Candida albicans is a normal flora caused fungal infections and has the ability to form biofilms. The aim of this study was to improve the antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the light source for reducing the biofilm survival of C. albicans. AgNPs were prepared by silver nitrate (AgNO3) and trisodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7). To determine the antifungal effect of treatments on C. albicans biofilm, samples were distributed into four groups; L + P+ was treatment with laser irradiation and AgNPs; L + P- was treatment with laser irradiation only; L - P+ was treatment with AgNPs only (control positive); L - P- was no treatment with laser irradiation or AgNPs (control negative). The growth of fungi had been monitored by measuring the optical density at 405 nm with ELISA reader. The particle size of AgNPs was measured by using (particle size analyzer) and the zeta potential of AgNPs was measured by using Malvern zetasizer. The PSA test showed that the particle size of AgNPs was distributed between 7.531-5559.644 nm. The zeta potentials were found lower than - 30 mV with pH of 7, 9 or 11. The reduction percentage was analyzed by ANOVA test. The highest reduction difference was given at a lower level irradiation because irradiation with a density energy of 6.13 ± 0.002 J/cm2 resulted in the biofilm reduction of 7.07 ± 0.23% for the sample without AgNPs compared to the sample with AgNPs that increased the biofilm reduction of 64.48 ± 0.07%. The irradiation with a 450-nm light source had a significant fungicidal effect on C. albicans biofilm. The combination of light source and AgNPs provides an increase of biofilm reduction compared to the light source itself.
Breast cancer continues to be a major health issue for women all over the world. Cancer medications like cisplatin, which are widely used, still have negative side effects. The novel complex was created as a potential anticancer medication candidate that is both effective and safe, with few side effects. The Cu(II) complex using the prolinedithiocarbamate ligands was synthesized in situ. The Cu(II) complexes Characterization by UV-Vis, FT-IR spectroscopy and melting point determination, conductivity, and HOMO-LUMO were studied. Computational NMR spectrum analysis was performed. The interaction of Cu(II)prolineditiocarbamate complex with cancer cell target protein (MCF-7) was confirmed by molecular docking and molecular dynamic. The pharmacokinetic/ADMET properties were also performed on the complex. Results of the cytotoxic complex test against cancer cells (MCF-7) undergoing apoptosis with an IC50 value of 13.64 µg/mL showed high anticancer activity in MCF-7 cancer cells. The in-vivo data for Cu(II)prolineditiocarbamate complex was predicted using the Protox online tool with an LD50 value of 2500 mg/kg and belonging to the GHS toxicity class 5, which means the compound has a low acute toxicity effect. The Cu(II) prolineitiocarbamate complex may pave the way for the development of essential metal-based chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary tool to inform healthcare decision-making. HTA has been implemented in high-income countries (HIC) for several decades but has only recently seen a growing investment in low- and middle-income countries. A scoping review was undertaken to define and compare the role of HTA in least developed and lower middle-income countries (LLMIC). MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from January 2015 to August 2021. A matrix comprising categories on HTA objectives, methods, geographies, and partnerships was used for data extraction and synthesis to present our findings. The review identified 50 relevant articles. The matrix was populated and sub-divided into further categories as appropriate. We highlight topical aspects of HTA, including initiatives to overcome well-documented challenges around data and capacity development, and identify gaps in the research for consideration. Those areas we found to be under-studied or under-utilized included disinvestment, early HTA/implementation, system-level interventions, and cross-sectoral partnerships. We consider broad practical implications for decision-makers and researchers aiming to achieve greater interconnectedness between HTA and health systems and generate recommendations that LLMIC can use for HTA implementation. Whilst HIC may have led the way, LLMIC are increasingly beginning to develop HTA processes to assist in their healthcare decision-making. This review provides a forward-looking model that LLMIC can point to as a reference for their own implementation. We hope this can be seen as timely and useful contributions to optimize the impact of HTA in an era of investment and expansion and to encourage debate and implementation.