Paclitaxel (PTX) and anastrozole (ANA) have been frequently applied in breast cancer treatment. PTX is well-known for its anti-proliferative effect meanwhile ANA has just been discovered to act as an estrogen receptor α (ERα) ligand. The combination therapy of PTX and ANA is expected to improve treating efficiency, as ANA would act as a ligand binding with the ERα gene expressed in breast cancer cells and thereafter PTX would inhibit the division and cause death to those cancer cells. In this study, liposome-based nanocarriers (LP) were developed for co-encapsulation of PTX and ANA to improve the efficacy of the combined drugs in an Estrogen receptor-responsive breast cancer study. PTX-ANA co-loaded LP was prepared using thin lipid film hydration method and was characterized for morphology, size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation and in vitro drug release. In addition, cell proliferation (WST assay) and IN Cell Analyzer were used for in vitro cytotoxicity studies on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Results showed that the prepared LP and PTX-ANA-LP had spherical vesicles, with a mean particle size of 170.1 ± 13.5 nm and 189.0 ± 22.1 nm, respectively. Controlled and sustained releases were achieved at 72 h for both of the loaded drugs. The in vitro cytotoxicity study found that the combined drugs showed higher toxicity than each single drug separately. These results suggested a new approach to breast cancer treatment, consisting of the combination therapy of PTX and ANA in liposomes based on ER response.

In this study, NiO/chitosan (NiO/CS) nanocomposite was synthesized via a green method in which nickel nitrate hexahydrate as a precursor and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) peel extract as a reducing agent using an ultrasound-assisted coprecipitation method. The NiO/CS nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. NiO/CS nanocomposite had a cubic spinel structure and contained NiO nanoparticles with good crystallinity. The appearance of the Ni–O band at 465 cm−1 in the FTIR spectrum confirmed the formation of NiO. The NiO/CS nanocomposite sizes ranged from 14–30 nm with an average particle size of 28 nm. Magnetic characterization results show that the saturation magnetism is quite high, contributing to NiO/CS being available in many applications. The antibacterial efficacy of NiO/CS nanocomposites was tested against Saccharomyces cerevisiae along with Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria using the disc diffusion method and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

Spectrophotometric studies of base and complexation properties of 5,10,15,20-tetra(trifluoromethyl)porphine and  5,10,15,20-tetra(iso-butyl)porphine were carried out in systems acetonitrile – HClO4  and CH3COOH – Cu(ОАc)2. It was found that under ligands titration with perchloric acid in acetonitrile the consecutive protonating of nitrogen atoms of pyrrolic rings occurs with formation of mono – and dicationic forms. Electron absorption spectra may be obtained for these cationic forms. Total basicity constants and concentration intervals of existence of ligands ionized forms in acetonitrile were determined. Kinetic parameters of copper(II) complex formation was measured. The influence of nature of meso-position substituents of porphyrin macrocycle on reactivity of tetrapyrrolic macrocycle was dicussed.