Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology最新文献

This study investigates the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Rosa damascena extract. . The objective is to assess the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the biosynthesized AuNPs and to evaluate their inhibitory effects on proteins associated with Parkinson's disease and experimental study incorporating in vitro biological assays, physicochemical characterization techniques and molecular docking analysis was also performed. Characterization tests were performed via UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta Potential, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, while antimicrobial efficacy was tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Cytotoxicity was evaluated the MTT assay. The biosynthesized AuNPs exhibited strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, along with reduced cytotoxicity in neuronal models. Molecular docking revealed favourable binding affinities of key phytoconstituents (such as quercetin, kaempferol and geranyl acetate) with neurodegenerative disease-associated proteins, supporting their potential therapeutic relevance. Rosa damascena-mediated green synthesis of AuNPs yields nanoparticles with promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, neuroprotective properties and the bioactive compounds of this plant demonstrate a highly significant impact on the inhibition of deleterious proteins and the preservation of neuronal integrity. These findings suggest the potential utility in treating neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease. .

Chitosan nanoparticles have been extensively utilised as polymeric drug carriers in nanoparticles formulations due to their potential to enhance drug delivery, efficacy, and safety. Numerous toxicity studies have been previously conducted to assess the safety profile of chitosan-based nanoparticles. These toxicity studies employed various methodologies, including test animals, interventions, and different routes of administration. This review aims to summarise research on the safety profile of chitosan-based nanoparticles in drug delivery, with a focus on general toxicity tests to determine LD50 and NOAEL values. It can serve as a repository and reference for chitosan-based nanoparticles, facilitating future research and further development of drugs delivery system using chitosan nanoparticles. Publications from 2014 to 2024 were obtained from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines were employed to evaluate the quality and risk-of-bias in the in vivo toxicity studies. The results demonstrated favourable toxicity profiles, often exhibiting reduced toxicity compared to free drugs or substances. Acute toxicity studies consistently reported high LD50 values, frequently exceeding 5000 mg/kg body weight, while subacute studies typically revealed no significant adverse effects. Various routes of administration varied, including oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, inhalation, and topical, each demonstrating promising safety profiles.

Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite found in water sources, causes toxoplasmosis, with no current protocols for inactivating its oocysts in water. Staphylococcus aureus, a significant bacterial pathogen, is known for causing various illnesses, including skin infections and biofilm-related diseases. This study investigated the antibacterial and antiparasitic properties of Ipomoea palmata leaf extract, rich in phenolics, against T. gondii tachyzoites and S. aureus. I. palmata extract significantly reduced tachyzoites count in peritoneal fluids and liver smears of infected mice with alleviation of toxoplasmosis-induced hepatitis. SEM showed surface irregularities in tachyzoites from treated groups. The extract demonstrated antibacterial action against S. aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 128 to 512 µg/mL, reduced biofilm formation from 69.23% to 15.38% of tested isolates, and downregulated biofilm genes (cna, fnbA, and ica) in 53.85% of isolates. Treatment with I. palmata extract improved liver architecture, reduced inflammation, and eliminated blood vessel congestion. The main phenolic acids identified by HPLC/UV analysis were chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and methyl gallate, while the predominant flavonoids were apigenin, quercetin, and naringenin. These findings highlight the potential of I. palmata extract as a natural antimicrobial and antiparasitic agent, warranting further research to isolate and evaluate its active compounds.

Tuberculosis (TB), primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a global health burden. Current antibiotic treatments are limited by adverse effects, poor adherence, and drug resistance, necessitating new therapeutic approaches. Recent studies highlight the role of vitamin D3 (VD3) in enhancing host immune responses against the mycobacterium via cathelicidin (an antimicrobial peptide) and autophagy activation. In this study, VD3-loaded poly-ƹ-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized to enhance cathelicidin expression in macrophages. NPs containing cholecalciferol, calcifediol, and calcitriol were synthesized using an emulsification solvent-evaporation technique. Average sizes of synthesized NPs ranged from 304.7 to 458.7 nm, with polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) ranging from 0.103 to 0.257 and -17.3 to -7.47 mV, respectively. Encapsulation efficiencies were 9.68%, 10.99%, and 19.28% for cholecalciferol, calcifediol, and calcitriol, respectively. VD3-encapsulated NPs stimulated a dose-dependent increase in cathelicidin expression in THP-1 macrophages. Encapsulated calcifediol and calcitriol (100 ng/ml) induced the expression of 243.46 ng/ml ± 4.55 ng/ml and 396.67 ng/ml ± 25.24 ng/ml of cathelicidin, respectively, which was significantly higher than that induced by the free drugs. These findings suggest that NP encapsulation may offer a more efficient approach to using vitamin D3 for inducing cathelicidin expression as a host-directed treatment for TB.

Gastric cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers globally due to delayed detection and limited treatment options, underscoring the critical need for innovative prognostic methods. Disulfidptosis, a recently discovered programmed cell death triggered by disulphide stress, presents a fresh avenue for therapeutic exploration. This research examines disulfidptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (DRLs) in gastric cancer, with the goal of leveraging these lncRNAs as potential markers to enhance patient outcomes and treatment approaches. Comprehensive genomic and clinical data from stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Employing least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, a prognostic model was devised incorporating five key DRLs to forecast survival rates. The effectiveness of this model was validated using Kaplan-Meier survival plots, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and extensive functional enrichment studies. The importance of select lncRNAs and the expression variability of genes tied to disulfidptosis were validated via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot tests, establishing a solid foundation for their prognostic utility. Analyses of functional enrichment and tumour mutation burden highlighted the biological importance of these DRLs, connecting them to critical cancer pathways and immune responses. These discoveries broaden our comprehension of the molecular framework of gastric cancer and bolster the development of tailored treatment plans, highlighting the substantial role of DRLs in clinical prognosis and therapeutic intervention.

Recent advances in photothermal therapy (PTT) using nanoparticles (NPs), particularly benzothiadiazole-based agents, offer promising strategies for targeted cancer treatment with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects. However, challenges such as poor stability and limited retention at the tumour site persist, necessitating the development of advanced delivery systems to optimize the effectiveness of these NPs in clinical applications. In this study, we synthesized a benzothiadiazole-based photothermal small molecule, BPD-BBTD NPs, with a median particle size of 116 nm. And subsequently incorporated them into a chitosan (CS) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) matrix to form a novel hydrogel, BPD-BBTD NPs @CS-HEC. The photothermal efficacy of both the NPs and the hydrogel against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was further explored. The photothermal conversion efficiency of BPD BBTD NPs small molecules can reach 40%. When the concentration is 400 μg/mL, the temperature can reach 75 °C after 3 min of NIR irradiation. The hydrogel's dense network structure was designed to effectively retain heat within its matrix, thus enhancing the photothermal effect and reducing heat dissipation. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that BPD-BBTD NPs significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells while exerting minimal cytotoxic effects on normal cells. The survival rates of mouse fibroblasts (L929) and human oral keratinocytes (Hok) were over 80%. Mechanistic investigations indicated that under near-infra-red (NIR) light irradiation, the NPs increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in OSCC cells. This ROS upregulation further led to apoptosis in OSCC cells, primarily through the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, a consequence of heat stress induced by NIR irradiation. Furthermore, the anti-tumour efficacy of BPD-BBTD NPs @CS-HEC hydrogel was validated using an in situ mouse model of OSCC. Furthermore, the relative change rate of tumour volume before and after treatment was reduced by 94.4%. In conclusion, our findings suggest that BPD-BBTD NPs @CS-HEC hydrogels, under the activation of NIR light, represent a promising biomaterial for the targeted treatment of OSCC, offering a synergistic approach by combining PTT with localized, sustained treatment delivery.

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria demands new antimicrobial strategies. Glyceryl monolaurate (GML) shows antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria like S. aureus but is ineffective against Gram-negative E. coli due to its outer membrane. GML's limited solubility and susceptibility to bacterial lipases hinder its direct use. This study developed glyceryl monooleate (GMO) lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LLCNPs) incorporating GML to enhance its stability and efficacy. Using a central composite design (CCD), an optimal GMO:GML:F127 mass ratio of 26.5:3.5:1.5 was achieved. Characterization via dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) confirmed the formation of bicontinuous cubic phase nanoparticles (Pn3m space group) with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic regions, enabling the incorporation of diverse agents and the presence of sponge-like nanoparticles. The optimized LLCNPs inhibited S. aureus growth at concentrations ≥10 µg/mL by disrupting its membrane potential but showed no activity against E. coli. Cytotoxicity studies indicated that GML incorporation did not significantly affect cell viability compared to pure GMO LLCNPs. This nanoparticle system offers a biocompatible solution for treating Gram-positive bacterial infections and may synergize with existing antibiotics, warranting further investigation into its mechanisms and therapeutic potential.