The MDA-MB-231 cell line is derived from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Innovative therapeutic strategies, including s targeted therapies using nanocarriers, hold significant promise, particularly for difficult-to-treat cancers such as TNBC. Nanoparticles have transformed the medical field by serving as advanced drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. They play a critical role in overcoming the drug resistance often associated with cancer therapies. When utilized as drug delivery vehicles, nanoparticles can specifically target cancer cells and effectively reduce or eliminate multidrug resistance. Among them, chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely explored for the loading and controlled release of various anticancer agents. In this study, we evaluated the effects of dexamethasone-loaded chitosan-coated MNPs on MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed to verify the successful loading of dexamethasone onto the nanoparticles. To assess cytotoxicity, empty nanoparticles, free drug, and drug-loaded nanoparticles were tested on the cells. The results indicated that empty nanoparticles exhibited no toxic effects. The IC50 value of the free drug was 123 µg/mL, while the IC50 value of the drug-loaded nanoparticles was significantly lower, at 63 µg/mL. These findings confirmed the successful conjugation of dexamethasone to the chitosan-coated MNPs, demonstrating substantial cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells. Although dexamethasone has been reported to exhibit both tumor-suppressive and pro-metastatic effects, its specific impact on TNBC warrants further investigation in future studies.

Soil erosion is characterized by the wearing away or loss of the uppermost layer of soil, driven by water, wind, and human activities. This process constitutes a significant environmental issue, with adverse effects on water quality, soil health, and the overall stability of ecosystems across the globe. This study focuses on the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, India, employing the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to estimate and spatially analyze soil erosion and fertility risk. The various factors of the model, like rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), conservation practices (P), and cover management factor (C), have been computed to measure annual soil loss in the district. Each factor was derived using geospatial datasets, including rainfall records, soil characteristics, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), land use/land cover (LULC) data, and information on conservation practices. GIS methods are used to map the geographical variation of soil erosion, providing important information on the area's most susceptible to erosion. The outcome of the study reveals that 3371.23 km2, which constitutes 91% of the district's total area, is identified as having mild soil erosion; in contrast, 154 km2, or 4%, is classified as moderate soil erosion, while 92 km2, representing 2.5%, falls under the high soil erosion category. Additionally, 50 km2, or 1.35%, is categorized as very high soil erosion and around 30 km2 of the study area is classified as experiencing severe soil erosion. The analysis further discovers that the annual soil loss in the district varies between 0 and 151 tons per hectare per year. This study indicates that most of the district is classified under low soil erosion; only a tiny fraction of the area is categorized as experiencing high and very high soil erosion. The study provides significant insights into soil erosion for policymakers and human society to bring their attention to the need for sustainable soil conservation practices in the undulating terrain/topography and agriculturally dominated district of Anuppur.