Facile preparation of a cost-effective platform based on ZnFe2O4 nanomaterials for electrochemical cell detection

Label-free electrochemical assessment of human serum and cancer cells to determine the folate receptor cancer biomarker

The folate receptor (FR) is a well-known biomarker that is overexpressed in many cancer cells, making it a valuable target for cancer diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. However, identifying cancer biomarkers remains a challenge due to factors such as lengthy procedures, high costs, and low sensitivity. This study presents the development of a novel, cost-effective biosensor designed for the detection of FR. To overcome the limitations of traditional immunological methods, which rely on antigen-antibody interactions, we utilized a charge-based affinity approach. Folic acid (FA) was conjugated with poly (diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) using an EDC-NHS linker on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The biosensor enabled electrochemical detection of FR through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), achieving an impressive detection limit of 1.6 pg/mL and a dynamic range of 1-10,000 ng/mL. Additionally, the biosensor exhibited excellent stability (30 days), high selectivity, and repeatability (RSD = 3.14 %, n = 5). This work presents a promising strategy for developing ligand-receptor-based biosensors. It paves the way for future applications in cancer diagnostics and biosystem interfaces, offering high performance and practical advantages.

Recent advances in targeting cancer stem cells by using nanomaterials

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a special group of cells that start, regenerate, and maintain the growth of tumors. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to the dissemination of tumors, their recurrence following treatment, and the mechanisms by which cancers develop resistance to therapies. CSCs reside in a unique microenvironment influenced by a variety of factors from their immediate surroundings. These factors include low oxygen levels, too much new blood vessel growth, a shift in how cells use energy from breathing oxygen to breaking down glucose, and an increase in certain markers and signals related to stem cells that help remove drugs from the body. Antibodies and special molecules that focus on the unique features keeping the environment stable are used to deliver cancer treatments to CSCs. As a result, nanoparticles are extremely effective in delivering drugs that combat cancer directly to cancer stem cells. Right now, stem cell nanotechnology is a new and interesting area of study. Some experiments on how stem cells interact with tiny structures or materials have shown good results. The importance of tiny structures and materials in creating treatments using stem cells for diseases and injuries has been clearly understood. The way nanomaterials are built and their characteristics influence how stem cells grow and change. This area of study is a new and exciting field where material science meets medicine. This review talks about the biology of CSCs and new ways to create nanoparticles (NPs) that can deliver cancer drugs specifically to these CSCs. This review talks about the creation of different types of tiny particles, including synthetic and natural polymer particles, lipid particles, inorganic particles, protein particles that can assemble themselves, combined antibody-drug particles, and small bubbles called nanovesicles, all aimed at targeting cancer stem cells. This paper talks about recent progress and opinions on using nanotechnology in stem cell research and therapy. It also covers how nanoparticles can help track, control, and improve the retention of stem cells.

Efficient delivery of anticancer drugs using functionalized-Ag-decorated Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocarrier with folic acid and β-cyclodextrin

Nanocarrier surface functionalization has been widely regarded as a promising approach for achieving precise and targeted drug delivery systems. In this work, the fabrication of functionalized-Ag-decorated Fe3O4@SiO2 (Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag) nanocarriers with folic acid (FA) and β-cyclodextrin (BCD) exhibit a remarkable capacity for delivering two types of anticancer drugs, i.e., doxorubicin (DOX) and epirubicin (EPI), into cancer cells. The effective functionalization of Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag nanoparticles has been achieved through the use of cysteine (Cys) as an anchor for attaching FA and BCD via EDC-NHS coupling and Steglich esterification methods, respectively. The findings indicate that surface functionalization had no significant impact on the physicochemical characteristics of the nanoparticles. However, it notably affected DOX and EPI loading and release efficiency. The electrostatic conjugation of DOX/EPI onto the surface of Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag/Cys/FA and Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag/Cys/BCD exhibited maximum loading efficiency of 50-60% at concentration ratio of DOX/EPI to nanoparticles of 1:14. These nanocarriers also achieved an 40-47% DOX/EPI release over 36 days. Furthermore, the drug-loaded functionalized-nanocarrier showed cytotoxic effects on SK-MEL-2 cells, as demonstrated by an in vitro MTT assay. This suggests that the as-prepared functionalized-nanoparticles have promise as a carrier for the efficient anticancer drugs.

An integrated approach to occupational health risk assessment of manufacturing nanomaterials using Pythagorean Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy Inference System

Nanomaterials (NMs) have the potential to be hazardous owing to their unique physico-chemical properties. Therefore, the need for Health Risk Assessment (HRA) of NMs is expanding. In this study, a novel HRA was developed by the Pythagorean Fuzzy Health Risk Assessment (PFHRA) approach. Risk is considered to be the outcome of parameters including Occurrence Likelihood (OL), Potential Exposure (PE) and Toxic Effects (TE). In our proposed method, priority weights of sub-factors in Pythagorean Fuzzy-Analytical Hierarchical Process (PF-AHP) were determined by pairwise comparison based on expert judgment. After determining parameter scores, both RM and risk class (i.e., negligible, minor, major and critical) were reported as Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) output. Ultimately, a risk management strategy is presented for NMs manufacturing workplaces. This proposed method provides experts with more flexibility to express their opinions. The PFHRA approach was applied for two scenarios. The production scenario for SiNPs can create minor (5%) and major (95%) occupational health risks; the production scenario for ZnONPs can create minor (100%) concerns. However, the production SiNPs and ZnONPs utilizing the CB Nanotool technique had a major and minor risk class, respectively. The results of the present study confirmed the reliability and applicability of this approach.