Modares Journal of Biotechnology

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma, predominant form of liver cancer, is the main cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis. Podophyllotoxin, a natural anticancer compound, has ideal anti-tumor properties. However, its use is limited due to poor solubility and bioavailability. Finding a suitable drug delivery system have great importance in improving the bioavailability of podophyllotoxin. In this study, mPEG-PCL nanoparticles have been used for delivery of podophyllotoxin to liver cancer cells. mPEG-PCL copolymers were synthesized and characterized by DLS, FTIR and NMR analyses methods. The critical micellization concentration was 0.055 µg/ml. The z-average and surface charge of micelle was 186 ± 12 nm and -5.13 mV, respectively. podophyllotoxin was loaded in micelles in different w/w ratios of drug: copolymer. The size of the nanodrug was 214 ± 20 nm and the weight ratio of 1:1 with encapsulation efficiency of 77.36 ± 1.23 % was selected as the optimal ratio. The drug release results showed a significant difference between the rapid release of free podophyllotoxin and the more stable release of the loaded drug. At 37°C, drug release was higher, which was attributed to the destruction of polymersome structure at this temperature. According to the cytotoxicity study, the IC50 value for nanodrug (8.64 μg/ml) was lower than the IC50 value for the free drug (12.79 μg/ml), which showed the effect of improved cytotoxicity of nanodrug compared to the free drug. The results proved the polymersome can be potential carriers for delivery, controllable release and improve the toxicity effect of podophyllotoxin in cancer chemotherapy.

Abstract Blood pressure monitoring is a vital component of maintaining overall health. High blood pressure values, as a risk factor, can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart and kidney failures. Similarly, low blood pressure values can also be dangerous, causing dizziness, weakness, fainting, and impaired oxygen delivery to organs, resulting in brain and heart damage. Consequently, continuous monitoring of blood pressure levels in high-risk individuals is very important. A Holter blood pressure monitoring device is prescribed for many patients due to its ability to provide long-term and valuable blood pressure data. The pursuit of software techniques and the development of cuffless blood pressure measurement devices, while ensuring patient comfort and convenience, are among the significant challenges that researchers are focusing on. In this study, a deep learning framework based on the UNet network is proposed for continuous blood pressure estimation from photoplethysmography signals. The proposed model was evaluated on the UCI database, involving 942 patients under intensive care, and achieved mean absolute errors of 8.88, 4.43, and 3.32, with standard deviations of 11.01, 6.18, and 4.15, respectively, for systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure values. According to the international BHS standard, the proposed method meets grade A criteria for diastolic and mean blood pressure estimations and grade C for systolic blood pressure estimation. The results of this study demonstrate that the suggested deep learning framework has the necessary potential for blood pressure estimation from PPG signals in real-world applications.

Abstract It is inevitable to replace the tissues and organs that were disrupted due to trauma or various diseases. One of the methods that can help to speed up the regeneration of wounds is to improve the technology of wound dressings. In the current research, by using the properties of polyurethane nanofibers and improving their properties with additives including graphene oxide, selenium nanoparticles, and henna plant extract, it was aimed to improve the performance of wound dressings. After finding the optimal concentration for the electrospinning machine, DMSO solution containing 12 wt.% polyurethane was used to produce wound dressing nanofibers. The images from scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed the production of uniform scaffolds composed of polyurethane nanofibers. Antibacterial properties and mechanical properties of the fabric were studied to check the performance of the manufactured fabric as a wound dressing. For the PU-GO-Se-Henna composite sample, the antibacterial activity against two bacteria, S.aureus and E.coli, was 3.26 and 2.85, respectively, which indicates the very attractive antibacterial properties. This sample reached a tensile strength of 92 MPa in the tensile test, which showed a 104% increase in strength compared to the pure polyurethane sample.

Abstract Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. this multifactorial disease characterized by complex molecular landscape and altered cell pathways that results in an abnormal cell growth. One of the recent strategies to combat cancer is application of phytochemicals. phytochemicals including phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids, carotenoids, phytosterol, saponin and organosulfur compounds which play important roles in the prevention and treatment of cancer. The pharmacological use of phytochemicals compounds is frequently limited by their low bioavailability and solubility as they are mainly lipophilic compounds. The nanotechnological approach improves bioavailability, and inhences solubility. In the present review we aim to summarize challenges of phytochemical compounds in cancer treatment and the status of phytochemical based nanoformulations in improving the therapeutic response.

Abstract
The recent developments in scientific advancements notably enhanced the understanding of the complex relationship between cancer and the microbiome.Various experimental studies demonstrated that the interaction between the host and microbiota plays a crucial role in the health or disease of the human body. The human microbiome has various benefits, including regulating fundamental processes such as signal transmission, immunity, and metabolism, which contribute to the proper functioning of the host. The imbalance of intestinal microbiota or dysbiosis is associated with the onset and progression of complex diseases such as colorectal cancer(CRC). Motivated by these, in this research, by utilizing metagenomic and metabolomic data and functional analyses of the colon microbiome, we have identified bacteria, metabolites, and important bacterial pathways in colorectal cancer compared to the healthy control group. Also, we investigated the role of different bacteria in pathways with significant abundance. Ultimately, by analyzing the network of bacteria-metabolite interaction in both healthy and cancer groups, we identified the differences between these two networks in terms of topological parameters. Our findings introduced potential biomarkers for CRC that could be used in future research orientation. Furthermore, it highlighted that some bacteria, such as Bacteroides fragilis and Bifidobacterium longum, which had increases and decreases in abundance in the cancer group, respectively, also contribute to key bacterial biological pathways in CRC. These findings underscore the potential of the gut microbiome as a promising non-invasive approach for early CRC screening, emphasizing the significance of gut microbiota composition and their metabolites in providing valuable insights into CRC.

Abstract Iran stands out as a significant center of genetic diversity for alfalfa (Medicago sativa) worldwide, harboring diverse types of this plant. Ensuring the authenticity of alfalfa populations and varieties is crucial for farmers and seed producers, as the genetic makeup of this species directly influences forage and seed yield quality. In this study, we developed a method to identify and differentiate key Iranian cultivated alfalfa populations using microsatellite markers. We collected random samples, each containing 100 seeds, from various alfalfa accessions. Nine microsatellite loci were screened and employed to differentiate these populations based on specific allelic genotypes. Notably, the MTIC233, BI90, ACT009, TC7, MTIC183, MS30, MTIC238, and AFCA11 markers exhibited the highest differentiation ability. The genetic distance analysis revealed that 5-B and foreign accessions, as well as 29-N and foreign accessions, were the most distant from each other. Conversely, 27-G, 9-H, and 21-R exhibited the closest genetic similarity. The results revealed that, accessions 9-H, 21-R, 27-G, 25-B, 5-B, and 2-G shared a common genetic background, suggesting their close relatedness. Our proposed method allows straightforward identification of target alfalfa accessions within a short timeframe (one to two days) without the need for DNA extraction from leaves.

Abstract The process of soil and concrete cementation through microbial induction depends on the efficiency of the enzymes in producing bacteria. The isolation of microorganisms with high urease activity may lead to the isolation of strains that are better at cementing in compression to the current strains. This research deals with the isolation of isolates with high urease ability. Isolate 233 out of 283 isolates was associated with the best urease activity, and its urease activity was the release of 5.04 micromoles of ammonium per millilitre per minute. This isolate using sequencing of a fragment of 16SrRNA and characterization of biochemical properties was identified as Lysinibacillus sp. strain 233 was deposited in NCBI under accession number OQ379213. The semi-quantitative XRD analysis of the bacterium's calcite crystals in the precipitation medium revealed that 87.1% were calcite while only 12.9% were vaterite. FESEM electron microscope images revealed cubic calcite crystals and EDX analysis confirmed the presence of its constituent elements, i.e., carbon, oxygen, and calcium.

Abstract Since 2012, dengue disease has been considered as one of the most important viral diseases transmitted through arthropods and has become one of the major health problems in tropical and subtropical regions of the world In recent years. This virus has four serotypes and is transmitted through the Aedes mosquito. The aim of this Work is to investigate methods for diagnosing, treating, and controlling dengue disease. The method of conducting the study was based on observation and interpretation of information obtained from relevant scientific articles and books. This study was conducted in the spring and summer of 1403 by checking keywords such as Dengue virus, Aedes aegypti, dengue vaccine, detection, protection, chemical control on NCBI, Google, PubMed, WHO search engines. The molecular methods (real-time PCR) and immunoassay are often used to detect dengue virus. In order to prevent the disease, it is also recommended to control the life cycle of Aedes mosquito and use of quadrivalent live and attenuated Dengvxia and TAK-003 vaccines. The clinical treatment of this disease is done using serum therapy and the use of liquids. Finally, chemical and biological control methods of Aedes mosquito are also recommended as strategies to deal with this disease. In this review article, while describing the specific characteristics of dengue virus, the diagnostic and treatment methods of this disease have been scientifically investigated. It is also presented how to prevent control of this disease.