Context: (−)-6,6′-Dinitrohinokinin (DNHK) display remarkable antiparasitic activity and was, therefore, incorporated into a nanoparticle formulation.Objective: Incorporation of DNHK in poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles aiming to improve its biological activities.Materials and methods: Synthesis, characterization and incorporation of DNHK into glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation method. The nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission electron microscopic scanning mansoni (FESEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). For the in vitro test with Schistosoma mansoni, the DNHK-loaded PLGA was diluted into the medium, and added at concentrations 10–200 µM to the culture medium containing one adult worm pair. The parasites were kept for 120 h and monitored every 24 h to evaluate their general condition, including: pairing, alterations in motor activity and mortality.Results: The loaded PLGA nanoparticles gave an encapsulation efficiency of 42.2% and showed spherical characteristics in monodisperse polymeric matrix. The adult worm pairs were separated after 120 h of incubation for concentrations higher than 50 µM of DNHK-loaded PLGA. The groups incubated with 150 and 200 µM of DNHK-loaded PLGA for 24 and 120 h killed 100% of adult worms, afforded LC50 values of 137.0 ± 2.12 µM and 79.01 ± 1.90 µM, respectively, which was similar to the effect displayed by 10 µM of praziquantel.Discussion and conclusions: The incorporation of DNHK-loaded showed schistosomicidal activity and allowed its sustained release. The loaded PLGA system can be administered intravenously, as well as it may be internalized by endocytosis by the target organisms.

Lignans are a large class of natural products that have been isolated from many plants. They reveal diverse biological activities, especially antiviral and antitumor properties. From Piper cubeba, lignans of several classes can be isolated from the roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, seeds, and fruits. Among its various chemical constituents, (−)‐cubebin and (−)‐hinokinin are found in significant quantities. Although they have been known for some time, during the last few decades their biological properties have been studied by several research groups. The cubebins have been identified as a lactol monomer and dimers as a mixture of diastereoisomers. Recently, their structural characterization and the synthesis of the possible structures have led to the correction of some earlier structural proposals. This review describes the more recent developments in the study of the medicinal attributes of cubebin and hinokinin extracted from Piper cubeba and the synthesis and biological testing of some analogues.

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The use of biocompatible and low-cost polymeric matrices to produce non-phytotoxic nanoparticles for delivery systems is a promising alternative for good practices in agriculture management and biotechnological applications. In this context, there is still a lack of studies devoted to producing low-cost polymeric nanoparticles that exhibit non-phytotoxic properties. Among the different polymeric matrices that can be used to produce low-cost nanoparticles, we can highlight the potential application of cellulose acetate, a natural biopolymer with biocompatible and biodegradable properties, which has already been used as fibers, membranes, and films in different agricultural and biotechnological applications. Here, we provided a simple and low-cost route to produce cellulose acetate nanoparticles (CA-NPs), by modified emulsification solvent evaporation technique, with a main diameter of around 200 nm and a spherical and smooth morphology for potential use as agrochemical nanocarriers. The non-phytotoxic properties of the produced cellulose acetate nanoparticles were proved by performing a plant toxic test by Allium cepa assay. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests allowed us to evaluate the mitotic process, chromosomal abnormalities, inhibition/delay in root growth, and micronucleus induction. In summary, the results demonstrated that CA-NPs did not induce phytotoxic, cytotoxic, or genotoxic effects, and they did not promote changes in the root elongation, germination or in the mitotic, chromosomal aberration, and micronucleus indices. Consequently, the present findings indicated that CA-NPs can be potentially used as environmentally friendly nanoparticles.

In this work we studied the synthesis of BSCCO-2212 superconducting phase associating a quite similar method developed by Pechini (PM) with the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, MAH. To study the influence of MAH on the properties of BSCCO system, we synthesized two samples by such method. For one sample we used carbonates (CMAH) and for the other one we used nitrates (NMAH) as chemical reagents. We also produced a reference sample (REF) just using carbonates by PM to compare their morphological and superconducting properties. The structural properties of the samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It can be noted that the Bi-2212 phase is predominant in all samples; MAH samples present larger grains than the REF one. However, we can observe that the magnetic behaviour of NMAH is closer to that presented by REF.

This work aimed to synthesize poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles containing hinokinin (HNK) and to evaluate their cytotoxic activity against tumoral SiHa cells and non-tumoral HaCaT cells. Hinokinin was incorporated into PLGA (PLGA-HNK) with an encapsulation efficiency of 84.18 ± 2.32%. PLGA and PLGA-HNK were characterized by SEM microscopy and showed spherical morphology with an average size of ~3.33. Encapsulation efficiency was determined by a calibration curve using UV-vis spectroscopy. PLGA-HNK were more active inhibiting proliferation of SiHa cells (IC50 = 14.68 µM) than free HNK (IC50 = 225.5 µM). In relation to HaCaT cells, PLGA-HNK showed no significant difference compared to the negative control. These results led to an increase in HNK bioavailability and thereby, biological activity. In silico prediction analysis suggests that HNK is cytotoxic against SiHa cells with E6 and MDM2 inhibition as possible main mechanism of action.