Out-of-school girls in India: a study of socioeconomic-spatial disparities.

Despite numerous established benefits of girls' education, globally large numbers of girls are out-of-school (OOS). This poses challenges to achieving quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5) by 2030. In India, there are socioeconomic and spatial disparities also. The latest National Sample Survey (2017-18) data provides an opportunity to explore these issues. We used the unit-level data of 117,115 children (5-17 years). Our multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that the likelihood of OOS girls is at least 16% higher than that of boys. The probability declines at every stage of income quintile from 'poorest' to the 'richest'. The likelihood in urban areas is almost 35% lower than the rural areas. Compared to the upper castes the probability is higher for the backward castes. Compared to Hindus, the likelihood is higher among Muslims but lower among Christian and Sikh children. Our three-layer cross-tabulation reveals that poor Scheduled-Tribes girls are the most vulnerable. The spatial plotting shows that the majority of the vulnerable regions belong to a few states viz. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat. Therefore, we argue for localized solutions for girls of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in different regions. The relevance of this study also arises from the fact that there might be a further increase in the number of OOS girls due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ANOVA test suggests that there might be a shift of girls from private to government schools also, which calls for strengthening the public education system to prevent the problem from aggravating further.

Curcuminoid-loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles for cancer therapy.

Curcuminoids (Curs), oleoresins from Curcuma longa L., have known anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, but high toxicity, poor aqueous solubility and susceptibility to degradation in body fluids are deterrents to their clinical administration. Poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) are biocompatible and resilient and can entrap hydrophobic drugs. The present investigation is related to solubilizing Curs by incorporating them in these nanoparticles (NPs) and is related to a study comparing the anticarcinogenic effect of drug-loaded NPs with free Cur using lung cancer (A549) cell line. Freshly extracted oleoresins were post loaded in PMMA-NPs prepared using emulsion polymerization. The presence of the three components of oleoresins was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography. The size and morphology of void and loaded NPs were determined by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The NPs were spherical with diameters of 192.66±5 nm (void) and 199.16±5 nm (loaded). Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were 6% and 93%, respectively. From the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, the characteristic absorption vibration of poly(methyl methacrylate) and the bands at 1,383, 1,233 and 962 cm-1 for Cur moiety were observed. Drug release up to 10 days was estimated in buffer, saline and serum. The highest release of ~55% in ~3 days was noted in buffer that exhibited the highest bioavailability. The in vitro anticancer activity of loaded drug was evaluated up to 72 hours by MTT assay using A549 cell line. Cellular uptake of dye-loaded NPs was visualized within 30 minutes of incubation. The results revealed that the dose- and time-dependent cell death in case of loaded PMMA-NPs was comparable to that of free Cur. According to the study, the drug-loaded PMMA-NPs appear to be highly suitable for effective, localized and safe chemotherapy.

Organically Modified Silica Nanoparticles Interaction with Macrophage Cells: Assessment of Cell Viability on the Basis of Physicochemical Properties.

Silica nanoparticles have drawn a lot of attention for nanomedicine application, and this is attributed to their biocompatibility and ease of surface functionalization. However, successful utilization of these inorganic systems for biomedical application depends on their physicochemical properties. This study, therefore, discusses in vitro toxicity of organically modified silica nanoparticles on the basis of size, shape, and surface properties of silica nanoparticles. Spherical- and oval-shaped nanoparticles having hydroxyl and amine groups were synthesized in Tween 80 micelles using different organosilanes. Nanoparticles of similar size and morphology were considered for comparative assessment. "As-prepared" nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, shape, and surface properties using ZetaSizer, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared to establish the above parameters. In vitro analysis in terms of nanoparticle-based toxicity was performed on J-774 (macrophage) cell line using propidium iodide-4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Fluorescent dye-entrapped nanoparticles were used to visualize the uptake of the nanoparticles by macrophage cells. Results from cell studies suggested low levels of toxicity for different nanoparticle formulations studied, therefore are suitable for nanocarrier application for poorly soluble molecules. On the contrary, the nanoparticles of similar size and shape, having amine groups and low net negative charge, do not exhibit any in vitro cytotoxicity.

pDNA loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles: highly efficient non-viral vector for gene delivery.

Nanoparticles of calcium phosphate encapsulating plasmid DNA (pDNA) of size 100-120 nm in diameter were prepared. XRD studies of these nanoparticles showed them to be crystalline in nature having hydroxyapatite structure. The maximum loading of pDNA and its release from nanoparticles were studied using gel electrophoresis. The time dependent size measurement of these particles demonstrated that these particles show strong aggregational behaviour in aqueous dispersion. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles were found to be dissolved even in low acidic buffer (pH 5.0) releasing the pDNA, which suggested that DNA release from these particles in the endosomal compartment was possible. In vitro transfection efficiency of these calcium phosphate nanoparticles was found to be higher than that of the commercial transfecting reagent Polyfect.

DNA encapsulated magnesium and manganous phosphate nanoparticles: potential non-viral vectors for gene delivery.

Nanoparticles of Mg and Mn (II) phosphates encapsulating pDNA were prepared. The sizes of these DNA loaded particles in aqueous dispersion were about 100-130 nm diameter, and they aggregated with the progression of time. Although magnesium phosphate nanoparticles were crystalline, the manganous phosphate nanoparticles were found to be amorphous in nature. Nanoparticle dissolution and pDNA release were studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis experiments. These inorganic phosphate nanoparticles dissolved in mild acidic pH ( approximately 5) releasing pDNA indicating that DNA release in the endosomal compartment is possible. In vitro transfection in HeLa cells demonstrated that while magnesium phosphate nanoparticles showed 100% efficiency, manganous phosphate nanoparticles exhibited about 85% transfection efficiency compared to that of 'polyfect', as control.

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles as novel non-viral vectors for targeted gene delivery.

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles present a unique class of non-viral vectors, which can serve as efficient and alternative DNA carriers for targeted delivery of genes. In this study we report the design and synthesis of ultra-low size, highly monodispersed DNA doped calcium phosphate nanoparticles of size around 80 nm in diameter. The DNA encapsulated inside the nanoparticle is protected from the external DNase environment and could be used safely to transfer the encapsulated DNA under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Moreover, the surface of these nanoparticles could be suitably modified by adsorbing a highly adhesive polymer like polyacrylic acid followed by conjugating the carboxylic groups of the polymer with a ligand such as p-amino-1-thio-beta-galactopyranoside using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride as a coupling agent. We have demonstrated in our studies that these surface modified calcium phosphate nanoparticles can be used in vivo to target genes specifically to the liver.

Preparation, characterization and biodistribution of ultrafine chitosan nanoparticles.

Chitosan nanoparticles cross-linked with glutaraldehyde have been prepared in AOT/n hexane reverse micellar system. The cross-linking in the polymeric network has been confirmed from FTIR data. Because of the adhesive nature of these particles, their sizes, as measured by QELS, have been found dependent on the particle density in aqueous buffer. The particle size has also been found to vary with the amount of cross-linking. The actual particle size of these chitosan nanoparticles with a particular degree of cross-linking has been determined at infinite dilution of particles in water. The particle size at infinite dilution is approximately 30 nm diameter, when 10% of the amine groups in the polymeric chains have been cross-linked and it shoots up to 110 nm diameter when all the amine groups are cross-linked (100% cross-linked). TEM pictures show that these particles are spherical in shape and remain in the form of aggregation. The biodistribution of these particles after intravenous injections in mice showed that these particles readily evade the RES system and remain in the blood for a considerable amount of time. The gamma image of the rabbit after administration of (99m)Technetium (99mTc) tagged chitosan nanoparticles also confirms the above observation, as the blood pool is readily visible even after 2 h. The gamma picture shows distribution of particles in the heart, liver, kidneys, bladder and the vertebral column. Interestingly, the biodistribution studies of the chitosan nanoparticles have indicated that these particles are distributed in the bone marrow also, implying the possibility of using these nanoparticles for bone imaging and targeting purpose.

Hepatoprotective action of potentized Lycopodium clavatum L

A high potency of Lycopodium clavatum Linn (200th centesimal potency) is tested for its hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rat. It has been established from biochemical and histopathological studies that at least 4 doses of Lycopodium 200 can control the CCI4-induced alteration of plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, acetylcholinesterase, lactate deyhydrogenase, bilirubin and urea. Protective action of the drug has also been confirmed by microanatomical studies on hepatic tissues