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Over time, researchers have accumulated significant evidence indicating that vitamin D deficiency not only impacts skeletal health but also contributes to the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. The risk of low serum 1, 25(OH)2D3 level ultimately directs the way to morbidity, the beginning of new diseases, and numerous infections. Infections are the first entity that affects those with vitamin D deficiency. The common infection is urinary tract infection (UTI), and its relationship with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency remains controversial. This infection affects both men and women, but comparatively, women are more prone to this infection because of the short length of the urethra, which makes an easy entry for the bacteria. The low level of serum vitamin D increases the risk of UTIs in children. Recurrent UTIs are one of the major weaknesses in women; if left untreated, they progress to appallingly serious conditions like kidney dysfunction, liver damage, etc. Hence improving the vitamin D status may help to improve the immune system, thus making it more resistant to infections. In this review, we have focused on examining whether vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are the causes of UTIs and the association between them in women and children. We have also described the connection between vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency with UTIs and additional nanotechnology- based treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uric acid (UA) levels in blood serum have been associated with hypertension, indicating a potential causal relationship between high serum UA levels and the progression of hypertension. Therefore, the reduction of serum UA level is considered a potential strategy for lowering and mitigating blood pressure. If an individual is at risk of developing or already manifesting elevated blood pressure, this intervention could be an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan. By addressing hyperuricaemia, practitioners may subsidize the optimization of blood pressure regulation, which illustrates the importance of addressing UA levels as a valuable strategy within the broader context of hypertension management. In this analysis, we outlined the operational principles of effective xanthine oxidase inhibitors for the treatment of hyperuricaemia and hypertension, along with an exploration of the contribution of nanotechnology to this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the advancing generation, commercialization and industrial development are on the incessant proliferation. Due to this unremitting need for development, the danger to the biological health of the environment is on the assurgent rise. Many "clean and green" industrial protocols have been generated and taken into purview but has been ineffective in keeping abreast with the ever‐growing pace of environmental threats. Technology in today's world has been the game changer in revolutionizing the way humans live their lives today but at the same time, has also become the greatest source of threat to the very sustainability of the planet. Thus, newer technological enhancements have been initiated to compensate for the harm to the environment. Of these, green and sustainable nanotechnological methodology and tools to be used as zero waste tools have been developed to efficiently beat the crisis of the hour. For example, the development of various nano‐based zero‐waste tools to the introduction of nanotechnology in various industries like automobiles, water, agriculture, and so on, has changed the way sustainable development has been adopted. This article aims to enhance the success of nanotechnology in the various sustainable developments done in industrial fields to cope up with the need of a "clean and green" environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the major causes of death, and its negative impact continues to rise globally. Chemotherapy, which is the most common therapy, has several limitations due to its tremendous side effects. Therefore, developing an alternate therapeutic agent with high biocompatibility is indeed needed. The anti-oxidative effects and bioactivities of several different crude extracts of marine algae have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we synthesized the aqueous extract (HA) from the marine algae Amphiroa anceps, and then, a liposome was formulated for that extract (NHA). The extracts were characterized using different photophysical tools like dynamic light scattering, UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and GC-MS analysis. The SEM image revealed a size range of 112–185 nm for NHA and the GC-MS results showed the presence of octadecanoic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid in the majority. The anticancer activity was studied using A549 cells, and the NHA inhibited the cancer cells dose-dependently, with the highest killing of 92% at 100 μg/mL. The in vivo studies in the zebrafish model showed that neither the HA nor NHA of Amphiroa anceps showed any teratogenic effect. The outcome of our study showed that NHA can be a potential drug candidate for inhibiting cancer with good biocompatibility up to a dose of 100 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bupropion (Bup) belongs to the norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) class and it is the only FDA-approved drug of its class for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), sold under the name of Wellbutrin. Although bupropion is effective in suppressing the symptoms, its regular use and overdose might lead to seizures and liver failure. Thus, we aimed to nanoformulate bupropion onto a niosomal vesicle to improve its efficacy and achieve the same therapeutic effect at lower scheduled doses. A thin film hydration method was adopted to synthesize and optimize Bup entrapped niosomes using three different surfactants of the sorbitan ester series (Span 20, 40, and 60) in combination with cholesterol. The optimization data determined that the niosome formulated with a cholesterol-to-surfactant ratio of 1:1.5 is the most stable system, with the Bup entrapped niosomes containing Span 20 (Bup@N20C) exhibiting minimal in vitro and in vivo toxicity, and demonstrating the sustained release of Bup in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). The Bup@N20C formulation showed increased exploration activity and reduced irregular movements in reserpine-induced depression in the adult zebrafish model, suggesting the potential for mood improvement through the suppression of depression-like behavior which was established by statistical analysis and trajectory data. The Bup@N20C-treated group even surpasses the treatment effect of the positive control group and is comparable to the control group. Hence, it can be inferred that niosomal formulations of Bup represent a promising delivery system capable of achieving the brain delivery of the cargo by bypassing the blood–brain barrier facilitated by their small architectural structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that mainly affects the white blood cells. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) sudden growth of cancerous cells occurs in blood and bone marrow, and it disrupts normal blood cell production. Most patients are asymptomatic, but it spreads rapidly and can become fatal if left untreated. AML is the prevalent form of leukemia in children. Risk factors of AML include chemical exposure, radiation, genetics, etc. Conventional diagnostic methods of AML are complete blood count tests and bone marrow aspiration, while conventional treatment methods involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant. There is a risk of cancer cells spreading progressively to the other organs if left untreated, and hence, early diagnosis is required. The conventional diagnostic methods are time- consuming and have drawbacks like harmful side effects and recurrence of the disease. To overcome these difficulties, nanoparticles are employed in treating and diagnosing AML. These nanoparticles can be surface- modified and can be used against cancer cells. Due to their enhanced permeability effect and high surface-to-volume ratio they will be able to reach the tumour site which cannot be reached by traditional drugs. This review article talks about how nanotechnology is more advantageous over the traditional methods in the treatment and diagnosis of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is diagnosed with the deposition of insoluble β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the neuropil of the brain leading to dementia. The extracellular deposition of the fibrillar Aβ peptide on the neurons is known as senile plaques. Therefore, Aβ degradation and clearance from the human body is a promising therapeutic approach in the medication of AD. In the current study, the enzyme lumbrokinase (LK) was extracted and purified from earthworm and its activity was utilized toward Aβ 1–42 amyloids degradation in vitro alongside with an additional enzyme serratiopeptidase (SP) considering nattokinase (NK) as a standard. The output of this study revealed that preformed Aβ 1–42 amyloids was disintegrated by both LK and SP, as demonstrated from fluorescence assay using Thioflavin T dye. In addition, dynamic light scattering study revealed the lower size of the preformed fibrils Aβ 1–42 at various time intervals after incubation with the enzymes LK and SP. Furthermore, in silico approach showed high affinity thermodynamically favorable interaction of LK as well as SP toward Aβ 1–42 amyloid. Finally, the toxicity of degraded preformed Aβ 1–42 amyloid was assessed by MTT assay which showed reduced toxicity of enzyme treated Aβ 1–42 amyloid compared to only Aβ 1–42 amyloid. The findings of the present study indicated that LK and SP, not only had Aβ 1–42 amyloid degrading potential, but also could reduce the toxicity which can make them a suitable drug candidate for AD. Furthermore, the in vivo studies are needed to be executed in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various nanomaterials have been studied for their biomedical application in recent years. Among them, nanocomposites have a prominent medical application in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various diseases. Nanocomposites are made up of polymeric matrix layers composed of synthetic or natural polymers like chitosan, polyethylene glycol, etc. Polymer nanocomposites are inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. There are two types of polymeric nanocomposites which include natural and synthetic polymer nanocomposites. These nanocomposites have various biomedical applications, such as medical implants, wound healing, wound dressing, bone repair and replacement, and dental filling. Polymeric nanocomposites have a wide range of biomedical applications due to their high stability, non-immunogenic nature, sustained drug delivery, non-toxic, and can escape reticuloendothelial system uptake along with drug bioavailability improvement. In this review, we have discussed various types of natural and synthetic polymer nanocomposites and their biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several formulations have been developed in the current era using liposomes and niosomes as vesicular carriers, which have proven useful in oral drug delivery; nevertheless, their use is limited due to their gastrointestinal environment, including pH, enzymes, and bile salts. To overcome these difficulties, researchers are working on finding ways to improve the efficacy and stability of vesicles. Therefore bilosomes have been developed as promising vesicular carriers with the potential to deliver oral vaccines, parenteral and transdermal targeted drug delivery. In addition to incorporating hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drugs into vesicles, bilosomes are considered one of the most effective methods for enhancing bioavailability and efficacy. Bile acid-based bilosomes are rapidly growing in the current research areas and are expected to provide multiple applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields that will occur in the future with bile salts. This paper briefly introduces the bilosomes of a new generation (structure), their mechanism of action, stability, physicochemical properties, and potential biomedical applications including in oral immunization. Furthermore, surface-engineered bilosomes are more effective than bare bilosomes in various animal models, but clinical trials are needed to assess their safety and efficacy. There is also a need for more research on scaling-up factors for commercializing bilosomal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is evident that site-specific systemic drug delivery can reduce side effects, systemic toxicity, and minimal dosage requirements predominantly by delivering drugs to particular pathological sites, cells, and even subcellular structures. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and associated cell organelles play a vital role in several essential cellular functions and activities, such as the synthesis of lipids, steroids, membrane-associated proteins along with intracellular transport, signaling of Ca2+, and specific response to stress. Therefore, the dysfunction of ER is correlated with numerous diseases where cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes mellitus, hepatic disorder, etc., are very common. To achieve satisfactory therapeutic results in certain diseases, it is essential to engineer delivery systems that can effectively enter the cells and target ER. Nanoparticles are highly biocompatible, contain a variety of cargos or payloads, and can be modified in a pliable manner to achieve therapeutic effectiveness at the subcellular level when delivered to specific organelles. Passive targeting drug delivery vehicles, or active targeting drug delivery systems, reduce the nonselective accumulation of drugs while reducing side effects by modifying them with small molecular compounds, antibodies, polypeptides, or isolated bio-membranes. The targeting of ER and closely associated organelles in cells using nanoparticles, however, is still unsymmetrically understood. Therefore, here we summarized the pathophysiological prospect of ER stress, involvement of ER and mitochondrial response, disease related to ER dysfunctions, essential therapeutics, and nanoenabled modulation of their delivery to optimize therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer cells usually spread in the peritoneal region, and if chemotherapeutic drugs can be given in these regions with proximity, then the anticancer property of the chemotherapeutic drugs can enhance. However, chemotherapeutic drug administrations are hindered by local toxicity. In the drug delivery system, microparticles or nanoparticles are administered in a controlled manner. Microparticles stay in a close vicinity while nanoparticles are smaller and can move evenly in the peritoneum. Intravenous administration of the drug evenly distributes the medicine in the target places and if the composition of the drug has nanoparticles it will have more specificity and will have easy access to the cancer cells and tumors. Among the different types of nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles were proven as most efficient in drug delivery. Polymeric nanoparticles are seen to be combined with many other molecules like metals, non-metals, lipids, and proteins, which helps in the increase of cellular uptake. The efficiency of different types of polymeric nanoparticles used in delivering the load for management of ovarian cancer will be discussed in this mini-review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology offers several opportunities to improve conventional drugs to avoid issues that pharmaceutical industries are facing nowadays. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs have been found to be more readily soluble in mixed polymer nanohydrogels, which improves their solubility in solution. An attempt has been made in the present study to enhance the efficacy of beta-lactam antibiotics by making nanoformulation using mixed polymer nanohydrogels derived from natural polymers sodium alginate and chitosan. As a consequence, this formulation permitted amoxicillin (MOX) to be entrapped in alginate hydrogels and, in addition, chitosan-induced cationic charges on the surface of nanoparticles. Physicochemical characterizations and swelling properties, encapsulation efficiency, MOX release profile at different pH, and MTT assay to establish the toxicity of synthesized nanocomposite were investigated. There was a significant improvement in the effectiveness of the encapsulated drug amoxicillin against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli compared to the aqueous solution of the drug. It has been calculated that the encapsulation efficiency was approximately 64% by spectrophotometry, and antibiotic sensitivity tests in the presence of Gram-negative bacteria have shown that the encapsulated drug within nanohydrogels has superior antibacterial efficacy against them. This formulation with cationic surface charge may be a superior alternative to inactivate beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria than the standard medications available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is managed using conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of both. Each of these therapies has its own limitations, such as the indiscriminate killing of normal as well as cancer cells, the solubility of the chemotherapeutic drugs, rapid clearance of the drugs from circulation before reaching the tumor site, the resistance of cancer cells to radiation, and over-sensitization of normal cells to radiation. Other treatment modalities include gene therapy, immunological checkpoint inhibitors, drug repurposing, and in situ cryo-immune engineering (ICIE) strategy. Nanotechnology has come to the rescue to overcome many shortfalls of conventional therapies. Some of the nano-formulated chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as nanoparticles and nanostructures with surface modifications, have been used for effective cancer cell killing and radio sensitization, respectively. Nano-enabled drug delivery systems act as cargo to deliver the sensitizer molecules specifically to the tumor cells, thereby enabling the radiation therapy to be more effective. In this review, we have discussed the different conventional chemotherapies and radiation therapies used for inhibiting lung cancer. We have also discussed the improvement in chemotherapy and radiation sensitization using nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is significant progress in biomedical sciences to use biomaterials as a potential medium for the delivery of pharmacologically active components to diseased cells. This multidisciplinary approach has established that the therapeutic benefit is not directly proportional to the potency of drugs. It is more related to the mode of drug formulations and routes of administration. Biomaterials play a vital role in the formulations of a wide range of pharmaceutical compounds, including antibodies, peptides, drugs, enzymes, and vaccines. Most of these materials have been engineered to release therapeutics for an extended period to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. This review has initially discussed a brief history of different biomaterials in drug delivery and the clinical needs of the same. The latter part describes the strategies to use RNA as a therapeutic molecule to stop the synthesis of disease-causing proteins that are generated by the misregulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascade molecules are nearly uniform-sized macromolecules of small molecules or linear polymer cores built around symmetric branching units. A wide range of biological properties can be achieved with phosphorus-containing dendrimers, depending on their terminal functions, ranging from biomaterials to imaging, drug delivery, and acting as a drug by themselves. This feature article presents significant examples of phosphorus-containing dendrimers used to develop biochips, support cell cultures, carry or deliver biomacromolecules and drugs, bioimaging, and combinational benefits. Because of the thermal stability, ferrocene function, and physical and chemical properties of phosphorus, dendrimers show greater rigidity, mobility, and strength. These dendrimers will be discussed as having a favorable effect on cell growths, especially on neuronal cells, as well as human immune cells like natural killer cells and monocytes, which have a crucial part in preventing cancerous and viral infections. Several phosphorus dendrimers are effective as drugs by themselves (drug per se) and show their activity against neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, inflammation, ocular hypertension, and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in both in vivo and in vitro. The present review discusses the synthetic route, fabrications, and biomedical applications of phosphorus-containing dendrimers. The toxicity of these dendrimers was also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excellence of nanotechnology paved the way for its application in the food industry recently. Several industrial initiatives are now working on developing nano-based food packaging to improve food quality and ensure its safety. Along with providing improved mechanical property and barrier system, it also intimates the current condition of a food product. The ultimate goal is to extend the shelf life of food products, which the use of nanostructures can accomplish. The fabricated nanostructure is designed to release preservatives such as antimicrobials, at times to improve the shelf life. Two key applications of nanotechnology in the food sector are to develop nanostructured materials for food packaging or processing and nanosensors to detect food spoilage. This review discusses the types of nanomaterials used for food packaging, the advantages of nanobased packaging over conventional methods, and provides an overview of the risk of nanoparticles on the biological system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food and crops are sourced primarily from agriculture, and due to the enormous growth in population, agricultural goods are in great demand, while farmland is being developed for residences. Therefore, certain chemicals, like pesticides, are being overused and have become unavoidable to increase crop productivity and storage. Excessive release of pesticides into the environment and food chain may pose a health risk. Food and agricultural products need routine analyses to monitor the level of pesticide residuals. As pesticide detection techniques are labor-intensive and require highly qualified professionals, an alternative technique must be developed, such as analytical nanotechnology. The most commonly used nanomaterials for pesticide delivery, enrichment, degradation, detection, and removal are metals, clays, polymers, and lipids. In colorimetric analysis of pesticides, metal nanoparticles are widely used which are quick, easy, and do not require any sample preparation. This manuscript compiles the latest research on nanotechnology in pesticide formulation and detection for smart farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles (NPs) designed for various theranostic purposes have hugely impacted scientific research in the field of biomedicine, bringing forth hopes of a future revolutionized area called nanomedicine. A budding advancement in this area is the conjugation of various cell membranes onto nanoparticles to develop biomimetic cells called 'Nanodecoys' (NDs), which can imitate the functioning of natural cells. This technology of coating cell membranes on NPs has enhanced the working capabilities of nano-based techniques by initiating effective navigation within the bodily system. Due to the presence of multiple functional moieties, nanoparticles coated with cell membranes hold the ability to interact with complex biological microenvironments inside the body with ease. Although developed with the initial motive to increase the time of circulation in the bloodstream and stability by coating membranes of red blood cells, it has further outstretched a wide range of cell lines, such as mesenchymal stem cells, beta cells, thrombocytes, white blood cells, and cancer cells. Thus, these cells and the versatile properties they bring along with them open up a brand-new domain in the biomedical industry where different formulations of nanoparticles can be used in appropriate dosages to treat a plethora of diseases. This review comprises recent investigations of nanodecoys in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-decorated ferrite nanodots (MNF@Cs) have been enhanced with superparamagnetism and higher fluorescence quantum yield by encapsulation with an alginate derivative to create a cost-effective and less toxic multimodal contrast agent for replacing the conventional heavy metal Gd-containing contrast agent used in MR imaging. The novel surface-engineered particles (MNF@C-OSAs), devoid of labels, can simultaneously provide both longitudinal and transverse relaxation-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence emission. According to the findings of in vitro studies, the calculated molar relaxivities and the molar radiant efficiencies are indicative of the multimodal efficacy of MNF@C-OSA as compared with MNF@C particles and conventional contrast agents used in medical imaging. MNF@C-OSAs were shown to be significantly biocompatible and negligibly toxic when assessed against A549 cells and zebrafish embryos, indicating their potential for use as theranostic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancements in nanotechnology have quickly developed a new subject with vast applications of nanostructured materials in medicine and pharmaceuticals. The enormous surface-to-volume ratio, ease of surface modification, outstanding biocompatibility, and, in the case of mesoporous nanoparticles, the tunable pore size make the silica nanoparticles (SNPs) a promising candidate for nano-based medical applications. The preparation of SNPs and their contemporary usage as drug carriers, contrast agents for imaging, carrier of photosensitizers (PS) in photodynamic, as well as photothermal treatments are intensely discussed in this review. Furthermore, the potential harmful responses of silica nanoparticles are reviewed using data obtained from in vitro and in vivo experiments conducted by several studies. Moreover, we showcase the engineering of SNPs for the theranostic applications that can address several intrinsic limitations of conventional therapeutics and diagnostics. In the end, a personal perspective was outlined to state SNPs' current status and future directions, focusing on SNPs' significant potentiality and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological events can be mapped in real-time using fluorescent images at high spatial resolution through the use of a powerful tool called fluorescence, and it is necessary to have ultra-bright fluorescent probes. The detrimental effects associated with the existing fluorescence imaging probes and contrast agents are the primary reason behind the greater involvement of nanotechnology. Developing advanced particles at the molecular and supramolecular levels is the only way to address the constraints underlying the current scenario. Nanosized structures dominate in multiple fields, especially in nanotheranostics, due to their higher quantum yield, negligible photobleaching, excellent biocompatibility, tunable optical properties, and improved circulation half-lives. Nanofluorophores, which are nanoparticles encapsulated or doped with fluorescent dyes, play a crucial role in fluorescence-based imaging modality by providing noninvasive realtime monitoring of the inner machinery of the anatomical and cellular structures. In addition to fluorescent inorganic and organic nanoparticles, there are labeled hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanostructures, semiconducting dots, carbon dots, as well as upconversion nanomaterials, etc., which are widely used in fluorescent imaging. A comprehensive literature survey has been provided in this review since intense studies are needed to clear the preclinic stage, thus opening up opportunities for future biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]