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Background and Objective: Iron oxide nanoparticles have wide applications such as MRI contrast agent and drug delivery. Nevertheless, their effects on human health have not been fully investigated yet. After cellulose, chitin is one of the most abundant organic materials in nature which is widely used in food industry, cosmetics, agriculture, medicine and the environment. This study was done to evaluate the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with chitosan on renal functional indeces in rat.

Methods: In this experimental study, 60 adult female Wistar rats were allocated into 10 equal groups. Concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/bw from chitosan, iron oxide nanoparticles and chitosan coated nanoparticles were intraperitoneally injected into 9 groups and animals in control group were received normal saline. Blood samples were collected directly from the rat heart in the days 15 and 30 post after injection and renal functional indeces including urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium and total protein were measured.

Results: There were no significant differences in the level of urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium and total protein in the groups whom received chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles compared to control. There was no mortality during the study time.

Conclusion: Short-term using of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with chitosan does not create any toxicity in the rat kidney.

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Background and Objective: Iron oxide nanoparticles, including nanoparticles is important in industry and medicine. Nanoparticles affect on detoxification of environmental pollutants such as Pesticides and chlorinated organic solvents.This study was done to evaluate the short term effect of Fe2NiO4 composite nanoparticle on kidney function indeces in wistar rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, Twenty four Wistar rat were randomly allocated into three groups, including: control, treated groups 1 and 2. Animales in control, treated groups 1 and 2 were received 0.5cc of saline, 0.5cc of solution containing 100, 200 ppm Fe2NiO4 for 7 days, respectively. Uric acid, ceratinine and urea (BUN) were measured at day 2, 7 and 14.

Results: BUN level in treated groups 1 and 2 significantly reduced in comparison with control group at day 7, 14 after intervention (P<0.05). Uric acid level in treated groups 1 and 2 significantly increased at day 7 and 14. 2 week after intervention, the mean creatinine levels in treated group 2 group significantly reduced in compare  to the in treated group 1 and controls (P<0.05).

Conclusion: It seems that the application of Fe2NiO4 nanoparticles in biological system has no toxic effect on the kidney function indeces.

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Background and Objective: Copper oxide nanoparticles with unique properties have numerous biological applications with probably toxicity. This study was conducted to determine the toxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles on the pituitary-gonadal axis and spermatogenesis in male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups including control group and three intervention  groups which receiving the cancentration of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg of copper oxide nanoparticles 5 times intra-peritoneally, respectively. Blood sampling was collected first day and 15 days after the last injection. Level of testosterone, FSH and LH were measured by ELISA method. After anesthesia and dissection of mice in each group, tissue sections of testis were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Morphological status of spermatogenesis process and counting of types of cells (spermatogonium, spermatocyte and spermatid) were studied by optical microscope.
Results: In the first day of blood collection, a significant increase in LH and FSH level was observed at concentrations of 10 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. Also, Testosterone and FSH level decreased significantly reduced at 10 mg/kg/bw concentration compared to control (P<0.05). In 15 days after of the last injection, level of testosterone (P<0.05) and LH (P<0. 05) significantly increased in concentrations of 10 and 30 mg/kg/bw respectively. Also, there was a significant reduction in level of FSH in the concentration of 10 mg/kg/bw (P<0.05). The examination of testis tissue sections showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in density and number of cell types (spermatogonium, spermatocyte and spermatid) and anomalies in the spermatogenesis process, in a dose-dependent manner. The most disturbances was seen at a concentration of 30 mg/kg/bw of copper oxide nanoparticles.
Conclusion: Copper oxide nanoparticles may interfere with the secretion of gonadotropins and testosterone and ultimately lead to a disruption of the spermatogenesis process.

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Background and Objective: Binding of antibiotics to nanoparticles increases the antibacterial potential of nanoparticles and antibiotics. This study was performed to determine the antibacterial and hemolytic effect of zinc / ferrite / cellulose nanocomposite (ZnFe2O4 @ Cell) (single nanoparticle), zinc / ferrite / cellulose nanocomposite was aminated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) with the name of ZnFe2O4@Cell@APTES (Coated nanocomposite) and ZnFe2O4@Cell@APTES@Van nanocomposite (coated nanocomposite bound to vancomycin) against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Methods: In this descriptive study, antibacterial-activity was evaluated by broth macro dilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration (MBC) were determined for E. coli, S. aurous and P. aeruginosa. The hemolytic activity of nanoparticles was investigated by colorimetric method.
Results: Nanoparticles did not have hemolytic activity. ZnFe2O4@Cell and ZnFe2O4@Cell@APTES@Van did not have a significant antibacterial effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and vancomycin binding resulted in antibacterial-activity. ZnFe2O4@Cell@APTES@Van inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The growth of E. coli was reduced to 85% at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml and a concentration of 0.1 mg nanoparticles completely prevented the growth of P. aeruginosa. The growth of gram-positive S. aureus bacteria at a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml nanoparticles was completely stopped.
Conclusion: Vancomycin-modified nanocomposite has antibacterial-activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and has the potential to overcome the antibiotic resistance of bacteria.

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Background and Objective: In medical sciences, identifying the anticancer properties of plumbagin is of special importance. For this reason, this study investigated the anticancer activity of polymeric nanoparticles loaded by plumbagin against breast cancer cells.
Methods: In this descriptive study, the diblock copolymer mPEG–PCL was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone in the presence of mPEG as the initiator and Sn(oct)2 as the catalyst. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. The nanoprecipitation method was used for preparing nanoparticles loaded with plumbagin. The characteristics of these nanoparticles were investigated by various techniques including dynamic light scattering. The cytotoxicity of plumbagin, copolymer, and the nanoparticles loaded with plumbagin on MCF7 and HFF2 cells was evaluated by MTT assay.
Results: The average diameter of the nanoparticles was less than 115 nm. The loading capacity and encapsulation efficiencies were 15.4±0.13% and 79.1±0.65%, respectively. Drug release was slow, controlled, and almost dependent on pH. The results of the MTT assay showed strong and dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth by the plumbagin-loaded micelles compared with plumbagin alone in a way that the half maximal inhibitory concentration of this nanoparticle against MCF7 cells after 48 and 72 hours was 10.78 and 24.03 μM, respectively.
Conclusion: The mPEG-PCL nanoparticles can be an efficient carrier for plumbagin, and plumbagin can be an effective drug on breast cancer cells, without toxicity on healthy cells.
 

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Background and Objective: Silver nanoparticles are produced in large quantities in the industry and have estrogenic activities and toxic effects on different organs. This study was conducted to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles on the ovarian tissue of NMRI rats treated with alpha lipoic acid.
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 female NMRI rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. The groups included the control group, oral silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg of body weight), injected alpha lipoic acid (100 mg/kg of body weight), and silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg of body weight) plus alpha lipoic acid (100 mg/kg body weight). The treatment was performed for 28 days. After the treatment period, blood sampling was performed from the rats’ hearts to analyze biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde, estrogen, progesterone, and total antioxidant capacity using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) method). By dissecting the rats, the left ovaries were removed, fixed, molded, and cut, tissue passaging was performed, and the ovaries were stained using the hematoxylin-eosin method. Then, the ovarian tissue was evaluated by different stereological methods.
Results: The total mean ovarian volume, the cortex volume, the medulla volume, and the corpus luteum volume, and the total number of primordial, primary, secondary, and Graafian follicles were significantly reduced in the silver nanoparticles group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The simultaneous administration of alpha lipoic acid and silver nanoparticles compensated for the adverse effects of silver nanoparticles on the above parameters. On the other hand, the mean number of different types of follicles in the rats treated with alpha lipoic acid significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05). A statistically significant reduction was observed in the measurement of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the serum of the silver nanoparticles group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, in assessing the antioxidant capacity of the serum of the group treated simultaneously with silver nanoparticles + alpha lipoic acid, a statistically significant increase was observed compared to the group treated with silver nanoparticles (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles can have adverse effects on the structure of the ovary and its components, and alpha lipoic acid can largely compensate for these detrimental effects.

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Background and Objective: Considering the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in various products, including industrial and medical products, serious worries have been created regarding the potential dangers of silver nanoparticles. This study was conducted to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles on the kidney tissues of quercetin-treated NMRI rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult male NMRI rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. The groups included the control group, the silver nanoparticles group (500 mg/kg/bw), the quercetin group (50 mg/kg/bw), and the silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg/bw) + quercetin (50 mg/kg/bw) group. Silver nanoparticles were fed orally on a daily basis for 35 days. Quercetin was injected intraperitoneally on a daily basis for 42 days. At the end of the study, after taking blood from the rats, the dissection, tissue passaging, and Heidenhain’s Azan staining stages were carried out. The total volumes of the kidney, cortex and medulla, renal corpuscle, and glomerulus were evaluated by a stereological method. A qualitative assessment of apoptotic cells was performed using the tunnel method. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood serum was specified as an indicator of lipid peroxidation by the Buege and Aust method.
Results: Comparing the body weight and kidneys, and the total kidney, cortex, and medulla volumes showed no statistically significant difference between the silver nanoparticles group and the control group. The silver nanoparticles group showed a significant increase in the total mean renal corpuscle volume, glomerular volume, tuft volume, Bowman’s capsule membrane volume, and the amount of MDA compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, a statistically significant reduction was observed in the silver nanoparticles group in the total mean volume of Bowman’s capsule and capillary spaces compared to the control group (P<0.05). Quercetin could reduce the detrimental effects of silver nanoparticles on kidney cells as much as the control group; however, apoptosis was not shown in kidney cells in the group treated with quercetin. Assessing the cells in the silver nanoparticles group indicated the creation of apoptosis. The amount of serum MDA in the silver nanoparticles group showed a statistically significant increase compared to other groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that quercetin could reduce the detrimental effects of silver nanoparticles on kidney cells as much as the control group.

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Background and Objective: Bacterial nanocellulose is known as a potential carrier for a widespread spectrum of biological compounds, including antibacterial and antifungal compounds. The present study was conducted to determine the impact of bacterial nanocellulose containing Natamycin and Amphotericin B on Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum in an in vitro environment.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical research, Aspergillus flavus-PTCC: 5006 and Penicillium citrinum-PTCC: 5304 fungi were prepared from the Fungal Collection of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of Natamycin and Amphotericin B against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum were evaluated by the microdilution method. Bacterial nanocellulose was prepared using Komagata xylinum bacterium, and Natamycin and Amphotericin B were added in three concentrations of 0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.1% to wet and lyophilized nanocellulose films by the immersion method. Then, the antifungal effects of the film containing the above compounds against the investigated fungi were investigated by the agar diffusion method. Parchment paper was used as a control for comparison. Spectral properties of nanocellulose film containing antifungal compounds were evaluated by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method.
Results: MIC and MFC of Natamycin for Aspergillus flavus were determined as 3.9 μg/mL and 7.81 μg/mL, and for Penicillium citrinum as 7.81 μg/mL and 15.62 μg/mL, respectively. MIC and MFC of Amphotericin B for Aspergillus flavus were determined as 7.81 μg/mL and 15.62 μg/mL, and for Penicillium citrinum as 15.62 μg/mL and 31.25 μg/mL, respectively. The increased concentration had a statistically significant impact on the antifungal properties of all films (P<0.05). The best antifungal effects of the film were related to the film containing Natamycin.
Conclusion: Bacterial nanocellulose containing Natamycin showed stronger antifungal effects in an in vitro environment compared to Amphotericin B against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum.