The most prevalent conditions among ocular surgery and COVID-19 patients are fungal eye infections, which may cause inflammation and dry eye, and may cause ocular morbidity. Amphotericin-B eye drops are commonly used in the treatment of ocular fungal infections. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is used for the treatment of dry eye, conjunctivitis, and ocular inflammation. However, poor aqueous stability and excessive nasolacrimal duct draining impede these agens\' efficiency. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Amphotericin-B, as an antifungal against Candida albicans, Fusarium, and Aspergillus flavus, and Lactoferrin, as an anti-inflammatory and anti-dry eye, when co-loaded in triblock polymers PLGA-PEG-PEI nanoparticles embedded in P188-P407 ophthalmic thermosensitive gel. The nanoparticles were prepared by a double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The optimized formula showed particle size (177.0 ± 0.3 nm), poly-dispersity index (0.011 ± 0.01), zeta-potential (31.9 ± 0.3 mV), and entrapment% (90.9 ± 0.5) with improved ex-vivo pharmacokinetic parameters and ex-vivo trans-corneal penetrability, compared with drug solution. Confocal laser scanning revealed valuable penetration of fluoro-labeled nanoparticles. Irritation tests (Draize Test), Atomic force microscopy, cell culture and animal tests including histopathological analysis revealed superiority of the nanoparticles in reducing signs of inflammation and eradication of fungal infection in rabbits, without causing any damage to rabbit eyeballs. The nanoparticles exhibited favorable pharmacodynamic features with sustained release profile, and is neither cytotoxic nor irritating in-vitro or in-vivo. The developed formulation might provide a new and safe nanotechnology for treating eye problems, like inflammation and fungal infections.

Globally, the demand for masks has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in 490,201 tons of waste masks disposed of per month. Since masks are used in places with a high risk of virus infection, waste masks retain the risk of virus contamination. In this study, a 1 kg/h lab-scale (diameter: 0.114 m, height: 1 m) bubbling fluidized bed gasifier was used for steam gasification (temperature: 800 °C, steam/carbon (S/C) ratio: 1.5) of waste masks. The use of a downstream reactor with activated carbon (AC) for tar cracking and the enhancement of hydrogen production was examined. Steam gasification with AC produces syngas with H2, CO, CH4, and CO2 content of 38.89, 6.40, 21.69, and 7.34 vol%, respectively. The lower heating value of the product gas was 29.66 MJ/Nm3 and the cold gas efficiency was 74.55 %. This study showed that steam gasification can be used for the utilization of waste masks and the production of hydrogen-rich gas for further applications.

The present study sought to investigate the effects of amino-functionalized tannic acid-templated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TA-MS-NH2 NPs) on giving rats protection against iron-induced liver toxicity. To this end, the TA-MS-NH2 NPs were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into one control group (group 1) and four experimental groups (groups 2- 5) (n = 10), each of which received 100 mg/kg oral normal saline and FeSO4, respectively. Then, post-exposure hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress markers were measured in two intervals, i.e., after 4 and 24 h, followed by the measurement of the acute iron toxicity. Furthermore, hepatotoxicity markers, including the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were measured via Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol groups, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels were measured as oxidative stress markers in the serum samples. The results indicated that oral administration of iron significantly elevated the liver enzymes and altered the level of oxidative stress markers. It was also found that treatment with TA-MS-NH2 NPs meaningfully protected against hepatotoxicity, decreased ALT, AST, ALP, and significantly improved oxidative stress markers by decreasing MDA, AOPP, and NOx levels and increasing TAC and thiol group contents, proving that TA-MS-NH2 NPs could protect rats against iron-induced acute liver toxicity through their antioxidant features.

Asthma as chronic airway disease has high prevalence in children and imbalance of Th1/Th2 is a critical mechanism in pathogenesis of the asthma. Baicalein as a cell protective and anti-inflammatory flavonoid may have anti-asthma effect. Therefore, for better using lung, baicalein was used in chitosan-nanoparticle as anti-asthma treatment. Baicalein was loaded and encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticle. The morphology, physical characters (particle size, zeta potential and FT-IR) were analyzed. Drug encapsulation and loading capacity, accumulative release-time were studied. After asthma model producing, the mice were treated with L-B-NP and E-B-NP. At least, MCh challenge test, Cytokines measurement and Lung Histopathology were done. Nanoparticles had average size 285 ± 25 nm with negative charge -2.5 mV. The L-B-NP decreased penh value and E-B-NP decreased inflammation. Both nanoparticles increased IL-12 and decreased IL-5. Also, L-B-NP decreased mucus secretion in bronchi. L-B-NP and E-B-NP control immune-allergo-inflammatory response of asthma. L-B-NP controlled AHR and E-B-NP controlled inflammation that can be used as controlling anti-asthma drug.

Cheeseweed mallow (Malva parviflora L.) was used to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were classified by UV-vis Spectroscopy and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The shape and size distribution were visualized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and Zeta potential analysis. The chemical composition of M. parviflora leaf extract was identified by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS). Finally, in vitro antifungal assay was done to assess the potential of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles and crude leaf extract of M. parviflora for inhibiting the mycelial growth of phytopathogenic fungi. The UV-vis analysis manifests the formation of silver nanoparticles. FTIR analysis established that chemicals of the leaf extract stabilized the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles by binding with the free silver ions. The TEM, FE-SEM and zeta potential analyzer confirmed that the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were mostly spherical with an average diameter of 50.6 nm. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles and leaf extract of M. parviflora effectively mitigate the mycelial growth of Helminthosporium rostratum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata. The maximum reduction in mycelial growth by biosynthesized nanoparticles was observed against H. rostratum (88.6%). Whereas, the leaf extract of M. parviflora was most effective against F. solani (65.3%). Thus, the biosynthesis of nanoparticle assisted by M. parviflora is a feasible and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Further the silver nanoparticles and leaf extract of M. parviflora could be explored for the development of the fungicide.

Progress in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has advanced from fundamental chemistry to engineering processes and applications, resulting in new industrial opportunities. The unique features of MOFs, such as their permanent porosity, high surface area, and structural flexibility, continue to draw industrial interest outside the traditional MOF field, both to solve existing challenges and to create new businesses. In this context, diverse research has been directed toward commercializing MOFs, but such studies have been performed according to a variety of individual goals. Therefore, there have been limited opportunities to share the challenges, goals, and findings with most of the MOF field. In this review, we examine the issues and demands for MOF commercialization and investigate recent advances in MOF process engineering and applications. Specifically, we discuss the criteria for MOF commercialization from the views of stability, producibility, regulations, and production cost. This review covers progress in the mass production and formation of MOFs along with future applications that are not currently well known but have high potential for new areas of MOF commercialization.

OBJECTIVE: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) can\'t be given orally because of very low bioavailability and produces serious adverse effects. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to develop, evaluate, and comparative effects by different nanoformulations of topical application on chemoprevention of skin cancer in different types of skin.
METHODS: Castor oil (oil), Transcutol HP (surfactant), and Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400 (co-surfactant) have taken on the basis of nonionic property and highest nanoemulsion (NE)-region. Aqueous micro titration method with ultra-sonication method (based on high energy) was used for the preparation of 5-FU-NE. Optimized-5-FU-NE was stable thermodynamically, and their characterizations was performed on the basis of globule size, zeta potential, refractive index, and viscosity. Optimized-NE has been converted into 5-FU-NE-Gel with the help of Carbopol® 934 and also performed their permeation studies in the different skins (cow, goat, and rat, ex vivo) using Logan transdermal diffusion cell (DHC-6T). Optimized-5-FU-NE and 5-FU-NE-Gel were evaluated cytotoxic studies (in vitro) on the melanoma cell lines.
RESULTS: The permeation of 5-FU from 5-FU-NE-Gel nanoformulation for rat skin model was 1.56 times higher than the 5-FU-NE and 12.51 times higher than the 5-FU-S for the cow and goat skin model. The values of steady state flux and permeability coefficient for 5-FU-NE-Gel of rat skin were higher i.e. 12.0244 ± 1.12 µgcm-2h-1 and 1.2024 ± 0.073 × 10-2 µg cm-2h-1, respectively. Optimized-5-FU-NE and 5-FU-NE-Gel nanoformulation were found to be physically stable. SK-MEL-5 cancer cells have showed the results based on cytotoxicity studies (in vitro) that 5-FU as Optimized-5-FU-NE-Gel is much more efficacious than 5-FU-NE followed by free 5-FU. Localization of 5-FU from 5-FU-NE-Gel was higher with higher permeation in rat skin.
CONCLUSIONS: 5-FU-NE-Gel is found to be for the better to treatment of cutaneous malignancies. It can be developed 5-FU-NE-Gel could be a promising vehicle for the skin cancer chemoprevention.