Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are extensively researched as potential drug delivery system thanks to their desirable features such as controlled and stable structures, and ease of functionalization onto their surface active groups. However, there have been concerns about the toxicity of full generation dendrimers and risks of premature clearance from circulation, along with other physical drawbacks presented in previous formulations, including large particle sizes and low drug loading efficiency. In our study, carboxyl-terminated PAMAM dendrimer G3.5 was grafted with poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether (mPEG) to be employed as a nano-based drug delivery system with great cytocompatibility for the delivery of carboplatin (CPT), a widely prescribed anticancer drug with strong side effects so that the drug will be effectively entrapped and not exhibit uncontrolled outflow from the open structure of unmodified PAMAM G3.5. The particles formed were spherical in shape and had the optimal size range (around 36 nm) that accommodates high drug entrapment efficiency. Surface charge was also determined to be almost neutral and the system was cytocompatible. In vitro release patterns over 24 h showed a prolonged CPT release compared to free drug, which correlated to the cytotoxicity assay on malignant cell lines showing the lack of anticancer effect of CPT/mPEG-G3.5 compared with CPT.

In the present work, a dual-drug-loaded soy lecithin liposomal system was developed by coencapsulation of Letrozole (LET) with Paclitaxel (PTX) to improve the efficacy in breast cancer therapy. Liposomes were synthesized by the thin film layer hydration. To sufficiently evaluate the characteristics of these liposomes, the particle size, zeta potential, morphology, drug encapsulation, in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity were ascertained. Results showed promisingly anticancer potentials, as the following parameters indicated: nanosize diameter (around 193nm) and negative surface charge. Data collected from the coloaded drug liposomes showed suitable encapsulation efficiency (50.56 for PTX and 31.13 for LET). Controlled and sustained releases were achieved up to 72h for both the loaded drugs following the diffusion mechanism. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity study on the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) given the dual-drug-loaded liposome showed greater inhibition of cell growth than the single drug. Consequently, LET and PTX coloaded liposomes made from soy lecithin are expected to be an ingenious drug-delivery system for combination chemotherapy.

This study describes an inexpensive, simple and green method to form silver nanoparticles from different leaf extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Scoparia dulcis plants. The silver nitrate is reduced by Achyranthes aspera and Scoparia dulcis leaf extracts respectively to generate two silver nanoparticle types symbolized as AA.AgNPs and SD.AgNPs. The optical absorption, size and morphology of silver nanoparticles are significantly impacted by extract types. The ultraviolet visible spectrum of AA.AgNPs shows a 433-nm peak being more broadened than that of SD.AgNPs. The Fourier infrared transform spectra of two of these silver nanoparticles revealed that their surface is modified by organic constituents from extracts, and thus they are stabilized in solution without any additional reaction. Images from transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope indicate that AA.AgNPs are in clusters with the size of 8–52 nm almost possessing oval shape, while SD.AgNPs are smaller size of 5-45 nm separated well in diversified shapes (spherical, triangle, quadrilateral and hexagonal). Moreover, both AA.AgNPs and SD.AgNPs exhibit the highly antifungal effect against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and the most strong impact on Fusarium oxysporum. For these obtained results, two new silver nanoparticles are promising fungicides for various applications of medical and agricultural fields.

Replanting for sustainable development is one of the critical missions of the coffee industry in the Daklak province, Vietnam. However, this plan has been faced with many difficulties including poor survival and growth rates due to the low nematode tolerance of young coffee plants in replanted fields. Mycorrhizal symbiosis and grafting have been applied separately but not yet resulted in the expected results of the replanting plan. Whether the combination of them would help managing nematode in the soil and consequently enhance the replanted efficiency is largely unknown. Mycorrhizal symbiosis was applied to Coffea canephora plants or/and grafted onto Coffea liberica rootstock, which were grown and compared to the untreated ones in both net-house-pots and the replanted plantation. The survival rate, growth indicators and the soil pathogens were monitored during the experimental periods. The combination of grafting and mycorrhiza symbiotic techniques significantly decreased the nematode densities in the replanted soil. As a result, the survival rate and growth indicators of the coffee in the replanted soil treated by the combined technique were better than treated by the two separate techniques. The results suggested that the combination of grafting and mycorrhiza symbiotic techniques would propose a potentially effective Pratylenchus coffeae and Meloidogyne incognita nematode management in replanted coffee fields in the Daklak province, Vietnam.

This review provides an overview of recent progress, challenges, and future directions in the application of MOFs and MOF-based composites for bone tissue engineering.