Chromium nanoparticles improve bone turnover regulation in rats fed a high-fat, low-fibre diet.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of returning to a balanced diet combined with chromium picolinate (CrPic) or chromium nanoparticles (CrNPs) supplementation at a pharmacologically relevant dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight on the expression level of selected genes and bone turnover markers in the blood and bones of rats fed an obese diet. The results of the study showed that chronic intake of a high-fat obesogenic diet negatively affects bone turnover by impairing processes of both synthesis and degradation of bones. The switch to a healthy diet proved insufficient to regulate bone metabolism disorders induced by an obesogenic diet, even when it was supplemented with chromium, irrespective of its form. Supplementation with CrPic with no change in diet stimulated bone metabolism only at the molecular level, towards increased osteoclastogenesis (bone resorption). In contrast, CrNPs added to the high-fat diet effectively regulated bone turnover by increasing both osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis, with these changes directed more towards bone formation. The results of the study suggest that unfavourable changes in bone metabolism induced by chronic intake of a high-fat diet can be mitigated by supplementation with CrNPs, whereas a change in eating habits fails to achieve a similar effect.

Long-Term Accumulation, Biological Effects and Toxicity of BSA-Coated Gold Nanoparticles in the Mouse Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys.

Introduction: Gold nanoparticles are promising candidates as vehicles for drug delivery systems and could be developed into effective anticancer treatments. However, concerns about their safety need to be identified, addressed, and satisfactorily answered. Although gold nanoparticles are considered biocompatible and nontoxic, most of the toxicology evidence originates from in vitro studies, which may not reflect the responses in complex living organisms. Methods: We used an animal model to study the long-term effects of 20 nm spherical AuNPs coated with bovine serum albumin. Mice received a 1 mg/kg single intravenous dose of nanoparticles, and the biodistribution and accumulation, as well as the organ changes caused by the nanoparticles, were characterized in the liver, spleen, and kidneys during 120 days. Results: The amount of nanoparticles in the organs remained high at 120 days compared with day 1, showing a 39% reduction in the liver, a 53% increase in the spleen, and a 150% increase in the kidneys. The biological effects of chronic nanoparticle exposure were associated with early inflammatory and fibrotic responses in the organs and were more pronounced in the kidneys, despite a negligible amount of nanoparticles found in renal tissues. Conclusion: Our data suggest, that although AuNPs belong to the safest nanomaterial platforms nowadays, due to their slow tissue elimination leading to long-term accumulation in the biological systems, they may induce toxic responses in the vital organs, and so understanding of their long-term biological impact is important to consider their potential therapeutic applications.

Silver and gold nanoparticles as a novel approach to fight Sarcoptic mange in rabbits.

Various kinds of pets have been known to contract the ectoparasite Sarcoptes scabiei. Current acaricides are becoming less effective because of the resistance developed by the mite besides their adverse effects on the general activity and reproductive performance of domestic pets. For this reason, the present study aims to discover a novel and safe approach using silver and gold nanoparticles to fight Sarcoptic mange in rabbits as well as to explain their mechanism of action. 15 pet rabbits with clinical signs of Sarcoptic mange that were confirmed by the microscopic examination were used in our study. All rabbits used in this study were assessed positive for the presence of different developing stages of S. scabiei. Three groups of rabbits (n = 5) were used as follows: group (1) didn't receive any treatment, and group (2 and 3) was treated with either AgNPs or GNPs, respectively. Both nanoparticles were applied daily on the affected skin areas via a dressing and injected subcutaneously once a week for 2 weeks at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg bwt. Our results revealed that all rabbits were severely infested and took a mean score = 3. The skin lesions in rabbits that didn't receive any treatments progressed extensively and took a mean score = of 4. On the other hand, all nanoparticle-treated groups displayed marked improvement in the skin lesion and took an average score of 0-1. All NPs treated groups showed remarkable improvement in the microscopic pictures along with mild iNOS, TNF-α, and Cox-2 expression. Both nanoparticles could downregulate the m-RNA levels of IL-6 and IFγ and upregulate IL-10 and TGF-1ß genes to promote skin healing. Dressing rabbits with both NPs didn't affect either liver and kidney biomarkers or serum Ig levels indicating their safety. Our residual analysis detected AgNPs in the liver of rabbits but did not detect any residues of GNPs in such organs. We recommend using GNPs as an alternative acaricide to fight rabbit mange.

Focused Ultrasound as a Novel Non-Invasive Method for the Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles to Retinal Ganglion Cells.

Purpose: The blood-retinal barrier (BRB) restricts the delivery of intravenous therapeutics to the retina, necessitating innovative approaches for treating retinal disorders. This study sought to explore the potential of focused ultrasound (FUS) to non-invasively deliver intravenously administered gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) across the BRB. FUS-BRB modulation can offer a novel method for targeted retinal therapy. Methods: AuNPs of different sizes and shapes were characterized, and FUS parameters were optimized to permeate the BRB without causing retinal damage in a rodent model. The delivery of 70-kDa dextran and AuNPs to the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer was visualized using confocal and two-photon microscopy, respectively. Histological and statistical analyses were conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of the procedure. Results: FUS-BRB modulation resulted in the delivery of dextran and AuNPs to the RGC and inner nuclear layer. Smaller AuNPs reached the retinal layers to a greater extent than larger ones. The delivery of dextran and AuNPs across the BRB with FUS was achieved without significant retinal damage. Conclusions: This investigation provides the first evidence, to our knowledge, of FUS-mediated AuNP delivery across the BRB, establishing a foundation for a targeted and non-invasive approach to retinal treatment. The results contribute to developing promising non-invasive therapeutic strategies in ophthalmology to treat retinal diseases. Translational Relevance: Modifying the BRB with ultrasound offers a targeted and non-invasive delivery strategy of intravenous therapeutics to the retina.

Advances in Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Functionalization Strategies, and Theranostic Applications in Cancer.

Cancer is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Metallic nanoparticles, especially gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged to be attractive systems to circumvent the associated adverse effects. By the virtue of their unique properties of tunable size, shape, composition, optical properties, biocompatibility, minimal toxicity, multivalency, fluorescence-luminescence property and surface plasmon resonance; AuNPs have the potential to be used as drug delivery systems. It is vital to ensure that the drug reaches the target site of action for selective kill of cancer cells without harm to healthy cells. These AuNPs can be easily functionalized with a wide array of ligands like peptides, oligonucleotides, polymers, carbohydrates for active targeting to ensure site specific delivery and reduced systemic effects. AuNPs have been in-vestigated as carriers for gene delivery, drug delivery with or without photothermal therapy, in diagnosis based on radiation or spectroscopy. They have emerged as attractive theranostic approach in the overall management of cancer with superior benefit to risk features. In this review, we have discussed synthesis of different AuNPs (nanorods, spherical nanoparticles, and hollow AuNPs), their functionalization strategies and their applications in biomedical domain. Various research studies and clinical trials on application of AuNPs in diagnosis and therapeutics are highlighted.

Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles with Green Tea for Inhibition of ß-Amyloid Fibrillation Coupled with Ligands Analysis.

Background: Inhibition of amyloid ß protein fragment (Aß) aggregation is considered to be one of the most effective strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been found to be effective in this regard; however, owing to its low bioavailability, nanodelivery is recommended for practical applications. Compared to chemical reduction methods, biosynthesis avoids possible biotoxicity and cumbersome preparation processes. Materials and Methods: The interaction between EGCG and Aß42 was simulated by molecular docking, and green tea-conjugated gold nanoparticles (GT-Au NPs) and EGCG-Au NPs were synthesized using EGCG-enriched green tea and EGCG solutions, respectively. Surface active molecules of the particles were identified and analyzed using various liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry methods. ThT fluorescence assay, circular dichroism, and TEM were used to investigate the effect of synthesized particles on the inhibition of Aß42 aggregation. Results: EGCG as well as apigenin, quercetin, baicalin, and glutathione were identified as capping ligands stabilized on the surface of GT-Au NPs. They more or less inhibited Aß42 aggregation or promoted fibril disaggregation, with EGCG being the most effective, which bound to Aß42 through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, etc. resulting in 39.86% and 88.50% inhibition of aggregation and disaggregation effects, respectively. EGCG-Au NPs were not as effective as free EGCG, whereas multiple thiols and polyphenols in green tea accelerated and optimized heavy metal detoxification. The synthesized GT-Au NPs conferred the efficacy of diverse ligands to the particles, with inhibition of aggregation and disaggregation effects of 54.69% and 88.75%, respectively, while increasing the yield, enhancing water solubility, and decreasing cost. Conclusion: Biosynthesis of nanoparticles using green tea is a promising simple and economical drug-carrying approach to confer multiple pharmacophore molecules to Au NPs. This could be used to design new drug candidates to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Subchronic toxicity study of indium-tin oxide nanoparticles following intratracheal administration into the lungs of rats.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the subchronic toxicity and tissue distribution of indium after the intratracheal administration of indium-tin oxide nanoparticles (ITO NPs) to the lungs of rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were administered a single intratracheal dose of 10 or 20 mg In/kg body weight (BW) of ITO NPs. The control rats received only an intratracheal dose of distilled water. A subset of rats was periodically euthanized throughout the study from 1 to 20 weeks after administration. Indium concentrations in the serum, lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, kidneys, liver, and spleen as well as pathological changes in the lungs and kidneys were determined. Additionally, the distribution of ionic indium and indium NPs in the kidneys was analyzed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Indium concentrations in the lungs of the 2 ITO NP groups gradually decreased over the 20-week observation period. Conversely, the indium concentrations in the mediastinal lymph nodes of the 2 ITO groups increased and were several hundred times higher than those in the kidneys, spleen, and liver. Pulmonary and renal toxicities were observed histopathologically in both the ITO groups. Both indium NPs and ionic indium were detected in the kidneys, and their distributions were similar to the strong indium signals detected at the sites of inflammatory cell infiltration and tubular epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that intratracheal administration of 10 or 20 mg In/kg BW of ITO NPs in male rats produces pulmonary and renal toxicities.

Comparison of the effects of fluoride varnish containing silver nanoparticles and conventional fluoride varnish on the surface microhardness of tooth enamel.

BACKGROUND: Nano-silver fluoride (NSF) has been introduced to improve enamel lesions. The effective use of varnishes is important in the prevention of dental caries. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to compare the effect of conventional sodium fluoride varnish with the same varnish containing 1% and 2% silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on the surface microhardness of enamel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The baseline surface microhardness of 40 premolar teeth was measured using a Vickers microhardness tester. After immersing the samples in a demineralizing agent for 24 h, the microhardness was measured again. In group B, a layer of conventional fluoride varnish was applied to the tooth surfaces using a microbrush with soft bristles, following the manufacturer's instructions. Groups C and D were treated with 1% and 2% NSF varnishes, respectively, while group A received no varnish. Surface microhardness tests were conducted on all specimens, including those previously tested. RESULTS: The microhardness of the enamel surface increased significantly in all 3 test groups compared to the microhardness after demineralization (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Conventional fluoride varnish and fluoride varnishes containing 1% and 2% AgNP are equally effective in remineralizing initial caries.

Multifactorial drug carrier system bringing both chemical and physical therapeutics to the treatment of tumor heterogeneity.

Tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance have been invincible features of cancer for its complete cure. Despite the advent of immunotherapy, the expansion and diversification of cancer cells evolved even in the absence or presence of drug treatment discourage additional therapeutic interventions. For the eradication of cancer cells, therefore, an 'all-at-once' strategy is required, which exploits both target-selective chemotherapy and non-selective physicotherapy. Multifactorial microcapsules comprising gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a self-assembly protein of α-synuclein (αS) were fabricated, in which hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs could be separately encapsulated by employing lipid-based inverted micelles (IMs). Their combined physico-chemical therapeutic effects were examined since they also contained both membrane-disrupting IMs and heat-generating AuNPs upon irradiation as physicotherapeutic agents. For the optimal enclosure of IMs containing hydrophilic drugs, a porous inner skeleton made of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) was introduced, which would play the roles of not only compartmentalizing the internal space but also enhancing proteolytic disintegration of the microcapsules to discharge and stabilize IMs to the outside. In fact, hydrophobic paclitaxel and hydrophilic doxorubicin showed markedly enhanced drug efficacy when delivered in the IM-containing microcapsules exhibiting the 'quantal' release of both drugs into the cells whose integrity could be also affected by the IMs. In addition, the remnants of αS-AuNP microcapsules produced via proteolysis also caused cell death through photothermal effect. The multifactorial microcapsules are therefore considered as a promising anti-cancer drug carrier capable of performing combinatorial selective and non-selective chemical and physical therapies to overcome tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance.

Does the dietary supplementation of organic nano-zinc as a growth promoter impact broiler's growth, carcass and meat quality traits, blood metabolites and cecal microbiota?

The present investigation aimed to examine the impact of different dietary organic zinc nanoparticle (ZnNP) levels on gut bacteria, meat quality, growth performance, carcass traits, and blood indicators of broilers. A total of 180 unsexed one-wk broiler chicks (Cobb) were allotted to 3 experimental groups and received a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, and 0.4 mg ZnNPs/Kg diet, respectively. The results showed that, after 38 d of age, the supplementary ZnNPs at a level of 0.4 mg/kg raised body weight and weight gain compared to the control and 0.2 mg ZnNPs/kg diet. The addition of ZnNPs improved the daily feed intake. Some of the carcass characteristics in ZnNPs groups excelled that of the control. ZnNPs treatments gave higher dressing % and decreased (P < 0.05) the cholesterol rates, LDL, and uric acid in the blood. In addition, it gave the best concentrations of ALT and AST. The ZnNPs groups exhibited substantially (P < 0.05) improved moisture and fat values in meat samples. The group given ZnNPs at a concentration of 0.4 mg/kg had a substantially (P < 0.05) lower count of TYMC and E. coli. In conclusion, the high level of ZnNPs (0.4 mg/kg) improved the broilers' performance and some of their carcass traits, enhancing their health and meat quality.

Activity of zinc oxide and zinc borate nanoparticles against resistant bacteria in an experimental lung cancer model.

BACKGROUND: Recent research indicates a prevalence of typical lung infections, such as pneumonia, in lung cancer patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii stand out as antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Given this, there is a growing interest in alternative therapeutic avenues. Boron and zinc derivatives exhibit antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to establish the effectiveness of ZnO and ZB NPs in combating bacterial infections in lung cancer cell lines. METHODS: Initially, this study determined the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and zinc borate (ZB) on chosen benchmark strains. Subsequent steps involved gauging treatment success through a lung cancer-bacteria combined culture and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The inhibitory impact of ZnO NPs on bacteria was charted as follows: 0.97 µg/mL for K. pneumoniae 700603, 1.95 µg/mL for P. aeruginosa 27853, and 7.81 µg/mL for Acinetobacter baumannii 19,606. In comparison, the antibacterial influence of zinc borate was measured as 7.81 µg/mL for Klebsiella pneumoniae 700603 and 500 µg/mL for both P. aeruginosa 27853 and A.baumannii 19606. After 24 h, the cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs and ZB was analyzed using the MTT technique. The lowest cell viability was marked in the 500 µg/mL ZB NPs group, with a viability rate of 48.83% (P < 0.001). However, marked deviations appeared at ZB concentrations of 61.5 µg/mL (P < 0.05) and ZnO NPs at 125 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: A synergistic microbial inhibitory effect was observed when ZnO NP and ZB were combined against the bacteria under investigation.

Shikonin-Loaded Hollow Fe-MOF Nanoparticles for Enhanced Microwave Thermal Therapy.

Microwave (MW) thermal therapy has been widely used for the treatment of cancer in clinics, but it still shows limited efficacy and a high recurrence rate owing to non-selective heat delivery and thermo-resistance. Regulating glycolysis shows great promise to improve MW thermal therapy since glycolysis plays an important role in thermo-resistance, progression, metabolism, and recurrence. Herein, we developed a delivery nanosystem of shikonin (SK)-loaded and hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified hollow Fe-MOF (HFM), HFM@SK@HA, as an efficient glycolysis-meditated agent to improve the efficacy of MW thermal therapy. The HFM@SK@HA nanosystem shows a high SK loading capacity of 31.7 wt %. The loaded SK can be effectively released from the HFM@SK@HA under the stimulation of an acidic tumor microenvironment and MW irradiation, overcoming the intrinsically low solubility and severe toxicity of SK. We also find that the HFM@SK@HA can not only greatly improve the heating effect of MW in the tumor site but also mediate MW-enhancing dynamic therapy efficiency by catalyzing the endogenous H2O2 to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). As such, the MW irradiation treatment in the presence of HFM@SK@HA in vitro enables a highly improved anti-tumor efficacy due to the combined effect of released SK and generated ROS on inhibiting glycolysis in cancer cells. Our in vivo experiments show that the tumor inhibition rate is up to 94.75% ± 3.63% with no obvious recurrence during the 2 weeks after treatment. This work provides a new strategy for improving the efficacy of MW thermal therapy.

Holographically Activatable Nanoprobe via Glutathione/Albumin-Mediated Exponential Signal Amplification for High-Contrast Tumor Imaging.

Glutathione (GSH)-activatable probes hold great promise for in vivo cancer imaging, but are restricted by their dependence on non-selective intracellular GSH enrichment and uncontrollable background noise. Here, a holographically activatable nanoprobe caging manganese tetraoxide is shown for tumor-selective contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through cooperative GSH/albumin-mediated cascade signal amplification in tumors and rapid elimination in normal tissues. Once targeting tumors, the endocytosed nanoprobe effectively senses the lysosomal microenvironment to undergo instantaneous decomposition into Mn2+ with threshold GSH concentration of ≈ 0.12 mm for brightening MRI signals, thus achieving high contrast tumor imaging and flexible monitoring of GSH-relevant cisplatin resistance during chemotherapy. Upon efficient up-regulation of extracellular GSH in tumor via exogenous injection, the relaxivity-silent interstitial nanoprobe remarkably evolves into Mn2+ that are further captured/retained and re-activated into ultrahigh-relaxivity-capable complex by stromal albumin in the tumor, and simultaneously allows the renal clearance of off-targeted nanoprobe in the form of Mn2+ via lymphatic vessels for suppressing background noise to distinguish tiny liver metastasis. These findings demonstrate the concept of holographic tumor activation via both tumor GSH/albumin-mediated cascade signal amplification and simultaneous background suppression for precise tumor malignancy detection, surveillance, and surgical guidance.

Effects of Nano-Cu2O on the Productivity in the Cu-Stripped Chinese Merino Sheep.

This research is to study the effects of nano-Cu2O on blood parameters, growth performance, and wool yield in the Cu-stripped ranches, and provide reference for further study on prevention and treatment in Cu-deficient Chinese Merino sheep. We selected twenty Chinese Merino sheep from Cu-deficient and normal ranch, respectively. The results have shown that the Cu content in the soils, forages, blood, and wool from Cu-deficient ranches was significantly lower than those from normal ranches (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the contents of other elements. Treatment experiments of nano-Cu2O were carried out for 50 days. We found that the Cu content in the blood was increased continuously in the sheep after adding nano-Cu2O, and reached the highest level at 40 days. The levels of Hb, RBC, PCV, MCV, and MCH in the nano-Cu2O-fed animals were remarkably higher than those in the control animals (P < 0.01). The daily gain and wool yield in the nano-Cu2O-fed animals were also significantly higher than those in the control sheep (P < 0.01). Therefore, adding nano-Cu2O not only remarkably increases the Cu content in the blood, but also greatly improves the daily gain and wool yield in Cu-deficient animals.

Coordination-Driven Metal-Polyphenolic Nanoparticles toward Effective Anticancer Therapy.

Stabilization of bioactive components, especially for hydrophobic functional factors, is a promising approach for improving their biological activity. Here, a metal-phenolic coordination chemistry that synthesizes biocompatible and biodegradable thin film based on tannic acid and trivalent metal ion (Fe3+ or Al3+ ) is addressed, and the results also demonstrate its use for encapsulating a hydrophobic drug (nobiletin) and triggering drug release for cancer treatment both in vitro and in vivo. This assembled system provides drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) with small, but uniform, size (≈200 nm). It displays beneficial potential in enhancing colloidal stability and preventing premature drug leakage. Moreover, the metal-phenolic coating is found to possess high cell biocompatibility as a delivery vector for controlled drug delivery, while the final fabricated drug NPs have effective anti-tumor activity by both inducing higher tumor apoptosis and inhibiting tumor metastasis, which is superior to naked drug formulations. Overall, these findings propose an effective and straightforward way for coating hydrophobic drugs employing interfacial adhesion and assembly, which can be a highly promising vehicle for controlled-release biomedical applications for cancer therapy.

Immunomodulatory and Antitumoral Activity of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by Red Algae Aqueous Extracts.

This study reports on the green and cost-efficient synthesis of gold nanoparticles from three different red algae extracts. The nanoparticles synthesized were fully characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, HRTEM, and Z-potential. Relevant components occurring in the extracts, such as polysaccharides or phenolic content, were assessed by analytical techniques such as spectrophotometric assays and liquid chromatography. Finally, the antioxidant, antitumoral, and anti-inflammatory potential of both the extracts and the gold nanoparticles synthesized were analyzed in order to determine a possible synergistic effect on the nanoparticles. The results obtained confirmed the obtainment of gold nanoparticles with significant potential as immunotherapeutic agents. The therapeutic potential of these nanoparticles could be higher than that of inert gold nanoparticles loaded with bioactive molecules since the former would allow for higher accumulation into the targeted tissue.

Effect of zinc nanoparticles seed priming and foliar application on the growth and physio-biochemical indices of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under salt stress.

Salt stress is the major risk to the seed germination and plant growth via affecting physiological and biochemical activities in plants. Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) are emerged as a key agent in regulating the tolerance mechanism in plants under environmental stresses. However, the tolerance mechanisms which are regulated by ZnNPs in plants are still not fully understood. Therefore, the observation was planned to explore the role of ZnNPs (applied as priming and foliar) in reducing the harmful influence of sodium chloride (NaCl) stress on the development of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants. Varying concentrations of ZnNPs (0.1%, 0.2% & 0.3%) were employed to the spinach as seed priming and foliar, under control as well as salt stress environment. The alleviation of stress was observed in ZnNPs-applied spinach plants grown under salt stress, with a reduced rise in the concentration hydrogen peroxide, melondialdehyde and anthocyanin contents. A clear decline in soluble proteins, chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid, sugars, and total phenolic contents was observed in stressed conditions. Exogenous ZnNPs suppressed the NaCl generated reduction in biochemical traits, and progress of spinach plants. However, ZnNPs spray at 0.3% followed by priming was the most prominent treatment in the accumulation of osmolytes and the production of antioxidant molecules in plants.

Photodynamic Therapy and Multi-Modality Imaging of Up-Conversion Nanomaterial Doped with AuNPs.

Two key concerns exist in contemporary cancer chemotherapy in clinic: limited therapeutic efficiency and substantial side effects in patients. In recent years, researchers have been investigating a revolutionary cancer treatment technique, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed by many scholars. A drug for photodynamic cancer treatment was synthesized using the hydrothermal method, which has a high efficiency to release reactive oxygen species (ROS). It may also be utilized as a clear multi-modality bioimaging platform for photoacoustic imaging (PAI) due to its photothermal effect, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). When compared to single-modality imaging, multi-modality imaging delivers far more thorough and precise details for cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, Au-doped up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have an exceptionally high luminous intensity. The Au-doped UCNPs, in particular, are non-toxic to tissues without laser at an 808 nm wavelength, endowing the as-prepared medications with outstanding therapeutic efficacy but exceptionally low side effects. These findings may encourage fresh effective imaging-guided approaches to meet the goal of photodynamic cancer therapy to be created.

Photothermal Effect and Multi-Modality Imaging of Up-Conversion Nanomaterial Doped with Gold Nanoparticles.

Two key concerns exist in contemporary cancer chemotherapy in clinics: limited therapeutic efficiency and substantial side effects in patients. In recent years, researchers have been investigating revolutionary cancer treatment techniques and photo-thermal therapy (PTT) has been proposed by many scholars. A drug for photothermal cancer treatment was synthesized using the hydrothermal method, which has a high light-to-heat conversion efficiency. It may also be utilized as a clear multi-modality bioimaging platform for photoacoustic imaging (PAI), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). When compared to single-modality imaging, multi-modality imaging delivers far more thorough and precise details for cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, gold-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have an exceptionally high target recognition for tumor cells. The gold-doped UCNPs, in particular, are non-toxic to normal tissues, endowing the as-prepared medications with outstanding therapeutic efficacy but exceptionally low side effects. These findings may encourage the creation of fresh effective imaging-guided approaches to meet the goal of photothermal cancer therapy.

Silicon-Gold Nanoparticles Affect Wharton's Jelly Phenotype and Secretome during Tri-Lineage Differentiation.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that various nanoparticles (NPs) stimulate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and inhibit adipogenic ones. The mechanisms of these effects are not determined. The aim of this paper was to estimate Wharton's Jelly MSCs phenotype and humoral factor production during tri-lineage differentiation per se and in the presence of silicon-gold NPs. Silicon (SiNPs), gold (AuNPs), and 10% Au-doped Si nanoparticles (SiAuNPs) were synthesized by laser ablation, characterized, and studied in MSC cultures before and during differentiation. Humoral factor production (n = 41) was analyzed by Luminex technology. NPs were nontoxic, did not induce ROS production, and stimulated G-CSF, GM-CSF, VEGF, CXCL1 (GRO) production in four day MSC cultures. During MSC differentiation, all NPs stimulated CD13 and CD90 expression in osteogenic cultures. MSC differentiation resulted in a decrease in multiple humoral factor production to day 14 of incubation. NPs did not significantly affect the production in chondrogenic cultures and stimulated it in both osteogenic and adipogenic ones. The major difference in the protein production between osteogenic and adipogenic MSC cultures in the presence of NPs was VEGF level, which was unaffected in osteogenic cells and 4-9 times increased in adipogenic ones. The effects of NPs decreased in a row AuNPs > SiAuNPs > SiNPs. Taken collectively, high expression of CD13 and CD90 by MSCs and critical level of VEGF production can, at least, partially explain the stimulatory effect of NPs on MSC osteogenic differentiation.