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Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely utilized as an effective carrier for naturally occurring biologically active hydrophobic molecules with a potential to enhance antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Here, a positively charged amine-functionalized ceria nanoparticles (CeO2-NH2NPs) were prepared first, and then a natural flavonoid, morin was adsorbed on the surface of NPs via metal–ligand coordination to form a nanohybrid (morin-CeO2-NH2). The CeO2-NH2NPs displayed almost spherical shape with size of around 3–4 nm, along with the presence of Ce, O, N, C, and Si. The NPs showed ~ 10% drug (morin) loading content, and a sustained release pattern of morin under physiological conditions. The nanohybrids showed excellent free radical (DPPH, superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide) scavenging properties in both cell-free systems as well as in intracellular conditions. Cytotoxicity assessment revealed that the nanohybrids were slightly toxic up to the concentration of 50 μg/mL in normal human kidney epithelial cells. Further, the nanohybrids showed a significant growth inhibition against the tested Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive bacteria due to the production of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA degradation, and membrane damage. However, those in vitro assays showed that the nanohybrid exhibited the maximum effect in imparting the antioxidant and antibacterial activity among all the treatment groups. All these results highlighted that the nanoceria-mediated drug delivery systems could help to increase the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of morin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water soluble carbon dots (CDs) were prepared froman amino acid"Taurine". • The CDs were used as bioimaging agent. • Then CDs-CeO 2 nanohybrid was synthesized. • The CDs and CDs-CeO 2 nanohybridshowed excellent antioxidant potential. • The CDs and CDs-CeO 2 nanohybridexhibited excellent antibacterial activity. • The CDs and CDs-CeO 2 nanohybridexhibited no toxicity to human normal kidney epithelial cells. Here we have synthesized water soluble and biocompatible carbon dots (CDs) from taurine via thermal decomposition method. The CDs showed nearly spherical shape with diameter less than 10 nm. The CDs exhibited excitation dependent fluorescence emission and could be used for mammalian cell imaging. The CDs showed excellent DPPH and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity in cell free system. Besides, the CDs also displayed significant intracellular radical scavenging activity in human normal kidney epithelial (NKE) cells. Furthermore, nanohybrids consisting of both CDs and nanoceria (CeO 2) were prepared and tested for their biomedical applications. The nanohybrids showed significant antioxidant activities in both cell free and intracellular conditions. The CDs and nanohybrids possessed very little toxicity upto the concentration of 100 μg/mL when treated for 24 hours in human NKE cells. The CDs as well as nanohybrids further displayed significant bacterial growth inhibition against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria under dark as well as light illumination condition via the bacterial membrane damage. However, under the light illumination, the bacterial growth inhibition of CDs and nanohybrids was further enhanced due to the generation of reactive oxygen radicals and subsequent DNA degradation. A higher dose-dependent intracellular antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the nanohybrid is attributed to the synergistic effect of nanoceria and CDs. All these results clearly reflected that our synthesized CDs and their nanohybrids can be used for several biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) emerged as an excellent candidate in the field of optical, electrical, food packaging and particularly in biomedical research. ZnONPs show cancer cell specific toxicity via the pH-dependent (low pH) dissolution into Zn2+ ions, which generate reactive oxygen species and induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Further, ZnONPs have also been used as an effective carrier for the targeted delivery of several anticancer drugs into tumor cells. The increasing focus on ZnONPs resulted in the development of various synthesis approaches including chemical, pHysical, and green or biological for the manufacturing of ZnONPs. In this article, at first we have discussed the various synthesis methods of ZnONPs and secondly its biomedical applications. We have extensively reviewed the anticancer mechanism of ZnONPs on different types of cancers considering its size, shape and surface charge dependent cytotoxicity. Photoirradiation with UV light or NIR laser further increase its anticancer activity via synergistic chemo-photodynamic effect. The drug delivery applications of ZnONPs with special emphasis on drug loading mechanism, stimuli-responsive controlled release and therapeutic effects have also been discussed in this review. Finally, its side effects to vital body organs with mechanism via different exposure routes, the future direction of the ZnONPs research and application are also discussed. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, first we have synthesized carbon dots (CDs) from red Korean ginseng, and modified further with folic acid (FA) for the targeted and controlled delivery of a natual flavonoid, rutin (RUT). FA conjugated and morin loaded CDs (FA-CDs-RUT) displayed size ~70 nm, drug loading content of 14.5 % and a pH-dependent drug release behaviour. Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were taken for checking the anticancer activities of FA-CDs-RUT. The nanohybrids (FA-CDs-RUT) showed a dose-dependent (10–50 μg/mL) cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells and caused apoptotic cell death by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. Besides, anti-migratory role of FA-CDs-RUT was also observed. The in vivo intravenous (i.v.) administration of FA-CDs-RUT nanohybrid was found to effectively decrease the tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice as compared with bare rutin and CDs. Interestingly, none of the nanoformulations and bare rutin caused any significant alterations in blood biochemical parameters. The enhanced anticancer activity of FA-CDs-RUT is thought to be due to combinatorial anticancer effects of CDs and rutin. We also performed docking study of rutin with Bcl-2 to gain insights into possible pathways of cell growth regulation. Molecular docking study shown that rutin binds with Bcl-2 with binding affinity of −7.6 k Cal/mol. Together, this study provides insight into the usability of FA-CDs-RUT to treat breast cancer with their mechanisms of action. [Display omitted] • A novel FA-conjugated carbon dots (FA-CDs) were synthesized. • The FA-CDs were loaded with rutin (a flavonoid) to form FA-CDs-RUT. • FA-CDs-RUT exhibited pH-dependent drug release property. • FA-CDs-RUT showed significant anticancer effect both in vitro and in vivo. • FA-CDs-RUT did not exhibit any systemic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]