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Biomolecules-based surface modifications of nanomaterials may yield effective and biocompatible nanoconjugates. This study was designed to evaluate gold nanoconjugates (AuNCs) for their altered antioxidant potential. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their conjugates gave SPR peaks in the ranges of 512–525 nm, with red or blueshift for different conjugates. Cys-AuNCs demonstrated enhanced (p < 0.05) and Gly-AuNCs (p > 0.05) displayed reduced DPPH activity. Gly-AuNCs and Tyr-AuNCs displayed enhanced ferric-reducing power and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, respectively. Cadmium-intoxicated mice were exposed to gold nanomaterials, and the level of various endogenous parameters, i.e., CAT, GST, SOD, GSH, and MTs, was evaluated. GSH and MTs in liver tissues of the cadmium-exposed group (G2) were elevated (p < 0.05), while other groups showed nonsignificance deviations than the control group. It is concluded that these nanoconjugates might provide effective nanomaterials for biomedical applications. However, more detailed studies for their safety profiling are needed before their practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive utilization of nanoparticles renders it necessary to produce safer and more secure nanoparticles while preserving their efficacy. In this study, Psidium guajava L. pulp extract-mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized, characterized, and further evaluated regarding their antioxidant potential. The green synthesized silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs) showed a higher level of radical scavenging activity (RSA) (25.85%), hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (34.34%), and ferric reducing power (0.28). The comparison of the control group (G1) with the various treatment groups (G2-G6) revealed that the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were significantly different (P < 0.05). The levels of blood urea, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGTP), serum creatinine, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and serum electrolytes were also evaluated. The results of clinical biochemistry also strengthened our hypothesis that G-AgNPs are less toxic than C-AgNPs. Finally, the histopathology of liver, kidney, and intestinal tissues indicated that green-synthesized AgNPs are relatively safer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of metals and effects of these metals on hematological parameters were examined in avian species by using feathers and blood samples collected from different sites of Sialkot. The major reason for significant differences in hematological parameters and concentrations of metal contents between different species was the difference in feeding habitat. Metal concentrations in feathers and blood samples indicated that the chromium and lead were not found at a safe level. The results did not revealed a significant negative association between metal contents and hematological parameters but concluded that increased metal contents exert negative effects on hematological status especially lead and chromium, while white blood cells showed a significant positive correlation with increased metal contents except cadmium. The feathers accumulate highest concentration of metals than blood, the most probable reason behind that is the feathers reflect exogenous contamination and blood only represents the immediate dietary sources of contamination. It concluded that the feathers of avian species can be used as an efficient bio-indicator to assess the metal contamination level in an environment, and the assessment of hematological parameters can be used to find out the negative impact of metal contamination on health status. The findings of this study will help to manage environmental pollution and its impacts on wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), due to their cost-effective synthesis, interesting properties, and a wide range of applications in conductive inks, cooling fluids, biomedical field, and catalysis, have attracted the attention of scientific community in recent years. The aim of the present study was to develop and characterize antibacterial and anticancer CuNPs synthesized via chemical and biological methods, and further synthesize CuNPs conjugated with doxycycline to study their synergic effect. During the chemical synthesis, ascorbic acid was used as a stabilizing agent, while Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum-derived extracts were used during the biological methods for synthesis of CuNPs. Characterization of CuNPs was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray crystallography (XRD). Antimicrobial evaluation of the nanomaterials against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli was performed by using disk diffusion method, while anticancer behavior against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines was studied by MTT assay. TEM revealed spherical-shaped nanoparticles with mean size of 22.70 ± 5.67, 35.01 ± 5.84, and 19.02 ± 2.41 nm for CuNPs, Gin-CuNPs, and Gar-CuNPs, respectively, and surface plasmon resonance peaks were obtained at 570 nm, 575 nm, and 610 nm for CuNPs, Gar-CuNPs, and Gin-CuNPs, respectively. The results of FTIR confirmed the consumption of biomolecules from the plant extracts for the synthesis of CuNPs. XRD analysis also confirmed synthesis of CuNPs. Doxycycline-conjugated NPs exhibited more antibacterial effects than doxycycline or CuNPs alone. Copper nanoparticles prepared by biological synthesis are cost-effective and eco-friendly as compared to their chemical counterparts. The chemically synthesized nanoparticles displayed more significant antimicrobial activity when capped with doxycycline than Z. officinale and A. sativum-mediated CuNPs; however, green-synthesized nanoparticles showed greater anticancer activity than their chemical counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]