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The drugs used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cannot effectively penetrate lesions. Nanogold and nanosilver have been used for treating or enhancing drug delivery in CL. The present study used Commiphora molmol (myrrh) to synthesize silver nanoparticles (MSNPs). The MSNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, antiparasitic effect of myrrh silver nanoparticles (MSNPs) was assessed on Leishmania major both in vitro and in vivo. Five concentrations of MSNPs (10, 50, 80, 100, and 150 μl/100 μL) were used to study their effect on L. major cultures in vitro, and MSNPs were also applied topically to subcutaneous lesions in mice in vivo. The results showed that the MSNPs were 49.09 nm in size. MSNPs, showed a marked and significant (p ≤ 0.05) growth inhibition of L. major promastigotes which was concentration dependent. Overall, the higher concentrations (100, 150 μl/100 μL had a significantly greater inhibitory effect for the MSNPs in comparison to the chemical nanoparticles (CNPs) and pentostam at the same concentrations. Lesions healed completely in 21 d after MSNP treatment in vivo, while pentostam, a commercial drug, and CNPs showed a moderate healing effect on the lesions. Thus, MSNPs were more effective than pentostam and CNPs both in the in vivo and in vitro studies. MSNPs can therefore be promising candidates for various nanomedicine applications.

Background: Over the past few years, fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) has been deployed widely in technologies and many concerns have emerged about the hazardous effect on human health after NPs exposure. Objective: Green synthesis of gold NPs (AuNPs) and assessment of their activity in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer mouse model. Methods: Chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) was used in formation of AuNPs with the help of Curcuma longa as aqueous reducing extract and stabilizing agent at room temperature. Formed NPs were characterized with UV-Vis spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zetasizer measurement, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Virgin female albino mice with DMBA-induced breast cancer were treated with formed AuNPs for 5 consecutive days and were dissected after 28 days of the beginning of treatment. Results: UV-Vis spectrometry showed absorbance maximum peak at 530 nm for formed AuNPs, FTIR confirmed formation of plant extract layer around formed NPs; zetasizer measurement revealed 278.2 nm as an average size of produced NPs; SEM and TEM approved formation of monodisperse spherical AuNPs. Biochemical analysis of untreated breast cancer group revealed marked changes in liver and kidney functions manifested by raised activity levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. Whereas, the treated group with AuNPs post-breast cancer induction displayed reduction in the activities (of ALT, AST and creatinine), while the BUN activity level was raised. Histopathological examination showed heavy incidence of tumor foci in the breast and lymph nodes belonged to the untreated breast cancer group confirmed with intense response to Ki-67 antibodies. While the treated group with AuNPs post-breast cancer induction showed degenerated tumor foci in the breast and lymph nodes with weak response to Ki-67 antibodies. Conclusion: AuNPs were successfully synthesized using HAuCl4 and C. longa extract confirmed their ability to control DMBA-induced breast cancer in virgin female Swiss albino mice.

A novel, nontoxic, simple, cost-effective and ecofriendly technique was used to synthesize green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs were synthesized using orange peel extract as a reducing agent for silver nitrate salt (AgNO3). The particle size distribution of AgNPs was determined by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The average size of silver nanoparticles was 98.43 nm. The stable dispersion of silver nanoparticles was added slowly to polystyrene solution in toluene maintaining the temperature at 70°C. The AgNPs/polystyrene (PS) nanocomposite solution was cast in a petri dish. The silver nanoparticles encapsulated within polymer chains were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) in addition to Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The green AgNPs/PS nanocomposite film exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteriaEscherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella, and Gram-positive bacteriaStaphylococcus aureus. Thus, the key findings of the work include the use of a safe and simple AgNPs/PS nanocomposite which had a marked antibacterial activity which has a potential application in food packaging.

Purpose : To synthesize and characterize eco-friendly gold nanorods (Au-NRs) and to assess their effects against two bacterial strains. Methods : Synthesis of eco-friendly gold nanorods was done from an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by mixing Olea europaea fruit and Acacia nilotica husk extracts with the latter as a reducing agent. The synthesis was monitored by ultraviolet–visible (UV) spectrophotmetry and a zetasizer, while the morphology of the resulting nanorods was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS). The effect of the prepared eco-nanorods on growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were investigated by agar diffusion method. Results : The synthesized Au-NRs were mostly rod-shaped, with mean size of 96 nm. They exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms ( Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus ). Conclusion : The findings suggest that the nanoformulation of the biomaterial mix of Olea europaea fruit and Acacia nilotica husk extracts is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and non-toxic synthesis of Au- NRs which has therpeautic potential. Keywords : Olea europaea, Acacia nilotica, Gold nanorods , Eco-friendly synthesis, Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms