Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Thus, nanotechnology provides an excellent opportunity to treat drug-resistant microbial infections. Numerous antibiotics have been used to inhibit the growth and kill of microbes, but the development of resistance and the emergence of side effects have severely limited the use of these agents. Due to the development of the nanotechnology, nanoparticles are widely used as antimicrobials. Silver and chitosan nanoparticles have antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties, and many studies confirm the antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles. Nowadays, the use of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases has developed due to less side effects and also the help of these particles in effective drug delivery to the target tissue. Liposomes are also used as carriers of drug delivery, genes, and modeling of cell membranes in both animals and humans. The ability of these liposomes to encapsulate large amounts of drugs, minimize unwanted side effects, high effectiveness and low toxicity has attracted the interest of researchers. This review article examines recent efforts by researchers to identify and treat infectious diseases using antimicrobial nanoparticles and drug nano-carriers.

Background. This study was aimed at determining the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on ionizing irradiation-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in the brain of rats. Methods. The animals were exposed to whole-brain X-radiation with a 15 Gy single dose in the absence or presence of alpha-lipoic acid (200 mg/kg body weight) pretreatment for one week. The rats were divided into four groups (5 rats in each group): vehicle control, alpha-lipoic acid alone (ALA), radiation alone (RAD), and radiation plus alpha-lipoic acid (RAD+ALA). In the next stage, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the brain tissue of the rats were measured. Furthermore, the Western blot analysis technique was performed to assess the NOX2, NOX4, and caspase-3 protein expression levels. Results. Twenty-four hours after the irradiation, MDA and nitric oxide levels in the irradiated rats were significantly higher than those in the control group ( ); however, the pretreatment with alpha-lipoic acid resulted in a significant reduction in these stress oxidative markers ( ). Moreover, a significant decrease in CAT, SOD, and GPx levels was observed in the radiation group alone compared to the control group ( ); in contrast, the activities of these antioxidant enzymes significantly increased in the radiation plus alpha-lipoic acid group in comparison to the radiation group alone ( ). The results of Western blot analysis revealed that NOX2, NOX4, and caspase-3 protein expressions significantly elevated in the irradiated rats compared to the control group ( ). The pretreatment with alpha-lipoic acid could significantly decrease the expression levels of NOX2, NOX4, and caspase-3 in comparison with the radiation group alone ( ). Conclusion. According to the obtained findings, it can be mentioned that the alpha-lipoic acid pretreatment could mitigate the ionizing irradiation-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in the brain of the rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary probiotic supplementation of Lactobacillus helveticus on growth, digestive enzymes, and hematological, biochemical, immune, and antioxidant parameters, as well as intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Fish (35.46±0.9 g) were fed with different levels of dietary L. helveticus : control, 1 × 10 ⁶ , 1 × 10 ⁷ , 1 × 10 ⁸ , and 1 × 10 ⁹ at high stocking density (80 kg m ⁻³ ) for 60 days. Results indicated that growth performance significantly improved in probiotic supplemented fish (P<0.05). Digestive enzyme parameters revealed that supplementation could significantly increase amylase, protease, and lipase (P<0.05). The treated groups showed significant improvements in serum immune parameters including lysozyme (LYZ), alternative complement (ACH ₅₀ ), respiratory burst activity (RBA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (P<0.05). Total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and globulin (GLO) increased in fish fed experimental diets (P<0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was significantly lower in fish fed dietary additives (P<0.05) while white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, neutrophils, hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC) were significantly enhanced (P<0.05). Fish fed with supplemented diets showed significantly enhanced antioxidant status, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly lower in fish fed dietary additives (P<0.05). Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the treatment groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of L. helveticus reduced detrimental effects of high stocking density on growth performance and immune response. It appears that L. helveticus can be recommended as a beneficial probiotic feed additive for rainbow trout.

In this study, hybrid AA1050/Al₂O₃/TiO₂ composites have been produced via combined liquid casting and powder metallurgy techniques. Degassing was utilized to improve the wettability of molten aluminum alloys, and then successful bonding was generated between aluminum matrix and reinforcement particles during the powder metallurgy technique. As the base matrix and reinforcements, AA1050 alloy, Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ particles were taken, respectively. Then, content values of 5Wt.% of Al₂O₃ in the mesh size of 20 μm and 2.5 and 5 wt. % of TiO₂ particles with mesh size of 5μm were added to the AA1050 matrix. For each composite sample, ceramic particles were warmed to 600°C in order to improve wettability and distribution. An identical scattering of subdivisions was observed through aluminum (as matrix) in the microstructural study. To measure the wear resistance, the mechanism of rotary wear test was used. The achieved results illustrated that the fabrication of hybrid composites is an ideal approach to improve the wear resistance of Al-based composites. By increasing of TiO₂ Wt.% up to 5% for all composite samples, the wear rate improved to less than half of the monolithic Al alloy value for each composite sample.

In this study, new heterocyclic derivatives were prepared. The most available Mefenamic acid (M) has been reacted with thionyl chloride to get (M1 compound). (M1) compound treated with hydrazine carboxamide to get (M2) derivative then a ring closer reaction has been made to compound (M2) by NaOH solution to get the 1,2,4-triazole-3-or ring compound (M3). Compound (M)reaction with phenylhydrazine hydrate to give (M4) compound then a ring closer reaction have been made using carbon disulfide and hydrazine hydrate in basic media to get (M5). Compound (M1) was treated with 3-aminopropanoic acid to get (M6) compound. (M7) the compound has been synthesised by reacting the (M6) compound with benzaldehyde in the presence of acetic anhydride to get an oxazine ring (M7 compound). The synthesized compounds' antibacterial activity and antioxidant activity (M1-M7) were examined using the (DPPH) technique. The compounds show substantial antioxidant activity equivalent to the well-known (ascorbic acid) (IC50 = 31.95 g/mL) employed.