Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nuseibah H. AL Qtaish, Ilia Villate-Beitia, Idoia Gallego, Gema Martinez-Navarrete, Cristina Soto-Sanchez, Myriam Sainz-Ramos, Tania B. Lopez-Mendez, Alejandro J. Paredes, Francisco Javier Chichon, Noelia Zamarreno, Eduardo Fernandez, Gustavo Puras, Jose Luis Pedraz
Summary: Nanodiamonds were combined with niosome to form nanodiasomes, which were evaluated for their physicochemical features, cellular internalization, cell viability, and transfection efficiency. The parameters were analyzed at different time points and temperatures. Nanodiasomes showed a stable particle size of 128 nm, except after 30 days of storage at 25 degrees C. The incorporation of nanodiamonds into niosomes resulted in a 4-fold increase in transfection efficiency, maintained over time at different temperatures. In vivo studies showed high transgene expression of nanodiasomes after subretinal and intravitreal administration in mice, both freshly prepared and after 30 days of storage at 4 degrees C.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohamed Mashal, Noha Attia, Santiago Grijalvo, Ramon Eritja, Gustavo Puras, Jose Luis Pedraz
Summary: This study explores the stability of lipo-polymeric niosomes/niosome-based pCMS-EGFP complexes under different storage temperatures. The physicochemical features of the niosomes/nioplexes, including size, surface charge, and polydispersity index, as well as transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity, were evaluated for 8 weeks. The results showed that niosomes stored at 4 degrees C exhibited the greatest stability, while those stored at 25 degrees C and -20 degrees C experienced significant changes in physicochemical properties.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gholamreza Asadikaram, Alireza Poustforoosh, Abbas Pardakhty, Masoud Torkzadeh-Mahani, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi
Summary: In this study, virosomes were prepared using niosomes instead of liposomes, and the successful insertion and expression of VSV-G in the niosome bilayer was confirmed through various analytical methods. The high transfection efficiency of niosomal virosomes as a novel carrier was demonstrated. This report suggests that niosomes could be an efficient bilayer for constructing virosomes.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ali Moammeri, Masoumeh Mirzaei Chegeni, Hamidreza Sahrayi, Robabehbeygom Ghafelehbashi, Farkhondeh Memarzadeh, Afsoun Mansouri, Iman Akbarzadeh, Maryam Sadat Abtahi, Faranak Hejabi, Qun Ren
Summary: The advancement of nanotechnology has sparked interest in nanocarriers as efficient and safe drug delivery systems. Niosomes, a newer generation of nano-scale vesicles composed of non-ionic surfactants along with cholesterol or other amphiphilic molecules, offer a multilamellar carrier for bioactive substances. Compared to liposomes, niosomes are considered more chemically and physically stable, and have more economical preparation methods. They have various technological applications and are beneficial in terms of pharmacokinetics, toxicity reduction, drug solvability enhancement, and bioavailability improvement.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zeynep Burcu Akkus-Dagdeviren, Sema Arisoy, Julian David Friedl, Andrea Fuerst, Ahmad Saleh, Andreas Bernkop-Schnuerch
Summary: The aim of this study was to develop enzyme-activated charge-reversal lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as novel gene delivery systems. The researchers successfully anchored a transfection promoter on the surfaces of LNPs to achieve high encapsulation and efficient gene delivery. The experiment results showed that the enzyme-triggered charge reversal of LNPs resulted in significantly increased transfection efficiency in human alveolar epithelial cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Sadegh Dehghani, Mona Alibolandi, Zeinab Amiri Tehranizadeh, Reza Kazemi Oskuee, Rahim Nosrati, Fatemeh Soltani, Mohammad Ramezani
Summary: This study developed a novel peptide-based non-viral carrier decorated with aptamer to overcome specific gene delivery barriers, showing capabilities in specific cell targeting, overcoming cellular gene delivery barriers, and mediating efficient gene transfection. The KLN/pDNA/aptamer nanoparticles demonstrate remarkable potential for therapeutically demanding applications through concept design and formation of multi-functionalized carriers.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yukinobu Kodama, Ayako Tokunaga, Junya Hashizume, Hiroo Nakagawa, Hitomi Harasawa, Tomoaki Kurosaki, Tadahiro Nakamura, Koyo Nishida, Mikiro Nakashima, Mitsuru Hashida, Shigeru Kawakami, Hitoshi Sasaki
Summary: A biocompatible splenic vector for a DNA vaccine against melanoma was developed, showing strong luciferase activity and suppression of melanoma growth and metastasis in mice. The ternary complex mainly transfected into macrophages in the spleen, indicating its suitability for DNA vaccination. The ternary complex also exhibited low acute and liver toxicities in mice, confirming its safety profile.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yoko Endo-Takahashi, Ryo Kurokawa, Kanako Sato, Nao Takizawa, Fumihiko Katagiri, Nobuhito Hamano, Ryo Suzuki, Kazuo Maruyama, Motoyoshi Nomizu, Norio Takagi, Yoichi Negishi
Summary: This study successfully enhanced the efficiency of delivering pDNA to neuronal cells crossing the blood-brain barrier by utilizing special peptides and polymer complexes, along with ultrasound and microbubble technology.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pooja Suvarna, Pinal Chaudhari, Sumit Birangal, Lakshmi Sruthi Mallela, Sanhita Roy, Ananthamurthy Koteshwara, Jesil Mathew Aranjani, Shaila Angela Lewis
Summary: The study demonstrated that the formation of cyclodextrin-based ternary complexes and incorporation into mucoadhesive films improved the solubility, transcorneal permeation, and antifungal activity of voriconazole, offering a promising strategy for the management of fungal keratitis.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa T. Trossmann, Stefanie Heltmann-Meyer, Hanna Amouei, Harald Wajant, Raymund E. Horch, Dominik Steiner, Thomas Scheibel
Summary: Targeted therapies using biopharmaceuticals are clinically important in disease treatment. Protein-based therapeutics have limitations, which can be overcome using 3D constructs and producer cells. This study combines spider silk proteins and HEK293 producer cells to generate implantable 3D constructs for continuous release of targeted therapeutic proteins.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Olanrewaju A. Aladesuyi, Thabang C. Lebepe, Rodney Maluleke, Oluwatobi S. Oluwafemi
Summary: Semiconductor nanomaterials, known as quantum dots (QDs), have attracted significant interest for their excellent optical properties and potential biomedical applications. However, the presence of toxic heavy metals in conventional QDs poses a major challenge. Ternary I-III-VI QDs have emerged as viable alternatives with tunable optical properties that emit in the near-infrared region. This review discusses the recent progress in using ternary QDs in applications such as Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), nanomedicine, optical imaging, biosensing, and multimodal imaging. It also examines the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and toxicity concerns of these QDs, as well as the current status, challenges, and future directions in their application.
NANOTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Raquel Neves, Tania Albuquerque, Ruben Faria, Milan Paul, Swati Biswas, Angela Sousa, Diana Costa
Summary: This study developed dendrimer drug/gene ternary complexes for cancer gene therapy, showing promising cellular transfection potential and biocompatibility. It represents significant progress towards more efficient cancer therapy and encourages further in vitro studies to evaluate therapeutic potential in tumoral cells with expected synergistic effects.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Noha Attia, Mohamed Mashal, Gustavo Puras, Jose Luis Pedraz
Summary: The cell-based approach in gene therapy is promising for safe and targeted gene delivery. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been introduced as a promising vehicle, but face limitations in non-viral transfer of nucleic acids. Genetically modified MSCs are being combined with novel techniques for more efficient and safe applications in biomedicine.
Article
Oncology
Najmeh Alsadat Abtahi, Saba Salehi, Seyed Morteza Naghib, Fatemeh Haghiralsadat, Mohammadmahdi Akbari Edgahi, Sadegh Ghorbanzadeh, Wei Zhang
Summary: MicroRNAs are potential candidates for cancer treatment, and a niosomal delivery system with non-ionic surfactants has been developed for efficient delivery of miR-34a. The system showed successful elimination of cancer cells and reduction in tumor size in both in vitro and in vivo tests, indicating its potential as a tumor suppressor and a reliable procedure for breast cancer treatment.
CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hassan Zarei, Bizhan Malaekeh-Nikouei, Mohammad Ramezani, Fatemeh Soltani
Summary: The study developed two new gene carriers with improved transfection efficiency and reduced cytotoxicity by upgrading them with specific tags and signal peptides. Compared to conventional standards, the newly designed carriers showed promising advantages in transfection efficiency and safety.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Alireza Poustforoosh, Sanaz Faramarz, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Hassan Hashemipour, Manica Negahdaripour, Abbas Pardakhty
Summary: This study employs computational methods to design and evaluate a potential cancer treatment drug that can bind to Bcl-xl protein to inhibit its activity. Through computer simulations and molecular docking techniques, researchers identified a set of optimized peptides and found that they exhibited strong binding affinity to Bcl-xl. Further molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the designed peptides had significant interactions with Bcl-xl. This study demonstrates the potential of the designed peptide as an inhibitor of Bcl-xl and a candidate for cancer treatment.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Arash Rafeeinia, Gholamreza Asadikaram, Vahid Moazed, Mehrnaz Karimi Darabi
Summary: Epigenetic changes induced by pesticides were investigated in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The study found that CDKN2B and MGMT promoters were hypermethylated in ALL patients, accompanied by a decrease in the relative expression of H4K16ac and H3K4me3. Furthermore, OCP levels were significantly higher in ALL patients and were associated with increased promoter methylation of CDKN2B and MGMT, as well as a decrease in the relative expression of H4K16ac and H3K4me3.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mohammad Amin Momeni-Moghaddam, Gholamreza Asadikaram, Mohammad Masoumi, Erfan Sadeghi, Hamed Akbari, Moslem Abolhassani, Alireza Farsinejad, Morteza Khaleghi, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Shahriar Dabiri, Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi
Summary: Opium addiction may not have a significant effect on the expression of scavenger receptors CD36, CD68, and CD9 at gene and protein levels. However, opium could potentially contribute to the development of coronary artery disease through other mechanisms such as inducing inflammation.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Arash Rafeeinia, Gholamreza Asadikaram, Mehrnaz Karimi Darabi, Moslem Abolhassani, Vahid Moazed, Mojtaba Abbasi-Jorjandi
Summary: This study aimed to assess the relationship between organochlorine (OC) pesticides and biomarkers of oxidative stress in leukemia patients. The findings revealed higher concentrations of OCs and lower activities of key antioxidants in leukemia patients. Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between OC levels and antioxidant activities. These findings suggest a potential role of OC pesticides in disrupting the oxidant/antioxidant balance in leukemia development.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zahra Nazari, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Fatemeh Zareh, Behjat Pouramiri, Mehrnaz Mehrabani
Summary: In this research, a novel electrochemical sensor based on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with ionic liquid (IL) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was developed for measuring dopamine (DA) in biological fluids. The modified electrode exhibited great electrocatalytic activity for DA oxidation and successfully determined DA in real samples. This electrochemical sensor could be a significant step forward in the detection of dopamine and the diagnosis of neurological illnesses.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kobra Bahrampour Juybari, Komal Rizwan, Sanaz Faramarz, Asie Sadeghi, Arian Amirkhosravi, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Mehrnaz Mehrabani
Summary: Nanotechnology provides a suitable solution for addressing issues in stem cell therapy, such as obscure fate and low survival rate. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), with their optical properties and good biocompatibility, can serve as multi-purpose compounds in stem cell labeling and modulating their biological functions. This review aims to summarize the advancements in the synthesis and application of CQDs, discuss stem cell categories, and evaluate the impact of CQDs on stem cell therapy.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sepideh Ganjalikhan-Hakemi, Majid Asadi-Shekaari, Fahimeh Pourjafari, Gholamreza Asadikaram, Masoumeh Nozari
Summary: This study investigated the effects of oral administration of agmatine on motor and cognitive deficits induced by bile duct ligation in an animal model of hepatic encephalopathy. The results showed that agmatine effectively reduced liver damage, balance deficits, and neuronal damage caused by the encephalopathy.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Saba Fooladi, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Navid Rabiee, Siavash Iravani
Summary: A variety of bio-and nanomaterials have been used in cardiovascular tissue engineering, but challenges still exist regarding their biocompatibility and risk factors. Natural polysaccharide-and protein-based structures have been explored in this field, offering advantages in terms of biocompatibility and environmental aspects. Bacterial cellulose (BC) shows promise as a candidate for cardiovascular TE, but challenges such as absence of antimicrobial factors and low production yield still need to be addressed.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sina Bahraminejad, Abbas Pardakhty, Iraj Sharifi, Alireza Keyhani, Ehsan Salarkia, Mehdi Ranjbar
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a widespread neglected vector-borne protozoan disease that poses a major public health concern, with 12 million people affected worldwide and 60,000 deaths annually. Current chemotherapies for leishmaniasis have several drawbacks and side effects, prompting the development of new drug delivery systems. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have recently been considered due to their unique characteristics.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Saba Fooladi, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Siavash Iravani
Summary: Photocatalysis is a green technology that uses light radiation as the primary energy source and shows promising applications in biomedicine such as drug delivery, biosensing, tissue engineering, and cancer therapeutics.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Mehrnaz Mehrabani, Yaser Hozhabri, Maryamossadat Mirtajaddini, Siavash Iravani
Summary: Chalcones and their derivatives have versatile pharmacological and biological activities, showing anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antitumor effects. These compounds selectively target various viral enzymes and demonstrate significant potential for combating pathogenic bacteria and fungi. However, further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and antifungal/antiparasitic activities of chalcones. Systematic analysis, biosafety assessments, and clinical translation studies are crucial for practical applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nima Farshidfar, Saba Fooladi, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Siavash Iravani
Summary: Carbon dots (CDs) have unique physicochemical features that make them suitable for applications in nano- and biomedicine. They have exceptional biocompatibility, low cost, eco-friendliness, abundant functional groups, high stability, and electron mobility. CDs also have tunable fluorescence and high water solubility, making them promising candidates for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, there are still challenges in scaffold inconsistency, non-biodegradability, and the lack of non-invasive monitoring methods. In addition, eco-friendly synthesis techniques offer advantages such as low cost and simplicity compared to conventional methods.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fouzieh Salimi, Gholamreza Asadikaram, Moslem Abolhassani, Yasin Pourfarjam, Hamid Zeynali Nejad, Mojtaba Abbasi-Jorjandi, Mojgan Sanjari
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the role of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in oxidative stress (OS) and the development of thyroid tumors. The results showed decreased enzyme activities and total antioxidant capacity, as well as increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with thyroid tumors. Therefore, OCPs may contribute to the development of thyroid tumors through the generation of oxidative stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Atefeh Zarepour, Cimen Karasu, Yousof Mir, Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi, Siavash Iravani, Ali Zarrabi
Summary: MXenes and graphene have gained attention in neuroscience for their potential applications in sensing, theranostics, and biomedical engineering. They have been used to develop advanced nanosystems for diagnosis and therapy, and have shown promise in treating neurological disorders. However, there are challenges and limitations to their use, and further research is needed to optimize their properties and understand their potential in neuroscience.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)