a good electrocatalytic modifier for the electrochemical detection of methyl paraben. In conclusion, the research provides valuable insights into the potential use of Si-doped fullerene (SiC19) as an effective adsorbent and sensor for the removal and detection of methyl paraben.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant opportunistic bacterial pathogen, responsible for over 70% of human infections. The development of carbapenem resistance is considered a major risk to public health.

Cultivation of Klebsiella pneumonia isolates (100 samples) for phenotypic identification. Drug sensitivity was evaluated by disc diffusion method, and carbapenemase-producing isolates were identified by the mCIM and eCIM methods.  Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum were cultured and carbon dots were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The physicochemical properties of the carbon dots were investigated and their antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia isolates was determined.

After identifying Klebsiella pneumonia isolates, 70 carbapenem-resistant isolates were found among the samples. Of these, 41% were serine carbapenemase and 29% were metallo-beta-lactamase. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for synthesized carbon dots was observed to be around 50 mg/mL.

Due to their beneficial properties, carbon dots can be used as an antimicrobial agent to treat antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases. This group of nanoparticles exhibits high activity and can be proposed as a new strategy to combat resistant infections.

This study aimed to enhance the effectiveness and water solubility of Minoxidil (MXD) by producing its nanocrystal structure, which improves its vasodilator properties and promotes hair growth. In the current study, the hair growth-stimulating activity of the MXD nanoparticles (MXD-NPs) was compared with the hydroethanolic rosemary (RSY) extract on the C57BL/6 mice. The MXD-NPs were produced through a bead mill and ultrasonic process and characterized using various techniques. The cytotoxicity of MXD-NPs was studied on human dermal fibroblasts, and their hair growth-stimulating activity was analyzed in C57BL/6 mice. The results showed that MXD-NPs significantly increased the hair growth rate in mice compared to commercial MXD and hydroethanolic rosemary extract as they were delivered safely and specifically to the target pilosebaceous follicles. The follicular uptake of MXD-NPs was also increased compared to commercial MXD, leading to improved pilosebaceous follicle re-growth and hair growth in treated mice. Therefore, MXD-NPs have the potential to be a safe and efficient iso-formulation structure for hair growth promotion.