This study is focused on the selective delivery and release of the plant-based anticancer compound eugenol (EUG) in colorectal cancer cells (CRC). EUG is an apoptotic and anti-growth compound in diverse malignant tumors, including CRC. However, EUG’s rapid metabolization, excretion, and side effects on normal cells at higher dosages are major limitations of its therapeutic potential. To address this problem, we developed a “smart” enzyme-responsive nanoparticle (eNP) loaded with EUG that exposes tumors to a high level of the drug while keeping its concentration low among healthy cells. We demonstrated that EUG induces apoptosis in CRC cells irrespective of their grades in a dose- and time-dependent manner. EUG significantly decreases cancer cell migration, invasion, and the population of colon cancer stem cells, which are key players in tumor metastasis and drug resistance. The “smart” eNPs–EUG show a high affinity to cancer cells with rapid internalization with no affinity toward normal colon epithelial cells. NPs–EUG enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of EUG measured by a cell viability assay and showed no toxicity effect on normal cells. The development of eNPs–EUG is a promising strategy for innovative anti-metastatic therapeutics.

Plant genetic engineering will be essential to decipher the genomic basis of complex traits, optimize crop genomics, and enable plant-based production of recombinant proteins. However, established plant transformation approaches for bioengineering are fraught with limitations. Although nanoparticle-mediated methods show great promise for advancing plant biotechnology, many engineered nanomaterials can have cytotoxic and ecological effects. Here, we demonstrate the efficient uptake of a nano-biomimetic carrier of plasmid DNA and transient expression of a reporter gene in leaves of Arabidopsis, common ice plant and tobacco, as well as in the developing seed tissues of Arabidopsis, field mustard, barley, and wheat. The nano-biomimetic transformation system described here has all the advantages of other nanoparticle-mediated approaches for passive delivery of genetic cargo into a variety of plant species and is also nontoxic to cells and to the environment for diverse biotechnological applications in plant biology and crop science.

The modern dentifrice industry needs non-toxic materials able to adhere to dentin, occlude dentinal tubules, hold pharmacons at the surface of dentin, and release them on demand to the location the tooth needs them most. Novel dental materials loaded with eugenol or fluoride-ions examined for the release of the pharmacon in an aqueous suspension efficiently adhere to the surface of human dentin and occlude dentinal tubules as evidenced by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and a fluoride-selective electrode quantified the release of pharmacons. The surface modification with casein stabilizes micro- and nanoparticles of calcium carbonate in aqueous suspensions, enabling their application in dentifrices. The ability of particles to hold and release eugenol depends on their morphology and composition, with the casein-coated calcium carbonate microspheres being the most acid-sensitive and most promising for dentifrice applications. The novel material releases fluoride under physiologically low pH, regardless of the presence of other ingredients of the artificial saliva, which sustains the bulk fluoride concentration comparable with most fluorinated toothpastes. Low pH-triggered release mechanisms selectively supply the drug to the areas that need it most, reducing the overall dose and ushering in a new type of targeted dentifrices.

The genus Selaginella holds a key phylogenetic position as a sister species to vascular plants, encompassing desiccation-tolerant members. Some Selaginella species thrive in extremely arid conditions, enduring significant water loss and recovering upon rehydration. Consequently, Selaginella has emerged as a model system for studying desiccation tolerance in plant science. However, the absence of an efficient genetic transformation system has limited the utility of Selaginella species as a model. To address this constraint, we developed a nanoparticle-mediated transformation tool utilizing arginine-functionalized nanohydroxyapatites. This biocompatible system enabled the transient expression of the GFP, GUS, and eYGFPuv reporter genes in Selaginella moellendorffii. Establishing a stable genetic transformation technique for S. moellendorffii holds promise for application to other Selaginella species. This tool could be instrumental in identifying genetic resources for crop improvement and understanding genome-level regulatory mechanisms governing desiccation tolerance in Selaginella species. Furthermore, this tool might aid in identifying key regulatory genes associated with desiccation tolerance, offering potential applications in enhancing drought-sensitive crops and ensuring sustainable food production.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) originates in the lining of the colon (large intestine) or rectum, which are the final portions of the large intestine, closest to the anus. It is the third most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men and women in the U.S. The number of diagnoses of colorectal cancer developed gradually over many years. American cancer society identified it as the second