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Objective(s): Considering the problems of using medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases and the role of nanotechnology in reducing these challenges, the present research was conducted with the aim of preparing nano-liposomes containing Mentha piperita essential oil and investigating their physicochemical characteristics. Materials and Methods: Four nano-liposome formulations containing essential oil were prepared using cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine by thin layer method. Encapsulation efficiency, size, zeta potential, and essential oil release were measured in all formulations. The appropriate formulation was selected to investigate the morphology of the particles, their interaction between nano-liposomes and essential oil, toxicity, and antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Then, the stability of the selected formulation was checked for 120 days. Results: Formulation F1 was selected with an encapsulation efficiency of 62.12%, nano-particle size of 121 nm, and zeta potential of -21.8 mV. In this formulation, no interaction between nano-liposomes and essential oil was observed, and the spherical shape and two-layer nature of the nanoparticles were confirmed. Nanoliposomes with and without essential oil caused little toxicity to normal HFF cells and in all concentrations compared to free essential oil, they had more toxicity on MCF-7 cancer cells and higher antioxidant properties. The anti-proliferative effects of nano-liposomes on some microorganisms were higher than the free essential oil. Also, there were slight changes in some physicochemical properties of nanoparticles during 120 days. Conclusion: Considering the suitable physicochemical properties of nano-liposomes containing essential oil and their anti-proliferative effects, these nano-systems can be suggested for further research in the field of cancer and microbial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we reviewed the recent advances in nanoscale modifications and evaluated their potential for dental implant applications. Surfaces at the nanoscale provide remarkable features that can be exploited to enhance biological activities. Herein, titanium and its alloys are considered as the main materials due to their background as Ti-based implants, which have been yielding satisfactory results over long-term periods. At first, we discussed the survivability and the general parameters that have high impacts on implant failure and the necessities of nanoscale modification. Afterward, fabrication techniques that can generate nanostructures on the endosseous implant body are categorized as mechanical, chemical, and physical methods. These techniques are followed by biomimetic nanotopographies (e.g., nanopillars, nanoblades, etc.) and their biological mechanisms. Alongside the nanopatterns, the applications of nanoparticles (NPs) including metals, ceramics, polymers, etc., as biofunctional coating or delivery systems are fully explained. Finally, the biophysiochemical impacts of these modifications are discussed as essential parameters for a dental implant to provide satisfactory information for future endeavors.

Cancer treatment is challenging due to late-stage diagnosis, drug resistance and systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. The formulation of the drug into nanoparticles (NPs) can enhance the treatment efficacy and effectiveness. Therefore, a new cationic niosomal formulation, which contains Tween 80, Tween 60, cholesterol and lysine amino acid as a platform model to enhance transfection efficacy and reach more acceptable stability, and curcumin (Cur) as a biological anti-cancer drug, are introduced. Here, the authors focused on the design and synthesis of novel lysine-mediated niosomal NPs for the effectual and controlled release of the antitumor agent, Cur, and turned to optimize niosome formulations, concerning the volume of cholesterol and surfactant to implement these anticancer agents, simultaneously. The characterization of NPs s was carried out and the results showed the successful synthesis of Cur-entrapped niosomal NPs with high efficacy, sufficient positive charges and a favorable size (95/33 nm). The in vitro studies have been performed to investigate the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and apoptosis of normal and cancer cells treated by black niosome, free Cur and niosom-loaded Cur. The results showed that implementing agents by niosome caused enhanced cytotoxicity, uptake and anticancer activity in cancer cells in comparison with normal cells. Furthermore, the effect of this nanodrug was surveyed on the 4T1 xenografted Balb/C mouse tumor model. Cur delivery to cancer models caused a higher tumor inhibition rate than in other groups.

Objective(s): One of the effective strategies for targeted chemotherapy of cancer is the use of lipid nanocarriers. In this study, an optimal formulation of niosomal drug containing doxorubicin was developed to monitor the potency against cancer cells. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, niosomal vesicles were prepared using phosphatidylcholine (20%), span60 (52.5%), cholesterol (22.5%), and DSPE-PEG2000 (5%) by the thin-film method. Doxorubicin was loaded into the niosomes using an inactive loading method. Results: The features and characteristics of the nanocarrier were evaluated using Zeta-Sizer, SEM, FTIR, drug release, cellular uptake, and the cytotoxicity of the nanodrug carrier system by the MTT method. Niosomal vesicles-containing doxorubicin showed a size of ~156.8 nm, drug encapsulation efficiency of ~94.18%, zeta potential of ~-3.52 mV, and polydispersity index (PDI) of ~0.265. The prepared niosomes indicated a drugcontrolled release system and FTIR analysis showed no interaction between nanocarriers containing drug and doxorubicin. Moreover, morphological examination of nanocarriers using SEM microscopy revealed that they had spherical structures. Also, cellular studies showed that drug toxicity was higher in encapsulated form of the drug compared with non-encapsulated doxorubicin which was confirmed by the cellular uptake results. Conclusion: The results confirmed the proper physicochemical characteristics of these nanocarriers that significantly increased the toxicity of the encapsulated drug against the KG-1 cell line. It seems niosomal nanocarriers can be considered suitable carriers for drug delivery to cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The purpose of this study is to synthesizing and characterizing niosomes containing curcumin in order to delivery to bone cancer cells. Nano-carriers were synthesized using thin film method and curcumin was loaded into them by active hydration method. Materials and Methods: The optimal formula was selected based on the encapsulation efficiency and release profile. Then the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles such as size and zeta potential, morphology and system-drug interaction were evaluated by using DLS, SEM, AFM and FTIR methods. Finally, the toxicity of nanosystems on bone cancer cell line MG-63 as resistant cells to treatment was examined by MTT assay. Results: Niosomes containing curcumin with size of 90.8 nm, PDI of 0.236, zeta potential of -8.9 and encapsulation rate of 73.5 ± 1.8 have slow-release profile. The maximum release rate of the drug for this nanocarrier in healthy and cancerous within 72 hr was 60.12% and 64.35% respectively. IR and morphological investigations showed no chemical interaction between curcumin and nanocarrier and the particles are spherical in shape. The results of the MTT assay also showed that by encapsulating curcumin, its effect on bone cancer cells increased and the resistance of MG-63 cells to treatment decreased. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that niosomes containing curcumin with appropriate physicochemical properties can improve the treatment process in bone cancer cells and also reduce the resistance of this cell to the drug and could be proposed as a new therapeutic strategy to help the treatment of osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been produced in different conditions and cell lines. Identification, isolation, and purification of this protein from various sources have pivotal role in clinical applications. Hence, Clinical trials should be carried out for the identification of purity and aggregation of biological EPO. Moreover, the purification of EPO cooperates with various recommended processes has been manifested, but the strategies schemes (i.e., liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ion exchange chromatography (IEX) are often used in combination. In the current study, the quality of purification, biological modifications and the stability of rhEPO using various chromatography methods including HPLC and IEX have been assessed. Materials and Methods: rhEPO was expressed in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and purified by the general requirements for the quality control of biological products. For the assessment of the influence of IEX in the purity pattern of rhEPO, HPLC and biological analysis were performed for 3 samples. Results: Our results revealed that the combination of 4 strategies represent confident methods for evaluating the quality of this biological medicinal product; moreover, purity and biochemical applications will yield to a relatively pure protein preparation. The activity of EPO was presented by monomeric isoform and high acid sialic purification in final product. Moreover, the determination of the biochemical reactions rate and their relationship tests were obtained by change in electrical conductivity with pH being 31.5 and 5, respectively. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicated that different purification process based on our results can increase the accuracy of rhEPO purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) has been recently introduced as a suitable anticancer drug carrier, which could be loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) as a general chemotherapy agent. Herein, the attempts were made to optimize the effective parameters on both loading and release of DOX on GO. GO and GO-DOX were characterized using transition electron microscopy , zeta potential, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, loading and releasing behaviors of DOX on GO were studied in terms of different temperature and pH values. The primary optimized values of pH and temperature for best-loaded amount of DOX were 8.9 and 309 K, respectively. Moreover, we found that the smallest amount of released DOX, in pH of cancer microenvironment (5.4), occurs when DOX had been previously loaded in pH 7.8 and 310 K. Although the highest amount of loaded DOX was in basic pH, the results of efficient release of DOX from the GO-DOX complex and also cellular toxicity assay revealed that the best pH for loading of DOX on GO was 7.8. Therefore, in addition to optimization of parameters for efficient loading of DOX on GO, this study suggested that normalization of a released drug compared with the amount of a loaded drug could be a new approach for optimization of drug loading on nanocarriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]