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Immunotherapy has lately become the most preferred cancer treatment method, and for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) first‐line treatment, there are many immunotherapy options. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and toxicity of paclitaxel (PTX), docetaxel (DTX) chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment (durvalumab; DVL), and their combination in NSCLC. A‐549 cells were treated with DVL in combination with PTX and DTX (a quarter of the IC50) to investigate their anticancer effects on these cells. The MTT assay, wound healing tests, and double‐staining with Annexin V/PI were used to assess the cell viability, apoptosis, and migration. The results showed that a combination of 0.35 mg/mL DVL with 6.5 μg/mL PTX and 1.75 μg/mL DTX produced a synergistic effect with CI values of 0.88, 0.37, and 0.81, respectively. Moreover, the PTX + DTX + DVL combination led to a significantly increased apoptotic rate up to 88.70 ± 3.39% in the A549 cell line compared to monotherapy (p <.001). In addition, we found that the combination therapy with these agents increased the expression level of Bax, Cas‐3, p53, and Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio in all experimental groups. In conclusion, the results suggest that combining anti‐PD‐L1 antibody therapy with chemotherapy may provide a promising approach to enhance treatment outcomes and be a potentially efficacious strategy for treating NSCLC patients. Further research and clinical investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and validate the therapeutic potential of these compounds in vivo. Significance statement: In this study, durvalumab (DVL), an immune checkpoint inhibitor, has been proposed to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of the taxane family. The results illustrate that DVL improved taxane family‐mediated cytotoxicity in the non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line. The triple medication (paclitaxel [PTX], docetaxel [DTX], and DVL) combination therapy altered the cell proliferation in the NSCLC cells and showed a synergistic antitumoral effect, which contributes to taxane family‐mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The combination potential benefit in the NSCLC treatment is the study's most significant discovery. Combining PTX, DTX, and DVL increased apoptosis by activating apoptotic pathways, and arrested cells in the G2/M phase. Also, the triple medication combination significantly reduced cell migration and invasion. Our findings also point to the possibility of increasing the overall anticancer effectiveness of DTX or PTX in NSCLC by adding anti‐PD‐L1 treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common pathogen that causes chronic lung infections and recurrence of the disease in cystic fibrosis patients by hiding inside cells and biofilm matrix. Herein, we developed gentamicin and curcumin-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticle- (termed CG-HNPs) to evaluate in vitro activities against biofilm-embedded P. aeruginosa and compared with lipid nanoparticles containing the same drugs (CG-Lip). The nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, which demonstrated that HNPs with a diameter of approximately 340 nm were uniform. The optimal CG-HNPs formulation illustrated high encapsulation (∼70%) and controlled release characteristics (gradually released in 72 h). The antibacterial activities of generated nanoparticles are maintained against planktonic and biofilm bacteria and it is effective in damage established biofilms. Besides, HNPs were biocompatible and nontoxic to J774 and HFF cell lines and uptake by the macrophages (J774), which facilitated the killing of intracellular bacteria in macrophages. These results introduced CG-HNPs as a promising antibacterial agent for the treatment of chronic infections and intracellular bacteria due to excellent antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) is one of the main source of oxidative stress and a typical marker of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated diseases. Therefore, selective detection and scavenging of overproduced H 2 O 2 provide enormous benefits to the successful treatment of ROS-related diseases. The authors took advantage of this property to detect cancer cells using chemiluminescent peroxyoxalate reaction. Here, a new contrast agent presented for hydrogen peroxide, termed peroxyoxalate liposomes, which detect hydrogen peroxide through chemiluminescence reaction, and have the physical/chemical properties needed for imaging applications. The peroxyoxalate liposomes are composed of Bis (2, 4, 6-trichlorphenyl) oxalate (TCPO) and curcumin as fluorophore. Experimental factors such as TCPO, imidazole, hydrogen peroxide and curcumin concentration were optimized. Moreover, application of curcumin makes it possible to design a system for selective tumor destruction. In the reaction of peroxyoxalate, it acts as an oxalate activator with intracellular hydrogen peroxide and experiences excitation as a result of the reaction. In addition, curcumin also acts as a photosensitizer (PS) causing cell damage. In the optimum conditions, the measurable concentration range of 0.86–220 μM of hydrogen peroxide were evaluated from the linear calibration curve with satisfactory RSD% and corresponding detection limits of 650 nM. Therefore, it has the sensitivity needed to detect physiological concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, cellular uptake experiments showed that the liposomes enhance extravasation into permeable membranes and significantly increased the bioavailability of curcumin. Graphical abstract Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) reaction with endogenous H 2 O 2 results in light emission of curcumin. Image 1 Highlights • Chemiluminescent liposomes as a carrier for PO-CL reaction in water environment. • Curcumin-loaded in liposome possessed increased bio-accessibility and sensitized in PO-CL system. • PO-CL reaction has sensitivity and selectivity for detection of tumour cells under oxidative stress. • The chemiluminescent liposomes detect hydrogen peroxide at nanomolar concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein (P -glycoprotein) that expressed in a large scale on the surface membrane of breast cancer cells. The CD44 receptor has been employed for various medial aims such as imaging, drug delivery, and etc. In the present work, the surface of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (cit-AuNPs) was modified with magnetic polydopamine nanoparticles to provide fluorescent nanocomposite and amine groups for attachment to hyaluronic acid (HA) molecules. HA molecules have been bonded to the surface of fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles (FPNPs) via the formation of amide bonds between carboxyl (COOH) group of HA and amine groups of the FPNPs. Due to the presence of the HA molecules, the MNPs-FPNPs/AuNPs/HA can attach to the CD44-overexpressed MCF-7 cells with high specificity and could be employed for bioimaging aims. Fluorescence microscopy was applied for bioimaging of the MNPs-FPNPs/AuNPs/HA internalized cancer cells. Obtained results offered that the MNPs-FPNPs/AuNPs/HA can especially and efficiently internalize to the cells and differentiate CD44-positive cancer cells and normal cells of HFFF-2 cells. Also, the MNPs-FPNPs/AuNPs/HA has a biocompatible nature with the toxic levels around 250 μg/mL levels. As a conclusion, the MNPs-FPNPs/AuNPs/HA is a good candidate for specific bioimaging applications of CD44−overexpressed MCF-7 cancer cells with high physicochemical stability and advantageous spectral features. [Display omitted] • Hyaluronic acid-magnetic fluorescent polydopamine/gold-based fluorescence probe was developed. • The probe can bind to the CD44-positive MCF-7 cells with specific manner. • The probe could be utilized for in vitro bioimaging of MCF-7 cancer cells. • The probe are biocompatible with high internalization ability towards CD44-positive cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-nano scale surface modification of Ti-6Al-4V was investigated through the fascinated modern fiber engraving laser method. The process was performed at a high laser speed of 2000 mm/s, under different laser frequencies (20–160 kHz) and groove distances (0.5–50 μm). Topographic evaluations such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to identify the quality and regularity of patterns. The proliferation of human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells (MG63) was analyzed by MTT assay for up to 72 h. Also, the plate counting method was used to quantify the viability potential of the modified surface against Escherichia coli bacteria. The cellular viability of the sample modified at the laser frequency of 20 kHz and grooving distance of 50 μm increased up to 35 and 10% compared to the non-treated and control samples, respectively. In the case of the surface modification at lower grooving distances range between 0.5–50 μm, the maximum laser frequency (160 kHz) applied leads to lower pulse's energies and less bacterial adhesion. Otherwise, at groove distances more than 50 μm, the minimum laser frequency (20 kHz) applied reduces the laser pulse overlaps, increases the cell adhesion and antibacterial properties. Surface modification by the fiber engraving laser process significantly enhances the cell adhesion on the surface. As a result of such roughness and cell adhesion enhancement, the surface toxicity feature diminished, and its antibacterial properties improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites have attracted much attention in biomedical and catalytic fields due to their outstanding water dispersibility, cell permeability, high mobility of charge carriers, etc. This article reports the successful synthesis of GO–Co3O4 and phytic acid (PA)-modified GO–Co3O4 (GO–Co3O4–PA) nanocomposites by a facile hydrothermal method and studies of their antiproliferative properties. Various analyses were performed to characterize the synthesized nanocomposites. XRD revealed the characteristic crystallinity of GO–Co3O4 and GO–Co3O4–PA. FT-IR spectroscopy identified the different functional groups of nanocomposites. FE-SEM, AFM, EDX, and DLS analyses of GO–Co3O4–PA demonstrated multigonal particles with an average size of 837 nm on the basal planes of GO with signatures of Co and P. The zeta potential was −49.9 mV for GO–Co3O4–PA, which showed the moderate stability of nanocomposites. The Raman spectra of GO–Co3O4 and GO–Co3O4–PA nanocomposites indicated an increase in the surface defect density of GO due to the adsorption of Co3O4 and PA on the surface of GO. The use of nanocomposites for targeted breast cancer therapy was evaluated via an MTT assay. GO–Co3O4–PA showed considerable cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 12.94 μg mL−1 towards the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), which was five times lower than that of GO–Co3O4 (64.36 μg mL−1). As an anticancer agent, PA enhances the interaction of MCF-7 cell lines with nanocomposites and leads to higher cytotoxicity. MTT cytotoxicity, Annexin V/PI double staining, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were performed. The GO–Co3O4–PA nanocomposite is a promising candidate for breast cancer therapy. Quantum mechanical calculations based on the DFT-D correction and PA adsorption on GO and GO–Co3O4 (1 0 0) in the presence of water were done in the adsorption locator module. Free energy calculations showed that adsorption is a spontaneous and more favorable process. Molecular docking studies were conducted to investigate the interaction of compounds on human topoisomerase IIα bound to DNA (4fm9) and Bcl-2 protein. The results indicated that GO–Co3O4–PA could properly dock into more amino acids with high negative energy scores and confirmed the MTT data. Moreover, GO–Co3O4–PA nanocomposites exhibited excellent catalytic ability towards the Biginelli reaction and showed significant advantages including excellent yields, mild reaction conditions, and short reaction times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two Pd(II) complexes, [Pd(bipy)(mtzt) 2 ] (1) and [Pd(5,6-dmphen)(mtzt) 2 ] (2), were synthesized and fully characterized. • According to the single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, central Pd(II) ions in 1 and 2 have a slightly distorted square-planar geometry. • The anti-tumor properties of Pd(II) complexes were evaluated as in vitro anti-proliferative activity by MTT assay in human breast cancer cell lines. • The interaction of the complexes with DNA have been performed. Complexes [Pd(bipy)(mtzt) 2 ] (1) and [Pd(5,6-dmphen)(mtzt) 2 ] (2) (where Hmtzt, bipy and 5,6-dmphen are 1-methyl-1 H -1,2,3,4-tetrazole-5-thiol, 2,2′-bipyridine and 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, respectively) were synthesized by the reaction of a mixture of Hmtzt and 2,2′-bipyridine (1) or 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2) with Pd(II) chloride. Complexes 1 and 2 were fully characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, IR, UV–Vis, luminescence spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. According to single-crystal X-ray diffraction, central Pd(II) ions in 1 and 2 have a slightly distorted square-planar geometry, involving the S atoms from two mptrz− ligands and two nitrogen atoms from bipy (complex 1) and 5,6-dmphen (complex 2) ligands (τ 4 = 0.09 for 1 and 0.07 for 2). Additionally, some well-known non-covalent intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding (complexes 1 and 2), π–π (complexes 1 and 2), and ring-metal interactions (complex 2) have also been involved in these complexes. These kinds of interactions have been observed to be responsible for the formation of the 3D supramolecular structure. The luminescence properties of the free ligand, as well as the complexes 1 and 2 , were investigated in solution. The interaction of the complexes with DNA was investigated by UV–Vis absorption spectra. The results indicate that complexes bind to DNA and the intrinsic binding constant (K b) of complexes 1 and 2 were about 2.19 × 105 and 1.51 × 105 M−1, respectively. Gel electrophoresis assay demonstrates the ability of the complexes to bind the plasmid DNA. The anti-tumor properties of Pd(II) complexes were evaluated as in vitro anti-proliferative activity by MTT assay in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, SKBR-3, and MDA-MB-231). It suggests that complex 2 might dedicate important anti-tumor properties and 5,6-dmphen ligand has an important effect on cytotoxicity, so complex 2 shows IC 50 value in μM range as effective as cisplatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method based on fluorescent probe of iron quantum cluster has been proposed for rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The iron quantum cluster was synthesized using hemoglobin as both a source of iron and a protective agent (Hb-FeQCs). The investigation of the sensitivity of Hb-FeQCs towards metal ions showed a highly selective turn off fluorescence for Cu2+. It suggests that Cu2+ can induce fluorescence quenching by binding to amino acids of Hb. The ability of E. coli bacteria to capture and reduce of Cu ions caused to efficient recovery of the fluorescence of Hb-FeQCs from Cu2+-caused quenching. This probe has a satisfactorily linear range of 0.35–35 μM for Cu2+ under the optimal iron quantum cluster concentration (500 μg/mL) with an 85 nM detection limit. Rapid and facile detection of E.coli bacteria with the limit of detection around 8.3 × 103 CFU/mL was successfully achieved in the artificially contaminated urine, tap water, and DMEM samples within 30 min. The fluorescence recovery was investigated by different types of bacteria and only E. coli revealed 56% recovery which related to its capability to Cu2+ reduction and the great potential of the fluorescent probe for rapid detection of pathogenic E. coli bacteria. Furthermore, the Hb-FeQCs can detect E. coli bacteria in an infected urine sample by retrieving up to 74% of its fluorescence which is helpful to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI). Image 1 • Copper ions could induce a naked eye visible color change of Hb-FeQCs solution. • Hb-FeQCs is a highly selective fluorescence "turn-off" probe for copper. • Hb-FeQCs/Cu2+ established for the sensitive detection of bacteria based on fluorescence recovery. • Only E. coli bacteria can recover the fluorescence of Hb-FeQCs from Cu2+-caused quenching. • The proposed nanosensor can be applied for the detection of E. coli in an infected urine sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]