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Background Oxidative stress-induced cell death and injury are pivotal mechanisms in the breakdown of ocular tissue, leading to degenerative diseases. To counter this, we investigated quercetin, a flavonoid with well-documented antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, as a potential therapeutic agent. Its clinical translation is hampered by poor stability and ocular bioavailability. The goal was to examine the effectiveness and anti-apoptotic properties of polyethylene glycol-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with quercetin (QCSPIONs) in rat eye tissue. Methods Male Wistar rats received free quercetin (QC), SPIONs, or QCSPIONs orally via gavage or through intraperitoneal injection once daily for 35 days. HPLC measured serum and ocular quercetin levels; nanoparticle localization was assessed by Prussian blue staining; safety was evaluated by histopathology with H&E staining; and apoptotic signaling was examined by qPCR for Bax and Bcl-2 expression. Results QCSPIONs demonstrated significantly higher ocular quercetin accumulation than free QC after both oral and intraperitoneal delivery ( p  < 0.0001). Prussian Blue staining confirmed that nanoparticles crossed the corneal and retinal barriers, with greater deposition following intraperitoneal injection. Additionally, histological analysis showed no structural or inflammatory damage in the retina or cornea. Furthermore, molecular results indicated Bax suppression and Bcl-2 upregulation with QCSPIONs, along with a decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, demonstrating vigorous anti-apoptotic activity. Less pronounced effects were observed with free QC. Conclusions Overall, QCSPIONs significantly enhance the ocular bioavailability of quercetin and provide robust anti-apoptotic protection without detectable cytotoxicity. These results support nanoparticle-mediated delivery as a practical approach for overcoming ocular barriers and enhancing preventive antioxidant strategies against oxidative stress-related eye diseases.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) and cyclodextrin (CD)-based polymers are well-known complexing agents. One of their distinctive features is to increase the quantity of a drug in a solution or improve its delivery. However, in certain instances, the activity of the solutions is increased not only due to the increase of the drug dose but also due to the drug complexation. Based on numerous studies reviewed, the drug appeared more active in a complex form. This review aims to summarize the performance of CDs and CD-based polymers as activity enhancers. Accordingly, the review is divided into two parts, i.e., the effect of CDs as active drugs and as enhancers in antimicrobials, antivirals, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neuroprotective agents, and antioxidants.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a good alternative to reduce or enhance different biomolecule characteristics and have demonstrated great results in food science. However, CDs present intrinsic limitations that can be solved by derivative synthesis. This review represents a survey of the state of the art of CD-based materials and their uses in food science. A deep review of the structure is carried out and different groups for ordination are suggested. After that, different applications such as cholesterol complexation or its use as sensors are reviewed. The derivatives show novel and promising activities for the industry. A critical perspective of the materials suggests that they might not present toxicity, although more studies are required. These points suggest that the research in this field will be increased in the following years.

Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in different pathogenesis pathways including cancer pathogenesis. The adenoma-carcinoma pathway in colorectal cancer may involve the aberrant and variable gene expression of regulatory RNAs. This study was conducted to analyse the expression and prognosis prediction ability of two natural antisense transcripts, protein kinase C theta antisense RNA 1 (PRKCQ-AS1), and special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (SATB1-AS1) in colorectal low-grade adenoma, advanced adenoma, and adenocarcinomas. Methods In this study, from two RNA-seq analyses of CCAT1-ko cells and colorectal carcinoma biopsies having diminished and increased levels of CCAT1 transcription, respectively, we nominated two antisense lncRNAs of PRKCQ-AS1 and SATB1-AS1. Samples from colorectal low-grade adenomas, advanced adenomas, adenocarcinomas, and adjacent tissue were subjected to RT-qPCR to determine the expression of PRKCQ-AS1, SATB1-AS1 along with colon cancer-associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) and cMYC. In addition, we used different bioinformatics analyses and webservers (including GEPIA 2, TCGA, and CancerMine) to elucidate the prognosis prediction value, the expression correlation of sense–antisense pair of genes, and the expression profile of these antisense transcripts at the presence or absence of mutations in the driver genes, or the corresponding sense genes. Results PRKCQ-AS1 showed a wide range of expression levels in colorectal adenoma, advanced adenoma, and adenocarcinoma. Upregulation of PRKCQ-AS1 was related to a significant decrease in survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The expression levels of PRKCQ-AS1 and PRKCQ were strong and significantly concordant in normal and cancerous colorectal tissues. While SATB1-AS1 showed a wide range of expression in colorectal adenoma, advanced adenoma, and adenocarcinoma as well, its expression was not related to a decrease in survival of CRC patients. The expression levels of SATB1-AS1 and SATB1 (the sense gene) were not strong in normal colorectal tissues. In addition, where SATB1 gene was mutated, the expression of SATB1-AS1 was significantly downregulated. Conclusions We found the expression of PRKCQ-AS1 and SATB1-AS1 at a given stage of CRC very variable, and not all biopsy samples showed the increased expression of these antisense transcripts. PRKCQ-AS1 in contrast to SATB1-AS1 showed a significant prognostic value. Since a significantly concordant expression was observed for SATB1-AS1 and SATB1 in only cancerous, and for PRKCQ-AS1 and PRKCQ in both normal and cancerous colorectal tissues, it can be concluded that common mechanisms may regulate the expression of these sense and antisense genes.

Several lines of experimental evidence have shown that saffron has anticarcinogenic effects. This study aimed at evaluating the possible anticancer effect of saffron stigma aqueous extract on human prostate cancer (PC3) and mouse fibroblast cells (L929) as non-cancerous control cells. Saffron stigma aqueous extract at concentrations of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1600 and 3200 μg/mL were prepared. PC3 and L929 cells were incubated with different concentrations of saffron extracts in different time intervals (24, 48, 72, 96 and 144 hours). MTT assay was used for each cell line to investigate the cytotoxic effect of saffron. Morphological alterations were also observed under light inverted microscope. In fibroblast cell line after 24 hours, Saffron extract did not affect significantly the normal cells and they were intact in morphologic view. After 96 hours in the cells with highest concentration (1600 μg/mL), cell death and cellular form changes as well as severe granulation was observed. In prostate cell line after 24 hours, the only changes were observed in cells with the concentration of 1600 μg/mL. The cells were granulated and the form of the cells were spherule. After 72 hours, in group with the concentration of 1600 μg/mL, severe granulation was observed and the cell count decreased and some cells were dead. Saffron aqueous extract has an in vitro inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human prostate cell and mouse L929 cells which is dose-dependent.