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'Active targeting' refers to modifying a nanocarrier's surface with targeting ligands. This study introduced an efficient approach for immobilizing imidazole-based drugs onto the metallated-porphyrin complex within the porphysome nanocarrier. To enhance cellular and bacterial uptake, a Ni-porphyrin with a fatty acid tail was synthesized and placed in the bilayer center of DPPC, facilitating receptor-mediated endocytosis. The Ni-porphyrin in the head group of the Ni-porphyrin-tail was placed superficially in the polar region of the membrane. Spherical unilamellar vesicle formation (DPPC: Ni-porphyrin-tail 4:1 mole ratio), as metallo-porphysome, was achieved through supramolecular self-assembly in an aqueous buffer. These vesicles exhibited a diameter of 279 ± 7 nm and a zeta potential of −15.3 ± 2.5 mV, showcasing their unique cytocompatibility. Nitroimidazole was decorated on the surface of metallo-porphysomes and pistachio green hull extract (PGHE) was loaded into the carrier for synergistic activity against (E. coli) and (S. aureus) bacteria strains. The physicochemical properties of Nitroimidazole-porphysome-PGHE, including size, zeta potential, morphology, loading efficiency, and release profile under various pH and temperature conditions in simulated gastrointestinal fluids were characterized. This combination therapy prevented bacterial cell attachment and biofilm formation in Caco-2 cells, as colon epithelial cells. The remarkable benefit of this system is that it does not affect cell viability even at 0.5 mg/ml. This study demonstrates the potential of a new co-delivery system using biocompatible metallo-porphysomes to decrease bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects of glucosamine nanoparticles (GNPs) grafted with gallic acid (GNPs‐g‐GA). Glucosamine hydrochloride (G‐HCl) was produced from shrimp shell, and then GNPs synthesized using ionic gelation method. GNPs‐g‐GA was prepared by coupling GNPs with GA via 1‐ethy‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide (EDC) in combination with N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) cross‐linking agents. The results indicated that the grafting of GA onto GNPs at different ratios increased the average size of the nanoparticles from 195.7 to 294.2 nm with various grafting degrees ranging from 73.3 to 146.4 mg GA/g GNPs‐g‐GA. The SEM images revealed the formation of spherical‐shaped GNPs‐g‐GA nanoparticles with approximate sizes ranging from 275.3 to 303.6 nm. The appearance of characteristic signals in the FT‐IR (C=C, C–O/C–C, and NH2) and 1H‐NMR (H‐2 and H‐6 at 6.95 ppm) spectra and the red shift in UV‐Vis spectrum provided further support of GNPs‐g‐GA successful synthesis. DPPH radical scavenging (from 20.0 to 70.4%) and ABTS radical scavenging (from 18.7 to 79.0%) activities and reducing power (nearly fivefold) sharply improved in GNPs‐g‐GA. Moreover, GNPs‐g‐GA was found nontoxic and drastically reduced the level of nitric oxide release and downregulated the synthesis of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 in LPS‐induced RAW2647 murine macrophage cells through NF‐κB and MAPKs signaling pathways. Overall, these results suggested that the grafting of GNPs and GA is an effective strategy for the suppression of inflammation response and oxidation reaction in osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell RNA sequencing is a high-throughput novel method that provides transcriptional profiling of individual cells within biological samples. This method typically uses microfluidics systems to uncover the complex intercellular communication networks and biological pathways buried within highly heterogeneous cell populations in tissues. One important application of this technology sits in the fields of organ and stem cell transplantation, where complications such as graft rejection and other post-transplantation life-threatening issues may occur. In this review, we first focus on research in which single-cell RNA sequencing is used to study the transcriptional profile of transplanted tissues. This technology enables the analysis of the donor and recipient cells and identifies cell types and states associated with transplant complications and pathologies. We also review the use of single-cell RNA sequencing in stem cell implantation. This method enables studying the heterogeneity of normal and pathological stem cells and the heterogeneity in cell populations. With their remarkably rapid pace, the single-cell RNA sequencing methodologies will potentially result in breakthroughs in clinical transplantation in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide due to the inability of existing methods for early diagnosis. Tumor-derived exosomes are nano-scale vesicles released from tumor cells to the extracellular environment, and their investigation can be very useful in both biomarkers for early cancer screening and treatment assessment. This research detected the exosomes via an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor containing gold nano-islands (Au-NIs) structures. This way, a high surface-area-to-volume ratio of nanostructures was embellished on the FTO electrodes to increase the chance of immobilizing the CD-151 antibody. In this way, a layer of gold was first deposited on the electrode by physical vapor deposition (PVD), followed by thermal annealing to construct primary gold seeds on the surface of the electrode. Then, gold seeds were grown by electrochemical deposition through gold salt. The cell-derived exosomes were successfully immobilized on the FTO electrode through the CD-151 antibody, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods were used in this research. In the CV method, the change in the current passing through the working electrode is measured so that the connection of exosomes causes the current to decrease. In the EIS method, surface resistance changes were investigated so that the binding of exosomes increased the surface resistance. Various concentrations of exosomes in both cell culture and blood serum samples were measured to test the sensitivity of the biosensor, which makes our biosensor capable of detecting 20 exosomes per milliliter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]