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Type II diabetes mellitus is one of major lifestyle disorders worldwide. Despite numerous therapeutic interventions, cases and adverse health effects are still rising. Many plant substances, known as phytochemicals, display potential to treat diabetes, yet their clinical application is actually limited by inefficient delivery. In this review, we show that recent nano-delivery systems such as liposomes, niosomes, solid–liquid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanomicelles and nanoparticles improve pharmacokinetic properties of entrapped phytochemicals for the treatment of diabetes and associated vascular complications.

Core-shell nanoparticles are preferable due to their new and/or improved properties over monometallic nanoparticles. Shell metals are present as a film on the surface of a core metal, which leads to an increase in reactivity of the surface. The synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles using biomolecules is an important strategy to get more activity with less toxicity. The present work was intended to prepare bimetallic nanoparticle preparation by green synthetic method. Aqueous extract of Muntingia calabura flowers was used for the preparation of metal core-shell nanoparticles where flower extract acted as both reducing agent and stabilizing agent. Monometallic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were prepared using metal precursors chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and silver nitrate (AgNO3), respectively. For the preparation of bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles, a shell metal precursor (copper acetate) was added. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by various instrumental methods including UV–Vis spectrophotometry, TEM and SEM techniques, and EDX spectral analysis. Preliminary antibacterial screening of Au@Cu NP and Ag@Cu NP was performed by disk diffusion assay. TEM and SEM images showed that Au@Cu NPs were spherical whereas Ag@Cu NPs had irregular shapes. The EDX analysis revealed that more Cu was deposited in AuCuNPs than in AgCuNPs. The antibacterial activity assay proved that spherical AuCuNPs were more potent than irregular shaped AgCuNPs.

Cancer is the second highest cause of death globally, with about 70% of deaths occurring in low- or middle-income countries, thus calling for efficient cures. Nanotechnology research has evidenced numerous therapeutic innovations that target the tumor tissues either passively or actively. Camptothecin is a potent anticancer drug which has shown appreciable antitumor activity against a broad spectrum of cancers such as breast, ovarian, colon, lung and stomach. Nonetheless, applications of camptothecin are limited by water insolubility, rapid conversion of its bioactive lactone form to inactive carboxylate under physiological conditions, drug resistance and off-target side effects. Here, we review the delivery of camptothecin by active and passive targeting for anticancer activity. We discuss the mechanism of action and the novel targeted drug delivery platforms that have been explored for the delivery of camptothecin for the treatment of solid tumors.

Biological macromolecules including carbohydrates, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and lipids are the biologically derived molecules of high molecular weight with several potential advantages like sustainable production, renewability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, longer blood circulation period, targeting capability, etc. These are abundantly derived/extracted from various natural renewable resources (plants, algae, fungi, microbes, insects, animals, etc.), biotechnological fermentation, and microbiological culture process. Since past few decades, a variety of biological macromolecules-based drug releasing carriers have been reported in various dosage forms like injectables, tablets, capsules, gels, hydrogels, beads, microparticles, nanoparticles, patches and films, fibers, liposomes, transferosomes, scaffolds, etc. The use of biological macromolecules-based drug releasing carriers enhances the pharmacokinetics of loaded drugs with reduced systemic toxicity and immunogenicity. In the current chapter, we focus on the recent advancements in the uses of various biological macromolecules in drug delivery applications.

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer, which is extensively used in the formulation of colon-targeted drug-delivery systems. Chitosan-based systems lead to the release of drugs at the colon region by the subsequent degradation of chitosan. This degradation of chitosan occurs through the lysis of glycosidic bonds by the colonic microflora. Native chitosan and different chitosan derivatives, such as carboxymethyl chitosan, trimethyl chitosan, thiolated chitosan, N-succinyl chitosan, PEGylated chitosan, folic acid-conjugated chitosan, hyaluronic acid-coupled chitosan, etc., have widely been used in colon-targeted systems for the effective delivery of therapeutics.

The remarkable size-dependent attributes of nano-sized materials have influenced all dimensions of human existence rendering nanotechnology a fascinating field of research in biomedicine. Much like metal nanoparticles amounting to their exceptional optical, electrical and antimicrobial properties, silver has attracted much interest over the decades. Owing to their reconfigurable physicochemical properties and a huge array of biomedical applications, silver nanoparticles have fascinated the thought of researchers in the recent past. Although numerous physical, chemical and photochemical procedures are routinely used to prepare silver nanoparticles, yet the usage of harmful reagents for reduction and stabilization processes confines their widespread acceptability. In such a pursuit, green synthesis approach stands out an optimal method of preparation of silver nanoparticles in terms of involvement of lesser cost and environment-friendly, non-toxic reducing and stabilizing agents. This chapter presents the different methods of preparation of silver nanoparticles in detail along with the in vitro characterization methods used to characterize the formulated nanoparticles.

The unique properties of nanomaterials have the potential application in different fields of biomedical application along with the management of environmental pollutants. This research work involved the isolation of hesperidin from the orange peel and the preparation of hesperidin gold nanoparticles by the chemical reduction method. The high substrate specificity and lower band gap enable the excitation of gold nanoparticles in visible light. Hence gold nanoparticles are chosen nowadays for the management and removal of organic pollutants. The efficacy of hesperidin gold nanoparticles was evaluated by the photocatalytic activity on organic dyes and pollutants like methyl orange, methylene blue, bromocresol green, and 4 - nitro phenol with sodium borohydride as reducing agent and the antioxidant study by scavenging of free radicals of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl free radicals of hydrogen peroxide. The kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and 4 - nitro phenol was found to follow the first order with rate constants of 10 × 10

Ovarian cancer is the most aggressive of gynecological cancers and the fifth driving cause of cancer-related death in females. Owing to the late-stage diagnosis, poor prognosis of advanced stage disease and high risk of recurrence affiliated to popping of chemoresistance, significant upgradation in therapeutic strategies along with early detection are the need of the hour. Because of the various advantages rooted in the implementation of novel drug delivery systems for the treatment of multiple disease conditions, this chapter will provide insight into the implementation of a variety of innovative drug delivery systems in ovarian cancer alleviation. Although the conventional drugs have conferred proven therapeutic efficacy in the stated disease, their use in oncology clinics is still constrained by the associated drawbacks. Hence, it is an attempt to showcase the novel attributes of the above-mentioned drug delivery systems in delivering the entrapped drugs for the specific treatment of the said disease.

Nanotechnology and nanomaterials, with their unique properties, are expanding the use of up-to-date technology in a variety of sectors, including health care, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and robotics, among others. Various nanotools are used to explore targeted delivery of drugs with minimum adverse effects and maximum utility. The metal nanoparticles possess superior properties for which they are widely applicable in nanotechnology whereas these properties are negligible in bulk materials like silver, gold, and other metals and cannot find any application owing to their inherent physicochemical, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. In general, the transition and noble metals used in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles are cost-effective, and the steps involved in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles are not complex. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess high surface plasmon resonance, have high thermal stability, and exhibit good electrical conductivity. Also, AgNPs possess intrinsic antimicrobial properties that are used extensively to inhibit the growth or completely kill specific disease-causing microbes. In this chapter, we review the mechanism of action and application of AgNPs as antifungal agents against fungal infections in plants and humans.

Nanoscience is the branch of science which presents applications in diversified fields of pharmaceuticals, medicine, electronics, cosmetics, water treatment, agriculture and environmental remediation. Particularly, nowadays, nanomaterials are in high demand in the field of agriculture for enhanced crop production, reduced nutrient loss and increased crop yield. The green revolution caused the random use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which resulted in a loss of soil fertility, loss of nutrient and development of resistance against pathogens and pests. In recent years, the use of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture provided a new platform related to the concept of nanofertilizer and nanopesticide usage. Nanomaterials with a particle size less than 100 nm not only influence the important life events of plants but also affect the serious hazardous effects of the pesticides. Nanofertilizers and nanopesticides improve the crop quality and yield by delivering the required macronutrients and micronutrients and the pesticides in a controlled manner for longer duration which overcomes the problems associated with conventional chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

In this world, we have the gift of God to have a wide range of flora and fauna to enjoy our life. The benefits of the unicellular to the multicellular organism in our day-to-day life can be ignored. Some are beneficial whereas some are responsible for so many types of infections and diseases. The biological agents are more preferred over the synthetic agents against the treatment or prevention of such infections and diseases. In this chapter, the role of plant metabolites is discussed which is used for the prevention, cure, and treatment of so many problems due to pathogens. The secondary metabolites of the plant, that is the essential oils, are not useful for the plants, but they are responsible for the specific aromatic flavour for the respective plants. Aromatherapy has been the widest field of application of essential oils since ancient times. But the problems associated with the solubility and stability of essential oils restricted their application in other areas. So a new thought gave rise to avoid the problems of essential oils in the form of nanoemulsions. Emulsions are the biphasic systems of oil-in-water or water-in-oil types. The formulation of nanoemulsions not only solved the physical properties of essential oils but also enhanced their applicability in the area of perfumery, natural pesticide, food preservatives, and finally as the larvicidal, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, repellent, and antiprotozoal activity.

Alginates (ALGs) are the product of alginic acid, which is a marine-derived naturally occurring polysaccharide having excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. Since long, ALGs have widely been studied and utilized in many medical and biomedical areas, including drug delivery. For the formulation of various dosage forms, ALGs are commonly used as pharmaceutical excipients in many drug delivery dosage forms. Numerous composite systems based on ALGs have already been explored and exploited to facilitate the releasing of drugs for the therapy of different illnesses. Several inorganic biomaterials, such as carbon nanotube (CNT), montmorillonite (MMT), calcium silicate (CS), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and hydroxyapatite (HAp) have already been reinforced into the ALG matrices to enable the long-term and more precise release of different drugs. Additionally, these composites have been formulated to improve desired mechanical behavior. The present chapter provides an extensive overview on the reported researches on the inorganic materials–ALG composite systems for drug releasing.

Camptothecin is a potent anti-cancer drug which has shown appreciable anti-tumor activity against a broad spectrum of cancers such as breast, ovarian, colon, lung and stomach. The water insolubility property, rapid conversion of its bioactive lactone form to inactive carboxylate form under physiological condition, incidence of drug resistance and the associated off-target side effects due to extended use of campothecin restricts its widespread clinical usage. The development of novel treatment modalities is therefore the demand of era. The last two decades have already evidenced the explosive growth of nanotechnology channeling into plethora of innovations in therapeutic domains, the main dominance being the ability to target the tumor tissues either passively or actively.

Nanoscience opens the window for a sea of applications due to the significant properties of nanostructures (NSs) such as optical, electrical, mechanical, magnetic, catalytic, etc. The properties leading to specific applications are due to the constitution of the NSs and preferentially the morphology of the NSs. Among the varieties of NSs, metal nanoparticles (NPs) are more used in applications. NPs can be categorized as monometallic NPs (MNPs) or bimetallic NPs (BNPs) according to the number of metal ions involved in the NP constitution. In this context, details about the structure, methods of synthesis, and applications in various fields are discussed. The applicability of BNPs is more compared to MNPs due to the enhancement of properties due to the small size effect, quantum size effect, surface effect, and the quantum tunneling effect. Nowadays, green synthesis is in discussion for NP synthesis due to its safety, simplicity, and nonrequirement of costly solvents, chemicals, toxicity reduction, and stabilizing agents. NP synthesis by the extracts of different plant parts, whole plants, or secondary metabolites of plants is the principle of green synthesis. Sometimes microbial flora are also used for green synthesis, but the limitations of microorganism selection, growth, and scalability limit their application. BNPs synthesized by green synthesis have wide applications in the field of biomedicine, environment, agriculture, imaging, catalysis, and biosensing.

A facile synthetic route and growth mechanism of heterobimetallic cubical nanoparticles Au@AgCl and Ag@AgCl@Au have been developed using Muntingia calabura flower extract. The formation of nanoparticles has been confirmed through UV-Vis, powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The elemental composition of the nanoparticles has been evidenced by EDS analysis. Combing the UV-Vis spectral analysis and powder X-ray diffraction studies, the composition of bimetallic nanoparticles are assigned as Au@AgClNP and Ag@AgCl@AuNP. The prepared nanoparticles display good antibacterial activity which is comparable to standard kanamycin and ampicillin.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that occurs in the body because of decreased insulin activity and/or insulin secretion. Pathological changes such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular complications inevitably occur in the body with the progression of the disease. DM is mainly categorized into 2 sub-types, type I DM and type II DM. While type I DM is generally treated through insulin replacement therapy, type II DM is treated with oral hypoglycaemics. The major drug therapy for type II DM comprises of insulin secretagogues, biguanides, insulin sensitizers, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, incretin mimetics, amylin antagonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Dual drug therapies are often recommended in patients who are unable to achieve therapeutic goals with first line oral hypoglycaemic agents as monotherapy. Inspite of the appreciable therapeutic benefits, the conventional dosage forms depicts differential bioavailability and short half-life, mandating frequent dosage and causing greater side effects leading to therapy ineffectiveness and patient non-compliance. Given the pathological complexity of the said disease, nanotechnology-based approaches are more enticing as it comes with added advantage of site-specific drug delivery with higher bioavailability and reduced dosage regimen. In the present review article, we have made an attempt to explore the pathophysiology of type II DM, the conventional treatment approaches (mono and combination therapy) as well as the nano based drug delivery approaches for the treatment of type II DM.

Herein, a facile scale up and shape variable synthesis of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and reaction mechanism by natural xanthone derivative (mangiferin) has been reported. Mangiferin (C19H18O11; 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-β- d -glucoside), a xanthone derivative is isolated from Mangifera indica L. leaves which efficiently reduces Au3+ ions to Au0 and stabilizes the formed AuNP. The structural, optical and plasmonic properties of synthesized AuNP have been investigated through different instrumental techniques like UV–Vis and FTIR spectroscopy, powder XRD, FESEM and TEM analysis. It is observed that variation of the concentration of Au3+ ions and mangiferin has a great effect on controlling size and shape of nanoparticles. The role of reaction temperature is also notable. An interesting observation is that with same concentration ratio of HAuCl4/mangiferin (0.025 mM/0.002%) at the room temperature kidney shaped AuNP is produced, whereas it is spherical at boiling temperature. Moreover, mangiferin allows high scale synthesis of AuNPs (0.025 mM to 10 mM) without changing the particles size and shape. The mechanistic investigation through UV–Vis, FTIR and GCMS analyses reveal the cleavage of glucose unit and oxidation of phenolic OH groups during AuNP formation. Non-toxicity of mangiferin conjugated AuNP on normal human breast cell line (MCF-10A) suggesting its future application as a drug delivery system and other related medicinal purposes.

The paper describes HPLC, UV spectrophotometric and non aqueous titrimetric method for the estimation of poorly water soluble protease inhibitor. Ritonavir in raw material and tablet dosage form. HPLC analysis was carried out in a C18 column using acetonitrile, methanol, and buffer in the ratio 60: 20: 20 (v/v/v) at 240 nm. For the spectrophotometric determination, methanolic solution of Ritonavir was reacted with 3-methyl benzothiazolin-2-one hydrazone (MBTH). The oxidative coupled green coloured chromogen was analysed at 633 nm. Non aqueous titration was carried out using perchloric acid as titrant and the end point was determined using crystal violet as indicator. The three methods were validated and statistically evaluated to correlate the difference between the methods for estimation of Ritonavir in pharmaceutical dosage form.