Bacterial contamination in swine semen affects the quality and longevity of sperm and consequently fertility is reduced. Antibiotics have been used to prevent bacterial growth, but the frequency of...

Researchers in cancer nanomedicine are exploring a revolutionary multifaceted carrier for treatment and diagnosis, resulting in the proposal of various drug cargos or “magic bullets” in this past decade. Even though different nano-based complexes are registered for clinical trials, very few products enter the final stages each year because of various issues. This prevents the formulations from entering the market and being accessible to patients. In the search for novel materials, the exploitation of 2D nanosheets, including but not limited to the highly acclaimed graphene, has created extensive interest for biomedical applications. A unique set of properties often characterize 2D materials, including semiconductivity, high surface area, and their chemical nature, which allow simple decoration and functionalization procedures, structures with high stability and targeting properties, vectors for controlled and sustained release of drugs, and materials for thermal-based therapies. This review discusses the challenges and opportunities of recently discovered 2D nanosheets for cancer therapeutics, with special attention paid to the most promising design technologies and their potential for clinical translation in the future.

The use of structured metal oxide-based nanoparticles for environmental proposals arises from the adverse impact of human industrial activities that threaten the fragile balance of the environment. These nanomaterials characterized by their chemical and mechanical stability, modifiable bandgap, remarkable textural features, and notable optoelectronic properties have an important role in removing pollutants from the environment. Metal oxide-based nanoparticles have demonstrated remarkable capabilities by removing pollutants such as herbicides, microplastics, dyes, pesticides, antibiotics, microbial organisms, and heavy metals. Additionally, these materials can be incorporated into sensing devices for real-time monitoring and identification of pollutants in air, water, and soil, facilitating environmental risk assessment and pollution control. Nevertheless, the successful implementation of semiconductor nanoparticles faces drawbacks and challenges, including scalability, cost-effectiveness, and potential environmental impacts, necessitating thorough consideration. Ongoing research and development efforts are crucial to further explore the potential of semiconductor nanoparticles for practical solutions. The anticipated growth in the use of these nanomaterials in various commercial applications foresees a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Thus, this document aims to present how nanoparticles with diverse forms and adjustable physicochemical properties are a tool to conserve the ecological balance.

Candida albicans is the most predominant fungal species isolated from medical devices, including catheters, heart valves, and dental prostheses. In recent years, it has been demonstrated to be resistant to many antifungals; therefore, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been proposed as an alternative. But only a handful of research is contributed to omic-based studies to study the various impacts of AgNPs on Candida species and other microorganisms. Thus, the study aims to biosynthesize AgNPs using Pelargonium-hortorum leaf and test its antifungal, cytotoxicity, and global gene expression on Candida through transcriptomic profiling. The leaf-assisted AgNPs resulted in spherical shapes with a particle size of 38 nm. The anticandidal effect demonstrated that the Minimum inhibitory concentration was 25 μg·mL ⁻¹ . Later, the cytotoxicity assay reported a moderate impact on the human gingival fibroblast cells. Finally, the transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the differential gene expression of 3,871 upregulated and 3,902 downregulated genes. Thus, proving the anticandidal effect of AgNPs on Candida through RNA-seq experiments and the regulated genes is highly important to cell wall integrity, adherence, and virulence.

The use of chitosan nanoparticles (CH-NPs) loaded with antibiotics as irrigants in endodontics offers a unique combination, demonstrating effective antibacterial activity and low toxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop chitosan nanoparticles loaded with metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and minocycline for use as endodontic irrigants to improve antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and to evaluate their cytotoxicity in human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Methods: The CH-NPs loaded with antibiotics were synthesized and analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Agar diffusion and microdilution assays were performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and a cytotoxicity assay was conducted to establish the median cytotoxic dose. Results: Peaks corresponding to the functional groups of the chitosan-antibiotic complex’s chemical structure were identified. A one-way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05) with Tukey’s post hoc test was used to analyze the antibacterial effect. CH-NPs-ciprofloxacin showed the greatest antibacterial activity against E. faecalis in both agar diffusion and microdilution assays. CH-NPs-metronidazole demonstrated lower cytotoxicity against hDPSCs. CH-NPs-minocycline showed superior antibacterial effects compared to plain chitosan in microdilution assays, although they exhibited greater cytotoxicity. Conclusions: The ongoing search for an irrigating solution with effective antibacterial properties and low cytotoxicity could transform traditional techniques. However, this field is still developing and underexplored. It is essential to reevaluate decisions about irrigation solutions, as evidence on the use of chitosan nanoparticles with antibiotics is limited. This study provides valuable data for endodontics and is a crucial step for future research.

Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos ScienceDirect, PubMed y SciELO. Como criterios de inclusión se tomaron en cuenta artículos originales, de texto completo que incluyeran el uso de nanopartículas (0-100 nm) con fines de regeneración periodontal publicados de 2016 a mayo del 2022. Los términos de búsqueda fueron “Periodontal regeneration AND nanoparticles AND dental materials”. Se obtuvieron y analizaron 13 artículos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Se encontró que la nanohidroxiapatita tiene alto efecto regenerador, seguido de nanopartículas de dióxido de titanio, oro, fosfato de calcio, quitosano y óxido de hierro, entre otras. Estas nanopartículas mostraron efecto de regeneración periodontal de una a cuatro semanas promoviendo principalmente las propiedades de osteoinducción, citocompatibilidad, adherencia celular, degradabilidad, analgesia y biomineralización. La nanotecnología en el campo odontológico está emergiendo como una plataforma atractiva para la terapia avanzada en conjunto con los biomateriales dentales. En esta revisión se encontró que las nHA y TiO2NPs mostraron la mejor respuesta celular en el menor tiempo para obtener resultados regenerativos en periodoncia en comparación con otros tipos de NPs utilizadas. Aún hay muy pocas NPs analizadas con fines de regeneración periodontal, por lo que su estudio es un área emergente; sin olvidarnos de las posibles limitantes, consecuencias y efectos adversos a corto y largo plazo, los cuales deben ser estudiados con mayor profundidad.