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Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is known as the most frequent neoplasm of the urinary system, whose prevalence has significantly increased over the past three decades. Successful treatment of BC is a highly challenging task. In this regard, several studies have demonstrated that increased level of oxidative stress may cause cancer cells death. Furthermore, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are recognized as one of the most widely used nanomaterials in cancer treatment. Herein, we evaluated the AgNPs-induced oxidative stress in BC 5637 cell line. Method: In the current experimental study, using colorimetric reactions, we assessed the levels of oxidative stress parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) as antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, we performed the statistical analysis via One-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests to draw comparisons between the groups. Results: The results indicated an increased amount of TOS, MDA, and oxidative stress index. Nonetheless, there was a remarkable reduction in SOD, GPx, and CAT activities and TAC level in the AgNPs-exposed cells compared to the control untreated ones (P < 0.05). Conclusion: All in all, AgNPs have the potential to induce oxidative stress in 5637 cells. We thus concluded that AgNPs can be chosen as an antitumor agent for future investigations to treat BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) known as saffron is the most commercially important medicinal food product in Iran and worldwide because of its significance for exporting commercial. However, the health of this plant is adversely threatened by abiotic and biotic stress. Bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini Claparede (Acari: Acaridae) as abiotic stress is oligophagous and the main pest of tuber plants, commonly found in all the cultivated saffron producing areas could decrease saffron economic value. The mites tunnel through corms allowing the entry of fungal and bacterial pathogens. The widespread use of commercial pesticides in modern agriculture to protect crops from pests has caused significant public concern because of their side impacts on the environment and non-target species. Nanotechnology has been used in the production, processing, storage, packaging, and transport of agricultural products. Newly, oxide nanoparticles have been introduced as novel pesticides against pests and fertilizer. This study was conducted as an effective and environmentally-friendly method to control the growth of Rhizoglyphus robini. The lethal and sublethal effects of metal oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) including nano copper oxides (nano-CuO), nano magnesium oxide (nano-MgO), nano zinc oxide (nano-ZnO), nano titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2), and nano iron oxide (nano-Fe2O3) which their lethal concentrations ranged between 159.2 and 1036.4 mg L-1 were studied on Rhizoglyphus robini adult females. The contact effect of the tested MNPs was evaluated using the corm dip bioassay method. Assays showed that the contact toxicity of the nano-CuO treatment (229.1 mg L-1) was higher than other MNPs. To assess the sublethal effects of the MNPs, adult females were exposed to the LC25 concentration of MNPs, and life history and life-table parameters of the surviving Rhizoglyphus robini were investigated. The exposure to sublethal concentrations of the tested MNPs prolonged the egg incubation, larval period, and nymphal period significantly when compared to the control mites. Compared to other MNPs or control mite, nano-MgO and nano-TiO2 led to the longest duration of the total immature stages (11.32 and 11.32, respectively). The net reproductive rate (R0), the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), the finite rate of increase (λ), and the generation time (T) were significantly different between control and MNP treatments. The population exposed to ZnO-, MgO-, and TiO2-nanoformulations had a much lower rm value (0.164, 0.164, and 0.171 d-1, respectively) compared to the control population (0.231 d-1) and those exposed to Fe3O4- and CuO-nanoformulations (1.19 and 1.19 d-1, respectively). According to our findings, all tested MNPs, especially CuO-, ZnO-, and MgO-nano formulations, have a potential application for use in the management of Rhizoglyphus robini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]