Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology

Barbed Wire Around Science: The Politicization of Knowledge

Shahin Akhondzadeh — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:07:11 +0000

The Article Abstract is not available.

The Synergy Between Mitochondrial Function and Innate Heat in Traditional Persian Medicine: A Modern Scientific Perspective on Thermoregulation

Majid Nimrouzi , Masoud Hashemzaei — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:12:29 +0000

This study investigates the synergy between Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM)'s concept of innate heat (Hararat-e-Gharizi) and modern mitochondrial thermoregulation. TPM emphasizes innate heat as essential for sustaining life, paralleling modern understandings of mitochondrial ATP production and heat generation. This integration occurs through mitochondrial biogenesis, proton leak (via uncoupling proteins), and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) signaling, which correspond to the TPM concept of heat sustaining vital functions. These findings may guide novel therapeutic strategies that integrate TPM principles with mitochondrial biology. A comprehensive review of historical TPM texts and modern literature was conducted, comparing innate heat with mitochondrial roles in thermoregulation and energy balance. Data from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were analyzed to explore mechanisms of heat production in both traditional and modern contexts. Findings demonstrated that TPM's innate heat correlates with mitochondrial biogenesis, heat generation via Uncoupling Proteins (UCP1), and ROS regulation. These concepts reflect TPM’s understanding of maintaining bodily warmth for health and longevity. The relationship between Hararat-e-Gharizi and mitochondrial thermogenesis offers a bridge between ancient medicinal practices and modern cellular biology. Both emphasize the role of heat in maintaining homeostasis and preventing disease, with modern science validating TPM's holistic approach. Clarifying these mechanisms provides deeper insight into therapeutic implications, highlighting thermodynamic parallels and the role of ROS signaling as a novel framework for understanding disease etiology and treatment. This study bridges Traditional Persian Medicine and modern mitochondrial thermoregulation, introducing integrative perspectives for personalized healthcare. It also highlights thermodynamic parallels and ROS signaling as a novel framework for understanding disease etiology and treatment. This study underscores the relevance of TPM’s innate heat in modern medicine, emphasizing the importance of mitochondrial efficiency in thermoregulation and overall health. Integrating these perspectives can enhance personalized therapeutic strategies for disease prevention and longevity

Challenges and Future Prospects of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) in Nanomedicine: A Focus on Toxicity, Imaging, and Theranostics

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:19:38 +0000

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as a pivotal tool in nanomedicine, offering potential in drug delivery, imaging, and targeted therapies. However, their application is challenged by issues such as cytotoxicity, uneven biodistribution, and biocompatibility. SPIONs are predominantly cleared through renal or hepatobiliary pathways, with size and charge playing critical roles in determining their fate. While smaller SPIONs optimize renal clearance, their propensity to agglomerate and activate macrophages may induce inflammatory responses. Radiolabeled SPIONs face additional challenges in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. Emerging strategies, such as chelator-free radiolabeling and multi-component nanoparticles, aim to address these limitations by improving targeting specificity and enhancing biocompatibility. Looking forward, SPIONs hold immense potential in theranostics, particularly in integrating imaging with targeted drug delivery and therapies. Advances in synthesis and surface functionalization may enhance their safety and effectiveness. Future research should focus on optimizing SPIONs, integrating them with therapeutic agents, and improving targeting and clearance mechanisms. Collaboration among experts and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) modeling could accelerate their development for personalized treatment applications. This review uniquely highlights recent advances in radiolabeled SPIONs for molecular imaging and targeted therapy, addressing challenges like biocompatibility, stability, and translational applicability.

Antiplasmodial Activity of Green-Synthesized MgO Nanoparticles Using Achillea millefolium Against Chloroquine-Resistant and-Sensitive Plasmodium falciparum

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:30:06 +0000

Background: Resistance to antimalarial medications, particularly in Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), has emerged as a significant challenge, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Green-synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) represent a promising approach to therapeutic interventions. This study presents one of the first detailed evaluations of green-synthesized MgO NPs derived from Achillea millefolium (A. millefolium) against both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (K1) P. falciparum strains.

Methods: In this study, MgO NPs were biosynthesized using A. millefolium extracts with varying solvent ratios. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, FESEM, and DLS techniques. Cytotoxicity was assessed via MTT and hemolysis assays. Their antiplasmodial efficacy was evaluated in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and -resistant (K1) P. falciparum strains.

Results: The synthesized MgO NPs displayed quasi-spherical morphology and nanoscale size. Among tested formulations, the most effective showed IC₅₀ values of 0.17 mg/ml for the 3D7 strain and 0.76 mg/ml for the K1 strain, indicating significant antiplasmodial activity.

Conclusion: Green-synthesized MgO NPs using A. millefolium demonstrated potent antiplasmodial activity at low IC₅₀ concentrations, showing efficacy against both chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant P. falciparum strains. These findings highlight their promise as plant-based nanotherapeutics for malaria treatment.

Comparison of CRISPR Sequences in Archaea and Bacteria with Eukaryotic microRNAs

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:52:53 +0000

Background: This study explores repetitive Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) sequences from the archaea Acidianus sp. and Acidianus ambivalens (A. ambivalens), as well as from the bacterium Yersinia ruckeri (Y. ruckeri). These sequences are compared with human microRNA (miRNA) sequences to investigate potential genetic similarities and disease associations.

Methods: CRISPR sequences were retrieved from the CRISPR/Cas⁺⁺ database, and human miRNA sequences were obtained from miRBase. Sequence alignments were performed using BLASTn with an E-value threshold of 1e-5 to identify significant similarities. Genes associated with matched human miRNAs were identified through the HGNC and GeneCards databases. Further analyses included comparison with disease-associated miRNAs reported in human and mouse datasets.

Results: In Y. ruckeri, alignments revealed similarities to miRNAs linked with genes such as FOXO1, PTEN, PAX7, and DOCK3, which are associated with lung cancer and muscular dystrophies. In A. ambivalens, aligned miRNAs corresponded to loci including CHM13 and GRCh38, potentially linked to periembolic adenocarcinoma and mild pre-eclampsia. For Acidianus sp., matches were observed with miRNAs associated with genes like Irak2, NOS2, STAT1, and Numb, which have been implicated in Psoriatic arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Hepatocellular carcinoma, and Coronary artery di sease.

Conclusion: CRISPR sequences from these prokaryotes show notable similarities with human miRNAs, suggesting possible indirect links to genes involved in major diseases. These preliminary findings emphasize the need for further investigation into shared sequence motifs and their functional roles in host-pathogen interactions or evolutionary biology.

Nanosilver from Mangosteen Peel Extract (Garcinia mangostana L.) for Antibacterial Dental Preventive Agents

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:57:42 +0000

Background: Teeth are vital structures prone to issues such as caries and plaque formation, often caused by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). This issue can be mitigated using natural ingredients like mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana L.), especially its peel, is known for its medicinal benefits. However, its extract may take time to show effects, so it is being combined with nanosilver for improved drug distribution. To observe the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of Mangosteen Peel Extract (MPE) in nanosilver form as a preventive agent in dentistry.

Methods: The extraction was succeeded by a phytochemical assay and biosynthesis of MPE into Mangosteen Peel Extract Nanosilver (MPNs). Particle Size Analysis (PSA) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to study this procedure. Disc diffusion tests were used to evaluate the antibacterial properties, and the Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were also determined. Furthermore, the antibiofilm activity against S. mutans was investigated.

Results: the phytochemical contents in MPE were flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, alkaloids, triterpenoids, and terpenoids. Particle size of MPNs was 126.1 nm and the Polydispersity Index (PDI) was 0.419. The highest antibacterial concentration as inhibition zone against S. mutans was 16.37±0.38 mm and 119.37±2.16% inhibitory activity, at the highest concentration (100%) p<0.05. The percentage of biofilm inhibition against S. mutans was 27.64-105.94% which was concentration dependent.

Conclusion: MPNs has potential as an antibacterial and antibiofilm agent that can be used as a preventive agent in medicine.

Comparative Expression of ADAMTS2, CA1, and OLAH in Immune Cells of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Real-time PCR Study on In-silico analysis of Treated vs. Newly Diagnosed Patients

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:02:24 +0000

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease. Current treatments often have limited efficacy and cause side effects due to their nonspecific action, while early diagnosis is challenging. This study combined bioinformatics and experimental methods to identify key genes and pathways involved in RA, aiming to discover novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.

Methods: RNA-seq data from immune cells of RA patients and healthy donors (GSE117769) were analyzed with DESeq to identify Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). Affected pathways were explored using EnrichR, and druggable genes were identified through DGIdb and a literature review. Expression of candidate genes was validated in additional RA blood and synovium microarray datasets (GSE45291, GSE82107, GSE77298) using the GEO2R tool. Finally, RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of selected genes in Peripheral blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from newly-diagnosed and chronic RA patients and controls, with associations to clinical features and diagnostic accuracy assessed. Synovial fluid of RA patients were stained with Giemsa.

Results: Combined in-silico and experimental analysis demonstrated significant upregulation of CA1, OLAH, and ADAMTS2 in the PBMCs of RA patients. However, only ADAMTS2 showed high expression in the synovial tissue of these patients. While OLAH and ADAMTS2 were predominantly overexpressed in newly-diagnosed cases, CA1 levels were consistently elevated in both early and chronic stages of RA.

Conclusion: This study identified CA1, OLAH, and ADAMTS2 as being upregulated in RA, with ADAMTS2 showing promise as a therapeutic target, suggesting it may also have potential as a candidate for diagnosis and treatment.

Plant-Based Recombinant Vaccines for Foot-and-Mouth Disease: A Meta-Synthesis

Maziar Habibi-Pirkoohi , Afsaneh Mohkami — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:05:01 +0000

Background: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) remains a persistent global threat to livestock health and food security, particularly in endemic and resource-constrained regions. Conventional inactivated vaccines pose several challenges—including biosafety risks and dependence on cold-chain logistics. These limitations have prompted growing interest in plant-based recombinant vaccine platforms as innovative, scalable, and safer alternatives for FMD prevention.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative meta-synthesis approach, guided by the Barroso–Sandelowski method, to systematically extract, interpret, and integrate findings from 35 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2000 and 2025. The selected studies focused on the development and evaluation of plant-made vaccines targeting FMD. Thematic coding and interpretive synthesis were applied to identify recurrent patterns, challenges, and opportunities across the literature.

Results: The analysis yielded four dominant themes: (1) Platform Diversity: A variety of plant and algal expression hosts were used through transient or stable transformation systems, (2) Immunization Routes: Oral vaccination was noted for its logistical advantages and potential for mass immunization, though often requiring adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity, (3) Scale-Up Challenges: Key barriers included low recombinant protein yields, heterogeneity in post-translational modifications and high variability between production batches and (4) Regulatory Readiness: Despite encouraging preclinical data, most candidates have not progressed beyond experimental stages.

Conclusion: Plant-based recombinant vaccines represent a promising frontier in the fight against FMD, offering novel avenues for safer, more accessible immunization strategies. However, their transition from bench to field remains hindered by technical limitations in expression and purification, as well as institutional and regulatory gaps.

Dual-Modality Therapy: Synergistic Enhancement of Radio-Hyperthermia by Gold-Gold Sulfide Nanoparticles in MCF-7 Cells

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:07:46 +0000

Background: This study examines the synergistic impact of Gold-Gold Sulfide (GGS) nanoparticles combined with hyperthermia and radiotherapy on MCF-7 cancer cells. GGS nanoparticles, with strong near-infrared absorption and photothermal properties, enhance cellular sensitivity to radiotherapy.

Methods: MCF-7 cells were treated with varying GGS concentrations and exposed to radiation doses of 50, 100, and 200 cGy, alongside laser irradiation for 10, 40, and 80 s. The IC₅₀ for GGS nanoparticles was approximately 350 µM.

Results: Results revealed a significant reduction in cell viability with the combined GGS and laser exposure (p<0.001), demonstrating a synergistic effect in a dose-dependent manner. Further enhancement in cell viability reduction was observed when GGS nanoparticles were combined with both hyperthermia and radiotherapy (p<0.01).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that GGS nanoparticles offer greater efficacy and reduced toxicity compared to gold nanoparticles, highlighting their potential for improving cancer therapy outcomes through combined hyperthermic and radiotherapeutic approaches.