The objective of this study is to activate autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma for the enhancement of its cellular degradation. Liposomes incorporated chitosan in the core used to improve the ...stability of lecithin and increase the niacin loading efficiency. Additionally, curcumin as a hydrophobic molecule entrapped into liposomal layers and used as a face layer to minimize the release of niacin in physiological pH 7.4. Folic acid-conjugated chitosan was used to facilitate the delivery of liposomes into a specific location of cancer cells. TEM, UV Visible spectrophotometer, and FTIR confirmed the successful liposomal formation and good encapsulation efficiency. Based on the cellular proliferation of HePG2, the results revealed that there was a significant inhibition of growth rate of HePG2 after 48 h of incubation at a concentration of 100 μg/mL by 91 % ± 1 %, P ≤ 0.002 (pure niacin), 55 % ± 3 %, P ≤ 0.001 (pure curcumin), 83 % ± 1.5 %, P ≤ 0.001 (niacin NPs), and 51 % ± 1.5 % P ≤ 0.0001 (curcumin-niacin NPs) of relative to the control. Increasingly, The expression of mRNA of mTOR was significantly increased by 0.72 ± 0.08 P ≤ 0.001, 1 ± 0.1, 0. P ≤ 0.001, 5 ± 0.07 P ≤ 0.01, and 1.3 ± 0.02 P ≤ 0.001 folds) in pure niacin, pure curcumin, niacin NPs and curcumin -niacin NPs, respectively, relative to the control with an expression of 0.3 ± 0.08. Additionally, the expression of p62 mRNA was significantly increased by 0.92 ± 0.07 P ≤ 0.05, 1.7 ± 0.07 P ≤ 0.0001, 0.72 ± 0.08 P ≤ 0.5, and 2.1 ± 0.1 P ≤ 0.0001 folds relative to that of the control with an expression of 0.72 ± 0.08. The results highlight the efficient therapies of biomaterials derived from natural sources that can be used in cancer therapies instead of traditional chemotherapies.
•Activation of autophagy in cancer cells might enhance their cellular degradation.•Chitosan incorporated into liposomal core improves stability and loading capacity.•Folic acid is a promising strategy in pharmaceutical industry for cancer therapy.•Egyptian natural compounds open new insight against high cost of chemotherapies.•Hanafy's strategy is to fight cancer cells by using local natural compounds.
Bevacizumab (Bev) a humanized monoclonal antibody that fights vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). It was the first specifically considered angiogenesis inhibitor and it has now become the ...normative first-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current study, polyphenolic compounds were isolated from bee pollen (PCIBP) and encapsulated (EPCIBP) inside moieties of hybrid peptide-protein hydrogel nanoparticles in which bovine serum albumin (BSA) was combined with protamine-free sulfate and targeted with folic acid (FA). The apoptotic effects of PCIBP and its encapsulation (EPCIBP) were further investigated using A549 and MCF-7 cell lines, providing significant upregulation of Bax and caspase 3 genes and downregulation of Bcl2, HRAS, and MAPK as well. This effect was synergistically improved in combination with Bev. Our findings may contribute to the use of EPCIBP simultaneously with chemotherapy to strengthen the effectiveness and minimize the required dose.
Zinc nanoparticles are documented to be harmful to fish because their accumulation in fish bring about many irreversible changes in their health. Nigella sativa and its oil have been endorsed in ...aquaculture to improve fish health.
Two hundred seventy experimental fish (113 ± 5 g body weight) were divided into 6 groups G1–6; control fish fed a diet without any treatment (G1), 0.3% of NSO (G2), 0.5% of NSO (G3), ZnO NPs (40 mg/kg diet) (G4), 0.3% of NSO and ZnO NPs (40 mg/kg diet) (G5), 0.5% of NSO and ZnO NPs (40 mg/kg diet) (G6), the trial lasted for six weeks.
Growth performance was enhanced in fish received diets containing NSO, final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), daily weight gain (DWG), and relative growth rate (RGR) were significantly increased with lower food conversion ratios (FCR) compared to the control. The hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and metallothionein (MT) were increased in response to ZnO NPs stress and only 0.5% NSO supplementation could ameliorate such increment. The immune-related genes interleukin1-beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-β), transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) and C-type lysozyme as well as growth-related gene insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in liver showed an upregulation in fish fed with NSO diets. Administration of ZnO NPs lowered the resistance of Oreochromis niloticus against bacterial infection with Aeromonas hydrophila and NSO could enhance the immunity in the highest tested concentration (0.5%) (G6).
The obtained results implied that NSO could enhance the oxidative and immune status of O. niloticus which could compensate ZnO NPs stress as well as experimental infection of a virulent strain of A. hydrophila. Our results revealed that NSO might increase fish growth and immunity only at a high dose (0.5%).
•Zinc nanoparticles could suppress Nile tilapia immunity.•Nigella sativa oil could ameliorate nanoparticles withdrawals.•Cytokines expressions affected by Zinc nanoparticles and Nigella sativa oil supplementation.
Nowadays, the use of food additives, such as Sunset Yellow (SY), is growing, which attracted attention to the potential relationship between some diseases and food additives.
The study aimed to ...investigate the role of Sunset Yellow during chemically-induced mammary gland carcinogenesis in Sprague–Dawley rats.
Three groups of female rats were intraperitoneally administered with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Group 1 was set on a basal diet. Group 2 was treated with 161.4 mg\kg\day Sunset Yellow (SY). Group 3 was given SY at 80.7 mg\kg\day. Groups 4–6 were not administered MNU; Group 4 received vehicles only. Groups 5 and 6 were administered SY similarly to groups 2 and 3 respectively.
Sunset Yellow at both doses exerted a significant dose-dependent increase in tumor incidences, multiplicities, volumes, and decreased tumor latency as compared with control. Immunolabeling indexes of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, estrogen receptor alpha, and progesterone receptor were significantly increased after SY treatment. Oxidative stress markers, serum estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin levels were significantly modified by SY treatment. The mRNA expression of estrogen receptor alpha and epidermal growth factor was up-regulated in SY groups versus control.
Collectively, SY has significantly promoted MNU-induced mammary tumors in rats with underlying mechanisms correlating SY consumption with estrogen disruption and subsequent antioxidative stress discrepancy.
Display omitted
•Sunset Yellow (SY) is a food coloring dye.•SY has significantly promoted MNU-induced mammary tumors in rats.•SY exaggerated tumor growth via estrogen disruption and subsequent antioxidative stress discrepancy.
Two zinc(II) complexes, DBZ and DBZH4, that have (ZnN3S2) cores and differ in the bridging mode of the ligating backbone, effectively bind to BSA. The binding affinity varies as DBZ > DBZH4 and ...depends on the ligand structure. At low concentrations, both complexes exhibit dynamic quenching, whereas at higher concentrations they exhibit mixed (static and dynamic) quenching. The energy transfer mechanism from the BSA singlet excited state to DBZ and DBZH4, is highly likely according to steady-state fluorescence and time-correlated singlet photon counting. Molecular docking was used to support the mode of interaction of the complexes with BSA and showed that DBZ had more energy for binding. Furthermore, antibacterial testing revealed that both complexes were active but to a lesser extent than chloramphenicol. In comparison to DBZH4, DBZ has higher antibacterial activity, which is consistent with the binding constants, molecular docking, and particle size of adducts. These findings may have an impact on biomedicine.
In this study, chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) were used as nanocarrier for ultrasonicated ethanolic extract of
Rosmarinus officinalis
(UEERO) as a new nanoformulation against
Eimeria tenella
. ...Herein, CsNPs have been synthesized by ionic gelation method at pH 3 (CsNPs3) and pH 5 (CsNPs5), followed by characterization of morphology, size, polydispersity index (PDI), surface charge, and loading efficiency of UEERO. An
in vitro
sporulation inhibition assay (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.62, 0.31, 0.15, 0.07, 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01 mg/ml normal saline solution) against
E. tenella
was conducted. Results showed that free CsNPs and UEERO-CsNPs3/5 were cubic- and spherical-shaped with positive charge and average size of ~ 150.8 nm (314.4 nm) and 151.7 nm (321.1 nm), respectively. The total loading efficiency using UV–vis spectrophotometer, was 80.05 at pH 5 and 64.39% at pH 3. The
in vitro
sporulation inhibition assay revealed that UEERO, CsNPs3/5, and UEERO-CsNPs3/5 showed a potential inhibitory effect on sporulation (%), distortion in wall (%), and sporocyst abnormality (%) in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, the concentration (10 mg/ml) showed the best efficacy after 24 h in UEERO, free CsNPs, and UEERO-CsNPs. Moreover, UEERO-CsNPs3 and UEERO-CsNPs5 had stopped the sporulation (%) after 72 h. Taken all together, UEERO-CsNPs3 and UEERO-CsNPs5 are best effective against
E. tenella
in a dose-dependent manner in terms of sporulation (%), distortion in wall (%), and sporocysts abnormality.
Graphical abstract
Curcumin (CUR) nanomicelles were developed by solvent-evaporation method using Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) for the first time with Pluronic F127 (PF127) to produce CUR@PLA@PF127 nanomicelles. The X-ray ...diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the encapsulation of CUR into the produced nanomicelles (CUR@PLA@PF127). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed the interactions of CUR with PLA and PF127. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis showed the formation of spherical shape of CUR@PLA@PF127 with a diameter around 130–160 nm. To investigate the anticancer effect of the encapsulated CUR, the activity of CUR@PLA@PF127 nanomicelles, free CUR and blank nanomicelles (PLA@PF127) were assayed against two cell lines
in-vitro
, human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and human breast skin fibroblast cells. The cytotoxicity assay of CUR@PLA@PF127 nanomicelles, revealed an IC
50
value of 159.7 ± 1.36 µg/mL for MCF-7 cells which is much lower than that observed for free CUR. This result suggests that CUR@PLA@PF127 nanomicelles increased CUR potency due to improving its water solubility, resulting in longer release profile, and increasing antiproliferative effect on breast cancer cells (MCF-7). We anticipate that CUR@PLA@PF127 in drug delivery, improving drugs design and that the developed nanomicelles will be regarded one of the most promising nanocarriers for the treatment of breast cancer, and opening the door to future applications in cancer therapies.
•Long-term exposure of lead toxicity adversely affected the health and immune status Oreochromis niloticus fish.•Fish exposed to stress of lead toxicity are vulnerable for Aeromonas ...hydrophila.•Arthrospira platensis algae play an ameliorative role that decrease of such impacts.
In this study, the impacts of lead toxicity on Oreochromisniloticus were investigated. Additionally, the potential ameliorative effects of the Spirulina algae Arthrospira platensis were evaluated. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of PbNO3 was determined to be 143.3 mg/l for O. niloticus weighing 42 ± 2.5 g. O. niloticus were exposed to 10 % of the estimated PbNO3 LC50 for 12 weeks. The cumulative mortality rate (CMR) increased with exposure time. The results of assays for red blood cells (RBCs), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) indicated that the exposed O. niloticus suffered from anaemia. The levels of liver enzymes, namely, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), as well as metallothionein)MT(revealed deterioration of hepatic tissue. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as catalase (CAT) was stimulated in the hepatic tissue of O. niloticus exposed to PbNO3 and in those treated with A. platensis. Based on the results of serum bactericidal activity (SBA) and oxidative burst activity (OBA) assays as well as challenge tests with Aeromonas hydrophila, it was clear that supplementation with 5 or 10 g/kg A. platensis significantly enhanced the fish immune status and decreased the mortality rate (MR). However, these effects were reduced by PbNO3 exposure with no differences in MR percentage. Therefore, it was clear that O. niloticus reared in lead nitrate-polluted water were immunosuppressed, while diet supplementation with A. platensis could ameliorate such impacts.
Purpose
The in vivo efficacy of ultrasonicated
Rosmarinus officinalis
ethanolic extract (UROEE) and its chitosan-loaded nanoparticles (UROEE-CsNPs) was investigated as a dietary prophylactic agent ...and as a therapeutic treatment against
Eimeria tenella
infected broiler chickens.
Methods
Chickens were infected with 4 × 10
4
E. tenella
oocysts at 21 days old for primary infection and with 8 × 10
4
oocysts at 35 days old for secondary infection. Eleven experimental groups were conducted. Dietary addition of 100 mg/kg UROEE and 20 mg/kg for CsNPs as well as UROEE-CsNPs were included for prophylactic groups from day 1 to 42. The same doses were used for therapeutic treatment groups for 5 constitutive days. Oocyst output in feces was counted. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were conducted. Gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-6 as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines as IL-10 and TGF-β4 was analyzed using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR.
Results
The results showed an efficacy of UROEE, CsNPs and UROEE-CsNPs in reduction of oocyst excretion and improving the cecal tissue architecture. CD4
+
and CD8
+
T lymphocytes protein expression were reduced.
E. tenella
infection lead to upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines as IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokines as TGF-β4 following primary infection, while their expression was downregulated following secondary infection.
Conclusion
The dietary prophylactic additives and therapeutic treatments with UROEE, CsNPs and UROEE-CsNPs could decrease the inflammatory response to
E. tenella
as indicated by oocyst output reduction, histopathological improvements, CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells protein expression reduction as well as reducing mRNA expression levels of the tested cytokines following primary and secondary infections. Consequently, these results will help to develop better-combating strategies for the control and prevention of coccidiosis on poultry farms as a dietary prophylactic agent or as a therapeutic treatment.
Graphical Abstract
Bee pollen extract (BPE)-based polymer nanoparticles (BPENP) were fabricated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and targeted with folic acid and were further characterized. Mice groups are: Group 1 ...received saline, whereas Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 received a single dose of urethane, followed by weekly injections of butylated hydroxy-toluene (BHT). After the BHT injection, the mice in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 received BPE, Avastin, BPENP, and BPENP + Avastin, respectively. The number and size of tumors were decreased in Group 6 compared to those in the other groups. The ratios of early and late apoptotic cells in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 (42.8%, 41.4%, 26.2%, and 45.4%, respectively) were higher than that in the untreated group. The PCNA-labeling indexes (LI)% in tissues and lesions from Group 6 were lower than those in the other groups; on the other hand, the Caspase-3 LI (%) was higher than those in the other groups. No significant differences in
HRAS
and
MAPK
levels were observed between Group 6 and the other groups. However, the level of
Bax
was significantly increased, whereas those of
Bcl2
and
P21
were decreased in Group 6 compared to those in Groups 4 and 5. According to the results of the current study's in vivo lung cancer mouse model, adjuvant chemotherapy given in conjunction with a polyphenolic substance derived from bee pollen significantly activates the apoptotic pathways as measured by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and apoptotic genes. It also significantly reduces tumor volume and growth as measured by histopathology.
Graphical Abstract
