Designing Natural Polymer-Based Capsules and Spheres for Biomedical Applications-A Review

Synergistic antimicrobial action of chitosan-neem extracts nanoformulation as a promising strategy for overcoming multi-drug resistant bacteria

The objective of the present study was to analyze and identify the phytochemical components found in neem leaf extracts using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. The samples were acquired using ethyl acetate (EA) and petroleum ether (PE) solvents. Moreover, the extracts were assessed for their antibacterial and antioxidant features. In addition, chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs) containing neem extracts were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial properties, explicitly targeting multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The neem extracts were analyzed using GC-MS, which identified components such as hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, and glycosides. The PE extract showed significant antibacterial activity against a range of bacteria. In addition, the PE extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity, exceeding both the EA extract and vitamin C. Both extracts exhibited notable antibiofilm activity, significantly impeding the production of biofilm. The Cs NPs, loaded with neem extracts, exhibited significant antibacterial action against multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. The Cs NPs/EA materials had the greatest zone of inhibition (ZOI) values of 24 ± 2.95 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Similarly, the Cs NPs/PE materials exhibited a zone of inhibition (ZOI) measurement of 22 ± 3.14 mm against P. aeruginosa. This work highlights the various biochemical components of neem extracts, their strong abilities to combat bacteria and oxidative stress, and the possibility of Cs NPs containing neem extracts as effective treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

Preparation of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Balanites aegyptiaca extract for treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by elevated blood sugar level due to a deficiency in insulin production and/or action. Balanites aegyptiaca (BA) has been employed as a hypoglycemic medication. Nanoparticles (NPs) have many advantages like minimized drug dose, sustainable drug release, maximized bioavailability and delivery of drugs. The study aimed to synthesize novel chitosan (CS) NPs loaded with BA extract (BA Ex). The prepared NPs were examined in treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. The anti-diabetic efficiency was evaluated through measuring of levels of blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines. GC-MS, HPLC and ICP techniques showed the presence of numerous bioactive components that have an anti-diabetic effectiveness. BA Ex-CS NPs succeeded in treatment of diabetes; where, it increased insulin secretion, lowered both FBG and FTA levels and helped in neogenesis of pancreatic islets beta cells. The regenerative activity of BA Ex-CS NPs is attributed to its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This antioxidant activity scavenged the generated free radicles that resulted from STZ administration. CS NPs raised the plant extract efficacy, prevented its degradation, and regulated the release of its components. The delivery of BA Ex bioactive components has been revolutionized by CS NPs.

Functionalizing natural polymers to develop green adsorbents for wastewater treatment applications

The present study provides an overview of scientific developments made in the last decade in the field of green adsorbents focusing on the modifications in natural polymers and their applications such as, wastewater treatment, and ion exchange. For this purpose, an introduction to the various methods of modifying natural polymers is first given, and then the properties, application, and future priorities of green adsorbents are also discussed. Methods of modification of natural polymers under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions using modifiers with different properties are also described. Various methods for modifying natural polymers and the use of the obtained green adsorbents are reviewed. A comparison of the sorption properties of green adsorbents based on natural polymers and other adsorbents used in industry has also been carried out. With the participation of green adsorbents based on natural polymers, the properties of treated wastewaters having toxic metal ions, organic dyes, petroleum products, and other harmful compounds was analyzed. Future perspectives on green adsorbents based on natural polymers are as also highlighted.

Advancement in Biopolymer Assisted Cancer Theranostics

Applications of nanotechnology have increased the importance of research and nanocarriers, which have revolutionized the method of drug delivery to treat several diseases, including cancer, in the past few years. Cancer, one of the world's fatal diseases, has drawn scientists' attention for its multidrug resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs. To minimize the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents on healthy cells and to develop technological advancement in drug delivery systems, scientists have developed an alternative approach to delivering chemotherapeutic drugs at the targeted site by integrating it inside the nanocarriers like synthetic polymers, nanotubes, micelles, dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), lipid nanoparticles, nano-biopolymeric substances, etc., which has shown promising results in both preclinical and clinical trials of cancer management. Besides that, nanocarriers, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles, have received much attention from researchers due to their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, treatment efficacy, and ability to target drug delivery by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This review emphasizes the fabrication processes, the therapeutic and theragnostic applications, and the importance of different biopolymeric nanocarriers in targeting cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which conclude with the challenges and opportunities of future exploration using biopolymeric nanocarriers in onco-therapy with improved availability and reduced toxicity.

Research Status and Prospect of Non-Viral Vectors Based on siRNA: A Review

Gene therapy has attracted much attention because of its unique mechanism of action, non-toxicity, and good tolerance, which can kill cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues. siRNA-based gene therapy can downregulate, enhance, or correct gene expression by introducing some nucleic acid into patient tissues. Routine treatment of hemophilia requires frequent intravenous injections of missing clotting protein. The high cost of combined therapy causes most patients to lack the best treatment resources. siRNA therapy has the potential of lasting treatment and even curing diseases. Compared with traditional surgery and chemotherapy, siRNA has fewer side effects and less damage to normal cells. The available therapies for degenerative diseases can only alleviate the symptoms of patients, while siRNA therapy drugs can upregulate gene expression, modify epigenetic changes, and stop the disease. In addition, siRNA also plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and hepatitis B. However, free siRNA is easily degraded by nuclease and has a short half-life in the blood. Research has found that siRNA can be delivered to specific cells through appropriate vector selection and design to improve the therapeutic effect. The application of viral vectors is limited because of their high immunogenicity and low capacity, while non-viral vectors are widely used because of their low immunogenicity, low production cost, and high safety. This paper reviews the common non-viral vectors in recent years and introduces their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the latest application examples.

Preparation, Characterization, and Wound Healing Assessment of Curcumin-Loaded M-MOF (M = Cu, Zn)@Polycaprolactone Nanocomposite Sponges

The fabrication of multifunctional scaffolds has attracted much attention in biological fields. In this research, some novel composites of Cu(II) or Zn(II) metal-organic framework (M-MOF) and polycaprolactone (PCL), M-MOF@PCL, have been fabricated as multifunctional scaffolds for application in the tissue engineering (TE) field. The porous three-dimensional sponges were prepared by the salt leaching method. Then, the M-MOF@PCL composite sponges have been prepared by in situ synthesis of M-MOF in the presence of the as-obtained PCL sponge to gain a new compound with proper features for biological applications. Finally, curcumin was attached to the M-MOF@PCL as a bioactive compound that can act as a wound-healing agent, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory. The presence of the M-MOF in final composites was investigated by different methods such as FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and TEM (transmission electron microscope). SEM images confirmed the porous structure of the as-obtained composites. According to the EDS and TEM images, M-MOFs were uniformly incorporated throughout the PCL sponges. The water sorption capacities of the blank PCL, Cu-MOF@PCL, and Zn-MOF@PCL were determined as 56%, 155%, and 119%, respectively. In vivo investigation on a third-degree burn model in adult male Wistar rats exhibited an accelerated wound healing for Cu-MOF@PCL compared to with Zn-MOF@PCL and the control group.

Pharmaceutical and drug delivery applications of pectin and its modified nanocomposites

Due to their natural availability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, flexibility, as well as improved structural and functional characteristics, pectin and pectin-based nanocomposites have become an interesting area of numerous researchers. Pectin is a polysaccharide that comes from plants and is used in a variety of products. The significance of pectin polysaccharide and its modified nanocomposites in a number of applications has been shown in numerous reviews. On their uses in pharmaceutical and medication delivery, there are, however, few review publications. The majority of papers on pectin polysaccharide do not structure their explanations of drug distribution and medicinal application. The biological application of pectin nanocomposite is also explained in this review, along with a recent publication. As a result, the goal of this review was in-depth analysis to summarize biological application of pectin and its modified nanocomposites. Due to their exceptional physicochemical and biological characteristics, pectin and its nanocomposites are remarkable materials for medicinal applications. In addition to enhancing the immune system, controlling blood cholesterol, and other things, they have been shown to have anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial properties. Because of their biocompatibility and properties that allow for regulated release, they have also received a lot of interest as drug carriers in targeted drug delivery systems. They have been used to administer medications to treat cancer, inflammation, pain, Alzheimer's, bacteria, and relax muscles. This review found that pectin and its derivatives have better drug delivery efficiency and are viable candidates for a wide range of medicinal applications. It has been advised to conduct further research on the subject of toxicity in order to produce commercial formulations that can serve as both therapeutic agents and drug carriers.

Advances in polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules for biomedical applications: A review

Biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharides are abundant and renewable natural materials. Polysaccharides and their derivatives are developed into various carrier materials for biomedical applications. In particular, advanced polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules have received extensive attention in biomedical applications due to their good encapsulation ability and tunability. In recent years, polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules have been widely used in drug carriers, gene carriers, antigen carriers, wound dressings, bioimaging and biosensors. Numerous research results have confirmed the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules in the above-mentioned biomedical applications. This review discussed and analyzed the latest research strategies and design considerations for these applications in detail. The preparation methods, application strategies, and design considerations of polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules are summarized and analyzed, and their challenges and future research prospects in biomedicine are further discussed. It is expected to provide researchers with inspiration and design ideas.

Pharmaceutical and drug delivery applications of chitosan biopolymer and its modified nanocomposite: A review

Due to their improved structural and functional properties as well as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity, chitosan and its nanoparticles are currently grasping the interest of researchers. Although numerous attempts have been made to apply chitosan and its derivatives to biological applications, few have reported in achieving its pharmacological and drug delivery. The goal of the current work is to provide a summary of the chitosan biopolymer's physical, chemical, and biological properties as well as its synthesis of nanoparticles and characterization of its modified nanocomposites. The drug delivery method and pharmaceutical applications of chitosan biopolymer and its modified nanocomposites are examined in further detail in this research. We will introduce also about the most current publications in this field of study as well as its recent expansion.

Evolution of complexity in non-viral oligonucleotide delivery systems: from gymnotic delivery through bioconjugates to biomimetic nanoparticles

From the early days of research on RNA biology and biochemistry, there was an interest to utilize this knowledge and RNA itself for therapeutic applications. Today, we have a series of oligonucleotide therapeutics on the market and many more in clinical trials. These drugs - exploit different chemistries of oligonucleotides, such as modified DNAs and RNAs, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), and different mechanisms of action, such as RNA interference (RNAi), targeted RNA degradation, splicing modulation, gene expression and modification. Despite major successes e.g. mRNA vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2 to control COVID-19 pandemic, development of therapies for other diseases is still limited by inefficient delivery of oligonucleotides to specific tissues and organs and often prohibitive costs for the final drug. This is even more critical when targeting multifactorial disorders and patient-specific biological variations. In this review, we will present the evolution of complexity of oligonucleotide delivery methods with focus on increasing complexity of formulations from gymnotic delivery to bioconjugates and to lipid nanoparticles in respect to developments that will enable application of therapeutic oligonucleotides as drugs in personalized therapies.