Effective paclitaxel: -Cyclodextrin-based formulation boosts anti-tumor potential and lowers toxicity in zebrafish.

Paclitaxel (PCTX) is one of the most prevalently used chemotherapeutic agents. However, its use is currently beset with a host of problems: solubility issue, microplastic leaching, and drug resistance. Since drug discovery is challenging, we decided to focus on repurposing the drug itself by remedying its drawbacks and making it more effective.

Polyoxometalate-Polymer Directed Macromolecular Architectonics of Silver Nanoparticles as Effective Antimicrobials.

A novel inorganic-organic-inorganic ternary bioactive material formulated on antimicrobial peptide-based polymer has been reported. Supramolecular approach has been employed to incorporate molecularly crowded tyrosine-based polymer stabilized silver nanoparticles into membrane bound vesicles exploiting polyoxometalate-triggered surface templating strategy. Utilizing the covalent reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and exploiting templated supramolecular architectonics at biopolymer interface, the bioactive ternary polymeric nanohybrids have been designed against Shigellosis leveraging the antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticle, cationic amphiphilic tyrosine polymer and inorganic polyoxometalate.

The association of cysteine to thiomersal attenuates its apoptosis-mediated cytotoxicity in zebrafish.

Thiomersal (TM) is an excellent preservative that is used in a wide variety of products, like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and vaccines, etc. Its usage has been in decline because of safety concerns. Since vaccine production is on the rise, its use may increase further in low-income and developing countries, as a cost-effective vaccine preservative.

Fluorescence based rapid optical volume screening system (OVSS) for interrogating multicellular organisms.

Continuous monitoring of large specimens for long durations requires fast volume imaging. This is essential for understanding the processes occurring during the developmental stages of multicellular organisms. One of the key obstacles of fluorescence based prolonged monitoring and data collection is photobleaching.

Nanonization of a chemically synthesized flavone HMDF (3-hydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone) by entrapping within calcium phosphate nanoparticles and exploring its antioxidant role on neural cellsand zebrafish.

The chemical synthesis of 3-hydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone (HMDF) was reported to generate a modified flavone of potent antioxidant activity with significant neuropharmacological properties. In this study, HMDF was nanonized by entrapping within calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CPNPs). HMDF-CPNPs were of (i) size 25 nm, (ii) zeta potential (-) [22 ± 3] mV and (iii) entrapment efficiency 67%.

Exome sequencing and functional studies in zebrafish identify WDR8 as the causative gene for isolated Microspherophakia in Indian families.

Isolated Microspherophakia (MSP) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a smaller than normal spherical lens. Till date, LTBP2 is the only gene shown to cause MSP. We used homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing and identified a homozygous mutation, c.

Circumstantial Overdose Management of an Efficient Cancer Cell Photosensitizer with Preclinical Evidence: A Biophysical Study.

In this article, pharmacological management of circumstantial overdose of an anticancer drug, Harmine (HM), under in vitro and in vivo conditions is described and further validated by employing in silico methods. HM, an efficient cancer cell photosensitizer, interacts extensively with nontoxic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Steady-state fluorescence studies and molecular docking analysis established differential nature of molecular inclusion depending on the relative concentrations of β-CD.

Tyrosine based cationic acrylates as potent antimicrobial agents against shigellosis.

Incorporation of tyrosine within synthetic macromolecules via the controlled radical polymerization technique is of particular interest due to the presence of a phenolic group in tyrosine imparting high inhibition potential. Tyrosine incorporation is also fascinating from a medicinal point of view since this particular amino acid is present in several natural antimicrobial peptides as a key constituent. This study describes a facile strategy to integrate the naturally occurring proteinogenic amino acid tyrosine within a polyacrylate system via the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization technique to construct potent bioactive macromolecules against the microbial strain S.

Nanonized tetracycline cures deadly diarrheal disease 'shigellosis' in mice, caused by multidrug-resistant Shigella flexneri 2a bacterial infection.

We reported earlier about nano-formulation of tetracycline through its entrapment within calcium-phosphate nano-particle (CPNP) and about killing of pathogenic bacterium Shigella flexnari 2a, resistant to tetracycline (and 9 other antibiotics), by the nanonized antibiotic (Tet-CPNP). Here, we report on therapeutic role of Tet-CPNP against deadly diarrheal disease 'shigellosis' in mice, caused by Shigella infection. Our findings revealed that occurrence of mushy-stool excretion, colon-length shortening, weight-loss and bacterial colonization in gastrointestinal tract of mice due to shigellosis was significantly reduced by Tet-CPNP treatment.

Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO-9-Aminoacridine Hydrochloride Hydrate Drug Nanoconjugates.

The development of nanomaterial-based hybrid systems for healthcare and energy-related materials has attracted significant attention nowadays. Here, we have designed a nanocomposite of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with anticancer therapeutic drug 9-aminoacridine hydrochloride hydrate (9AA-HCl) for antibacterial and photocatalytic activities. Spectroscopic studies reveal that the photoinduced electron transfer from photoexcited 9AA-HCl to the conduction band of ZnO NP causes the generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is responsible for antibacterial activity and photocatalytic properties.

A simple robust method of synthesis of copper-silver core-shell nano-particle: evaluation of its structural and chemical properties with anticancer potency.

A simple method of synthesis of a stable bimetallic copper-silver nano-particle (CuAg-NP) was developed by successive reduction of Cu(NO) and AgNO, using hydrazine hydrate as the reducing agent and gelatin and poly-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the capping agents. The round-shaped particles were of a core-shell structure with a core of Cu atoms surrounded by a shell of Ag atoms. The size and the mol.

Calcium phosphate-quercetin nanocomposite (CPQN): A multi-functional nanoparticle having pH indicating, highly fluorescent and anti-oxidant properties.

Calcium phosphate quercetin nanocomposite (CPQN) i.e., quercetin entrapped in calcium phosphate nanoparticle was synthesized by a precipitation method at 80°C, taking ammonium hydrogen phosphate, calcium nitrate and quercetin as precursors and sodium citrate as stabilizer.

Green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticle: A prospective drug against oxidative harm.

Cerium oxide nanoparticle (CeONP) of size 2-3nm was synthesized by a new, simple and green method at ambient temperature, using cerium nitrate as prime precursor and Aloe vera leaf extract as stabilizing agent. Of the two oxidation states (+3) and (+4) of cerium, it was dominantly present in (+3) state in CeONP and cyclic conversion of Ce(III)O→Ce(IV)O→Ce(III)O by reaction with H2O2 implied uninterrupted antioxidant property of CeONP. Moreover, the higher oxygen defect in the crystal lattice produced particles with higher antioxidant activity.

Tetracycline-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticle (Tet-CPNP): Rejuvenation of an obsolete antibiotic to further action.

Background: Increasing resistance in bacteria towards antibiotics has made it imperative to research on their revitalization to combat infectious diseases. This study dealt with synthesis of a nano-form of the antibiotic tetracycline, its characterization and potency of killing different multi-drug resistant diarrhea-causing bacteria.

Methods: Nano-formulation was done by loading tetracycline within biocompatible calcium phosphate nanoparticle.