Search

In this study, polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) electrospun nanofibers containing biogenic selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and Se NPs/vitamin E (VE) with average diameters of 397.8 nm and 279.5 nm, respectively (as determined by SEM inspection) were prepared and their effect on wound healing was evaluated using in-vivo studies. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, TEM micrograph, and FTIR spectra of the prepared nanofibers strongly demonstrated well entrapment of Se NPs and VE into scaffolds. An amount of 57% Se NPs and 43% VE were gradually released from PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffold after 4 days immersion in PBS solution (pH 7.4). The both PCL/GEL/Se NPs and PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffolds supported 3T3 cell proliferation and attachment as confirmed by MTT assay and SEM imaging. Complete re-epithelialization, low level of edema and inflammatory cells in coordination with high level of oriented collagens demonstrated the wound healing activity of PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE. Besides, significant antioxidant efficacy of PCL/GEL/Se NPs and PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffolds was demonstrated according to GSH and MDA assays. To sum up, the prepared PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffold in the present study represented suitable healing effect on animal model which candidate it for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with glycyrrhizin and Tween 80 and applied for immobilization of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PcL). Characterization of f-MWCNTs was performed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The optimum specific activity of immobilized PcL (studied by Plackett–Burman statistical design) occurred at 0.3 mg/mL of f-MWCNTs, 25 mM of phosphate buffer (pH 6.0), 15 min sonication time, 8 U/mL of enzyme concentration, and 24 h immobilization time at 4 °C in the absence of glutaraldehyde. In these conditions, the specific activity was 16.57 ± 0.71 U/mg, which was very close to the predicted amount (16.62 ± 0.64 U/mg). The results of thermal and pH stability showed that the stability of immobilized PcL was higher than that of the free PcL. The activity of immobilized PcL on f-MWCNTs held 93% after being incubated for 60 min at 70 °C. Moreover, the immobilized PcL on f-MWCNTs retained about 65% of its initial activity after 30 days of storage at 25 °C. In addition, about 50% of initial activity of immobilized PcL retained after 10 cycles of uses. Therefore, f-MWCNTs could be introduced as suitable support for enzymes immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biologically synthesised tellurium nanoparticles (Te NPs) were applied in the fabrication of Te NP‐embedded polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) electrospun nanofibres and their antioxidant and in vivo wound healing properties were determined. The as‐synthesised nanofibres were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy and elemental mapping, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The mechanical properties and surface hydrophobicity of scaffolds were investigated using tensile analysis and contact angle tests, respectively. The biocompatibility of the produced scaffolds on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (3T3) was evaluated using MTT assay. The highest wound healing activity (score 15/19) was achieved for scaffolds containing Te NPs. The wounds treated with PCL/GEL/Te NPs had inflammation state equal to the positive control. Also, the mentioned scaffold represented positive effects on collagen formation and collagen fibre's horizontalisation in a dose‐dependent manner. The antioxidative potency of Te NP‐containing scaffolds was demonstrated with lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (∼3 times) and a higher level of glutathione (GSH) (∼2 times) in PCL/GEL/Te NP‐treated samples than the negative control. The obtained results strongly demonstrated the healing activity of the produced nanofibres, and it can be inferred that scaffolds containing Te NPs are suitable for wound dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2/Li-BioMOFs resin nanocomposites were prepared and introduced as a new dental resin nanocomposite. Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2/Li-BioMOFs resin nanocomposites were synthesized with individual mechanical properties in the presence of lecithin as a biostabilizer. The hydrothermal synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanostructures occurred in the presence of Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) root juice that acts not only as a green capping agent but also as a reductant compound with a high steric hindrance agent. Results showed that the mechanical properties of nano-Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 structures with a concentration of 60 ppm Li-BioMOF were increased by ∼132.5 MPa and 11.5 GPa for the flexural and Young's modulus, respectively. Based on the optical absorption ultraviolet-visible spectrum, the HAp nanocrystallites had a direct bandgap energy of 4.2 eV. The structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of the as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized with the FT-IR (Fourier-transform infra-red), UV-Vis (ultraviolet visible) spectrums, X-ray diffraction, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is suggested that HAp structures loaded on the Li-BioMOFs are as a suitable and novel substrate which can be considered as a promising biomaterial in dental resin nanocomposites significantly improved the strength and modulus. For the first time Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2/Li-MOFs were synthesised as dental resin nanocomposites with hydrothermal approach. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice) root juice acts not only as green capping agent but also act as reducing agent. Li-BioMOFsasa suitable substrate improve the hydroxyapatite mechanical properties. Li-BioMOFssubstrates for Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 nanostructures were synthesised in the presence of lecithin as bio stabiliser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of zinc nanoparticles against cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in mice. Zinc nanoparticles were produced by microwave-assisted synthesis using Lavandula vera extract as reducing agent. Single doses of cisplatin (7 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and ZnSO4 (10 mg/kg, orally), and various doses of zinc nanoparticles (10 − 50 mg/kg, orally) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg, interaperitoneally) were administered. The protective role of zinc nanoparticles was determined biochemically and histologically. Gradual reduction in malondialdehyde levels and elevation in glutathione levels and in the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase upon administration of zinc nanoparticles were observed. The pathology of mice treated with cisplatin/vitamin E and cisplatin/zinc nanoparticles were apparently equal, but vitamin E treatment was more effective in lowering oxidative stress markers than zinc nanoparticles. These findings suggest that co-administration of zinc nanoparticles with cisplatin could prevent adverse effects on the male reproductive system via their potential antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exosomes are natural nanoparticles that are involved in intercellular communication via transferring molecular information between cells. Recently, exosomes have been considered for exploitation as novel drug delivery systems due to their specific properties for carrying specific molecules and surface proteins. Methods: In this study, U-87 cell derived exosomes have been investigated for delivery of a potent chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel (PTX). Two methods of loading were utilized to incorporate PTX in exosomes and the exosomes pharmaceutical and cytotoxic characterizations were determined. Results: The drug loaded and empty exosomes were found to have particle size of 50–100 nm and zeta potential of ≈ − 20 mV. Loading capacity of 7.4 ng and 9.2 ng PTX into 1 μg of exosome total protein were also measured for incubation and sonication methods, respectively. Incorporation of PTX into exosomes significantly increased its cytotoxicity against U-87 cell line (59.92% cell viability) while it was found that the empty exosomes exhibited cell viability of 91.98%. Conclusions: Loading method could affect the loading capacity of exosomes and their encapsulated chemotherapeutic molecule showed higher cytotoxicity into exosomes. These results promise exosomes as appropriate drug delivery system for glioblastoma multiform (GBM) treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to synthesize the superparamagnetic nanoparticles coated by alginate/chitosan/β-cyclodextrin to purify α-amylase. Isolated bacteria were identified by morphological, biochemical and taxonomic molecular studies. FTIR- spectrometer, VSM, X-ray instruments and Malvern Zetasizer were used to characterize nanoparticles characteristics. The morphological structures and the elemental composition of the nanoparticles were studied by using FESEM and EDS, respectively. The molecular weight of enzyme was determined using SDS-PAGE, and the enzyme activity detected by zymographic analysis. FTIR studies showed the presence of Fe–O–Fe in the Fe3O4 and verified the interaction between chitosan, β-cyclodextrin and alginate. The saturation magnetization for superparamagnetic and coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles was indicated 39 and 1.9 emu g−1, respectively. The maximum intensity of the XRD peak indicated the presence of the Fe3O4. FESEM and EDS analysis showed that the nanoparticles were regular and spherical in shape and corresponded to the Fe and O elements. Enzyme purification by synthesized nanoparticles was achieved 13.84 U mg−1; purification fold of 3.50. The molecular weight of α-amylase was about 22 kDa. The highest activity of α-amylase was observed at 70 °C, pH 9.3 and Ca2+-independent. As a conclusion, the coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles showed more applications in enzyme purification comparing to the conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was purposed to examine the cytotoxicity and functions of biologically synthesised bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) produced by Delftia sp. SFG on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line of HT‐29. The structural properties of Bi NPs were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray, and X‐ray diffraction techniques. The cytotoxic effects of Bi NPs were analysed using flow cytometry cell apoptosis while western blot analyses were applied to analyse the cleaved caspase‐3 expression. Oxidative stress (OS) damage was determined using the measurement of the glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of Bi NPs was measured to be 28.7 ± 1.4 µg/ml on HT‐29 cell line. The viability of HT‐29 represented a concentration‐dependent pattern (5–80 µg/ml). The mode of Bi NPs induced apoptosis was found to be mainly related to late apoptosis or necrosis at IC50 concentration, without the effect on caspase‐3 activities. Furthermore, Bi NPs reduced the GSH and increased the MDA levels and decreased the SOD and CAT activities. Taken together, biogenic Bi NPs induced cytotoxicity on HT‐29 cell line through the activation of late apoptosis independent of caspase pathway and may enhance the OS biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the allantoin and silver nanoparticle (Ag NPs) loaded poly caprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) nanofibers produced using electrospinning technique and their cyto-compatibility and wound healing activity were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The SEM imaging revealed diameters of 278.8 ± 10 and 240.6 ± 12 nm for PCL/GEL/Ag NPs and PCL/GEL/Ag NPs/allantoin scaffolds. The Ag NPs entrapment into scaffolds was evaluated by FTIR analysis and EDX mapping. Both scaffolds containing Ag NPs and Ag NPs/allantoin exhibited valuable wound healing activity in Wistar rat animal model. The profound granulation tissue formation, high collagen deposition in coordination with low level of edema and inflammatory cells in Ag NPs/allantoin loaded scaffolds resulted in complete and mature re-epithelialization in giving the healing score (12 out of 12) equal to positive control group to the wounds treated with these scaffolds. It was concluded that the Ag NPs/allantoin loaded scaffolds regarding to their good antibacterial activity and excellent wound healing activity could be introduced as new effective wound dressing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was purposed to examine the cytotoxicity and functions of biologically synthesised bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) produced by Delftia sp. SFG on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line of HT-29. The structural properties of Bi NPs were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The cytotoxic effects of Bi NPs were analysed using flow cytometry cell apoptosis while western blot analyses were applied to analyse the cleaved caspase-3 expression. Oxidative stress (OS) damage was determined using the measurement of the glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of Bi NPs was measured to be 28.7 ± 1.4 μg/ml on HT-29 cell line. The viability of HT-29 represented a concentration-dependent pattern (5-80 μg/ml). The mode of Bi NPs induced apoptosis was found to be mainly related to late apoptosis or necrosis at IC50 concentration, without the effect on caspase-3 activities. Furthermore, Bi NPs reduced the GSH and increased the MDA levels and decreased the SOD and CAT activities. Taken together, biogenic Bi NPs induced cytotoxicity on HT-29 cell line through the activation of late apoptosis independent of caspase pathway and may enhance the OS biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel series of coumarin-lipoic acid conjugates were synthesized via cycloaddition click reaction to find out new multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). All of synthesized compounds were screened for neuroprotective and anti-cholinesterase activities. Based on primary screening, two compounds ( 5 and 11 ) were subjected to further biological evaluations. In particular, compound 11 which was the most potent AChE inhibitor showed good inhibitory effect on Aβ-aggregation and intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) formation, as well as the ability of selective bio-metal chelation and neuroprotection against H 2 O 2 - and Aβ 1-42 -induced cytotoxicity. In the light of these results, the applied hybridization approach introduced new promising lead compound with desired multifunctional properties, being useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enzymatic elimination of synthetic dyes, one of the most environmentally hazardous chemicals, has gained a great interest during the two last decades. The present study was performed to evaluate the decolorization and detoxification potential of the purified laccase of Paraconiothyrium variabile in both non-assisted and hydroxybenzotriazole-aided form against six azo dyes. Results: The obtained results showed that Acid Orange 67, Disperse Yellow 79, Basic Yellow 28, Basic Red 18, Direct Yellow 107, and Direct Black 166 were decolorized up to 65.3, 53.3, 46.7, 40.7, 34, and 26.2%, respectively, after 1 h treatment with laccase (0.5 U/mL). Addition of HBT up to 5 mM enhanced decolorization percent of all the investigated dyes. The results of kinetic study introduced the monoazo dye of Acid Orange 67 as the most suitable substrate for laccase with Km of 0.49 mM and Vmax of 189 mmol/min/mg. Evaluation the toxic effect of laccase-treated dye sample based on the growth inhibition of standard bacterial strains revealed decrease in toxicity of all applied dyes after treatment by laccase. Conclusions: Application of the P. variabile laccase as biocatalyst efficiently decreased the toxicity of all studied synthetic azo dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to isolate bacterial strain capable of tellurium nanorods' (Te NRs) production followed by purification and evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of Te NRs. Among 25 environmental samples collected for screening of Te NR-producer bacterial strains one bacterial colony (isolated from hot spring and identified as Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes strain Te) was selected and applied for biosynthesis of Te NRs. Thereafter, an organic–aqueous partitioning system was applied for the purification of the biogenic Te NRs and the purified Te NRs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The cytotoxic effect of biologically synthesized Te NRs and potassium tellurite on four cell lines of MCF-7, HT1080, HepG2 and A549 was then determined using the MTT assay method. The obtained results revealed lower toxicity for the rod-shaped biogenic tellurium nanostructures (~ 22 nm diameter by 185 nm length) compared to K 2 TeO 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at evaluating the ability of some isolated cyanobacterial and microalgal strains for the removal of ρ-chlorophenol (ρ-CP), an environmentally harmful contaminant. To identify the most efficient species, a screening program was carried out using 15 microalgal and cyanobacterial strains. Among them, Tetraselmis suecica was able to remove 67 % of the ρ-chlorophenol at an initial concentration of 20 mg L from the medium within a 10-day period. The efficacy of the process was dependent on the ρ-chlorophenol concentration. At concentrations above 60 mg L of the pollutant, no removal was observed due to the inhibitory effect of ρ-chlorophenol on the T. suecica cells. The effect of cell immobilization in alginate beads on T. suecica removal capacity was also examined. Using this technique, the removal efficacy for the initial ρ-CP concentration of 20 mg L increased up to 94 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild-type microorganisms have become tolerant to higher antibiotic and antimicrobial agent concentrations due to the global increase in antibiotic consumption. Green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have been proposed as potential antimicrobial agents to overcome the problem. This research prepared cadmium nanoparticles (Cd NPs) using Artemisia persica extract. To clarify the biological behavior of Cd NPs and Cd (NO3)2, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and biocompatible experiments were performed. Since Cd toxicity is associated with liver, kidney damage, and other deficits, HepG2 and HUVEC cell lines were employed as the in vitro cytotoxicity models. Cd NPs had a lower cytotoxic effect than Cd (NO3)2 against both HepG2 and HUVEC cells. The Cd NPs exhibited no hemolysis activity. The antibacterial and anti-biofilm studies were conducted using gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the ability to form severe adherent biofilms. The antibacterial activity of Cd NPs against clinically isolated S. aureus, P. mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa was above 2560 µg mL− 1. The Cd NPs (640 µg mL− 1) decreased the biofilm formation of S. aureus, P. mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa by 24.6%, 31.6%, and 26.4%, respectively. Moreover, adding Cd NPs (100 µg/disc) to antibiotic discs increased the antibacterial activity of vancomycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, streptomycin, meropenem, and kanamycin against Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, significantly. Due to the emergence of resistant microorganisms, Cd NPs can be used as an exciting material to counterattack global health problems. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd NPs’ pharmacological and toxicological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ability of Paraconiothyrium variabile, a laccase producing ascomycete recently isolated from soil, was studied to eliminate chlorophenol derivatives in submerged culture medium. Among the tested compounds, ρ-chlorophenol (ρ-CP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were found to have minimum and maximum toxic effects, respectively, on the growth of the microorganism and at the same time high and low bioelimination percentages. The fungal strain was able to remove 86% of ρ-CP (with initial concentration of 40mgl−1) and 56% of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP; with same concentration as ρ-CP) after 9 days of incubation while no elimination was observed in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) and PCP. Monitoring of laccase production level in the fermentation broth together with pollutant removal confirmed the key role of this copper-containing oxidase in chlorophenol derivatives elimination. The type of laccase inducer (guaiacol) and its final concentration (250μM) and also initial pH of the fermentation broth (pH=5.5) in the elimination of ρ-CP increased the final removal yield from 86% to 94.3%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During recent years investigation on the development of eco-friendly processes for production of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have received much attention due to hazardous effects of chemical compounds used for nanoparticle preparation. In the present study, the purified laccase from Paraconiothyrium variabile was applied for synthesis of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the properties of produced nanoparticles were characterized. The UV–vis spectrum of formed AuNPs showed a peak at 530nm related to surface plasmon absorbance of GNPs represented the formation of gold nanoparticles after 20min incubation of HAuCl4 (0.6mM) in the presence of 73U laccase at 70°C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of AuNPs showed well dispersed nanoparticles in the range of 71–266nm as determined by the laser light scattering method. The pattern of energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) of the prepared GNPs confirmed the structure of gold nanocrystals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An extracellular laccase-producing ascomycete was isolated from soil and identified as Paraconiothyrium variabile using rDNA sequence analysis. Typical laccase substrates including 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS), 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), and guaiacol were oxidized by the purified enzyme (designated as PvL). The molecular mass of PvL was 84kDa and it showed a pI value of 4.2. The enzyme acted optimally at pH 4.8 and exhibited an optimum temperature of 50°C. Using ABTS, PvL represented K m and V max of 203μM and 40μmolmin−1 mg−1, respectively. After 24h incubation at pH 4.8 and 4°C, 80% of the initial activity of PvL remained. The enzyme was inhibited by Fe2+, Hg2+, and Mn2+, but induced by Cu2+. EDTA (10mM), 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) (0.1mM), and NaN3 (10mM) were found to completely inhibit PvL. Sixty-eight percent of Malachite green was decolorized by 4U/mL of PvL after 15min incubation at 30°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine (Ber) as a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, with a wide range of biological activities, mainly suffers from low bioavailability, decreasing its therapeutic efficacy. In this study, two novel conjugates of Ber with self-assembly property, Ber–polyethylene glycol (B–PEG) and Ber–diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (B–DG), were synthesized to investigate the effect of the anchoring part on the CMC, morphology as well as antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of the nanomicelles. The CMC increased from 1.2 μmol in B–DG to 3.0 μmol in B–PEG, measured by pendant drop. The anchored part affected greatly the shape and CMC of the self-assembled nanomicelles. A mixture of semi-spherical and cubic nanomicelles in the average hydrodynamic size of 93 nm was achieved for B–PEG, while B–DG nanomicelles were just in semispherical morphology with the hydrodynamic size of 64 nm. The antioxidant property of the nanomicelles was studied by DPPH scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays, exhibiting improved antioxidant activity of B–PEG and B–DG conjugates compared to free Ber. The neuroprotection potency of Ber was improved significantly after conjugation compared to free Ber against H2O2-induced cell death and B–PEG showed activity as level as that of the standard drug, Quercetin. Owing to the self-assembly property and interesting biological activities of the introduced amphiphilic Ber–PEG conjugate, we propose application of this nanomicelle alone, or as a promising bioactive carrier of the poorly water-soluble drugs, against neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to develop a new cereal-based product using quinoa flour, xanthan gum, and laccase and also to evaluate their effects on the quality characteristics of gluten-free bread (GFB). Experimental design method was applied for optimization of gluten-free formulation. The effects of three variables of quinoa flour (0–50%), laccase activity (0–2 U/g flour), and xanthan gum (0–0.5%) on the contents of total aflatoxin (TAF) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), color indices (L* , a* , and b*), and texture properties (hardness, cohesiveness, and springiness) of GFB were evaluated. The results showed that quinoa flour and laccase enzyme significantly reduced TAF and AFB1 (p < 0.05). The lowest AFB1 level (3.67 ± 0.96 ng/g) in the GFB formulation containing quinoa flour (40%), laccase enzyme (2.0 U/g), and xanthan gum (0.46%) was very close to the predicted amount (3.66 ± 0.96 ng/g). Quinoa flour significantly reduced the L* and a* values and increased b* value and improved the texture parameters. Laccase enzyme also improved color indices and texture properties. Therefore, the use of laccase enzyme and quinoa flour is recommended based on the desired effect on the quality characteristics of GFB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide research on electrospinning enabled it as a versatile technique for producing nanofibers with specified physio-chemical characteristics suitable for diverse biomedical applications. In the case of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the nanofiber scaffolds' characteristics are custom designed based on the cells and tissues specific needs. This fabrication technique is also innovated for the production of nanofibers with special micro-structure and secondary structure characteristics such as porous fibers, hollow structure, and core- sheath structure. This review attempts to critically and succinctly capture the vast number of developments reported in the literature over the past two decades. We then discuss their applications as scaffolds for induction of cells growth and differentiation or as architecture for being used as graft for tissue engineering. The special nanofibers designed for improving regeneration of several tissues including heart, bone, central nerve system, spinal cord, skin and ocular tissue are introduced. We also discuss the potential of the electrospinning in drug delivery applications, which is a critical factor for cell culture, tissue formation and wound healing applications. Wide uses of electrospinning in cell culture and tissue engineering application. Unlabelled Image • Electrospinning as a promising tool for production of nanofibers with suitable diameter and shapes • Special features of nanofibers for being used in nerve, ocular, bone cartilage, heart and skin tissue repair • main advantages and disadvantages of electrospinning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipopeptide biosurfactants (LPBs) are amphiphilic compounds produced by microorganisms exhibiting various biological activities. The main aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and cytotoxic effects of LPB produced by Acinetobacter junii (Aj L). We determined Aj L minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as two fungal strains. Also, the anti-biofilm activity of Aj L against the biofilm produced by clinically isolated bacterial strains was investigated. The Aj L non-selectively showed activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The obtained results of the present study exhibited that the Aj L in concentrations nearly below critical micelle concentration (CMC) has an effective antibacterial activity. It was found that the MIC values of Aj L were lower than standard antifungal and it exhibited nearly 100% inhibition against Candida utilis. The attained results of the biofilm formation revealed that Aj L disrupted the biofilm of Proteus mirabilis , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 1250 μg/ml and 2500 μg/ml concentrations. The attained results of cytotoxic effect (determined by WST-1 assay) of the Aj L revealed IC 50 of 7.8 ± 0.4 mg/ml, 2.4 ± 0.5 mg/ml, and 5.7 ± 0.1 mg/ml, against U87, KB, and HUVEC cell lines, respectively. The results indicated that Aj L has a potential application in the relatively new field of biomedicine. • The produced lipopeptide biosurfactant of A. junii B6 (Aj L) showed MIC of 5 μg/ml. • The Aj L disrupted the biofilm formed by clinical isolates of three bacterial pathogens. • The calculated IC 50 of Aj L against HUVEC cell line was found to be 7.8 ± 0.4 mg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) were synthesized by a green method using an aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis with assistance of microwave irradiation (850 W) and their physicochemical characteristics were studied by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Antioxidant activities, hemocompatibility, and cytotoxic effects of the prepared Pt NPs were then evaluated. The attained results showed that the newly formed Pt NPs possess a size range between 7.4 and 11.2 nm. These spherical-shaped NPs were slightly aggregated and held various functional groups on their surface. The antioxidant activity of Pt nanostructures was comparable to that of butylated hydroxyl anisole at concentrations higher than 320 µg/mL. At the same concentration of 640 μg/mL, the scavenging activities were 3.36 ± 0.9% (hexachloroplatinic acid) and 52.13 ± 0.43% (Pt NPs). The results of hemolytic assay revealed satisfactory hemocompatibility of the Pt NPs even at the concentration as high as 4 mg/mL (hemolysis percent equal to 3.5 ± 1.3%). The cytotoxicity studies revealed that MCF-7, A549, and 3T3 cell lines treated with hexachloroplatinic acid and cisplatin for 24 h and 48 h showed a higher percentage of cell death compared with the Pt NPs. After 24 h, for A549, 3T3, and MCF-7 cells exposed to Pt NPs, the cell viability was measured to be 80 ± 3.2%, 96 ± 1%, and 89 ± 2.6%, respectively, at concentration of 640 µg/mL. Further investigations are required to elucidate the mechanisms behind the biological activities of as-synthesized Pt NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipopeptide biosurfactants (LPBs) display unique properties with widespread therapeutic applications. Recently, the wound healing activity of LPBs has received more attention. However, few investigations have focused on the healing mechanisms of these compounds, particularly those that are associated with the angiogenic pathways. Therefore, the current study aimed at investigating the effect of a natural LPB produced by Acinetobacter. junii B6 on the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The proliferation, migration, and three-dimensional tube forming potential of HUVECs were examined after treatment with LPB. By using western blotting, the expression of angiogenic-related genes such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also measured. LPB demonstrated no significant proliferative or cytotoxic effect on HUVECs at the concentrations lower than 600 µg/mL. Moreover, LPB at a concentration of 300 µg/mL caused a significant increase in the rates of migration and tube formation of HUVECs. LPB also enhanced the protein expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. The present results suggest that LPB might be considered a potential wound healing agent by modifying some angiogenic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurodegenerative disease. To target simultaneously multiple pathological processes involved in AD, natural-origin compounds with unique characteristics are promising scaffolds to develop novel multi-target compounds in the treatment of different neurodegenerative disease, especially AD. In this study, novel chromone-lipoic acid hybrids were prepared to find a new multifunctional lead structure for the treatment of AD. Methods: Chromone-lipoic acid hybrids were prepared through click reaction and their neuroprotection and anticholinesterase activity were fully evaluated. The anti-amyloid aggregation, antioxidant and metal-chelation activities of the best compound were also investigated by standard methods to find a new multi-functional agent against AD. Results: The primary biological screening demonstrated that all compounds had significant neuroprotection activity against H2O2-induced cell damage in PC12 cells. Compound 19 as the most potent butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitor (IC50 = 7.55 μM) having significant neuroprotection activity as level as reference drug was selected for further biological evaluations. Docking and kinetic studies revealed non-competitive mixed-type inhibition of BuChE by compound 19. It could significantly reduce formation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and showed excellent reducing power (85.57 mM Fe+2), comparable with quercetin and lipoic acid. It could also moderately inhibit Aβ aggregation and selectively chelate with copper ions in 2:1 M ratio. Conclusion: Compound 19 could be considered as a hopeful multifunctional agent for the further development gainst AD owing to the acceptable neuroprotective and anti-BuChE activity, moderate anti-Aβ aggregation activity, outstanding antioxidant activity as well as selective copper chelation ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development in the bio-treatment of large-scale biomass bulks requires high performance enzymes adapted to extreme conditions. An extracellular keratinolytic extract was obtained from the culture broth of a halotolerant strain of Salicola marasensis. Keratin hydrolyzing activity of the concentrated enzyme extract was observed on a 100 mg of pretreated feather waste. The concentrated enzyme was able to hydrolyze the poultry feathers by 25% after 12 h incubation. The bio-waste material was optimally hydrolyzed at pH 9 and temperature of 40 °C. Among reductants, 1,4-dithiothreitol, L-cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, glutathione, and sodium sulfate showed the most remarkable effect on the bio-waste keratinolysis, while the tested surfactants and urea had no significant effect on the keratinolytic activity. Hexane and hexadecane indicated strong effect on keratinase activity and bio-treatment in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) as a hydrophobic ionic liquid resulted in a maximal of 80% extraction yield of soluble proteins from feathers. Considering the stability of the extracellular keratinolytic content in [BMIM] [PF6], the observed keratinase activity was noteworthy suggesting that the secreted enzyme may contribute to the bioconversion of feather wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to describe the oral acute and subacute toxicities and underlying toxicological mechanisms of biogenic Zn NPs in mice. The Zn NPs were prepared by a green microwave-assisted synthesis method in the presence of Lavandula vera leaf extract. Determination of median lethal dose (LD50) of Zn NPs and the subacute toxicity after 14 days of exposure was performed as a measurement of substance toxicity through general toxicological, hematological, serum, and histopathological investigations. The western blotting was used to determine the cleaved-caspase-3 expression in the sampled tissues. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was applied to estimate the Zn levels in tissues. The SEM analyses revealed that the biogenic Zn NPs were spherical-shaped with the size range of 30–80 nm. The LD50 value above 5 g/kg indicated that biogenic Zn NPs could be classified as non-toxic chemicals. In subacute toxicity, no significant differences were found in the body weight as well as hematological and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers after exposure to Zn NPs at the dose of 1 g/kg in comparison to the control. The AAS results indicated that Zn NPs were mainly distributed in the testis, liver, and brain. The findings of histology images of Zn NPs at the dose of 1 g/kg were similar to those of the control. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in cleaved-caspase-3 expression after exposure to Zn NPs at the dose of 5 g/kg. The results demonstrated that changes in the OS were not related to caspase pathway and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) dose of biogenic Zn NPs in 14-days subacute toxicity study was lower than 1 g/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the immobilization of Trametes versicolor laccase (Tv Lac) was optimized on the synthesized NaY-zeolite by experimental of design. For this purpose, the central composite design was employed to study the effects of the immobilization parameters on the activity of the immobilized Tv Lac on the NaY-zeolite. The optimum conditions were occurred at 2.5 mg/mL of NaY-zeolite concentration, 1 U/mg of enzyme concentration, 1 mM of glutaraldehyde concentration for 4 h immobilization time at 4 °C. In these conditions, the laccase activity developed to 15.68 ± 0.56 U/mg, which was very close to the predicted amount (16.09 ± 1.6 U/mg). Generally, the immobilized Tv Lac showed stability higher than that of the free Tv Lac at the different temperatures and pHs. The activity of the immobilized Tv Lac on the NaY-zeolite was 88.2% and 98.3% after incubation for 120 min at 60 °C and pH 5, respectively. Moreover, the free Tv Lac and immobilized Tv Lac on NaY-zeolite retained about 54.2% and 78.3% of its initial activity after 15 days of storage. The immobilized Tv Lac lost near 20% of its initial activity after 5 cycles of uses. The immobilized Tv Lac exhibited higher efficiency (93.0 ± 1.7% and 80.3 ± 1.8%, respectively) in removal of bromothymol blue (BTB) and trypan blue compared with the free Tv Lac (23.7 ± 1.8% and 15.1 ± 1.5%, respectively). Meanwhile, the kinetic parameters (K m and V max) for immobilized Tv Lac were 0.07 µM and 1.38 µmol/min, respectively, for removal of BTB. Therefore, the immobilized Tv Lac as a good candidate could be suggested for the elimination of dye-containing pollutants due to its high efficiency (more than 80%), which requires further investigations. [Display omitted] • The NaY-zeolite was used for immobilization of Trametes versicolor laccase (Tv Lac). • Central composite design was employed to optimize the immobilization conditions. • Tv Lac was successfully immobilized on NaY-zeolite by IY of 97.22% and IE of 101.04%. • Stabilities and reusability of the immobilized laccase were significantly improved. • The immobilized Tv Lac exhibited high efficiency in removal of BTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bacillus pumilus SG isolated from soil samples at the Persian Gulf was analyzed for its ability to produce biosurfactant. Various screening techniques were used for evaluating biosurfactant production and confirming biosurfactant presence in the culture supernatant. Most n-alkanes in the bacterial culture media were effectively degraded in the presence of biosurfactant acquired from the bacteria. The highest interfacial tension (IT) reduction (42 mN/m) was obtained at 24-h fermentation time (exponential phase) and did not change significantly afterwards. The glycolipid structure of the biosurfactant was revealed through NMR and FTIR spectroscopy analysis. Two-level factorial design was then applied for optimization of biosurfactant production, where a maximal reduction of culture broth IT (30 mN/m) acquired in the presence of crude oil (0.5%, v/v), NaNO3 (1 g/L), yeast extract (1 g/L), peptone (2 g/L) and temperature of 25 °C. The produced biosurfactant that exhibited a critical micelle concentration of 0.1 mg/ml was thermally stable. The glycolipid biosurfactant also displayed significant antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The maximum inhibition of glycolipids biosurfactant was found against Acinetobacter strains (zone of inhibition, 45 mm). In addition, antibiofilm activities with a 50–90% biofilm reduction percent were indicated by the glycolipid biosurfactant. In conclusion, the glycolipid biosurfactant produced by B. pumilus SG revealed a wide range of functional properties and was verified as a good candidate for biomedical application. In conclusion, the glycolipid biosurfactant produced by B. pumilus SG showed a wide range of functional properties in this study, and in the case of further in vivo studies, it can be investigated a good candidate for biomedical applications such as use against biofilm or in pharmaceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors evaluated the cytotoxicity underlying mechanisms of biogenic tellurium (Te) nanorods (NRs) produced by the Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes strain Te on the PC12 cell line. The half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was estimated at 5.05 ± 0.07 ng/ml for biogenic Te NRs and 2.44 ± 0.38 ng/ml for K2 TeO3, respectively. The viability of PC12 was inhibited concentration dependent at doses of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ng/ml. Te NRs principally induced late apoptosis or necrosis at IC50 concentration, without effect on caspase‐3 activities. Furthermore, Te NRs reduced glutathione and enhanced malondialdehyde levels, and also reduced superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. These findings revealed that biogenic Te NRs were less toxic than K2 TeO3. Additionally, they induced cytotoxity towards the PC12 cell line through the activation of late apoptosis independent of the caspase pathway, and may also enhance oxidative stress in the nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors evaluated the cytotoxicity underlying mechanisms of biogenic tellurium (Te) nanorods (NRs) produced by the Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes strain Te on the PC12 cell line. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was estimated at 5.05 ± 0.07 ng/ml for biogenic Te NRs and 2.44 ± 0.38 ng/ml for K2TeO3, respectively. The viability of PC12 was inhibited concentration dependent at doses of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ng/ml. Te NRs principally induced late apoptosis or necrosis at IC50 concentration, without effect on caspase-3 activities. Furthermore, Te NRs reduced glutathione and enhanced malondialdehyde levels, and also reduced superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. These findings revealed that biogenic Te NRs were less toxic than K2TeO3. Additionally, they induced cytotoxity towards the PC12 cell line through the activation of late apoptosis independent of the caspase pathway, and may also enhance oxidative stress in the nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New series of triazole-containing 3-phenylcoumarin–lipoic acid conjugates were designed as multi-functional agents for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The target compounds 4a-o were synthesized via the azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction and their biological activities were primarily evaluated in terms of neuroprotection against H 2 O 2 -induced cell death in PC12 cells and AChE/BuChE inhibition. The promising compounds 4j and 4i containing four carbons spacer were selected for further biological evaluations. Based on the obtained results, the benzocoumarin derivative 4j with IC 50 value of 7.3 µM was the most potent AChE inhibitor and displayed good inhibition toward intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This compound with antioxidant and metal chelating ability showed also protective effect on cell injury induced by Aβ 1-42 in SH-SY5Y cells. Although the 8-methoxycoumarin analog 4i was slightly less active than 4j against AChE, but displayed higher protection ability against H 2 O 2 -induced cell death in PC12 and could significantly block Aβ-aggregation. The results suggested that the prototype compounds 4i and 4j might be promising multi-functional agents for the further development of the disease-modifying treatments of Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic nanoparticles (As NPs) were biosynthesized in the presence of Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. extract utilizing microwave irradiation as a facile, fast, and green method. UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FTIR spectroscopy were used to characterize the As NPs. The antioxidant, hemo-compatibility, and cytotoxicity properties of the As NPs were assessed. The hexagonal As NPs possess the size range between 34.5 nm and 85.2 nm. The DPPH scavenging percent of NPs was significantly higher than butylated hydroxyl anisole and Na2HAsO4 at concentrations of 10 µg mL−1 to1280 µg mL− 1 (p < 0.05). As NPs at concentration of 320 µg mL− 1, 640 µg mL− 1, and 1280 µg mL− 1, exhibited hemolysis present equally to 0%, 0.9 ± 0.1%, and 2 ± 0.3%, respectively. After 24 h treatment of HT-29, MCF-7, U87, and 3T3 cell lines with NPs, the IC50 was measured as 47 ± 2 µg mL− 1, 52 ± 3 µg mL− 1, 547 ± 4 µg mL− 1, and 253 ± 3 µg mL− 1, respectively. The IC50 for HT-29, MCF-7, U87, and 3T3 cell lines treated (24 h) with As2O3 was measured as 32 ± 1 µg mL− 1, 6 ± 1 µg mL− 1, 30 ± 1 µg mL− 1, and 1.4 ± 0.1 µg mL− 1, respectively. In order to explain the biological activity of zero-valent As NPs, additional studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) have many biomedical applications as both therapeutic agents and delivery systems. The bio-functionality and toxicity of Se NPs are defined by their size, morphology, and surface chemical composition, which are associated with the capping layer on the surface of NPs. Capping agents can modify the characteristics of NPs and make them appropriate candidates for biomedical use. They play a critical role in preventing over-growth and aggregation of NPs, which is one of the major obstacles in NPs preparation. Capping agents stabilize the NPs interface, where is in contact with the surrounding medium and are responsible for the physicochemical and biological properties of NPs. A wide range of compounds with different sources can be used as capping agents for Se NPs synthesis to improve their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Each capping agent has its unique characteristics leading to a particular NP formation. In this narrative review, different types of capping agents based on their sources and their effects on physicochemical and biological aspects of Se NPs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study the produced biosurfactant of Acinetobacter junii B6 (recently isolated from Iranian oil excavation site) were partially purified and identified by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR). Elemental analysis of the biosurfactant by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed that the biosurfactant was anionic in nature. The physiochemical properties of the lipopeptide biosurfactant were evaluated by determination of its critical micelle concentration (CMC) and hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB). The produced biosurfactant decreased the surface tension of water to 36 mN m −1 with the CMC of approximately 300 mg/l. Furthermore, the solubility properties of the biosurfactant (dissolved in phosphate-buffer saline solution, pH 7.4) were investigated by turbidity examination, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) inspection. It could be concluded that the biosurfactant showed the spherical-shaped vesicles at a concentration higher than its CMC and the circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that the secondary structure of the biosurfactant vesicles is dominated by the β sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] According to the favorable antitumor properties of selenium, this study aimed to design a novel form of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) functionalized with chitosan (Cs) and sialic acid to assess their antitumor effects on the human glioblastoma cell lines (T98 and A172). Se NPs were synthesized in the presence of chitosan and ascorbic acid (Vc) and the synthesis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology. Se NPs@Cs were obtained with a monoclinic structure with an average diameter of 23 nm under the optimum conditions (reaction time = 30 min, chitosan concentration = 1 % w/v, Vc/Se molar ratio = 5). To modify Se NP@Cs for glioblastoma treatment, sialic acid was used to cover the surface of the NPs. Sialic acid was successfully attached to the surface of Se NPs@Cs, and Se NPs@Cs-sialic acid were formed in the size range of 15–28 nm. Se NPs@Cs-sialic acid were stable for approximately 60 days at 4 ℃. The as-synthesized NPs exerted inhibitory effects on T98 greater than 3 T3 > A172 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, sialic acid ameliorated the blood biocompatibility of Se NPs@Cs. Taken together, sialic acid improved both the stability and biological activity of Se NPs@Cs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence shows that nanoparticles exert lower toxicity, improved targeting, and enhanced bioactivity, and provide versatile means to control the release profile of the encapsulated moiety. Among different NPs, inorganic nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Ce, Fe, Se, Te, Zn, etc.) possess a considerable place owing to their unique bioactivities in nanoforms. Selenium, an essential trace element, played a vital role in the growth and development of living organisms. It has attracted great interest as a therapeutic factor without significant adverse effects in medicine at recommended dose. Selenium nanoparticles can be fabricated by physical, biological, and chemical approaches. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles is shown an advance compared to other procedures, because it is environmentally friendly, relatively reproducible, easily accessible, biodegradable, and often results in more stable materials. The effect of size, shape, and synthesis methods on their applications in biological systems investigated by several studies. This review focused on the procedures for the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles, in particular the biogenesis of selenium nanoparticles and their biomedical characteristics, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. Eventually, a comprehensive future perspective of selenium nanoparticles was also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stabilizing effect of some osmolytes including betaine, mannitol, proline, sorbitol, and trehalose (each 0.5 M) was investigated on the ultrasound-irradiated (60 kHz and 138 W, for 240 min) lipase by determination of the enzyme half-life time, evaluation of the enzymatic reaction velocity (V max), and hydrolysis of coconut oil for production of lauric acid (the main saturated fatty acid of the oil). The enzyme conformational stability was also assessed by circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The average half-life time of mannitol- and sorbitol-treated lipase under the ultrasound irradiation was 511 ± 3 min and 531 ± 2 min, respectively; 3-fold higher than the unirradiated enzyme. The V max value of the ultrasound-treated lipase increased from 100 ± 3 nmol min−1 in the absence of osmolyte to 500 ± 7 nmol min−1 and 500 ± 9 nmol min−1 in the presence of mannitol and sorbitol, respectively. CD and fluorescence spectra indicated that mannitol and sorbitol enhanced the rigidity of the lipase molecular conformational structure, increasing the enzyme stability against the ultrasonic field. The ultrasound-irradiated lipase was then used to hydrolyze coconut oil in the absence or presence of the selected osmolytes, which led to liberate 310 ± 6 mg g−1, 413 ± 7 mg g−1, and 420 ± 4 mg g−1 of lauric acid in the absence or presence of sorbitol and mannitol, respectively. In the absence of an ultrasonic field, the non-osmotically-treated lipase was able to liberate only 211 ± 5 mg g−1 of lauric acid. These promising results indicate that sorbitol and mannitol stabilize the structural conformation of lipase under an ultrasonic field which in turn could improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of coconut oil. [Display omitted] • Osmolytes improved the activity of ultrasound-irritated lipase. • The average half-life time of mannitol- and sorbitol-treated lipase was enhanced. • The V max of the ultrasound-treated lipase increased in the presence of sorbitol. • The enzyme stability was well enhanced in the presence of mannitol and sorbitol. • Coconut oil hydrolysis by ultrasound-irritated lipase was improved by mannitol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China. This virus rapidly spread worldwide and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. High incidence, long incubation period, and diverse clinical signs of the disease posed a huge challenge globally. The efforts of health systems have been focused on repurposing existing drugs or developing innovative therapies to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2. In addition, most of the large pharmaceutical companies are intensely working on vaccine development to swiftly deliver safe and effective vaccines to prevent further spread of the virus. In this review, we will discuss the latest data on therapeutic strategies undergoing clinical trials. Additionally, we will provide a summary of vaccines currently under development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to determine physicochemical, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties of cadmium nanoparticles (Cd NPs) produced using Artemisia persica extract combined with microwave irradiation (850 W). The obtained results showed that the Cd NPs were hexagonal in shape and their size was in the range of 11.2–18.6 nm. The attained results of antioxidant activity showed that at concentrations ranging from 10 to 2560 µg mL−1, there was no considerable difference between scavenging effect of Cd NPs and ascorbic acid (p > 0.05). For A549, 3T3, HT-29, MCF-7, and U87 cells exposed to Cd NPs, the IC50 was measured to be 47.2 ± 1.2 µg mL−1, 10.6 ± 1 µg mL−1, 133.5 ± 1.3 µg mL−1, 1.8 ± 0.7 µg mL−1, and 62.9 ± 3.3 µg mL−1, respectively. Generally, Cd NPs exhibited lower cytotoxicity and higher antioxidant effect in comparison to cadmium ions which further studies should perform to find about the related mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The enzymatic decolorization of 13 synthetic dyes with azo- and anthraquinone-based chemical structures using the purified laccase from Paraconiothyrium variabile was assessed in the presence and absence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) as a laccase mediator. The highest decolorization percentage was found for Acid Red 18 (97%) followed by Direct Red 81 (68.3%), Reactive Yellow 15 (60.2%), and Disperse Blue 56 (58%) after 15 min of incubation in the presence of 0.1 U mL−1 of the enzyme. The use of the laccase-HBT system increased decolorization percentage of Reactive Orange 16, Reactive Black 5, Direct Blue 71, Disperse Red 177, and Acid Yellow 36, while other chemical dyes were not affected by an increase of the HBT concentration. The kinetic parameters of the purified laccase for each textile dye were also calculated. A microtoxicity study with respect to the inhibition of bacterial growth showed a decrease in toxicity of the laccase-treated dye solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The neuroscience and neurobiology of gene editing to enhance learning and memory is of paramount interest to the scientific community. The advancements of CRISPR system have created avenues to treat neurological disorders by means of versatile modalities varying from expression to suppression of genes and proteins. Neurodegenerative disorders have also been attributed to non-canonical DNA secondary structures by affecting neuron activity through controlling gene expression, nucleosome shape, transcription, translation, replication, and recombination. Changing DNA regulatory elements which could contribute to the fate and function of neurons are thoroughly discussed in this review. This study presents the ability of CRISPR system to boost learning power and memory, treat or cure genetically-based neurological disorders, and alleviate psychiatric diseases by altering the activity and the irritability of the neurons at the synaptic cleft through DNA manipulation, and also, epigenetic modifications using Cas9. We explore and examine how each different OMIC techniques can come useful when altering DNA sequences. Such insight into the underlying relationship between OMICs and cellular behaviors leads us to better neurological and psychiatric therapeutics by intelligently designing and utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viola tricolor L. has many uses in treatment of various skin disorders, which attributed to their antioxidant-flavonoid compounds. The aim of this study was evaluation of photoprotection, cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of the ethanolic extract of Viola tricolor flowers (EE-Viola). At concentration of 0.2 mg/mL of EE-Viola, the sun protection factor (SPF) value was 15.3 ± 0.7. By evaluation of the survival of mouse fibroblast cells (3T3) in the presence and absence of UV light using MTT-based colorimetric assay, the calculated IC 50 was found to be 30.79 µg/mL and 34.89 µg/mL, respectively. The phytosomes of EE-Viola (Phy&EE-Viola) were then prepared using thin-layer hydration technique and optimized by experimental design method. The optimum particle size (487.6 nm) and encapsulation efficiency (95.2%) of the prepared phytosomes obtained when ratio of extract amount to lecithin amount (3 to 1), experiment temperature of 50 °C, and bath sonication were used. The optimum prepared phytosome was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. In the next step, Phy&EE-Viola was formulated in a cream base and its photoprotective potential was evaluated. Finally, the Phy&EE-Viola cream was evaluated for its pH, spread-ability, occlusivity, in vitro SPF determination, release and stability studies. The SPF value of the cream containing 4% of Phy&EE-Viola was equal to 14.0 ± 0.7. The results clearly indicated that the cream formulations exhibited a good stability at applied temperatures and good release profile. Therefore, the obtained cream of Phy&EE-Viola might be introduced as candidate as for sun protection which merit further investigations. [Display omitted] • In vitro photoprotection was evaluated by determining the sun protection factor (SPF). • The SPF value of ethanolic extract of V. tricolor L. (EE-Viola) was 15.3 ± 0.7. • Phytosomes of EE-Viola was prepared by using thin-layer hydration technique. • The SPF value of the cream containing phytosomes of EE-Viola was 14.0 ± 0.7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purified laccase from the soil ascomycete, Paraconiothyrium variabile was employed in the degradation of 7 benzodiazepine substances in the absence and presence of the enzyme mediators, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS), 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), and vanillic acid (VA). In the absence of a laccase mediator, the original concentrations of 10μgmL−1 of nitrazepam, alprazolam, diazepam, and oxazepam decreased by 27.3%, 45.6%, 18.6% and 18.7%, respectively, after 48h treatment using the purified enzyme, whereas the removal percentages for clobazam, chlordiazepoxide, and lorazepam were only 5.6%, 3.6%, and 4.1%, respectively. Among the laccase mediators, HBT was the most efficient compound, increasing the degradation percentages of nitrazepam, alprazolam, diazepam, and oxazepam to 73%, 88.1%, 61.4%, and 71.2%, respectively. The removal percentages of clobazam, chlordiazepoxide, and lorazepam was increased to 8.2%, 4.7%, and 6.5%, respectively, when the laccase-HBT system was used. The data presented suggest that the laccase-mediated system has potential for the elimination of some benzodiazepines in aqueous solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-90) has been synthesized through solvothermal method. The structure was characterized by means of FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The synthesized ZIF-90 was applied as a support for immobilization of porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL). The immobilized enzyme (PPL@ZIF-90) exhibited immobilization yield and efficiency of 66 ± 1.8% and 89 ± 1.4%, respectively. The pH and thermal stability of PPL was improved after immobilization and the initial activity was retained at about 57% after 20 days of storage at 4 °C for PPL@ZIF-90. Moreover, about 57% of the original activity was remained following 10 cycles of application. In Michaelis-Menten kinetic studies, K m value for PPL@ZIF-90 was lower, while, the V max was higher than free PPL. Moreover, optimized conditions to produce fruity banana flavour upon esterification of butyric acid were investigated. The optimum esterification yield was 73.79 ± 1.31% in the presence of 245 mg PPL@ZIF-90, alcohol/acid ratio of 2.78 and 39 h reaction time. PPL@ZIF-90 showed 39% relative esterification yield after six cycles of reuse. The results suggested that PPL@ZIF-90 can be used as a potential effective biocatalyst for synthesis of isoamyl butyrate. • Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-90 was synthesized by solvothermal method. • PPL was successfully immobilized on ZIF-90 by IY of 66 ± 1.8% and IE of 89 ± 1.4%. • Immobilization enhanced the kinetic parameters (K m and V max) of PPL. • Fruity banana flavour was synthesized through the immobilized lipase. • Optimization of reaction conditions resulted in an esterification yield of 73.79%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermoalkalophilic lipase from Bacillus atrophaeus (Ba L) was immobilized onto amine-functionalized graphene oxide nanosheets coated with the poly (maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) copolymer (GO-NH 2 -PMAO) and activated with glutaraldehyde as spacer arm through interfacial activation and subsequent multipoint covalent attachment. Experimental design method was applied for optimization of immobilization conditions including GO-NH 2 -PMAO concentration, buffer concentration, pH, sonication time, enzyme concentration, glutaraldehyde concentration, time, and temperature. The optimum specific activity of the immobilized Ba L (105.95 ± 2.37 U/mg) reached at 5 mg/mL for GO-NH 2 -PMAO, 25 mM of buffer, pH 6.0, 60 min sonication time, 100 mM glutaraldehyde, 60 U/mL of enzyme, and 4 h of immobilization time at 25 °C, which was very close to the predicted amount (106.08 ± 1.42 U/mg). Maximum immobilization yield (81.35%) and efficiency (277.63%) were determined in optimal immobilization conditions. The obtained results clearly indicated that the immobilized Ba L exhibited better stability at extreme temperature and pH than the free Ba L. At temperature of 90 °C and pH 11, more than 90% of the initial activity of the immobilized Ba L was retained. Furthermore, the immobilized Ba L retained about 90% of its initial activity after 10 days of storage and 6 cycles of application. The esterification studies showed that maximum bioconversion of valeric acid to pentyl valerate using the free Ba L (34.5%) and the immobilized Ba L (96.3%) occurred in the xylene medium after 48 h of incubation at 60 °C. Therefore, the Ba L immobilized on GO-NH 2 -PMAO was introduced as an effective biocatalyst to synthesize green apple flavour ester. Unlabelled Image • Amine-modified graphene oxide was coated by maleic copolymer (GO-NH 2 -PMAO). • Ba L was successfully immobilized on GO-NH2-PMAO by IY of 81.35% and IE of 277.63%. • The immobilized lipase shows excellent stabilities than free lipase. • Immobilized Ba L retained 77% of its initial activity after 30 days' storage. • A 96.3% yield of pentyl valerate synthesis using the immobilized Ba L was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic drug delivery system is one of the most important strategies for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this study, a novel theranostic system was fabricated based on cyclodextrin nanosponge (CDNS) polymer anchored on the surface of Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS NPs) which was then decorated with folic acid (FA) as a targeting agent (Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA). Curcumin (CUR), a hydrophobic model drug, was next loaded into the cyclodextrin cavity and polymeric matrix of CDNS (Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA@CUR). The system was fully characterized. The in vitro release study revealed pH-sensitive behavior. Cytotoxicity assays indicated a negligible toxicity for CUR free Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA NPs against both of M109 cancerous cells and MCF 10A normal cells. CUR-loaded Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA NPs exhibited higher toxicity against M109 cancerous cells than MCF 10A normal cells (p < 0.05). Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA@CUR NPs resulted in much more cell viability on normal cells than pure CUR (p < 0.05). Moreover, blood compatibility study showed minor hemolytic activity. In vitro MRI studies illustrated negative signal increase in cells affirming acceptable diagnostic ability of the nanocarrier. The T 2 MR signal intensity for Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA@CUR NPs in M109 cells was around 2-fold higher than that of MCF 10A cells. This implies two times higher selective cellular uptake of the Fe 3 O 4 /CDNS-FA@CUR NPs into M109 cell compared to MCF 10A. The multifunctional nanocarrier could be considered as promising candidate for cancer theranostics because of the smart drug release, selective cytotoxicity, suitable hemocompatibility, and proper T 2 MRI contrast efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study Delftia sp. Shakibaie, Forootanfar, and Ghazanfari (SFG), was applied for preparation of biogenic Bi nanoparticles (BiNPs) and antibacterial and anti‐biofilm activities of the purified BiNPs were investigated by microdilution and disc diffusion methods. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the produced nanostructures were spherical with a size range of 40–120 nm. The measured minimum inhibitory concentration of both the Bi subnitrate and BiNPs against three biofilms producing bacterial pathogens of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis were found to be above 1280 µg/ml. Addition of BiNPs (1000 µg/disc) to antibiotic discs containing tobramycin, nalidixic acid, ceftriaxone, bacitracin, cefalexin, amoxicillin, and cefixime significantly increased the antibacterial effects against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in comparison with Bi subnitrate (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the biogenic BiNPs decreased the biofilm formation of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and P. mirabilis to 55, 85, and 15%, respectively. In comparison to Bi subnitrate, BiNPs indicated significant anti‐biofilm activity against P. aeruginosa (p < 0.05) while the anti‐biofilm activity of BiNPs against S. aureus and P. mirabilis was similar to that of Bi subnitrate. To sum up, the attained results showed that combination of biogenic BiNPs with commonly used antibiotics relatively enhanced their antibacterial effects against MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of the nonoxidized form of zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) prepared by a 'green approach' using the Lavandula vera extract with microwave irradiation. Materials and Methods: After synthesis of Zn NPs, the microdilution and disk diffusion methods was applied for antimicrobial evaluation followed by anti-biofilm activity measurement using crystal violet colorimetric assay procedure. Results: The obtained results demonstrated the production of spherical Zn NPs within the size range of 30-80 nanometers. The measured minimum inhibitory concentration of the Zn NPs and ZnSO4 against the biofilm-producing and clinically isolated pathogens of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis was estimated to be more than 2560 µg/ml. In addition, a non-significant increase (P>0.05) was observed in the antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus after the addition of the Zn NPs (500 µg/disk) to the antibiotic discs containing tobramycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, azithromycin, and kanamycin compared to ZnSO4. On the other hand, the Zn NPs significantly decreased the biofilm formation of P. mirabilis compared to P. aeruginosa (P<0.05). Biofilm formation by S. aureus also reduced to 68.3±2.1% in the presence of the Zn NPs (640 µg/ml), which was considered significant compared to P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa at the same concentration (P<0.05). Conclusion: To sum up, the biofilm inhibitory activity of Zn NPs at higher concentrations than 160 µg/ml against S. aureus and P. mirabilis was more significant compared to the inhibitory effects of ZnSO4. However, further investigations are required in order to determine the antibacterial and anti-biofilm mechanism of Zn NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]