SCTIMST DSpace (Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology)
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Multifunctional amino functionalized graphene quantum dots wrapped upconversion nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy and X-ray CT imaging.
No full textHerein, we designed and developed a multifunctional nanocomposites by complexing NaGdF4:Yb/Er nanoparticles (UCNPs) with amino functionalized graphene quantum dots (af-GQDs). In the as-prepared nanocomposite (af-GQD/UCNPs), properties of UCNPs and af-GQDs were incorporated into a single nanoplatform to endow therapeutic and diagnostic functions. The UCNPs were employed as an imaging probe and a contrast agent for CT imaging, and the af-GQDs served as a therapeutic agent and photosensitizer (PS) by generating singlet oxygen for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Furthermore, the nanocomposites were investigated by electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, zeta potential measurement, UV–vis spectroscopy, upconversion luminescence measurement, and cytotoxicity assessment. The in vitro experiments displayed excellent X-ray attenuation ability and PDT effects of af-GQD/UCNPs. Hence, the proposed multifunctional nanocomposites, which possesses upconversion luminescence, photodynamic, and X-ray attenuation properties, might be a viable option for application in bio-imaging and photodynamic therapy
Microfluidic devices for the detection of disease-specific proteins and other macromolecules, disease modelling and drug development: A review
No full textMicrofluidics is a revolutionary technology that has promising applications in the biomedical field.Integrating microfluidic technology with the traditional assays unravels the innumerable possibilities for translational biomedical research. Microfluidics has the potential to build up a novel platform for diagnosis and therapy through precise manipulation of fluids and enhanced throughput functions. The developments in microfluidics-based devices for diagnostics have evolved in the last decade and have been established for their rapid, effective, accurate and economic advantages. The efficiency and sensitivity of such devices to detect disease-specific macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids have made crucial impacts in disease diagnosis. The disease modelling using microfluidic systems provides a more prominent replication of the in vivo microenvironment and can be a better alternative for the existing disease models. These models can replicate critical microphysiology like the dynamic microenvironment, cellular interactions, and biophysical and biochemical cues. Microfluidics also provides a promising system for high throughput drug screening and delivery applications. However, microfluidics-based diagnostics still encounter related challenges in the reliability, real-time monitoring and reproducibility that circumvents this technology from being impacted in the healthcare industry. This review highlights the recent microfluidics developments for modelling and diagnosing common diseases, including cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and autoimmune disorders, and its applications in drug development
Enriched adipose stem cell secretome as an effective therapeutic strategy for in vivo wound repair and angiogenesis.
No full textThe therapeutic potential of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) is well studied for use in non-healing wounds. However, concerns on the transplantable cell number requirement, cell expansion, cell viability, retained cell multipotency and the limited cell implantation time for efficient impact hinders cell therapy. Recent literature is much inclined to the superiority of the ADMSCs’ secretome, pre-dominating its paracrine-mediated therapeutic impact. In this context, the possibility of attaining accelerated wound angiogenesis through non-viral mediated enrichment of the ADMSCs secretome with pro-angiogenic growth factors (AGF) seems promising. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the effect of AGF-enriched ADMSCs secretome for accelerating wound angiogenesis and repair in acute large area full thickness excision rabbit wound model, as adopted from Salgado et al. (Chir Buchar Rom 108:706–710, 1990). Using sub-dermal single-dose injections along the margin of the dorsal wound, native ADMSCs secretome, AGF-enriched ADMSC secretome, allogenic rabbit ADMSCs and a combination of AGF-enriched ADMSC secretome with allogenic rabbit ADMSCs were transplanted independently. Twenty-eight days (28 days) post-transplantation, histopathological analysis was performed to assess the effect. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed enhanced epithelization, notable granulation tissue and collagen fiber deposition in AGF-enriched secretome transplanted groups. This was confirmed by elevated CD31 detection, faster wound closure time and collagen organization. The use of single-dose AGF-enriched ADMSCs’ secretome for therapeutic angiogenesis and wound repair seems to be a promising cell-free therapeutic option. Further investigations using multiple doses on larger animal groups remains to be explored in order to ascertain the comparative potential of AGF-enriched ADMSCs’ secretome
Fluorescent carbon dots tailored iron oxide nano hybrid system for in vivo optical imaging of liver fibrosis
No full textHybrid nanoparticles are innovative invention of last decade designed to overcome limitations of single-component nanoparticles by introducing multiple functionalities through combining two or more different nanoparticles. In this study, we are reporting development of magneto-fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles by combining iron oxide and carbon nanoparticles to enablein vivofluorescence imaging which also has all the required characteristic properties to use as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agent. In order to achieve dual-functional imaging, alginate and pullulan coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (ASPION and PSPION) and Carbon dots (Cdts) were synthesised separately. ASPIONs and PSPIONs were further chemically conjugated with Cdts and developed dual-functional nanohybrid particles ASPION-Cdts and PSPION-Cdts. Subsequently, evaluation of the materials for its size, functionalisation efficiency, fluorescence and magnetic properties, biocompatibility and cellular uptake efficiency has been carried out. Fluorescence imaging of liver fibrosis was performedin vivoin rodent model of liver fibrosis using the two nanohybrids, which is further confirmed by high fluorescence signal from the harvested liver
The impact of e-cigarette exposure on different organ systems: A review of recent evidence and future perspectives
No full textThe use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) is rapidly increasing worldwide and is promoted as a smoking cessation tool. The impact of traditional cigs on human health has been well-defined in both animal and human studies. In contrast, little is known about the adverse effects of e-cigs exposure on human health. This review summarizes the impact of e-cigs exposure on different organ systems based on the rapidly expanding recent evidence from experimental and human studies. A number of growing studies have shown the adverse effects of e-cigs exposure on various organ systems. The summarized data in this review indicate that while e-cigs use causes less adverse effects on different organs compared to traditional cigs, its long-term exposure may lead to serious health effects. Data on short-term organ effects are limited and there is no sufficient evidence on long-term organ effects. Moreover, the adverse effects of secondhand and third hand e-cigs vapour exposure have not been thoroughly investigated in previous studies. Although some studies demonstrated e-cigs used as a smoking cessation tool, there is a lack of strong evidence to support it. While some researchers suggested e-cigs as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking, their long-term exposure health effects remain largely unknown. Therefore, more epidemiological and prospective studies including mechanistic studies are needed to address the potential adverse health effects of e-cigs to draw a firm conclusion about their safe use. A wide variation in e-cigs products and the lack of standardized testing methods are the major barriers to evaluating the existing data. Specific regulatory guidelines for both e-cigs components and the manufacturing process may be effective to protect consumer health
Nanobiomaterials in support of drug delivery related issues
No full textNanobiomaterials have been widely accepted as potential drug delivery agents over the past decade. A wide variety of materials have been utilized as drug delivery carriers for various diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer's etc. Being the leading cause of death worldwide, effective drug delivery to cancer cells by using nanomaterials has become the most fascinating and dynamic regions of research. The decreased size of these materials increased permeability through physiological barriers, and increased cell to cell interactions are the properties that are highly suitable for drug delivery applications. Biocompatibility and biodegradability are added advantages of using nano biomaterials as drug delivery systems. However, to transfer the nanobiomaterials for advanced clinical applications, a detailed study should be established considering the interactions of these nanobiomaterials with the physiological environment. Moreover, the need for extensive toxicity studies will open up a new window for the effective translation of these materials into clinical drug delivery carriers. The integration of nanomedicine and drug delivery system framework is unquestionably the pattern that will stay in the field of innovative work for quite a long time. Herein, we highlight the challenges of nanobiomaterials related to drug delivery and the possible strategies utilized to overcome the drug delivery-related issues
Copper(ii) salen-based complexes as potential anticancer agents
No full textIn this work, we have systematically designed and synthesized four Cu(II) salen compounds (1–4), which have been characterized using various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Single-crystal XRD studies were carried out on three of the compounds (1, 2 and 4), which revealed that all of them have a water molecule encapsulated/pseudo-encapsulated in the N2O4 cavity. The binding affinity of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was explored using UV-visible and fluorescence techniques. The compounds exhibit excellent DNA binding and cleavage activities. The binding mechanism was probed by molecular docking studies. These results display high binding-constant values owing to the intercalative type of binding. In addition, the binding affinity of the compounds with proteins was also studied via an in silico molecular-docking method using human serum albumin as the receptor. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of the complexes was evaluated in the HeLa cell line, derived from cervical cancer cells. The cleavage of DNA strands was investigated using gel electrophoresis. All of the tested compounds show a high binding-constant value with both DNA and protein and exhibit cytotoxic effects towards cancerous cells. The observed toxicity of these compounds towards a normal cell line could be minimized via interaction of the metal centre with the detoxifier glutathione, and detoxification studies were also conducted. The synthesized compounds were found to be potential candidates for the pharmaceutical industry. Considering the results and compared with existing reports, we propose a promising candidate (compound 4) for the development of efficient therapeutic drugs
