Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted considerable attention due to the variety of their applications in medicine and other sciences. AgNPs have been used in vitro for treatment of various diseases, such as hepatitis B and herpes simplex infections as well as colon, cervical, and lung cancers. In this study, we assessed the effect on proliferation, adhesion, and apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines of different molecular profiles (MCF7, HCC1954, and HCC70) exposed to AgNPs (2–9 nm). Methods: Breast cancer cell lines were incubated in vitro; MTT assay was used to assess proliferation. Adhesion was determined by real-time analysis with the xCELLingence system. Propidium iodide and fluorescein isothiocyanate-Annexin V assay were used to measure apoptosis. The transcriptome was assessed by gene expression microarray and Probabilistic Graphical Model (PGM) analyses. Results: The results showed a decreased adhesion in breast cancer cell lines and the control exposed to AgNPs was noted in 24 hours (p≤0.05). We observed a significant reduction in the proliferation of MCF7 and HCC70, but not in HCC1954. Apoptotic activity was seen in all cell lines exposed to AgNPs, with an apoptosis percentage of more than 60% in cancer cell lines and less than 60% in the control. PGM analysis confirmed, to some extent, the effects of AgNPs primarily on adhesion by changes in the extracellular matrix. Conclusion: Exposure to AgNPs causes an antiproliferative, apoptotic, and anti-adhesive effect in breast cancer cell lines cultured in vitro. More research is needed to evaluate the potential use of AgNPs to treat different molecular profiles of breast cancer in humans.

Capsicum annuum L. var. “Chile de árbol” combined with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and TiO₂-ZnO oxides synthesized at different molar ratios and pH (Ti-Zn A and B 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3) via the sol-gel method was characterized by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-DAD), and a release profile through mathematical models to explain its behavior. Furthermore, FTIR revealed the presence of PLGA, TiO₂, and ZnO as well as amino group characteristics from oleoresin components, principally alkaloid groups (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin), as evidenced by HPLC, to identify the presence of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin. The UV-Vis spectra showed a slight hypsochromic shift in the PLGA treatments. The release profile demonstrated a higher controllable release in the PLGA treatments than in the double nanoemulsions. Moreover, it is important to note that the effect of NPs influenced the release profile itself, increasing the release when NPs were synthesized at an acidic pH. Therefore, the TiZnOl/PLGA A characteristics suggest that these results have potential for pharmaceutical (as drug carriers) and medical applications.

Cisplatin is a widely used antineoplastic agent whose therapeutic efficacy is often limited by its adverse effects on the central nervous system. In this exploratory study, we characterized the transcriptomic impact of a cumulative cisplatin regimen on the male Wistar rat brain using microarray technology. Differentially expressed genes were identified, and their functional roles were investigated through enrichment analyses (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO), and the construction of protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks. Our results revealed significant alterations in pathways related to synaptic signaling, neuroplasticity, and cellular metabolism. To generate translational hypotheses, these findings were subsequently correlated in silico with public human lower-grade glioma (LGG) datasets, which suggested a potential association between key cisplatin-regulated genes and clinical prognosis and immune cell infiltration patterns. This manuscript does not include RT-qPCR (or Western blot) validation; results should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and require orthogonal confirmation. These findings provide a comprehensive transcriptomic map of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity, offering novel insights into its underlying molecular mechanisms and identifying a rich set of candidate targets for future neuroprotective strategies.

The utilization of food as a therapeutic measure for various ailments has been a prevalent practice throughout history and across different cultures. This is exemplified in societies where substances like Hibiscus sabdariffa have been employed to manage health conditions like hypertension and elevated blood glucose levels. The inherent bioactive compounds found in this plant, namely, delphinidin-3-sambubioside (DS3), quercetin (QRC), and hibiscus acid (HA), have been linked to various health benefits. Despite receiving individual attention, the specific molecular targets for these compounds remain unclear. In this study, computational analysis was conducted using bioinformatics tools such as Swiss Target Prediction, ShinnyGo 0.77, KEGG, and Stringdb to identify the molecular targets, pathways, and hub genes. Supplementary results were obtained through a thorough literature search in PubMed. DS3 analysis revealed potential genetic alterations related to the metabolism of nitrogen and glucose, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation, particularly impacting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. QRC analysis demonstrated interconnected targets spanning multiple pathways, with some overlap with DS3 analysis and a particular focus on pathways related to cancer. HA analysis revealed distinct targets, especially those associated with pathways related to the nervous system. These findings emphasize the necessity for focused research on the molecular effects of DS3, QRC, and HA, thereby providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic pathways.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health challenge, with high mortality rates, especially in developing countries. Current treatments are invasive and have considerable risks, necessitating the exploration of safer alternatives. Quercetin (QRC), a flavonoid present in various plants and foods, has demonstrated multiple health benefits, including anticancer properties. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of QRC in the treatment of GC. We utilized advanced molecular techniques to assess the impact of QRC on GC cells, examining its effects on cellular pathways and gene expression. Our findings indicate that QRC significantly inhibits GC cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a safer therapeutic option for GC treatment. Further research is required to validate these results and explore the clinical applications of QRC in cancer therapy.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common cause of death of any cancer-related cases in the world, and is also in the top 5 most common malignancy cancers in general. There are plenty of well-distributed treatments, offering better hygiene, more robust and complete nutrition, and the eradication of pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori. Currently, there is still the need for more treatments, especially those of lower cost, like those coming from already easily available products. Quercetin (QRC) is a natural phenolic compound present in a wide variety of products, e.g., in plants like Hibiscus sabdariffa, onions, grapes, broccoli, and citrus fruits. This product has been shown to have great potential therapeutic effects, and it has also been suggested that it could be useful in combating different types of cancer; however, information regarding the targets or mechanisms that QRC has on cancer cells is still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to identify the targets that QRC has, like anti-cancer treatment for GC using different bio-informatic tools and databases. From MalaCards and SwissTargetPrediction, both QRC and GC molecular targets were defined, and then they were matched with the Venny 2.1.0 platform. From this, 31 genes were gathered, and then they were analyzed using the ShinnyGo0.77 and DAVID-Bioinformatic Resources. Furthermore, StringDB was used to identify the protein—protein interactions, and Citoscape 3.6.0 12 hub genes were obtained. Those hub genes were then subject to Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and TISIDB. Finally, molecular docking studies were performed using the SwissDock database. The results suggest that, according to the gene ontology data, QRC has a relationship with the regulation of cell death, response to stress, cell motility, response to amyloid-beta, cellular response to reactive oxygen species, and apoptotic processes. Some genes like EGFR were correlated with an abundance of CD8 and Neutrophil infiltration but didn’t show to improve the survival rate. Furthermore, molecular docking results show that QRC can bind to multiple molecules of interest. These results complement some of the currently available information alluding to the effectiveness of plants rich with QRC as part of the treatment used for different kinds of cancer, but it also suggests a plethora of new targets that this molecule has in GC, while at the same time giving a clearer idea of the mechanisms that are affected in GC by QRC. However, as with any other study that primarily uses bioinformatic tools, these final results are to be used for more direct and precise research, especially if experimental protocols are used.