Rubbel Singla

In situ functionalized nanobiocomposites dressings of bamboo cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles for accelerated wound healing

An innovative approach was adopted where in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from leaf extract mediated reduction of AgNO3 were simultaneously impregnated into the matrix of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) isolated from Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Bambusa bambos leaves, for formation of nanobiocomposites (NCs) in film and ointment forms. Here, use of plant CNCs was chosen as an alternate to bacterial cellulose for wound dressings. NCs possessing water absorption capacity and strong antibacterial activity showed synergistic effect on in vivo skin wound healing and documented faster and significant wound closure in treated mice. NCs exhibited lesser inflammation and early vasculogenesis at day 3 coupled with increased fibroblasts and collagen content at day 8 leading to faster neo-epithelization by day 14. Highly effective, biocompatible, and easy to apply NCs wound dressings (ointment and films) containing low amounts of Ag (0.05±0.01wt%) are potential candidates for effective skin repair.

In vivo diabetic wound healing potential of nanobiocomposites containing bamboo cellulose nanocrystals impregnated with silver nanoparticles

In diabetes, hyperglycemic state immensely hinders the wound healing. Here, nanobiocomposites (NCs) developed by impregnation of in situ prepared silver nanoparticles in the matrix of bamboo cellulose nanocrystals were investigated for their ability to hasten the progress of healing events in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice model. Wounds treated with topically applied NCs (hydrogels) showed full recovery (98-100%) within 18days post wounding in contrast to the various control groups where incomplete healing (88-92%) was noticed. Biochemical estimations documented a marked decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α leading to decreased inflammation in NCs treated mice. Significantly increased expression of collagen and growth factors (FGF, PDGF, VEGF) upon NCs treatment resulted in improved re-epithelialization, vasculogenesis and collagen deposition as compared to control groups. Hence, developed nanobiocomposites showcased potential to serve as highly effective and biocompatible wound dressings for diabetic patients.

Cytocompatible Anti-microbial Dressings of S yzygium cumini Cellulose Nanocrystals Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles Accelerate Acute and Diabetic Wound Healing

The ever increasing incidences of non-healing skin wounds have paved way for many efforts on the convoluted process of wound healing. Unfortunately, the lack of relevance and success of modern wound dressings in healing of acute and diabetic wounds still remains a matter of huge concern. Here, an in situ three step approach was embraced for the development of nanocomposite (NCs) dressings by impregnating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto a matrix of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) isolated from Syzygium cumini leaves using an environmental friendly approach. Topical application of NCs (ointments and strips) on acute and diabetic wounds of mice documented enhanced tissue repair (~99% wound closure) via decrease in inflammation; increase in angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and rate of neo-epithelialization that ultimately led to formation of aesthetically sound skin in lesser time than controls. Due to the synergistic action of CNCs (having high water uptake capacity) and AgNPs (anti-microbial agents), NCs tend to increase the expression of essential growth factors (FGF, PDGF and VEGF) and collagen while decreasing the pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) at the same time, thus accelerating healing. The results suggested the potential of these developed anti-microbial, cytocompatible and nanoporous NCs having optimized AgNPs concentration as ideal dressings for effective wound management.

Liposomal and Phytosomal Formulations

Liposomes and phytosomes are kind of nanoparticles (NPs) which serve as an imperative tool for the delivery of various bioactive molecules. The molecules possessing lesser water solubility, bioavailability and retention time are encapsulated into both of these formulations. More specifically, liposomes can encapsulate both hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic molecules. While phytosomes contain only plant-based molecules having poor solubility in biological media like flavanones and terpenes. The various advantages of liposomes and phytosomes like biocompatibility, nontoxicity, ease to administer, decrease in dosage and increase in retention time make them potent vehicles for the drug delivery of various molecules. These nanoformulations find potential applications for delivery of various bioactive molecules, in tissue regeneration and as antimicrobials. This chapter highlights the importance of liposomes and phytosomes, methods of their preparation, mechanism of their action and applications.

Metallic Nanoparticles, Toxicity Issues and Applications in Medicine

The metallic nanoparticles (NPs) and their synthetic biology are an active area fascinating both the academics as well as scientific research applications in the field of nanotechnology. These nanostructures are a versatile class of materials such as metal NPs, metal oxide NPs, magnetic NPs and quantum dots for biomedical sciences and engineering due to their huge potential. A handful number of methods are adopted for the synthesis of one or the other kind of metal NPs which includes physical and chemical approaches. Each of the chemical and physical synthesis procedures deals with some limitations such as cost ineffectiveness, use of hazardous chemicals, formation of toxic end products and involvement of high-energy processes. To overcome these drawbacks, an alternative approach of environmentally benign and inexpensive biological synthesis mediated by plants or microbes has been essentially adopted. The variations in size, shape and surface chemistry of NPs affect the properties of metal NPs to a greater extent which in turn have an influence on their biological behaviour. Few metal NPs offer unique optical properties while others possess paramagnetic behaviour and quantum size effect which make them suitable in bio-imaging diagnostic techniques. Some metallic NPs play a role in tissue engineering and other therapeutic applications due to their ease of surface modifications, large surface area to volume ratio, unique electrical and anti-microbial activities. Instead of multi-disciplinary applications of metallic NPs, there is a great concern regarding the toxicity issues associated with the use of these NPs which need to be sorted out by looking out certain ways for favourable architecture involving the synthesis methods and parameters for designing the non-toxic NPs for improving the quality of life.

Role of Bacteria in Nanocompound Formation and Their Application in Medical

Nanotechnology has now reached to a stage where the nanoparticles (NPs) have been in applicability in wide-ranging realms of science and technology. NPs are the materials with at least one dimension in the order of 100 nm or less. NPs display astonishing properties of high surface/volume ratio and enhanced physical, chemical, optical, and thermal properties which are extremely different than their bulk materials. The conventional methods of synthesis of nanocompounds involve the employment of physical and chemical methods, which have few drawbacks such as the requirement of toxic hazardous chemicals, energy intensive, and costly processes make it difficult to be widely implemented. To overcome these limitations, the researchers have looked forward for an easy and feasible alternative approach for the synthesis of nanocompounds. The employment of alternative biogenic route for the NP synthesis by using biological entities of unicellular living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes has sought apparent attention of the scientists throughout the global earth. A greener approach interconnecting nanobiology with microbial biotechnology is responsible for the formation of NPs mediated by microbes that allow synthesis in aqueous environment, with low energy consumption and at low costs. Biosynthesis of gold, silver, copper, quantum dots, and magnetite NPs by bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and yeasts has been reported. In a view to form noble metal NPs of uniform shape and size, biological routes using microbial cultures at optimal temperature, pressure, and pH have been formulated. In this chapter, the main focus is given on the intracellular and extracellular approaches used for synthesis of metallic NPs by various microbial species. A detailed discussion is provided to explain the various factors which affect the synthesis of nanocompounds to further augment the growth rate of NPs as well as the mechanism of action at the cellular, biochemical, and molecular level. A great stress is given on the role of these nanocompounds in the medical field for the diagnostic and disease treatment. The potential of great biodiversity of microbial cultures as biological candidates leading to the manufacturing of NPs is needed to be fully investigated.

Sustained delivery of BSA/HSA from biocompatible plant cellulose nanocrystals for in vitro cholesterol release from endothelial cells

Nanocomposites of plant cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were developed by binding model proteins BSA and HSA onto CNCs by physical adsorption and chemical conjugation methods The spectroscopy and microscopy studies confirmed the protein binding onto CNCs. Phosphate buffer saline (pH=4.0, 7.4) and simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF/SIF; pH=1.1/6.5) showed maximum protein release of ∼62% over a period of time. The released proteins were found to retain both structural integrity as well as≥90% of bioactivity. Further, these cytocompatible nanocomposites showed ∼58-85% cholesterol release from HUVEC whereas no selectivity was observed for HCAEC. It is speculated that due to the presence of combination of shuttles (albumins) and sinks (CNCs and albumins), these prepared nanocomposites with increased cholesterol effluxing ability may serve as a potential candidate for future biomedical applications in pharmaceuticals.

Nanoscale Materials in Targeted Drug Delivery

Nanoscale materials (NSMs) are gaining attention due to their small size and unique physiochemical properties. Different approaches are used for the synthesis of NSMs. NSMs cannot be visualized by ordinary instruments. Instruments with high resolution are required for their characterisation. NSMs offer enhanced activity and specificity to encapsulate drugs. NSM are used as vehicles for site specific delivery of drugs inside the body. In this chapter, approaches for the synthesis of NSMs, and characterisation techniques for NSMs like SEM, TEM, AFM, DLS, XRD, and FTIR have been explained briefly. In addition, this chapter also covers zero dimensional one dimensional, two dimensional and three dimensional NSMs briefly. Detailed information about approaches of targeted delivery like passive and active have been covered in this chapter. NSMs like polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, liposomes, quantum dots, polymeric micelles, carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, and magnetic nanoparticles used in targeted drug delivery have also been explained in this chapter.

Nanocellulose and Nanocomposites

Nanocellulose is a class of fascinating bio-based nanomaterials with dimensions from few nanometers up to several micrometers depending upon the type of cellulosic fibers obtained from the source. Cellulose is a biopolymer present in huge amounts in the biosphere that mainly include the cell walls of green plants, bacteria, fungi, and tunicates. The isolation of nanocellulosic fibers is done by various methods like enzymatic methods, chemical methods, and chemical combined with mechanical methods. A large number of parameters like methodology used for isolation, source of cellulose, age, and reaction parameters affect the physicochemical properties of nanocellulose. Nanocellulose show unique features like biocompatibility, abundance in nature, high thermal stability, great mechanical, chemical, and physical properties which make them a suitable candidate for applicability as reinforcing agents in nanocomposites formation. The nanocellulose also plays a great role in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and repair of organs. This chapter mainly deals with detailed description of nanocellulose, types, sources, and methodologies opted for isolation, properties, and surface modifications. The applications of nanocellulose in the medical are also covered to make nanocellulose as a potential candidate to serve humankind.

Cellular Response of Therapeutic Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) are being extensively used in the field of nanomedicines. Different types of NPs are administered into the body by various routes. NPs come in contact with cells inside the body. Cellular response of NPs is affected by size, shape, surface chemistry, and cellular uptake pathways of NPs. In addition to this, type of cells, various cell lines, and growth media are also found to affect the cellular response of NPs. NPs induce diverse cellular responses like apoptosis, necrosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. NPs also form a protein corona inside the biological media which may alter their identity and behaviour as compared to bare NPs. In this chapter, we have made an attempt to throw light on cellular uptake pathways of NPs, monitoring of endocytic pathways followed by NPs, factors affecting cellular responses of therapeutic NPs, and protein corona formation, characterisation and its implications on fate of NPs.