Pragya Pallavi

Background: Bacopa monnieri is an herbal plant used predominantly in Ayurvedic medicine. Though this plant has pharmacological properties, it is pivotal to acknowledge its antioxidant capacity and toxicological properties which are not well established. Objectives: The principal aim of this study is to elucidate the antioxidant capacity and toxicological properties of B. monnieri leaf extracts in the early life stages of Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos. Methods: This was a comparative identification of the antioxidant capacities of five different extracts of aqueous, ethanol, acetone, chloroform, and petroleum ether of B. monnieri leaf by investigating through in vitro antioxidant assays such as Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), azinobis[3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonate] (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and enzymatic assays such as SOD, CAT, Px, AO, and PPO. Additionally tested for the qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals. Furthermore, the Fish Embryo Toxicity (FET) assay has been performed to analyze the developmental deformities, lethal and sublethal toxic effects, hatch rate, heart rate, and survival of zebrafish embryos upon treatment with the aqueous plant extract. Result: The results showed the availability of polyphenols and non-phenolic macromolecules. Total phenol and flavonoid content were greater in the aqueous extract and tannin content was higher in ethanol extract. Among the five extracts, the aqueous extract showed greater antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the investigation addressed the toxicological effects of aqueous extract on zebrafish embryos that resulted in the least developmental abnormalities and delayed hatching rate at greater concentrations along with 100% mortality at 96 h Post Fertilization (hpf) of higher concentrations. Conclusion: The results indicate that B. monnieri may serve a strong prophylactic action against reactive oxygen species-related diseases with the least sublethal effects.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a severe blood cancer in myeloid cells which is found to be developed due to mutation in genes that causes dysregulation in the gene’s expression, affecting the cellular function and signaling pathways. STK24 is a protein belonging to the Germinal Center Kinase III (GCK III) sub-family, found to be related to many intracellular and intercellular processes. In the following study the expression of the gene STK24 is studied using the web-based tool TNM plot, in which the expression is found dysregulated in AML with a significant p-value of 9.76e - 23. In addition to expression analysis, survival analysis is carried out, the dysregulated expression of STK24 is found to be related to lower overall survivable outcome indicated by significant p-value of 1.6e - 05 with median survival for lower expression of the STK24 for 10.7 month time. In the protein-protein interaction analysis, the targeted protein STK24 was found to interact with several proteins, among them some of the proteins which are found to be related to AML pathogenesis are PDCD10, PPP2R1B, STK11, TCP1, STK25, STK26 and STRN3 with combined score between .5 to 1.00. Among the interacting proteins 20 proteins are found to have higher interaction efficiency which is represented in circular format. A correlation study of the target protein STK24 with AML and glutamine metabolism related protein FLT3, NPM1, RUNX1, RARA, IDH1, IDH2, GLS, SLC1A5, GLUD1 and SLC7A11 showed a significant correlation with Pearson’s coefficient r value between -1 to 1 and p-value < 0.05. With the analysis of expression and survival and protein-protein interaction and gene correlation it can be indicated that STK24 may have a role in pathogenesis in AML. But to conclude the study, further expression of the gene STK24 in the AML is needed to prove its correlation with the disease progression and further in vitro and in vivo analysis are needed to be carried out.

Introduction: As cancer therapy progresses, challenges remain due to the inherent drawbacks of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, gene therapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal. Moreover, due to their associated side effects, conventional treatments affect both cancerous and normal cells, making photodynamic therapy (PDT) an attractive alternative. Methods: As a result of its minimal toxicity, exceptional specificity, and non-invasive characteristics, PDT represents an innovative and highly promising cancer treatment strategy using photosensitizers (PSs) and precise wavelength excitation light to introduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vicinity of cancer cells. Results: Poor aqueous solubility and decreased sensitivity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) prevent its use as a photosensitizer in PDT, necessitating the development of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) hydrogelated nanocarriers to enhance its bioavailability, targeted distribution, and ROS-quantum yield. The ROS quantum yield increased from 0.30 in an aqueous environment to 0.51 when using alginate-based formulations, and it was further enhanced to 0.81 in the case of OSA. Conclusion: Furthermore, the nanoformulations produced fluorescent signals suitable for use as cellular imaging agents, demonstrating contrast-enhancing capabilities in medical imaging and showing minimal toxicity.

Background and purpose: Many sectors use nanoparticles and dispose of them in the aquatic environment without deciding the fate of these particles. Experimental approach: To identify a benign species of nanoparticles which can cause minimum harm to the aquatic environment, a comparative study was done with chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and green tea mediated synthesis (GT/AgNP) in both in vitro using human alveolar cancer cell line (A549) and normal cell line (L132), and in in vivo with zebrafish embryos. Key results: The in vitro studies revealed that GT/AgNPs were less toxic to normal cells than cancer cells. The GT/AgNPs showed high biocompatibility for zebrafish embryos monitored microscopically for their developmental stages and by cumulative hatchability studies. The reduced hatchability found in the AgNPs-treated group was correlated by differential gene expression of zebrafish hatching enzymes (ZHE) (ZHE1 and ZHE2). Conclusion: The results indicated that nanoparticles can affect the hatching of zebrafish embryos and elicit toxicity at the gene level. .

During the last few years, nanostructures based on proteins have been playing a vital role in revolutionizing the nanomedicine era. Since protein nanoparticles are smaller and have a greater surface area, they retain a better capacity to interact with other molecules, resulting in carrying payloads efficiently to diseased tissues. Besides having attractive biocompatibility and biodegradability, protein nanoparticles can also be modified on their surfaces. For the fabrication of these nanostructures, there are several processes involved, including emulsification, desolvation, a combination of complex coacervation and electrospray. This can be achieved by using different proteins such as albumin, gelatin, elastin, gliadin, collagen, legumin and zein, as well as a combination of these proteins. It is possible to functionalize protein nanoparticles by altering their internal and external interfaces so that they can encapsulate drugs, release them in a controlled manner, disassemble them systematically and target tumors. This review highlights the physicochemical properties and engineering of several proteins to nano-dimensions used to deliver drugs to diseased tissues.

Background and purpose: The pandemic of COVID-19 has highlighted the need for managing infectious diseases, which spreads by airborne transmission leading to serious health, social, and economic issues. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus with a 60–140 nm diameter and particle-like features, which majorly accounts for this disease. Expanding diagnostic capabilities, developing safe vaccinations with long-lasting immunity, and formulating effective medications are the strategies to be investigated. Experimental approach: For the literature search, electronic databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were used as the source. Search terms like 'Nano-mediated PDT,' 'PDT for SARS-CoV-2', and 'Nanotechnology in treatment for SARS-CoV-2' were used. Out of 275 initially selected articles, 198 were chosen after the abstract screening. During the full-text screening, 80 papers were excluded, and 18 were eliminated during data extraction. Preference was given to articles published from 2018 onwards, but a few older references were cited for their valuable information. Key results: Synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) have a close structural resemblance to viruses and interact greatly with their proteins due to their similarities in the configurations. NPs had previously been reported to be effective against a variety of viruses. In this way, with nanoparticles, photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be a viable alternative to antibiotics in fighting against microbial infections. The protocol of PDT includes the activation of photosensitizers using specific light to destroy microorganisms in the presence of oxygen, treating several respiratory diseases. Conclusion: The use of PDT in treating COVID-19 requires intensive investigations, which has been reviewed in this manuscript, including a computational approach to formulating effective photosensitizers.

Background and Purpose: Modern technologies are making advanced paths to address emerging issues. The development of carbon dots (CDs) technology at a tiny level has been researched to have made impeccable strides in advancing the modern scientific field, especially in nanomedicine. Experimental Approach: Researchers have gained much attention on CDs of their unique properties in the synthesis, easy surface modifications, excellent optical properties, low toxicity, and water solubility. Doping carbon dots with other elements makes them more convenient for their use in the medical sector. Key Results: The manuscript provides a detailed discussion of the two main methods, including the hydrothermal pathway. CDs are synthesized bottom-up by building up molecules at the atomic scale and top-down by transforming large carbon particles into nanoscale dimensions. Conclusion: The present article discussed the role, importance, and recent advancements in the synthesis of CDs, by using various approaches giving importance to the hydrothermal process. Recent investigations, their mechanism, and theranostic applications have also been reported.

Hydrogels are an integrated three-dimensional network of water-absorbing hydrophilic polymers that can support tissue regeneration and release medication under controlled conditions. Hydrogel-based structures physically resemble the extracellular matrix besides being effective for biomedical applications and tissue engineering. Hydrogels must provide relevant biological signals to control the cell behavior to become an ideal bioactive scaffold for tissue regeneration. Incorporating virus nanoparticles (VNP) that can release essential peptides into the hydrogels is a promising option to formulate a bioactive scaffold that can facilitate cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Over the recent period, virologists have discovered many viruses that lead to a great understanding of the diversity of viruses in nature. Viruses affecting the plants are called plant viruses, and they have a wide variety of shapes and sizes, yet each species produces monodisperse nucleoprotein particles. Plant viruses are not capable of infecting or reproducing in humans. Therefore, VNPs are engineered from plant viruses whose genetically programmed structures can be manipulated at the gene level, bioconjugated, or encapsulated. Plant VNPs can act as clinical diagnostic agents, immunomodulators, medicines, nanoreactors, and biosensors by displaying protein molecules or epitopes, constructing inorganic hybrid materials, or carrying molecular charges. The present review focuses on the plant virusmediated nanoparticles encapsulated in bioactive hydrogels to provide an ideal platform for tissue engineering.

The advancements in nanotechnology have quickly developed a new subject with vast applications of nanostructured materials in medicine and pharmaceuticals. The enormous surface-to-volume ratio, ease of surface modification, outstanding biocompatibility, and, in the case of mesoporous nanoparticles, the tunable pore size make the silica nanoparticles (SNPs) a promising candidate for nano-based medical applications. The preparation of SNPs and their contemporary usage as drug carriers, contrast agents for imaging, carrier of photosensitizers (PS) in photodynamic, as well as photothermal treatments are intensely discussed in this review. Furthermore, the potential harmful responses of silica nanoparticles are reviewed using data obtained from in vitro and in vivo experiments conducted by several studies. Moreover, we showcase the engineering of SNPs for the theranostic applications that can address several intrinsic limitations of conventional therapeutics and diagnostics. In the end, a personal perspective was outlined to state SNPs’ current status and future directions, focusing on SNPs’ significant potentiality and opportunities.