In this study, we investigated whether ZnO coating on Ag nanoparticles (NPs) tunes electron flux and hole figuration at the metal-semiconductor interface under UV radiation. This effect triggers the photoactivity and generation of reactive oxygen species from Ag@ZnO NPs, which results in enhanced cytotoxic effects and apoptotic cell death in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB231). In this context, upregulation of apoptotic cascade proteins (i.e., Bax/Bcl2 association, p53, cytochrome c, and caspase-3) along with activation of oxidative stress proteins suggested the occurrence of apoptosis by Ag@ZnO NPs in cancer cells through the mitochondrial pathway. Also, preincubation of breast cancer cells with Ag@ZnO NPs in dark conditions muted NP-related toxic effects and consequent apoptotic fate, highlighting biocompatible properties of unexcited Ag@ZnO NPs. Furthermore, the diagnostic efficacy of Ag@ZnO NPs as computed tomography (CT)/optical nanoprobes was investigated. Results confirmed the efficacy of the photoactivated system in obtaining desirable outcomes from CT/optical imaging, which represents novel theranostic NPs for simultaneous imaging and treatment of cancer.

Indirubin, an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, is considered as an anti-cancer agent. However, due to its hydrophobic nature, clinical efficiency has been limited. Drug delivery via nanotechnology techniques open new windows toward treatment of cancerous patients. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most severe and common type of brain primary tumors. Of common problems in targeting therapies of glioblastoma is the availability of drug in tumoric tissues. In this study, Indirubin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared and their therapeutic potentials and antitumoric effects were assessed on GBM cell line (U87MG). The SLNs were prepared with Cetyl palmitate and Polysorbat 80 via high-pressure homogenization (HPH) methods in hot mode. Then, properties of SLNs including size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficacy (EE %) and drug loading were characterized. SLNs morphology and size were observed using SEM and TEM. The crystalinity of formulation was determined by different scattering calorimetry (DSC). The amount of drug release and antitumor efficiency were evaluated at both normal brain pH of 7.2 and tumoric pH of 6.8. The prapared SLNs had mean size of 130 nm, zeta potential of -16 mV and EE of 99.73%. The results of DSC showed proper encapsulation of drug into SLNs. Drug release assessment in both pH displayed sustain release property. The result of MTT test exhibited a remarkable increment in antitumor activity of Indirubin loaded SLN in comparison with free form of drug and blank SLN on multiform GB. This study indicated that Indirubin loaded SLNs could act as a useful anticancer drugs.

In this study, an attempt was made to develop bi-functional constructs serving both as scaffolds and potential delivery systems for application in neural tissue engineering. The constructs were prepared in two steps. In the first step, the bulks of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) in 1, 4-dioxane/water (87:13) were fabricated using liquid-liquid thermally induced phase separation technique. In the next step, the prepared bulks were coated with chitosan nanoparticles produced by two different techniques of ultrasonication and ionic gelation by grafting-coating technique. In ultrasonication technique, the chitosan solution (2 mg/mL) in acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer (90:10) was irradiated by an ultrasound generator at 20 kHz and power output of 750 W for 100 s. In ionic gelation technique, the tripolyphosphate in water solution (1 mg/mL) was added to the same chitosan solution. The physicochemical properties of the products were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform-Infrared, liquid displacement technique, contact angle measurement, compressive and tensile tests, as well as zeta potential and particle size analysis using dynamic light scattering. Moreover, the cell proliferation and attachment on the scaffolds were evaluated through human glioblastoma cell line (U-87 MG) and human neuroblastoma cell line [BE (2)-C] culture respectively. The results showed that the samples coated with chitosan nanoparticles prepared by ultrasonication possessed enhanced hydrophilicity, biodegradation and cytocompatibility compared with pure PLLA and PLLA coated with chitosan nanoparticles prepared by ionic gelation. This study suggests successful nanoparticles-scaffold systems which can act simultaneously as potential delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds.

Aim: In the current in vitro study, we tried to examine the possible role of resveratrol as a sensitizer in combination with radiotherapy or hyperthermia. Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy for women and one of the most common worldwide. It has been suggested that using non-invasive radiotherapy alone cannot eliminate cancer cells. Hyperthermia which is an adjuvant modality induces cancer cell death mainly through apoptosis and necrosis. However, cancer cells can also develop resistance to this modality. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine possible potentiation of apoptosis when MCF-7 cells treated with resveratrol before hyperthermia or radiotherapy. Method: MCF-7 cancer cells were treated with different doses of resveratrol to achieve IC50%. Afterwards, cells treated with the achieved concentration of resveratrol were exposed to radiation or hyperthermia. Proliferation, apoptosis and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes were evaluated using flow cytometry, MTT assay and real-time PCR. Results for each combination therapy were compared to radiotherapy or hyperthermia without resveratrol. Results: Both irradiation or hyperthermia could reduce viability of MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the regulation of Bax and caspase genes increased, while Bcl-2 gene expression reduced. Resveratrol potentiated the effects of radiation and hyperthermia on MCF-7 cells. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that resveratrol is able to induce the regulation of pro-apoptotic genes and attenuate the viability of MCF-7 cells. This may indicate the sensitizing effect of resveratrol in combination with both radiotherapy and hyperthermia.

In this study, biological properties of the essential oil isolated from seeds of Foeniculum vulgare (F. vulgare) were evaluated. GC-MS analysis revealed Trans-Anethole (80.63%), L-Fenchone (11.57%), Estragole (3.67%) and Limonene (2.68%) were the major compounds of the essential oil. Antibacterial activity of the essential oil against nine Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains was studied using disc diffusion and micro-well dilution assays. Essential oil exhibited the antibacterial activity against three Gram-negative strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Shigella dysenteriae. The preliminary study on toxicity of seed oil was performed using Brine Shrimp lethality test (BSLT). Results indicated the high toxicity effect of essential oil (LC50 = 10 μg/mL). In vitro anticancer activity of seed oil was investigated against human breast cancer (MDA-Mb) and cervical epithelioid carcinoma (Hela) cell lines by MTT assay. Results showed the seed oil behave as a very potent anticancer agent with IC50 of lower than 10 μg/mL in both cases.