The goal of this study was to optimize and formulate apigenin (APG)-loaded pegylated chitosan nanoparticles (PEGylated-CNPs) via ionic gelation techniques using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). Three individual variables, X(chitosan: TPP concentration), X (PEG-400 concentration), and X (sonication time), were investigated for their influence on response variables (Y-particle size (PS); Y-drug entrapment efficiency (DEE); and Y-zeta potential (ZP). The optimized formula of APG-PEGylated CNPs was picked from the statistical design and was then examined for physical, morphological, release characterization, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnalysis of placental genes could unravel maternal-fetal complications. However, inaccessibility to placental tissue during early pregnancy has limited this effort. We tested if exosomes (Exo) released by human placenta in the maternal circulation harbor crucial placental genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSkeletal muscle atrophy is a debilitating complication of many chronic disease states and disuse conditions including denervation. However, molecular and signaling mechanisms of muscle wasting remain less understood. Here, we demonstrate that the levels of several toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their downstream signaling adaptor, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), are induced in skeletal muscle of mice in response to sciatic nerve denervation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. Preliminary studies have evaluated the association between innate immunity including Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and airway samples of patients with COPD. The role of TLRs in peripheral blood neutrophils is poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site of protein synthesis, protein folding, maintainance of calcium homeostasis, synthesis of lipids and sterols. Genetic or environmental insults can alter its function generating ER stress. ER senses stress mainly by three stress sensor pathways, namely protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase-eukaryotic translation-initiation factor 2α, inositol-requiring enzyme 1α-X-box-binding protein 1 and activating transcription factor 6-CREBH, which induce unfolded protein responses (UPR) after the recognition of stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAluminum is the third most abundant element present in the earth's crust and human exposure to it is possible due to industrialization, utensils, medicines, antiperspirants, etc. Evidences suggest involvement of aluminum in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in various neurological disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSilica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are being used increasingly in biomedical and industrial fields; however, their adverse effects on human health have not been fully investigated. In this study, we focused on some of the toxicological aspects of SiNPs by studying oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory responses in the frontal cortex, corpus striatum and hippocampus regions of rat brain. Wistar rats were exposed to SiNPs of size 80 nm and 10 nm at a dose of 150 µg/50 µL phosphate-buffered saline/rat for 30 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAluminium (Al) is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust and its compounds are used in the form of house hold utensils, medicines and in antiperspirant etc. Increasing number of evidences suggest the involvement of Al+3 ions in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Here, we have attempted to investigate the role of Al in endoplasmic reticulum stress and the regulation of p53 during neuronal apoptosis using neuroblastoma cell line.
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