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This study investigates the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), owing to the low cost and abundance of selenium. However, the toxicity of SeNP prompts the development of a selenium nanocomposite (SeNC) containing pectin, keratin, and ferulic acid to improve the bioactivity of Se[0]. Further, incorporating the SeNC in a suitable formulation for drug delivery as a transdermal patch was worth studying. Accordingly, various analytical techniques were used to characterize the SeNPs and the SeNC, confirming successful synthesis and encapsulation. The SeNC exhibited notable particle size of 448.2 ± 50.2 nm, high encapsulation efficiency (98.90 % ± 2.4 %), 28.1 ± 0.45 drug loading, and sustained drug release at pH 5.5. Zeta potential and XPS confirmed the zero-oxidation state. The supramolecular structure was evident from spectral analysis endorsing the semi-crystalline nature of the SeNC and SEM images showcasing flower-shaped structures. Further, the SeNC demonstrated sustained drug release (approx. 22 % at 48 h) and wound-healing potential in L929 fibroblast cells. Subsequently, the SeNC loaded into a gelling agent exhibited shear thinning properties and improved drug release by nearly 58 %. A 3D printed reservoir-type transdermal patch was developed utilizing the SeNC-loaded gel, surpassing commercially available patches in characteristics such as % moisture uptake, tensile strength, and hydrophobicity. The patch, evaluated through permeation studies and CAM assay, exhibited controlled drug release and angiogenic properties for enhanced wound healing. The study concludes that this patch can serve as a smart dressing with tailored functionality for different wound stages, offering a promising novel drug delivery system for wound healing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Marine macroalgae known for its polysaccharides exhibit potent biomedical properties and its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent has increased in the recent past as inflammation is a major pathology noted in many chronic diseases., Purpose: The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory potential of a sulfated polysaccharide (PS) isolated from the marine algae Turbinaria ornata collected from the Indian waters on LPS induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages., Study Design and Methods: PS isolated from the macroalgae was characterized using ESI(MS) and was screened for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in RAW 264.7 cells by assessing markers of oxidative stress, and inflammation., Results: LPS significantly increased the levels of LPO and LDH in RAW 264.7 cells which were significantly reduced in PS pre-treatment groups. Pretreatment significantly increased the antioxidants GSH and SOD and significantly reduced mRNA levels of IL6 and TNFα in vitro confirming its anti-inflammatory potential. NFκB and iNOS were significantly modulated by PS confirming the probable mode of action., Conclusion: Altogether, it can be concluded that PS isolated from Turbinaria ornata collected from the Southeast Coast of India exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential probably mediated by the sulfated polysaccharide containing glucopyranose and fucopyranose moieties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cholest-4-ene-3,6-dione (KS) is a cholesterol oxidation product which exhibits anti-proliferative activity. However, its precise mechanism of action remains unknown. In this study, the effects of KS on AKR1C3 inhibition and anti-proliferative activities were investigated in the hormone-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We identified that KS arrested the enzymatic conversion of estrone to 17-β estradiol, by inhibiting AKR1C3 in intact MCF-7 cells. The anti-proliferative effects of KS were evaluated by MTT assay, acridine orange and ethidium bromide dual staining, cell cycle analysis and Western blotting. KS arrested the cell cycle progression in the G1 phase with a concomitant increase of the Sub-G0 population to increase in concentration and time. It also enhanced the p53 and NFkB expression and induced caspase-12, 9 and 3 processing and down-regulated the Bcl-2 expression. Molecular docking studies performed to understand the inhibition mechanism of KS on AKR1C3 revealed that KS occupied the binding region of AKR1C3 with almost similar orientation as indomethacin (IM), thereby acting as an antagonistic agent for AKR1C3. Based on the results it is identified that KS induces inhibition of AKR1C3 and cell death in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that KS can be used as a molecular scaffold for further development of novel small-molecules with better specificity towards AKR1C3., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diosgenin a steroidal saponin found widely in nature is reported to contain several biological activities in recent years. The present work elaborates the modulation of the lipid and antioxidant profile by Diosgenin in diabetic condition. Type 2 diabetes was induced in experimental animals by feeding high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks followed by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (sub-diabetogenic dose; 35 mg/kg body weight). Diosgenin administered orally at two doses (40 and 80 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days reduced hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia (p<0.001). Oxidative stress a crucial marker of diabetes and obesity associated complications was analyzed and noteworthy changes were observed. Improved levels of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx and a minimized level of lipid peroxidation were also observed in Diosgenin treated rats. Further, analyzing the lipid accumulation by Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes confirmed its adipogenic activity which was influenced by PPAR γ and PPAR α. This was also substantiated through docking studies of Diosgenin with the PPARs. Altogether, Diosgenin a phytochemical of natural origin is found to mitigate diabetes induced oxidative stress and dyslipidemia which is crucial in cardio-metabolic risks by modulating the PPARs., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)