The uncertainties in ZnO-mediated toxicity and particle stability in a biological system remain a challenge and mitigate against deployment as next-generation nanoparticles (NPs), especially in biomedical applications. With that perspective, the present study investigates the surface chemical properties of ZnO NPs coated with three different surfactant biomolecules, namely polyethylene glycol (PEG), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to control the toxicity-induced potentials. On the testing of the surface-functionalized ZnO NPs, notable changes in the particle sizes, morphology, zeta potential, and hydrodynamic size compared to the pure ZnO NPs are observed. In addition, FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, XRD, XPS, and HRTEM analysis showed significant changes in the surface structures and surface functional groups of the three different ZnO NPs on surface functionalization. Following the physical characterization, the cell viability of rat liver BRL-3A-treated ZnO–PEG, ZnO–CTAB, and ZnO–SDS compared to pure ZnO NPs ( ZnO–CTAB > ZnO–PEG, i.e., anionic > cationic > non-ionic. Overall from the analysis, the study stresses the importance of having a suitable surface ligand for the ZnO NPs so as to use them in the biomedical sector.

Green syntheses of metallic nanoparticles using plant extracts as effective sources of reductants and stabilizers have attracted decent popularity due to their non-toxicity, environmental friendliness and rapid nature. The current study demonstrates the ecofriendly, facile and inexpensive synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AP-AgNPs) using the extract of aerial parts of the Anthemis pseudocotula Boiss. plant (AP). Herein, the aerial parts extract of AP performed a twin role of a reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. The green synthesized AP-AgNPs were characterized by several techniques such as XRD, UV-Vis, FT-IR, TEM, SEM and EDX. Furthermore, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of as-prepared AP-AgNPs were examined by a standard two-fold microbroth dilution method and tissue culture plate methods, respectively, against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains and fungal species such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-PA) and Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) strains. The antimicrobial activity results clearly indicated that the Gram-negative bacteria MDR-PA was most affected by AgNPs as compared to other Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi C. albicans. Whereas, in the case of antibiofilm activity, it has been found that AgNPs at 0.039 mg/mL, inhibit biofilms formation of Gram-negative bacteria i.e., MDR-PA, E. coli, and MDR-AB by 78.98 ± 1.12, 65.77 ± 1.05 and 66.94 ± 1.35%, respectively. On the other hand, at the same dose (i.e., 0.039 mg/mL), AP-AgNPs inhibits biofilm formation of Gram-positive bacteria i.e., MRSA, S. aureus and fungi C. albicans by 67.81 ± 0.99, 54.61 ± 1.11 and 56.22 ± 1.06%, respectively. The present work indicates the efficiency of green synthesized AP-AgNPs as good antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents against selected bacterial and fungal species.

The herbal-based drug isolation-related research has increased recently around the globe. Accordingly, the current study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical content of ethanol extract of Martynia annua and its chitosan nanoparticles (MA-CNPs) antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens such as Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus oralis MTCC 2696, Propionibacterium acnes MTCC 1951, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 424, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 2940, E. coli MTCC 443, Bacillus cereus MTCC 441, Streptococcus mutans MTCC 890, Aeromonas hydrophila MTCC 12301, and Streptococcus faecalis by agar well diffusion methods. The obtained results showed that the ethanol extract of M. annua contains more pharmaceutically valuable phytochemicals than other solvent extracts and its mediated chitosan nanoparticles showed effective antibacterial activities. The ethanol extract also effectively reduced, capped, and stabilized the chitosan into MA-CNPs. The green synthesized MA-CNPs were characterized and confirmed through UV-visible spectrophotometer, FT-IR, SEM, and DLS analyses. The MA-CNPs exhibited considerable antibacterial activity in the order of Bacteroides fragilis > Streptococcus oralis > Propionibacterium acnes > Pseudomonas aeruginosa > Staphylococcus aureus > E. coli > Bacillus cereus > Streptococcus mutans > Aeromonas hydrophila> Streptococcus faecalis. Finally, the results strongly recommended that the ethanol extract of M. annua-mediated chitosan nanoparticles could be considered an effective nanomaterial to control microbial pathogens. Further, therapeutical uses of MA-CNPs need in vitro and in vivo investigation.

Genetic polymorphism in long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR is linked with the risk and susceptibility of various cancers in humans. The mechanism involved in the development of CRC is not fully understood but single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be used to predict its risk and prognosis. In the present case-control study, we investigated the relationship between HOTAIR (rs12826786, rs920778, and rs1899663) polymorphisms and CRC risk in the Saudi population by genotyping using a TaqMan genotyping assay in 144 CRC cases and 144 age- and sex-matched controls. We found a significant (p < 0.05) association between SNP rs920778 G > A and CRC risk, and a protective role of SNPs rs12826786 (C > T) and rs1899663 (C > A) was noticed. The homozygous mutant “AA” genotype at rs920778 (G > A) showed a significant correlation with the female sex and colon tumor site. The homozygous TT in SNP rs12816786 (C > T) showed a significant protective association in the male and homozygous AA of SNP rs1899663 (C > A) with colon tumor site. These results indicate that HOTAIR can be a powerful biomarker for predicting the risk of colorectal cancer in the Saudi population. The association between HOTAIR gene polymorphisms and the risk of CRC in the Saudi population was reported for the first time here.

The current study was performed with aim of evaluating antioxidant, cytotoxicity, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and mutagenicity properties of Martynia annua mediated Chitosan nanoparticles (MAL-CNPs). The green synthesized MAL-CNPs were characterized and confirmed through several characterization techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The HR-TEM analysis exhibited that the as-synthesized chitosan nanoparticles are spherical in shape. Furthermore, the DLS analysis exhibited that the average size of MAL-CNPs was 53 nm and the maximum diameter was 130.7 nm. The antioxidant activity results revealed that the MAL-CNPs showed DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (66.78%) and H₂O₂ (91.65%) scavenging activities at 50 µg/mL concentration. The IC₅₀ values were 2.431 μg/mL and 50 µg/mL for DPPH and H₂O₂, respectively. MTT (3-4, 5 dimethylthiazol-2yl-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay results exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity found from 50 μg/mL concentration of MAL-CNPs. The MAL-CNPs showed remarkable α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 1.981 μg/mL and 161.8 μg/mL). No toxic effect of MAL-CNPs was found through the Ames test. Further, the study concluded that MAL-CNPs are non-toxic and possess adequate antioxidants and cytotoxicity activity against cancer cells, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibitory activity. Hence, the MAL-CNPs were considered for biomedical applications after the assessment of their efficiency and safety.