Diets with naturally occuring chemopreventive agents are showing good potentials in serving dual purposes: firstly, for maintaining health, and secondly, for emerging as most puissant cost-effective strategy against chronic diseases like cancer. Genistein, one of the active soy isoflavone, is gaining attention due to its ability to impede carcinogenic processes by regulating wide range of associated molecules and signalling mechanisms. Epidemiologic and preclinical evidences suggest that sufficient consumption of soy-based food having genistein can be correlated to the reduction of cancer risk. However, certain adverse effects like poor oral bioavailability, low aqueous solubility and inefficient pharmacokinetics have pushed it down in the list of phytoconstituents currently undergoing successful clinical trials. In order to maximise the utilisation of therapeutic benefits of this phytoestrogen, suitable drug carrier designs are required. Recently, nanocarriers, mainly composed of polymeric materials, are progressively and innovatively exploited with the aim to improve pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of genistein. Here, we have briefly reviewed (a) the targeted molecular mechanisms of geinstein, (b) nanopolymeric approaches opted so far in designing carriers and (c) the reasons behind their restricted clinical applications. Finally, some mechanism-based approaches are proposed presenting genistein as the future paradigm in cancer therapy.

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are inorganic nanomaterials in which the lanthanide cations embedded in the host matrix can convert incident near-infrared light to visible or ultraviolet light. These particles are often used for long-term and real-time imaging because they are extremely stable even when subjected to continuous irradiation for a long time. It is now possible to image their movement at the single particle level with a scale of a few nanometers and track their trajectories as a function of time with a scale of a few microseconds. Such UCNP-based single-particle tracking (SPT) technology provides information about the intracellular structures and dynamics in living cells. Thus far, most imaging techniques have been built on fluorescence microscopic techniques (epifluorescence, total internal reflection, etc.). However, two-dimensional (2D) images obtained using these techniques are limited in only being able to visualize those on the focal planes of the objective lens. On the contrary, if three-dimensional (3D) structures and dynamics are known, deeper insights into the biology of the thick cells and tissues can be obtained. In this review, we introduce the status of the fluorescence imaging techniques, discuss the mathematical description of SPT, and outline the past few studies using UCNPs as imaging probes or biologically functionalized carriers.

The delicate tertiary structure of proteins, their susceptibility to heat- and enzyme-induced irreversible denaturation, and their tendency to get accumulated at the cell membrane during uptake are daunting challenges in proteinaceous therapeutic delivery. Herein, a polyelectrolyte complex having encapsulated therapeutic protein has been designed on the surface of upconverting luminescent nanoparticles (NaYF₄:20%Yb³⁺,2%Er³⁺). This nanosized complex system has been found to overcome the challenges of protein aggregation at the cell membrane. It has also defended the cargo from denaturation against (a) enzymatic action of proteinase K and (b) heat (up to 60 °C). Additionally, the nanoparticles at the core of the loaded carrier served as near-infrared (980 nm) responsive probe to accomplish extended-duration 3D imaging during protein delivery. The outer layer of polymer played pivotal role to protect/retrieve the protein structure from denaturation as investigated by circular dichroism studies. Both the masked surface-charges of protein and the nanoscale size of the loaded carrier have facilitated their efficient passage through the cell membrane as observed through 3D images/videos. This nanocarrier is the first of its kind for direct delivery of protein. Thus, the findings can be useful to protect and transport various proteinaceous materials to overcome challenges of accumulation at the cell-membrane and low-temperature storage, as nature does.

Yo-Han Song, MSc/Ho-Jun Song, PhD/Mi-Kyung Han, PhD/Hong-So Yang, DDS, PhD/Yeong-Joon Park, DDS, PhD: Purpose: To evaluate the difference in cytotoxicity of soft denture lining materials depending on their component types. Materials and Methods: Ten commercially available soft denture lining materials (SDLM) consisting of five silicone-based materials and five acrylic-based materials were evaluated. For the MTT test, cured SDLM samples were extracted in a culture medium for 24 hours, and L-929 cells were incubated in the extracted medium for 24 hours. Cell viability was determined using a microplate reader and compared with those of the negative control, which were cultured in a culture medium without test material. Agar overlay test was performed for the cured SDLM samples according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7405. Results: Among silicone-based lining materials, GC Reline Soft, Mollosil plus, and Dentusil showed a cell viability of 107.2% ? 4.5%, 102.3% ? 2.84%, and 93.0% ? 8.0%, respectively, compared with the control. Mucopren and Sofreliner Tough displayed significantly lower cell viability (86.4% ? 10.3% and 81.5% ? 4.3%, respectively) compared with the control (P < .05). Among acrylic-based materials, Kooliner, Visco-gel, Soft liner, Dura Base, and Coe-Soft displayed cell viability of 99.2% ? 14.6%, 93.1% ? 9.5%, 89.1% ? 9.8%, 87.6% ? 7.9%, and 75.9% ? 15.7%, respectively, compared with the control. Dura Base and Coe-Soft displayed significantly lower cell viability compared to the control. However, for all tested materials, cell viability exceeded the requirement limit of 70% specified in ISO 10993-5. In the agar overlay test, all five silicone-based materials and acrylic-based Kooliner were ranked as ?noncytotoxic.? However, Visco-gel was ranked as ?mildly cytotoxic,? and Soft liner, Coe-Soft, and Dura Base were ranked as ?moderately cytotoxic.? Conclusion: When an acrylic-based soft denture lining material is used, the possibility of a cytotoxic effect should be considered. Int J Prosthodont 2014;27:229?235. doi: 10.11607/ijp.3848