Objective: To develop a gold nanoparticles complex conjugated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and methionine along with application of hyperthermia using near-infrared laser beams for the treatment of cancer cells. Methods: Gold nanorods (10 nm) were conjugated with IFN-γ and methionine using carbodiimide family and characterized after purification by dialysis bags. Breast cancer cells were cultured and incubated with gold nanorods at different concentrations followed by irradiation with near-infrared laser beam. Samples were then evaluated for their viability in order to determine the effect of treatment and variables by MTT assy. Results: Zetasizer results confirmed the conjugation of gold nanorods with methionine and IFN-γ. The median percentage of cell viability in 0.30 μg/mL concentration of gold nanorods was 82%. The cell viability reached to 85% at the same concentration of gold nanorods, which existed in the assayed complex. The results of MTT assay showed that the 0.60 μg/mL concentration of gold nanoparticles complex was toxic on tumor cells (P < 0.05). After exposure to hyperthermia, the viability of cells at 6 min decreased to 77% in 0.30 μg/mL concentration of gold nanorods complex. Conclusions: The size and concentration of gold nanorods was not cytotoxic. However, their presence during irradiation near-infrared laser increased the number of dead cells during the treatment of cells.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of Zataria multiflora extract, an antioxidative medicinal plant, against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced oxidative lung damage in mice. METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneally pre-treated with various doses of Zataria multiflora extract (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) once daily for 7 consecutive days. Animals were then injected with a single 200 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of CP 1 h after the last administration of O. vulgare. Twenty-four hours later, mice were euthanized, the lungs were immediately removed, and biochemical and histological studies were conducted. RESULTS: A single dose of CP markedly altered the levels of several biomarkers associated with oxidative stress in lung homogenates. Pretreatment with Zataria multiflora significantly inhibited the elevation of lipid peroxidation level and the depletion in glutathione content, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities induced by CP in lung. In addition, Zataria multiflora effectively alleviated CP-induced histopathological abnormality and pulmonary damages in mice lung tissues. CONCLUSIONS The results reveal that Zataria multiflora protects lung tissues from CP-induced toxicity and suggest a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of lung toxicity produced by CP in mice. Because Zataria multiflora has been extensively used as an additive agent and is regarded as safe, it may be used concomitantly as a good supplement for reducing organ toxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy, besides their consolidated ethnopharmacological uses.