Browsing by Author "Pandey Priya Arun"

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A novel nanotherapeutic approach: Dual action of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from Clerodendrum serratum against MDR-ESKAPE pathogens with wound healing potential
(Editions de Sante, 2025) Ritu Raj Patel; Pandey Priya Arun; Vidyasagar; Aradhana Mishra; Sudhir Kumar Singh; Samer Singh; Brahmeshwar Mishra; Meenakshi Singh
The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE pathogens in healthcare settings, particularly chronic wound infections presents a critical challenge. Moreover, with antibiotic resistance reaching alarming levels and conventional treatments failing against biofilm-associated infections, there is an urgent need to develop novel and effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized via a green method using Clerodendrum serratum leaf extract, along with their polyethylene glycol-coated derivative (PEG-AgNPs), were evaluated for their antibacterial and wound-healing potential. PEG-AgNPs demonstrated superior antibacterial efficacy, with significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (0.3906–12.5 μg/mL) compared to AgNPs (3.125–25 μg/mL). Time-kill studies further confirmed that PEG-AgNPs exhibited enhanced bactericidal properties. Mechanistic investigations revealed that their antibacterial activity resulted from bacterial cell membrane rupture, leading to cytoplasmic content leakage, as confirmed by FACS analysis. Furthermore, biofilm formation by these pathogens was evaluated, and the nanoparticles demonstrated remarkable anti-biofilm potency, particularly against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The LC-MS analysis of C. serratum leaf extract revealed bioactive phytoconstituents, which were subjected to molecular docking studies against biofilm-forming factors in P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii confirming strong binding interactions. Additionally, the prepared nanoparticle-based gel formulations significantly enhanced in vivo wound healing in both uninfected and infected (A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa) wounds, highlighting their potential as dual-action therapeutic agents for inhibiting MDR pathogens and simultaneously promoting tissue regeneration. Therefore, these findings suggest that green synthesized nanoparticles, particularly PEG-AgNPs hold promise as novel interventions for combating MDR-ESKAPE infected wounds. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
An Amino Acid-Based Self-Shrinking Supramolecular Bioactive Hydrogel - A Sustainable Platform for Wastewater Treatment and Water Purification
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Swaraj Ganesh Gaonkar; Pandey Priya Arun; S. Daisy Precilla; Hirak Kumar Basak; Meenakshi Singh; B. Agiesh Kumar; Sudipta Bhowmik; Biswarup Chakraborty; Mayank Varshney; Biplab Mondal; Subhasish Roy
This study investigates the unique syneresis (self-shrinking) behavior of N-Terminally Fmoc-protected amino acid, Fmoc-hPhe-OH (Fmoc-homo-L-phenylalanine, abbreviated in this work as hF)-based hydrogel, and its potential in environmental remediation applications. Fmoc-hPhe-OH (hF) forms a hydrogel in 50 mM phosphate buffer (PB) of pH 7.4. Interestingly, hF-based hydrogel shows syneresis behavior with controlled release of residual water from the hydrogel matrix. Moreover, this hydrogelator can form co-assembled hydrogels with various dyes, including Congo Red and Rhodamine B; natural water samples, including natural mud water and sea water; and heavy metal ions aqueous solutions, including CdII, PbII, and HgII separately in 50 mM PB of pH 7.4. Interestingly, after 2 to 3 hours for shake gel and 5–6 hours for nonshake gel, the released waters have been tested and it has been found that these co-assembled hydrogels are capable of retaining almost all the contaminants within the shrink hydrogels matrix and releasing almost pure water along with the presence of hydrogel nanofibers. Syneresis is augmented to purify the contaminated water with dyes, mud, dissolved salts, and toxic heavy metal ions. These co-assembled hydrogels, leading to distinct structural and functional changes, which have been characterized by using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), suggesting various supramolecular interactions including π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions are responsible for stable hydrogelations. The rheological study evaluates the hydrogel's mechanical and thixotropic properties and spectroscopic techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, to monitor structural transition. This novel class of amino acid-based hydrogel shows antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, likely through membrane-disruptive mechanisms, and also shows promising antioxidant properties. The native hF hydrogel is biocompatible and shows anticancer activity toward the pancreatic cancer cell line. The research finding bestows the biomedically relevant hydrogel's potential use in green and sustainable environmental remediation. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Exploring Metal Complexes for Cancer Treatment: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Pandey Priya Arun; Ritu Raj Patel; Sudhir Kumar Singh; Kailash Parmar; Meenakshi Singh
Recent research in the field of cancer therapeutics has explored various potential drug treatments supported by metal- based scaffolds, following the investigation and clinical application of cisplatin, which has emerged as an active anti- cancer drug. Organometallic compounds have gained significant attention in cancer therapy due to their unique ability to interact with biomolecules, providing targeted and efficient anticancer activity. This has led to the development of metallodrugs, which encompass metal-based compounds with a wider range of functionalities and mechanisms of action compared to organic molecules. However, platinum-based metal complexes have limitations in their spectrum of anti-cancer activities, often resulting in side effects and resistance. To address these challenges, extensive research has been conducted to study and develop effective alternatives to platinum-based anticancer medications, encompassing metals such as ruthenium, vanadium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and cobalt. Metallodrugs represent a promising new category of potential cancer treatments, renewing interest in pursuing effective anti-cancer therapies. Nanomedicine strategies offer an efficient drug delivery platform to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Multifunctional nanomaterials have demonstrated the ability to improve drug delivery by increasing bioavailability and optimizing pharmacokinetics, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents in overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR). By gaining a deeper understanding of their distinct characteristics and mechanisms of action, there is potential to explore avenues for developing targeted and effective anti-cancer treatments. This review explores the intricate details of various metal complexes, highlighting their unique properties and modes of action in combating cancer while providing valuable insights into their potential as promising agents for developing effective and targeted anticancer therapies, paving the way for future advancements in the field. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Mycobacterial biofilms: Understanding the genetic factors playing significant role in pathogenesis, resistance and diagnosis
(Elsevier Inc., 2024) Ritu Raj Patel; Pandey Priya Arun; Sudhir Kumar Singh; Meenakshi Singh
Even though the genus Mycobacterium is a diverse group consisting of a majority of environmental bacteria known as non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), it also contains some of the deadliest pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) in history associated with chronic disease called tuberculosis (TB). Formation of biofilm is one of the unique strategies employed by mycobacteria to enhance their ability to survive in hostile conditions. Biofilm formation by Mycobacterium species is an emerging area of research with significant implications for understanding its pathogenesis and treatment of related infections, specifically TB. This review provides an overview of the biofilm-forming abilities of different species of Mycobacterium and the genetic factors influencing biofilm formation with a detailed focus on M. tuberculosis. Biofilm-mediated resistance is a significant challenge as it can limit antibiotic penetration and promote the survival of dormant mycobacterial cells. Key genetic factors promoting biofilm formation have been explored such as the mmpL genes involved in lipid transport and cell wall integrity as well as the groEL gene essential for mature biofilm formation. Additionally, biofilm-mediated antibiotic resistance and pathogenesis highlighting the specific niches, sites of infection along with the possible mechanisms of biofilm dissemination have been discussed. Furthermore, drug targets within mycobacterial biofilm and their role as potential biomarkers in the development of rapid diagnostic tools have been highlighted. The review summarises the current understanding of the complex nature of Mycobacterium biofilm and its clinical implications, paving the way for advancements in the field of disease diagnosis, management and treatment against its multi-drug resistant species. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.
Overcoming antimicrobial resistance: Phage therapy as a promising solution to combat ESKAPE pathogens
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Ritu Raj Patel; Pandey Priya Arun; Sudhir Kumar Singh; Meenakshi Singh
Objective The global escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified the search for alternative therapies, with bacteriophage (phage) therapy re-emerging as a promising solution. This review aims to critically evaluate the therapeutic potential of phage therapy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE pathogens, which are major contributors to hospital-acquired infections. The review discusses the distinct antibacterial strategies of phage namely, targeted lysis, enzymatic biofilm disruption, and synergy with antibiotics. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted focusing on the mechanisms of phage antibacterial activity and the molecular regulation of lytic and lysogenic life cycles, highlighting the therapeutic importance of the lytic-lysogenic switch. It also explores the integration of nanotechnology-based delivery systems that enhances therapeutic efficacy. Recent advances in phage engineering, including CRISPR-Cas technologies and synthetic biology approaches, were also analyzed to understand their contribution to optimizing phage efficacy. Results Phage therapy demonstrates multiple antibacterial mechanisms, including targeted bacterial lysis, enzymatic biofilm disruption, and synergistic interactions with antibiotics. Advanced delivery systems such as liposomes, hydrogels, nanofibers, and nanoemulsions enhance phage stability and retention by overcoming physiological barriers like gastric acidity, enzymatic degradation, and immune clearance. Clinical evidence from compassionate use cases and early-phase trials highlights the safety and therapeutic promise of phage therapy. Conclusions Phage therapy represents a versatile and sustainable approach to combat multidrug-resistant infections. While regulatory, resistance, and scalability challenges remain, continued integration of microbiology, nanotechnology, and clinical research may enable its transition from experimental to mainstream therapeutic application in the post-antibiotic era. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.