Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important health issues worldwide. The rising incidence of the disease has resulted in a parallel increase of complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). It is estimated that 25% of patients with diabetes will develop foot ulcers over a lifetime. In Mexico, this lifetime incidence is about 40% to 50%, and 20% of the cases will require amputations. DFU can result in staggering financial burdens for the healthcare system and the patient. Therapies that promote rapid and complete healing and reduce the need for expensive surgical procedures would impact these costs susbtantially. Method. Cu/TiO2–SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by T. López et al. sol-gel patented method. After synthesis, they were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. Then, they were embedded into a polymeric gel matrix. The Cu/TiO2–SiO2 nanogel was used as conservative therapy for a chronic non-healing DFU on a 62-year old female with several comorbidities and chronic complications of diabetes. Wound debridement was performed prior to nanogel administration. The nanogel was applied over the ulcer on alternate days for an initial period of 2 weeks, and then continued for 10 months. Results. Significant improvement was observed in the wound healing process since the first applications. The infection was limited and tissue regeneration was enhanced until complete healing of the ulcer. Conclusion. Cu/TiO2–SiO2 nanogel therapy enhanced reepithelialization and healing of the DFU. The successful outcome allowed to avoid the amputation that was proposed for the patient.
Cancer is a major public health problem
being one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality today. Recent
advances in catalytic nanomedicine have offered new cancer therapies
based on the administration of nanoparticles (NPs) of platinum (Pt)
dispersed in catalytic mesoporous nanomaterials (titania, TiO
2
) with highly selective cytotoxic properties and no adverse
effects. A half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
50
)
study was carried out in cancerous cell lines (HeLa, DU-145, and fibroblasts)
to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of different nanomaterials [Pt/TiO
2
, TiO
2
, and Pt(acac)
2
] synthesized by
the sol–gel method at concentrations 0–1000 μg/mL.
The assays showed that IC
50
values for Pt in functionalized
TiO
2
(NPt) in HeLa (53.74 ± 2.95 μg/mL) and
DU-145 (75.07 ± 5.48 μg/mL) were lower than those of pure
TiO
2
(74.29 ± 8.95 and 82.02 ± 6.03 μg/mL,
respectively). Pt(acac)
2
exhibited no cytotoxicity. Normal
cells (fibroblasts) treated with NPt exhibited no significant growth
inhibition, suggesting the high selectivity of the compound for cancerous
cells only. TiO
2
and NPt were identified as antineoplastic
compounds
in vitro
. Pt(acac)
2
is not recommendable
because of the low cytotoxicity observed.
Aim: Sol–gel is a suitable and advantageous method to synthesize mixed oxide nanomaterials with unique physicochemical and biological properties. Materials & methods: In this work, TiO2–SiO2 nanopowders cogeled with platinum acetylacetonate were developed and studied in the perspective of nanomedicine. The physicochemical properties of the Pt/TiO2–SiO2 nanopowders, named NanoRa2-Pt, were evaluated in detail by means of complementary spectroscopic and microscopic tools. The nanopowder's biocatalytic efficiency in wound healing was evaluated in a Type I diabetes animal model. Results: These are TiO2–SiO2 submicron mesoporous particles with variable size and shape containing ultra-small platinum nanoparticles with catalytic properties. Conclusion: The use of NanoRa2-Pt catalyzes the natural healing processes with a faster remodeling stage. These sols, which we call nanobiocatalysts, belong to an emerging and very promising research field known as catalytic nanomedicine.
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