OpenNano最新文献

{"title":"Flexible asymmetric liposomes as a platform for improved plasmid DNA delivery: An in vitro study","authors":"Denisse Gardea-Gutiérrez ,&nbsp;Manuel Román-Aguirre ,&nbsp;Raúl Loera-Valencia ,&nbsp;Blanca Sánchez-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Yocanxóchitl Perfecto-Avalos ,&nbsp;Silvia L. Montes-Fonseca","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2026.100283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2026.100283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a versatile type of nanocarrier, liposomes have gained attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to encapsulate a wide range of compounds. Asymmetric liposomes are characterized by distinct lipid compositions in their inner and outer layers, enhancing drug encapsulation and stability. Surfactant compounds and ethanol confer the flexibility of liposomes in their lipid layer. This characteristic allows liposomes to deform without breaking or releasing their contents, enabling them to cross complex barriers, such as the skin. This research investigates the innovative design and application of flexible asymmetric liposomes for transdermal DNA delivery. By using an adapted inverse emulsion technique, this study successfully encapsulated plasmid DNA within flexible asymmetric liposomes to evaluate its biocompatibility and skin permeation capacity in an in vitro model. Several formulations of liposomes containing DOTMA, DOPE, and/or cholesterol as the inner layer and DSPC, Span80, and/or ethanol as the outer layer were assessed through viability assay, transfection efficiency, and permeability testing using the Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA). All formulations demonstrated over 69% cell viability at a concentration of 5 μg, and transfection efficiency was significantly enhanced, reaching transfection rates of 32.37% ±3.32% in liposomes with all components. Permeability testing showed that the liposomal formulations exhibited high permeability, further improved by including ethanol and surfactants. Key findings indicate that cholesterol, Span 80, and ethanol substantially contribute to transfection rates and permeation. This research underscores the potential of flexible asymmetric liposomes for effective transdermal delivery of genetic material.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100283"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transfersomal gel loading of amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite product for diabetic wound healing in alloxan-induced diabetic mice","authors":"Andang Miatmoko ,&nbsp;Dzihni Nahdliyyati ,&nbsp;Sherly Maidasari ,&nbsp;Tristiana Erawati ,&nbsp;Dini Retnowati ,&nbsp;Khoo Boon Yin ,&nbsp;Margaret Ahmad ,&nbsp;Djoko Legowo ,&nbsp;Noorma Rosita","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2026.100282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2026.100282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite product (AMSC-MP), a metabolite derived from cell cultures, contains cytokines and growth factors that support skin regeneration, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers. However, because of their large molecular size, AMSC-MPs cannot effectively penetrate the skin’s primary barrier, the stratum corneum. To address this issue, transfersomes have been developed as flexible vesicular carriers capable of delivering active compounds through intercellular gaps. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of AMSC-MP transfersomes and their wound healing efficacy in a mouse model of diabetes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Transfersomes (Ts), composed of <span>l</span>-alpha phosphatidylcholine and sodium cholate, were prepared in different AMSC-MP concentrations, 5% (T-5) and 25% (T-25), using the thin-film hydration method, and hyaluronic acid (HA) was added.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The results showed that the addition of HA increased particle size, polydispersity index, and pH, while reducing zeta potential, and maintaining high entrapment efficiency. In vivo wound healing evaluation showed that the T-25 HA gel formulation achieved the highest wound contraction percentage, followed by T-5 HA, THA, Blank gel, free AMSC-MPs (25% and 5%), and transfersomes without HA. Histopathological observations and collagen density analyses confirmed that HA improved healing by enhancing tissue regeneration, epithelialization, and collagen deposition.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In conclusion, the AMSC-MP transfersomal gel, particularly the 25% formulation with HA, demonstrated the most effective wound-healing performance and showed strong potential as a therapeutic strategy for chronic diabetic wounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100282"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and in vitro evaluation of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems liquisolid lozenges of ibuprofen via design of experiments for solubility enhancement and oral epithelial cell permeation","authors":"Sukannika Tubtimsri,&nbsp;Poonsak Charoensak,&nbsp;Apichaya Sukontachard,&nbsp;Yotsanan Weerapol","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2026.100281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2026.100281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ibuprofen lozenges were developed by converting liquid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (L-SEDDS) into liquisolid compacts (LSCs) to enhance aqueous solubility, support local anti-inflammatory action in the oral and throat regions, and reduce gastrointestinal irritation. The solubility of ibuprofen in oils and nonionic surfactants was evaluated. Tween 60 showed the highest solubility (285.53 ± 19.31 mg/g), whereas Imwitor® 742 (135.12 ± 0.21 mg/g) provided a suitable oil phase. L-SEDDS composed of ibuprofen, Tween 60, and Imwitor® 742 (9:1, w/w) formed nanoemulsions in simulated salivary fluid (SSF) with droplet sizes of approximately 200 nm. The L-SEDDS was loaded onto polyvinylpyrrolidone, magnesium aluminosilicate, sucrose, or F-Melt® C (FMC) to obtain LSC lozenges. A three-factor Box–Behnken design was employed to investigate the effects of L-SEDDS level, PVP content, and diluent type on tablet hardness and mean dissolution time (MDT). Suitable sucrose-LSC (Run7) and FMC-LSC (Run13) formulations showed rapid dissolution in SSF, with MDT values of 6.59 ± 0.15 and 5.91 ± 0.13 min, respectively, compared with 45.34 ± 1.11 min for ibuprofen powder. In a KON cell monolayer model, L-SEDDS and FMC-LSC (Run13) increased the apparent permeability coefficient of ibuprofen by approximately 3.6- and 3.5-fold, respectively, compared with ibuprofen powder. Both formulations maintained ibuprofen content, droplet size, dissolution behavior, and mechanical strength after 6 months of storage under both ambient and accelerated conditions. These results indicate that L-SEDDS-based LSC lozenges, particularly the FMC formulation, provide a stable dosage form that improves dissolution and mucosal permeation of poorly water-soluble ibuprofen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100281"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advancements in drug nanocrystals: Innovation in formulation and drug delivery","authors":"Karan Vishwakarma ,&nbsp;Preha Handa ,&nbsp;Wena Shafeeq Tawfeeq ,&nbsp;Mohammed Ahmed Hassan","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drug nanocrystals typically range in size smaller than 100 nm and have been used to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of various poorly water-soluble drugs, also enabling controlled release and specific drug delivery. They present several advantages, including high drug loading capacity and rapid dissolution, leading to quick absorption. Recent advances in the manufacturing of nanocrystals have emerged beyond traditional bottom-up and top-down methods. However, they have limitations, such as poor stability and safety concerns, that still need to be further explored. This review not only summarizes nanocrystal production and applications but also critically evaluates translational challenges, regulatory complexities, and emerging tools such as AI-enabled formulation design and personalized nanomedicine. Hence, this review will provide a detailed explanation of the various modifications carried out in the process of manufacturing drug nanocrystals, with their characterization and applications in drug delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100277"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Green-fabricated CRL-AgNPs from Catharanthus roseus","authors":"Rokshana Ara Ruhi ,&nbsp;Sk. Md. Atiqur Rahman ,&nbsp;Mobasshir Noor Shehab ,&nbsp;Md. Roqunuzzaman ,&nbsp;Mohammad Saiful Islam ,&nbsp;Md. Ragib Shariar ,&nbsp;Md. Mahmudul Hasan Maruf ,&nbsp;Firoz Ahmed ,&nbsp;M Ahasanur Rabbi ,&nbsp;Syed Rashel Kabir ,&nbsp;Ananda Kumar Saha ,&nbsp;Md. Anwarul Kabir Bhuiya ,&nbsp;Md. Abu Reza","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite the promise of green nanotechnology, the synthesis reproducibility with consistent pharmacological activity remains the key challenge. Therefore, the current project aimed to biosynthesize AgNPs using aqueous leaf extract of <em>Catharanthus roseus</em> as a reducing and capping agent to discover novel therapeutic leads. To attain this target, synthesis of <em>C. roseus</em> leaf-mediated AgNPs (CRL-AgNPs) was optimized using a 2⁴ full factorial design, which yielded a highly significant and predictive statistical model. CRL-AgNPs synthesis was confirmed through chromism and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Further characterization by DLS, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, and EDX revealed an average particle size of 55.78±13.2 nm with high colloidal stability, scoring a zeta-potential of -54.5±0.57 mV. EDX study validated the elemental composition of synthesized CRL-AgNPs, demonstrating that a strong silver signal accounted for 84.09% of the weight. Cytotoxicity assessments using the MTT assay revealed a dose-dependent inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation, with an IC₅₀ value of 8.033μg/mL, indicating their potent anticancer activity. Furthermore, their anti-proliferative efficacy was validated <em>in vivo</em> on EAC cells bearing a mouse model, demonstrating that intra-peritoneal administration of CRL-AgNPs significantly reduced cancer cell growth by 63.20%. Apoptosis was ascertained by nuclear staining and gene expression, with upregulation of p53 and BAX and downregulation of Bcl2 and NF-κβ. Histopathology confirmed selective tissue protection for vital organs in treated mice. Therefore, these findings establish CRL-AgNPs as a sustainable, reproducible, and mechanistically validated nanoparticle that integrates green chemistry with functional biomaterials design, advancing the translational nanotherapeutic development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100278"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enantiomeric lysine-based cationic lipids: Design, synthesis, and characterization for in vitro gene delivery","authors":"Berenice Erendira Oseguera-Guerra ,&nbsp;Oliver Lopez-Villegas ,&nbsp;Manuel Román-Aguirre ,&nbsp;Alfredo Aguilar-Elguezabal ,&nbsp;Raúl Loera-Valencia ,&nbsp;Silvia Lorena Montes-Fonseca","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nucleic acid delivery is crucial for gene therapy, vaccination, and cancer treatment. Despite advances in cationic lipid-based vectors, their transfection efficiency is often limited by structural complexity. In this study, we synthesized lysine-based cationic lipids by esterifying <span>d</span>- or <span>l</span>-lysine with alcohols of varying chain lengths. The compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, incorporated into liposomes, and evaluated for transfection efficiency, particle size, morphology, and cytotoxicity <em>in vitro.</em> Transfection performance increased with chain length, peaking at 20 carbons, with no significant differences between <span>d</span>- and <span>l</span>-enantiomers. Compared to Lipofectamine 2000, the optimized liposomes showed superior gene delivery while preserving cell viability. They displayed predominantly spherical to oval morphologies, particle sizes of 30–130 nm, and negligible cytotoxicity. These results suggest lysine-based cationic lipids are promising, safe, and effective nonviral vectors for nucleic acid delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100280"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145904056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of new delivery systems of hyaluronic acid based on silica hydrogels: In vitro kinetics of release and enzymatic degradation of the drug","authors":"Ekaterina Dolinina,&nbsp;Elena Parfenyuk","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a well-known anti-inflammatory drug that is widely used clinically to treat various diseases and as a component in cosmetic products. However some properties of HA (rapid release and enzymatic degradation) significantly reduce its functioning in the body and, consequently, its therapeutic effect. To develop new soft delivery system of HA with improved functional properties, the drug was encapsulated into silica hydrogels with various surface chemistry of silica matrix. The hydrogels of silica modified with aminopropyl and mercaptopropyl groups, as well as unmodified silica were studied as HA carriers. The effects of silica matrix modification, average molecular weight and concentration HA on the kinetics of its release from the formed composite hydrogels, as well as enzymatic degradation were revealed in vitro. It was found that the encapsulation of HA into silica hydrogels significantly slows down release process of the acid and, in most cases, its enzyme-induced degradation. The release controlled by delayed (pseudo-Fickian) diffusion as well as the protective effect of the silica hydrogel matrixes on the enzymatic degradation showed that the silica hydrogels are promising materials for creation of new soft formulations of HA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 100279"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study of various forms of propolis nanoparticles and their antibacterial effectiveness","authors":"Ammar Fadhil ,&nbsp;Sriwidodo ,&nbsp;Khaled M. Elamin ,&nbsp;Ahmed Fouad Abdelwahab Mohammed ,&nbsp;Safwat A Mahmoud ,&nbsp;Nasrul Wathoni","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100276","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Most bacteria are beneficial to human health, but some have pathogenic properties. Pathogenic bacteria cause diseases in the host by directly damaging tissues or cells during replication via toxin production. Propolis nanoparticles is a method that has the potential to be an effective antibacterial. Advantages of using nanotechnology include boosting the drug delivery system and absorption of active herbal medicine substances, which have poor bioavailability owing to their high molecular weight, improved solubility, rapid penetration with low cytotoxicity, reduced drug dosage, and fewer side effects. This study reviews the literature on the effectiveness of propolis in various forms of nanoparticle technology as an antibacterial agent, which may help researchers to develop nanoparticle technology in the pharmaceutical industry. We conducted this research using search engines, including Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, with the keywords \" Nanoparticles,”\" Propolis,”and \"Antibacterial,” without limiting the year of publication. We conducted a search between April and June 2025. They related the reviewed articles to knowledge of nanoparticle use. Propolis is a natural resinous substance produced by honeybees in various forms. These parameters were used to extract 1699 articles, which were reviewed and examined. The study identified eight types of propolis nanoparticles with antibacterial properties: nanoemulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), nanosheets, metal nanoparticles, chitosan nanoparticles, nanoencapsulation, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), and polymer nanoparticles. The effectiveness of antibacterial propolis nanoparticles varies agents. The metallic form of propolis nanoparticles is the most effective nanoparticles. Metallic propolis nanoparticles can inhibit 19 types of bacteria and can be applied in eight different forms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100276"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrogel film-forming spray formulation containing propolis-based nanostructured lipid carriers of α-mangostin for diabetic wound repair","authors":"Cecep Suhandi ,&nbsp;Gofarana Wilar ,&nbsp;Ahmed Fouad Abdelwahab Mohammed ,&nbsp;Muchtaridi Muchtaridi ,&nbsp;Shaharum Shamsuddin ,&nbsp;Sabreena Safuan ,&nbsp;Ronny Lesmana ,&nbsp;Nurhasni Hasan ,&nbsp;Khaled M. Elamin ,&nbsp;Nasrul Wathoni","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diabetic wounds are difficult to treat due to persistent inflammation, delayed tissue repair, and high susceptibility to infection. α-Mangostin (αM), a xanthone with strong anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, shows improved solubility and therapeutic performance when encapsulated in propolis-based nanostructured lipid carriers (Nanopropolis-αM). Incorporating these nanoparticles into a hydrogel film-forming spray (HFFS) offers uniform application and sustained delivery. This study aimed to formulate, characterize, and evaluate an αM-loaded propolis-based NLC HFFS (HFFS-Nanopropolis-αM). The spray was prepared using chitosan, Carbopol 940, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Physicochemical evaluations included pH, viscosity, spray angle, weight uniformity, particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized formulation also underwent TEM imaging, in vitro release testing, cytocompatibility assessment using the WST-8 assay in NIH-3T3 cells, and 14-day in vivo wound-healing studies in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The optimal HFFS containing 0.1 % Carbopol 940 exhibited suitable pH (7.30 ± 0.01), viscosity (19.97 ± 2.12 mPa.s), spray angle (62.02 ± 3.83°), film formation time (113.000 ± 11.372 s), particle size (85.17 ± 2.55 nm), zeta potential (−13.90 ± 2.18 mV), and entrapment efficiency (91.31 ± 0.58 %). It showed good 28-day stability and followed Higuchi release kinetics (R² = 0.998). Cytocompatibility was acceptable at experimentally testable concentrations, and the viability value at the intended dose reflects a modeled estimate due to assay dilution limits. In vivo, HFFS-Nanopropolis-αM significantly accelerated wound closure (99.53 ± 1.04 %) compared with silver sulfadiazine (89.24 ± 3.04 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), supported by improved histological regeneration. Overall, the formulation demonstrates strong promise for diabetic wound management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100275"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diosgenin-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles produced using Hibiscus tiliaceus leaf extract: evaluation of anticancer and antibacterial activities","authors":"Oktavina Kartika Putri ,&nbsp;Dewi Wulansari ,&nbsp;Arif Fadlan ,&nbsp;Mardi Santoso ,&nbsp;Hesti Lina Wiraswati ,&nbsp;Yuly Kusumawati","doi":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.onano.2025.100274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diosgenin is a potentially safer treatment for breast cancer. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO<img>NPs) can overcome their limited water solubility. This study was undertaken to prepare and characterize ZnO<img>NPs and ZnO<img>NP@dios (ZnO<img>NPs loaded with diosgenin), to examine their cytotoxicity against MCF-7 (breast cancer cells), and to test their antimicrobial activity against <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. The research began with the phyto-production of ZnO<img>NPs using <em>Hibiscus tiliaceus</em> leaf extract media, followed by the preparation of ZnO<img>NP@dios. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) were performed for the characterization of the nanoparticles. The cytotoxic response induced by ZnO<img>NPs and ZnO<img>NP@dios was analyzed using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-diazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. The agar well diffusion method was utilized to assess antibacterial activity. The ZnO<img>NPs were highly pure and revealed hexagonal and rod-shaped appearances, with nanoscale sizes (45–125 nm). FTIR analysis confirmed the successful preparation of ZnO<img>NP@dios, as evidenced by the distinct absorption band at 1570 cm⁻¹, while TEM images revealed a thin coating layer surrounding the ZnO<img>NPs. Cytotoxicity assays against MCF-7 cells showed dose-dependent inhibition, with diosgenin-functionalized composites demonstrating greater potency. ZnO<img>NPs_MA@dios (ZnO<img>NPs derived from <em>H. tiliaceus</em> methanol extract, with zinc acetate precursor and loaded with diosgenin) exhibited the most substantial effect (reducing its IC₅₀ from 48.2 to 37.2 µg/mL). Similarly, diosgenin loading improved the activity of ZnO<img>NPs_1:1 _N (ZnO<img>NPs derived from <em>H. tiliaceus</em> water:ethanol 1:1 (v/v) extract, zinc nitrate precursor), reducing its IC₅₀ from 98.8 to 46.7 µg/mL. The inhibition zones against <em>E. coli</em> were 13, 14, 16, 14, 12, and 11 mm for ZnO<img>NPs_MA (ZnO<img>NPs derived from <em>H. tiliaceus</em> methanol extract, zinc acetate precursor), ZnO<img>NP_MA@dios, ZnO<img>NPs_1:1 _N, ZnO<img>NP_1:1N@dios (ZnO<img>NPs derived from <em>H. tiliaceus</em> water: ethanol of 1:1 (v/v) extract, zinc nitrate precursor and loaded with diosgenin), ZnO_com (commercial ZnO), and ZnO_com@dios (commercial ZnO loaded with diosgenin), respectively. In the case of <em>S. aureus</em>, no inhibition zone was observed. These findings highlight that diosgenin-functionalized ZnO<img>NPs can enhance anticancer efficacy. All types of ZnO<img>NPs and ZnO<img>NP@dios have potential as antibacterial agents against <em>E. coli,</em> but were ineffective against <em>S. aureus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37785,"journal":{"name":"OpenNano","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100274"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}