The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) puts the world in an unprecedented crisis, leaving behind huge human losses and deep socioeconomic damages. Due to the lack of specific treatment against SARS-CoV-2, effective vaccines and antiviral agents are urgently needed to properly restrain the COVID-19 pandemic. Repositioned drugs such as remdesivir have revealed a promising clinical efficacy against COVID-19. Interestingly, nanomedicine as a promising therapeutic approach could effectively help win the battle between coronaviruses (CoVs) and host cells. This review discusses the potential therapeutic approaches, in addition to the contribution of nanomedicine against CoVs in the fields of vaccination, diagnosis and therapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) puts the world in an unprecedented crisis, leaving behind huge human losses and deep socioeconomic damages. Due to the lack of specific treatment against SARS-CoV-2, effective vaccines and antiviral agents are urgently needed to properly restrain the COVID-19 pandemic. Repositioned drugs such as remdesivir have revealed a promising clinical efficacy against COVID-19. Interestingly, nanomedicine as a promising therapeutic approach could effectively help win the battle between coronaviruses (CoVs) and host cells. This review discusses the potential therapeutic approaches, in addition to the contribution of nanomedicine against CoVs in the fields of vaccination, diagnosis and therapy.

Aim: Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effect of rifampicin (RIF). We aimed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of mannose-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/RIF nanoparticles (NPs) in rats as a possible promising approach to minimize RIF-induced hepatotoxicity. Ma- terials & methods: Mannose-functionalized PLGA/RIF NPs were fabricated and characterized in vitro, then the hepatoprotective effect of optimized NPs was studied on rat and cell culture models. Results: Follow- ing intraperitoneal administration of RIF NPs into rats, highly significant differences in levels of serum transaminases and oxidative stress markers, associated with significant differences in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes between NP- and free RIF-treated groups, revealing the hepatoprotective potential of NPs. Conclusion: RIF NPs may represent a promising therapeutic approach for tuberculosis via reducing dose frequency and consequently, RIF-induced hepatotoxicity.

Aim: Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effect of rifampicin (RIF). We aimed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of mannose-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/RIF nanoparticles (NPs) in rats as a possible promising approach to minimize RIF-induced hepatotoxicity. Ma- terials & methods: Mannose-functionalized PLGA/RIF NPs were fabricated and characterized in vitro, then the hepatoprotective effect of optimized NPs was studied on rat and cell culture models. Results: Follow- ing intraperitoneal administration of RIF NPs into rats, highly significant differences in levels of serum transaminases and oxidative stress markers, associated with significant differences in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes between NP- and free RIF-treated groups, revealing the hepatoprotective potential of NPs. Conclusion: RIF NPs may represent a promising therapeutic approach for tuberculosis via reducing dose frequency and consequently, RIF-induced hepatotoxicity.

Aim: Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effect of rifampicin (RIF). We aimed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of mannose-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/RIF nanoparticles (NPs) in rats as a possible promising approach to minimize RIF-induced hepatotoxicity. Ma- terials & methods: Mannose-functionalized PLGA/RIF NPs were fabricated and characterized in vitro, then the hepatoprotective effect of optimized NPs was studied on rat and cell culture models. Results: Follow- ing intraperitoneal administration of RIF NPs into rats, highly significant differences in levels of serum transaminases and oxidative stress markers, associated with significant differences in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes between NP- and free RIF-treated groups, revealing the hepatoprotective potential of NPs. Conclusion: RIF NPs may represent a promising therapeutic approach for tuberculosis via reducing dose frequency and consequently, RIF-induced hepatotoxicity.

Aim: Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effect of rifampicin (RIF). We aimed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of mannose-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/RIF nanoparticles (NPs) in rats as a possible promising approach to minimize RIF-induced hepatotoxicity. Ma- terials & methods: Mannose-functionalized PLGA/RIF NPs were fabricated and characterized in vitro, then the hepatoprotective effect of optimized NPs was studied on rat and cell culture models. Results: Follow- ing intraperitoneal administration of RIF NPs into rats, highly significant differences in levels of serum transaminases and oxidative stress markers, associated with significant differences in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes between NP- and free RIF-treated groups, revealing the hepatoprotective potential of NPs. Conclusion: RIF NPs may represent a promising therapeutic approach for tuberculosis via reducing dose frequency and consequently, RIF-induced hepatotoxicity.

Aim: Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effect of rifampicin (RIF). We aimed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of mannose-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/RIF nanoparticles (NPs) in rats as a possible promising approach to minimize RIF-induced hepatotoxicity. Ma- terials & methods: Mannose-functionalized PLGA/RIF NPs were fabricated and characterized in vitro, then the hepatoprotective effect of optimized NPs was studied on rat and cell culture models. Results: Follow- ing intraperitoneal administration of RIF NPs into rats, highly significant differences in levels of serum transaminases and oxidative stress markers, associated with significant differences in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes between NP- and free RIF-treated groups, revealing the hepatoprotective potential of NPs. Conclusion: RIF NPs may represent a promising therapeutic approach for tuberculosis via reducing dose frequency and consequently, RIF-induced hepatotoxicity.

Aim: Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effect of rifampicin (RIF). We aimed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of mannose-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/RIF nanoparticles (NPs) in rats as a possible promising approach to minimize RIF-induced hepatotoxicity. Ma- terials & methods: Mannose-functionalized PLGA/RIF NPs were fabricated and characterized in vitro, then the hepatoprotective effect of optimized NPs was studied on rat and cell culture models. Results: Follow- ing intraperitoneal administration of RIF NPs into rats, highly significant differences in levels of serum transaminases and oxidative stress markers, associated with significant differences in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes between NP- and free RIF-treated groups, revealing the hepatoprotective potential of NPs. Conclusion: RIF NPs may represent a promising therapeutic approach for tuberculosis via reducing dose frequency and consequently, RIF-induced hepatotoxicity.

Herbal medicines are widely used worldwide and much appreciated because of their fewer side effects and the ability to fight diseases at the root cause. Active ‘phyto’ ingredients require a scientific approach and a mechanism to distribute components at the target site for better therapeutic results. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, has created new hope for cancer treatment but is still far from being proven in clinical settings. This article combines a unique approach to synthesis with the use of Pleurotus sajor-caju, followed by microwave irritation of silver and gold nanoparticles that ensures the capping of the active phyto ingredient and further enhances the effects of nanomedicine to fight colon cancer, thus opening a new era of what we call herbonanoceutics. The article also compares the characteristics and properties of silver (Au) and gold (Ag) nanoparticles synthesized by an in house developed novel microwave-assisted rapid green synthesis method. The as-prepared Ag NPs and Au NPs were compared using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Our comparative study revealed that both assemblies display face-centred cubic structures (FCCs) and are nanocrystalline in nature. The advantage of the approach was that the sizes of gold and silver were identical in range with a similar distribution pattern. This has helped us to study the activity against colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) without incoherence since size plays a key role in the application. More specifically, morphological changes, cell viability, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the fragmentation of DNA have been further reported to assess better the results obtained with the two metals. Our results suggest that the newly adopted synthesis method may ensure the dual benefits from phyto ingredients which further enhances the effectiveness of advanced nanomedicine.

Herbal medicines are widely used worldwide and much appreciated because of their fewer side effects and the ability to fight diseases at the root cause. Active ‘phyto’ ingredients require a scientific approach and a mechanism to distribute components at the target site for better therapeutic results. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, has created new hope for cancer treatment but is still far from being proven in clinical settings. This article combines a unique approach to synthesis with the use of Pleurotus sajor-caju, followed by microwave irritation of silver and gold nanoparticles that ensures the capping of the active phyto ingredient and further enhances the effects of nanomedicine to fight colon cancer, thus opening a new era of what we call herbonanoceutics. The article also compares the characteristics and properties of silver (Au) and gold (Ag) nanoparticles synthesized by an in house developed novel microwave-assisted rapid green synthesis method. The as-prepared Ag NPs and Au NPs were compared using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Our comparative study revealed that both assemblies display face-centred cubic structures (FCCs) and are nanocrystalline in nature. The advantage of the approach was that the sizes of gold and silver were identical in range with a similar distribution pattern. This has helped us to study the activity against colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) without incoherence since size plays a key role in the application. More specifically, morphological changes, cell viability, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the fragmentation of DNA have been further reported to assess better the results obtained with the two metals. Our results suggest that the newly adopted synthesis method may ensure the dual benefits from phyto ingredients which further enhances the effectiveness of advanced nanomedicine.