Green Nanotechnology Through Papain Nanoparticles: Preclinical in vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Imaging Triple-Negative Breast Tumors.

Background: Recent advancements in nanomedicine and nanotechnology have expanded the scope of multifunctional nanostructures, offering innovative solutions for targeted drug delivery and diagnostic agents in oncology and nuclear medicine. Nanoparticles, particularly those derived from natural sources, hold immense potential in overcoming biological barriers to enhance therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic accuracy. Papain, a natural plant protease derived from , emerges as a promising candidate for green nanotechnology-based applications due to its diverse medicinal properties, including anticancer properties.

Mucoadhesive gellan gum-based and carboxymethyl cellulose -based hydrogels containing gemcitabine and papain for bladder cancer treatment.

Local treatment of bladder cancer faces several limitations such as short residence time or low permeation through urothelium tissue. The aim of this work was to develop patient-friendly mucoadhesive gel formulations combining gemcitabine and the enzyme papain for improved intravesical chemotherapy delivery. Hydrogels based on two different polysaccharides, gellan gum and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), were prepared with either native papain or papain nanoparticles (nanopapain) to explore for the first time their use as permeability enhancers through bladder tissue.

Mucoadhesive Polymers and Their Applications in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the tenth most common type of cancer worldwide, affecting up to four times more men than women. Depending on the stage of the tumor, different therapy protocols are applied. Non-muscle-invasive cancer englobes around 70% of the cases and is usually treated using the transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBIT) followed by the instillation of chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

The State of the Art of Theranostic Nanomaterials for Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancers.

The synthesis and engineering of nanomaterials offer more robust systems for the treatment of cancer, with technologies that combine therapy with imaging diagnostic tools in the so-called nanotheranostics. Among the most studied systems, there are quantum dots, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, dendrimers, and gold nanoparticles. Most of the advantages of nanomaterials over the classic anticancer therapies come from their optimal size, which prevents the elimination by the kidneys and enhances their permeation in the tumor due to the abnormal blood vessels present in cancer tissues.

Semi-Solid Pharmaceutical Formulations for the Delivery of Papain Nanoparticles.

Papain is a therapeutic enzyme with restricted applications due to associated allergenic reactions. Papain nanoparticles have shown to be safe for biomedical use, although a method for proper drug loading and release remains to be developed. Thus, the objective of this work was to develop and assess the stability of papain nanoparticles in a prototype semi-solid formulation suitable for dermatological or topical administrations.

An Updated Review of Macro, Micro, and Nanostructured Hydrogels for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications.

Hydrogels are materials with wide applications in several fields, including the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Their properties such as the capacity of absorbing great amounts of aqueous solutions without losing shape and mechanical properties, as well as loading drugs of different nature, including hydrophobic ones and biomolecules, give an idea of their versatility and promising demand. As they have been explored in a great number of studies for years, many routes of synthesis have been developed, especially for chemical/permanent hydrogels.

Enhancing the Furosemide Permeability by Papain Minitablets Through a Triple Co-culture In Vitro Intestinal Cell Model.

The administration of medicines by the oral route is the most used approach for being very convenient. Although it is the most popular, this route also has absorption, and consequently, bioavailability limitations. In this sense, several pharmacotechnical strategies have been used to improve drug absorption, one of which is the use of permeation promoters.

Development of natural polymeric microcapsules for antimicrobial drug delivery: triclosan loaded chitosan and alginate-based microcapsules.

The goal of this work was the development of natural polymeric microcapsules for antimicrobial drug delivery - triclosan loaded alginate and chitosan-based microcapsules for potential coating applications in substrates such as textiles or plastics. Microcapsules containing 2.5% (w/w) or 3% (w/w) triclosan in both core and matrix were synthesized and evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and antimicrobial activity.

Determination of Organochlorines in Soil of a Suburban Area of São Paulo Brazil.

Technological advances have promoted improvements in several science fields, especially related to environmental and analytical areas with the improvement of detection and development of environmentally friendly extraction techniques. This study applied Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe method (QuEChERS) for soil extraction and assessed its performance through a validation study using samples from the soil of a contaminated area in Caieiras, SP, Brazil. Nine organochlorine pesticides, including the isomers alpha, beta, gamma and delta- hexachlorocyclohexane; and -heptachlor epoxide; and -chlordane and heptachlor were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detector.

Antibacterial resin-based composite containing chlorhexidine for dental applications.

Objeticve: The aim of this study was to develop a composite material with antibacterial activity using MMT loaded with clorhexidine (CHX). For that it was used a BisGMA/TEGDMA matrix and added low concentration of MMT/CHX. The aim was to evaluate the drug release capacity of MMT, and not to provide reinforcement.

The molecular structure of β-alanine is resistant to sterilising doses of gamma radiation.

β-alanine is the rate-limiting point for the endogenous synthesis of carnosine in skeletal muscle. Carnosine has a wide range of implications for health, normal function and exercise performance. Whilst the physiological relevance of carnosine to different tissues remains enigmatic, β-alanine administration is a useful strategy to investigate the physiological roles of carnosine in humans.

An Overview of the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Radiation Technologies.

At a nano-level, optical properties of gold are unique and gave birth to an emerging platform of nanogold-based systems for diverse applications, because gold nanoparticle properties are tunable as a function of size and shape. Within the available techniques for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles, the radiolytic synthesis allows proper control of the nucleation process without the need for reducing agents, in a single step, combined or not with simultaneous sterilization. This review details and summarizes the use of radiation technologies for the synthesis and preparation of gold nanoparticles concerning fundamental aspects, mechanism, current pathways for synthesis and radiation sources, as well as briefly outlines final applications and some toxicity aspects related to nanogold-based systems.

Current Methods Applied to Biomaterials - Characterization Approaches, Safety Assessment and Biological International Standards.

Safety and biocompatibility assessment of biomaterials are themes of constant concern as advanced materials enter the market as well as products manufactured by new techniques emerge. Within this context, this review provides an up-to-date approach on current methods for the characterization and safety assessment of biomaterials and biomedical devices from a physical-chemical to a biological perspective, including a description of the alternative methods in accordance with current and established international standards.

Radiation Grafting for the Functionalization and Development of Smart Polymeric Materials.

Gamma radiation has been shown particularly useful for the functionalization of surfaces with stimuli-responsive polymers. This method involves the formation of active sites (free radicals) onto the polymeric backbone as a result of the high-energy radiation exposition over the polymeric material. Thus, a microenvironment suitable for the reaction among monomer and/or polymer and the active sites is formed and then leading to propagation to form side-chain grafts.

Synthesis and characterization of stimuli-responsive polypropylene containing N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole obtained by ionizing radiation.

Polypropylene films were grafted with thermo-responsive N-vinylcaprolactam and pH-responsive N-vinylimidazole polymers by means of gamma radiation using pre-irradiation and direct methods, in order to functionalize the films with thermo- and/or pH-responsiveness. The dependence of grafting yield on parameters such as co-monomer concentration, pre-irradiation dose, temperature, and reaction time was evaluated. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, swelling studies in different solvents, and water contact angle.

Development of papain containing pellets produced by extrusion-spheronization: an operational stage approach.

The performance of the standardized extrusion-spheronization technique, operational conditions, formulation parameters and storage of the final product over the bioactivity of papain containing pellets has been evaluated to obtain an insight into the potential of the technique for the manufacture of solid protein formulations. The pellets produced were assayed in terms of biological activity - monitored at each operational stage using N-benzoyl-dl-arginine ρ-nitroanilide as a substrate, and according to the physical properties - evaluated by means of size distribution, apparent density and friability. The produced pellets presented adequate physical and mechanical properties.

Rubus rosaefolius extract as a natural preservative candidate in topical formulations.

Even though the synthetic preservatives may offer a high antimicrobial efficacy, they are commonly related to adverse reactions and regarded as having potentially harmful effects caused by chronic consumption. The development of natural preservatives provides a way of reducing the amount of synthetic preservatives normally used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations. In addition, these agents have less toxic effects and represent a possible natural and safer alternative of the preservatives.

Thermal characterization and cytotoxicity of complexes formed by papain and cyclodextrin.

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme with restricted applications due to its limited stability. Cyclodextrins are widely used in pharmaceutical formulations once they are able to form complexes with other molecules, improving their stability and bioavailability. The purpose of the present paper was to analyze complexes formed by papain/hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and papain/beta-cyclodextrin by thermal analysis and cytotoxicity tests to verify their possible interactions and toxicological behavior.