2024 | Volume 3 | Issue 3

Recently, grapes by-products have great attention due to their unique antioxidant activity and biological promoting effects. Grape seeds powder was greenly extracted by ultrasonic probe at a sonication power of 6 kJ within 10 minutes. Physico-chemical characterizations were performed for grape seed powder through FESEM, XRD, and XPS. Biological implications including bactericidal and anticancer activities were conducted for the extract. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the obtained extract was examined. The bactericidal activity was investigated against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The obtained results confirmed the efficacy of the facile green applied route in extracting grapes seed without affecting its desired structural and biological activities. Therefore, the extract recorded an excellent free radical scavenging activity of 92% to compete with the ascorbic acid. Moreover, it proves promising bactericidal activity against tested bacterial strains with clear zones up to 25 mm. The grapes seed extract possesses an inhibition percentage of up to 78.2 against pancreatic cancer cells.

Regarding water, this fabulous molecule is not just what humans drink to survive but also the source of life for all planets and creatures across the universe. Therefore, water is an invaluable and irreplaceable resource, and the quality of this precious liquid is crucial for the sustainability of society and public health. Regrettably, with the increase in the human population, water pollution is also rising because almost all human activities can culminate in the contamination of the environment, including water. Although abolishing old approaches in favour of eco-friendly ones is catching more eyes, water pollution is still a vital issue in industrialized and developing countries. Finding a proper material to purify most contamination is essential to water remediation. Nowadays, conducting polymer-based composites (CPCs) are gaining more attention due to their unique features like long life, durability, processability, lightweight, high environmental stability, and tunability. Within this review, we will briefly discuss what conductive polymers (CPs) are, and then we will scrutinize the usage of CPCs for the remediation of various pollutants from water. The proposed mechanism of the purification process and the most recent fabrication methods of these new generations of composites will be discussed. 

Toner, a crucial component in photocopiers and laser printers, primarily consists of polymer resins, dyes, charge control agents, and additives, with polymers constituting approximately 80% of their weight. This research investigates the synthesis of toners using three distinct types of polymers: styrene, styrene-acrylic, and acrylic. Experimental results indicated that among the three polymers, the styrene-acrylic polymer produced the smallest average particle size (12.21 µm), which enhanced toner adhesion to paper compared to the other two polymers. Also using Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using GROMACS (Groningen Machine for Chemical Simulations) software, the adsorption and desorption behaviors of these polymers on cellulose surfaces were analyzed, revealing significant correlations between polymer characteristics and toner particle size. This study provided valuable insights into optimizing toner formulations for improved print quality by selecting appropriate polymer properties, thereby advancing the field of printing technology.

Breast cancer, particularly aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), presents significant treatment challenges, with conventional methods often causing severe side effects. This review highlights the potential of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in innovative breast cancer treatments, particularly photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). AuNPs are promising due to their ability to efficiently absorb near-infrared (NIR) light, converting it into localized heat for PTT. This approach selectively destroys cancer cells by exploiting the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, which allows AuNPs to accumulate in tumor tissues. Additionally, AuNPs can deliver photosensitizers in PDT, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light exposure, further enhancing cancer cell destruction. The synergistic combination of PDT and PTT offers improved targeting and therapeutic efficacy with reduced side effects. AuNPs can also augment chemotherapy by enhancing drug delivery and addressing resistance. However, challenges remain, including biocompatibility, production scalability, and clinical translation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advantages, limitations, and prospects of utilizing AuNPs in breast cancer phototherapy. Emphasis is placed on further research to optimize nanoparticle design, improve targeting efficiency, and fully address safety concerns to realize their clinical potential.

This research aimed to investigate the role of different isomers of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the up/downregulation of chondrocyte markers. The monolayer culture of the chondrocyte resulted in the dedifferentiation of cells and the production of stress fibers, which was prevented by high-density and 3D chondrocyte culture. This work demonstrated a successful and typical cell engineering of chondrocyte monolayers with our model using isolated primary rat articular chondrocytes (RAC) through cell seeding, 2D cell expansion, and differentiation in vitro, without the use of a bioreactor. Therefore, the same model can be used for the isolation of human articular chondrocytes (HAC) from clinically approved human biopsies for autologous chondrocyte implantation and/or monolayer production (e.g., cytotoxicity tests). Our model can also be used for the direct expansion of the limited number of chondrocytes obtained from RAC or HAC, reaching higher densities similar to those used in conventional cartilage tissue engineering based on cells expanded by 2D cultures. Our results indicated that the combination of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), including TGF-β1, 2, and 3, increased the production of Collagen Type-II. Additionally, manipulated TGF-β1, 2, and 3 negatively regulated cell proliferation. The amount of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) and laminin were reduced by all three isomers of TGF-β and their manipulated forms, but the expression of fibronectin and S-100 proteins was not significantly affected by TGF-β isomers. Our results suggest that TGF-β1 and 2 could be utilized in the fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds for 3D chondrocyte culture due to their ability to induce cell proliferation

RNA-based therapeutics, encompassing microRNA (miRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and small interfering RNA (siRNA), offer transformative potential across diverse medical domains. miRNA, by modulating gene expression through mRNA targeting, holds promise for treating diseases like cancer and viral infections. mRNA, the carrier of genetic information for protein synthesis, has revolutionized vaccination strategies and shows promise for protein replacement therapies and regenerative medicine. siRNA, through RNA interference, provides a mechanism to silence specific genes, offering therapeutic avenues for genetic disorders, cancer, and viral infections. Despite their immense potential, challenges such as RNA instability, size, and charge hinder their clinical translation. To overcome these limitations, researchers have extensively explored the development of nanocarriers, particularly polymeric nanoparticles, for efficient RNA delivery. These platforms offer enhanced stability, targeted delivery, and controlled release, significantly improving the therapeutic efficacy and safety of RNA-based therapies. This perspective provides a comprehensive overview of polymeric nanocarriers for RNA delivery, highlighting their unique advantages, current limitations, and future research directions towards advancing the clinical translation of this promising class of therapeutics.