Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Atida Selmani, Elisabeth Seibert, Carolin Tetyczka, Doris Kuehnelt, Ivan Vidakovic, Karin Kornmueller, Markus Absenger-Novak, Borna Radatovic, Ivana Vinkovic Vrcek, Gerd Leitinger, Eleonore Frohlich, Andreas Bernkop-Schnurch, Eva Roblegg, Ruth Prassl
Summary: This study aimed to design a hybrid oral liposomal delivery system for selenium nanoparticles to improve the bioavailability of selenium. Thiolated chitosan was used for surface functionalization of the liposomal nanoparticles. The thiolated liposomal nanoparticles showed good mucoadhesive properties and were stable in a simulated microenvironment of the small intestine. This study provides a promising solution for oral selenium delivery.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Xin Ren, Juan Ren, Yipeng Li, Sikun Yuan, Gengnan Wang
Summary: In this experiment, Quercetin (QR) was encapsulated within a self-assembled micelle containing caffeic acid graft chitosan copolymer (CA-g-CS) to improve its solubility, stability, and antibacterial effect. The formulation was optimized using single-factor experimentation and the response surface method. The release rate and stability of CA-g-CS-loaded QR micelles in various pH conditions were studied, and the pharmacokinetics in broiler chickens were evaluated. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was also investigated. The results showed that CA-g-CS/QR significantly improved the stability and bioavailability of QR, while also enhancing its antibacterial activity.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Chen Yang, Lei Gong, Xiao Li, Weiwei Li, Xianghong Meng, Bingjie Liu
Summary: This study employed nanoliposome encapsulation combined with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) surface decoration to improve the physicochemical stability and oral bioavailability of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The results showed that CMCS-coated nanoliposomes had good encapsulation efficiency and stability, and were able to regulate the release of ALA in a simulated gastrointestinal environment. In vivo testing found that the ALA concentration of CMCS-coated nanoliposomes was higher than other formulations, indicating that it could be an effective delivery strategy for ALA.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huijuan Zheng, Weilin Liu, Shuibing Yang
Summary: A nutraceutical carrier system was developed to increase the solubility of MCFA in aqueous foods, showing improved stability and sustained release of MCFAs in gastrointestinal fluid. The successful coating of nanoliposomes with CMCS resulted in negative surface charge, preventing particle aggregation and allowing safe retention of encapsulated MCFAs for up to 90 days at 4 degrees Celsius.
Article
Polymer Science
Rukhshanda Habib, Abul Kalam Azad, Muhammad Akhlaq, Fakhria A. Al-Joufi, Gul Shahnaz, Hanan R. H. Mohamed, Muhammad Naeem, Abdulraheem S. A. Almalki, Junaid Asghar, Aamir Jalil, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
Summary: This study aimed to enhance the bioavailability of levosulpiride by delivering it transdermally through a thiolated chitosan microneedle patch. The LS-TC-MNP fabricated with 3% thiolated chitosan solution showed the best performance and drug release. The results suggest that LS-TC-MNP-3 could serve as a promising strategy for enhancing the bioavailability of levosulpiride.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sayali Pravin Metkar, Gasper Fernandes, Ajinkya Nitin Nikam, Soji Soman, Sumit Birangal, Raviraja N. Seetharam, Manjunath Bandu Joshi, Srinivas Mutalik
Summary: This study aimed to enhance the oral bioavailability of andrographolide (AG), a key diterpene lactone of Andrographis paniculata, by formulating and optimizing AG-loaded nanoliposomes (AGL) using the Design of Experiment (DOE) approach and modifying the liposomes surface with mannosylated chitosan. The results showed that the modified nanoliposomes (MCS-AGL) exhibited sustained drug release, improved drug permeation, and enhanced bioavailability compared to plain AG and AGL. Therefore, the use of mannosylated chitosan-coated nanocarriers has the potential to improve the intestinal permeability and bioavailability of poorly soluble and permeable drugs or phytoconstituents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hui-Yun Tsai, Jia-Fang Yang, Yin-Bo Chen, Jia-Lin Guo, Shiming Li, Guor-Jien Wei, Chi-Tang Ho, Jue-Liang Hsu, Chi- Chang, Yu-Shen Liang, Hsu-Sheng Yu, Yu-Kuo Chen
Summary: This study found that acetylation could significantly enhance the anticancer activity and oral bioavailability of 5-DTAN. 5-ATAN showed stronger cytotoxic effects and cell cycle arrest in PC-3 prostate cancer cells compared to TAN and 5-DTAN. It induced apoptosis, inhibited cell migration, and had a more extensive distribution in mice, indicating its potential as a strategy to enhance the bioactivities of natural products.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emilli Antonio, Osmar dos Reis Antunes Junior, Rossana Gabriela Del Jesus Vasquez Marcano, Camila Diedrich, Juliane da Silva Santos, Christiane Schineider Machado, Najeh Maissar Khalil, Rubiana Mara Mainardes
Summary: Nanoparticles containing UA with chitosan modification were developed to improve oral bioavailability, showing potential application for cancer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Seid Reza Falsafi, Yong Wang, Tolulope Joshua Ashaolu, Minaxi Sharma, Shruti Rawal, Kaushika Patel, Gholamreza Askari, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard, Hadis Rostamabadi
Summary: Cancer, being the second leading cause of death globally, has been addressed using natural anticancer agents due to their pharmacological activities. The oral administration of these agents is limited due to their inherent features. However, the development of nano-driven encapsulation strategies using polymeric vehicles, especially those of natural origin, has shown promise in effectively delivering these agents to the site of action. This review summarizes the challenges of orally delivering natural anticancer agents and the solutions offered by biopolymer matrices, as well as discusses in vitro/in vivo results of oral delivery using various biopolymer vehicles found in literature. It also highlights the challenges and new opportunities in the field.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Maisa Siddiq Abduh
Summary: This study developed a novel drug delivery technique based on a polymeric nanoformulation to improve the delivery and efficacy of Cyclosporine in cancer treatment. The results showed that the formulated nanoparticles had good particle size and stability, and demonstrated strong inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells in vitro.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shruti Rawal, Shubham Khot, Vivek Bora, Bhoomika Patel, Mayur M. Patel
Summary: This study develops an orally administrable, folate-receptor-targeted Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of Docetaxel (DX) to overcome the bioavailability and toxicity issues of intravenous administration in lung cancer chemotherapy, showing promising antitumor efficacy and safety.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Roberto Grosso, M-Violante de-Paz
Summary: Thiomers, or thiolated polymers, have emerged as avant-garde approaches in anticancer therapy due to their reactivity and properties closely related to their applications. Research has shown that thiol-rich nanoformulations can address major drawbacks in administering various active pharmaceutical ingredients, especially in cancer therapy. This review focuses on synthetic tools available for thiolating polymers, particularly chitosan and hyaluronic acid, and outlines NP formation procedures, highlighting their use in cancer therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
K. Soulele, T. Karampelas, C. Tamvakopoulos, P. Macheras
Summary: The study demonstrated that all administered oral docetaxel formulations had limited absorption without ritonavir. However, co-administration of ritonavir significantly enhanced the oral bioavailability of both the marketed and milk-based docetaxel formulations, with even greater drug exposure observed when ritonavir was incorporated into the milk-based formulation. The fixed-dose combination also showed prolonged drug absorption compared to separate administrations.
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Linghui Zou, Zhongbin Zhang, Jianfang Feng, Wenyou Ding, Yanhua Li, Dan Liang, Tanfang Xie, Fang Li, Yuyang Li, Jinqing Chen, Xu Yang, Ling Tang, Wenya Ding
Summary: In this study, TPGS(2k)/GEL-CD/HA-CD nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel were successfully prepared and demonstrated good sustained-release properties, targeting ability, and enhanced drug absorption, indicating their potential for various clinical applications.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guohua Hou, Yuan Li, Qimeng Wang, Huijuan Zhang, Shuang Liang, Bin Liu, Wenbiao Shi
Summary: This study developed a nanocomposite that can co-deliver Cur and Mel for potential treatment of solid tumors. The nanocomposite incorporated the advantages of each component, such as efficient compound loading, improved cellular uptake, tumor accumulation, and synergistic anti-tumor effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kainat Ahmed, Delawar Ashraf, Ghayoor Abbas Chotana, Amir Faisal, Khalid Mohammed Khan, Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem
Summary: Selenium, as a trace element, plays important biological roles, including neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. Selenium-containing peptides, such as selenoproteins, offer more health benefits compared to traditional selenium supplements.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Asim Jilani, Syed Zajif Hussain, Ammar A. Melaibari, Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh
Summary: Photocatalysts play a crucial role in water treatment and hydrogen production. This study focuses on the photocatalytic degradation of CIP and H-2 production using novel silver-nanoparticle ternary-nanocomposites. The optimized ratio of thiolated reduce-graphene oxide in the nanocomposites enhances activity by increasing charge carriers' movements and reducing charge-recombination ratios. Under optimized conditions, AgNPs-S-rGO(2%)@g-C3N4 shows a CIP degradation rate of 95.90%. The chemical and morphological analysis supports the role of thiolation in this enhancement, assisted by the surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. The proposed mechanism involves the photo-excited electrons reacting with water moieties to generate H-2.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kainat Ahmed, Ghayoor Abbas Chotana, Amir Faisal, Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem
Summary: This article summarizes the synthetic methodologies of selenium-containing peptides and provides a brief description of their chemistry and biological activities. These methodologies enable the access to various natural and unnatural selenium-containing peptides that have been used in a range of applications, from modulating protein characteristics to structure-activity relationship studies for applications in nutraceuticals and drug development.
MINI-REVIEWS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Farhat Firdous, Hadeeqa Gull Raza, Ghayoor Abbas Chotana, M. Iqbal Choudhary, Amir Faisal, Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem
Summary: Centrosome abnormalities are a characteristic feature of cancer and their impact on tumorigenesis remains a mystery. However, the presence of extra centrosomes during mitosis leads to chromosomal instability and subsequent tumor formation. Cancer cells have developed various mechanisms, such as centrosome clustering, to cope with supernumerary centrosomes and survive. In this review, several proteins involved in centrosome clustering are discussed along with their potential as therapeutic targets for selectively eliminating cells with extra centrosomes.
MINI-REVIEWS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Farhan Arshad, Akhtar Munir, Aleena Tahir, Syed Zajif Hussain, Asim Jilani, Aamir Hussain, Najeeb Ullah, Falak Sher, Irshad Hussain
Summary: In this study, a core-shell nanostructured electrocatalyst, NiFe LDH@CuxO, was designed and synthesized by decorating vertically oriented NiFe LDH ultra-thin nanosheets on CuxO support via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction. The NiFe LDH@CuxO catalyst demonstrated promising electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with an onset potential of 1.43 V and an overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm-2. It outperformed pristine NiFe LDH and iridium oxide (IrO2) in terms of electrocatalytic activity, durability, and Faradaic efficiency. The unique core-shell 3D structure effectively prevented aggregation and restacking of the NiFe LDH nanosheets, enhancing the electrochemical stability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Irfan Ullah, Tanveer ul Haq, Aqeel Aslam Khan, Abid Inayat, Muhammad Shoaib, Ali Haider, Murtaza Saleem, Syed Mustansar Abbas, Michael A. Pope, Irshad Hussain
Summary: This study presents the development of a hierarchically nanostructured cathode material by encapsulating sodium decavanadate Na6V10O28 in the scaffold of manganese-based metal-organic framework. The uniform distribution of NaDV in the pores of Mn-BTC enables multielectron redox properties, while the diverse 3D diffusion channels and flexible architecture of Mn-BTC ensure high intercalation capacity. The NaDV@Mn-BTC cathode material exhibits a high reversible capacity of 137 mAh/g at 1 C rate, suggesting its potential as a high-energy cathode material for aqueous batteries.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Aleena Tahir, Farhan Arshad, Tanveer ul Haq, Irshad Hussain, Syed Zajif Hussain, Habib ur Rehman
Summary: This review discusses the role of transition metal oxides as active and supported sites for electrochemical water splitting. Different perspectives for the rational design of TMO-based electrode materials are proposed, including electronic state modulation, modification of surface structure, acceleration of charge and mass transport, and stability in harsh environments. The relationship among catalytic activity, challenges, research directions, and perspectives of OER and HER electrocatalysis is systematically discussed.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Aleena Tahir, Tanveer ul-Haq, Usman Zubair, Faria Rafique, Akhtar Munir, Yousef Haik, Irshad Hussain, Habib Ur Rehman
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production has gained significant attention due to its potential in cost-effective solutions for energy crises. This study presents a scalable method for developing a thin film of Au@TiO2 on FTO, which efficiently catalyzes both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. By sensitizing mesoporous TiO2 with a minimal amount of Au, the catalyst exhibits sustainable behavior for over 60 hours with low overpotential. This facile and scalable approach provides insights for designing more efficient electrode materials for electrochemical water splitting processes with minimal use of precious metals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wei-Wei Fang, Gui-Yu Yang, Zi-Hui Fan, Zi-Chao Chen, Xun-Liang Hu, Zhen Zhan, Irshad Hussain, Yang Lu, Tao He, Bi-En Tan
Summary: This study develops a phosphine-based conjugated hypercrosslinked polymer (PPh3-CHCP) photocatalyst for efficient large-scale photoinduced copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (Cu-ATRP). The photocatalyst enables near-quantitative conversions of monomers including acrylates and methyl acrylates under a wide range of radiations or sunlight directly. It can be easily recycled and shows great potential for industrial applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biology
Syed Muhammad Umer, Shahbaz Shamim, Khalid Mohammed Khan, Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem
Summary: This review aims to address the challenge of dispersed and complex data regarding flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and neoflavonoids. It summarizes 76 articles published between 2016 and 2022, detailing the isolation and characterization of 249 novel compounds, total and semisyntheses of 13 compounds, and reappraisals of the structures of 20 previously reported compounds and their bioactivities. It also discusses new synthetic methods and enzymes capable of producing or modifying flavonoids, isoflavonoids, or neoflavonoids.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Huang Ouyang, Kunpeng Song, Irshad Hussain, Bien Tan
Summary: CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides is an important process for CO2 conversion to generate cyclic carbonates. However, the catalytic efficiency of porous organic polymers (POPs) for this process is typically low and requires severe conditions or prolonged reaction time. In this study, amine-impregnated porous organic polymers (HCP-TPP-Co-EDA-10 and HCP-TPP-Co-PEI-5) were developed to enhance the interaction with CO2 and improve catalytic efficiency. These catalysts exhibited strong binding affinity with CO2 and high catalytic yield under mild conditions. The turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) achieved were among the highest reported so far. Additionally, the catalysts showed excellent recyclability and stability for CO2 conversion. The use of amines as chemisorption sites for CO2 provides a simple strategy for designing highly efficient functionalized hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCPs) for CO2 capture and chemical conversion.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sadia Khan, Tariq Khan, Sikandar Karim, Muhammad Zahoor, Tour Jan, Mubarak Ali Khan, Akhtar Nadhman
Summary: This study investigates the effects of carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide nanosheets on callus cultures of Fagonia indica. The results show that both carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide can promote plant regeneration and biomass accumulation, but reduced graphene oxide has a better effect.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Irfan Ullah, Roheen Saeed, Abid Inayat, Muhammad Zubair, Xianyong Wu, Hatice Duran, Ali Haider, Irshad Hussain
Summary: This study presents an in-situ integration of ultra-small PBAs cubes into carbon-doped manganese oxide nanorods, forming a continuous conductive architecture. The hierarchical configuration effectively buffers the lattice expansion and improves the structural stability of NiCoPBA. The developed composite shows promising performance in both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arshad Ali, Muhammad Tahir Haseeb, Muhammad Ajaz Hussain, Ume Ruqia Tulain, Gulzar Muhammad, Irfan Azhar, Syed Zajif Hussain, Irshad Hussain, Naveed Ahmad
Summary: A drug delivery system (SSH-co-MAA) based on the mucilage from seeds of Salvia spinosa (SSH) and methacrylic acid (MAA) was developed for controlled release of venlafaxine HCl. The structure of SSH-co-MAA was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared and solid-state CP/MAS C-13-NMR spectroscopy. The concentration of SSH, MAA, and MBA influenced the gel conversion, porosity, and drug release of SSH-co-MAA.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Saima Ali, Sabahat Zahra Siddiqui, Muhammad Athar Abbasi, Aziz-ur-Rehman, Syed Adnan Ali Shah, Khalid Mohammed Khan, Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem, Safia Manzoor, Muhammad Ashraf, Zia-ur-Rehman
Summary: In this study, a concise library of triazoles was synthesized and evaluated for their structures and activities. Among them, 3-[5-(p-Cl-phenoxy)-methyl]-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol N-(3-methyl-phenyl)propanamide (8k) showed strong inhibition against urease.
PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Izabela Stupka, Artur P. Biela, Bernard Piette, Agnieszka Kowalczyk, Karolina Majsterkiewicz, Kinga Borzecka-Solarz, Antonina Naskalska, Jonathan G. Heddle
Summary: Artificial protein cages, such as TRAP-cages, have potential applications in vaccines and drug delivery. TRAP-cages have the ability to control the disassembly conditions by modifying the interface between their building blocks. By using TRAP rings with different numbers of monomers, it is possible to predict the formation of other cages.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Guo Zhang, Yu Wang, Hua Qiu, Lei Lu
Summary: This study presents a one-pot synthesis method for flower-like AMPs@EAMP particles by combining antimicrobial peptides with ellagic acid, offering enlarged surface area, excellent biocompatibility, and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. In vivo studies indicate their potential for tissue repair and immune barrier reconstruction.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jiamei Zhang, Lingshuang Wang, Cheng Xu, Yingui Cao, Shengsheng Liu, Rui L. Reis, Subhas C. Kundu, Xiao Yang, Bo Xiao, Lian Duan
Summary: Pluronic F127 modified silk fibroin film with different types of antibacterial agents could accelerate wound recovery by promoting fibroblast adhesion, eradicating bacteria, and facilitating angiogenesis and re-epithelialization.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yinsheng Liu, Mingyue Wang, Yinfei Hui, Lei Sun, Yanrui Hao, Henlong Ren, Hao Guo, Wu Yang
Summary: In this study, a rare-earth hybrid luminescent material was developed for the detection of a biomarker for anthrax. The material showed excellent selectivity and high sensitivity, allowing for the determination of the biomarker in saliva and urine. Additionally, a convenient point-of-care testing method using fluorescent test paper and a smartphone was established for the initial diagnosis of anthrax.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Wenshuai Yang, Jingsi Chen, Ziqian Zhao, Meng Wu, Lu Gong, Yimei Sun, Charley Huang, Bin Yan, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: Injectable hydrogels with shear-thinning and/or in situ formation properties offer distinct advantages in bioengineering applications, as they can be directly delivered to target sites, possess self-healing abilities, and simplify the implantation process.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)