Emerging Trends in Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles for Biomedical and Environmental Applications

Over the last few decades, the application of nanoparticles (NPs) gained immense attention towards environmental and biomedical applications. NPs are ultra-small particles having size ranges from 1 to 100 nm. NPs loaded with therapeutic or imaging compounds have proved a versatile approach towards healthcare improvements. Among various inorganic NPs, zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) NPs are considered as non-toxic and having an improved drug delivery characteristics . Several studies have reported broader applications of ZnFe2O4 NPs for treating carcinoma and various infectious diseases. Additionally, these NPs are beneficial for reducing organic and inorganic environmental pollutants. This review discusses about various methods to fabricate ZnFe2O4 NPs and their physicochemical properties. Further, their biomedical and environmental applications have also been explored comprehensively.

Adverse cutaneous toxicities by PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors: Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Surveillance

Introduction-The therapeutic use of humanized monoclonal programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) (pembrolizumab, and nivolumab) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) (atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi) as potent anticancer therapies is rapidly increasing. The mechanism of signaling of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 involves triggering cytotoxic CD4+/CD8 + T cell activation and subsequent abolition of cancer cells which induces specific immunologic adverse events that are specific to these therapies. These drugs can cause numerous cutaneous reactions and are characterized as the most frequent immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Majority of cutaneous irAEs range from nonspecific eruptions to detectible skin manifestations, which may be self-limiting and present acceptable skin toxicity profiles, while some may produce life-threatening complications.Objective-.This review aims to illuminate the associated cutaneous irAEs related to drugs used in oncology along with the relevant mechanism(s) and management.Areas covered-Literature was searched using various databases including Pub-Med, Google Scholar, and Medline. The search mainly involved research articles, retrospective studies, case reports, and clinicopathological findings. With this review article, an overview of the cutaneous irAEs with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, as well as suggestions, have been provided, so that their recognition at early stages could help in better management and would prevent treatment discontinuation.Article highlightsCutaneous adverse effects are the most prevalent immune-related adverse events induced by anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune-checkpoint antibodies.Cutaneous toxicities mainly manifest in the form of maculopapular rash and pruritus.More specific cutaneous complications can also occur, including vitiligo, worsened psoriasis, lichenoid dermatitis, mucosal involvement (e.g., oral lichenoid reaction), dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus.Cutaneous manifestations can be life-threatening including Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).Dermatologic toxicities are usually mild, readily manageable, and rarely result in significant morbidity.Adequate management of the cutaneous adverse event and recognition in early stages could lead to the prevention of worsening of the lesions and limit treatment disruption.

Continuous expression and replication of the hepatitis delta virus genome in Hep G2 hepatoblastoma cells transfected with cloned viral DNA

To establish stable cell clones allowing continuous replication of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), Hep G2, a hepatoblastoma cell line containing no hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences, was transfected with a recombinant plasmid containing a tandem trimer of HDV cDNA (driven by the simian virus 40 late promoter) and a neomycin-resistance gene. After selection with the neomycin analogue G418, at least two of the resistant clones were shown to have intact delta antigen by specific immunoblotting, and the delta antigen was located in the cell nucleus by immunofluorescence. Transfected cloned viral DNAs were found to be integrated into cell chromosomes. Replication of the HDV genome was demonstrated by the presence of not only genomic and antigenomic HDV RNAs but also HDV RNAs in multimeric and circular forms. In addition, a 0.8-kilobase antigenomic RNA containing a poly(A) tail and encoding the delta-antigen open reading frame was documented. Continuous replication and transcription of the HDV genome was thus achieved in these transfected cell lines. The results confirmed that replication of HDV was unassisted by HBV. Stable passage of such cell lines strongly suggests that HDV lacks direct cytopathicity in hepatocytes. These clones should be useful in studying the details of the HDV life cycle and the relationship between HDV and its helper virus, HBV.

Effect of interferon on Vero cells persistently infected with Sendai virus compared to Vero cells persistently infected with SSPE virus

Persistent infections with Sendai and SSPE virus were established in Vero cells. Sequential passages of these cells were monitored by immunofluorescence and for their sensitivity to the antiviral and antiproliferative effects of interferon (IFN). The cells rapidly developed resistance to the antiviral effect of IFN as judged by the inability of IFN to inhibit the replication of exogenous Sindbis virus. This decrease was accompanied by a reduction in the induction of the 2'-5' oligo A synthetase. Both cell lines were resistant to the antiproliferative effect of IFN. A decrease or absence of IFN receptors on the surface of the cells was not found to be the cause of their resistance to IFN.

The use of interferon functional assays in the laboratory monitoring of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving interferon

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving recombinant leukocyte alpha interferon therapy were monitored using a series of assays to evaluate various components of the interferon system. Pretherapy serum interferon concentrations were not elevated significantly in these patients, although elevated levels were recorded after initiation of therapy. Both before and after interferon treatment, the peripheral blood leukocytes of the patients were shown to be capable of producing both gamma and alpha interferon when appropriately stimulated in vitro. The patients' peripheral blood leukocytes also responded to interferon therapy, with 85% resisting viral replication after treatment was initiated. However, interferon did not appear to be of therapeutic value in these patients.

Effect of interferon on Vero cells persistently infected with SSPE virus and lytically infected with measles virus

The effect of lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN) on viral polypeptides synthesized in a Vero cell culture persistently infected with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus (SSPE-Vero) was compared to that of Vero cells infected with exogenous measles virus. After IFN treatment there was no significant decrease in the synthesis of SSPE viral proteins, but inhibition of synthesis of measles polypeptides was readily seen. In Vero and SSPE-Vero cells IFN was able to inhibit replication of Sindbis virus although the effect in Vero cells was significantly more sensitive. In both cell lines IFN was able to stimulate 2'--5' oligoadenylate synthetase (E enzyme) but not the protein kinase system. The SSPE-Vero cells showed a lower basal level of E enzyme activity than the Vero cells.

Laboratory evaluation of commercial interferon preparations

The antiviral, antiproliferative and natural killer-cell (NKC) stimulatory activities of four commercial therapeutic interferon preparations were assayed in our laboratory. The antiviral and antiproliferative activities of each preparation were relatively similar, but an unexpectedly high NKC stimulatory activity was found in one of them. In-house determination of antiviral activity and evaluation of the antiproliferative and NKC stimulation potential of interferon preparations are essential before rational clinical trials of this agent are carried out.

An indirect radioimmunoassay for interferon

An indirect radioimmunoassay for testing the antiviral activity of interferon (IFN) is described. Vero cells are seeded in microtitre plates, treated with appropriate dilutions of interferon and challenged with Sindbis virus. Viral yield is measured using specific antibody and radiolabelled protein A. The assay is able to detect IFN levels of 5 international units (I.U.)/ml, has a high degree of reproducibility, and could be easily adapted to various cell and virus combinations. This microsystem is technically simple, allows testing of small volumes of test material, and eliminates subjectivity in reading of end-points.