Nanotechnologies reinvented the utilities of various substances in healthcare. Copper in its native form (copper ion) has been well studied for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Copper in its nano form could have better biological profile and finds many applications in healthcare. There were reports on synthesis of copper nanoparticles by physical and chemical methods and their biological activities, although these methods have limitations. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles using microbes is an ecofriendly approach helping in the synthesis of biocompatible and stable nanoparticles. With this background in mind, the present study was designed to synthesise copper nanoparticles by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and testing their efficacy in enhancing the pace of wound healing. Culture supernatant was used to synthesise copper nanoparticles. Optimum conditions were selected to maximise the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Biosynthesised copper nanoparticles (BNCPs) were characterised by Malvern zeta sizer and scanning electron microscopy. Average particle size, polydispersivity index and zeta potential of BNCPs were found to be 110.9 nm, 0.312 and (-) 18.3 mV, respectively. BNCPs was evaluated for its wound healing activity by excision wound model in rat. The pace of wound healing was enhanced by BNCPs compared with copper in native form.

The objective of present work was to develop novel sunscreen creams containing polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) of morin. Polymeric NPs containing morin were prepared and optimized. The creams containing morin NPs were also prepared and evaluated. Optimized NPs exhibited particle size of 90.6 nm and zeta potential of −31 mV. The entrapment efficiency of morin, within the polymeric NPs, was found to be low (12.27%). Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed no interaction between morin and excipients. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed that the NPs were spherical in shape with approximately 100 nm diameter. Optimized NPs showed excellent in vitro free radical scavenging activity. Skin permeation and deposition of morin from its NPs was higher than its plain form. Different sunscreen creams (SC1–SC8) were formulated by incorporating morin NPs along with nano zinc oxide and nano titanium dioxide. SC5 and SC8 creams showed excellent sun protection factor values (≈40). In vitro and in vivo skin permeation studies of sunscreen creams containing morin NPs indicated excellent deposition of morin within the skin. Morin NPs and optimized cream formulations (SC5 and SC8) did not exhibit cytotoxicity in Vero and HaCaT cells. Optimized sunscreen creams showed excellent dermal safety. SC5 and SC8 creams demonstrated exceptional in vivo antioxidant effect (estimation of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione) in UV radiation-exposed rats. The optimized sunscreen creams confirmed outstanding UV radiation protection as well as antioxidant properties.

Context: Delivery of a drug into the central nervous system (CNS) is considered difficult. Most of the drugs discovered over the past decade are biological, which are high in molecular weight and polar in nature. The delivery of such drugs across the blood-brain barrier presents problems.Objective: This review discusses some of the options available to reach the CNS by systemic route. The focus is mainly on the recent developments in systemic delivery of a drug to the CNS. Materials and methods: Databases such as Scopus, Google scholar, Science Direct, SciFinder and online journals were referred for preparing this article including 89 references. Results: There are at least nine strategies that could be adopted to achieve the required drug concentration in the CNS. Conclusion: The recent developments in drug delivery are very promising to deliver biologicals into the CNS.

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This implant could be further evaluated for pharmacological activities.

BackgroundBased on the reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Terminalia paniculata, the bark aqueous extract (TPW) was investigated against liver damage.MethodsIntrinsic cytotoxicity was tested on normal human liver (Chang) cell lines, followed by acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies in mice. TPW was then evaluated against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) and antioxidant markers were assessed. The effect of TPW on isolated hepatic cells, post-CCl4 administration, was assessed by isolated mitochondrial membrane staining. The actions of TPW on apoptotic pathway in CCl4-treated Chang cells were also elucidated.ResultsTPW was found to be safe at all doses tested in both in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies. TPW (400 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (*p <0.05) improved liver enzyme activity as compared to CCl4. Also, it improved antioxidant status (GSH, GST, MDA and total thiol) and preserved hepatic cell architecture. TPW pre-treatment significantly attenuated the levels of phospho-p53, p53, cleaved caspase-3, phospho-Bad, Bad and cleaved PARP in CCl4-treated Chang cells, improving the viability considerably.ConclusionThe findings support a protective role for Terminalia paniculata in pathologies involving oxidative stress.

Context. Poly(beta-amino ester) (PBAE) with its pH sensitiveness and Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with huge DNA cargo capacity in combination prove to be highly efficient as DNA delivery system. Objective. To study the effectiveness of novel synthesized PBAE polymer with PLGA blend at different ratios in DNA vaccine delivery. Methods. In the present study, multifunctional polymer blend microparticles using a combination of PLGA and novel PBAE polymers A1 (bis(3-(propionyloxy)propyl)3,3′-(propane-1,3-diyl-bis(methylazanediyl))dipropanoate) and A2 (bis(4-(propionyloxy)butyl)3,3′-(ethane-1,2-diyl-bis(isopropylazanediyl))dipropanoate) at different ratios (85 : 15, 75 : 25, and 50 : 50) were prepared by double emulsion solvent removal method. The microparticles were characterized for cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency, and DNA encapsulation efficiency. Result. It was evident from results that among the microparticles prepared with PLGA/PBAE blend the PLGA : PBAE at 85 : 15 ratio was found to be more effective combination than the microparticles prepared with PLGA alone in terms of transfection efficiency and better DNA integrity. Microparticles made of PLGA and PBAE A1 at 85 : 15 ratio, respectively, were found to be less toxic when compared with microparticles prepared with A2 polymer. Conclusion. The results encourage the use of the synthesized PBAE polymer in combination with PLGA as an effective gene delivery system.

Objective of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the mechanism responsible for the d-galactosamine (d-GalN) induced hepatotoxicity and to study the effect of catechin against d-GalN induced hepatotoxicity. Catechin 50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt was administered for 1 week by oral route. Liver damage was induced by intra-peritoneal administration of 400 mg/kg b.wt d-galactosamine on the last day of catechin treatment. At the end of treatment all animals were killed and liver enzyme levels were estimated. Dissected hepatic samples were used for histopathology, RNA isolation, expression studies of Bax, Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA levels and mitochondrial membrane potential studies. We found that increases in the liver enzyme activity and decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity by d-GalN were significantly restricted by oral pretreatment with catechin. Disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, up regulation of p53, Bax and down regulation of Bcl-2 mRNA levels in the liver of d-GalN intoxicated rats were effectively prevented by pretreatment with catechin.