Characterization of toxicological effects of complex nano-sized metal particles using in vitro human cell and whole blood model systems

Inflammatory Responses to Zn/Cu-Containing Welding Fume in Human Alveolar Epithelial and Macrophage Cell Lines, with MIP-1β/CCL4 as a Much More Sensitive Macrophage Activation Marker than IL-8 and TNF-α

Zinc (Zn)- and copper (Cu)-containing welding fumes elevate inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8) in healthy individuals and welders. Zn- and Cu-containing nanoparticles are toxic to human macrophages. Therefore, ZnO exposure limits are under discussion. In this study, the effects of Zn/Cu-containing welding fume suspensions on A549 alveolar epithelial cells (exposure concentrations: 0.01/0.1/1/10/100 µg/mL) and THP-1 macrophages (additionally 0.001 µg/mL) were investigated over a period of 48 h. Effects on apoptosis, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1β/CCL4, TNF-α) were evaluated. Welding fume exposure increased SOD activity, and it increased Annexin-V binding and cytotoxicity effects starting at 10 µg/mL in A549 cells and particularly in THP-1 macrophages. A549 cells showed increased IL-6 at 10 and 100 µg/mL, and significant IL-8 release occurred at 10 µg/mL for A549 and 0.1 µg/mL for macrophages. Exposed macrophages released TNF-α at 1 µg/mL after 24 and 48 h and MIP-1β/CCL4 at 0.01 µg/mL after 6 h and at 0.001 µg/mL after 48 h. No genotoxic effects were detected. MIP-1β/CCL4 is a sensitive new biomarker for human macrophages exposed to Zn/Cu-containing welding fumes. The findings suggest that Zn/Cu particles affect lung cells already at doses below current occupational thresholds.

Advancements in nanotheranostics for glioma therapy

Gliomas are brain tumors mainly derived from glial cells that are difficult to treat and cause high mortality. Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical excision are the conventional treatments for gliomas. Patients who have surgery or have undergone chemotherapy for glioma treatment have poor prognosis with tumor recurrence. In particular, for glioblastoma, the 5-year average survival rate is 4-7%, and the median survival is 12-18 months. A number of issues hinder effective treatment such as, poor surgical resection, tumor heterogeneity, insufficient drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier, multidrug resistance, and difficulties with drug specificity. Nanotheranostic-mediated drug delivery is becoming a well-researched consideration, and an efficient non-invasive method for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs to the target area. Theranostic nanomedicines, which incorporate therapeutic drugs and imaging agents for personalized therapies, can be used for preventing overdose of non-responders. Through the identification of massive and complicated information from next-generation sequencing, machine learning enables for precise prediction of therapeutic outcomes and post-treatment management for patients with cancer. This article gives a thorough overview of nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery with a brief introduction to drug delivery challenges. In addition, this assessment offers a current summary of preclinical and clinical research on nanomedicines for gliomas. In the future, nanotheranostics will provide personalized treatment for gliomas and other treatable cancers.

Emerging nanoplatforms towards microenvironment-responsive glioma therapy

Gliomas are aggressive intracranial tumors of the central nervous system with a poor prognosis, high risk of recurrence, and low survival rates. Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy are traditional cancer therapies. It is very challenging to accurately image and differentiate the malignancy grade of gliomas due to their heterogeneous and infiltrating nature and the obstruction of the blood-brain barrier. Imaging plays a crucial role in gliomas which significantly plays an important role in the accuracy of the diagnosis followed by any subsequent surgery or therapy. Other diagnostic methods (such as biopsies or surgery) are often very invasive. Preoperative imaging and intraoperative image-guided surgery perform the most significant safe resection. In recent years, the rapid growth of nanotechnology has opened up new avenues for glioma diagnosis and treatment. For better therapeutic efficacy, developing microenvironment-responsive nanoplatforms, including novel nanotherapeutic platforms of sonodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal treatments, are employed for improved patient survival and better clinical control outcome. In this review recent advancement of multifunctional nanoplatforms leading toward treatment of glioma is discussed.

Current research on ecotoxicity of metal-based nanoparticles: from exposure pathways, ecotoxicological effects to toxicity mechanisms

Metal-based nanoparticles have garnered significant usage across industries, spanning catalysis, optoelectronics, and drug delivery, owing to their diverse applications. However, their potential ecological toxicity remains a crucial area of research interest. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent advancements in studying the ecotoxicity of these nanoparticles, encompassing exposure pathways, toxic effects, and toxicity mechanisms. Furthermore, it delves into the challenges and future prospects in this research domain. While some progress has been made in addressing this issue, there is still a need for more comprehensive assessments to fully understand the implications of metal-based nanoparticles on the environment and human well-being.