In this work we use Mimosa tenuiflora (MtE) extracts as reducing agents to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgMt NPs) which were characterized by DPPH and Total Polyphenols Assays, UV–visible, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AgMt NPs possess average sizes of 21 nm and fcc crystalline structure, it was also confirmed that the MtE is present in the AgMt NPs even after the cleaning protocol applied. Subsequently, carbopol hydrogels were made and the MtE and the synthesized AgMt NPs were dispersed in different gels (MtE-G and AgMt NPs-G, respectively) at 100 µg/g concentration. The gels were characterized by UV–Vis, IR, and rheology. Antimicrobial tests were performed using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Burn wound healing was evaluated in a second-degree burn injury on a Wistar rats model for 14 days and additional skin biopsies were examined with histopathological analysis. Gel with commercial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared and employed as a control on the biological assays. Hydrogel system containing silver nanoparticles synthesized with Mimosa tenuiflora (AgMt NPs-G) is a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound healing, this due to bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, which promotes a more effective recovery (in percentage terms) by damaged area.

We synthesized silver nanoparticles using Rumex hymenosepalus root extract (Rh). Nanoparticles were subjected to a purification process and final product is a composite of Rh and silver nanoparticles (AgNPsC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to perform a microstructure study. Additionally, two fractions (RhA and RhB) were obtained from the original extract by filtration with tetrahydrofuran (THF); both fractions were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH); total polyphenol content was also determined. Separate inhibition tests for AgNPsC and RhA and RhB were applied to Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast (Candida albicans) using the well diffusion method. Extract fractions were found to have inhibitory effects only over Gram-positive bacteria, and silver nanoparticles showed inhibitory effects over all the evaluated microorganisms. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay in mononuclear peripheral blood cells. In addition, we assessment AgNPsC in THP-1 monocyte cell line, using the cell viability estimation by trypan blue dye exclusion test (TB) and Live/Dead (LD) cell viability assays by confocal microscopy.

Cancer is a noncommunicable disease of rising worldwide concern. Marine food products such as Octopus vulgaris ink (OI) could be sources of compounds addressing these concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic, cytoprotective, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antioxidant capacity of OI extracts on human cancer cell lines (22Rv1, HeLa, A549). The ARPE‐19 cell line was used as a reference human cell line to evaluate the ink's cytotoxicity. The water extract exhibited the highest antimutagenic and cytoprotective effect, but the dichloromethane extract (DM) showed the lowest half lethal concentration against 22Rv1 cells. Structural elucidation of purified DM fractions (F1, F2, F3) identified an unreported compound, N‐(2‐ozoazepan‐3‐yl)‐pyrrolidine‐2‐carboxamide (OPC). DM‐F2 showed high antiproliferative effect (LC50 = 27.6 µg/mL), reactive species modulation, early‐apoptosis induction (42.9%), and nuclei disruption in 22Rv1 cells. In silico analysis predicted high OPC affinity with Cyclin D1 (−6.70 kcal/mol), suggesting its potential impact on cell cycle arrest. These results highlight the antimutagenic, cytoprotective, and antiproliferative potential health benefits derived from underutilized marine food products such as OI. Further investigations at in vitro or in vivo levels are required to elucidate mechanisms and health benefits from OI. Practical Application O. vulgaris ink is an underutilized marine natural product that could be a source of biological compounds with potential health benefits such as antioxidant activity and cancer prevention.

Both increased serum ferritin levels and Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation show independent association with the inflammatory processes. During inflammation, cell activation and apoptosis are accompanied by the release of membranederived microparticles (MPs), which are considered to be mediators of intercellular communication as they induce specific responses in target cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether glycated and glycoxidated ferritin induce in vitro release TLR microparticles from CD14+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with glycated, glycoxidated and native ferritin. The release of microparticles from CD14+ cells, the presence of TLR2+ and TLR4+ on the microparticles surface and the presence of interleukins-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8) inside the microparticles after stimulation were determined by flow cytometry. The role of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was evaluated by pretreatment of the cells with the Bay 11-7085 inhibitor. Glycated and glycoxidated ferritin induced the release of microparticles from CD14+ cells, the majority of which expressed TLR2+ and TLR4+ on their surface and contained IL-6 and IL-8. These effects were dependent on NF-κB activation. Our findings show that glycated and glycoxidated ferritin might be involved in the release of microparticles and stimulation of inflammatory responses.

A green method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles is proposed using hydroethanolic extract of Vitex mollis fruit (Vm extract) as a reducer and stabilizer. The formation of gold nanoparticles synthesized with Vm extract (AuVmNPs) was monitored by measuring the ultraviolet–visible spectra. The morphology and crystalline phase were determined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Synthesized nanoparticles were generally spherical, and the size distribution obtained by transmission electron microscopy shows two populations with mean sizes of 12.5 and 22.5 nm. Cell viability assay using MTT and cellular apoptosis studies using annexin V on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF10A) indicate that AuVmNPs have low toxicity. Cell migration tests indicate that AuVmNPs significantly inhibit HUVEC cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. The evaluation of the localization of AuVmNPs in HUVECs using confocal laser scanning microscopy indicates that nanoparticles penetrate cells and are found in the cytosol without preferential distribution and without entering the nucleus. The inhibitory effect on cellular migration and low toxicity suggest AuVmNPs as appropriate candidates in future studies of antiangiogenic activity.

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This pilot study aimed to determine if increased serum ferritin (SF) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with prediabetes. Methods: Eighteen patients with prediabetes and 36 subjects without prediabetes (control), non-white Hispanic, non-indigenous origin, Mexican mestizo descent were included. Participants had no inflammation, or vascular complications. SF and metabolic markers were evaluated in both groups. Results: SF and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were increased in prediabetes subjects. Moreover, in prediabetes and control groups as a whole, natural logarithm (ln)-SF correlated with oxLDL and ln-oxLDL/LDL after adjustment for sex, ln-age, ln-fasting plasma glucose (FPG), ln-body mass index, ln-triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoproteins. Finally, ln-SF was an independent contributor to ln-oxLDL/LDL ratio in control and prediabetes subjects (β ¼ 0.2915) after the introduction of potential confounders such as FPG, TC, TG, and hypertension. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that hyperferritinemia is associated with oxLDL, considered one of the main cardiovascular risk factors, which allows us to suggest that an increase in SF could contribute to the progression of prediabetes, prior to the appearance of diabetes. Further research is required to establish a causal relationship of iron disruption metabolism in oxLDL generation under prediabetes conditions.

The search of new genetic vectors that improve the efficacy of gene delivery into diseased cells has led to the creation of several vector formulations that promote effectiveness in applications. However, DNA affinity to vectors as well as vector/DNA complex stability remains a problem to be solved. Here, we study lipoplexes made of DODAB-DOPC cationic liposomes (CL) and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) as a preliminary cargo gene model of a novel vector formulation to improve DNA delivery efficacy and affinity. Physicochemical characterization was carried out by Z -potential ( ζ ), light scattering, ultraviolet, fluorescence spectra, confocal, and electronic microscopy to prove CL and ctDNA complexation and high affinity. Through this approach, ζ and light scattering results indicate an effective CL and ctDNA complexation; CL charge decreases as ctDNA concentration increases. Obtained spectra from UV and fluorescence show high affinity between CL and ctDNA. This can be also verified by confocal microscopy images and electronic microscopy micrographs. All experiments show effective binding between CL and ctDNA, and fluorescence experiments show EtBr displacing as CL concentration increments. CL cytotoxicity assays show high viability when ctDNA is complexed; these results are comparable with those obtained using Lipofectamine 2000. Easy complexation and low cytotoxicity make them a promising formulation for gene delivery. The obtained results from this work motivate us to keep searching for new genetic vector formulations, which could reduce its cytotoxic effect and improve its transfection efficiency, in addition to the low cost of production compared with some commercial products.