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Apollo et al. [44] assessed a UV/H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb /TiO SB 2 sb /Zeolite combined system for treatment of molasses wastewater and achieved the highest decolorization in the order H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb /UV/TiO SB 2 sb /zeolite > H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb /UV/TiO SB 2 sb > UV/TiO SB 2 sb > H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb /UV system [44]. Characterization of as-synthesized zeolite-based nanostructures XRD patterns of as-synthesized zeolite-based nanostructures were collected from a diffractometer of Philips company with X'PertPro monochromatized Cu Ka radiation ( I k i = 1.54 A°). (a) Hydrogen peroxide concentration and nanostructure dose, (b) hydrogen peroxide concentration and light intensity, (c) nanostructure dose and drug concentration, and (d) light intensity and nanostructure dose. Statistical optimization of process conditions for pyrvinium pamoate elimination using UV/zeolite-based nanostructures/H2O2. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two bone substitute materials for socket preservation after tooth extraction. Extraction sockets in 10 patients were filled with either inorganic bovine bone material (Bio-Oss) or with synthetic material consisting of hydroxyapatite and silicon dioxide (NanoBone). Extraction sockets without filling served as the control. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented protocol for socket preservation and that the choice of a suitable bone substitute material is crucial. The dimensions of the alveolar ridge were significantly better preserved with Bio-Oss than with NanoBone or without treatment. Bio-Oss treatment resulted in better bone quality and quantity for successful implant placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Due to the unique physicochemical properties of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs), identification of microbial strains capable to biosynthesize Se NPs has recently attracted attention. The current study aimed at introducing Se NPs producing actinomycete strain, characterizing Se NPs as well as evaluating its cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Materials and Methods: In the present laboratory investigation, first, the Se NPs producing strain was isolated from soil samples. The selected isolate was then identified using morphological and biochemical examinations as well as 16S rDNA sequencing protocol. The UV-visible spectrum, particle-size distribution (PSD) pattern, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) profiles of the nanostructures as well as transmission electron microscope (TEM) image of Se NPs were determined. In order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the Se NPs, the MTT (Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) based colorimetric protocol was applied where the viability percent was firstly determined and then the related IC50 (Half inhibitory concentration) was calculated. Results: The selected bacterial isolate was identified as Streptomyces lavendulae FSHJ9. TEM micrographs of the biogenic Se NPs exhibited spherical nanostructures with the size range of 28-123 nm. The FTIR pattern showed no functional group present on the surface of Se NPs. The obtained results of cytotoxicity revealed that IC50 of Se NPs (77.1±42.23 ^g/mL) was more than IC50of sodium selenite (3.0±41.53 ^g/mL). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that Streptomyces lavendulae FSHJ9 was able to produce Se NPs. The produced biogenic Se NPs, after performing complementary studies, might be applied as supplement in human food and animal feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mahsa Ziasistani1,2, Mohammad Reza Shakibaie3,4, Davood Kalantar-Neyestanaki31Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 2Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center٫ Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 3Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 4Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranAim: The aim of this study was the genetic characterization of two clinical vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) isolates.Materials and methods: Resistance to vancomycin was determined by phenotypic method. PCR was used for detection of mecA, vanA, ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA/B, aph(2”)-Ic, aph(3ʹ)-IIIa, pvl, Immune Evasion Cluster [sea, sep, chip, sak and scn] genes and biofilm operon icaABCD. On the other hand, multilocus sequence typing and agr typing methods were performed for the determination of clonal relationship and van operon was detected and sequenced.Results: Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain 1 (VRSA-1) was positive for vanA, ermA, ermC, aph(2”)-Ic, aph(3ʹ)-IIIa, sea, sep, icaD genes, belonging to agr type I; SCCmec type III; spa type t030; and ST239. However, the genetic characterization of Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain 2 (VRSA-2) revealed the presence of various types of resistance genes vanA, ermA, ermC, aph(2”)-Ic, aph(3ʹ)-IIIa, sea, icaD, relating to agr type I; SCCmec type III; spa type t459; and ST239. The presence of transposon Tn1546 was determined by PCR sequencing.The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of van operon in the VRSA isolates showed 99.6% sequence homology to Tn1546 in vancomycin-resistant enterococci, indicating the vanA operon has an enterococcal origin.Conclusion: In conclusion, the ST239 is one of the most common clones of MRSA isolates which involved the hospital-associated infections, therefore, the emergence of VRSA isolates with ST239 increased the spread of resistance to vancomycin in the hospital settings.Keywords: VRSA, MLST, SCCmec, spa, agr type, van operon

Minimally invasive procedures are ubiquitous in medicine and now show an increased presence in invasive disciplines of dentistry. In implantology, this requires three-dimensional diagnostics, microsurgical instruments and suture materials, and especially optical magnification with axially aligned illumination. The operating microscope (OPMI) combines these last two requirements, which are essential even at high magnification. Customized sterile draping sheets allow the OPMI to be used even under the aseptic conditions of implant surgery. The advantages of the OPMI in implantology are numerous and are apparent especially in clinical assessment, diagnosis, management of the esthetic zone, sinus lift procedures, soft tissue management, and photographic and video documentation. Technical developments such as autofocus, xenon illumination, magnetic fixation, and charge-coupled device and high-definition digital cameras enhance the precision of the OPMI while also improving ergonomics. This article describes the main indications for using the OPMI in minimally invasive implantology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, using mutation in the metal resistant bacteria, the bioremediation of the copper and zinc from copper factory effluents was investigated. Wastewater effluents from flocculation and rolling mill sections of a factory in the city of Kerman were collected and used for further experiments. 20 strains of Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from soil and effluents surrounding factory and identified by microbiological methods. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were determined by agar dilution method. Those strains that exhibited highest minimum inhibitory concentrations values to the metals (5mM) were subjected to 400-3200 mg/L concentrations of the three mutagenic agents, acriflavine, acridine orange and ethidium bromide. After determination of subinhibitory concentrations, the minimum inhibitory concentrations values for copper and zinc metal ions were again determined, which showed more than 10 fold increase in minimum inhibitory concentrations value (10 mM for Cu and 20 mM for Zn) with P<0.05. The atomic absorption spectroscopy of dried biomass obtained from resistant strains after exposure to mutagenic agents revealed that strains 13 accumulate the highest amount of intracellular copper (0.35% Cu/mg dried biomass) and strain 10 showed highest accumulation of zinc (0.3% Zn/mg dried biomass) respectively with P<0.05. From above results it was concluded that the treatment of industrial waste containing heavy metals by artificially mutated bacteria may be appropriate solution for effluent disposal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The global increase in multidrug resistance of Acinetobacter spp. has created widespread problems in the treatment of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) of hospitals. To assess the sensitivity of Acinetobacter isolates to antibiotics routinely used in ICUs, we investigated antibiotic resistance patterns and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production among Acinetobacter spp. isolated from the ICU of a university hospital in Kerman, Iran. Methods Fifteen isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were recovered from one hundred clinical specimens collected from the ICU of Afzalipoor Hospital in Kerman, Iran, from October 2010 to June 2011. Preliminary antibiotic sensitivity testing was carried out using the disk-diffusion breakpoint assay, and MICs of different antibiotics were determined using the E-test. ESBL production was detected by a double-disk synergy test and confirmed by a phenotypic confirmatory test. Substrate hydrolysis in the presence and absence of the following inhibitors was carried out using the rapid fixed-time method: para-chloromercuribenzoate (p-CMB), clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and NaCl. Results Overall, 73.3% of the isolates were resistant to imipenem (MIC range 240-128 µg/mL) and 66% to ciprofloxacin (MIC range 240-64 ± 0.08 µg/mL). All of the isolates were fully resistant (MIC 240 µg/mL) to piperacillin, while 93.3%, 53.3%, and 93.3% were resistant to piperacillin + tazobactam (MIC 240 µg/mL), amikacin (MIC range 128-16 µg/mL), and cefepime (MIC range 240-60 µg/mL), respectively. The isolates were also resistant to chloramphenicol and tetracycline: MICs of these two agents were ≥ 240 µg/mL. The test for ESBL production was positive for only three isolates (nos. 1, 10, and 15). The rate of substrate hydrolysis was highest in the presence of p-CMB (80.2 ± 0.02) and lowest in the presence of NaCl (2.1 ± 0.01) (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions Many isolates of Acinetobacter spp. are resistant to almost all antibiotics routinely used in the ICU of our hospital, including imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and piperacillin + tazobactam. Three isolates were ESBL producers. The other isolates exhibited high resistance to β-lactams, but they did not produce any ESBL enzymes.

Abstract: The potential applications of Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in nanomedicine as drug delivery systems are well known. In this study we prepared umbelliprenin-coated Fe3O4 MNPs and evaluated the antiproliferative effect of combination in vitro. After synthesis of Fe3O4 MNPs, particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy techniques. The natural candidate compound — umbelliprenin— was isolated and identified and umbelliprenin-coated Fe3O4 MNPs were prepared, using precipitation method. The surface chemistry of umbelliprenin-coated Fe3O4 MNPs as well as their thermal decomposition characteristics was examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analyzer equipment, respectively. HT-1080 cells were cultured until the logarithmic phase of growth, and MTT assay was successfully carried out to evaluate the possible cytotoxic effects of umbelliprenin-coated Fe3O4 MNPs in viable cells in vitro. The results demonstrated that umbelliprenin has moderate antiproliferative effects with IC50 value of 50µg/mL. However, the combination of umbelliprenin and Fe3O4 MNPs showed the IC50 value of 9µg/mL. In other words, cell proliferation decreased to the remarkably-low proportion of 45% after treating cells with umbelliprenin-coated Fe3O4 MNPs. This suggests that with the aid of nanoparticles as carriers, natural products may have even broader range of medical applications in future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), particularly iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), are a fascinating group of nanoparticles that have been considerably investigated for biomedical applications because of their superparamagnetic properties, biodegradable nature, and biocompatibility. A novel Gram-positive moderately thermophilic bacterial strain, namely Bacillus tequilensis ASFS.1, was isolated and identified. This strain is capable of producing superparamagnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and exhibiting magnetotaxis behavior. This strain swimming behavior was investigated under static and dynamic environments, where it behaved very much similar to the magnetotaxis in magnetotactic bacteria. This study is the first report of a bacterium from the Bacillaceae family that has the potential to intracellular biosynthesis of IONPs. MNPs were separated by a magnetic and reproducible method which was designed for the first time for this study. In addition, UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction, and thermal gravimetric analysis were utilized to characterize the bio-fabricated magnetite nanoparticles. Analysis of the particle size distribution pattern of the biogenic MNPs by FESEM imaging revealed the size range of 10-100 nm with the size range of 10-40 nm MNPs being the most frequent particles. VSM analysis demonstrated that biogenic MNPs displayed superparamagnetic properties with a high saturation magnetization value of 184 emu/g. After 24 h treatment of 3T3, U87, A549, MCF-7, and HT-29 cell lines with the biogenic MNPs, IC 50 values were measured to be 339, 641, 582, 149, and 184 μg mL -1 , respectively. This study presents the novel strain ASFS.1 capable of magnetotaxis by the aid of its magnetite nanoparticles and paving information on isolation, characterization, and in vitro cytotoxicity of its MNPs. The MNPs showed promising potential for biomedical applications, obviously subject to additional studies., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Many notable applications have been described for magnetic nanoparticles in delivery of diverse drugs and bioactive compounds into cells, magnetofection for the treatment of cancer, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and magnetic particle imaging (MPI). In response to the growing demand for magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery or biomedical imaging applications, more effective and eco-friendly methodologies are required for large-scale biosynthesis of this nanoparticles. The major challenge in the large-scale biomedical application of magnetic nanoparticles lies in its low efficiency and optimization of nanoparticle production can address this issue. In the current study, a prediction model is suggested by the fractional factorial designs. The present study aims to optimize culture media components for improved growth and iron uptake of this strain. The result of optimization for iron uptake by the strain ASFS1 is to increase the production of magnetic nanoparticles by this strain for biomedical applications in the future. In the present study, design of experiment method was used to probe the effects of some key medium components (yeast extract, tryptone, FeSO 4 , Na 2 -EDTA, and FeCl 3 ) on Fe content in biomass and dried biomass of strain ASFS1. A 2 5-1 fractional factorial design showed that Na 2 -EDTA, FeCl 3 , yeast extract-tryptone interaction, and FeSO 4 -Na 2 -EDTA interaction were the most parameters on Fe content in biomass within the experimented levels (p < 0.05), while yeast extract, FeCl 3 , and yeast extract-tryptone interaction were the most significant factors within the experimented levels (p < 0.05) to effect on dried biomass of strain ASFS1. The optimum culture media components for the magnetic nanoparticles production by strain ASFS1 was reported to be 7.95 g L -1 of yeast extract, 5 g L -1 of tryptone, 75 μg mL -1 of FeSO 4 , 192.3 μg mL -1 of Na 2 -EDTA and 150 μg mL -1 of FeCl 3 which was theoretically able to produce Fe content in biomass (158 μg mL -1 ) and dried biomass (2.59 mg mL -1 ) based on the obtained for medium optimization. Using these culture media components an experimental maximum Fe content in biomass (139 ± 13 μg mL -1 ) and dried biomass (2.2 ± 0.2 mg mL -1 ) was obtained, confirming the efficiency of the used method., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim and Background: The emergence of Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is a global concern due to high mortality and treatment challenges. One of the most important genes for resistance is NDM, which makes the organism resistant to most antibiotics. Today, the use of nanoparticles as therapeutic options has stimulated researchers around the world to investigate its effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biosynthesized bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) on the expression of NDM genes in multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae ., Materials and Methods: In this study, 5 multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae clinical isolates from patients referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran, were used. Antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by disc diffusion method. The presence of the NDM gene was checked in isolates using a PCR reaction. The isolates containing the NDM gene were exposed to the biosynthesized and characterized bismuth nanoparticles, and the effects on the expression of the NDM gene was investigated using real-time PCR., Results: The results showed that 3 isolates of K. pneumoniae had NDM genes. In TEM and SEM analysis showed that the nanoparticles had a spherical structure and an average size of 22.36 nm. The investigation of biogenic Bi NPs on the expression of the NDM gene demonstrated that the samples treated with bismuth nanoparticles decreased the expression of the NDM gene by 1.6 times compared to the control group (p < 0.011)., Conclusion: Our findings showed that biosynthesized Bi NPs have a high potential to deal with antibiotic resistance genes and can be a promising for treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Bedsores impose an important challenge to the healthcare system. Se-baring probiotics are considered effective agents in wound healing and inflammation reduction via several pathways. The present study focused on the administration of a Se-enriched probiotic, originally obtained from a traditional dairy product for bedsore healing. Daily doses of the probiotic were administered to 20 ICU patients for 14 days and the wound healing criteria were compared with those of the same group of ICU patients as control, both groups suffering from stages I and II bedsore (a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial). The administered Se-enriched probiotic decreased the bedsore healing period significantly (on average by 2.4 days, P-value: 0.039), as well as bedsore size (on average by 7 mm 2 , nonsignificant) and bedsore grade (10%, nonsignificant) in the treatment group more efficiently than the control group. Some key laboratory parameters associated with inflammation were also improved in patients receiving the Se-supplemented probiotic. The limitations of this study include the low number of patients meeting inclusion criteria within the timeframe of the study, and the impossibility of following up patients after discharge from the ICU. In summary, this study revealed the effectiveness of the Se-enriched probiotic in bedsore improvement, suggesting consideration of the enriched probiotic as an auxiliary agent in bedsore management., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their therapeutic effects. Curcumin (CUR) has been utilized as a coating agent for synthesizing Ag-NPs, intended to act as a potential drug., Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of curcuminsynthesized silver nanoparticles on rats exposed to chlorpyrifos (CPF) during their pubertal development., Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats, 23 days old, were selected and randomly divided into 7 groups (n=6) as follows: positive control, negative control, CPF (5 mg/kg), silver nanoparticles synthesized using curcumin at 40 μg/kg (CUR-Ag-NPs 40), CUR-Ag-NPs 80, CPF+ CUR-Ag-NPs 40, CPF+ CUR-AgNPs 80. All treatments were administered via gavage for 30 days. At the end of the study, rats were anesthetized using ketamine (50 mg/kg), and xylazine, (10 mg/kg) and blood was collected from the heart for serum analysis of liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine., Results: Liver and kidney tissues were isolated for histopathological analysis. No significant differences were observed in serum levels of AST, ALT, and ALP enzymes as well as urea and creatinine levels among the different groups. Light microscopy observation revealed multifocal inflammatory mononuclear cell subsets in liver tissue associated with mild inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltration in the portal region in CPF, CUR-Ag-NPs 40, CUR-Ag-NPs 80, CPF+CUR-Ag-NPs 40, and CPF+CUR-Ag- NPs 80 groups. Histological examination of kidney tissue showed degenerative changes in the tubular epithelium, congestion, and mild infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the renal interstitial tissue in the CPF group, CUR-Ag-NPs 40, CUR-Ag-NPs 80, CPF+CUR-Ag-NPs 40 and CPF+CUR-Ag-NPs 80 groups., Conclusion: This study failed to establish the safety and efficacy of CUR-Ag-NP at 40 and 80 μg/kg in prepubertal rats exposed to CPF. However, further studies should be conducted to thoroughly characterize the efficacy of CUR-Ag-NP in developmental animal models., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells is a strategy to meet high proliferation rates, invasion, and metastasis. Also, several researchers indicated that the cellular metabolism changed during the resistance to chemotherapy. Since glycolytic enzymes play a prominent role in these alterations, the ability to reduce resistance to chemotherapy drugs is promising for cancer patients. Oscillating gene expression of these enzymes was involved in the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. This review discussed the roles of some glycolytic enzymes associated with cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy in the various cancer types., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The Bacillus pumilus SG isolated from soil samples at the Persian Gulf was analyzed for its ability to produce biosurfactant. Various screening techniques were used for evaluating biosurfactant production and confirming biosurfactant presence in the culture supernatant. Most n-alkanes in the bacterial culture media were effectively degraded in the presence of biosurfactant acquired from the bacteria. The highest interfacial tension (IT) reduction (42 mN/m) was obtained at 24-h fermentation time (exponential phase) and did not change significantly afterwards. The glycolipid structure of the biosurfactant was revealed through NMR and FTIR spectroscopy analysis. Two-level factorial design was then applied for optimization of biosurfactant production, where a maximal reduction of culture broth IT (30 mN/m) acquired in the presence of crude oil (0.5%, v/v), NaNO 3 (1 g/L), yeast extract (1 g/L), peptone (2 g/L) and temperature of 25 °C. The produced biosurfactant that exhibited a critical micelle concentration of 0.1 mg/ml was thermally stable. The glycolipid biosurfactant also displayed significant antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The maximum inhibition of glycolipids biosurfactant was found against Acinetobacter strains (zone of inhibition, 45 mm). In addition, antibiofilm activities with a 50-90% biofilm reduction percent were indicated by the glycolipid biosurfactant. In conclusion, the glycolipid biosurfactant produced by B. pumilus SG revealed a wide range of functional properties and was verified as a good candidate for biomedical application. In conclusion, the glycolipid biosurfactant produced by B. pumilus SG showed a wide range of functional properties in this study, and in the case of further in vivo studies, it can be investigated a good candidate for biomedical applications such as use against biofilm or in pharmaceutical formulations., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: We decided to investigate the antileishmanial, cellular mechanisms, and cytotoxic effects of green synthesized Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) alone and combined with glucantime against Leishmania major infection., Methods: The effect of green synthesized ZnNP on L. major amastigote was studied through macrophage cells. The mRNA expression level of iNOS and IFN-γ followed by the exposure of J774-A1 macrophage cells to ZnNPs was assessed by Real-time PCR. The Caspase-3-like activity of promastigotes exposed to ZnNPs was studied. Effects of ZnNPs alone and combined with glucantime (MA) were studied on cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice., Results: ZnNPs displayed the spherical shape with sizes ranging from 30 to 80 nm. The obtained IC 50 values for ZnNPs, MA, and ZnNPs + MA were 43.2, 26.3, and 12.6 µg/mL, respectively; indicating the synergistic effects of ZnNPs in combination with MA. CL lesions had completely improved in the mice received with ZnNPs in combination with MA. The mRNA expression level of iNOS, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was dose-dependently (p < 0.01) upregulated; whereas it was downregulated in IL-10. ZnNPs markedly stimulated the caspase-3 activation with no significant toxicity on normal cells., Conclusion: Based on these in vitro and in vivo results, green synthesized ZnNPs, mainly along with MA, showed that has the potential to be introduced as a new drug for CL therapy. Triggering of NO production, and inhibition of infectivity rate are revealed as mechanisms of action ZnNPs on L. major. But, supplementary investigations are necessary to clear the efficacy and safety of these agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

In this study, arsenic nanoparticles containing folic acid (FA@As NPs) were synthesized by microwave irradiating a mixture of As2O3 and sodium borohydride solution in the presence of folic acid. The physicochemical characteristics of the prepared NPs were studied by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Antioxidant activities, hemocompatibility, and cytotoxic effects of the prepared NPs were then evaluated. The attained results showed that the hexagonal FA@As NPs have a size range between 12.8 nm and 19.5 nm. The DPPH scavenging activity of FA@As NPs was found to be significantly greater than that of As NPs at concentrations ranging from 40 µg/mL to 2560 µg/mL (p<0.05). The hemolytic test confirmed that the measured hemolysis percentage (HP) for FA@As NPs and As NPs was 0% at concentrations between 20 to160 µg/mL, and for FA@As NPs, the measured HP was not significantly higher than As NPs at concentrations higher than 320 µg/mL (p>0.05). The necessary concentration for the death of half of the cells (IC50) for MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and HUVEC cells treated (24 h) with FA@As NPs was measured to be 19.1±1.3 µg/mL, 15.4±1.1 µg/mL, and 16.8±1.2 µg/mL, respectively. However, further investigations are necessary to clarify the mechanisms behind the biological activities of FA@As NPs., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

This study examined the synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with PO (FOMNPsP) and assessed their in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo effects against cystic echinococcosis. The FOMNPsP was synthesized through the alkalization of iron ions in a deoxygenated form. In vitro and ex vivo protoscolicidal effects of FOMNPsP (100-400 μg/mL) were evaluated on hydatid cyst protoscoleces by the eosin exclusion test for 10-60 min. The effect of FOMNPsP on caspase-3 gene expression and exterior ultra-structural of protoscoleces was assessed by real-time PCR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. In vivo effects were assessed by evaluating the number, size, and weight of hydatid cysts among infected mice. The FOMNPsP size was < 55 nm, and the most frequent particles were in the 15-20 nm range. In vitro and ex vivo assays revealed that the highest protoscolicidal effect was observed at 400 µg/mL with 100% lethality. After exposure of protoscoleces with FOMNPsP, the level of gene expression of caspase-3 was dose-dependently increased (p < 0.05). By SEM, the FOMNPsP-treated protoscoleces showed wrinkles and bulges resulting from the formation of blebs. FOMNPsP significantly decreased (p < 0.01) the mean number, size, and weight of the hydatid cyst. FOMNPsP revealed the potent protoscolicidal traits through disrupting the cell wall and apoptosis induction. The results also indicated the promising effect of FOMNPsP in controlling hydatid cysts in the animal model. Although FOMNPsP is safe for human normal cells, more investigations are required to clarify its toxicity and precise mechanisms of action., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Evidence shows that nanoparticles exert lower toxicity, improved targeting, and enhanced bioactivity, and provide versatile means to control the release profile of the encapsulated moiety. Among different NPs, inorganic nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Ce, Fe, Se, Te, Zn, etc.) possess a considerable place owing to their unique bioactivities in nanoforms. Selenium, an essential trace element, played a vital role in the growth and development of living organisms. It has attracted great interest as a therapeutic factor without significant adverse effects in medicine at recommended dose. Selenium nanoparticles can be fabricated by physical, biological, and chemical approaches. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles is shown an advance compared to other procedures, because it is environmentally friendly, relatively reproducible, easily accessible, biodegradable, and often results in more stable materials. The effect of size, shape, and synthesis methods on their applications in biological systems investigated by several studies. This review focused on the procedures for the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles, in particular the biogenesis of selenium nanoparticles and their biomedical characteristics, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. Eventually, a comprehensive future perspective of selenium nanoparticles was also presented., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest in this study., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Inspired by natural resources, such as peptides and carbohydrates, glycopolypeptide biopolymer has recently emerged as a new form of biopolymer being recruited in various biomedical applications. Glycopolypeptides with well-defined secondary structures and pendant glycosides on the polypeptide backbone have sparked lots of research interest and they have an innate ability to self-assemble in diverse structures. The nanostructures of glycopolypeptides have also opened up new perspectives in biomedical applications due to their stable three-dimensional structures, high drug loading efficiency, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Although the development of glycopolypeptide-based nanocarriers is well-studied, their clinical translation is still limited. The present review highlights the preparation and characterization strategies related to glycopolypeptides-based copolymers, followed by a comprehensive discussion on their biomedical applications with a specific focus on drug delivery by various stimuli-responsive (e.g., pH, redox, conduction, and sugar) nanostructures, as well as their beneficial usage in diagnosis and regenerative medicine., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest in the present study., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Ionizing radiation (IR) causes oxidative stress in kidneys and subsequently disrupts renal function. The use of green synthesized zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) with antioxidant properties may reduce the damage caused by IR., Methods: Thirty-six mice were kept in a standard situation and divided into 6 groups: 1: Control; 2-4: receiving 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 25 mg/kg of Zn NPs with IR; 5: receiving 5 mg/kg of ZnSO4 with IR; and 6: IR. After 15 days, half of the animals in each group were sacrificed and their blood samples isolated to evaluate the plasma urea and creatinine levels. The kidneys were kept for evaluating the glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels; on 21st day, the rest of the animals were sacrificed and their kidneys removed for histological assessments., Results: IR decreased GSH content, increased MDA level, and reduced SOD and CAT activity. On the other hand, Zn NPs at 10 and 25 mg/kg doses increased GSH, decreased MDA, and enhanced SOD and CAT activities. Zn NPs treatment at 10 and 25 mg/kg doses decreased the plasma urea and creatinine levels induced by IR. Moreover, Zn NPs significantly decreased the level of urea and creatinine in irradiated mice in comparison with IR alone (p < 0.05). The main histopathological results were tubular and glomerular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis in irradiated mice, while tubular degeneration and atrophy were less frequent in Zn NPs + IR group than in IR group alone., Conclusion: Zn NPs treatment, especially at 25 mg/kg dose, attenuates the side effect of IR on kidneys through reducing oxidative stress factors, biochemical, and histopathological changes., (© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Wild-type microorganisms have become tolerant to higher antibiotic and antimicrobial agent concentrations due to the global increase in antibiotic consumption. Green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have been proposed as potential antimicrobial agents to overcome the problem. This research prepared cadmium nanoparticles (Cd NPs) using Artemisia persica extract. To clarify the biological behavior of Cd NPs and Cd (NO 3 ) 2 , cytotoxicity, antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and biocompatible experiments were performed. Since Cd toxicity is associated with liver, kidney damage, and other deficits, HepG2 and HUVEC cell lines were employed as the in vitro cytotoxicity models. Cd NPs had a lower cytotoxic effect than Cd (NO 3 ) 2 against both HepG2 and HUVEC cells. The Cd NPs exhibited no hemolysis activity. The antibacterial and anti-biofilm studies were conducted using gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the ability to form severe adherent biofilms. The antibacterial activity of Cd NPs against clinically isolated S. aureus, P. mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa was above 2560 µg mL - 1 . The Cd NPs (640 µg mL - 1 ) decreased the biofilm formation of S. aureus, P. mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa by 24.6%, 31.6%, and 26.4%, respectively.Moreover, adding Cd NPs (100 µg/disc) to antibiotic discs increased the antibacterial activity of vancomycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, streptomycin, meropenem, and kanamycin against Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, significantly. Due to the emergence of resistant microorganisms, Cd NPs can be used as an exciting material to counterattack global health problems. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd NPs' pharmacological and toxicological effects., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: The present study aims to study antibacterial effects and cellular mechanisms of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles loaded with piroctone olamine (Fe3O4@PO NPs) against some cariogenic bacteria ( Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus)., Methods: Nanoparticles was synthesized by the coprecipitation method. Antibacterial effects of Fe3O4@PO NPs were performed by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). We also evaluated the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein leakage to assess whether antibacterial effects may be dependent on these mechanisms., Results: The results demonstrated that PO showed the lowest antibacterial effect compared to other drugs tested with MICs values of 53.33 and 64 μg/ml for S. mutans and A. viscosus , respectively. In contrast, the highest antibacterial effect was related to Fe3O4@PONPs with MICs values of 2.66 and 3.33 μg/ml for S. mutans and A. viscosus , respectively. Fe3O4@PONPs, Fe3O4MNP, and PO markedly increased (p < 0.001) ROS production and protein leakage of tested bacteria at ≥¼ MIC, ≥1/3 MIC, and ½ MIC, respectively., Conclusion: The findings of the present survey revealed the promising antibacterial effects of Fe3O4@PONP against some cariogenic bacteria; whereas it triggered the ROS production and protein leakage as the possible antibacterial mode of action of anti-infective agents. However, additional surveys are necessary to elucidate the accurate mechanisms of these nanoparticles., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: The current investigation aims to green synthesized the zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) using Lavandula angustifolia extract by microwave technique and its protoscolicidal effects alone and combined with albendazole against hydatid cyst protoscoleces., Methods: Different concentrations of the ZnNPs (50, 100, and 200 μg/ml) alone and combined with albendazole (ALZ, 100 μg/ml) were treated with hydatid cyst protoscoleces obtained from liver of infected sheep for 5-60 min in vitro and ex vivo . Eosin exclusion examination was used to assess the viability of protoscoleces. The induction of apoptosis in hydatid cyst protoscoleces was assessed by measurement of the Caspase-3 activity of protoscoleces treated with various concentrations of ZnNPs., Results: The size of green synthesized ZnNPs was ranged from 30 to 80 nm, most of these nanoparticles were between 50 and 60 nm in size. In vitro, the highest scolicidal effect of ZnNPs was observed at the concentration of 200 μg/ml, where it killed 81.6% of protoscolices. While the combination of these nanoparticles with ALZ, especially at the concentration of 200 μg/ml, completely killed the protoscolices after 10 min' exposure. However, compared to in vitro assay, the drugs tested took longer to show their protoscolicidal effect., Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, ZnNPs particularly in combination with albendazole displayed the potent protoscolicidal in vitro and ex vivo as an intraperitoneal model of administration of agents to hydatid cyst treatment; nevertheless, additional investigations are mandatory to evaluate the efficacy and safety Zn NPs as a favorable protoscolicidal agent in clinical setting., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of IJS Publishing Group Ltd.)

The hydroxyapatite/glycyrrhizin/lithium-based metal-organic framework (HA/GL/Li-MOF) nanocomposites were synthesized via the hydrothermal method in the presence of lecithin and glycyrrhizin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were applied for characterization of the fabricated nanocomposites. The HA/GL/Li-MOF and Li-MOF nanocomposites were employed as support for immobilization of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL). The Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs were used for screening and optimizing of variables affecting the immobilization conditions, respectively. The optimum specific activity of immobilized TLL on HA/GL/Li-MOF and Li-MOF nanocomposites (41.8 ± 1.2 U/mg and 39.4 ± 3.1 U/mg, respectively) was predictably determined at support concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, glutaraldehyde concentration of 5 mM, and enzyme activity of 20 U/mg, while the specific activities of TLL@ HA/GL/Li-MOF and TLL@Li-MOF were experimentally found to be 39.5 ± 3.7 U/mg and 38.5 ± 2.3 U/mg, respectively. The stability results showed that the TLL@ HA/GL/Li-MOF has suitable stability against pH and thermal denaturation. However, the immobilized TLL on Li-MOF represented lower stability compared with that of the HA/GL/Li-MOF. The immobilized TLL on HA/GL/Li-MOF maintained near 70% of its original activity after 15 days' storage and during 5 runs of application. In addition, TLL@HA/GL/Li-MOF exhibited higher enzyme-substrate affinity (K m , 10.1 mM) compared to that of TLL@Li-MOF (K m , 23.4 mM). Therefore, these findings demonstrated the potential use of HA/GL/Li-MOF nanocomposites for enzyme immobilization., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) were synthesized by a green method using an aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis with assistance of microwave irradiation (850 W) and their physicochemical characteristics were studied by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Antioxidant activities, hemocompatibility, and cytotoxic effects of the prepared Pt NPs were then evaluated. The attained results showed that the newly formed Pt NPs possess a size range between 7.4 and 11.2 nm. These spherical-shaped NPs were slightly aggregated and held various functional groups on their surface. The antioxidant activity of Pt nanostructures was comparable to that of butylated hydroxyl anisole at concentrations higher than 320 µg/mL. At the same concentration of 640 μg/mL, the scavenging activities were 3.36 ± 0.9% (hexachloroplatinic acid) and 52.13 ± 0.43% (Pt NPs). The results of hemolytic assay revealed satisfactory hemocompatibility of the Pt NPs even at the concentration as high as 4 mg/mL (hemolysis percent equal to 3.5 ± 1.3%). The cytotoxicity studies revealed that MCF-7, A549, and 3T3 cell lines treated with hexachloroplatinic acid and cisplatin for 24 h and 48 h showed a higher percentage of cell death compared with the Pt NPs. After 24 h, for A549, 3T3, and MCF-7 cells exposed to Pt NPs, the cell viability was measured to be 80 ± 3.2%, 96 ± 1%, and 89 ± 2.6%, respectively, at concentration of 640 µg/mL. Further investigations are required to elucidate the mechanisms behind the biological activities of as-synthesized Pt NPs., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.)

Background: Today, a suitable vaccine has not yet been discovered to prevent Toxoplasma gondii infection. Therefore, prophylaxis can be suggested as the preferred approach to prevent toxoplasmosis. This study aims to evaluate the prophylactic effects of synthesized zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) using Lavandula angustifolia Vera., by microwave method on chronic toxoplasmosis in mice., Methods: BALB/c Mice orally administrated with ZnNPs the doses of 32.5, 75, 150 mg/kg/day for two weeks. On the 15th day, the mice were intraperitoneally infected with the Tehran strain of T. gondii (25 tissue cysts). The mean diameter and the numbers of brain tissue cysts, as well as the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthesize (iNOs), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in mice of each experimental group were evaluated., Results: The synthesized ZnNPs represent a spherical form with a size ranging from 30 to 80 nm. The results revealed that oral administration of Zn NPs at the doses of 32.5 (p < 0.001) and 75 mg/kg/day (p < 0.001) for 14 days significantly reduced the mean number and diameter of the brain tissue cysts in tested mice. No T. gondii tissue cyst was observed after oral administration of Zn NPs at the doses of 150 mg/kg. Based on the results of Real-time PCR analysis, the expression level of IFN-γ and iNOs was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in mice treated with 32.5, 75, 150 mg/kg/day for two weeks., Conclusion: The obtained findings of the current investigation exhibit the significant prophylactic effects of ZnNPs against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice; so that oral administration of ZnNPs the doses 32.5, 75, 150 mg/kg reduced the parasite load and even completely controlled the infection in mice. The results show that the ZnNPs had strengthened the innate immune system which could be the reason for its strong prophylactic effects. However, further in vivo and clinical investigations are required to confirm these results as well as other possible mechanisms that can trigger these pharmacological properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

In this study, polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) electrospun nanofibers containing biogenic selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and Se NPs/vitamin E (VE) with average diameters of 397.8 nm and 279.5 nm, respectively (as determined by SEM inspection) were prepared and their effect on wound healing was evaluated using in-vivo studies. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, TEM micrograph, and FTIR spectra of the prepared nanofibers strongly demonstrated well entrapment of Se NPs and VE into scaffolds. An amount of 57% Se NPs and 43% VE were gradually released from PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffold after 4 days immersion in PBS solution (pH 7.4). The both PCL/GEL/Se NPs and PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffolds supported 3T3 cell proliferation and attachment as confirmed by MTT assay and SEM imaging. Complete re-epithelialization, low level of edema and inflammatory cells in coordination with high level of oriented collagens demonstrated the wound healing activity of PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE. Besides, significant antioxidant efficacy of PCL/GEL/Se NPs and PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffolds was demonstrated according to GSH and MDA assays. To sum up, the prepared PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffold in the present study represented suitable healing effect on animal model which candidate it for further studies.

Background: In recent years, magnetic nanoparticles (NMP) as novel materials have been widely used for biomedical, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes like microbial infection therapy. The purpose of this study is to synthesize PO coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PO NPs) and their anti-leishmanial effects in vitro and in vivo against cutaneous leishmaniasis., Methods: Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by the coprecipitation of Fe2 + and Fe3 + ions and used as a nanocarrier for the production of Fe3O4@PO NPs. The in vitro antileishmanial effects of PO-coated Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4 NPs (10-200 µg/mL) was determined against the intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and, then, examined on cutaneous leishmaniasis induced in male BALB/c mice by L. major. The rate of infectivity, production of nitric oxide (NO), and cytotoxic activates of Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs on J774-A1 macrophage cells were determined., Results: The size scattering of the Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs were in the range among 1-40 and 5-55 nm, respectively. The obtained IC 50 values were 62.3 ± 2.15 μg/mL, 31.3 ± 2.26 μg/mL, and 52.6 ± 2.15 μg/mL for the Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs, and MA, respectively. The results revealed that the mean number of parasites and the mean diameter of the lesions was considerably (p < 0.05) decreased in the infected mice treated with Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs. The Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs significantly (p < 0.05) prompted the production of NO as a dose-dependent manner. The promastigotes pre-incubated in Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs at the concentration of 5 µg/mL had the ability to infect only 41.7% and 28.3% of the macrophages cells. The selectivity index of greater than 10 for Fe3O4 NPs and Fe3O4@PO NPs showed its safety to the J774-A1 macrophage cells and specificity to the parasite., Conclusion: The results of this survey indicated the high potency of Fe3O4@PO NPs to inhibit the growth of amastigote forms of L. major as well as recovery and improvement CL induced by L. major in BALB/c mice without significant cytotoxicity. The results also indicated that, although the possible anti-leishmanial mechanisms of Fe3O4@PO NPs have not been clearly understood, however, the triggering of NO may be considered as one of the possible anti-leishmanial mechanisms of these nanoparticles. However, additional studies, in particular in clinical contexts, are mandatory., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with glycyrrhizin and Tween 80 and applied for immobilization of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase ( Pc L). Characterization of f-MWCNTs was performed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The optimum specific activity of immobilized Pc L (studied by Plackett-Burman statistical design) occurred at 0.3 mg/mL of f-MWCNTs, 25 mM of phosphate buffer (pH 6.0), 15 min sonication time, 8 U/mL of enzyme concentration, and 24 h immobilization time at 4 °C in the absence of glutaraldehyde. In these conditions, the specific activity was 16.57 ± 0.71 U/mg, which was very close to the predicted amount (16.62 ± 0.64 U/mg). The results of thermal and pH stability showed that the stability of immobilized Pc L was higher than that of the free Pc L. The activity of immobilized Pc L on f-MWCNTs held 93% after being incubated for 60 min at 70 °C. Moreover, the immobilized Pc L on f-MWCNTs retained about 65% of its initial activity after 30 days of storage at 25 °C. In addition, about 50% of initial activity of immobilized Pc L retained after 10 cycles of uses. Therefore, f-MWCNTs could be introduced as suitable support for enzymes immobilization., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.)

The biologically synthesised tellurium nanoparticles (Te NPs) were applied in the fabrication of Te NP-embedded polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) electrospun nanofibres and their antioxidant and in vivo wound healing properties were determined. The as-synthesised nanofibres were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and elemental mapping, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The mechanical properties and surface hydrophobicity of scaffolds were investigated using tensile analysis and contact angle tests, respectively. The biocompatibility of the produced scaffolds on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (3T3) was evaluated using MTT assay. The highest wound healing activity (score 15/19) was achieved for scaffolds containing Te NPs. The wounds treated with PCL/GEL/Te NPs had inflammation state equal to the positive control. Also, the mentioned scaffold represented positive effects on collagen formation and collagen fibre's horizontalisation in a dose-dependent manner. The antioxidative potency of Te NP-containing scaffolds was demonstrated with lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (∼3 times) and a higher level of glutathione (GSH) (∼2 times) in PCL/GEL/Te NP-treated samples than the negative control. The obtained results strongly demonstrated the healing activity of the produced nanofibres, and it can be inferred that scaffolds containing Te NPs are suitable for wound dressing., (© 2021 The Authors. IET Nanobiotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Institution of Engineering and Technology.)

The thermoalkalophilic lipase from Bacillus atrophaeus (BaL) was immobilized onto amine-functionalized graphene oxide nanosheets coated with the poly (maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) copolymer (GO-NH 2 -PMAO) and activated with glutaraldehyde as spacer arm through interfacial activation and subsequent multipoint covalent attachment. Experimental design method was applied for optimization of immobilization conditions including GO-NH 2 -PMAO concentration, buffer concentration, pH, sonication time, enzyme concentration, glutaraldehyde concentration, time, and temperature. The optimum specific activity of the immobilized BaL (105.95 ± 2.37 U/mg) reached at 5 mg/mL for GO-NH 2 -PMAO, 25 mM of buffer, pH 6.0, 60 min sonication time, 100 mM glutaraldehyde, 60 U/mL of enzyme, and 4 h of immobilization time at 25 °C, which was very close to the predicted amount (106.08 ± 1.42 U/mg). Maximum immobilization yield (81.35%) and efficiency (277.63%) were determined in optimal immobilization conditions. The obtained results clearly indicated that the immobilized BaL exhibited better stability at extreme temperature and pH than the free BaL. At temperature of 90 °C and pH 11, more than 90% of the initial activity of the immobilized BaL was retained. Furthermore, the immobilized BaL retained about 90% of its initial activity after 10 days of storage and 6 cycles of application. The esterification studies showed that maximum bioconversion of valeric acid to pentyl valerate using the free BaL (34.5%) and the immobilized BaL (96.3%) occurred in the xylene medium after 48 h of incubation at 60 °C. Therefore, the BaL immobilized on GO-NH 2 -PMAO was introduced as an effective biocatalyst to synthesize green apple flavour ester., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

We report here a simple microwave irradiation method (850 W, 3 min) for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) using ascorbic acid (as reducing agent) and sodium alginate (as stabilizer agent). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effects of as-synthesized Pd NPs and Pd (II) acetate were also assessed. UV-Vis study showed the formation of Pd NPs with maximum absorption at 345 nm. From TEM analysis, it was observed that the Pd NPs had spherical shape with particle size distribution of 13-33 nm. Based on DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay, the antioxidant activities of Pd NPs were significantly higher than the Pd (II) acetate (p < 0.05). At the same concentration of 640 μg/mL, the scavenging activities were 32.9 ± 3.2% (Pd (II) acetate) and 27.2 ± 2.1% (Pd NPs). For A549 cells treated 48 h with Pd NPs, Pd (II) acetate, and cisplatin, the measured concentration necessary causing 50% cell death (IC 50 ) was 7.2 ± 1.7 μg/mL, 32.1 ± 2.1 μg/mL, and 206.2 ± 3.5 μg/mL, respectively. On HSkMC cells, the IC 50 of the Pd NPs (320 μg/mL) was higher compared to Pd (II) acetate (228.7 ± 3.6 μg/mL), which confirmed lower cytotoxicity of the Pd NPs.