Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology最新文献

The study investigates the anticancer effects of green silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized from Viola cornuta extract combined with papaverine on breast cancer cells. Ag-NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, confirming their presence with UV-vis spectroscopy showing a peak at 413 nm and an average size of 42 nm via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. The particles demonstrated a face-centred cubic structure, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirming elemental composition. Additionally, the zeta potential measurement of -6.75 mV indicated favourable electrostatic repulsion between nanoparticles, thereby confirming their stability. Antioxidant activity was significant, with an EC₅₀ value of 38.78 μg/mL. The combination treatment of Ag-NPs and papaverine exhibited synergistic effects, lowering IC₅₀ values to 2.8 + 112.7 μg/mL for MCF-7 cells and 6.2 + 112 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231 cells, without toxicity to normal cells. Flow cytometry revealed G0/G1 phase inhibition and increased sub-G1 populations, indicating cell cycle arrest, alongside increased reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis. Notably, the experimental group showed altered expression of oncogenic and tumour suppressor microRNAs and apoptotic genes (p < .0001), underscoring the potential of this nanoparticle-papaverine combination as an effective anticancer strategy against breast cancer treatment resistance.

Spaceflight-related bone loss represents a critical health concern for astronauts undertaking prolonged space missions. This study investigated the mechanistic role of macrophage-derived exosomes in microgravity-induced bone loss using a simulated microgravity model. Phenotypic analysis of macrophages demonstrated that simulated microgravity promoted polarization towards the M2 phenotype and markedly suppressed the secretion of most pro-inflammatory cytokines. Exosomes were isolated and purified from macrophages cultured under normal gravity (1 g) and simulated microgravity (μg) conditions via ultracentrifugation. In vitro experiments revealed that exosomes from the μg group significantly inhibited the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and osteoblasts, without affecting cell migration. Subsequent in vivo studies involving tail-vein injection of exosomes into mice demonstrated a significant reduction in bone mass and impaired new bone formation in the μg group, exhibiting a distinct osteoporotic phenotype. Collectively, this study provides evidence at both cellular and animal levels that macrophage-derived exosomes play a role in microgravity-induced bone loss by inhibiting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and osteoblasts in a simulated microgravity environment. These findings offer a potential strategy for targeting the immune-bone metabolism axis to prevent spaceflight-associated osteoporosis.

Herein, we investigated the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activities of the organic layers from biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). AgNPs were synthesized using Musa paradisiaca and Musa sapientum extracts. UV-vis absorption in the 400-450 nm range indicated surface plasmonic resonance peak of AgNPs. Samples analyses using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of particles within nanometric ranges, with sizes of 30-140 nm and 8-40 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) unveiled the presence of several organic functional groups on the surface of AgNPs, indicating the presence of phytochemicals from plant extracts. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the phytochemicals (capping agents) from AgNPs identified multiple groups of secondary metabolites. These phytochemical capping agents exhibited antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 62.5 to 1000 µg/mL. Regardless of the bacterial species or plant parts (leaves or pseudo-stems), capping agents from M. sapientum nanoparticles displayed significantly enhanced antibacterial effectiveness compared to all other samples, including the raw plant extracts and biosynthesized capped and uncapped AgNPs. These results suggest the presence of antimicrobial phytochemicals on biosynthesized AgNPs, highlighting the promise of green nanoparticle synthesis as a valuable approach in bioprospecting antimicrobial agents.

Bacterial infections associated with healthcare are a challenge on a global scale due to the high morbidity and mortality rates, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant isolates. Hospital textiles are abiotic surfaces that may serve as a means of disseminating and persisting microorganisms in hospitals, as microorganisms can remain viable on these surfaces for up to months. In this study, we employed a green synthesis approach utilizing guava leaf extract (Psidium guajava) to produce silver nanoparticles, which were then incorporated into a cotton fabric. Antimicrobial properties and the cytotoxicity of the functional textile were assessed. The finding indicated that the green synthesis method was efficient and resulted in a predominant population of nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 25 to 84 nm that were uniformly dispersed in the textile. The functional textile exhibited low toxicity and high antimicrobial efficiency, even against multidrug-resistant microorganisms of particular concern in hospital settings. Atomic force microscopy carried out evidenced invaginations in the cell wall of bacteria submitted to this textile, suggesting surface damage as an important mechanism of action silver nanoparticles incorporated.

The signaling mechanisms active within mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) influence the composition of microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes (Exos) secreted by them. Previously, we showed that priming MSCs with a p38 pharmacological inhibitor (pMSCs) rejuvenates them and improves their ability to promote ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) expansion. This study examined whether pMSCs exerted HSC-supportive ability via MVs (pMVs) and Exos (pExos). Our findings demonstrate distinct regulation of HSC fate by pMVs and pExos. pMVs promoted the expansion of long-term HSCs (LT-HSCs), distinguished by their robust self-renewal capacity and superior engraftment ability. In contrast, pExos facilitated expansion of short-term HSCs (ST-HSCs) with high proliferative and differentiation potential. Infusing a combination of pMVs- and pExos-expanded HSCs as a composite graft resulted in significantly higher HSC engraftment, emphasizing the synergistic interaction between LT- and ST-HSC populations. Gene expression studies, functional and phenotypic experiments showed that pMVs regulate HSC quiescence via the Egr1/Cdkn1a axis, while pExos control HSC proliferation via the Nfya/Cdkn1a axis. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of HSC function by pMVs and pExos. It also proposes a composite graft strategy of using pMVs and pExos as "MSC-derived biologics" for improving the HSC transplantation success.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a significant global health issue, with high mortality rates. The chemotherapeutic drugs currently used for TNBC have significant side effects, impacting both normal and cancer cells. In this study, we investigated a potential use of fruit peel extract of Psidium guajava (PGP) encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) to combat TNBC. The synthesized PGP-CSNPs were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, TEM and GC-MS. The maximum loading capacity and encapsulation efficacy of PGP-CSNPs were found to be 72.5 ± 0.49% and 92.9 ± 0.10%, respectively. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed, and the IC₅₀ value for PGP-CSNPs was 50.13 µg/mL. It was observed that PGP-CSNPs could induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells in dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed for bioactive compounds retrieved from PGP-CSNPs against human tumour suppressor proteins Bcl2, and results showed that the PGP-CSNPs had lower binding energy than cisplatin. This suggests that, the synthesized PGP-CSNPs have the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent for tackling TNBC. However, to validate its efficacy in human therapy, furthermore pre-clinical and clinical procedures should be examined, as this is an ongoing and significant step towards developing an effective and safe anticancer drug.

Cartilage repair remains challenging due to limited self-healing, poor biocompatibility, and insufficient mechanical properties of current materials. To overcome these issues, we developed a multifunctional composite hydrogel by integrating gelatine methacrylate (GelMA) with magnesium-doped bioactive glass (Mg-BG) and icariin (ICA). SEM analysis revealed that pure GelMA exhibited a highly porous yet loosely organized structure, whereas the addition of Mg-BG and ICA produced a denser, more interconnected porous network that enhances cell adhesion and nutrient diffusion. In vitro, the ICA/Mg-BG/GelMA hydrogel achieved a swelling ratio up to 430% and maintained cell viability above 80% over 5 days. Moreover, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that the composite hydrogel upregulated chondrogenic markers (SOX9, ACAN, and COL2A1) compared with GelMA alone. Specifically, it downregulates M1 pro-inflammatory markers (CCR7, iNOS, CD86) and upregulates M2 anti-inflammatory markers (ARG1, CD163, CD206), thereby creating a regenerative microenvironment. These results indicate that the synergistic combination of GelMA, Mg-BG, and ICA not only improves the scaffold's mechanical support but also enhances its biological functionality, offering a promising strategy for cartilage repair. Future studies will focus on in vivo validation to further assess its clinical potential.