Highlights of 2024. Broadening anti-cancer immunotherapy modalities with antibody-drug conjugates: emerging insights from clinical studies.

In this article for the "Highlights of 2024" series, we discuss antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which are an emerging class of targeted cancer therapies that harness the specificity of monoclonal antibodies to deliver cytotoxic agents directly to tumor cells. ADCs bind to tumor-associated antigens, undergo internalization via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and release their cytotoxic payload intracellularly, reducing systemic toxicity. This highly selective mechanism has led to significant advancements in oncology, improving treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.

Effect of 6,6-Substitution on 2,2'-Bipyridine and Probing Biomolecular Interaction Through Experimental and Computational Studies Towards Anticancer Potency.

The current study focuses on the cytotoxicity assessment of 6,6'-substituted 2,2'-bipyridine derivatives containing functional groups, namely methyl (-CH, L1), acid (-COOH, L2), ester (-COOCH, L3), semicarbozone (-CONHNH, L4). The ligands exhibited high solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and moderately soluble in dimethyl formamide (DMF), acetonitrile (ACN) and low solubility in water. The ligands display a significant π→π* transition in the region of 270 nm to 305 nm.

PEGylated Platinum Nanoparticles: A Comprehensive Study of Their Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

Pain and inflammation are common symptoms of a majority of the diseases. Chronic pain and inflammation, as well as related dreadful disorders, remain difficult to control due to a lack of safe and effective medications. In this work, biocompatible platinum nanoparticles with significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory action were synthesized through a wet chemical method using polyethylene glycol-400 as a capping agent and sodium borohydride as a reducing agent.

Assessing anticancer properties of PEGylated platinum nanoparticles on human breast cancer cell lines usingassays.

This study describes the in-vitro cytotoxic effects of PEG-400 (Polyethylene glycol-400)-capped platinum nanoparticles (PEGylated Pt NPs) on both normal and cancer cell lines. Structural characterization was carried out using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy with an average crystallite size 5.7 nm, and morphological assessment using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of spherical platinum nanoparticles.

Phytochemical composition, simulated digestive bioaccessibility and cytotoxicity of Ficus auriculata Lour. fruits: In vitro and in silico insights.

Ficus auriculata Lour. (Moraceae) is an underutilized wild edible fruit widely consumed for its nutritional properties. The present study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties of the F.

A Porphyrin-based NIR Fluorescent Probe for Bi and Potential Applications.

Herein, we have prepared a 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin (P) which acts as a probe for selective and sensitive detection of Bi ions. Probe P was obtained by reacting pyrrole with 4-hydroxyl benzaldehyde and characterized by NMR, IR, and ESI-MS. All photo-physical studies of P were tested in DMSO:HO (8:2, v/v) media by spectrophotometry and spectrofluorometry respectively.

Novel 3D porous aerogels engineered at nano scale from cellulose nano fibers and curcumin: An effective treatment for chronic wounds.

Traditional cotton gauze derived from cellulose has many limitations in the processes of wound healing. To overcome these hassles, we used cellulose nanofibers (CNF) incorporated with curcumin for the fabrication of wound healing 3D porous aerogel. Cellulose nanofibers synthesized from plant waste are promising sustainable nanomaterials due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability.

Integration of heterogeneous photocatalysis and persulfate based oxidation using TiO-reduced graphene oxide for water decontamination and disinfection.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) which involve the generation of highly reactive free radicals have been considered as a promising technology for the decontamination of water from chemical and bacterial pollutants. In this study, integration of two major AOPs ., heterogeneous photocatalysis involving TiO-reduced graphene oxide (T-RGO) nanocomposite and activated persulfate (PS) based oxidation was attempted to remove diclofenac (DCF), a frequently detected pharmaceutical contaminant in water.

Fabrication of Silver-Decorated Graphene Oxide Nanohybrids via Pulsed Laser Ablation with Excellent Antimicrobial and Optical Limiting Performance.

The demand for metallic nanoparticle ornamented nanohybrid materials of graphene oxide (GO) finds copious recognition by virtue of its advanced high-tech applications. Far apart from the long-established synthesis protocols, a novel laser-induced generation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) that are anchored onto the GO layers by a single-step green method named pulsed laser ablation has been exemplified in this work. The second and third harmonic wavelengths (532 nm and 355 nm) of an Nd:YAG pulsed laser is used for the production of Ag NPs from a bulk solid silver target ablated in an aqueous solution of GO to fabricate colloidal Ag-GO nanohybrid materials.

Procedural Analgesia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Objective: Neonates perceive pain which also has adverse long-term consequences. Newborns experience several painful procedures a day. Various methods of analgesia may be used but are underutilized.

Exploring the optical limiting, photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of the BiFeO-NaNbO nanocomposite system.

Thin films of BiFeO-NaNbO composites were fabricated in a PMMA matrix. XRD and HRTEM were used for structural investigations. The grain size and surface morphology of samples were analysed through HRTEM images.

Fabrication and functionalization of 3D-printed soft and hard scaffolds with growth factors for enhanced bioactivity.

Strategies to improve the acceptance of scaffolds by the body is crucial in tissue engineering (TE) which requires tailoring of the pore structure, mechanical properties and surface characteristics of the scaffolds. In the current study we used a 3-dimensional (3D) printing technique to tailor the pore structure and mechanical properties of (i) nanocellulose based hydrogel scaffolds for soft tissue engineering and (ii) poly lactic acid (PLA) based scaffolds for hard tissue engineering in combination with surface treatment by protein conjugation for tuning the scaffold bioactivity. Dopamine coating of the scaffolds enhanced the hydrophilicity and their capability to bind bioactive molecules such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF-18) for soft TE scaffolds and arginyl glycyl aspartic acid (RGD) peptide for hard TE scaffolds, which was confirmed using MALDI-TOFs.

Surface and morphology analyses, and voltammetry studies for electrochemical determination of cerium(iii) using a graphene nanobud-modified-carbon felt electrode in acidic buffer solution (pH 4.0 ± 0.05).

Trace determination of radioactive waste, especially Ce, by electrochemical methods has rarely been attempted. Ce is (i) a fluorescence quencher, (ii) an antiferromagnet, and (iii) a superconductor, and it has been incorporated into fast scintillators, LED phosphors, and fluorescent lamps. Although Ce has been utilized in many industries due to its specific properties, it causes severe health problems to human beings because of its toxicity.

Application of novel zinc oxide reinforced xanthan gum hybrid system for edible coatings.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) encapsulated xanthan-based edible coating has been demonstrated in this paper for its main attribute of displaying superior anti-bacterial properties. The fabrication of microparticles was carried out through emulsion solvent evaporation route where ZnO particles get adsorbed onto xanthan gum matrix. Morphological analysis through TEM showed a flower like appearance for ZnO and core-shell morphology was observed for the hybrid system.

Extinction of Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens Using Silver Embedded Silica Nanoparticles and an Efflux Pump Blocker.

Control measures against antimicrobial resistant bacterial pathogens are important challenges in our daily life. In this study, we discuss the sensitivity and resistance of four bacterial pathogens, , , , and , to silver-silica hybrid nanoparticles. Successively, by combining with an efflux pump blocking agent Verapamil, we find that these hybrid nanoparticles induce complete mortality to even the most resistive .

Multiorgan histopathological changes in the juvenile seabream Sparus aurata as a biomarker for zinc oxide particles toxicity.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles are widely used in some domains (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals optical devices, and agricultural field) due to their physical, optical, and antimicrobial properties. However, the release of ZnO-NPs into the environment may affect organisms like fish with potential consequences for human health. Histological approaches of the acute effects of these materials on fish are scarce; thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of acute exposure to ZnO particles in marine environments, by assessing histological changes in the gills, liver, spleen, and muscle of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles.

Structure and dynamics of gold nanoparticles decorated with chitosan-gentamicin conjugates: ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations to disclose drug delivery.

With the aim of designing an efficient procedure for producing biocompatible drug delivery systems based on nanoparticle carriers for in situ controlled antibiotic release, we have defined a novel computational approach resorting to a reactive force field capable of realistically describing hybrid systems. The modeling procedure was focused on well-known components, namely gold nanoparticles, citrate, chitosan and gentamicin, and the experiments tuned on purpose. On the one hand, gold nanoparticles were synthesized, fuctionalized with chitosan, loaded with gentamicin and characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Antimicrobial properties of MFeO (M = Mn, Mg)/reduced graphene oxide composites synthesized via solvothermal method.

We herein report the synthesis of MFeO (M = Mn, Mg)/reduced graphene oxide (MFeO/RGO) through a simple and novel pressure cooker assisted solvothermal method. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The antimicrobial study revealed that the as-synthesized materials displayed good antibacterial effect against E.

Fracture resistant, antibiofilm adherent, self-assembled PMMA/ZnO nanoformulations for biomedical applications: physico-chemical and biological perspectives of nano reinforcement.

Antimicrobial, antibiofilm adherent, fracture resistant nano zinc oxide (ZnO NP) formulations based on poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix were developed using a facile ex situ compression moulding technique. These formulations demonstrated potent, long-term biofilm-resisting effects against Candida albicans (9000 CFU to 1000 CFU) and Streptococcus mutans. Proposed mechanism of biofilm resistance was the release of metallic ions/metal oxide by 'particle-corrosion'.

Novel dendritic structure of alginate hybrid nanoparticles for effective anti-viral drug delivery.

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles have recently gathered much attention as nanoplatforms for drug delivery applications due to their unique structural properties. In this study zidovudine (AZT) loaded hybrid nanoparticles of alginate (ALG) and stearic acid- poly ethylene glycol (SA-PEG) were synthesized. The structural characterization of drug loaded hybrid nanoparticles were studied using FT-IR spectroscopy, DLS and TEM analysis.

Preparation and characterization of green graphene using grape seed extract for bioapplications.

The development of functionalized graphene materials concerning health and environmental aspects via green approaches is currently the most recent topic in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Herein, we report the green reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using grape seed extract (GSE). Structural properties of the prepared RGO were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV-Visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Heavy metal pollution exerts reduction/adaptation in the diversity and enzyme expression profile of heterotrophic bacteria in Cochin estuary, India.

Over the past three decades heavy metal pollution has increased substantially in Cochin estuary, south west coast of India. Here we studied the distribution, diversity and enzyme expression profile of culturable microbial population along a pollution gradient. The distribution of resistance against 5 mM concentration of Zn, Co, Ni and Cu was observed among 90-100% of bacterial isolates retrieved from highly polluted Eloor, whereas it was less than 40% in Vypin and Munambam.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of Bacillus pumilus isolated from coastal environment in Cochin, India.

Bacillus species constitute a diverse group of bacteria widely distributed in soil and the aquatic environment. In this study, Bacillus strains isolated from the coastal environment of Cochin, India were identified by detailed conventional biochemical methods, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis and partial 16S rDNA sequencing. Analysis of the data revealed that Bacillus pumilus was the most predominant species in the region under study followed by B.