Exploring Curcumin-Loaded Lipid-Based Nanomedicine as Efficient Targeted Therapy for Alzheimer's Diseases.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological condition currently with 47 million people suffering from it globally. AD might have many reasons such as genetic issues, environmental factors, and Aß accumulation, which is the biomarker of the disease. Since the primary reason is unknown, there is no targeted treatment at the moment, but ongoing research aims to slow its progression by managing amyloid-beta peptide production rather than symptomatic improvement. Since phytochemicals have been demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, they may target multiple pathological factors and can reduce the risk of the disease. Curcumin, as a phytochemical found in turmeric known for its antioxidant, free radical scavenging properties, and as an antiamyloid in treating AD, has come under investigation. Although its low bioavailability limits its efficacy, a prominent drug delivery system (DDS) is desired to overcome it. Hence, the potency of lipid-based nanoparticles encapsulating curcumin (LNPs-CUR) is considered in this study as a promising DDS. In vivo studies in animal models indicate LNPs-CUR effectively slow amyloid plaque formation, leading to cognitive enhancement and reduced toxicity compared to free CUR. However, a deeper understanding of CUR's pharmacokinetics and safety profile is crucial before LNPs-CUR can be considered as a medicine. Future investigations may explore the combination of NPs with other therapeutic agents to increase their efficacy in AD cases. This review provides the current position of CUR in the AD therapy paradigm, the DDS suggestions for CUR, and the previous research from the point of analytical view focused on the advantages and challenges.

Thermally Conductive MXene.

MXene materials, which consist of nitrides, carbides, or carbonitrides of transition metals, possess a distinctive multilayered structure resulting from the specific etching of the "A" layer from MAX phase precursors. This unique structure allows for tunable properties through intercalation and surface modification. Beyond their structural novelty, MXenes exhibit exceptional thermal conductivity, mechanical resilience, and versatile surface functionalization capabilities, rendering them highly versatile for a wide range of applications. They are particularly renowned for their multifaceted utility and are emerging as outstanding candidates in applications requiring robust thermal conductivity. MXenes, when integrated into textile, fiber, and film forms, have gained increasing relevance in fields where efficient heat management is essential. This work provides a comprehensive exploration of MXene materials, delving into their inherent structure and thermal properties. This Perspective places particular emphasis on their crucial role in efficient heat dissipation, which is vital for the development of wearable heaters and related technologies. Engineered compounds such as MXenes have become indispensable for personal and industrial heating applications, and the advancement of wearable electronic devices necessitates heaters with specific properties, including transparency, mechanical reliability, and adaptability. Recent advancements in emergent thermally conductive MXene compounds are discussed in this study, shedding light on their potential contributions across various domains, including wearable heaters and biosensors for healthcare and environmental monitoring. Furthermore, the versatile nature of MXene materials extends to their application in interfacial solar steam generation, representing a breakthrough approach for solar water desalination. This multifaceted utility underscores the vast potential of MXenes in addressing various pressing challenges.

Development of a Novel Sulfur Quantum Dots: Synthesis, 99mTc Radiolabeling, and Biodistribution.

Sulfur quantum dots (SQDs) as free heavy metal element quantum dots have promising applications in diagnosis and therapy; however, SQDs' in vivo biodistribution has not been studied. In the current study, SQDs were synthesized directly from cheap sublimated sulfur powder via a one-pot solvothermal method, and sucrose was used as a stabilizer to enhance stability and biocompatibility. The as-obtained SQDs with an average size of 4.6 nm exhibited great water dispersity, highly favorable quantum yield (21.5%), and uniformly spherical shape which were confirmed by UV-Vis, fluorescence spectrophotometer, TEM, and FESEM/EDX/PSA analyses. Moreover, the as-synthesized SQDs had very low cytotoxicity based on cancer (C26) and normal (L929) cell lines via MTT assay. And also, SQDs were radio-labeled directly by Technetium-99m (99mTc), which had good stability ranging from 86 to 99% in PBS and human serum. The SQDs' cell uptake on C26 and L929 cell lines demonstrated that cancer cells had more uptake than normal cells by increasing concentrations. Moreover, SQDs' in vivo biodistribution results displayed high kidney dose accumulation and rapid renal clearance, making them suitable for imaging and therapeutic applications.

Enhanced in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity through the development of Sunitinib-Loaded nanoniosomes with controlled release and improved uptake.

This study aims to develop sunitinib niosomal formulations and assess their in-vitro anti-cancer efficiency against lung cancer cell line, A549. Sunitinib, a highly effective anticancer drug, was loaded in the niosome with high encapsulation efficiency. Collagen was coated on the surface of the niosome for enhanced cellular uptake and prolonged circulation time. Different formulations were produced, while response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the formulations. The stability of the formulations was evaluated over a 2-month period, revealing the importance of collagen coating. MTT assay demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity for all formulations against lung cancer cells. Scratch assay test suggested antiproliferative efficacy of the formulations. The flow cytometry data confirmed the improved cytotoxicity with enhanced apoptosis rate when different formulations used. The 2D fluorescent images proved the presence of drug-containing niosomes in the tumor cells. The activation of the apoptotic pathway leading to protein synthesis was confirmed using an ELISA assay, which specifically evaluated the presence of cas3 and cas7. The results of this study indicated the antiproliferative efficacy of optimized niosomal formulations and their mechanism of action. Therefore, niosomes could be utilized as a suitable carrier for delivering sunitinib into lung cancer cells, paving the way for future clinical studies.

Analysis of Conocurvone, Ganoderic acid A and Oleuropein molecules against the main protease molecule of COVID-19 by in silico approaches: Molecular dynamics docking studies.

Traditional medicines against COVID-19 have taken important outbreaks evidenced by multiple cases, controlled clinical research, and randomized clinical trials. Furthermore, the design and chemical synthesis of protease inhibitors, one of the latest therapeutic approaches for virus infection, is to search for enzyme inhibitors in herbal compounds to achieve a minimal amount of side-effect medications. Hence, the present study aimed to screen some naturally derived biomolecules with anti-microbial properties (anti-HIV, antimalarial, and anti-SARS) against COVID-19 by targeting coronavirus main protease via molecular docking and simulations. Docking was performed using SwissDock and Autodock4, while molecular dynamics simulations were performed by the GROMACS-2019 version. The results showed that Oleuropein, Ganoderic acid A, and conocurvone exhibit inhibitory actions against the new COVID-19 proteases. These molecules may disrupt the infection process since they were demonstrated to bind at the coronavirus major protease's active site, affording them potential leads for further research against COVID-19.

Retraction notice to "Analysis of Conocurvone, Ganoderic acid A and Oleuropein molecules against the main protease molecule of COVID-19 by in silico approaches: Molecular dynamics docking studies" [Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements volume 150 (2023) Pages 583-598].

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1016/j.enganabound.2023.02.043.].

The design of multi-responsive nanohydrogel networks of chitosan for controlled drug delivery.

High swelling hydrogel networks (HSHNs) are materials with the ability to high swelling and outstanding candidates for sustained drug delivery systems (DDSs). The present paper demonstrates three different chitosan nanohydrogel networks (CNHN I-III) prepared through covalent and non-covalent interactions. These hydrogels have a high swelling ratio (up to 38-fold their dry weight) in various conditions. Two types of these hydrogels (CNHN I and II), swelled rapidly in an acidic environment, were able to successfully load an extraordinary amount (up to 95 %) of a model drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX.HCl) at a 1:1 ratio (wt./wt.). The CNHN III had substantial swelling in pH 7.4, with a loading capacity of 92 % 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at a 1:1 ratio (wt./wt.). The CNHN I and II have been considered for systemic drug delivery, while the CNHN III is one of the best candidates for oral drug delivery.

Synthesis and Characterization of Tetracycline Loaded Methionine-Coated NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles for Anticancer and Antibacterial Applications.

In the present study, nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4)-based smart magnetic nanoparticles were fabricated and coated with methionine. Physiochemical characterization of the obtained Met-NiFe2O4 nanoparticles revealed the presence of methionine coating over the nanoparticle surface. Drug release study indicated that Tet-Met-NiFe2O4 nanoparticles possess pH-responsive controlled drug release behavior for tetracycline (Tet). The drug loading content for Tet was found to be 0.27 mg/L of nanoparticles. In vitro cytotoxicity test showed that the Met-NiFe2O4 nanoparticles is biocompatible. Moreover, this magnetic nanostructured material shown strong anticancer property as these nanomaterials significantly reduced the viability of A375 cells when compared to free Tet solution. In addition, Tet-Met-NiFe2O4 nanoparticles also showed strong antibacterial activity against different bacterial pathogens.

Emerging trends in immunotoxin targeting cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are self-renewing multipotent cells that play a vital role in the development of cancer drug resistance conditions. Various therapies like conventional, targeted, and radiotherapies have been broadly used in targeting and killing these CSCs. Among these, targeted therapy selectively targets CSCs and leads to overcoming disease recurrence conditions in cancer patients. Immunotoxins (ITs) are protein-based therapeutics with selective targeting capabilities. These chimeric molecules are composed of two functional moieties, i.e., a targeting moiety for cell surface binding and a toxin moiety that induces the programmed cell death upon internalization. Several ITs have been constructed recently, and their preclinical and clinical efficacies have been evaluated. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the recent preclinical and clinical advances as well as significant challenges in ITs targeting CSCs, which might reduce the burden of drug resistance conditions in cancer patients from bench to bedside.

Integration of System Biology Tools to Investigate Huperzine A as an Anti-Alzheimer Agent.

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate huperzine A as an anti-Alzheimer agent based on the principle that a single compound can regulate multiple proteins and associated pathways, using system biology tools. Methodology: The simplified molecular-input line-entry system of huperzine A was retrieved from the PubChem database, and its targets were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction. These targets were matched with the proteins deposited in DisGeNET for Alzheimer disease and enriched in STRING to identify the probably regulated pathways, cellular components, biological processes, and molecular function. Furthermore, huperzine A was docked against acetylcholinesterase using AutoDock Vina, and simulations were performed with the Gromacs package to take into account the dynamics of the system and its effect on the stability and function of the ligands. Results: A total of 100 targets were predicted to be targeted by huperzine A, of which 42 were regulated at a minimum probability of 0.05. Similarly, 101 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways were triggered, in which neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions scored the least false discovery rate. Also, huperzine A was predicted to modulate 54 cellular components, 120 molecular functions, and 873 biological processes. Furthermore, huperzine A possessed a binding affinity of -8.7 kcal/mol with AChE and interacted within the active site of AChE via H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions.