Gold nanoparticles: A promising therapeutic approach

Nanotechnology is rapidly advancing and will leave no field untouched by its ground breaking innovations. Nanoparticles are molecules with a diameter ranging from 10-100 nm. Nanotechnology has promising biomedical applications and most noteworthy amongst them are noble metal particles. For instance, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) provide a unique blend of physical and optical properties, chemical inertness, and high surface to volume ratio. They can be synthesized as well as functionalised to support various ligands on their surface. Their surface functionalization and diverse properties render the gold nanoparticles highly useful for drug delivery and gene carrier for therapeutic purposes and as molecular probes for disease diagnosis. The foundation for the usage of AuNPs in therapeutics and diagnosis was laid by the ancient studies done with ruby gold for curing diseases in middle ages. Presently, AuNPs have become available in different types such as spheres, rods, shells, cages and SERS particles which vary in shape, size and physical properties. The biomedical applications of these particles include drug and gene delivery, cancer diagnosis and therapy, determination of biological molecules and microorganisms, detection of disease etiology, immunoassay, enzyme immobilization, etc. Overall, the focus of this review is to highlight that AuNPs provide an excellent platform for the discovery of new therapies, cure for certain cancers, molecular probe for diagnostic purposes, as well as gene carriers and drug delivery vehicles. Biomed Rev 2015; 26: 23-36.Key words: gold nanoparticles, cancer treatment, drug delivery system, gold nanocarrier therap

A Study on Extraction and Characterization of Keratin Films and Nanofibers from Waste Wool Fiber

Fabrication and characterization of keratin films extracted from waste Merino wool fiber using two different methods and three different pH concentrations is the main focus of this study. Also, wool keratin (WK) loaded polymer surfaces were fabricated. The chemical, structural and morphological characteristics of keratin extracted from aqueous solutions were analyzed and compared for both methods. It is concluded that optimized results in this study could contribute in future research studies to select the parameters and methods to extract keratin films from recyclable wool fibers. Also, WK loaded nanofibrous films could be potential in filtration, air purification and tissue engineering

Acacia catechu ethanolic bark extract induces apoptosis in human oral squamous carcinoma cells

Oral cancer is in approximately 30% of all cancers in India. This study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of ethanolic extract of Acacia catechu bark (ACB) against human squamous cell carcinoma cell line-25 (SCC-25). Cytotoxic effect of ACB extract was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide assay. A. catechu extract was treated SCC-25 cells with 25 and 50 μg/mL for 24 h. Apoptosis markers such as caspases-8 and 9, bcl-2, bax, and cytochrome c (Cyt-c) were done by RT-PCR. Morphological changes of ACB treated cells were evaluated using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) dual staining. Nuclear morphology and DNA fragmentation were evaluated using propidium iodide (PI) staining. Further, cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. A. catechu treatment caused cytotoxicity in SCC-25 cells with an IC50 of 52.09 μg/mL. Apoptotic marker gene expressions were significantly increased on ACB treatment. Staining with AO/EB and PI shows membrane blebbing and nuclear membrane distortion, respectively, and it confirms the apoptosis induction in SCC-25 cells. These results suggest that ACB extract can be used as a modulating agent in oral squamous cell carcinoma