The compound α-mangostin (AMG) extracted from Garcinia mangostana L. has potent anticancer properties but its clinical application is limited because of its poor solubility. In this study, AMG-loaded nanoparticles (NMG) were synthesized using a new formula and their apoptosis activity against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells was investigated in comparison with organic solvent-soluble AMG in free form. The NMG was successfully synthesized with a particle size of <50 nm, polydispersity index <0.3, and zeta potential of −35.2 mV. At a concentration of 10 μg/mL, AMG reduced cell survival by 60%, whereas NMG treatment resulted in >90% cell death (p < 0.05). The AMG- or NMG-treated cells also showed changes in the size and shape and exhibited enhanced intensity of blue-stained nuclei, as well as decreased cell density, especially in NMG-treated cells. After 24 h of incubation with AMG or NMG, the cells went through late apoptosis at a rate of approximately 34% in 20 μg/mL AMG treatment and 27% in 10 μg/mL NMG treatment (p < 0.05). Thus, HeLa cells underwent more pronounced cell death through apoptosis induction caused by the NMG treatment compared to that caused by AMG. Clearly, the new NMG improved AMG bioavailability while maintaining the desired activity.
Core/shell hetero-nanostructures are promising materials for fabricating optoelectronic devices, photodetectors, bioimaging, and biosensing. The CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized in a wet chemical reaction. The shell thickness was modified by varying reaction times. The structure and optical properties as a function of the CdS shell thickness were investigated. A systematic redshift of the first exciton absorption peaks and photoluminescent (PL) spectra occurred after coating with CdS confirmed the shell growth over the CdSe core. The PL's intensity increased compared with that of bare NCs. The formation of high-quality NCs with uniform size distribution was shown in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image and confirmed by the narrow PL band and small FWHM.
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