Biofabrication of gold and silver nanoparticles for pharmaceutical applications

Biofabrication by using fungi is an exciting recent interest to develop an eco-friendly production of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) for pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize gold (Au) and silver (Ag) NPs by using Penicillium simplisimum. The fungus was grown in fluid czapek dox broth on shaker at 28 ºC and 200 rpm for ten days. Then the supernatant was separated from the mycelia to convert HAuCl4 and AgNO3 solution into Au and Ag NPs separately. After 24 hours, synthesized Au and Ag NPs were characterized by using UV-Visible Spectroscopy as well as Photon Correlation spectroscopy (PCS) involves Polydispersity Index (PDI) and zeta potential. The UV-Visible Spectroscopy analysis revealed a plasmon bond peak around 533 nm and 400 nm suggesting formation of Au and Ag NPs, respectively. Furthermore, the PCS analysis showed an average diameter of 68 nm and 76 nm with PDI value of 0.2 and 0.23 for Au and Ag NPs, successively, which demonstrated that the nanoparticles formed with fairly well-defined dimensions and good monodispersity. Besides, a negative zeta potential were found for nanoparticles indicating their stability in the solution. The current approach suggests that the rapid synthesis of nanoparticles would be suitable for developing a green process for mass scale production. Besides, we believe that development of eco-friendly process for the formulation of metallic NPs is an important step in the field of application of nanotechnology and its optimization may make it a potential procedure for industrial production of NPs

Optimization of Finasteride Nano-Emulsion Preparation Using Chemometric Approach

Purpose: To study the effect of some factors on the size of finasteride nano-emulsion by chemometric approach which could predict the size of nano-emulsion droplets under different conditions. Methods: Nano-emulsions were prepared using spontaneous emulsification method which occurs when organic and aqueous phases are mixed. The organic phase was a homogeneous solution of oil (finasteride as a lipophilic drug) and water–miscible solvent with or without lipophilic surfactant (Span® 80), while the aqueous phase consisted of water with or without hydrophilic surfactant (Tween® 80). Chemometric approach was applied for optimizing the size of the nano-emulsion droplets. For this purpose, the effect of three experimental parameters on size was investigated by multivariant analysis. The experiments were performed according to Box-Behnken experimental design. The factors considered were sonication time (0 – 5 min), and contents of Span-80 (0 - 0.16 %) and Tween-80 (0 - 0.26 %). Results: The regression model obtained was characterized by both descriptive and predictive ability. The method was optimized with respect to average diameter as a response, based on a defined equation Conclusion: The Box-Behnken experimental design is a suitable tool for optimizing and testing the robustness of the method for preparing finasteride nano-emulsion

Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications Using Chemometric Technique

Purpose: To study the effect of process conditions on the size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by chemometric technique. Methods: AuNPs were prepared by adding 5 ml of 5 mM of gold (III) chloride hydrate HAuCl4 (2 mg/mL) to 85 ml of filtered deionized water, then refluxed in a 250 mL flask over a hot plate and heated to boiling point. Five milliliters of sodium citrate solution of varying concentrations were quickly added to the boiling solution and stirred for 30 min until the color turned to wine red. Chemometric approach, based on multivariant analysis, was applied to the optimization of iron oxide nanoparticle size in respect of three parameters, viz, concentration of sodium citrate solution, stirrer speed and ionic strength of the medium. The experiments were performed according to Box-Behnken experimental design. Results: The regression model obtained was characterized by both descriptive and predictive ability. The method was optimized with respect to average diameter as a response. The average diameter of the nanoparticles produced under different conditions were between 17.7 up to 168.8 nm. The criteria for the evaluation of the descriptive capability of a polynomial were R2 = 0.974, standard error = 13.994 and F-ratio = 18.4. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Box-Behnken experimental design provides a suitable approach for optimizing and testing the robustness of gold nanoparticle preparation method

The effect of chitosan molecular weight on the properties of alginate/ chitosan microparticles containing prednisolone

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chitosan molecular weight on size, size distribution, release rate, mucoadhesive properties and electrostatic bonding of alginate/chitosan microparticles containing prednisolone Methods: Three mucoadhesive alginate/chitosan microparticle formulations, f1, f2 and f3, were prepared using low, medium and high chitosan molecular weight (MW) chitosan, respectively, by directly spraying alginate solution into a solution of chitosan and calcium chloride at optimum conditions. Prednisolone was incorporated in the alginate solution prior to spraying. The microparticles were then evaluated for prednisolone content, size, release rate, and mucoadhesive properties using appropriate methods. The formation of electrostatic and hydrogen bonds between chitosan and alginate was assessed by differential scanning calorimetetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Results: The results indicate that high MW chitosan microparticles were significantly (p<0.05) smaller and more uniform in size, with better mucoadhesive properties and lower release rate than the other formulations. FTIR and DSC studies indicate that stronger hydrogen and electrostatic bonding in the formulation containing high MW chitosan than inthe other formulations Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of chitosan-alginate microparticles are dependent on the molecular weight of chitosa

Decontamination of water polluted with phenol using Raphanus sativus root

Abstract Plant materials have been found useful in decontamination of water polluted with phenolic compounds. The detoxification effect is due to peroxidases contained in plant tissue. Enzyme mediated oxidative coupling of phenol is followed by precipitation of the formed polymer and its removal from the aqueous phase. A synthetic wastewater buffered at pH = 7.4 containing 0.9 mM phenol was treated in this research with cut Raphanus sativus root and its juice. Cut Raphanus or Raphanus juice were added separately as enzyme source to phenol solution in buffer and in tap water in two series of experiments. The reaction was initiated by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. After three hours stirring the phenol content of the mixtures was determined. More than 90% of phenol was removed in both cases

Comparison of different methods of extraction of oil from shark liver and from fish and the amounts of A and D vitamins in them

Background and aim: Shark liver oil and fish oil are good sourcse of vitamins A & D. Vitamin A is essential for the immune system , bone growth, night vision and cellular growth. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphor, which are required for skeletal growth. Fish and shark liver oil contains essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Method: In this research, different methods of extraction of oil (mechanical system, extraction with solvent, alkaline digestion and Bligh & Dyer) from shark (Carcharhinus Macloti) liver and clupeonolla grimi were applied and compared. Vitamin A and D were determined by pharmacological methods. Results: The results showed that Bligh & Dyer was the best method due to higher stability of vitamins. More than 45% w/w oil was obtained from 100g of liver by this method. This method was not suitable for clupeonolla grimi because of less oil content. The mechanical method was preferred for low quality oil with lower price. Conclusion: The shark liver has a high percentage of A and D vitamins and could be used as a raw materials for pharmaceutical aims. The amounts of vitamin D3 and oil extracted from shark liver, were higher than cultrirntris fish, but its vitamin A content was lower than the cultrirntris fish oil

Comparison of the Cytotoxic Effects of Nanosilver and Ancient Iranian and Pakistani Silver Kushtas on Primary Rat Hepatocytes and Human Cancer Cell Lines: Comparison of Cytotoxic Effects of Nanosilver and Ancient Iranian and Pakistani Silver Kushtas

Tumor growth is characterized by uncontrolled cell division. For centuries, silver kushta powder, composed of nano and submicro silver particles, has been used in traditional Iranian and Pakistani medicine for the treatment of melanoma and breast cancer. We have found that these nanocomposite particles are similar to silver nanoparticles (AgNps) in size and shape and that there are so differences in their physicochemical properties such as silver content.In the present study, a comparison of cytotoxic effects of nanosilver(AgNps) and two silver kushtas [Iranian silver kushta (IKAg) and Pakistan silver kushta (PKAg)]have been conductedindifferent concentrations against tumor cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, A549) and a normal cell line (MDBK) using MTT andTrypan blue exclusion tests.At first, Particle size was analyzed using the Malvern Zetasizer. The Z average diameters of samples (AgNps, PKAg, and IKAg) were64.08, 51.72 and 190.4 nm, respectively.The result of MTTtest showed no toxicity of both silver kushtas (IKAg&amp;PKAg) toward the cancer cell lines and MDBK cells. The IC50 values of AgNpsdetermined for A549, HPG2, MCF-7, and MDBK were 5.94, 1.41, 3.68, and, 1.9 ppm, respectively. According to trypan blue (0.2% w/v) exclusion test, the cytotoxicity of the silver materials toward primary rat hepatocytes followed the order AgNps (100%) &gt;AgNO3 (80.9%) &gt;Pakistani silver kushta (48.35%)&gt;Iranian silver kushta (45%).This result illustrated that the silver components [(IKAg) &amp; (PKAg)] of the traditional kushtas do not penetrate the cancer cell membrane and do not show cytotoxicity. Therefore, kushtas are ineffective as anti-cancer agents. However, AgNps shows good anticancer properties

Microbial mediated preparation, characterization and optimization of gold nanoparticles

The need for eco-friendly and cost effective methods for nanoparticles synthesis is developing interest in biological approaches which are free from the use of toxic chemicals as byproducts. This study aimed to biosynthesize and optimize the size of gold nanoparticles which produced by biotechnological method using Penicillium crustosum isolated from soil. Initially, Penicillium crustosum was grown in fluid czapek dox broth on shaker at 28 &#186;C and 200 rpm for ten days and then the supernatant was separated from the mycelia to convert AuCl4 solution into gold nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles in the optimum conditions were formed with fairly well-defined dimensions and good monodispersity. The characterizations were done by using different methods (UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Fluorescence, FT-IR, AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) and DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering). The bioconversion was optimized by Box-Behnken experimental design. The results show that the effective factors in this process were concentration of AuCl4, pH of medium and temperature of shaker incubator. The R² value was calculated to be 0.9999 indicating the accuracy and ability of the polynomial model. It can be concluded that the use of multivariate analysis facilitated to find out the optimum conditions for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles induced by Penicillium crustosum in a time and cost effective process. The current approach suggested that rapid synthesis of gold nanoparticles would be suitable for developing a biological process for mass scale production of formulations