Development and Evaluation of Topical Zinc Oxide Nanogels Formulation Using Dendrobium anosmum and Its Effect on Acne Vulgaris.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have high levels of biocompatibility, a low impact on environmental contamination, and suitable to be used as an ingredient for environmentally friendly skincare products. In this study, biogenically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Dendrobium anosum are used as a reducing and capping agent for topical anti-acne nanogels, and the antimicrobial effect of the nanogel is assessed on Cutibacterium acne and Staphylococcus aureus. Dendrobium anosmum leaf extract was examined for the presence of secondary metabolites and its total amount of phenolic and flavonoid content was determined. Both the biogenically and chemogenic-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were compared using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, FE-SEM, XRD, and FTIR. To produce the topical nanogel, the biogenic and chemogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles were mixed with a carbomer and hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose (HPMC) polymer. The mixtures were then tested for physical and chemical characteristics. To assess their anti-acne effectiveness, the mixtures were tested against C. acne and S. aureus. The biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles have particle sizes of 20 nm and a high-phase purity. In comparison to chemogenic nanoparticles, the hydrogels with biogenically synthesized nanoparticles was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Through this study, the hybrid nanogels was proven to be effective against the microbes that cause acne and to be potentially used as a green product against skin infections.

A Review on Recent Progress of Stingless Bee Honey and Its Hydrogel-Based Compound for Wound Care Management.

Stingless bee honey has a distinctive flavor and sour taste compared to Apis mellifera honey. Currently, interest in farming stingless bees is growing among rural residents to meet the high demand for raw honey and honey-based products. Several studies on stingless bee honey have revealed various therapeutic properties for wound healing applications. These include antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties related to wound healing. The development of stingless bee honey for wound healing applications, such as incorporation into hydrogels, has attracted researchers worldwide. As a result, the effectiveness of stingless bee honey against wound infections can be improved in the future to optimize healing rates. This paper reviewed the physicochemical and therapeutic properties of stingless bee honey and its efficacy in treating wound infection, as well as the incorporation of stingless bee honey into hydrogels for optimized wound dressing.

In vivo evaluation of oxidized multiwalled-carbon nanotubes-mediated hyperthermia treatment for breast cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that contribute to high mortality worldwide. Hyperthermia (HT) was introduced as one of the alternative treatments to treat breast cancer but has major drawback of damaging normal adjacent cells. This study explores the integration effect of multiwalled­carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in combination with hyperthermia treatment for breast cancer therapy regimes. In this study, acid-functionalized MWCNTs (ox-MWCNTs) were prepared by acid washing methods using H2SO4/HNO3 (98%/68%) with the ratio of 3:1 (ν/ν) and characterized by colloidal dispersibility test, FTIR, TGA, XRD, FESEM and EDX analysis. EMT6 tumor-bearing mice were treated with ox-MWCNTs in combination with local HT at 43 °C. The tumor progression was monitored and the influence of immune response was evaluated. Results from this study demonstrated that mice from ox-MWCNTs in combination with local HT treatment group experienced complete tumor eradication, accompanied by a significant increase in median survival of the mice. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues revealed that tumor treated with combined treatment underwent cell necrosis and there was a significant reduction of proliferating cells when compared to the untreated tumor. This observation is also accompanied with an increase in Hsp70 expression in tumor treated with HT. Flow cytometry analysis of the draining lymph nodes showed an increase in dendritic cells infiltration and maturation in mice treated with combined treatment. In addition, a significant increase of tumor-infiltrated CD8+ and CD4+ T cells along with macrophages and natural killer cells was observed in tumor treated with combined treatment. Altogether, results presented in this study suggested the potential of ox-MWCNTs-mediated HT as an anticancer therapeutic agent, hence might be beneficial in the future of breast cancer treatment.