Abida Raza

Current state and prospects of the phytosynthesized colloidal gold nanoparticles and their applications in cancer theranostics

The design, development, and biomedical applications of phytochemical-based green synthesis of biocompatible colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are becoming an emerging field due to several advantages (safer, eco-friendly, simple, fast, energy efficient, low-cost, and less toxic) over conventional chemical synthetic procedures. Biosynthesized colloidal gold nanoparticles are remarkably attractive in several biomedical applications including cancer theranostics due to small size, unusual physico-chemical properties, facile surface modification, high biocompatibility, and numerous other advantages. Of late, several researchers have investigated the biosynthesis and prospective applications (diagnostics, imaging, drug delivery, and cancer therapeutics) of AuNPs in health care and medicine. However, not a single review article is available in the literature that demonstrates the anti-cancer potential of biosynthesized colloidal AuNPs with detailed mechanistic study. In the present review article, we for the first time discuss the biointerface of colloidal AuNPs, plants, and cancer mainly (i) comprehensive mechanistic aspects of phytochemical-based synthesis of AuNPs; (ii) proposed anti-cancer mechanisms along with biomedical applications in diagnostics, imaging, and drug delivery; and (iii) key challenges for biogenic AuNPs as future cancer nanomedicine.

Selected hepatoprotective herbal medicines: Evidence from ethnomedicinal applications, animal models, and possible mechanism of actions

Insight into the hepatoprotective effects of medicinally important plants is important, both for physicians and researchers. Main reasons for the use of herbal medicine include their lesser cost compared with conventional drugs, lesser undesirable drug reactions and thus high safety, and reduced side effects. The present review focuses on the composition, pharmacology, and results of experimental trials of selected medicinal plants: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Glycyrrhiza glabra, Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Capparis spinosa (L.), Cichorium intybus (L.), Solanum nigrum (L.), Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn., Ginkgo biloba (L.), Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz, Vitex trifolia (L.), Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Cuscuta chinensis (Lam.), Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, and Litsea coreana (H. Lev.). The probable modes of action of these plants include immunomodulation, stimulation of hepatic DNA synthesis, simulation of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase to inhibit oxidation in hepatocytes, reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species by enhancing levels of antioxidants, suppression of ethanol‐induced lipid accumulation, inhibition of nucleic acid polymerases to downregulate viral mRNA transcription and translation, free radical scavenging and reduction of hepatic fibrosis by decreasing the levels of transforming growth factor beta‐1, and collagen synthesis in hepatic cells. However, further research is needed to identify, characterize, and standardize the active ingredients, useful compounds, and their preparations for the treatment of liver diseases.

Development of mannose-anchored thiolated amphotericin B nanocarriers for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.

Aim: Our goal was to improve treatment outcomes for visceral leishmaniasis by designing nanocarriers that improve drug biodistribution and half-life. Thus, long-acting mannose-anchored thiolated chitosan amphotericin B nanocarrier complexes (MTC AmB) were developed and characterized. Materials & methods: A mannose-anchored thiolated chitosan nanocarrier was manufactured and characterized. MTC AmB was examined for cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, uptake and antimicrobial activities. Results: MTC AmB was rod shaped with a size of 362 nm. MTC AmB elicited 90% macrophage viability and 71-fold enhancement in drug uptake compared with native drug. The antileishmanial IC50 for MTC AmB was 0.02 μg/ml compared with 0.26 μg/ml for native drug. Conclusion: These studies show that MTC can serve as a platform for clearance of Leishmania in macrophages.

annihilation of Leishmania by daylight responsive ZnO nanoparticles: a temporal relationship of reactive oxygen species-induced lipid and protein oxidation

Lipid and protein oxidation are well-known manifestations of free radical activity and oxidative stress. The current study investigated extermination of Leishmania tropica promastigotes induced by lipid and protein oxidation with reactive oxygen species produced by PEGylated metal-based nanoparticles. The synthesized photodynamic therapy-based doped and nondoped zinc oxide nanoparticles were activated in daylight that produced reactive oxygen species in the immediate environment. Lipid and protein oxidation did not occur in dark. The major lipid peroxidation derivatives comprised of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, and malondialdehyde whereas water, ethane, methanol, and ethanol were found as the end products. Proteins were oxidized to carbonyls, hydroperoxides, and thiol degrading products. Interestingly, lipid hydroperoxides were produced by more than twofold of the protein hydroperoxides, indicating higher degradation of lipids compared to proteins. The in vitro evidence represented a significant contribution of the involvement of both lipid and protein oxidation in the annihilated antipromastigote effect of nanoparticles.

Advances in nano-delivery systems for doxorubicin: an updated insight

Abstract Doxorubicin (DOX) is the most effective chemotherapeutic drug developed against broad range of cancers such as solid tumours, transplantable leukemias and lymphomas. Conventional DOX-induced cardiotoxicity has limited its use. FDA approved drugs i.e. non-pegylated liposomal (Myocet®) and pegylated liposomal (Doxil®) formulations have no doubt shown comparatively reduced cardiotoxicity, but has raised new toxicity issues. The entrapment of DOX in biocompatible, biodegradable and safe nano delivery systems can prevent its degradation in circulation minimising its toxicity with increased half-life, enhanced pharmacokinetic profile leading to improved patient compliance. In addition, nano delivery systems can actively and passively target the tumour resulting increase in therapeutic index and decreased side effects of drug. Foreseeing the need of a comprehensive review on DOX nanoformulations, in this article we for the first time have given an updated insight on DOX nano delivery systems.

A simple, rapid and sensitive RP-HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous determination of sorafenib & paclitaxel in plasma and pharmaceutical dosage forms: Application to pharmacokinetic study

A simple, economical, fast, and sensitive RP-HPLC-UV method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of Sorafenib and paclitaxel in biological samples and formulations using piroxicam as an internal standard. The experimental conditions were optimized and method was validated according to the standard guidelines. The separation of both the analytes and internal standard was achieved on Discovery HS C18 column (250mm×4.6mm, 5μm) using Acetonitrile and TFA (0.025%) in the ratio of (65:35V/V) as the mobile phase in isocratic mode at a flow rate of 1ml/min, with a wavelength of 245nm and at a column oven temperature of 25°Cin a short run time of 12min. The limits of detection (LLOD) were 5 and 10ng/ml while the limits of quantification (LLOQ) were 10 and 15ng/ml for sorafenib and paclitaxel, respectively. Sorafenib, paclitaxel and piroxicam (IS) were extracted from biological samples by applying acetonitrile as a precipitating and extraction solvent. The method is linear in the range of 15-20,000ng/ml for paclitaxel and 10-5000ng/ml for sorafenib, respectively. The method is sensitive and reliable by considering both of its intra-day and inter-day co-efficient of variance. The method was successfully applied for the quantification of the above mentioned drugs in plasma. The developed method will be applied towards sorafenib and paclitaxel pharmacokinetics studies in animal models.

Wound healing applications of biogenic colloidal silver and gold nanoparticles: recent trends and future prospects

Nanotechnology has emerged as a prominent scientific discipline in the technological revolution of this millennium. The scientific community has focused on the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles as compared to physical and chemical methods due to its eco-friendly nature and high efficacy. Medicinal plants have been proven as the paramount source of various phytochemicals that can be used for the biogenic synthesis of colloidal silver and gold nanoparticles as compared to other living organisms, e.g., microbes and fungi. According to various scientific reports, the biogenic nanoparticles have shown promising potential as wound healing agents. However, not a single broad review article was present that demonstrates the wound healing application of biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles. Foreseeing the overall literature published, we for the first time intended to discuss the current trends in wound healing via biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles. Furthermore, light has been shed on the mechanistic aspects of wound healing along with futuristic discussion on the faith of biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles as potential wound healing agents.

Fabrication of Poly (Butadiene-Block-Ethylene Oxide) Based Amphiphilic Polymersomes: An Approach for Improved Oral Pharmacokinetics of Sorafenib

&NA; Sorafenib (SFN), a hydrophobic anticancer drug, has several limitations predominantly poor aqueous solubility and hepatic first‐pass effect, limiting its oral delivery that results into several other complications. Present study aims to develop Sorafenib loaded polymersomes using poly butadiene block poly ethylene oxide (PB‐b‐PEO), an amphiphilic co‐block polymer. Prior to drug loading, critical aggregate concentration (CAC) of polymer was calculated for stable formulation synthesis. The developed SFN loaded PB‐b‐PEO polymersomes (SFN‐PB‐b‐PEO, test formulation) characterized by DLS and cryo‐TEM showed particle size 282 nm, polydispersity (PDI) of less than 0.29 and membrane thickness of about 20 nm. SFN‐PB‐b‐PEO polymersomes demonstrated encapsulation efficiency of 71% and showed sustained drug release up to 144 h. Formulation remained stable for 3 months in suspension form. In vitro cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells showed 1.7 folds improved toxicity compared to SFN suspension. In addition, oral administration of SFN‐PB‐b‐PEO polymersomes in BALB/c mice showed increased Cmax and AUC0–96 by 1.7 and 2.77‐fold respectively (p < 0.05) compared to those of SFN suspension (reference formulation). Findings suggest that the SFN‐PB‐b‐PEO polymersomes can be a potential candidate for oral delivery of SFN.

In vitro Studies on Cytotoxic, DNA Protecting, Antibiofilm and Antibacterial Effects of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Prepared with Bergenia ciliata Rhizome Extract

BACKGROUND Many health hazardous diseases are caused by clinical pathogens. Drugresistant microbes are one of the major health problems in the world. To overcome the effect of infectious diseases new antimicrobial agent from nature has been explored which is environmentally friendly, less costly and more effective for the development of next-generation drugs. Bergenia ciliata and silver nitrate both have medicinal properties. OBJECTIVES The aim of the current research was to evaluate the cytotoxic, and antibacterial effect of green synthesized nanoparticles using Bergenia ciliata rhizome against clinical bacterial pathogens. METHODS Extract of Bergenia ciliata was prepared by maceration technique. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Bergenia ciliata rhizome extract. Synthesized silver nanoparticles were confirmed by UV-vis spectrophotometer, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The antibacterial, anti-biofilm, cell proliferation inhibition, DNA protection, brine shrimp lethality effects of synthesized nanoparticles were investigated. RESULTS UV-vis spectrophotometer indicated the prelaminar synthesis of silver nanoparticles at 400 nm. The spherical shape of synthesized nanoparticles with 35 nm size was confirmed using SEM. Greatest zone of inhibition (6.0 ± 0.0 mm to 8.3 ± 0.57 mm) was recorded against all tested pathogens compared with the B. ciliata aqueous extract. Anti-biofilm analysis and MTT assay supported the results of the antibacterial activity. Silver nanoparticles protect the DNA degradation. CONCLUSION Green synthesized nanoparticles had potent antibacterial activity and may provide a basis for the development of the new antibacterial drug.