Organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was synthesized by cationic exchange between Na+-MMT and N-octyl-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidonium bromide. Chitosan graft copolymer nanocomposites were synthesized by grafting N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto chitosan in aqueous acetic acid in the presence of OMMT using free radical polymerization. The chemical structures were verified by FTIR. Scanning electron microscopy showed a surface roughness for chitosan graft nanocomposites. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction confirmed the intercalation of grafted chitosan chains between OMMT galleries. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the thermal stability of grafted chitosan was enhanced by OMMT incorporation. Preliminary studies showed that the nanocomposites exhibited antimicrobial activity compared with chitosan graft copolymer. © 2015 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Cadmium (Cd), a grave occupational pollutant, can result in; testicular damage. This study was designed to distinguish the potential effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) versus that of curcumin nanoemulsion on Cd-induced testicular damage. Fifty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were distributed into five groups; control, sham control, Cd-treated, stem cell-treated and nanocurcumin-treated groups. Histological, immune histochemical; caspase 3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and CD 68, testosterone levels, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde (MDA)/glutathione (GSH) superoxide, dismutase (SOD), Western blot; B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2), BCL2-Associated X Protein (BAX), BAX/Bcl-2 ratio and morphometry were done. Cadmium-treated group showed degenerated, detached seminiferous tubules, vacuolations and wide interstitial spaces containing fluid exudates. The same group revealed increased expression of BAX, BAX/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase 3, CD 68 and increased mean values of MDA, NO. Concomitantly, Cd has significant reduction in PCNA, Bcl-2 and sperm cell count when compared to control group. BM-MSCs- and nanocurcumin-treated groups revealed well-structured tubules and were perceived to expressively enhance the deleterious changes induced by Cd. The injurious changes on the testis induced by Cd were obviously improved when treated with either MSCs or nano-curcumin. BM-MSCs exerted more ameliorative changes.

Remarkable efforts are currently devoted to the area of nanodiamonds (NDs) research due to their superior properties viz: biocompatibility, minute size, inert core, and tunable surface chemistry. The use of NDs for the delivery of anticancer drugs has been at the forefront of NDs applications owing to their ability to increase chemosensitivity, sustain drug release, and minimize drug side effects. Accelerated steps towards the move of NDs from bench side to bedside have been recently witnessed. In this review, the effects of NDs production and purification techniques on NDs' final properties are discussed. Special concern is given to studies focusing on NDs use for anticancer drug delivery, stability enhancement and mediated targeted delivery. The aim of this review is to put the results of studies oriented towards NDs-mediated anticancer drug delivery side by side such that the reader can assess the potential use of NDs in clinics and follow up the upcoming results of clinical testing of NDs on animals and humans.