Curcumin was loaded into different polysaccharide nanoparticles chitosan, alginate and starch, using the desolvation method. Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles exhibited enhanced solubility in aqueous solutions comparing with free curcumin. Effects of formulation parameters such as curcumin concentration and different volumes of ethanolic solution were affected the particle size and loading efficiency. Under optimum conditions, curcumin-loaded chitosan, starch and alginate nanoparticles with mean particles sizes of 66.3, 61.1 and 78.8nm, and maximum loading efficiencies of 11.9%, 14.3% and 13.35% were achieved, respectively. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentration for chitosan, starch and alginate nanoparticles against the microorganism, Streptococcus mutans, were 0.114, 0.204 and 0.204mg/mL, respectively. Curcumin was observed to release from nanoparticles under physiological pH over a period of 96h. The effect of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles on S. mutans biofilms was assessed on dental models. According to the results, curcumin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles hold promises for being used in dental decay fighting products.

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Pharmacological treatments of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have side effects. We compared the efficacy and safety of the aerial parts of wood botany (AWB) with those of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in the management of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) due to PCOS. We conducted a randomized clinical trial of 66 women aged 15-45 years, with AUB. Participants were randomly assigned to either cyclical 10-mg BD MPA for three cycles or 5 g ABW TDS for three months. Clinical symptoms and paraclinical parameters were recorded before and 3 months after initiation of the treatment. Comparisons were made using generalized linear models. Age-adjusted prevalence rate of different patterns of AUB, decreased from 2.7 (95%CIs: 0.6-48.0) to 1.1 (95%CIs: 0.1-18.3) for patients taking MPA, and from 2.5 (95% CIs: 0.2-40.2) to 0.7 (95%CIs: 0.0-12.1). Decrease in prevalence rate was similar across two arms of the study (P value = 0.248). Adverse effects were observed less frequently (24.2%) among participants on MPA than among those on AWB (45.5%). The multivariate-adjusted odds for developing adverse reaction of MPA was 0.40 (95%CIs: 0.14-1.19, P value = 0.099) time odds of AWB. In conclusion, AWB may be used as an alternative for MPA in the treatment of AUB caused by PCOS.

In this paper, we have reported a facile strategy to fabricate a core/shell/shell structured CuO@ZnO@CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite with enhanced UV-light-driven photocatalytic activity that is capable of fast magnetic separation. Photocatalytic examination of the as-prepared photocatalyst was carried out using methylene blue (MB) solution under UV irradiation. A hypothesized reaction mechanism was presented, showing the intro-duction of CuO into ZnO@CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite facilitates charge separation by trapping photo-generated electrons, therefore improves the photocatalytic properties. The resultant multifunctional nanocomposite was thoroughly characterized by a series of techniques including XRD, EDX, FTIR, SEM, TEM and VSM.

Introdution: The aim of this research was optimization curcumin characteristics for oral hygiene application. Curcumin-loaded starch nano-particles were developed for enhancing adhesion propery with enamel surface and best anti-bacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans. Methods: The study was the experimental one. The nanoparticles synthesize was based on precipitation and ionic gelation method. Nanoparticles characterization was done by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and determination of zeta potential. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was assessed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles against Streptococcus mutans. The binding amount of nanoparticles to hydroxyapatite was evaluated and finally, the curcumin release from the nanoparticles was also assayed. Results: The average size of optimized starch nanoparticles were 61.1 nm. Also, zeta potential was -14.7, mV. Loading contents of nanoparticles were 24.59% measured by optical density from standard calibration curve of curcumin. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nanoparticles against Streptococcus mutans, was 0.204 and 0.438 mg/mL for starch nanoparticles and pure curcumin, respectively. It was also found that starch nanoparticles had inhibitory effect on bacterial biofilm. Conclusion: Curcumin-loaded starch nano-particles improve adhesion properties and interactions with enamel and prevent dental caries of Streptococcus mutans.