Cutting-edge strategies for delivering drugs to the brain based on nanocarriers.

Objective: This review aims to explore advanced nanotechnology-integrated delivery systems designed to facilitate the transport of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly neurodegenerative diseases.Significance:CNS disorders remain a primary global health concern due to their progressive nature and limited treatment options. Conventional therapies exhibit minimal efficacy, primarily due to the restrictive nature of the BBB, which impedes drug access to brain tissue.

Synthesis of Polymer Nanohybrids for Glycerol Sensing, Fluorometric Viscosity Detection, and Metal-Free Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation.

This research provides a constructive approach for developing high-performance polymer nanohybrids toward enhancing optoelectronic properties, fluorogenic viscosity sensing, and metal-free electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to value-added organic(s). Herein, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and mildly oxidized RGO (MRGO) are strategically combined with fluorescent electroactive polymers (FEPs) to develop a promising sustainable metal-free electrocatalytic system suitable for amplifying opto-electrochemical properties, multiplatform sensing capacity, and electrocatalytic efficiency. The optimized polymeric counterpart (FEP2) promotes dual-state emission in the supramolecular network of RGO-/MRGO-incorporated fluorescent electroactive hybrid polymers (RFEHPs/MFEHPs) through physicochemically confined atypical electron-rich -C(═O)NH-/-C(═O)O-/-SOH fluorophores of (hydroxyethyl)methacrylate and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid monomers.

The interplay between circadian rhythms and aging: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Circadian rhythms are essential biological systems operating on a 24-h cycle, playing a crucial role in regulating sleep, cognitive function, immune responses, and hormone secretion. This review explores the intricate relationship between circadian rhythms and aging, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. It discusses age-related changes in sleep patterns and the role of circadian disruption in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Sulphate-modified chitosan hydrogel beads a recyclable bio-adsorbent for Cu(II): Experimental and theoretical studies toward nitrogen-/oxygen-donor selective binding and 1:1 complexation.

This study was designed to develop a chemically modified chitosan-based sustainable adsorption system for soluble metal pollutants. Here, chitosan hydrogel beads modified with sulphate-sulphuric acid presented a high adsorption capacity toward copper ions and higher reusability due to enhanced low pH tolerance. Though the adsorption process was independent of incubation temperature, it varied with the pH of solution.

From structure to strategy: chemometric modeling for the prediction of terminal half-life of pharmaceuticals and its role in future therapeutics.

The terminal half-life ( ) is a crucial pharmacokinetic parameter for estimating the dose regimen and duration of action of a drug. Previously, few research papers have been published on the pharmacokinetic parameters that correlate with the chemical structure of pharmaceuticals, but these are time-consuming and costly. The main goal of the current study is to generate a quantitative read-across structure-activity relationship (q-RASAR) for terminal half-life estimation of diverse pharmaceuticals.

Neuro-protective Potential of Honey: A Narrative Review.

Apitherapy, the therapeutic use of bee products, has attracted attention for its potential in treating various ailments. Honey is unique among bee products because it has a high concentration of medicinal chemicals. In recent years, there has been growing concern about exploring the neuroprotective features of honey.

Targeted Drug Delivery for Breast Cancer using Functionalized Liposomes: Preparation Methods, Challenges, and Clinical Translation.

Breast cancer continues to be a major cause to cancer-related deaths globally, highlighting the urgent need for more targeted and efficient treatment approaches. This review focuses on targeted drug delivery systems using functionalized liposomes, which have emerged as promising nanocarriers due to their ability to improve drug solubility, stability, and site-specific delivery. They alter a drug's pharmacokinetics and biodistribution to improve pharmacological efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity.

Metformin as a potential neuroprotective agent that influence Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a significant neurodegenerative complication that impacts around 2% of individuals over the age of 65. The disease is characterized by a gradual decline of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, which leads to physical impairments in individuals. Unfortunately, no drugs are currently available that can halt the progression and alleviate the symptoms of PD.

Decoding the key hallmarks of chemoresistance: A proteomic tale from breast cancer research.

Chemoresistance denotes the intricate, multifactorial molecular mechanisms by which malignant cells subvert the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, thereby impeding therapeutic efficacy. This phenomenon is orchestrated through a confluence of processes, which we propose as the major hallmarks of chemoresistance in cancer. Dysregulation of drug transporters, activation of pro-survival pathways, cancer stem cell driven proliferation, DNA damage and repair mechanisms, evasion of apoptosis, autophagy induction, secretion of extracellular vesicles, and metabolic reprogramming represents the major mechanisms of chemoresistance in cancer.

Unveiling the multifaceted role of MZB1 in health and disease toward potential therapeutics. A comprehensive review.

Marginal zone B and B1 cell specific protein (MZB1), initially identified as a proapoptotic caspase-2 and caspase-9-binding protein, has emerged as a critical regulator of diverse cellular processes. MZB1 plays a pivotal role in immune cell differentiation and functions as a co-chaperone involved in integrin activation, antibody folding, and secretion. It also regulates calcium flux between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and cytoplasm, maintaining calcium in the ER to keep an oxidizing environment.

Bacteriocin-Mediated Silver Nanoconjugate: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application as an Antibiofilm Agent Against Two Common Pathogenic Bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance is generated due to rampant misuse of antibiotics, and almost 80% of persistent and hard-to-treat disease-causing bacteria are difficult to treat with antibiotics because of the presence of biofilm. Hence, a different approach must be implemented in such a way that these biofilm-forming recalcitrant infectious agents can be treated without causing antibiotic resistance to develop. Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria, although they offer a safer therapeutic option but are limited by their narrow antimicrobial scope and the need for high doses.

Halotolerant bacteria isolated from the soils of Indian mangrove ecosystem for metal removal and NPK enhancement.

Soil salinity surge, and accumulation of heavy metals in soil, due to agricultural malpractices and natural calamities, is a growing concern worldwide. The use of bacteria for bioremediation, and the potential of halotolerant bacteria have not been fully explored. This study aimed to find indigenous halotolerant bacteria, from the agricultural soils of Indian Sundarbans that have multi-metal removal and fertility intensification abilities.

Unveiling the antibacterial potency of phyto-stabilized silver nanoparticles against MDR uropathogens and exploration of its biocompatibility towards healthy blood cells.

This study illustrates the phyto-synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous leaves extract of Carica papaya. The average particle size of AgNPs was approximately 41 nm and the surface charge of approximately -26mV. After being initially validated by UV-Vis on the day of synthesis, the λ value of AgNPs remained constant for six months, showing its stability.

In Silico Prediction of Human Intestinal Permeability (Caco-2) using QSPR Modelling for Efficient Drug Discovery.

Background: The quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) modelling can be helpful in the in-silico prediction and pre-determination of the drug permeability values of a large number of compounds through human intestinal enterocytes for screening of potential candidate drugs, thereby enhancing oral drug development.

Methods: The present study involved the development of a regression-based QSPR model for the prediction of Caco-2 cell-permeability values of compounds. The training of the model was carried out on a novel large dataset of 1272 compounds with 30 selected 2D descriptors.

Microscale Liquid Crystal Droplet-Embedded Hydrogel Film for Ultrasensitive Optical Detection of Bacterial Endotoxins.

This study presents a novel approach that involves the development of micrometer-sized liquid crystal (LC) droplet-embedded chitosan (CS) hydrogel film, referred to as the CSLC gel-film, for ultrasensitive and selective detection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin). The hydrogel matrix effectively restricts the mobility of the embedded LC droplets, preventing coalescence and sedimentation, while maintaining a long-term structural integrity. The fiber-like structure of the hydrogel network facilitates the transport of aqueous analytes, allowing endotoxins to reach the LC-water interface and induce a bipolar-to-radial configurational transition.

Green treatments for polyaromatic hydrocarbons in e-wastes.

Rapid elevation of global population along with increased urbanization and industrialization afflict the water resources leading to the blooming of wastewater. Two or more aromatic rings fused with organic compound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) emerged worldwide through anthropogenic processes, mainly due to the incomplete combustion of organic fuels. In accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), there are 16 PAHs that are deemed as primary pollutants.

Comparative evaluation of the bactericidal activities of two indigenous weed-derived silver nanoconjugates on planktonic and sessile forms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of weed-derived silver nanoconjugates on Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa of biogenic silver nanoconjugates synthesized from two indigenous weeds, Tinospora cordifolia and Leonurus sibiricus followed by determination of the superiority of the nanoconjugate type in clearing away the antibiotic-resistant biofilm network.

Method: Microdilution techniques were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), MTT assay was used for determination of minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) followed by crystal violet assay for determining reduction of biofilms, time kill assay, flow cytometric measurements and confocal laser scanning microscopy for assessing the cell viability, scanning electron micrographs to show the disruption of biofilm network, Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy to analyse the changes in the functional groups of biofilm matrix components and denaturation of quorum sensing compounds. The HaCaT cell line was used for cytotoxicity testing.

Responsive carbon dot-embedded hybrid microgels for dual sensing of iron(III) and ciprofloxacin.

A novel hybrid material was synthesized through the integration of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) within a cationic poly(-isopropylacrylamide--3-aminopropyl methacrylamide) (PNIPAM--APMH) microgel to create a highly sensitive, selective and multi-responsive system (NCQDs@PNIPAM--APMH) with an impressive quantum yield of 42%. The resultant hybrid microgel was shown to be an exceptional dual-functional sensor for detecting ferric ions (Fe) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). The detection of Fe was marked by a "turn-off" fluorescence response, facilitated by dynamic quenching mechanisms.

Emerging horizons of AI in pharmaceutical research.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized drug discovery by enhancing data collection, integration, and predictive modeling across various critical stages. It aggregates vast biological and chemical data, including genomic information, protein structures, and chemical interactions with biological targets. Machine learning techniques and QSAR models are applied by AI to predict compound behaviors and predict potential drug candidates.

Computational exploration of viral cell membrane structures for identifying novel therapeutic target.

The membrane proteins of viruses play a critical role, and they shield viruses and takes biochemical mechanisms like sticking to the host cell membrane, merging with them, building new viruses, and breaking free. These steps make sure the virus can infect and multiply. But the membrane proteins of Nipah, Zika, SARS-CoV-2, and Hendra virus can cause special kinds of infections.

Zinc oxide-loaded chitosan-graphene oxide hydrogel nanocomposite as a potential catalyst for photocatalytic dye degradation.

In this work, a novel in-situ approach was employed to incorporate the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles into the hybrid chitosan-graphene oxide (CSGO) hydrogel network, forming ZnO-embedded hydrogel nanocomposites (CSGOZnO). This endeavor offered a uniform dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles within the 3D polymeric hydrogel structure, as confirmed by FE-SEM and HR-TEM analyses. The XRD spectrum of CSGOZnO exhibited eleven characteristic crystal planes at 31.

Enhancing interdisciplinary image segmentation through a Gaussian-based modified local consensus spatial fuzzy approach.

This study aims to introduce a generic fuzzy-based approach tailored explicitly for classifying images originating from an array of diverse sources, having varying degrees of spectral and spatial resolutions, inhomogeneity, artifacts, and entirely distinct features. The proposed Gaussian-based Modified Local Consensus Spatial Fuzzy (GMLCSF) approach stands out as an innovative solution differing from the traditional fuzzy-based approaches and the advanced methods in the domain, if multiple imaging sources and artifacts with uncertainties are present in the datasets, i.e.

Understanding the Therapeutic Potential of Smilax perfoliata and Elsholtzia griffithii Through GC-MS Analysis, Antimicrobial Assay and Molecular Docking.

Herbalism, rooted in traditional knowledge and regional practices, leverages plants as medicinal resources. India, with its vast biodiversity, harbors numerous untapped medicinal plants. This study focuses on the bioprospecting of two underexplored wild medicinal plants, Elsholtzia griffithii from Manipur and Smilax perfoliata from West Bengal, aiming to document their medicinal potential.

Design and development of Ondansetron-loaded polysaccharide-based buoyant formulation for improved gastric retention and drug release, using both natural and semi-synthetic polymers.

Extended gastric residence of drugs can enhance the therapeutic effect, increase bioavailability, improve efficacy, and reduce the number of required doses by prolonging the retention of the drug delivery system. A new floating drug delivery for Ondansetron was designed and evaluated. Pre-formulation studies included the assessment of powder flow properties and drug-excipient compatibility.

Balancing risk and resilience: Amplifying the voices of the children and mothers in Kalighat red light area.

Background: Irrespective of the surrounding debate on the morality of sex work as a profession, academia has largely overlooked the toxic and violent environment that surrounds the children of female sex workers in red light areas. For instance, the existing literature seems to be only driven by objectives (and often in singularity) like access to education, models of family and care, and not paying enough attention to the voices of the children, their experiences wants and desires.

Objective: The study aimed to amplify the voices of the children of the Kalighat red light area, gain a holistic understanding of the challenges they face, and plan and implement interventions that prioritize their well-being.