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The study, synthesis, and application of nanomaterials in medicine have grown exponentially in recent years. An example of this is the understanding of how nanomaterials activate or regulate the immune system, particularly macrophages. In this work, nanoparticles were synthesized using Rumex hymenosepalus as a reducing agent (AgRhNPs). According to thermogravimetric analysis, the metal content of nanoparticles is 55.5% by weight. The size of the particles ranges from 5-26 nm, with an average of 11 nm, and they possess an fcc crystalline structure. The presence of extract molecules on the nanomaterial was confirmed by UV-Vis and FTIR. It was found by UPLC-qTOF that the most abundant compounds in Rh extract are flavonols, flavones, isoflavones, chalcones, and anthocyanidins. The viability and apoptosis of the THP-1 cell line were evaluated for AgRhNPs, commercial nanoparticles (AgCNPs), and Rh extract. The results indicate a minimal cytotoxic and apoptotic effect at a concentration of 12.5 μg/mL for both nanoparticles and 25 μg/mL for Rh extract. The interaction of the THP-1 cell line and treatments was used to evaluate the polarization of monocyte subsets in conjunction with an evaluation of CCR2, Tie-2, and Arg-1 expression. The AgRhNPs nanoparticles and Rh extract neither exhibited cytotoxicity in the THP-1 monocyte cell line. Additionally, the treatments mentioned above exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by maintaining the classical monocyte phenotype CD14++CD16, reducing pro-inflammatory interleukin IL-6 production, and increasing IL-4 production.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease. Lesions in the lung epithelium cause alterations in the microenvironment that promote fibroblast accumulation. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) transport proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). The aim of this study was to characterize the differentially expressed miRNAs in the cargo of EVs obtained from the LL97 and LL29 fibroblast cell lines isolated from IPF lungs versus those derived from the CCD19 fibroblast cell line isolated from a healthy donors. We characterized EVs by ultracentrifugation, Western blotting, and dynamic light scattering. We identified miRNAs by small RNA-seq, a total of 1144 miRNAs, of which 1027 were known miRNAs; interestingly, 117 miRNAs were novel. Differential expression analysis showed that 77 miRNAs were upregulated and 68 were downregulated. In addition, pathway enrichment analyses from the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genomes identified several miRNA target genes in the categories, cell proliferation, regulation of apoptosis, pathways in cancer, and proteoglycans in cancer. Our data reveal that miRNAs contained in EVs cargo could be helpful as biomarkers for fibrogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention of IPF.

A green method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles is proposed using hydroethanolic extract of Vitex mollis fruit (Vm extract) as a reducer and stabilizer. The formation of gold nanoparticles synthesized with Vm extract (AuVmNPs) was monitored by measuring the ultraviolet-visible spectra. The morphology and crystalline phase were determined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Synthesized nanoparticles were generally spherical, and the size distribution obtained by transmission electron microscopy shows two populations with mean sizes of 12.5 and 22.5 nm. Cell viability assay using MTT and cellular apoptosis studies using annexin V on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF10A) indicate that AuVmNPs have low toxicity. Cell migration tests indicate that AuVmNPs significantly inhibit HUVEC cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. The evaluation of the localization of AuVmNPs in HUVECs using confocal laser scanning microscopy indicates that nanoparticles penetrate cells and are found in the cytosol without preferential distribution and without entering the nucleus. The inhibitory effect on cellular migration and low toxicity suggest AuVmNPs as appropriate candidates in future studies of antiangiogenic activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In this work, we used a sequential method of synthesis for gold-silver bimetallic nanoparticles with core@shell structure (Au@AgNPs). Rumex hymenosepalus root extract (Rh), which presents high content in catechins and stilbenes, was used as reductor agent in nanoparticles synthesis. Size distribution obtained by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) gives a mean diameter of 36 ± 11 nm for Au@AgNPs, 24 ± 4 nm for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and 13 ± 3 nm for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The geometrical shapes of NPs were principally quasi-spherical. The thickness of the silver shell over AuNPs is around 6 nm and covered by active biomolecules onto the surface. Nanoparticles characterization included high angle annular dark field images (HAADF) recorded with a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Zeta Potential, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) show that nanoparticles are stabilized by extract molecules. A growth kinetics study was performed using the Gompertz model for microorganisms exposed to nanomaterials. The results indicate that AgNPs and Au@AgNPs affect the lag phase and growth rate of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in a dose-dependent manner, with a better response for Au@AgNPs., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

In this work we use Mimosa tenuiflora (MtE) extracts as reducing agents to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgMt NPs) which were characterized by DPPH and Total Polyphenols Assays, UV-visible, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AgMt NPs possess average sizes of 21 nm and fcc crystalline structure, it was also confirmed that the MtE is present in the AgMt NPs even after the cleaning protocol applied. Subsequently, carbopol hydrogels were made and the MtE and the synthesized AgMt NPs were dispersed in different gels (MtE-G and AgMt NPs-G, respectively) at 100 µg/g concentration. The gels were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, and rheology. Antimicrobial tests were performed using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Burn wound healing was evaluated in a second-degree burn injury on a Wistar rats model for 14 days and additional skin biopsies were examined with histopathological analysis. Gel with commercial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared and employed as a control on the biological assays. Hydrogel system containing silver nanoparticles synthesized with Mimosa tenuiflora (AgMt NPs-G) is a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound healing, this due to bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, which promotes a more effective recovery (in percentage terms) by damaged area.

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with plant extracts has gained great interest in the field of biomedicine due to its wide variety of health applications. In the present work, AuNPs were synthesized with Mimosa tenuiflora (Mt) bark extract at different metallic precursor concentrations. Mt extract was obtained by mixing the tree bark in ethanol-water. The antioxidant capacity of extract was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and total polyphenol assay. AuNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry for functional group determination onto their surface. AuMt (colloids formed by AuNPs and molecules of Mt) exhibit multiple shapes with sizes between 20 and 200 nm. AuMt were tested on methylene blue degradation in homogeneous catalysis adding sodium borohydride. The smallest NPs (AuMt1) have a degradation coefficient of 0.008/s and reach 50% degradation in 190s. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and a moderate cytotoxic effect at 24 and 48 h was found. However, toxicity does not behave in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular internalization of AuMt on HUVEC cells was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. For AuMt1, it can be observed that the material is dispersed into the cytoplasm, while in AuMt2, the material is concentrated in the nuclear periphery.

We synthesized silver nanoparticles using Rumex hymenosepalus root extract (Rh). Nanoparticles were subjected to a purification process and final product is a composite of Rh and silver nanoparticles (AgNPsC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to perform a microstructure study. Additionally, two fractions (RhA and RhB) were obtained from the original extract by filtration with tetrahydrofuran (THF); both fractions were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH); total polyphenol content was also determined. Separate inhibition tests for AgNPsC and RhA and RhB were applied to Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast (Candida albicans) using the well diffusion method. Extract fractions were found to have inhibitory effects only over Gram-positive bacteria, and silver nanoparticles showed inhibitory effects over all the evaluated microorganisms. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay in mononuclear peripheral blood cells. In addition, we assessment AgNPsC in THP-1 monocyte cell line, using the cell viability estimation by trypan blue dye exclusion test (TB) and Live/Dead (LD) cell viability assays by confocal microscopy.

It is known that phosphatidylserine (PS(-)) lipids have a very similar affinity for Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) cations, as revealed by electrokinetic and stability experiments. However, despite this similar affinity, experimental evidence shows that the presence of Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) induces very different aggregation behavior for PS(-) liposomes as characterized by their fractal dimensions. Also, turbidity measurements confirm substantial differences in aggregation behavior depending on the presence of Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) cations. These puzzling results suggest that although these two cations have a similar affinity for PS(-) lipids, they induce substantial structural differences in lipid bilayers containing each of these cations. In other words, these cations have strong ion-specific effects on the structure of PS(-) membranes. This interpretation is supported by all-atomic molecular-dynamics simulations showing that Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) cations have different binding sites and induce different membrane hydration. We show that although both ions are incorporated deep into the hydrophilic region of the membrane, they have different positions and configurations at the membrane. Absorbed Ca(2+) cations present a peak at a distance ~2 nm from the center of the lipid bilayer, and their most probable binding configuration involves two oxygen atoms from each of the charged moieties of the PS molecule (phosphate and carboxyl groups). In contrast, the distribution of absorbed Mg(2+) cations has two different peaks, located a few angstroms before and after the Ca(2+) peak. The most probable configurations (corresponding to these two peaks) involve binding to two oxygen atoms from carboxyl groups (the most superficial binding peak) or two oxygen atoms from phosphate groups (the most internal peak). Moreover, simulations also show differences in the hydration structure of the membrane: we obtained a hydration of 7.5 and 9 water molecules per lipid in simulations with Ca(2+) and Mg(2+), respectively., (Copyright © 2012 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present experimental and simulation evidence for a new mechanism of charge reversal operating only for ions capable to penetrate into soft interfaces. It is based on the preferential solvation of counterions by amphiphilic molecules and hydration water rather than by bulk water. This mechanism does not require high surface charge densities and it is not affected by the addition of 1:1 salt. This behavior is opposite to that observed in systems as diverse as microfluidic channels or latex colloids. The robustness of the mechanism to physiological amounts of 1:1 salt suggests a significant impact in processes involving ion-amphiphile interaction in salty water (typical, e.g., of biophysics).

The compaction of DNA by cationic liposomes constituted by a mixture of a cationic lipid, dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB), and a zwitterionic lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) or 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC), has been evaluated by means of experimental studies (electrophoretic mobility, conductometry, cryogenic electron transmission microscopy or cryo-TEM, and fluorescence spectroscopy) as well as theoretical calculations. This information reveals that DODAB/DOPE and DODAB/DLPC liposomes are mostly spherical and unilamellar, with a mean diameter of around 70 and 61 nm, respectively, a bilayer thickness of 4.5 nm, and gel-to-fluid transition temperatures, T(m), of around 19 and 28 degrees C, respectively. Their positively charged surfaces efficiently compact the negatively charged DNA by means of a strong entropically driven surface interaction that yields DODAB/DOPE-DNA and DODAB/DLPC-DNA lipoplexes as confirmed by zeta potential and ethidium bromide fluorescence intercalation assays. These experiments have permitted as well the evaluation of the different microenvironments of varying polarity of the DNA helix, liposomes, and/or lipoplexes. DODAB/DOPE-DNA and DODAB/DLPC-DNA lipoplexes have been characterized by isoneutrality ratios (L/D)(phi) of around 4.7 and 4.8, respectively, a more fluid membrane than that of the parent liposomes, and T(m) around 24 and 28 degrees C, respectively, as revealed by fluorescence anisotropy. Cryo-TEM micrographs reveal a rich scenario of nanostructures and morphologies, from unilamellar DNA-coated liposomes to multilamellar lipoplexes passing through cluster-like structures. Phase diagrams (aggregation and re-entrant condensation phenomena), calculated by means of a phenomenological theory, have confirmed the experimental concentration domains and the isoneutrality conditions. The influence of helper lipid in the compaction process, as well as the optimum choice among those herein chosen, has been analyzed.