(1) Context: Cancer is still a major problem worldwide, and traditional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy often fail to alleviate symptoms because of side effects, systemic toxicity, and mechanisms of resistance. Beneficial anticancer effects that spare healthy tissues are made possible by the distinctive redox characteristics of noble metal complexes, especially those containing palladium, gold, silver, and platinum. (2) Methods: The redox processes, molecular targets, and therapeutic uses of noble metal complexes in cancer have been the subject of much study over the last 20 years; novel approaches to ligand design, functionalization of nanoparticles, and tumor-specific drug delivery systems are highlighted. (3) Results: Recent developments include Pt(IV) prodrugs and terpyridine-modified Pt complexes for enhanced selectivity and decreased toxicity; platinum complexes, like cisplatin, trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage. Functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) improve targeted delivery and theranostic capabilities, while gold complexes, particularly Au(I) and Au(III), inhibit redox-sensitive processes such as thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). (4) Conclusions: Ag(I)-based compounds and nanoparticles (AgNPs) induce DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction by taking advantage of oxidative stress. As redox-based anticancer medicines, noble metal complexes have the ability to transform by taking advantage of certain biochemical features to treat cancer more effectively and selectively.

The area of functional drink is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, be it that it is made from plant-based or non-dairy milk. Sea buckthorn syrup is a source of functional ingredients, with a large spectrum of healthy compounds. The study aimed to investigate the suitability of sea buckthorn syrup as a substrate for Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei (L. casei^® 431) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (Bb-12^®) development and fermentation in vegetal soy drink and to evaluate the fermented product (at 30 and 37 °C) in terms of bacterial viability, pH, tithable acidity during fermentation and storage period, water holding capacity, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic contents, sensory analysis and in vitro bio-accessibility. During fermentation, a bacterial concentration around of 10⁹–10¹⁰ CFU·mL⁻¹ was found in the soy drink with sea buckthorn syrup and L. casei^® 431 and Bb-12^®. Antioxidant capacity significantly improved after the fermentation of the soy drinks. On the other hand, through the digestibility of the drinks, the bacterial viability significantly decreased for L. casei^® 431 and increased for Bb-12^®. Further investigation is required on the concentration of sea buckthorn syrup and probiotic encapsulation methods to comprehend the components responsible for the efficient delivery of bacteria across the gastrointestinal tract.

Nowadays, vegan consumers demand that food products have more and more properties that contribute to the prevention of some diseases, such as lower fat content, increased mineral content (calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus), pleasant flavor, and low calorie values. Therefore, the beverage industry has tried to offer consumers products that include probiotics, prebiotics, or symbiotics with improved flavor and appearance and beneficial effects on health. The possibility of producing beverages based on soy milk with sea buckthorn syrup or sea buckthorn powder supplemented with inulin and fermented with the Lactobacillus casei ssp. paracasei strain was examined. The aim of this study was to obtain a novel symbiotic product that exploits the bioactive potential of sea buckthorn fruits. Tests were carried out in the laboratory phase by fermenting soy milk, to which was added sea buckthorn syrup (20%) or sea buckthorn powder (3%) and inulin in proportions of 1% and 3%, with temperature variation of fermentation (30 and 37 °C). During the fermentation period, the survivability of prebiotic bacteria, pH, and titratable acidity were measured. The storage time of beverages at 4 °C ± 1 °C was 14 days, and the probiotic viability, pH, titratable acidity, and water holding capacity were determined. Novel symbiotic beverages based on sea buckthorn syrup or powder, inulin, and soy milk were successfully obtained using the Lactobacillus casei ssp. paracasei strain as a starter culture. Moreover, the inulin added to the novel symbiotic beverage offered microbiological safety and excellent sensory attributes as well.

From their discovery, antibiotics have significantly improved clinical treatments of infections, thus leading to diminishing morbidity and mortality in critical care patients, as well as surgical, transplant and other types of medical procedures. In contemporary medicine, a significant debate regarding the development of multi-drug resistance involves all types of pathogens, especially in acute care hospitals due to suboptimal or inappropriate therapy. The possibility of nanotechnology using nanoparticles as matrices to encapsulate a lot of active molecules should increase drug efficacy, limit adverse effects and be an alternative helping to combat antibiotic resistance. The major aim of this study was to obtain and to analyze physico-chemical features of chitosan used as a drug-delivery system in order to stop the antibiotic resistance of different pathogens. It is well known that World Health Organization stated that multidrug resistance is one of the most important health threats worldwide. In last few years, nano-medicine emerged as an improved therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections agents. This work relies on enhancement of the antimicrobial efficiency of ceftriaxone against gram(+) and gram(−) bacteria by antibiotic encapsulation into chitosan nanoparticles. Physicochemical features of ceftriaxone-loaded polymer nanoparticles were investigated by particle size distribution and zeta potential, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TG/TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characteristics techniques. The obtained results revealed an average particle size of 250 nm and a zeta potential value of 38.5 mV. The release profile indicates an incipient drug deliverance of almost 15%, after 2 h of approximately 83%, followed by a slowed drug release up to 24 h. Characteristics peaks of chitosan were confirmed by FTIR spectra indicating a similar structure in the case of ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. A good encapsulation of the antibiotic into chitosan nanoparticles was also provided by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Morphological characteristics shown by SEM micrographs exhibit spherical nanoparticles of 30–250 nm in size with agglomerated architectures. Chitosan, a natural polymer which is used to load different drugs, provides sustained and prolonged release of antibiotics at a specific target by possessing antimicrobial activity against gram(+) and gram(−) bacteria. In this research, ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were investigated as a carrier in antibiotic delivery.

Recently, nanotechnology research studies have been proven that use of various nanoparticles as drug delivery systems to target and to annihilate pathogenic microorganisms may be a good solution for prevention and treatment of severe infection. In the last few years, antimicrobial drug encapsulation into nano-sized systems has materialized as a promising alternative that increased drug efficacy and minimized adverse effects. Physicochemical properties of erythromycin-loaded polymer nanoparticles were assessed using particle size distribution, HPLC, FTIR, TG/DTA, and SEM characterization techniques. The as-prepared samples exhibited an average particle size of 340 and 270 nm, respectively, with erythromycin content of 99.7% in both samples. From the release profile of erythromycin from PLA/PLGA, a prolonged drug release can be observed from both Ery-PLA and Ery-PLGA nanostructures. Morphology images exhibited spherical, rigid, and ring-shaped nanoparticles. Thermal analytical study in the case of Ery-PLA and Ery-PLGA samples showed that pure drug has an endothermic peak at around 150 °C assigned to a melting point. The antibiotic melting peak disappeared for both antibiotic-loaded PLA and PLGA nanoparticles thermographs, denoting the presence of erythromycin. This indicates that the antibiotic is uniformly dispensed throughout the host polymer matrix at nanometer scale. FTIR spectra of Ery-PLA and Ery-PLGA nano-architectures with almost similar peaks indicated no alteration in chemical structure of drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles.

Nowadays, infection diseases are one of the most significant threats to humans all around the world. An encouraging strategy for solving this issue and fighting resistant microorganisms is to develop drug carriers for a prolonged release of the antibiotic to the target site. The purpose of this work was to obtain metronidazole-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles using an ion gelation route and to evaluate their properties. Due to the advantages of the ionic gelation method, the synthesized polymeric nanoparticles can be applied in various fields, especially pharmaceutical and medical. Loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency varFied depending on the amount of antibiotic in each formulation. Physicochemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy revealed a narrow particle size distribution where 90% of chitosan particles were 163.7 nm in size and chitosan-loaded metronidazole nanoparticles were 201.3 nm in size, with a zeta potential value of 36.5 mV. IR spectra revealed characteristic peaks of the drug and polymer nanoparticles. Cell viability assessment revealed that samples have no significant impact on tested cells. Release analysis showed that metronidazole was released from the chitosan matrix for 24 h in a prolonged course, implying that antibiotic-encapsulated polymer nanostructures are a promising drug delivery system to prevent or to treat various diseases. It is desirable to obtain new formulations based on drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles through different preparation methods, with reduced cytotoxic potential, in order to improve the therapeutic effect through sustained and prolonged release mechanisms of the drug correlated with the reduction of adverse effects.