Carbon nanoparticles neutralize carbon dioxide (CO2) in cytotoxicity: Potent carbon emission induced resistance to anticancer nanomedicine and antibiotics

Excessive carbon emissions, especially CO2 release, have been a global concern. Few studies applied nanotechnology to relieve the ecotoxicity of CO2. Here, we applied carbon dots (CDs) to neutralize the CO2. We found CO2 induced the aggregation of CDs, which is of significance for CDs in enhanced fluorescence intensity but decreased CDs function in nanozyme activity, and reduced CDs toxicity to bacteria and cancer cells. Our data suggest the concern of CO2 release in global health in CDs mediated anticancer drug delivery and antibiotics resistance. However, enhanced fluorescence in cells which can be applied for bioimaging or CO2 sensing as simulated investigation by static charged attraction of positively charged CDs with negatively charged soluble HCO3-. Thus, CO2 abrogates the nanomedicine efficacy in cancer cells and antibacterial and may induce drug resistance for patients undergoing chemotherapy or antibiotics therapy. To overcome the resistance, we may apply the CDs for a neutralization of CO2 for impact on anticancer nanomedicine and antibiotics and reducing the ecotoxicity in biological systems.

Generation of particle assemblies mimicking enzymatic activity by processing of herbal food: the case of rhizoma polygonati and other natural ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine

Processed herbs have been widely used in eastern and western medicine; however, the mechanism of their medicinal effects has not yet been revealed. It is commonly believed that a central role is played by chemically active molecules produced by the herbs' metabolism. In this work, processed rhizoma polygonati (RP) and other herbal foods are shown to exhibit intrinsic phosphatase-like (PL) activity bounded with the formation of nano-size flower-shaped assembly. Via quantum mechanical calculations, an enzymatic mechanism is proposed. The enzymatic activity may be induced by the interaction between the sugar molecules distributed on the surface of the nanoassemblies and the phosphatase substrate via either a hydroxyl group or the deprotonated hydroxyl group. Meanwhile, the investigation was further extended by processing some fresh herbs and herbal food through a similar protocol, wherein other enzymatic activities (such as protease, and amylase) were observed. The PL activity exhibited by the processed natural herbs was found to be able to effectively inhibit cancer cell growth via phosphatase signaling, possibly by crosstalk with kinase signaling or DNA damage by either directly binding or unwinding of DNA, as evidenced by high-resolution atomic-force microscopy (HR-AFM). In this work, the neologism herbzyme (herb + enzyme) is proposed. This study represents the first case of scientific literature introducing this new term. Besides the well-known pharmacological properties of the natural molecules contained in herbs and herbal food, there exists an enzymatic/co-enzymatic activity attributed to the nanosized assemblies.

Challenges of SARS-CoV-2 prevention in flights, suggested solutions with potential on-site diagnosis resembling cancer biomarkers and urgency of travel medicine

OBJECTIVE

The current pandemic makes the international flights facing multiple challenges including infection during flights. Here the objective is to analyze the infection trend of flights from a regional data set and discuss the solutions for diagnosis and travel medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The public data was applied for trend analysis and new solutions were provided based on the current diagnosis information and resembling cancer diagnosis.

RESULTS

Flights infection has decreased since the large-scale cease of flights. Challenges of prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in flights exist due to testing accuracy, asymptomatic and many other factors including people gathering. To avoid the pandemic worsen, the solutions are provided for new coming flight resumes. Hotel, mandatory PPE, airport diagnosis, rapid imaging/biomarker diagnosis by advanced high-technology and emergency-travel medicine department are suggested as solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-CoV-2 prevention in flights needs multiple solutions by potential on-site diagnosis and urgent establishment of a travel medicine unit at airport.