Simple synthesis of biocompatible biotinylated porous hexagonal ZnO nanodisc for targeted doxorubicin delivery against breast cancer cell: In vitro and in vivo cytotoxic potential.

Targeted drug delivery with porous materials features great promise as improved therapeutic potential for treatment of various diseases. In the present study we have attempted a microwave synthesis of porous hexagonal nanodisc of zinc oxide (PZHD) for the first time and its subsequent targeted delivery to breast cancer cells, MCF7. PZHD has been fabricated suitably with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to impart additional stability and surface amines to anchor site directing ligand NHS-biotin. Biotinylated scaffold showed targeted delivery of anticancer drug doxorubicin and pH triggered release to MCF 7 cells with preferential distribution on specified domain. A detailed in vitro cytotoxicity study was associated with it to evaluate the mode of action of Dox loaded PZHD on MCF-7 cells by means of cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assays, Western blot and immuno-fluorescence image analysis. The efficacy of the Dox loaded PZHD was further validated from our in vivo tumor regression studies. Finally, the whole study has been supported by in vitro and in vivo bio-safety studies which also signified its biocompatibility with real time applications. To the best of our knowledge this is the first effort to use biotinylated PZHD for targeted delivery of doxorubicin within MCF 7 cells with a detailed study of its mechanistic application. This study might thus hold future prospects for therapeutic intervention for treatment of cancer.

Microwave synthesis of ZnO@mSiO2 for detailed antifungal mode of action study: understanding the insights into oxidative stress.

A simple chemical method has been devised for deliberate incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) within mesoporous nanosilica (mSiO2) matrix to yield zinc oxide nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous nanosilica (ZnO@mSiO2). ZnO@mSiO2 inhibited the growth of four strains of fungi in a dose dependant manner. A series of biochemical assays revealed generation of oxidative stress from ZnO@mSiO2 for such biocidal response. We proposed transient superoxide and its subsequent conversion to H2O2 played a pivotal role behind such biocidal response as revealed from our systematic evaluation. This resulted morphological alteration of fungi through increase in number of facets, in correlation we found up-regulation in oxidative stress related genes. Bioavailability within the fungal sample was confirmed from microscopic, spectroscopic, biophysical techniques. Protein carbonylation of fungal species was the chemical outcome of such above mentioned stress and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) via subsequent hydrazone derivatization. Several in vitro and in vivo evaluations revealed the biocompatibility of ZnO@mSiO2. Altogether this report claims a new biocidal agent with a detailed mode of action focusing on the origin and quantification of oxidative stress through biophysical and biochemical techniques for the first time for real time applications.