Carbohydrate polymer-based nanocomposites for breast cancer treatment

Microgels with Immobilized Glycosyltransferases for Enzymatic Glycan Synthesis

Glycans, composed of linked monosaccharides, play crucial roles in biology and find diverse applications. Enhancing their enzymatic synthesis can be achieved by immobilizing enzymes on materials such as microgels. Here, we present microgels with immobilized glycosyltransferases, synthesized through droplet microfluidics, immobilizing enzymes either via encapsulation or postattachment. SpyTag-SpyCatcher interaction was used for enzyme binding, among others. Fluorescamine and permeability assays confirmed enzyme immobilization and microgel porosity, while enzymatic activities were determined using HPLC. The potential application of microgels in cascade reactions involving multiple enzymes was demonstrated by combining β4GalT and α3GalT in an enzymatic reaction with high yields. Moreover, a cascade of β4GalT and β3GlcNAcT was successfully implemented. These results pave the way toward a modular membrane bioreactor for automated glycan synthesis containing the presented biocatalytic microgels.

Bioengineered Smart Nanocarriers for Breast Cancer Treatment: Adorned Carbon-Based Nanocomposites with Silver and Palladium Complexes for Efficient Drug Delivery

Biocompatible and bioactive carbon-based nanocomposites are ingeniously designed and fabricated with the aim of enhancing drug delivery applicability in breast cancer treatment. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are utilized as nanocarriers for increasing penetrability into cells and the loading capacity. What sets our study apart is the strategic incorporation of the two different complexes of silver (AgL2) and palladium (PdL2) with the carboxamide-based ligand C9H7N3OS (L), which have been synthesized and decorated on nanocarriers alongside doxorubicin (DOX) for stabilizing DOX by π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. Although DOX is a well-known cancer therapy agent, the efficacy of DOX is hindered owing to drug resistance, poor internalization, and limited site specificity. Aside from stabilizing DOX on nanocarriers, our carbon-based nanocarriers are tailored to act as a precision-guided missile, strategically by adorning with target-sensitive complexes. Based on the literature, carboxamide ligands can connect to overexpressed receptors on cancerous cells and inhibit them from proliferation signaling. Also, the complexes have an antibacterial activity that can control the infection caused by decreasing white blood cells and necrosis of cancerous cells. A high-concentration cytotoxicity assay revealed that decorating PdL2 on a DOX-containing nanocarrier not only increased cytotoxicity to breast cancerous cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) but also revealed higher cell viability on a normal cell line (MCF-10A). The drug release screening results showed that the presence of PdL2 led to 72 h correlate release behavior in acidic and physiological pH profiles, while the AgL2-containing nanocomposite showed an analogue behavior for just 6 h and the release of DOX continued and after about 100 h hit the top.

Multifunctional nanoparticles for enhanced sonodynamic-chemodynamic immunotherapy with glutathione depletion

Aim: This study aimed to develop a sonodynamic-chemodynamic nanoparticle functioning on glutathione depletion in tumor immunotherapy. Materials & methods: The liposome-encapsulated 2,2-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride (AIPH) and copper-cysteine nanoparticles, AIPH/Cu-Cys@Lipo, were synthesized with a one-pot method. 4T1 cells were injected into female BALB/c mice for modeling. Results: AIPH/Cu-Cys@Lipo was well synthesized. It generated alkyl radicals upon ultrasound stimulation. AIPH/Cu-Cys@Lipo promoted the generation of -OH via a Fenton-like reaction. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments verified that AIPH/Cu-Cys@Lipo significantly inhibited tumor development by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, activating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and promoting the expression of IL-2 and TNF-α. Conclusion: AIPH/Cu-Cys@Lipo provides high-quality strategies for safe and effective tumor immunotherapy.

Nanoparticles and nanofiltration for wastewater treatment: From polluted to fresh water

Water pollution poses significant threats to both ecosystems and human health. Mitigating this issue requires effective treatment of domestic wastewater to convert waste into bio-fertilizers and gas. Neglecting liquid waste treatment carries severe consequences for health and the environment. This review focuses on intelligent technologies for water and wastewater treatment, targeting waterborne diseases. It covers pollution prevention and purification methods, including hydrotherapy, membrane filtration, mechanical filters, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and copper-zinc cleaning. The article also highlights domestic purification, field techniques, heavy metal removal, and emerging technologies like nanochips, graphene, nanofiltration, atmospheric water generation, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs)-based cleaning. Emphasizing water cleaning's significance for ecosystem protection and human health, the review discusses pollution challenges and explores the integration of wastewater treatment, coagulant processes, and nanoparticle utilization in management. It advocates collaborative efforts and innovative research for freshwater preservation and pollution mitigation. Innovative biological systems, combined with filtration, disinfection, and membranes, can elevate recovery rates by up to 90%, surpassing individual primary (<10%) or biological methods (≤50%). Advanced treatment methods can achieve up to 95% water recovery, exceeding UN goals for clean water and sanitation (Goal 6). This progress aligns with climate action objectives and safeguards vital water-rich habitats (Goal 13). The future holds promise with advanced purification techniques enhancing water quality and availability, underscoring the need for responsible water conservation and management for a sustainable future.

Novel biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles for multifunctional applications: Electrochemical detection of hydrazine and treatment of gastric cancer

In this work, an environmentally friendly strategy was used to synthesize gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using Olea europaea (olive) fruit. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the synthesized NPs. An Au NPs modified glassy carbon electrode was used to investigate the direct electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine. The suggested hydrazine sensor has good performance, such as a wide linear range (2.5-275 μM), low limit of detection (0.09 μM), notable selectivity and excellent reproducibility (RSD = 2.2%). The in-vitro cytotoxicity of three human cancer cell lines (KATOIII, NCI-N87, and SNU-16) was also explored with various concentrations of Au NPs prepared from olive fruit extract. Bio-synthesized Au NPs were found to have cytotoxic properties against gastric cancer in humans based on MTT assay protocol. The obtained results show that green synthesized Au NPs can be successfully employed in electrochemical sensing and cancer treatment applications.

Novel biogenic preparation of gold nanoparticles decorated on sepiolite clay and evaluation of anti-cancer effect on gastric cancer cell and electrochemical sensing of nitrite

An environmentally friendly strategy was used in this study to synthesize gold nanoparticles decorated on sepiolite clay (GNPs-SC) using Heracleum persicum grass extract. The physicochemical characters of the prepared composite were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A GNPs-SC modified carbon pate electrode (CPE) was used to study the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite. The proposed nitrite sensor exhibits excellent performance, including a broad linear range (1.0-150 μM), a low limit of detection (0.4 μM), and acceptable reproducibility (RSD = 2.6%). As well, the prepared GNPs-SC was tested for its effectiveness against human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. The MTT assay protocol revealed that the bio-synthesized product displayed significant cytotoxic activity against gastric cancer in human subjects. The findings of this study indicate that GNPs-SC, synthesized using environmentally friendly protocol, exhibit great potential for use in electrochemical sensing and treatment of human cancer.

Tumor selective self-assembled nanomicelles of carbohydrate-epothilone B conjugate for targeted chemotherapy

Epothilone B (Epo B) is a potent antitumor natural product with sub-nanomolar anti-proliferation action against several human cancer cells. However, poor selectivity to tumor cells and unacceptable therapeutic windows of Epo B and its analogs are the major obstacles to their development into clinical drugs. Herein, we present self-assembled nanomicelles based on an amphiphilic carbohydrate-Epo B conjugate that is inactive until converted to active Epo B within the tumor. Four Epo B-Rhamnose conjugates linked via two linkers containing a disulfide bond that is sensitive to GSH were synthesized. Conjugate 34 can self-assemble into nanomicelles with a high concentration of Rha on the surface, allowing for better tumor targeting. After internalization by cancer cells, the disulfide bond can be cleaved in the presence of high levels of GSH to release active Epo B, thereby exhibiting significant anticancer efficiency and selectivity in vitro and in vivo.

Smart Radiotherapy Biomaterials for Image-Guided In Situ Cancer Vaccination

Recent studies have highlighted the potential of smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs) for combining radiotherapy and immunotherapy. These SRBs include smart fiducial markers and smart nanoparticles made with high atomic number materials that can provide requisite image contrast during radiotherapy, increase tumor immunogenicity, and provide sustained local delivery of immunotherapy. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in this area of research, the challenges and opportunities, with a focus on in situ vaccination to expand the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of both local and metastatic disease. A roadmap for clinical translation is outlined with a focus on specific cancers where such an approach is readily translatable or will have the highest impact. The potential of FLASH radiotherapy to synergize with SRBs is discussed including prospects for using SRBs in place of currently used inert radiotherapy biomaterials such as fiducial markers, or spacers. While the bulk of this review focuses on the last decade, in some cases, relevant foundational work extends as far back as the last two and half decades.