Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol
December 2024
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using three red wine extracts (RW-Es); by varying temperature, pH, concentrations of RW-Es and gold salt. The RW-AuNPs were characterized by UV-vis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Their stability was evaluated in water, foetal bovine serum (FBS), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) by UV-Vis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is a steatotic liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), especially obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. MASLD in 43-44% of patients can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and 7-30% of these cases will progress to liver scarring (cirrhosis). To date, the mechanism of MASLD and its progression is not completely understood and there were no therapeutic strategies specifically tailored for MASLD/MASH until March 2024.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreatments of -(1-benzo[]imidazol-2-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (HL) and -(benzo[]thiazol-2-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide carboxamide ligands (HL) with [Ru(-cymene)Cl] and [Ru(PPh)Cl] precursors afforded the respective Ru(ii) complexes [Ru(L)(-cymene)Cl] (Ru1), [Ru(L)(-cymene)Cl] (Ru2), [Ru(L)(PPh)Cl] (Ru3), and [Ru(L)(PPh)Cl] (Ru4). These complexes were characterized by NMR, FT-IR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and crystal X-ray crystallography for Ru2. The molecular structure of complex Ru2 contains one mono-anionic bidentate bound ligand and display pseudo-octahedral piano stool geometry around the Ru(ii) atom.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biomol Struct Dyn
March 2024
The presence of HLA-DRB1 alleles that encode critical points associated with environmental interactions is associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis caused by anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. Therefore, interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine that controls both local and systemic acute inflammatory responses through its ability to induce a phase response, plays a serious role. Its overexpression leads to pathological challenges such as rheumatoid arthritis and menopausal osteoporosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe continuous rise in bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance is the driving force behind the search for new antibacterial agents with novel modes of action. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently gained attention as promising antibiotic agents with the potential to treat drug-resistant infections. Several AMPs have shown a lower propensity towards developing resistance compared to conventional antibiotics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer mortality. The lifetime risk of developing CRC is about 5% in adult males and females. CRC is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and at this point therapy has a limited impact on cure rates and long-term survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of triterpenes from leaves on the induction of apoptotic signalling in human cells. The molecular mechanisms of triterpenes isolated from leaves were investigated on HeLa, MCF-7, HT-29, and KMST-6 cells. The compounds activated several markers associated with apoptosis, viz.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe evolution of antibiotic-resistant carbapenemase has negatively impacted the management of critical healthcare-associated infections. carbapenemase-2- (KPC-2-) expressing bacteria have developed resistance to conventional therapeutic options, including those used as a last resort for life-threatening diseases. In this study, species phytoconstituents were screened for their potential to inhibit KPC-2 protein using approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisposal of agricultural waste has a negative impact on the environment and human health and may contribute to the greenhouse effect. The field of nanotechnology could provide alternative solutions to upcycle agricultural wastes in a safer manner into high-end value products. Organic waste from plants contain biomaterials that could serve as reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of nanomaterials with enhanced activities for use in biomedical and environmental applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is growing interest in the use of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to control and prevent dental diseases. The incorporation of green synthesized AgNPs into dentifrices to reduce pathogenic oral microbes is motivated by their presumed biocompatibility and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In the present study, gum arabic AgNPs (GA-AgNPs) were formulated into a toothpaste (TP) using a commercial TP at a non-active concentration, to produce GA-AgNPs_TP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe current study reports on the development of a rapid and cost-effective TB-antigen diagnostic test for the detection of biomarkers from non-sputum-based samples. Two gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in the form of lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) were developed for detection of immunodominant TB antigens, the 6 kDa early secreted antigen target EsxA (ESAT-6) and the 10 kDa culture filtrate protein EsxB (CFP-10). AuNPs were synthesized using the Turkevich method and characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer and transmission electron microscope (TEM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe African nutmeg () is a medically useful plant. We, herein, aimed to critically examine whether bioactive compounds identified in the extracted oil of could act as antimicrobial agents. To this end, we employed the Schrödinger platform as the computational tool to screen bioactive compounds identified in the oil of .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDental caries is considered one of the most prevalent oral diseases worldwide, with a high rate of morbidity among populations. It is a chronic infectious disease with a multifactorial etiology that leads to the destruction of the dental tissues. Due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antioxidant properties; silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are incorporated in dental products to help prevent infectious oral diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRetinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been implicated in insulin resistance in rodents and humans with obesity and T2DM, making it a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of T2DM. However, diagnostic tools for low-level detection of RBP4 are still lagging behind. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of T2DM diagnostics that are rapid, cost-effective and that can be used at the point-of-care (POC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMangiferin (MGF) is a natural and valuable polyphenol found in significant levels in many plant species, including (). In a previous study, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using MGF and a water extract of and reported that these AuNPs have very low cytotoxicity toward a human colon cancer (Caco-2) cell line. Although the study also showed that these biogenic AuNPs in combination with doxorubic (DOX) significantly augmented the cytotoxic effects of DOX in Caco-2 cells, the mechanism of the enhanced effect was not fully understood, and it was also not known if other cell lines would be sensitive to this co-treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted a lot of interest directed towards biomedical applications due in part to their outstanding anti-microbial activities. However, there have been many health-impacting concerns about their traditional synthesis methods, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) are a new class of emerging antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are currently explored for treatment of pathogenic infections, including tuberculosis (TB). These cyclic hydrophobic peptides have a unique bacterial target to the conventional anti-TB drugs, and present a therapeutic window to overcome () drug resistance. ADEPs exerts their antibacterial activity on strains through activation of the protein homeostatic regulatory protease, the caseinolytic protease (ClpP1P2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagnostics (Basel)
August 2022
The current levels of breast cancer in African women have contributed to the high mortality rates among them. In South Africa, the incidence of breast cancer is also on the rise due to changes in behavioural and biological risk factors. Such low survival rates can be attributed to the late diagnosis of the disease due to a lack of access and the high costs of the current diagnostic tools.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, chlorophenyltin(IV) and diphenyltin(IV) of -methyl--hydroxyethyldithiocarbamate were prepared and characterized using various spectroscopic methods (FTIR, H, C, and Sn NMR) and elemental analysis. The FTIR and NMR spectral data, used to establish the structure of the compounds, showed the formation of the complexes via coordination to the two sulfur atoms from the dithiocarbamate ligand and the respective phenyltin(IV) derivatives. This coordination mode was further explored by DFT calculations, which showed that the bonding around the Sn center in was more asymmetric compared to the bonding around .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOral diseases are the most common non-communicable diseases in the world, with dental caries and periodontitis causing major health and social problems. These diseases can progress to systematic diseases and cause disfigurement when left untreated. However, treatment of oral diseases is among the most expensive treatments and often focus on restoration of form and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most commercialized nanomaterials and presumed to be biocompatible based on the biological effects of the bulk material. However, their physico-chemical properties differ significantly to the bulk materials and are associated with unique biological properties. The study investigated the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effects of AgNPs synthesized using gum arabic (GA), sodium borohydride (NaBH), and their combination as reducing agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has gained worldwide attention and has prompted the development of innovative diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to mitigate the pandemic. Diagnostic methods based on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology are the gold standard in the fight against COVID-19. However, this test might not be easily accessible in low-resource settings for the early detection and diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe medical properties of metals have been explored for centuries in traditional medicine for the treatment of infections and diseases and still practiced to date. Platinum-based drugs are the first class of metal-based drugs to be clinically used as anticancer agents following the approval of cisplatin by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over 40 years ago. Since then, more metals with health benefits have been approved for clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to global health. The conventional antibiotic pool has been depleted, forcing the investigation of novel and alternative antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown potential as alternative diagnostic and therapeutic agents in biomedical applications.
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