The frequent rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is due to the increasing use of antibiotics in the healthcare system. Probiotics could offer a potential alternative, although their efficacy tends to be diminished in the presence of antibiotics, rendering co-fortification an impractical solution. Stand-alone probiotics cannot completely counteract the effects of antibiotics and often die off in the stomach due to the lower acidic pH. Similarly, antibiotics significantly reduce the action of probiotics; as a result, their therapeutic potential is diminished. Based on the biofilm protection characteristic, chitosan and alginate nanogel are used to encapsulate probiotics with temporary protection against antibiotics, enabling the simultaneous delivery of probiotics and antibiotics. This study involved encapsulation of the probiotic within chitosan-coated alginate nanoparticles (Cs-Alg+ProB NPs), which were made using the ionic gelation technique. The physicochemical characteristics, probiotic release profile across varying pH levels, swelling properties, coincubation of probiotics with antibiotics, and in vitro toxicity evaluation of the produced nanocomplex were examined. The hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles increased from 295.3 +/- 7.13 nm to 328.7 +/- 13.07 nm after probiotic encapsulation, confirming successful loading, as supported by zeta potential changes. Enhanced probiotic release and swelling were observed under acidic pH. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model indicated Fickian diffusion as the release mechanism. Coincubation with amoxicillin demonstrated that encapsulation protects probiotics, a finding that can be extended to provide therapeutic benefits against MDR bacteria to protect public health.

Background: Bacopa monnieri is an herbal plant used predominantly in Ayurvedic medicine. Though this plant has pharmacological properties, it is pivotal to acknowledge its antioxidant capacity and toxicological properties which are not well established. Objectives: The principal aim of this study is to elucidate the antioxidant capacity and toxicological properties of B. monnieri leaf extracts in the early life stages of Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos. Methods: This was a comparative identification of the antioxidant capacities of five different extracts of aqueous, ethanol, acetone, chloroform, and petroleum ether of B. monnieri leaf by investigating through in vitro antioxidant assays such as Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), azinobis[3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonate] (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and enzymatic assays such as SOD, CAT, Px, AO, and PPO. Additionally tested for the qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals. Furthermore, the Fish Embryo Toxicity (FET) assay has been performed to analyze the developmental deformities, lethal and sublethal toxic effects, hatch rate, heart rate, and survival of zebrafish embryos upon treatment with the aqueous plant extract. Result: The results showed the availability of polyphenols and non-phenolic macromolecules. Total phenol and flavonoid content were greater in the aqueous extract and tannin content was higher in ethanol extract. Among the five extracts, the aqueous extract showed greater antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the investigation addressed the toxicological effects of aqueous extract on zebrafish embryos that resulted in the least developmental abnormalities and delayed hatching rate at greater concentrations along with 100% mortality at 96 h Post Fertilization (hpf) of higher concentrations. Conclusion: The results indicate that B. monnieri may serve a strong prophylactic action against reactive oxygen species-related diseases with the least sublethal effects.

Aim: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) inhibit tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), playing a notable role in various biological processes, and mutations in TIMP2 genes impact a variety of urinary cancers. In this study, we analyze and evaluate the potential involvement of the TIMP2 418 G/C and MMP gene polymorphism in the etiology of urinary cancer. Methodology: For suitable case-control studies, a literature search was undertaken from various database sources such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Incorporated into the analysis were case-control or cohort studies that documented the correlation between TIMP2 418 G/C and urological cancers. MetaGenyo served as the tool for conducting the meta-analysis, employing a fixed-effects model. The collective odds ratios, along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals, were calculated and presented to assess the robustness of the observed associations. Results: A total of seven studies involving controls and cases out of recorded 1265 controls and 1154 cases were analyzed to ascertain the significant association of the TIMP2 gene with urologic cancer. No statistically significant correlation was observed between allelic, recessive, dominant, and overdominant models for the genetic variant under investigation. A 95% confidence interval (CI) and odds ratio (OR) were computed for each model, considering p-values <0.05. The OR and 95% CI for the allelic model were 0.99 and 0.77-1.27, respectively, whereas the respective values were 1.00 and 0.76-1.32 for the recessive model. In the dominant contrast model, OR and 95% CI were 1.09 and 0.62-1.90, while the same were 0.93 and 0.77-1.12 for the overdominant model. A funnel plot was used to reanalyze and detect the results as statically satisfactory. Conclusions: As a result of the data obtained, the TIMP2 gene polymorphism does not correlate statistically with cancer risk. The significance of this finding can only be confirmed using a large population, extensive epidemiological research, a comprehensive survey, and a better understanding of the molecular pathways associated.

Background and purpose: Many sectors use nanoparticles and dispose of them in the aquatic environment without deciding the fate of these particles. Experimental approach: To identify a benign species of nanoparticles which can cause minimum harm to the aquatic environment, a comparative study was done with chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and green tea mediated synthesis (GT/AgNP) in both in vitro using human alveolar cancer cell line (A549) and normal cell line (L132), and in in vivo with zebrafish embryos. Key results: The in vitro studies revealed that GT/AgNPs were less toxic to normal cells than cancer cells. The GT/AgNPs showed high biocompatibility for zebrafish embryos monitored microscopically for their developmental stages and by cumulative hatchability studies. The reduced hatchability found in the AgNPs-treated group was correlated by differential gene expression of zebrafish hatching enzymes (ZHE) (ZHE1 and ZHE2). Conclusion: The results indicated that nanoparticles can affect the hatching of zebrafish embryos and elicit toxicity at the gene level. .

The engineering of functional units of tiny particles of nanoscale size is known as nanotechnology. It is a branch of science and technology that designs and synthesizes particles in the nano range. The nanomolecules formed in this technology are found to have vital roles in different fields of science. This technology has many applications in the field of biological science like in medicine, environmental science, ecology, agriculture, and others. Microbiology is a branch of biological science that deals with microbes from single-celled organisms like bacteria to multicellular organisms like algae, fungi, etc., and also studies the roles of these organisms in different field like synthesis of vaccines, production of fermented products, their roles in agriculture and other fields, and also different diseases caused by these microbes. Food microbiology is one of a branch of microbiology that carries out the study of the usage of microbial organisms in food technology, food hygiene and safety, food genomics, and functional food and probiotics. This chapter is about food microbiology and the role of this newly emerged fast-growing technology in processing food and maintaining the quality of food and safety. It will also highlight its role in the food industry like in targeting nanoparticles, flavoring, enhancing the shelf life of the food, detecting contamination, improving in storage of the food, and introducing antibacterial nanoparticles in the food and prospects.

The investigation seeks to develop gold-shelled carbon-coated manganese ferrite nanodots enclosed within oxidized alginate polymeric hydrogels (MNF@C-Au@OSA) to improve encapsulation efficiency, biocompatibility, and multimodal imaging capabilities. These engineered particles, MNF@C-Au@OSA, are crafted through a hydrothermal synthesis, succeeded by the application of gold nanoparticle shelling and subsequent encapsulation within hydrogels derived from synthesized alginate derivatives, enhancing their overall appeal. Diverse characterization methodologies are employed in order to validate the multiple steps of the synthesis process. The resulting engineered nanoparticles exhibit dual-mode (T1 and T2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast capabilities and compatibility with computed tomography (CT) and fluorescence-based imaging. To illustrate minimal toxicity, A375 cell lines are utilized for in vitro testing, whereas zebrafish embryos are employed for in vivo assessments. A Chorioallantoic Membrane Model (CAM) is used to establish the antiangiogenic characteristics of MNF@C-Au@OSA, which is confirmed by histopathological observations. Taking these studies together, one can conclude that the engineered MNF@C-Au@OSA possesses multimodal imaging capabilities and has demonstrated antiangiogenic properties, thereby establishing them as potential theranostic agents. Gold-shelled carbon-coated manganese ferrite nanodots enclosed within oxidized alginate polymeric hydrogels have been developed to improve biocompatibility, multimodal imaging, and antiangiogenic properties for theranostic applications. image

Several formulations have been developed in the current era using liposomes and niosomes as vesicular carriers, which have proven useful in oral drug delivery; nevertheless, their use is limited due to their gastrointestinal environment, including pH, enzymes, and bile salts. To overcome these difficulties, researchers are working on finding ways to improve the efficacy and stability of vesicles. Therefore bilosomes have been developed as promising vesicular carriers with the potential to deliver oral vaccines, parenteral and transdermal targeted drug delivery. In addition to incorporating hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drugs into vesicles, bilosomes are considered one of the most effective methods for enhancing bioavailability and efficacy. Bile acid-based bilosomes are rapidly growing in the current research areas and are expected to provide multiple applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields that will occur in the future with bile salts. This paper briefly introduces the bilosomes of a new generation (structure), their mechanism of action, stability, physicochemical properties, and potential biomedical applications including in oral immunization. Furthermore, surface-engineered bilosomes are more effective than bare bilosomes in various animal models, but clinical trials are needed to assess their safety and efficacy. There is also a need for more research on scaling-up factors for commercializing bilosomal systems.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or multidrug resistance (MDR) is becoming increasingly prevalent within the health care industry as a result of the overuse of antibiotics, which is posing a major challenge to health care providers. A possible alternative for overcoming these effects is to use probiotics as part of the treatment. In recent years, probiotics have acquired significant attention because of their potential benefits in a wide range of biomedical applications, including antimicrobial protection, treating diseases, and aiding in tissue repair. The surrounding tissues are greatly affecting the viability and activity of these probiotics, making it difficult to maintain their stability in targeted locations for a prolonged duration. Multiple strategies have been proposed to overcome this problem, including nanoencapsulating probiotics within biomaterials to increase their activity and stability. The encapsulation of probiotics using biomaterials not only protects their vitality but also makes it easier for them to get delivered to their targeted location. Moreover, we underscore the importance of employing biomaterial-based encapsulation techniques for probiotics in various biomedical applications, including but not limited to the gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, skin, and vagina. This article aims to thoroughly investigate the materials and methods employed in the encapsulation of probiotics within biomaterials while also delving into recent advancements in this field.

Despite the wide range of treatment options available for cancer therapy, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical procedures, each of these treatments has a different side-effect profile and leaves the patient with no option but to choose. Due to their insensitivity and nonspecificity, conventional treatments damage normal cells together with cancer cells. In recent years, a significant amount of attention has been focused on photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for cancer and drug-resistant microbes. An activated photosensitizer is used as a part of the procedure along with oxygen molecules and a specific wavelength of light belonging to the visible or NIR spectral zone. A light-sensitive laser dye, rhodamine 6G (R6G), was used in the present study as a photosensitizer, taking a challenge to improve the aqueous solubility and ROS quantum yield using optimum concentration (160 mg/ml) of chitosan-alginate (Cs-Alg) blended polymeric nanoformulations. As evidenced by steady-state spectrophotometric and fluorometric measurements, ROS quantum yield increases three-fold over aqueous solution along with solubility gaining that was validated by PDT experiment using human epithelial carcinoma (KB) cell line. Phantom optical imaging was taken using the IVIS imaging system to establish the formulations as a fluorescence-based optical contrast agent, and zebrafish embryos were used to establish their safe in vivo use. The release profile of R6G was fitted using kinetic models, which followed the Non-Fickian kinetic profile. In conclusion, we recommend the formulations as a potential theranostic agent that will aid in PDT-based therapy in conjunction with optical imaging-based diagnosis.

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) has gained significant traction as an ionising radiation-free tomographic method that offers real-time imaging capabilities with enhanced sensitivity and resolutions. In this technique, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are employed, particularly iron oxide nanoparticles with superparamagnetic nature, as probes within the MPI system. These MNPs enable the tracking and precise quantification of particle movement with minimal background noise. The 3D location and concentration of MNPs can provide better insights for multiple applications in vascular imaging, cell tracking, cancer cell imaging, inflammation, implant monitoring, and trauma imaging and can thus accelerate the diagnosis of disorders. The mononuclear phagocyte system provides a significant advantage, as they are involved in the spontaneous clearance of the tracers used in MPI, which readily minimise the toxic effects. Several studies have demonstrated that MPI-based functional neuroimaging is superior to other imaging modalities, providing adequate temporal resolution images with quick scan intervals. In MPI, nanoparticles are solely responsible for the source and visualisation, unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where nanoparticles were used only as supportive tracers. This review provides an overview of the principle, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications of MPI as well as the advantages and challenges MPI has over other diagnostic imaging methods in modern clinical setups.

INTRODUCTION:As cancer therapy progresses, challenges remain due to the inherent drawbacks of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, gene therapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal. Moreover, due to their associated side effects, conventional treatments affect both cancerous and normal cells, making photodynamic therapy (PDT) an attractive alternative. METHODS:As a result of its minimal toxicity, exceptional specificity, and non-invasive characteristics, PDT represents an innovative and highly promising cancer treatment strategy using photosensitizers (PSs) and precise wavelength excitation light to introduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vicinity of cancer cells. RESULTS:Poor aqueous solubility and decreased sensitivity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) prevent its use as a photosensitizer in PDT, necessitating the development of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) hydrogelated nanocarriers to enhance its bioavailability, targeted distribution, and ROS-quantum yield. The ROS quantum yield increased from 0.30 in an aqueous environment to 0.51 when using alginate-based formulations, and it was further enhanced to 0.81 in the case of OSA. CONCLUSION:Furthermore, the nanoformulations produced fluorescent signals suitable for use as cellular imaging agents, demonstrating contrast-enhancing capabilities in medical imaging and showing minimal toxicity.

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) has gained significant traction as an ionising radiation-free tomographic method that offers real-time imaging capabilities with enhanced sensitivity and resolutions. In this technique, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are employed, particularly iron oxide nanoparticles with superparamagnetic nature, as probes within the MPI system. These MNPs enable the tracking and precise quantification of particle movement with minimal background noise. The 3D location and concentration of MNPs can provide better insights for multiple applications in vascular imaging, cell tracking, cancer cell imaging, inflammation, implant monitoring, and trauma imaging and can thus accelerate the diagnosis of disorders. The mononuclear phagocyte system provides a significant advantage, as they are involved in the spontaneous clearance of the tracers used in MPI, which readily minimise the toxic effects. Several studies have demonstrated that MPI-based functional neuroimaging is superior to other imaging modalities, providing adequate temporal resolution images with quick scan intervals. In MPI, nanoparticles are solely responsible for the source and visualisation, unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where nanoparticles were used only as supportive tracers. This review provides an overview of the principle, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications of MPI as well as the advantages and challenges MPI has over other diagnostic imaging methods in modern clinical setups.

Cancer is one of the chief causes of death in the world, and there are various treatment modalities for cancer. Most of them cause adverse side effects, and to overcome these limitations, plantbased extracts are studied for their anticancer property. In the present study, we have extracted the ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves and nanoformulated it with synthesized liposomes, characterized the nanoformulation using different photophysical tools, and compared the anticancer activity of the nanoformulated ethanolic extract and ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves in various cancer cell lines. The nanoformulated ethanolic extract was found to be reduced in size and more stable than the ethanolic extract. We have found that the nanoformulated ethanolic extract isolated from Passiflora incarnata leaves induced necrosis in cancer cells and the nanoformulation has a dose-dependent effect on the inhibition of cancer cell growth. The nanoformulation of the Passiflora incarnata leaves ethanolic extract reduced the toxicity of normal cells compared to the ethanolic extract. Biocompatibility was tested by in vivo studies using a zebrafish model, where we found that both the ethanolic extract and nanoformulated ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves did not induce any developmental deformity up to 100 mu g/ ml concentration, making the formulation biocompatible. Thus, the nanoformulated ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves can be proposed as a potent anticancer agent.

We analyzed the toxic effect of the ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata (EEP) and its nanoformulation (N-EEP) in the in vitro and in vivo models (zebrafish embryos and Swiss albino mice). The EEP composition was verified by phytochemical and GC–MS analysis. The synthesized N-EEP was characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro results showed both EEP and N-EEP have a dose-dependent effect in L132 cells (normal embryonic lung cells). In zebrafish embryos, no developmental changes were observed for both EEP and N-EEP at 200 µg/ml. The acute and sub-acute toxicity of EEP and N-EEP was identified by oral administration in Swiss albino mice. A single-day oral dose of EEP and N-EEP at different concentrations was administered for acute toxicity, and changes in body weight, food, water intake, temperature, respiration rate, skin color changes, and eye color till 72 h was observed. In a sub-acute toxicity study, 28 days oral administration of different concentrations of EEP and N-EEP was done. Hematological analysis, serum hepatic biochemical parameter analysis, and histopathological analysis for the liver, kidney, spleen, intestine, and heart were performed. The results indicated that lower than 600 mg/kg of EEP and N-EEP can safely be used for the remediation of a spectrum of diseases.

During the last few years, nanostructures based on proteins have been playing a vital role in revolutionizing the nanomedicine era. Since protein nanoparticles are smaller and have a greater surface area, they retain a better capacity to interact with other molecules, resulting in carrying payloads efficiently to diseased tissues. Besides having attractive biocompatibility and biodegradability, protein nanoparticles can also be modified on their surfaces. For the fabrication of these nanostructures, there are several processes involved, including emulsification, desolvation, a combination of complex coacervation and electrospray. This can be achieved by using different proteins such as albumin, gelatin, elastin, gliadin, collagen, legumin and zein, as well as a combination of these proteins. It is possible to functionalize protein nanoparticles by altering their internal and external interfaces so that they can encapsulate drugs, release them in a controlled manner, disassemble them systematically and target tumors. This review highlights the physicochemical properties and engineering of several proteins to nano-dimensions used to deliver drugs to diseased tissues.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has recently become significant as a clinical modality for cancer therapy and multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, replacing conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy protocols. PDT involves the excitation of certain nontoxic molecules called photosensitizers (PS), applying a specific wavelength of light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to treat cancer cells and other pathogens. Rhodamine 6G (R6G) is a well-known laser dye with poor aqueous solubility, and lower sensitivity poses an issue in using PS for PDT. Nanocarrier systems are needed to deliver R6G to cancer targets since PDT requires a higher accumulation of PS. It was found that R6G-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have a higher ROS quantum yield of 0.92 compared to 0.3 in an aqueous R6G solution, increasing their potency as PS. Cytotoxicity assessment on A549 cells and antibacterial assay on MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from a sewage treatment plant are the evidence to support efficient PDT. In addition to their enhanced quantum yields, the decorated particles are effective in generating fluorescent signals that can be used for cellular imaging and real-time optical imaging, and the presence of AuNP is a valuable addition to CT imaging. Furthermore, the fabricated particle exhibits antiStokes properties, which makes it suitable for use as a background-free biological imaging agent. As a result, R6G-conjugated AuNP is an effective theranostic agent that prevents the progression of cancer and MDR bacteria, along with contrasting abilities in medical imaging with minimal toxicity observed in in vitro and in vivo assays using zebrafish embryos.

Over recent years, nanotechnology has been used in a wide variety of applications, including different fields of medical diagnosis and treatment. Migraine is a neurobiological disorder that is associated with severe headaches and other autonomic and neurological symptoms. The interaction between nanomaterials and immune system components is among the areas of interest in treatment measures. This review summarizes advances made in the understanding of the genes and genetic variations associated with migraines and discusses the potential applications of nanomedicine for treatment and prevention of the disorder.