Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to COVID-19 and has become a pandemic worldwide with mortality of millions. Nanotechnology can be used to deliver antiviral medicines or other types of viral reproduction-inhibiting medications. At various steps of viral infection, nanotechnology could suggest practical solutions for usage in the fight against viral infection. Nanotechnology-based approaches can help in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nanoparticles can play an essential role in progressing SARS-CoV-2 treatment and vaccine production in efficacy and safety. Nanocarriers have increased the speed of vaccine development and the efficiency of vaccines. As a result, the increased investigation into nanoparticles as nano-delivery systems and nanotherapeutics in viral infection, and the development of new and effective methods are essential for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this article, we compare the attributes of several nanoparticles and evaluate their capability to create novel vaccines and treatment methods against different types of viral diseases, especially the SARS-CoV-2 disease. Graphical Abstract

This paper was published in BioImpacts in 2013 (doi: 10.5681/bi.2013.005).1 Based on an email received from a researcher recently, we were informed that this published paper presented some data (i.e., Fig. 3a and 3b) as same as data presented in three other published papers (i.e., doi: 10.1111/Cbdd.12318; doi: 10.1111/Cbdd.12318; and doi: 10.1186/1477-3155-10-46),2-4 which are considered as the ethical misconduct. This issue was brought up with and comprehensively investigated by the editorial team of BioImpacts through comparison of the papers and the within-data. As a result, in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the editors decided to retract this paper. The authors were informed and advised on this serious ethical breach. Based on the COPE guidelines on the retraction, BioImpacts considers retracting a publication if: - It has clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, either as a result of misconduct (e.g., data fabrication and/or falsification) or honest error (e.g. miscalculation or experimental error). - The findings have previously been published elsewhere without proper crossreferencing, permission or justification (i.e. cases of redundant publication). As a peer-review multidisciplinary international "Publish Free" and "Access Free" journal, BioImpacts strongly adheres to the "Publication Ethics", and its foremost goal is to preserve the integrity of the scientific reports in the highest standards, therefore, the journal takes all issues of publication misconduct seriously.

Thermosensetive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPPAMs), methacrylic acid (MAA), and vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) in the presence of methylene-bis-acrylamide as cross linking agent. The Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticls were prepared by chemical precipitation of Fe salts in the ratio of 1:2 under alkaline and inert condition. Thermosensitive crosslinked P (NI-PAAM-MAA-VP) copolymers were characterized by FT-IR and H-NMR. The pH and thermosensitive copolymer was used for preparation of drug loaded magnetic nanoparticles, and doxorubicin (DOX) was used as a typical anticancer drug. The amount of the loaded drug and drug release amount were determined by UV measurements. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) were used to determine the particle surface morphology and the phase transition temperature of the nanoparticles respectively. The release behavior of DOX at pH = 7.4 and 37˚C was studied. The result indicated that this thermosensetive magnetic nanoparticle has a high drug loading capacity and favorable linear release property for DOX without initial burst release. Thus this system is promising for the application in targeted smart anticancer drug delivery.

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The purposes of this research were to synthesize and characterize star-shaped poly lactide-co-glycolide-β-cyclodextrin (PLGA-β-CD) copolymer by reacting L-lactide, glycolide and β-cyclodextrin in the presence of stannous octoate as a catalyst. The structure of PLGA-β-CD copolymer was confirmed with 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and FT-IR spectra. Albumin as a model peptide drug was encapsulated within nanoparticles made of PLGA-β-CD with a modified double emulsion method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photomicrographs showed that the nanoparticles have the mean diameter within the range of 80 -210 nm. Also they were almost spherical in shape. Effects of the experimental parameters, such as copolymer composition, copolymer concentration, and reaction temperature, on particular size and encapsulation efficiency were investigated.

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Cancer stem cells (CSCs) remaining in the tumor tissues after applying treatments may cause recurrence or metastasis of prostate cancer (PC). Curcumin has the promising potential to target CSCs. Here, we aim to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on the expression of miR-383-5p and miR-708-5p and their target genes in CD44+ CSCs and CD44− non-CSCs isolated from the PC3 prostate cancer cell line. We used MTT assay to determine the optimal cytotoxic dose of curcumin on CD44± PC cells. Then, we assessed nuclear morphological changes using DAPi staining. We used Annexin V-FITC/PI to quantify apoptotic cell death. qRT-PCR was also used to detect miRNA and gene expression levels after curcumin treatment. Curcumin significantly enhanced the apoptosis in both CD44− and CD44+ PC cells in a dose-dependent manner (P-value < 0.05). The cytotoxicity of curcumin against CD44− cells (IC50 = 40.30 ± 2.32 µM) was found to be more effective than CD44+ cells (IC50 = 83.31 ± 2.91 µM). Also, curcumin promoted miR-383-5p and miR-708-5p overexpression while downregulating their target genes LDHA, PRDX3, and RAP1B, LSD1, respectively. Our findings indicate that curcumin, by promoting the expression of tumor suppressors, miR-383-5p and miR-708-5p, and inhibiting their target genes, induced its cytotoxicity against CD44± PC cells. We trust that curcumin could be established as a promising adjuvant therapy to current PC treatment options with more research in the clinical field.

Background: While the various antitumororal activities of adiponectin as an adipocyte-derived hormone well studied, it is speculated that there is a crosstalk between adiponectin and esterogen receptor (ER) signaling. To test this hypothesis we evaluate the possible correlation between serum level of adiponectin with two estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) gene expression in breast cancer patients. Methods: In this case-control study, 70 women with breast cancer participated with different grades of obesity (36 none obese, BMI < 25 kg/m 2 and 34 obese, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ).The mean age of Participants was 44.53 yr ± 1.79 yr (21 yr -70 yr) .Serum level of adiponectin determined by ELISA. Following quantitative expression of estrogen receptors mRNA in tumor tissues was evaluated by Real-time PCR. Results: We find a significant reverse correlation between serum level of Adiponectin and ERα mRNA (r = -0.229, n = 64, p = 0.035) but no correlation was between adiponectin and ERβ in samples (p = 0.228). The lower adiponectin multiplied the odds of having higher ERα mRNA level by a factor of OR = 4.33, 1.28 -14.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) as compared with those that displayed a moderate or higher serum level of adiponectin (>7.02 ng/ml). The same odds for next estrogen receptor, ERβ, was not greater than unity (OR = 0.31, 0.06 -1.56, 95% CI). Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it is speculated that as adiponectin can affect ERs gene expression, so affecting the steroid receptor signaling can be proposed as a new underling mechanism of action for this adipokine in breast cancer pathogenesis especially in obese ones.