There has been a great deal of attention and research devoted on nanoparticels (NPs) over the last 10 years. From current knowledge in the field of nanotoxicology, it has become evident that the most NPs, if not all are more toxic than bulk materials. The rapid progress and developing has been leading to concerns about the potential risk associated with the use and application of NPs on human health and the environment. Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are one of the most available and commercially distributed nanomaterials around the world. In order to understand how human health can be affected by SNPs, quantification and detection of SNPs in biological systems have to be conducted in different models. It seems that respiratory and gastrointestinal systems as well as the skin are the major routes of SNPs penetration into the body. Research on SNPs toxicity is mostly conducted in vitro, and the available human and animal data are relatively limited. This review attempts to focus on the characterization and quantification of the potential harmful effects of SNPs on human health.

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BackgroundSelective delivery of anticancer agents to target areas in the body is desirable to minimize the side effects while maximizing the therapeutic efficacy. Anthracycline antibiotics such as doxorubicin (DOX) are widely used for treatment of a wide variety of solid tumors.This study evaluated the potential of a polymeric micellar formulation of doxorubicin as a nanocarrier system for targeted therapy of a folate-receptor positive human ovarian cancer cell in line.ResultsDOX-conjugated targeting and non-targeting micelles prepared by the dialysis method were about 188 and 182 nm in diameter, respectively and their critical micelle concentration was 9.55 μg/ml. The DOX-conjugated micelles exhibited a potent cytotoxicity against SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, the targeting micelles showed higher cytotoxicity than that of non-targeting ones (IC50 = 4.65 μg/ml vs 13.51 μg/ml).ConclusionThe prepared micelle is expected to increase the efficacy of DOX against cancer cells and reduce its side effects.

Purpose: The present study investigates the effects of myricitrin and solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) containing myricitrin on the reproductive system of type 2 diabetic male mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, SLN containing myricitrin was prepared by the cold homogenization method. Then, 90 adult male Naval Medical Research Institute mice were divided into 9 groups (n=10): control, vehicle, diabetic, diabetic+myricitrin or SLN containing myricitrin 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) 15 minutes after nicotinamide (120 mg/kg) injection. Myricitrin and SLN containing myricitrin administered during 1 month. At the 34th days of the experiment, plasma and tissue samples were taken for experimental assessments. Results: Testis weight and volume decreased in the diabetic group. These variables increased in diabetic treated mice by a high dose of myricitrin or all doses of SLN containing myricitrin (p<0.05). Total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase levels decreased in diabetic mice, and administration of myricitrin 10 mg/kg or all doses of SLN containing myricitrin increased them (p<0.05). Luteinizing hormone, Follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and sperm count decreased in the diabetic group, treatment with a high dose of myricitrin or all doses of SLN containing myricitrin recovered them (p<0.05). Diabetes induced vacuoles and apoptosis in testicular cells, meanwhile myricitrin and SLN containing myricitrin improved them (p<0.05). Conclusions: Diabetes induced reproductive problem via increased oxidative stress and decrease antioxidant capacity, administration of myricitrin or SLN containing myricitrin improved them. Further, SLN containing myricitrin was more potent than myricitrin.