BCP ceramic microspheres as drug delivery carriers: synthesis,characterisation and doxycycline release

Resorbable ceramics such as biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) are ideal candidates as drug delivery systems. The BCP ceramic is based on the optimum balance of the most stable hydroxyapatite (HA) phase and more soluble tricalcium phosphate phase (TCP). Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for the local treatment of periodontitis. The development of BCP microspheres and its release kinetics with doxycycline have been studied. The BCP ceramic powder were prepared by microwave processing and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) methods. The BCP microspheres were formed by liquid immiscibility effect using gelatin and paraffin oil. Difference in the morphology of the microspheres as a function of gelatin content has been observed. Scanning electron microscope indicated spherical and porous morphology of the microspheres. Drug incorporation was studied at varying pH and the pH 7 was found to be optimal for drug loading. Release pattern tend to depend on the morphology of BCP microspheres. An optimum release of 80% drug has been observed for BCP microsphere with HA:TCP = 65:35 ratio. The surface area measurement results also correlate with drug release obtained.     

Incorporation of bovine serum albumin into biomimetic coatings on titanium with high loading efficacy and its release behavior

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was employed as a model protein to study its loading efficiency into a calcium phosphate (CaP) coating on titanium substrates. It is found that the protein loading efficiency can be adjusted by varying the specific configurations of the coating system such as simulated body fluid (SBF) volume, solution height and container selection for the SBF. A BSA loading efficiency as high as 90% was achieved when the ratio of the substrate surface area to modified SBF (m-SBF) volume was as high as 0.072. The release of BSA from the biomimetic coatings was also investigated in vitro. A sustained release was achieved although a large quantity of BSA was still trapped in the coating after 15 days of immersion in a phosphate buffer solution. A much faster release rate would be expected when the coating is implanted in vivo due to the active involvement of osteoclast cells and enzymes.     

Development of surface engineered mesoporous alumina nanoparticles: drug release aspects and cytotoxicity assessment

The present investigation deals with successful synthesis and surface functionalisation of mesoporous alumina (MeAl) nanoparticles by simplified sol–gel method using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and pluronic as a template. Surface functionalisation of MeAl was performed to determine the selectivity of surface groups for coupling with model drug molecule. Repaglinide a BCS class II drug was loaded as a model drug on synthesised MeAl nanoparticle and studied for its sustained release capability. The synthesised and repaglinide loaded MeAl nanoparticles were characterised by Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy with EDAX, Transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetric. Results from the dissolution study confirmed the sustained release behaviour of the nanparticles which was up to 24 h. The cell viability assay demonstrated that 0.2 to 1 mg/ml concentration of MeAl was significantly less cytotoxic to the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. The authors’ experimental studies suggest that MeAl can be used as drug carrier and have a potential to increase the stability, loading efficiency and patient compliance for poorly water‐soluble drugs such as repaglinide.Inspec keywords: mesoporous materials, nanoparticles, nanomedicine, alumina, surface chemistry, cellular biophysics, toxicology, sol‐gel processing, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field emission electron microscopy, X‐ray chemical analysis, transmission electron microscopy, drug delivery systemsOther keywords: surface engineered mesoporous alumina nanoparticles, drug release aspects, cytotoxicity assessment, surface functionalisation, sol–gel method, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, CTAB, pluronic, MeAl, model drug molecule, repaglinide, BCS class II drug, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, EDAX, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, cell viability assay, Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, drug carrier, poorly water‐soluble drugs, Al₂ O₃      

One‐pot green synthesis and structural characterisation of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaves extract of Carissa carandas : antioxidant,anticancer and antibacterial activities

Facile green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract of Carissa carandas (C. carandas) leaves was studied. Fabrication of AgNPs was confirmed by the UV–visible spectroscopy which gives absorption maxima at 420 nm. C. carandas leaves are the rich source of the bioactive molecules, acts as a reducing and stabilising agent in AgNPs, confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The field emission scanning electron microscope revealed the spherical shape of biosynthesised AgNPs. A distinctive peak of silver at 3 keV was determined by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction showed the facecentred cubic structure of biosynthesised AgNPs and thermal stability was confirmed by the thermogravimetric analysis. Total flavonoid and total phenolic contents were evaluated in biosynthesised AgNPs. Biosynthesised AgNPs showed free radical scavenging activities against 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl test and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In vitro cytotoxicity against hepatic cell lines (HUH‐7) and renal cell lines (HEK‐293) were also assessed. Finally, biosynthesised AgNPs were scrutinised for their antibacterial activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Shigella boydii and Salmonella typhimurium. This study demonstrated the biofabrication of AgNPs by using C. carandas leaves extract and a potential in vitro biological application as antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial agents.Inspec keywords: antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, cancer, tumours, nanomedicine, silver, nanoparticles, reduction (chemical), nanofabrication, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray chemical analysis, X‐ray diffraction, thermal stability, thermal analysis, free radical reactions, toxicology, cellular biophysics, microorganismsOther keywords: total phenolic contents, free radical scavenging activities, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl test, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, in vitro cytotoxicity, hepatic cell lines HUH‐7, renal cell lines HEK‐293, antibacterial activity, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Shigella boydii, Salmonella typhimurium, biofabrication, in vitro biological application, Ag, total flavonoid contents, thermogravimetric analysis, thermal stability, face‐centred cubic structure, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, distinctive peak, spherical shape, field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, stabilising agent, reducing agent, bioactive molecules, absorption maxima, UV‐visible spectroscopy, plant extract colour, antibacterial activities, anticancer activities, antioxidant activities, Carissa carandas, aqueous leaves extract, silver nanoparticles, structural characterisation, one‐pot green synthesis     

S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe)-loaded nanochitosan particles: synthesis,characterisation and in vitro drug release studies

Chitosan-based drug carriers are being widely exploited for sustained and targeted delivery in cancer, anti-depression and nutritive therapeutics. In this paper, we report the preparation of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe) drug-loaded nanochitosan-based tablets and the sustained delivery of the drug substance in simulated intestinal conditions through an in vitro study. The convertibility of high molecular weight commercial chitosan to nanoparticles by ionic gelation using potassium pyrophosphate was achieved without employing harsh reaction conditions through an intermediate water-soluble chitosan preparation. The prepared nanochitosan particles with an average size of 85–127 nm showed good drug-loading capacity. In vitro release studies showed a continuous and slow release of the drug over 14 hours. Different kinetics models were applied to drug release data in order to evaluate the releasing mechanism. The drug release data fit well into the Higuchi expression, suggesting a diffusion-controlled drug delivery. The diffusional coefficient of 1.83 indicated that the drug release from the chitosan matrix was through swelling of the matrix. Agreement of the kinetic data with Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas models have led us to conclude that the delivery of the SAMe drug from the nanochitosan drug carrier took place by the diffusion-controlled swelling mechanism described as Super case II transport. The prepared nanochitosan matrix was also found to be an environment-sensitive vehicle suitable for controlled drug delivery.     

ζ-potential characterization of collagen and bovine serum albumin modified silica nanoparticles: a comparative study

In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and collagen (COLL) were adsorbed independent of one another, onto the surface of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) at pH’s where the ζ-potential of the proteins were equal in magnitude, but opposite to the SNP surface to ascertain the differences in surface coverage and conformation in the adsorbed layer. In both systems, increasing the concentration of free protein resulted in an increase in protein surface coverage and ζ values, with ζ values approaching that of native protein at high surface coverage. However, a lower critical charge reversal concentration range was measured for COLL relative to BSA (COLL: 0–25 μg/mL, BSA: 25–90 μg/mL). Additionally, a considerable difference in ζ for adsorbed protein versus free protein was observed. These results when interpreted in terms of the theory of Ottewill and Watanabe indicate a higher Gibbs energy of association for COLL versus BSA on SNP surfaces, accompanied by perturbation in protein structure.     

Synthesis and characterization of paclitaxel-imprinted nanoparticles for recognition and controlled release of an anticancer drug

Imprinted nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers have been considered because owing to their cross-linked network, they act as the drug reservoir for controlled release. In this study, selective MIPs nanoparticles of paclitaxel (PTX) were successfully developed for application in the biological molecular recognition and in the design of new anticancer drug delivery systems. The MIPs nanoparticles prepared by miniemulsion polymerization technique using methacrylic acid (MAA) and methyl methacrylate as non-covalent functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as cross-linker agent, azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator, and hexadecane as hydrophobic agent. In order to prepare of MIP nanoparticles, the synthesis conditions and effective parameters, such as: cross-linker agent, different molar ratios of template–functional monomer–cross-linker agent, were investigated. In addition, the effect of different molar ratios of template and monomers on polymers binding and morphology were characterized. Structure and thermal properties of MIPs were confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Imprinted nanoparticles showed significant drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, 17.8 and 100 %, respectively. The particle size of MIP nanoparticles varies between 187 and 726 nm, according the SEM images and laser light scattering data. The imprinted nanoparticles showed satisfactory affinity (84 %) to PTX with a binding of 12 times higher than non-imprinted nanoparticles in biological samples when MAA and TRIM were used as functional and cross-linker monomer, respectively. Results from release experiments of MIPs showed a very slow and controlled release of PTX which would be helpful for sustained drug delivery.     

Preparation, characterization, cytotoxicity and drug release behavior of liposome-enveloped paclitaxel/Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Phospholipid vesicles encapsulating magnetic nanoparticles (liposome complexes) have been prepared for targeting a drug to a specific organ using a magnetic force, as well as for local hyperthermia therapy. Liposome complexes are also an ideal platform for use as contrast agents of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We describe the preparation and characterization of liposomes containing magnetite. These liposomes were obtained by thin film hydration method and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by coprecipitation method. They were characterized by an electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotometer, the liposome complexes were subsequently coated using chitosan. We have further investigated the ability of the above formulation for drug delivery and MRI applications. We are specifically interested in evaluating our liposome complexes for drug therapy; hence, we selected paclitaxel for the combination study. The amount of paclitaxel was measured at 227 nm using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity of liposome complexes was treated with the various concentrations of paclitaxel in PC3 cell lines. The structure and properties of liposome complexes were analyzed by FT-IR, XRD and VSM. The particle size was analyzed by TEM and DLS.     

Nanohexaconazole: synthesis,characterisation and efficacy of a novel fungicidal nanodispersion

Here, the authors describe a simple method to formulate the nanodispersion of hexaconazole (hexa); henceforth, referred to as nanohexaconazole (N‐hexa) that is water soluble and effective against several species of Aspergillus. Size and shape of the prepared nanocomposite was determined with high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy. Nanohexaconazole structure was further confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The antifungal efficacy of nanohexaconazole (N‐hexa) was studied in vitro, compared with micronised hexaconazole (M‐hexa) at different doses (5 ppm, 10 ppm and control) against two food pathogenic fungi: Aspergillus niger (MTCC 282, MTCC 2196 and BDS 113) and Aspergillus fumigatus through poisoned food technique. A dose‐dependent significant growth inhibition was observed in nanohexaconazole (N‐hexa) treated fungal sample compared with that of micronised hexaconazole (M‐hexa). Micrographic studies for the morphological analysis of control and nanohexaconazole (N‐hexa) treated fungal samples were done, exhibited an alternation in fungal morphology. Results showed that nanohexaconazole (N‐hexa) is more efficacious than commercially available micronised hexaconazole (M‐hexa). In future nanohexaconazole (N‐hexa) could be a possible candidate for modern medical science and also reduce damage to the environment from injudicious use of pesticides.Inspec keywords: nanocomposites, nanosensors, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectra, chemical variables measurement, chemical sensorsOther keywords: fungicidal nanodispersion, N‐hexa structure, nanocomposite, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, nanohexaconazole structure, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, micronised hexaconazole, M‐hexa, food pathogenic fungi, Aspergillus niger, MTCC 282, MTCC 2196, BDS 113, Aspergillus fumigatus, poisoned food technique, pesticides     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Zingiber officinale and Thymus vulgaris extracts: characterisation,cell cytotoxicity,and its antifungal activity against Candida albicans in comparison to fluconazole

Fluconazole (FLZ) application as a highly successful commercial antifungal azole agent to treat the fungal infections is limited due to emergence of FLZ‐resistant candida. In this study, the potential of green synthesised silver nanoparticles (NPs) as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans fungal pathogen is investigated. The extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) plays as reducing agent, capping agent and antifungal agent. The UV–visible spectroscopy shows the peak of surface plasmon resonance of synthesised Ag NPs after a period of time. The synthesised Ag NPs are spherical, with average sizes of 12 and 18 nm based on ginger and thyme extract, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the adsorption of the plant extract on the surface of the as‐prepared Ag NPs. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against Candida albicans, the antifungal activity of as‐prepared green synthesised Ag NPs shows higher inhibitory in comparison to FLZ. Finally, the Ag NPs synthesised via thyme extract shows no cytotoxicity with concentration below 3.5 ppm, which can be considered as an appropriate candidate instead of FLZ to treat the superficial fungal infections.Inspec keywords: nanoparticles, surface plasmon resonance, adsorption, nanofabrication, particle size, silver, ultraviolet spectra, antibacterial activity, visible spectra, microorganisms, nanomedicine, Fourier transform infrared spectra, biomedical materials, diseases, materials preparation, cellular biophysicsOther keywords: green synthesis, cell cytotoxicity, antifungal activity, fluconazole application, FLZ‐resistant candida, green synthesised silver nanoparticles, antifungal agent, surface coating, surface plasmon resonance, superficial fungal infections, Zingiber officinale, UV‐visible spectroscopy, Thymus vulgaris extracts, antifungal azole agent, Candida albicans fungal pathogen, plant extracts, ginger, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, minimum inhibitory concentration method, Ag     

Formation of size and shape tunable gold nanoparticles in solution by bio-assisted synthesis with bovine serum albumin in native and denaturated state

We have successfully controlled the size and shape of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) through a one-step bio-assisted procedure by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein as both reducing and stabilizing agent. We found that the growing process of GNPs can be directly manipulated by simply controlling the BSA concentration in solution and the reaction temperature. The GNPs formation was followed both experimentally by UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and theoretically by finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. The surface plasmon resonance of as-prepared GNPs suits the needs of many biological applications.     

Surface-modified superparamagnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery: preparation, characterization, and cytotoxicity studies

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been used for many years as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents or in drug delivery applications. In this study, a novel approach to prepare magnetic polymeric nanoparticles with magnetic core and polymeric shell using inverse microemulsion polymerization process is reported. Poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG)-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with specific shape and size have been prepared inside the aqueous cores of AOT/n-Hexane reverse micelles and characterized by various physicochemical means such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. The inverse microemulsion polymerization of a polymerizable derivative of PEG and a cross-linking agent resulted in a stable hydrophilic polymeric shell of the nanoparticles. The results taken together from TEM and AFM studies showed that the particles are spherical in shape with core-shell structure. The average size of the PEG-modified nanoparticles was found to be around 40-50 nm with narrow size distribution. The magnetic measurement studies revealed the superparamagnetic behavior of the nanoparticles with saturation magnetization values between 45-50 electromagnetic units per gram. The cytotoxicity profile of the nanoparticles on human dermal fibroblasts as measured by standard 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that the particles are nontoxic and may be useful for various in vivo and in vitro biomedical applications.     

A study on the preparation and anti-tumor efficacy of bovine serum albumin nanospheres containing 5-fluorouracil

The therapeutic profile of many anti-cancer drugs has been improved by their modified distribution through a colloidal carrier system. Hence, bovine serum albumin nanospheres containing 5-fluorouracil were prepared by pH-coacervation methods. To select the most suitable cryoprotector for the formulated nanosphere system, a study on the effect of cryoprotectors in the prevention of particle agglomeration was done. Using glucose and mannitol at various concentrations during freeze drying, glucose at a concentration of 5% was observed to be relatively more effective in the prevention of particle agglomeration than the other cryoprotectors. The carrier capacity was determined through the drug-to-albumin ratio. The particle size of all the drug-loaded batches was analyzed before and after freeze drying. The batch of nanospheres with uniform size distribution, and highest drug loading, was used for other subsequent studies. The effect of surfactant in drug loading was estimated through various concentrations of sodium lauryl sulfate, and it was observed that the surfactant has no influence on drug loading at the selected concentrations. The batch of nanospheres with highest drug loading was evaluated for its in-vitro release, and the drug release was found to be in a bi-phasic pattern. To evaluate the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil-loaded nanospheres against cancer cells, an in vitro cytotoxicity study was carried out using HEp-2 cell lines. The nanosphere-bound drug was observed to produce a better cytotoxic effect than the free drug. The anti-tumor efficacy of drug-loaded nanosphere was investigated in DLA tumor-induced mice models, and the percentage tumor inhibition was relatively higher in animals treated with nanosphere-bound drug than with free drug.     

Preparation, structure and drug release behaviour of chitosan-based nanofibres

Biomimetic polymeric nanofibres are of great interest in tissue engineering and wound repair because of their structural similarity to extracellular matrix. In this work, biomimetic chitosan-based nanofibres with various diameters were prepared by ionically cross-linking with tripolyphosphate (TPP) in adipic acid medium and characterised using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Using dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DMP) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as low and high molecular-weight bioactive molecule models, respectively, drug loading and in vitro release behaviours of chitosan-TPP nanofibres were investigated. The drug-loaded chitosan-TPP nanofibres showed a prolonged release profile with three distinct stages in physiological conditions because of the complicated release mechanisms involving diffusion of the drug and degradation of the nanofibre, and BSA-loaded nanofibres showed a smaller release rate than DMP-loaded nanofibres. It is proposed that biomimetic chitosan-based nanofibres may be of use in tissue engineering for sustained release of bioactive agents.     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Mentha pulegium and investigation of their antibacterial,antifungal and anticancer activity

A simple and eco‐friendly method for efficient synthesis of stable colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Mentha pulegium extracts is described. A series of reactions was conducted using different types and concentrations of plant extract as well as metal ions to optimize the reaction conditions. AgNPs were characterized by using UV–vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zetasizer, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). At the optimized conditions, plate shaped AgNPs with zeta potential value of ‐15.7 and plasmon absorption maximum at 450 nm were obtained using high concentration of aqueous extract. Efficient adsorption of organic compounds on the nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR and EDAX. The biogenic AgNPs displayed promising antibacterial activity on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The highest antibacterial activity of 25 µg mL‐1 was obtained for all the strains using aqueous extract synthesized AgNPs. The aqueous extract synthesised AgNPs also showed considerable antifungal activity against fluconazole resistant Candida albicans. The cytotoxicity assay revealed considerable anticancer activity of AgNPs on HeLa and MCF‐7 cancer cells. Overall results indicated high potential of M. pulegium extract to synthesis high quality AgNPs for biomedical applications.Inspec keywords: silver, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, botany, antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, nanomedicine, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectra, electrokinetic effects, microorganisms, cellular biophysics, cancerOther keywords: antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, anticancer activity, stable colloidal silver nanoparticle, Mentha pulegium, plant extract, UV‐visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, DLS, zetasizer, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, methanolic extract, aqueous extract, plate‐shaped silver nanoparticle, zeta potential, plasmon absorption maximum, organic compounds adsorption, biogenic silver nanoparticle, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, fluconazole‐resistant Candida albicans, MTT assay, HeLa cancer cell, MCF‐7 cancer cell, Ag     

Potentiating effect of ecofriendly synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using brown alga: antimicrobial and anticancer activities

This study reports the in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer activities of biologically synthesized copper nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity of green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles was assessed by well diffusion method. The anticancer activity of brown algae-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles was determined by MTT assay against the cell line (MCF-7). Maximum activity was observed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus niger. Effective growth inhibition of cells was observed to be more than 93% in antibacterial activity. Thus, the results of the present study indicates that biologically synthesized copper nanoparticles can be used for several diseases, however, it necessitates clinical studies to ascertain their potential as antimicrobial and anticancer agents.     

Biocompatible transferrin-conjugated sodium hexametaphosphate-stabilized gold nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and cellular uptake

The feasibility of using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for biomedical applications has led to considerable interest in the development of novel synthetic protocols and surface modification strategies for AuNPs to produce biocompatible molecular probes. This investigation is, to our knowledge, the first to elucidate the synthesis and characterization of sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP)-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-HMP) in an aqueous medium. The role of HMP, a food additive, as a polymeric stabilizing and protecting agent for AuNPs is elucidated. The surface modification of Au-HMP nanoparticles was carried out using polyethylene glycol and transferrin to produce molecular probes for possible clinical applications. In vitro cell viability studies performed using as-synthesized Au-HMP nanoparticles and their surface-modified counterparts reveal the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. The transferrin-conjugated nanoparticles have significantly higher cellular uptake in J5 cells (liver cancer cells) than control cells (oral mucosa fibroblast cells), as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This study demonstrates the possibility of using an inexpensive and non-toxic food additive, HMP, as a stabilizer in the large-scale generation of biocompatible and monodispersed AuNPs, which may have future diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

Porcine skin gelatin–silver nanocomposites: synthesis,characterisation, cell cytotoxicity,and antibacterial properties

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesised with hydrothermal autoclaving technique by using AgNO₃ salt (silver precursor) at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 0.55, 1.1, 5.5, and 11 mM) and porcine skin (1% (w/v)) gelatin polymeric matrix (reducing and stabiliser agent). The reaction was performed in an autoclave at 103 kPa and 121°C and the hydrothermal autoclaving exposure time and AgNO₃ molar concentration were varied at a constant porcine skin gelatin concentration. The as‐prepared AgNPs were characterised by UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial properties of AgNPs were tested against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria. Furthermore, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl) 2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assays were used to test whether the synthesised AgNPs can be potentially applied in cancer therapy or used as an antioxidant. This approach is a promising simple route for synthesising AgNPs with a smaller average particle 10 nm diameter. Furthermore, AgNPs exhibited a good cytotoxicity activity, reducing the viability of the liver cancer cell line HepG2 with a moderate IC₅₀; they also showed a low‐to‐fair antioxidant activity. In addition, AgNPs had a remarkable preferential antibacterial activity against gram‐positive bacteria than gram‐negative bacteria. Therefore, these fabricated AgNPs can be used as an antibacterial agent in curative and preventive health care.Inspec keywords: gelatin, silver, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, nanobiotechnology, biomedical materials, antibacterial activity, microorganisms, Fourier transform infrared spectra, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, transmission electron microscopy, cancer, cellular biophysicsOther keywords: porcine skin gelatin–silver nanocomposites, cell cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles, hydrothermal autoclaving technique, gelatin polymeric matrix, UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gram‐positive bacteria, gram‐negative bacteria, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl) 2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assays, cancer therapy, antioxidant, liver cancer cell line HepG2, Ag     

Solid lipid nanoparticles of anticancer drug andrographolide: formulation,in vitro and in vivo studies

Diterpenoidal anti-cancer drug andrographolide (AD) was encapsulated into solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) because of poor aqueous solubility and high lipophilicity. AD-SLNs were prepared by solvent injection method and characterized for droplet size, surface morphology, zeta potential, etc. In vitro drug release was carried out by dialysis-membrane method. A pharmacokinetic study was performed by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS method to determine the maximum plasma concentration (C_max), area under the curve (AUC), etc. There was an improvement in C_max and AUC of AD-SLNs when compared with AD, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of AD. The t_max was increased than that of AD suspension, indicating the sustained release pattern of AD-SLNs. The antitumor activity was carried out on Balb/c mice showing better results with AD-SLNs as compared to AD. Thus, the AD-loaded SLNs would be useful for delivering poorly water-soluble AD with enhanced bioavailability and improved antitumor activity.