Effect of seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in the synthesis of Cu@Cu2O core–shell nanoparticles prepared by chemical reduction method

This study aims is to investigate the influence of different concentrations of Kappaphycus alvarezii (K. alvarezii) for the synthesis of Cu@Cu2O core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solution. The core–shell NPs were prepared by a chemical reduction method using K. alvarezii, CuSO4·5H2O, NaOH, ascorbic acid, hydrazinium hydroxide, as stabilizer, copper precursor, pH moderator, antioxidant and reducing agent under 120°C temperature, respectively. Formation of Cu@Cu2O-NPs was determined by UV–Vis spectroscopy where surface plasmon absorption maxima can be observed at 390-590 nm. The synthesized core–shell NPs were also characterized by X-ray diffraction. Moreover, the morphology and structure of the K. alvarezii/Cu@Cu2O-NPs were investigated by TEM, FESEM and EDXRF. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum suggested the complexation present between K. alvarezii and Cu@Cu2O-NPs. The study clearly showed that using various amounts of K. alvarezii leads to produce different ratios and sizes of Cu@Cu2O NPs. The size of the Cu@Cu2O-NPs decreased as the amount of K. alvarezii was increased. The ratio of Cu@Cu2O increases with the increasing concentration of K. alvarezii until 0.2 wt%

Effects of gold nanoparticles synthesized using water extract of brown seaweed; Sargassum glaucescens

Based on data published in April 2011 by WHO about Deaths in worldwide, cancer is the third leading cause of death (after heart disease and stroke) in most of developed countries and the second leading cause of death (after heart disease) in Malaysia . Therefore, one of the challenges for Malaysia and the whole world is carrying out research on cancer in order to find its causes and method for therapy and prevention of this disease. Metal nanoparticle synthesis using seaweed extract shows rapid and non-toxic process which resulted to nano sizes having the greatest potential for biomedical applications. The current study was aimed to investigate the anticancer properties of gold nanoparticles synthesized using water extract of brown seaweed; Sargassum glaucescens(Au/S.G-NPs). The effect of 3.65±1.69 nm Au/S.G-NPs were studied on HeLa (cervical cancer) and 3T3 (mouse fibroblast) using tetrazolium dye MTT assay. Later on, in vitro apoptosis effect was evaluated using fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and protease caspase activities. After 72 h treatment , MTT assay revealed highest and significant cytotoxic effect of Au/S.G-NPs dose and time-dependently against cervical cancer cells with IC50 of 4.75 ± 1.23 μg/mL. On the other hand, Au/S.G-NPs showed no cytotoxic effect toward mouse fibroblast cells. Moreover, Au/S.G-NPs significantly (P < 0.05) arrests HeLa cells at G2/M phase and significantly (P < 0.05) activated caspases-3 and -9. The results revealed that Au/S.G-NPs can be further developed as chemotherapeutic compound for the treatment of cancers especially cervical cancer

Inclusion of gaming disorder in the diagnostic classifications and promotion of public health response

There are ongoing controversies regarding the upcoming ICD-11 concept of gaming disorder. Recently, Aarseth et al. have put this diagnostic entity into scrutiny. Although we, a group of Iranian researchers and clinicians, acknowledge some of Aarseth et al.’s concerns, believe that the inclusion of gaming disorder in the upcoming ICD-11 would facilitate necessary steps to raise public awareness, enhance development of proper diagnostic approaches and treatment interventions, and improve health and non-health policies

Ambiguities in existing Iranian national policies addressing excessive gaming : Commentary on: Policy responses to problematic video game use: A systematic review of current measures and future possibilities (Király et al., 2018)

Considering the scarcity of available science and controversies around effective policies addressing gaming disorder and its health-related consequences, Király et al. have conducted a systematic review on current evidence regarding this issue. We, a group of researchers in this field, would like to express our perspective from Iran. With rapid growth of gaming, Iran seems to be facing some specific policy issues and challenges, which are going to be reviewed in this short commentary

Novel gold nanoparticles reduced by sargassum glaucescens: preparation, characterization and anticancer activity

The current study investigated the anticancer properties of gold nanoparticles (SG-stabilized AuNPs) synthesized using water extracts of the brown seaweed Sargassum glaucescens (SG). SG-stabilized AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The SG-stabilized AuNPs were stable and small at 3.65 ± 1.69 nm in size. The in vitro anticancer effect of SG-stabilized AuNPs was determined on cervical (HeLa), liver (HepG2), breast (MDA-MB-231) and leukemia (CEM-ss) cell lines using fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, caspase activity determination, and MTT assays. After 72 h treatment, SG-stabilized AuNPs was shown to be significant (p < 0.05) cytotoxic to the cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values of SG-stabilized AuNPs on the HeLa, HepG2, CEM-ss, MDA-MB-231 cell lines were 4.75 ± 1.23, 7.14 ± 1.45, 10.32 ± 1.5, and 11.82 ± 0.9 µg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, SG-stabilized AuNPs showed no cytotoxic effect towards the normal human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A). SG-stabilized AuNPs significantly (p < 0.05) arrest HeLa cell cycle at G2/M phase and significantly (p < 0.05) activated caspases-3 and -9 activities. The anticancer effect of SG-stabilized AuNPs is via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The study showed that SG-stabilized AuNPs is a good candidate to be developed into a chemotherapeutic compound for the treatment of cancers especially cervical cancer