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Co-exposure to noise and nanomaterials, such as silver nanoparticles (Silver-NPs), is a common occurrence in today's industries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exposure to noise and the administration of silver-NPs on the liver tissue of rats. Thirty-six adult male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: a control group (administered saline intraperitoneally), two groups administered different doses of Silver-NPs (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, 5 days a week for 28 days), two groups exposed to noise in addition to Silver-NPs (at the same doses as mentioned before), and a group exposed only to noise (104 dB, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks). Blood samples were taken to assess hepatic-functional alterations, such as serum ALP, ALT, and AST levels. Additionally, biochemical parameters (MDA, GPX, and CAT) and the silver concentration in the liver were measured. Histopathological analysis, mRNA expression (P53 and NF-κB), protein expression (CYP450), and liver weight changes in rats were also documented. The study found that the administration of Silver-NPs and exposure to noise resulted in elevated levels of ALP, ALT, AST, and MDA ( p < .01). Conversely, GPX and CAT levels decreased in all groups compared with the control group ( p < .0001). There was a significant increase ( p < .05) in liver weight and silver concentration in the liver tissues of groups administered Silver-NPs (50 mg/kg) plus noise exposure, Silver-NPs (100 mg/kg), and Silver-NPs (100 mg/kg) plus noise exposure, respectively. The expression rate of P53, NF-κB, and cytochromes P450 (CYPs-450) was increased in the experimental groups ( p < .05). These findings were further confirmed by histopathological changes. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that exposure to noise and the administration of Silver-NPs exacerbated liver damage by increasing protein and gene expression, causing hepatic necrosis, altering biochemical parameters, and affecting liver weight., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Temporarily installed titanium orthodontic miniscrews are usually used for many orthodontic applications, especially those cases that need high force, such as skeletally anchored orthodontic appliance cases. Surface modification of titanium miniscrews has proved success in preventing failure and overcoming their limitations., Objective: The present study aims at the assessment of the quality of osseointegration of surface modified titanium miniscrews installed in the maxilla of albino rabbits with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging as well as histomorphometric investigations., Material and Methods: The orthodontic titanium miniscrews (TMSs) were coated with silver/hydroxyapatite (Ag/HA) nanoparticles (NPs) or zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs via electrochemical deposition. The coating nanomaterials were then characterized with X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the coated titanium miniscrews were evaluated in the rabbits' oral cavity to investigate their ability to prevent biofilm formation., Results: It was found that the Ag/HA-coated TMSs demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity and bone area fill, followed by the ZnO NPs-coated TMSs when compared to their uncoated counterparts. In the anterior area surrounding the installed TMSs, the highest osseointegration was demonstrated by ZnO NPs-coated TMSs. However, Ag/HA-coated TMSs showed the highest osseointegration values in the posterior peri-implant area., Conclusions: Ag/HA- and ZnO NPs-coated TMSs may provide a promising solution to overcome the 30% probable failure in temporarily installed orthodontic miniscrews, as they can enhance the osseointegration process and prevent biofilm formation., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the efficacy of phytogenic silver and zinc nanoparticles in improving heat resilience in various wheat varieties. The silver and zinc nanoparticles were synthesized using plant leaf extract and characterized using various techniques. Four wheat varieties (DBW187, Black Wheat, DBW 50, and PBW 621) were subjected to field trials. The random block design was used, and nanoparticles in different concentrations were applied at various growth stages and morphologically, and yield parameters were recorded. UV-vis spectroscopy spectral analysis showed peaks for Ag nanoparticles at 420 nm wavelength and Zn nanoparticles at 240 and 350 nm wavelength, depicting the preliminary confirmation of nanoparticle synthesis. Electron microscopic analysis (TEM and SEM) provided morphological insights and confirmed synthesis of fine-sized particle mostly in a range between 10 and 60 nm. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the synthesized nanoparticles, with Ag and Zn elements detected in their respective samples. It also confirmed the oxide nature of synthesized ZnNPs. Dynamic light scattering analysis provided size distribution profiles, indicating average sizes of approximately 61.8 nm for Ag nanoparticles and 46.5 nm for Zn nanoparticles. The concentrations of Ag and Zn nanoparticles in the samples were found to be 196.3 ppm and 115.14 ppm, respectively, through atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed characteristic functional groups present in the nanoparticles. The results of field experiments established that Ag nanoparticles at 75 ppm concentration exhibited the most significant enhancements in plant growth. Conversely, Zn nanoparticles at a 100 ppm concentration demonstrated the most substantial improvements in the growth and yield of heat-stressed wheat varieties. The study concludes that optimized concentrations of silver and zinc nanoparticles can effectively improve heat stress resilience in wheat. These findings are promising to enhance abiotic stress resilience in crops., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

In today's era, nanoparticles (NPs) have become an integral part of human life, finding extensive applications in various fields of science, pharmacy, medicine, industry, electronics, and communication. The increasing popularity of NP usage worldwide is a testament to their tremendous potential. However, the widespread deployment of NPs unavoidably leads to their release into the environmental matrices, resulting in persistence in ecosystems and bioaccumulation in organisms. Understanding the environmental behavior of NPs poses a significant challenge due to their nanoscale size. Given the current environmental releases of NPs, known negative consequences, and the limited knowledge available for risk management, comprehending the toxicity of NPs in ecosystems is both awaiting and crucial. The present review aims to unravel the potential environmental influences of nano-scaled materials, and provides in-depth inferences of the current knowledge and understanding in this field. The review comprehensively summarizes the sources, fate, transport, toxicity, health risks, and remediation solutions associated with NP pollution in aquatic and soil ecosystems. Furthermore, it addresses the knowledge gaps and outlines further investigation priorities for the sustainable control of NP pollution in these environments. By gaining a holistic understanding of these aspects, we can work toward ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of NPs in today's fast-growing world., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Herbs containing aristolochic acids (AAs) have already been proven to be highly carcinogenic and nephrotoxic. In this study, a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) identification method was developed. Ag-APS nanoparticles with a particle size of 3.53 ± 0.92 nm were produced by combining silver nitrate and 3-aminopropylsilatrane. The reaction between the carboxylic acid group of aristolochic acid I (AAI) and amine group of Ag-APS NPs was used to form amide bonds, and thus, concentrate AAI, rendering it easy to detect via SERS and amplified to obtain the best SERS enhancement effect. Detection limit was calculated to be approximately 40 nM. Using the SERS method, AAI was successfully detected in the samples of four Chinese herbal medicines containing AAI. Therefore, this method has a high potential to be applied in the future development of AAI analysis and rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of AAI in dietary supplements and edible herbs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer products has increased dramatically. Accordingly, human exposure to these NPs has increased. Lactobacillus reuteri , a member of the beneficial gut microbiota, is essential for human health. In the present study, the toxic effect of three metal oxides (CuO, ZnO, and CdO) and one metal (Ag) NPs on L. reuteri were investigated in vitro. L. reuteri was susceptible to all the prepared NPs in a dose-dependent manner, visualized as an increase in the zones of inhibition and a significant reduction in the maximum specific growth rates ( µ max ). The minimal inhibitory concentrations were 5.8, 26, 560, and 560 µg/mL for CdO-, Ag-, ZnO-, and CuO-NPs, respectively, and the respective minimal bactericidal concentrations were 60, 70, 1500, and 1500 µg/mL. Electron microscopic examinations revealed the adsorption of the prepared NPs on L. reuteri cell surface, causing cell wall disruption and morphological changes. These changes were accompanied by significant leakage of cellular protein content by 214%, 191%, 112%, and 101% versus the untreated control when L. reuteri was treated with CdO-, Ag-, CuO-, and ZnO-NPs, respectively. NPs also induced oxidative damage, where the malondialdehyde level was significantly increased, and glutathione content was significantly decreased. Quantifying the DNA damage using comet assay showed that CuONPs had the maximum DNA tail length (8.2 px vs. 2.1 px for the control). While CdONPs showed the maximum percentage of DNA in tail (15.5% vs. 3.1%). This study provides a mechanistic evaluation of the NPs-mediated toxicity to a beneficial microorganism.

Photoacoustics (PA) is gaining increasing credit among biomolecular imaging methodologies by virtue of its poor invasiveness, deep penetration, high spatial resolution, and excellent endogenous contrast, without the use of any ionizing radiation. Recently, we disclosed the excellent PA response of a self-structured biocompatible nanoprobe, consisting of ternary hybrid nanoparticles with a silver core and a melanin component embedded into a silica matrix. Although preliminary evidence suggested a crucial role of the Ag sonophore and the melanin-containing nanoenvironment, whether and in what manner the PA response is controlled and affected by the self-structured hybrid nanosystems remained unclear. Because of their potential as multifunctional platforms for biomedical applications, a detailed investigation of the metal-polymer-matrix interplay underlying the PA response was undertaken to understand the physical and chemical factors determining the enhanced response and to optimize the architecture, composition, and performance of the nanoparticles for efficient imaging applications. Herein, we provide the evidence for a strong synergistic interaction between eumelanin and Ag which suggests an important role in the in situ-generated metal-organic interface. In particular, we show that a strict ratio between melanin and silver precursors and an accurate choice of metal nanoparticle dimension and the kind of metal are essential for achieving strong enhancements of the PA response. Systematic variation of the metal/melanin component is thus shown to offer the means of tuning the stability and intensity of the photoacoustic response for various biomedical and theranostic applications.

Therapeutic potential and toxic effects of in vivo administered gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and silver nanoparticles (SNP) depend on distribution in tissues. Rhodamine (Rho) labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) and chitosan (Chi) were prepared by covalent conjugation and were characterized by fluorescence spectral analysis. GNP and SNP were coated with the labeled conjugates of BSA and chitosan by adsorption. The soluble Rho-BSA or Rho-Chi conjugates, uncoated, and conjugate-coated GNP, and SNP were orally administered into 8-week-old rats. After 24 h, rats were euthanized and the liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus were dissected. The tissues were examined ex vivo using a small animal in vivo imaging system. The liver, kidney, and thymus displayed higher fluorescence due to increased accumulation of Rho-BSA or Rho-Chi conjugate-coated nanoparticles (NPs) in the tissues as compared to the spleen where lower fluorescence was noticed. Tissues obtained from rats that were administered Rho-BSA or Rho-Chi conjugate-coated GNP and SNP showed tenfold higher fluorescence intensity as compared to tissues from rats that were given soluble conjugates or NP alone. The results strongly suggest significant tissue distribution of NP following oral administration., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The present study evaluates the biocompatibility of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles with various effective microorganisms (EM), like beneficial microbial formulations. The respective nanoparticle was synthesised by chemical reduction of metal precursor with reducer via simple route green technology principles. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by UV visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, revealing highly stable, nanoscale particles with marked crystallinity. EM-like beneficial cultures composed of viable cells of Lactobacillus lactis, Streptomyces sp, Candida lipolytica, and Aspergillus oryzae were formulated with rice bran, sugarcane syrup, and groundnut cake. The respective formulation was inoculated into the nanoparticles amalgamated pots raised with green gram seedlings. Biocompatibility was determined by measuring plant growth parameters of a green gram at pre-determined periods associated with enzymatic antioxidants like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione S transferase (GST) levels. Most significantly, the expression level of these enzymatic antioxidants level was also investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The impact of the soil conditioning effect on soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, organic carbon, soil enzymes glucosidases, and β-xylosidases activity was also studied. Among the formulation, rice bran-groundnut cake-sugar syrup formulation recorded the best biocompatibility. This formulation showed high growth promotion, soil conditioning effect and no impact on the oxidative stress enzymes genes that revealed the best compatibility of nanoparticles. This study concluded that biocompatible, eco-friendly formulations of microbial inoculants could be used for the desirable agro active properties that show extreme tolerance or biocompatibility to the nanoparticles. This present study also suggests the utilisation of the above said beneficial microbial formulation and metal-based nanoparticles with desirable agro active properties in a synergistic manner due to their high tolerance or compatibility towards the metal or metal oxide nanoparticles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Melanoma cancer wound healing is critical and complex and poses a significant challenge to researchers. Drug resistance, adverse side effects, and inefficient localization of chemotherapeutic drugs limit common treatment strategies in melanoma cancer. Using drug delivery nanostructures with low side effects and high efficiency, besides having antibacterial and antiseptic properties, can effectively repair the damage caused by the disease. To this end, this study aimed to develop a drug delivery nanosystem based on doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded amine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), linked with green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Characterization methods including microscopic methods and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the synthesis and functionalization of the well-dispersed nanoparticles with nanosized and uniform structures. The poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers as a strong scaffold were produced by the blow spinning method and DOX-loaded nanoparticles were blow spun on PCL nanofibers along with gelatin solution. The resulting nanosystem including nanofibers and nanoparticles (NFs/NPS) showed a fine loading percent with a proper release profile of DOX and AgNPs and low hemolysis activity. Moreover, besides preventing infection by AgNPs, the DOX-loaded NFs/NPs could effectively destroy melanoma cancer cells. The attachment of normal cells to the nanoparticles-loaded nanofibers scaffold revealed the possibility of healing wounds caused by melanoma cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Folic acid (FA) has shown great potential in the fields of targeted drug delivery and disease diagnosis due to its highly tumor-targeting nature, biocompatibility, and low cost. However, FA is generally introduced in targeted drug delivery systems through macromolecular linkage via complex synthetic processes, resulting in lower yields and high costs. In this work, we report a general protocol for synthesizing thiolated folate derivatives. The small molecule thiolated folate (TFa) was first synthesized with a purity higher than 98.20%. First, S-S-containing diol was synthesized with a purity higher than 99.44 through a newly developed green oxidation protocol, which was carried out in water with no catalyst. Then, folic acid was modified using the diol through esterification, and TFa was finally synthesized by breaking the disulfide bond. Further, the synthesized TFa was utilized to modify silver nanoparticles. The results showed that TFa could be easily bonded to metal particles. The protocol could be extended to the synthesis of a series of thiolated derivatives of folate, such as mercaptohexyl folate, mercaptoundecyl folate, etc., which would greatly benefit the biological applications of FA.

The current research deals with the use of single-cell inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (scICP-MS) for the assessment of titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO 2 NP) and silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) associations in cell lines derived from aquaculture species (sea bass, sea bream, and clams). The optimization studies have considered the avoidance of high dissolved background, multi-cell peak coincidence, and possible spectral interferences. Optimum operating conditions were found when using a dwell time of 50 μs for silver and 100 μs for titanium. The assessment of associated TiO 2 NPs by scICP-MS required the use of ammonia as a reaction gas (flow rate at 0.75 mL min -1 ) for interference-free titanium determinations (measurements at an m/z ratio of 131 from the 48 Ti(NH)(NH 3 ) 4 adduct). The influence of other parameters such as the number of washing cycles and the cell concentration on accurate determinations by scICP-MS was also fully investigated. Cell exposure trials were performed using PVP-Ag NPs (15 and 100 nm, nominal diameter) and citrate-TiO 2 NPs (5, 25, and 45 nm, nominal diameter) at nominal concentrations of 10 and 50 μg mL -1 for citrate-TiO 2 NPs and 5.0 and 50 μg mL -1 for PVP-Ag NPs. Results have shown that citrate-TiO 2 NPs interact with the outer cell membranes, being quite low in the number of citrate-TiO 2 NPs that enters the cells (the high degree of aggregation is the main factor which leads to the aggregates being in the extracellular medium). In contrast, PVP-Ag NPs have been found to enter the cells., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The regulation and characterization of nanomaterials in foods are of great interest due to the potential risks associated with their exposure and the increasing number of applications where they are used within the food industry. One factor limiting the scientifically rigorous regulation of nanoparticles in foods is the lack of standardized procedures for the extraction of nanoparticles (NPs) from complex matrices without alteration of their physico-chemical properties. To this end, we tested and optimized two sample preparation approaches (enzymatic- and alkaline-based hydrolyses) in order to extract 40 nm of Ag NP, following their equilibration with a fatty ground beef matrix. NPs were characterized using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS). Fast sample processing times (<20 min) were achieved using ultrasonication to accelerate the matrix degradation. NP losses during the sample preparation were minimized by optimizing the choice of enzymes/chemicals, the use of surfactants, and the product concentration and sonication. The alkaline approach using TMAH (tetramethylammonium hydroxide) was found to have the highest recoveries (over 90%); however, processed samples were found to be less stable than the samples processed using an enzymatic digestion based upon pork pancreatin and lipase (≈60 % recovery). Low method detection limits (MDLs) of 4.8 × 10 6 particles g -1 with a size detection limit (SDL) of 10.9 nm were achieved for the enzymatic extraction whereas an MDL of 5.7 × 10 7 particles g -1 and an SDL of 10.5 nm were obtained for the alkaline hydrolysis.

Background: Numerous studies have shown that various products of Citrus sinensis, for example, crude extracts, essential oil, and purified components, possess anti-acne properties. However, the development of chlorogenic acid-functionalized silver nanoparticles of C. sinensis in gel matrix aiding QbD design has not been evaluated for acne treatment., Aim: In this study, we have developed chlorogenic acid-functionalized silver nanoparticles of C. sinensis in a gel matrix employing a QbD approach for acne treatment., Material and Method: Citrus sinensis extract-loaded silver nanoparticles were functionalized with chlorogenic acid, which acted as a bio-reducing agent and further improved anti-acne properties. The developed formulation was optimized via Box-Behnken Design. The formulation morphology was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The release profile of C. sinensis extract formulation was assessed by an in vitro release study and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Moreover, the characterization study of the gel was performed that included an evaluation of the extrudability and spreadability of the developed gel. Furthermore, the anti-oxidant efficacy of AgN-CA formulation was validated using the DPPH test., Results: The results showed a particle size of 71.78 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.297, a zeta potential of -36.12 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 79.42% ± 6.79%. The results also indicated a uniform particle size. The release profile of C. sinensis extract revealed that 73.95% of the drug was released, whereas CLSM pictures of mice skin evidently demonstrated that the rhodamine B-treated AgN-CA gel penetrated much more extensively in comparison to the control. Furthermore, the anti-oxidant efficacy of AgN-CA formulation was validated using the DPPH test. Moreover, the characterization study of the developed gel, including its extrudability and spreadability, was found to be 16.02 ± 3.21 g and 30.73 ± 5.94 g cm/s, respectively. Also, texture analysis findings revealed that AgN-CA gel had firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity index of 159.69 g, 634.95 g s, -116.33 g, and -501.80 g s, respectively, indicating that the AgN-CA gel was stable., Conclusion: The current study showed that AgN-CA is an effective drug carrier system for the topical administration of C. sinensis extract for the treatment of acne., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Consumers and manufacturers are exposed to nanosized zinc oxide (nZnO) and silver particles (nAg) via airways, but their biological effects are still not fully elucidated. To understand the immune effects, we exposed mice to 2, 10, or 50 μg of nZnO or nAg by oropharyngeal aspiration and analyzed the global gene expression profiles and immunopathological changes in the lungs after 1, 7, or 28 days. Our results show that the kinetics of responses varied in the lungs. Exposure to nZnO resulted in the highest accumulation of F4/80- and CD3-positive cells, and the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after day 1, while exposure to nAg caused peak responses at day 7. Additionally, nZnO mainly activated the innate immune responses leading to acute inflammation, whereas the nAg activated both innate and adaptive immune pathways, with long-lasting effects. This kinetic-profiling study provides an important data source to understand the cellular and molecular processes underlying nZnO- and nAg-induced transcriptomic changes, which lead to the characterization of the corresponding biological and toxicological effects of nZnO and nAg in the lungs. These findings could improve science-based hazard and risk assessment and the development of safe applications of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), e.g., in biomedical applications.

Thrombosis and its complications are responsible for 30% of annual deaths. Limitations of methods for diagnosing and treating thrombosis highlight the need for improvements. Agents that provide simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic activities (theranostics) are paramount for an accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment. In this study, silver-iron oxide nanoparticles (AgIONPs) are developed for highly efficient targeted photothermal therapy and imaging of thrombosis. Small iron oxide nanoparticles are employed as seeding agents for the generation of a new class of spiky silver nanoparticles with strong absorbance in the near-infrared range. The AgIONPs are biofunctionalized with binding ligands for targeting thrombi. Photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging demonstrate the highly specific binding of AgIONPs to the thrombus when functionalized with a single chain antibody targeting activated platelets. Photothermal thrombolysis in vivo shows an increase in the temperature of thrombi and a full restoration of blood flow for targeted group but not in the non-targeted group. Thrombolysis from targeted groups is significantly improved (p < 0.0001) in comparison to the standard thrombolytic used in the clinic. Assays show no apparent side effects of AgIONPs. Altogether, this work suggests that AgIONPs are potential theranostic agents for thrombosis., (© 2023 The Authors. Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The microbiota-gut-brain axis (GBA) plays a critical role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome causes a significant alteration in the gut microbiota of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, followed by neuroinflammatory processes. Thus, AD beginning in the gut is closely related to an imbalance in gut microbiota, and hence a multidomain approach to reduce this imbalance by exerting positive effects on the gut microbiota is needed. In one example, a tyrosine-based short peptide amphiphile (sPA) was used to synthesize antibacterial AgNPs-sPA nanostructures. Such nanostructures showed high biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, and therefore work as model drug delivery agents for addressing local bacterial infections. These may have therapeutic value for the treatment of microbiota-triggered progression of neurodegenerative diseases., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In recent years, drug manufacturers and researchers have begun to consider the nanobiotechnology approach to improve the drug delivery system for tumour and cancer diseases. In this article, we review current strategies to improve tumour and cancer drug delivery, which mainly focuses on sustaining biocompatibility, biodistribution, and active targeting. The conventional therapy using cornerstone drugs such as fludarabine, cisplatin etoposide, and paclitaxel has its own challenges especially not being able to discriminate between tumour versus normal cells which eventually led to toxicity and side effects in the patients. In contrast to the conventional approach, nanoparticle-based drug delivery provides target-specific delivery and controlled release of the drug, which provides a better therapeutic window for treatment options by focusing on the eradication of diseased cells via active targeting and sparing normal cells via passive targeting. Additionally, treatment of tumours associated with the brain is hampered by the impermeability of the blood-brain barriers to the drugs, which eventually led to poor survival in the patients. Nanoparticle-based therapy offers superior delivery of drugs to the target by breaching the blood-brain barriers. Herein, we provide an overview of the properties of nanoparticles that are crucial for nanotechnology applications. We address the potential future applications of nanobiotechnology targeting specific or desired areas. In particular, the use of nanomaterials, biostructures, and drug delivery methods for the targeted treatment of tumours and cancer are explored., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Biochar is widely used as a soil amendment due to its environmental friendliness and convenient availability. It is believed that the presence of biochar in porous media can influence the transport of colloidal and solute contaminants. In this study, different mass ratios of biochar were added to packed sand with a rough or smooth surface to determine the significance of biochar on the retention and release of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The results showed that biochar reduced the transport of AgNPs in rough and smooth sands under different solution conditions. A small amount of biochar (0.1-1% in mass percentage) can significantly enhance the retention of AgNPs due to the alteration in collector surface roughness and chemical heterogeneity that potentially reduce the energy barrier for retention. Furthermore, the retention of AgNPs in rough sand was always higher than that in smooth sand under the same experimental conditions. The presence of biochar also produced nonmonotonic retention of AgNPs mainly due to the changes in collector surface roughness. Additionally, the AgNPs retention associated with biochar tended to be irreversible due to the charge heterogeneity, while the reversible retention could mainly occur on a rough sand surface via shallow primary minima. This work highlights the significance of collector surface roughness that needs to be considered in the process of biochar amendment for practical applications to effectively immobilize colloidal contaminants in soil or groundwater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis holds great promise for decreasing drug associated side effects and improving efficacy. This study was aimed to develop mannosylated thiolated chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles (MTCAg) loaded emulgel for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. MTC-Ag were synthesized via a chemical reduction method and were loaded into the emulgel. The nanoparticles had a zeta potential of +19.8 mV, an average particle size of 115 nm and a narrow polydispersity index of 0.26. In-vitro release profiles showed controlled release of silver ions from both the MTC-Ag and the emulgel-loaded MTC-Ag nanoparticles after 24 h. An ex-vivo retention study indicated 5 times higher retention of silver by the emulgel-loaded MTC-Ag than by the MTC-Ag nanoparticles. The in-vitro anti-leishmanial assay revealed that MTC-Ag had an excellent inhibitory effect on intracellular amastigotes, leading to ~90 % inhibition at the highest concentration tested. A 4-fold reduction in the IC 50 value was found for MTC-Ag compared to blank Ag nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity assay showed 83 % viability of macrophages for MTC-Ag and 30 % for Ag nanoparticles at a concentration of 80 μg/mL, demonstrating the improved biocompatibility of the polymeric nanoparticles. Drug release and retention studies corroborate the great potential of MTC-Ag-loaded emulgel for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study was designed to evaluate the protective potentials of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) against silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wister albino rats. AgNPs, ChNPs, and AgNPs particles coated with ChNPs were characterized by using transmission electron microscope. Control rats were injected interperitoneally with 0.5% aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose. Second group was given ChNPs at a dose 300 mg/kg bwt. Third group was given AgNPs at a dose 50 mg/kg bwt. Fourth group was given AgNPs with chitosan nanoparticles simultaneously. Fifth group was given silver nanoparticles coated with chitosan nanoparticles at a dose 300 mg/kg bwt. TEM showed the formation of AgNPs with average size of 42.7 nm, ChNPs with average size of 33.3 nm, and AgNPs coated with ChNPs with average size of 48.1 nm. AgNPs significantly reduced serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin, sperm count, morphology index, vitality, total motility and progressive motility, the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase, and the concentration of reduced glutathione in testicular tissues. However, it significantly increased malondialdehyde concentration in testicular tissues, sperm abnormalities, testicular tissue damages, non-progressive motility, and immotile sperms. On the contrast, ChNPs ameliorated AgNP-induced alteration in serum levels of sex hormones, spermogram, and testicular tissue's structure and functions. These results indicated that ChNPs had protective potential against AgNP-induced reproductive toxicity and ChNPs coating AgNPs had more potent protective effect than ChNPs administrated together with AgNPs., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Nanocelluloses, such as cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals, are sustainable nanomaterials that are generally extracted from natural raw materials in a top-down manner. These nanomaterials and their assemblies are facilitating new applications of biopolymers. However, creating nanostructures from conventional cellulosic materials including paper and cloth remains challenging. Herein, we report an approach for bottom-up nanostructuring of conventional microfibrous cellulose materials via a molecular self-assembly strategy. As a precursor cellulose material, paper was allowed to swell with aqueous phosphoric acid for the partial dissolution and hydrolysis of cellulose while maintaining its microfibrous structure. The generated cello-oligosaccharides in a dissolved state started to self-assemble upon adding water as a coagulant, resulting in nanospike-like assemblies on the microfiber surfaces. The resultant nanospiked papers were found to serve as a precursor for synthesizing silver nanoparticle-cellulose composites with bactericidal activities. Our findings promote the development of cellulose-based functional materials with nanostructures designed via molecular self-assembly., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The fact that cancer is one of the leading causes of death requires researchers to create new systems of effective treatment for malignant tumors. One promising area is genetic therapy that uses small interfering RNA (siRNA). These molecules are capable of blocking mutant proteins in cells, but require specific systems that will deliver RNA to target cells and successfully release them into the cytoplasm. Dendronized and PEGylated silver nanoparticles as potential vectors for proapoptotic siRNA (siMCL-1) were used here. Using the methods of one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, and circular dichroism, stable siRNA and AgNP complexes were obtained. Data gathered using multicolor flow cytometry showed that AgNPs are able to deliver (up to 90%) siRNAs efficiently to some types of tumor cells, depending on the degree of PEGylation. Analysis of cell death showed that complexes of some AgNP variations with siMCL-1 lead to ~70% cell death in the populations that uptake these complexes due to apoptosis.

Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in clinical practice. A number of MNP formulations are being investigated in clinical trials for various applications. This increase in the use of NPs results in higher exposure to humans, leading to toxicity issues. Hence, it is necessary to determine the possible undesirable effects of the MNPs after in-vivo application and exposure. One of the main reasons for the toxicity of MNPs is the release of their respective metallic ions throughout the body. Many research studies are in progress investigating the various strategies to reduce the toxicity of MNPs. These research studies aim to change the size, dose, agglomeration, release, and excretion rates of MNPs. In this perspective review, we discussed the possible strategies to improve the therapeutic effects of MNPs through various processes, with lessons learned from the studies involving silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). We also discussed the ways to manage the toxicity of MNPs by purification, surface functionalization, synergistic effect, and targeted therapy approach. All these strategies could reduce the dose of the MNPs without compromising their therapeutic benefits, which could decrease the toxicity of MNPs. Additionally, we briefly discussed the market and toxicology testing for FDA-regulated MNPs., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Meloidogyne incognita leads to considerable losses in crop productivity. In this study, the impact of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in 100, 200, or 300 ppm concentrations were investigated on some essential genes of M. incognita in vitro. For this purpose, AgNPs and ZnONPs were synthesized and characterized for their physicochemical properties. Thereafter, second-stage Juveniles (J2) of M. incognita were exposed to AgNPs and ZnONPs solution for 24 h. The LC 50 , LC 90, and mortality rates were calculated for both nanoparticles. Finally, the expression of parasitism genes (Xyl-1; msp-20; 16D10), neuropeptidergic gene (Ace-2), expansion-like proteins (MAP-1), and oxidative stress gene (GSTS-1) was analyzed. The results showed a successful preparation of nanoparticles to obtain a pure, well-dispersed, and stable suspension, as revealed by physicochemical properties. ZnONPs showed LC 50 and LC 90 values of 63.56 and 208.5 ppm, respectively, while AgNPs recorded 11.78 and 28.59 ppm, respectively. AgNPs at concentrations 100, 200, and 300 ppm showed mortality rate 66%, 84%, and 100%, respectively, whereas ZnONPs at the same concentrations caused a 58%, 78%, and 91% mortality rate, respectively. Analysis of gene expression showed dose-dependent downregulation of each parasitism gene Xyl-1, 16D10, and msp-20 genes, neuropeptidergic gene (Ace-2), and expansion-like proteins MAP-1 after treatment with either AgNPs or ZnONPs. On the other hand, the oxidative stress response gene GSTS-1 showed upregulation with all concentrations of AgNPs and ZnONPs. The study concluded that the AgNPs and ZnONPs have efficient nematocidal activity and can be used in Meloidogyne incognita control., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In vivo toxicokinetic studies provide evidence for the translocation and accumulation of nanoparticles (NP) in the brain, thereby causing concern for adverse health effects, particularly for effects following chronic exposure. To date, only few studies investigated the effects of NP exposure on neuronal function in vitro, primarily focusing on short-term effects. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of two common types of NP, titanium dioxide NP (TiO 2 NP) and silver NP (AgNP), on neuronal function following acute (0.5 h), sub-chronic (24 h and 48 h) and chronic (14 days) exposure in vitro. Effects of NP exposure on intracellular calcium homeostasis, spontaneous neuronal (network) activity and neuronal network morphology were investigated in rat primary cortical cells using respectively, single-cell microscopy calcium imaging, micro-electrode array (MEA) recordings and immunohistochemistry. Our data demonstrate that high doses of AgNP (≥ 30 µg/mL) decrease calcium influx after 24 h exposure, although neuronal activity is not affected following acute and sub-chronic exposure. However, chronic exposure to non-cytotoxic doses of AgNP (1-10 µg/mL) potently decreases spontaneous neuronal (network) activity, without affecting network morphology and viability. Exposure to higher doses (≥ 30 µg/mL) affects network morphology and is also associated with cytotoxicity. In contrast, acute and sub-chronic exposure to TiO 2 NP is without effects, whereas chronic exposure only modestly reduces neuronal function without affecting morphology. Our combined findings indicate that TiO 2 NP exposure is of limited hazard for neuronal function whereas AgNP, in particularly during chronic exposure, has profound effects on neuronal (network) function and morphology., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Although several metal ions/metal nanoparticles (NPs) are toxic to both plants and animals, some of them are used as nutrients and growth promoters. Plants exposed to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have shown both beneficial and harmful effects. All concentrations of Ag-NPs are not effective for a given plant because any excess can block the passage of essential nutrients. Regulated treatment of plants by Ag-NPs may enhance their overall growth and development. It has been noticed that Ag-NPs decrease the mass of edible plants ( Cucurbita pepo , Allium cepa , cabbage, and lettuce) and vegetables, but they also induce the germination of seeds in many cases. NPs interact with proteins, enzymes, and carbohydrates influencing the total biomass, root, and shoot growth of plants. Also, Ag-NPs act as an ethylene inhibitor and activate the antioxidants in onions. Their substantial quantity becomes deposited in onion leaves and bulbs. Size and concentration are the two major factors responsible for the increase/decrease of plant growth and biomass. Plants make adaptations to reduce the toxicity caused by Ag-NPs. In some cases, Ag-NPs induce root elongation and increase chlorophyll, carbohydrate, proteins, rate of photosynthesis and inhibit the biosynthesis of ethylene. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of both the beneficial and adverse effects of Ag-NPs on germination, growth, development, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of a wide range of edible and crop plants. We have also critically discussed: the chemistry, toxicity, uptake, translocation, and accumulation of Ag-NPs in plant systems.

Nanotheranostics is a young but rapidly expanding science that incorporates elements of therapy and diagnostics in a unique and miniscule area of research. The potential to combine diagnostic and therapeutic abilities inside a complete unit opens up interesting possibilities for innovative biomedical research. Silver-based nanoparticles, for instance, are widely utilized as pharmacological and biomedical imaging molecules, and hence offer a lot of potential for the development of versatile targeted therapy compositions. These nanoparticles have been used for cancer diagnosis and cancer treatments recently. We evaluate major innovations based on silver nanotheranostics technologies in this review paper, with an emphasis on cancer treatment implications. The present review covers papers, from 2010 to 2020.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant-based extracts is momentously used in different fields of science because of their environment-friendly nature and cost-effectiveness. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using rice husk (non-toxic agricultural by-product) to determine their efficacy against aphid's (Sitobion avanae) mortality and antioxidant enzymes. UV-VIS spectroscopy of synthesized nanoparticles showed the maximum absorption peak at 440 nm, FTIR exhibited different peaks, and SEM confirmed the roughly spherical shape and 70-80 nm size of silver nanoparticles. Aphids were reared on wheat seedlings in the laboratory at 20-25 °C and 16:8 (light:dark) photoperiod. Insecticidal bioassays were conducted on aphids at three different concentrations (200 ppm, 400 ppm, 600 ppm) of nanoparticles for 2 days. Results showed the highest mortality of aphids being 93.3% at 600 ppm nanoparticle concentration after 2 days while the lowest mortality was observed at 200 ppm. Furthermore, the effect of silver nanoparticles on antioxidant enzymes was studied. Results of enzyme assays revealed that enzyme activities of catalase and glutathione-s-transferase increased in response to increased nanoparticle concentration. The current findings suggested that silver nanoparticles have probation for replacing commercially available insecticides for combating pests., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The phytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to plant seeds germination and seedlings development depends on nanoparticles properties and concentration, as well as plant species and stress tolerance degrees. In the present study, the effect of citrate-stabilized spherical Ag NPs (20 mg/L) in sizes of 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100 nm, on wheat grain germination, early seedlings development, and polar metabolite profile in 3-day-old seedlings were analyzed. Ag NPs, regardless of their sizes, did not affect the germination of wheat grains. However, the smaller nanoparticles (10 and 20 nm in size) decreased the growth of seedling roots. Although the concentrations of total polar metabolites in roots, coleoptile, and endosperm of seedlings were not affected by Ag NPs, significant re-arrangements of carbohydrates profiles in seedlings were noted. In roots and coleoptile of 3-day-old seedlings, the concentration of sucrose increased, which was accompanied by a decrease in glucose and fructose. The concentrations of most other polar metabolites (amino acids, organic acids, and phosphate) were not affected by Ag NPs. Thus, an unknown signal is released by small-sized Ag NPs that triggers affection of sugars metabolism and/or distribution.

Implant-associated infections are highly challenging to treat, particularly with the emergence of multidrug-resistant microbials. Effective preventive action is desired to be at the implant site. Surface biofunctionalization of implants through Ag-doping has demonstrated potent antibacterial results. However, it may adversely affect bone regeneration at high doses. Benefiting from the potential synergistic effects, combining Ag with other antibacterial agents can substantially decrease the required Ag concentration. To date, no study has been performed on immobilizing both Ag and Fe nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of additively manufactured porous titanium. We additively manufactured porous titanium and biofunctionalized its surface with plasma electrolytic oxidation using a Ca/P-based electrolyte containing Fe NPs, Ag NPs, and the combinations. The specimen's surface morphology featured porous TiO 2 bearing Ag and Fe NPs. During immersion, Ag and Fe ions were released for up to 28 days. Antibacterial assays against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed that the specimens containing Ag NPs and Ag/Fe NPs exhibit bactericidal activity. The Ag and Fe NPs worked synergistically, even when Ag was reduced by up to three times. The biofunctionalized scaffold reduced Ag and Fe NPs, improving preosteoblasts proliferation and Ca-sensing receptor activation. In conclusion, surface biofunctionalization of porous titanium with Ag and Fe NPs is a promising strategy to prevent implant-associated infections and allow bone regeneration and, therefore, should be developed for clinical application.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus that has caused a 'coronavirus disease 2019' (COVID-19) pandemic in multiple waves, which threatens human health and public safety. During this pandemic, some patients with COVID-19 acquired secondary infections, such as mucormycosis, also known as black fungus disease. Mucormycosis is a serious, acute, and deadly fungal infection caused by Mucorales-related fungal species, and it spreads rapidly. Hence, prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid high mortality and morbidity rates. Major risk factors for this disease include uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression that can also facilitate increases in mucormycosis infections. The extensive use of steroids to prevent the worsening of COVID-19 can lead to black fungus infection. Generally, antifungal agents dedicated to medical applications must be biocompatible, non-toxic, easily soluble, efficient, and hypoallergenic. They should also provide long-term protection against fungal growth. COVID-19-related black fungus infection causes a severe increase in fatalities. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of novel and efficient antimicrobial agents. Recently, nanoparticle-containing products available in the market have been used as antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial growth, but little is known about their efficacy with respect to preventing fungal growth, especially black fungus. The present review focuses on the effect of various types of metal nanoparticles, specifically those containing silver, zinc oxide, gold, copper, titanium, magnetic, iron, and carbon, on the growth of various types of fungi. We particularly focused on how these nanoparticles can impact the growth of black fungus. We also discussed black fungus co-infection in the context of the global COVID-19 outbreak, and management and guidelines to help control COVID-19-associated black fungus infection. Finally, this review aimed to elucidate the relationship between COVID-19 and mucormycosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Since heavy metals and micro-/nanoplastics (MNPLs) can share common environmental niches, their potential interactions could modulate their hazard impacts. The current study was planned to evaluate the potential interactions between silver compounds (silver nanoparticles or silver nitrate) and two different sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPLs) (PS-50 and PS-500 nm), administered via ingestion to Drosophila larvae. While egg-to-adult survival was not affected by the exposure to silver compounds, PSNPLs, or their coexposures, the combined treatments succeeded to restore the delay of fly emergence induced by silver compounds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) showed the ability of PSNPLs to transport silver compounds (regardless of their form) across the intestinal barrier, delivering them into the hemolymph of Drosophila larvae in a concentration exceeding that mediated by the exposure to silver compounds alone. The molecular response (gene expression) of Drosophila larvae greatly fluctuated, accordingly if exposures were administered alone or in combination. Although PSNPLs produced some oxidative stress in the hemocytes of Drosophila, especially at the highest dose (1 mM), higher levels were observed after silver exposure, regardless of its form. Interestingly, the oxidative stress of silver, especially that produced by nano‑silver, drastically decreased when coexposed with PSNPLs. Similar effects were observed regarding the DNA damage induced in Drosophila hemocytes, where cotreatment decreased the genotoxicity induced by silver compounds. This antagonistic interaction could be attributed to the ability of tiny plastic specks to confine silver, avoiding its bioavailability, and diminishing their potential impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nanoparticles are recently playing a potential role in improving drug uptake and the treatment of diseases. A variety of nanoparticles, such as selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used as drug carriers in various ways for treatment of cancers and liver diseases. Our aim in this study is to investigate the ability of AgNPs and SeNPs to target and treat the viral and bacterial infection of liver in rats and cell lines., Methods: For assessment of antioxidant activity of silver nanoparticles, six adult male albino rats were included in this study, liver slices were taken and assigned to 6 groups. Markers of hepatic functions, oxidative stress and inflammation in liver slices are carried out. While for assessment of antiviral activity of SeNPs, HBV-replicating human cell line HepG2 and normal human cell lines were used, hepatic and inflammatory alterations are determined through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and comet assay techniques., Results: The effect of Ag-NPs on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels were reduced in different treated groups with Ag-NPs compared with the control and diseased groups. On the other hand, SeNPs revealed significant alterations in the inflammatory markers as well as DNA damage in the treated HBV- human cell line HepG2 compared to the diseased ones., Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles have the ability for producing various hepatic alterations and can inhibit the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in a dose and size dependent manner. On the other hand, SeNPs showed excellent selectivity towards viral cells in the HepG2 cell lines. Both Ag-NPs and SeNPs might be a promising drug design for treating viral and bacterial liver diseases., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The adsorption behaviors of ciprofloxacin (CIP), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, onto goethite (Gt) in the presence of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (AgNPs and TiO 2 NPs) were investigated. Results showed that CIP adsorption kinetics in Gt with or without NPs both followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The presence of AgNPs or TiO 2 NPs inhibited the adsorption of CIP by Gt. The amount of inhibition of CIP sorption due to AgNPs was decreased with an increase of solution pH from 5.0 to 9.0. In contrast, in the presence of TiO 2 NPs, CIP adsorption by Gt was almost unchanged at pHs of 5.0∼6.5 but was decreased with an increase of pH from 6.5 to 9.0. The mechanisms of AgNPs and TiO 2 NPs in inhibiting CIP adsorption by Gt were different, which was attributed to citrate coating of AgNPs resulting in competition with CIP for adsorption sites on Gt, while TiO 2 NPs could compete with Gt for CIP adsorption. Additionally, CIP was adsorbed by Gt or TiO 2 NPs through a tridentate complex involving the bidentate inner-sphere coordination of the deprotonated carboxylic group and hydrogen bonding through the adjacent carbonyl group on the quinoline ring. These findings advance our understanding of the environmental behavior and fate of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the presence of NPs., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The extensive use of nanoparticles (NPs) in industrial processes makes their potential release into the environment an issue of concern. Ag and ZnO NPs are among the most frequently used NPs, potentially reaching concentrations of 1-4 and 64 mg/kg, respectively, in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), with unknown effects over microbial populations. Thus, we examined, in depth, the effect of such NPs on a P. aeruginosa strain isolated from a WWTP. We evaluated the growth, ROS production and biofilm formation, in addition to the transcriptomic response in presence of Ag and ZnO NPs at concentrations potentially found in sewage sludge. The transcriptomic and phenotypic patterns of P. aeruginosa in presence of Ag NPs were, in general, similar to the control treatment, with some specific transcriptional impacts affecting processes involved in biofilm formation and iron homeostasis. The biofilms formed under Ag NPs treatment were, on average, thinner and more homogeneous. ZnO NPs also alters the biofilm formation and iron homeostasis in P. aeruginosa, however, the higher and more toxic concentrations utilized caused an increase in cell death and eDNA release. Thus, the biofilm development was characterized by EPS production, via eDNA release. The number of differentially expressed genes in presence of ZnO NPs was higher compared to Ag NPs treatment. Even though the responses of P. aeruginosa to the presence of the studied metallic NPs was at some extent similar, the higher and more toxic concentrations of ZnO NPs produced greater changes concerning cell viability and ROS production, causing disruption in biofilm development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cancer is a major health concern worldwide as conventional treatment modalities face several limitations such as drug resistance, toxicity etc. To overcome such deficits, combination therapy involving anticancer peptides and chemodrugs is being considered as an attractive strategy. Therefore, present study developed, characterized and evaluated the anticancer potential of a single nanoconstruct comprising of oligomeric chitosan coated silver nanoparticles co-loaded with nisin and 5-florouracil (5-FU/nisin-CHI-AgNPs) against DMBA/TPA-induced murine skin cancer. It was fabricated using wet reduction method of silver salt to form silver nanoparticles followed sequentially by oligomeric chitosan coating, nisin conjugation to deacetylated units of chitosan oligomers (EDC/NHS chemistry) and physical loading of 5-FU. Biophysical characterisation studies revealed that the developed nanoconstruct had UV-visible absorption maxima at 420 nm, zeta potential of + 32.90 mV and 72.39 nm particle size (TEM analysis). In vivo anticancer therapeutic potential was assessed in terms of tumor statistics, histopathological, scanning electron microscopic analyses and testing oxidant/antioxidant status which exhibited marked reduction both in mean tumor volume (68.34 %) and mean tumor burden (82.39 %); restored skin histoarchitecture and improved oxidant/antioxidant status. Interestingly, anticancer therapeutic potential of nisin and 5-florouracil was found to be enhanced in vivo when bound on single composite nanoconstruct. The study forms a basis for developing synergetic single platforms against variety of cancers., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The integration of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) protects the former from aggregation and promotes the controlled release of silver ions, resulting in therapeutic significance on cancer and infection. The unique size, shape, pore structure and silver distribution of silver mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ag-MSNs) embellish them with the potential to perform combined imaging and therapeutic actions via modulating optical and drug release properties. Here, we comprehensively review the recent progress in the fabrication and application of Ag-MSNs for combination therapies for cancer and infection. We first elaborate on the fabrication of star-shaped structure, core-shell structure, and Janus structure Ag-MSNs. We then highlight Ag-MSNs as a multifunctional nanoplatform to surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based detection, non-photo-based cancer theranostics and photo-based cancer theranostics. In addition, we detail Ag-MSNs for combined antibacterial therapy via drug delivery and phototherapy. Overall, we summarize the challenges and future perspectives of Ag-MSNs that make them promising for diagnosis and therapy of cancer and infection., (© 2022 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic nanocellulose-based membranes show great potential in oil/water emulsion separation. However, nanocellulose composed of polysaccharides inevitably suffered from bacterial erosion during use or storage, resulting in structural damage or reduced separation efficiency. In this work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as effective bactericidal materials are uniformly deposited on tunicate cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs) by in situ hydrothermal reduction of silver nitrate. TCNCs not only act as reducing agents for silver ions, but also work as dispersant and stabilizers of AgNPs. Nanocomposite membranes are fabricated by vacuum-assisted filtrating of AgNPs@TCNC suspension, which exhibit nanoporous structure, superhydrophilicity, and underwater superoleophobicity. These membranes could efficiently separate oil/water microemulsion with water flux (>324 L m -2  h -1  bar -1 ) and oil rejection (>99%). Importantly, these membranes show excellent antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus, benefiting to their long-term use and storage., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Silver (Ag)/silver chloride (AgCl) nanoparticles have been used worldwide for their antimicrobial activity. Proteases play an important role in many physiological processes during wound healing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to fabricate silver-type nanoparticles exhibiting protease activity for medical applications such as wound healing and dressings. The Ag/AgCl nanoparticles were fabricated using Bacillus sp. protease and visible light activation. The size of the fabricated nanoparticles was estimated to be 35.29 ± 6.43 nm. The nanoparticles were coated on a cotton gauze bandage using immersion and ultrasonication. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed that the nanoparticles could be used to coat the gauze bandage. Synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy indicated that coating with the nanoparticles did not destroy the packing of cotton fibers in the gauze bandage. The nanoparticles exhibited fibrinolytic and collagenolytic activities. Protease activity remained after the nanoparticle coating was applied to the gauze bandage. The nanoparticles were not absorbed on a gelatin agar plate after incubation at 37 °C for 18 H. These results suggest that the coated cotton gauze bandage may be safe for further use, and the nanoparticles may not be absorbed into animal or human skin., (© 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Biomaterials have a great potential to improve human health, however in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary to provide information on their efficacy and safety. This study reports on a comprehensive evaluation of core-shell electrospun fibers loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NP) where the delivery rate was controlled by different sizes of Ag NP and thermoresponsive poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel particles. Fiber meshes also contain zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP), to improve pore structure for controlled release of Ag NP. In vitro cytotoxicity studies using cultured human A549 epithelial cells demonstrated that the ZnO NP component, which is known to cause cytotoxicity, of the fiber meshes did cause measurable cell death. In vitro antibacterial efficacy of the fiber meshes was shown with rapid and efficient growth inhibition in E. coli bacterial culture. Fiber meshes were implanted subcutaneously for up to 27 days in male and female C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the in vivo drug release and biocompatibility. Hyperspectral microscopy was used as an advanced tool to determine precise location of released Ag NP into the skin compared to the conventional tissue staining methods. Results suggested that Ag NP were continuously released over 27 days of implantation in mice. Hyperspectral imaging revealed that released Ag NP dispersed in the dermis of male mice, however, Ag NP accumulated in the hair follicles of female mice (Figure). Mice implanted with fiber meshes containing ZnO NP had better hair regrowth and wound healing, which was in contrast to in vitro cytotoxicity results. These findings suggest that these newly developed fiber meshes can have unique long-term release of drugs loaded in the fiber core and appear to be biocompatible. The differences in the sex-bias outcome suggest the opportunity for development of sex-specific drug delivery systems., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nanotechnology involves the synthesis of nanoparticles that have been used in the therapeutic application for treating diseases. In this present study, we have adopted the synthesis of myconanoparticles from the extracellular extract of endophytic fungi Penicillium sclerotiorum (PsNps) and validated its antibacterial potential against antibiotic-resistant uropathogenic E. coli and ATCC (25,922) strain of Escherichia coli. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the healthy leaves of Tamarindus indica. The genomic DNA from endophytic fungi was isolated and the ITS region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS4 and sequenced for the identification of endophytic fungal isolates. Penicillium sclerotiorum extract was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (PsNps) and was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, FE-SEM, and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Antibacterial activity of PsNps was tested against the antibiotic-resistant uropathogenic E. coli and ATCC (25,922) strain of E. coli. Further experiments were carried out to explore the potential of PsNps in regulating the CTX-M-15 gene. The antimicrobial activity showed that the PsNps inhibited growth, biofilm formation in both the strains of E. coli. The expression of the gene encoding CTX-M-15 was downregulated in a resistant strain of uropathogenic E. coli. Our results suggest that the PsNps could be used as an alternative source for antibiotics. Thus, further studies can be conducted to prove the in vivo potential of PsNps and can be formulated for commercialization., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Dual-drug delivery systems were constructed through coaxial techniques, which were convenient for the model drugs used the present work. This study aimed to fabricate core-shell electrospun nanofibrous membranes displaying simultaneous cell proliferation and antibacterial activity. For that purpose, phenytoin (Ph), a well-known proliferative agent, was loaded into a polycaprolactone (PCL) shell membrane, and as-prepared silver-chitosan nanoparticles (Ag-CS NPs), as biocidal agents, were embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) core layer. The morphology, chemical composition, mechanical and thermal properties of the nanofibrous membranes were characterized by FESEM/STEM, FTIR and DSC. The coaxial PVA-Ag CS NPs/PCL-Ph nanofibers (NFs) showed more controlled Ph release than PVA/PCL-Ph NFs. There was notable improvement in the morphology, thermal, mechanical, antibacterial properties and cytobiocompatibility of the fibers upon incorporation of Ph and Ag-CS NPs. The proposed core-shell PVA/PCL NFs represent promising scaffolds for tissue regeneration and wound healing by the effective dual delivery of phenytoin and Ag-CS NPs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hydrogels are excellent wound healing materials. However, due to the wear and tear at the wound site, hydrogels can lose their structural and functional integrity. To overcome this and to effectively seal the wound and control infection, an in-situ silver nanoparticles (AgNps) incorporated N, O-carboxymethyl chitosan (N, O-CMC) based self-healing hydrogel using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-ferric ion (EDTA: Fe 3+ ) complex was developed. The prepared N, O-CMC/AgNps hydrogel was characterized using FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The developed N, O-CMC/AgNps hydrogel was found to be adhesive, injectable, conductive, bio-compatible, and showed antibacterial activity against ATCC and clinical strains of E. coli, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and MRSA. N, O-CMC/AgNps hydrogel also showed anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa (ATCC strains). This developed antibacterial and self-healing N, O-CMC/AgNps hydrogel can be used in the treatment of infected wounds., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) are widely used in industry as a white pigment (paints, paper industry and toothpastes), photocatalysts (environmental decontamination and photovoltaic cells), inorganic UV filter (sunscreens and personal care products) and as a food additive (E171) and antimicrobial food packaging material. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are used in photonics, microelectronics, catalysis and medicine due to their catalytic activity, magnetic and optical polarizability, electrical and thermal conductivities and enhanced Raman scattering. They also have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities, as well as anti-inflammatory potential. The huge increase in the use of nano-based products, mainly metallic NPs, implies the presence of nanomaterials in the environment, and hence, the unintentional human ingestion through water or foods (gastrointestinal tract is the main pathway of NPs intake in humans). The presence of TiO 2 NPs and Ag NPs in seafood samples was firstly established using an ultrasound assisted enzymatic hydrolysis procedure and sp-ICP-MS analysis. Several clams, cockles, mussels, razor clams, oysters and variegated scallops, which contain TiO 2 NPs and Ag NPs, were subjected to an in vitro digestion process simulating human gastrointestinal digestion in the stomach and in the small and large intestine to determine the bioaccessibility of these NPs. Caco-2 cells were selected as model of human intestinal epithelium for transport studies because of the development of membrane transporters that are responsible for the uptake of chemicals. Parameters as transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability of Lucifer Yellow were studied for establishing cell monolayer integrity. TiO 2 NPs and Ag NPs transport as well as total Ti and Ag concentrations passing through the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier model (0-2 h) were assessed by sp-ICP-MS and ICP-MS in several molluscs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The pH-stimuli release behavior of nanoformulations may enhance the success rate of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancers by site-specific delivery of drugs to cancer tissues. The aim of the present study was to prepare chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) with previously synthesized folic acid (FA) capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) loaded with the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine (GEM) (FA-GEM-AgNPs). The CS-FA-GEM-AgNPs (CS-NPs) were characterized with dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analyses. The in-vitro drug release of GEM was evaluated in media of different pH. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was carried out to determine the cytotoxic effects of the prepared nanoformulations in media with various pH. The time- and pH-dependent apoptotic cell death induced by CS-NPs with MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cell line was observed using acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EtBr) staining. The pharmacokinetic parameters were studied with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Two batches of CS-NPs formulations were prepared, one with AgNPs of particle size 143 nm and the other with 244 nm. The particle size for CS-NPs-I (FA-GEM-AgNPs-143 nm) and CS-NPs-II (FA-GEM-AgNPs-244 nm) was found to be 425 and 545 nm, respectively. The zeta potential was found to be 36.1 and 37.5 mV for CS-NPs-I and CS-NPs-II, respectively. CS-NPs-I and CS-NPs-II showed a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.240 and 0.261, respectively. A TEM study confirmed the spherical nature of the NPs. The nanoformulations exerted pH-dependant effect against MDA-MB-453 cells with relatively higher cytotoxicity at the lower pH than at higher pH levels. The pharmacokinetic profile and tissue distribution of CS-NPs in rats exerted drug release in a pH-dependent manner with enhanced excretion of Ag + . An optimized nanoformulation for pH-stimuli responsive release of GEM was successfully developed for future therapeutic exploration., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bimetallic nanoparticles allow new and synergistic properties compared to the monometallic equivalents, often leading to unexpected results. Here we present on silver-iron nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol, which exhibit a high transverse relaxivity (316 ± 13 mM -1 s -1 , > 3 times that of the most common clinical benchmark based on iron oxide), excellent colloidal stability and biocompatibility in vivo. Ag-Fe nanoparticles are obtained through a one-step, low-cost laser-assisted synthesis, which makes surface functionalization with the desired biomolecules very easy. Besides, Ag-Fe nanoparticles show biodegradation over a few months, as indicated by incubation in the physiological environment. This is crucial for nanomaterials removal from the living organism and, in fact, in vivo biodistribution studies evidenced that Ag-Fe nanoparticles tend to be cleared from liver over a period in which the benchmark iron oxide contrast agent persisted. Therefore, the Ag-Fe NPs offer positive prospects for solving the problems of biopersistence, contrast efficiency, difficulties of synthesis and surface functionalization usually encountered in nanoparticulate contrast agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Surface functionalization on silver nanoparticles greatly affects the dynamics of protein corona formation. In the present study, the implications of protein pre-coating on corona formation and nanoparticle's physiological stability, cellular uptake and toxicity were studied on similar sized alkaline protease coated nanoparticles of biological and chemical origin along with the uncoated nanoparticle as compared to the albumin coated nanoparticles. All four nanoparticle types invited serum protein adsorption on their surface. However, the presence of protein pre-coating on nanoparticle surface significantly reduced the extent of further protein binding. Moreover, corona formation on pristine nanoparticles significantly improved their stability in the biological medium. The effect was found to be diluted in protein pre-coated nanoparticles with due exception. Results obtained in the cell-based experiment suggested that the nanoparticles binding to the cell, its uptake, and toxicity in different cell lines can be directly linked to their physiological stability owing to corona formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Irregular and unknowingly use of chemical compounds is a serious threat to the environment, human health, and other living organisms attributable and intensified by the growing population and increasing demand for food. Nitrite and nitrate are among those compounds that are widely used in agricultural and industrial products. Therefore on-site, rapid, simple, and accurate monitoring of nitrite/nitrate is highly desirable. In this review, while emphasizing the importance of nitrite and nitrate in food chain safety and health of living organisms, their measurement methods, in particular, nanoplasmonic colorimetric sensors are comprehensively discussed based on the researches in this field. Nanoplasmonic-based sensors have proved to be successful in comparison with traditional methods due to their low cost, biocompatibility, high sensitivity and selectivity, and most importantly, the ability to visually detect and be used on-site to measure nitrite and nitrate. The design principle of nanoplasmonic sensors will be presented into two categories of aggregation- and etching-based detection followed by their applications in nitrite detection. The nitrate measurement will be discussed based on either direct detection of nitrate or indirect strategy in which nitrate is reduced to nitrite by enzymes or metals. Finally, the remaining challenges and prospects in this topic will be described and outlined., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Tuberculosis remains today a major public health issue with a total of 9 million new cases and 2 million deaths annually. The lack of an effective vaccine and the increasing emergence of new strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) highly resistant to antibiotics, anticipate a complicated scenario in the near future. The use of nanoparticles features as an alternative to antibiotics in tackling this problem due to their potential effectiveness in resistant bacterial strains. In this context, silver nanoparticles have demonstrated high bactericidal efficacy, although their use is limited by their relatively high toxicity, which calls for the design of nanocarriers that allow silver based nanoparticles to be safely delivered to the target cells or tissues. In this work mesoporous silica nanoparticles are used as carriers of silver based nanoparticles as antimycobacterial agent against Mtb. Two different synthetic approaches have been used to afford, on the one hand, a 2D hexagonal mesoporous silica nanosystem which contains silver bromide nanoparticles distributed all through the silica network and, on the other hand, a core@shell nanosystem with metallic silver nanoparticles as core and mesoporous silica shell in a radial mesoporous rearrangement. Both materials have demonstrated good antimycobacterial capacity in in vitro test using Mtb, being lower the minimum inhibitory concentration for the nanosystem which contains silver bromide. Therefore, the interaction of this material with the mycobacterial cell has been studied by cryo-electron microscopy, establishing a direct connection between the antimycobactericidal effect observed and the damage induced in the cell envelope., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)