ABSTRACT
Multiple sclerosis (MS), an intricate neurological disorder, continues to challenge our understanding of the pivotal interplay between the immune system and the central nervous system (CNS). This condition arises from the immune system's misdirected attack on nerve fiber protection, known as myelin sheath, alongside nerve fibers themselves. This enigmatic condition, characterized by demyelination and varied clinical manifestations, prompts exploration into its multifaceted etiology and potential therapeutic avenues. Research has revealed a potential connection between Epstein Barr virus (EBV), specifically Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA-1), and MS. The immune response to EBNA-1 antigen triggers the production of anti-EBNA-1 molecules, including IgG that identify a similar amino acid sequence to EBNA-1 in myelin, inadvertently targeting myelin sheath and contributing to MS progression. Currently, no treatment exists for EBNA-1-induced MS apart from symptom management. Addressing this, a novel potential therapeutic avenue utilizing small interference RNAs (siRNA) has been designed. By targeting the conserved EBNA-1 gene sequences in EBV types 1 and 2, five potential siRNAs were identified in our analysis. Thorough evaluations encompassing off-target binding, thermodynamics and secondary structure elucidation, efficacy prediction, siRNA-mRNA sequence binding affinity exploration, melting temperature, and docking of siRNAs with human argonaute protein 2 (AGO2) were conducted to elucidate the siRNAs efficiency. These designed siRNA molecules harnessed promising silencing activity in the EBNA-1 gene encoding the EBNA-1 antigen protein and thus have the potential to mitigate the severity of this dangerous virus.
ABSTRACT
The acceptance of nanoparticle technology in the quest for cancer treatment is due to its many potentials and possibilities of filling in the gaps in the limitations of the current treatment modalities. Insights into the possibilities of getting even more from this technology, as well as the synergistic properties of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT)-the use of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-can also be exploited in the ablation of prostate cancer tumors. Therefore, the combination of gold and selenium photoactive nanoparticles as platforms for drug delivery via PTT/PDT in prostate cancer therapy, with a specific emphasis on the 'micro-carrier' based approach, was discussed and explored in this review under relevant subtopics ranging from understanding the complex chemistry and biology of the pharmacologically active Se/Au-containing agents to giving a thorough knowledge of these therapeutic agents' potential as a targeted and successful treatment strategy for prostate cancer by investigating the complex mechanisms behind their delivery, activation, and synergistic effects. Furthermore, this article presents a comprehensive overview of the current research environment, problems encountered, and future perspectives in the continuous war against prostate cancer.
