Enhanced pharmacological activity of vitamin B₁₂ and penicillin as nanoparticles

Abstract

Sonochemistry has become a well-known technique for fabricating nanomaterials. Since one of the advantages of nanomaterials is that they have higher chemical activities compared with particles in the bulk form, efforts are being made to produce nano organic compounds with enhanced biological activities that could be exploited in the medical area. This study uses the sonication technique to prepare nano Vitamin B12 and nano Penicillin, and demonstrates their enhanced biological and pharmacological activity. The size and morphology of the nano Penicillin and nano Vitamin B12 were investigated using electron microscopy as well as dynamic light scattering techniques. The sizes of Penicillin and Vitamin B12 nanoparticles (NPs) were found to be 70 and 120-180 nm, respectively. The bactericidal effect of nano Penicillin was studied and found to be higher than that of the bulk form. Reducing the size of Vitamin B12 resulted in their enhanced antioxidative activity as observed using the electron paramagnetic spectroscopy technique. The penetration depth of these organic NPs can be detected by an optical iterative method. It is believed that nano organic drugs fabrication will have a great impact on the medical field.

Keywords: Penicillin; Vitamin B12; antibacterial; antioxidant; nanomaterials; sonochemistry.

Figure 1

The acoustic cavitation phenomenon that occurs under ultrasonic radiation and the NP creation. Notes: The acoustic cavitation phenomenon happens when a bubble, which was created in the liquid, grows and then collapses. The bubble grows because the solute and/or the solvent vapors diffuse into the volume of the bubble, and it collapses when it gets to its maximum size. In the preparation of nano Penicillin and nano Vitamin B₁₂, the material molecules are naturally drawn to the bubble surface, creating a shell of the material molecules around the bubble. During implosion, the molecules shell collapses into the bubble center and thereby creates a nanoparticle that contains many small molecules (a magnification of the nanoparticle is presented in the last phase of the process). Abbreviation: NP, nanoparticle.

Figure 2

TEM images of Penicillin before and after the ultrasonic radiation. Notes: (A) TEM image of Penicillin bulk form, (B) TEM image of Penicillin NPs after 5-minute sonication, (C) TEM images of Penicillin NPs after 10-minute sonication, (D) an enlargement of TEM image of Penicillin NPs after 10-minute sonication, and (E) diffraction lines of individual Penicillin nanocrystal. Abbreviations: TEM, transmission electron microscopy; NPs, nanoparticles.

Figure 3

Comparison of FTIR spectra of Penicillin before and after ultrasonic radiation. Notes: FTIR spectrum of bulk Penicillin (solid line) and 5-minute ultrasonicated Penicillin (dashed line). The spectra show no change in the chemical structure of Penicillin upon 5-minute ultrasonic irradiation. Abbreviations: FTIR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; NPs, nanoparticles.

Figure 4

A comparison of size determination for Vitamin B₁₂ by DLS measurements. Notes: Size determination of bulk Vitamin B₁₂ and Vitamin B₁₂ upon 3- and 5-minute ultrasonic radiation. Abbreviations: ONPs, organic nanoparticles; DLS, dynamic light scattering.

Figure 5

TEM images of Vitamin B₁₂ before and after sonication. Notes: (A) TEM image of Vitamin B₁₂ bulk form. (B) TEM image of Vitamin B₁₂ NPs upon 5-minute ultrasonic radiation. Abbreviations: TEM, transmission electron microscopy; NPs, nanoparticles.

Figure 6

The absorption spectra of Vitamin B₁₂ before and following ultrasonic radiation. Notes: The absorption spectra of bulk Vitamin B₁₂ (control, dashed line), Vitamin B₁₂ following 3-minute sonication (3 minute, solid line), and Vitamin B₁₂ after 5-minute sonication (5 minute, dots).

Figure 7

Hydroxyl radical formation via Fenton reaction in the presence of Vitamin B₁₂ bulk form and NPs. Notes: (A) The formation of hydroxyl radical via Fenton reaction. (B) The formation of hydroxyl radical in the presence of bulk Vitamin B₁₂. (C) The formation of hydroxyl radical in the presence of nano Vitamin B₁₂ obtained after 5-minute sonication.

Figure 8

A comparison of hydroxyl radicals’ production. Notes: The production of hydroxyl radicals (calculated by the integrated areas of DMPO spin adduct) via Fenton reaction in comparison with the production of hydroxyl radicals (calculated by the integrated areas of DMPO spin adduct) via Fenton reaction in the presence of bulk form and nano Vitamin B₁₂ obtained after 5-minute sonication. Abbreviation: DMPO, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide.

Figure 9

A comparison of Raman spectra of Vitamin B₁₂ before and after ultrasonic radiation. Notes: (A) Raman spectrum of bulk Vitamin B₁₂. (B) Raman spectrum of Vitamin B₁₂ upon 5-minute ultrasonic radiation. The results indicate the confirmation of the chemical structure of bulk form and nano Vitamin B₁₂.