Application of either nano fibrillated cellulose methotrexate or nano silicon dioxide methotrexate composites against renal fibrosis in leukemia rat model.

Cellulose derivatives have got growing interest due to their relative abundance and ability to sustain the release of medicaments. In this study, micro- and nano-fibrillated cellulose were prepared from rice straw and used as drug carriers. Both carriers in addition to another one which is nano silicon dioxide were characterized with various techniques. Methotrexate was chosen to be loaded on nano-fibrillated cellulose and nano silicon dioxide. Both methotrexate carriers were evaluated for their possible protective role against renal fibrosis induced by methotrexate in leukemia rat model. Results of this study exhibited that loading methotrexate on either nano-fibrillated cellulose or nano silicon dioxide seems to have an ameliorative role on renal function tests, inflammatory and fibrotic markers of renal tissues. Moreover, the sustained release of methotrexate for long time period maintained by nano-fibrillated cellulose carrier gives it more priority than nano silicon dioxide to be used as an effective novel drug carrier in further medical applications with minimal side effects on kidney tissue in leukemia model.

Melatonin improves the therapeutic role of mesenchymal stem cells in diabetic rats.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or melatonin (MT) for improvement of ß-cell functions in STZ diabetic rats. Male albino rats (130-150 g) were divided into six groups. CONTROL GROUP: received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); melatonin group received melatonin (10 mg/kg b.wt./day for 2 months by oral gavage); diabetic untreated group; diabetic group treated with melatonin; diabetic group treated with MSCs (a single intravenous injection of 3 × 106 cell in PBS); and diabetic group co-treated with stem cells and melatonin. The results showed significant improvement in glucose, insulin, total antioxidant, and malondialdehyde level in diabetic rats treated with either MSCs alone or in combination with melatonin. The imumuno-histochemical analysis showed that MSCs and/or melatonin treatment reduced the rate of inflammation and apoptosis of the islet cells as well as increased the rate of pancreatic cell division. Such results were indicated by a significant improvement in the level of TNF-α, IL-10, PCNA, and caspase-3 to levels very close to the control. Co-treatment of MSCs and MT resulted in an improvement in the tissue of the pancreas and reduced number of damaged ß-cells. It can be concluded that co-treatment of stem cells and melatonin has a significant role in restoring the structural and functional efficiency of ß-cells in the pancreas more than stem cells alone. Such results may be due to the role of melatonin as an antioxidant in increasing the efficiency and vitality of stem cells.