Genotoxic potential of copper oxide nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells

Effects of chronic CuNPs treatment followed by termination for two spermatogenic cycles in the testicular functions of mice

The present study investigated the possible effects of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) after discontinuing treatment on testicular activity in a mouse model. The male mice were given continuous CuNPs treatment for 70 days and left untreated for 70 days. The results show that even after the discontinuation of CuNPs treatment, the testicular impairment was persistent till 140 days at a higher dose (200 mg/kg group). The spermatogenesis, sperm parameters, proliferation and antioxidant status were suppressed in the higher dose groups. However, these effects were also observed at moderate levels in the other CuNPs treated groups, such as at 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. The apoptosis was stimulated at a higher dose compared to the other groups. The testosterone, LH levels and AR expression were suppressed in all the CuNPs treated groups, along with slight elevation in the estrogen levels and up-regulated ERβ expression. The fertility data also showed a decline in all CuNPs treated groups with the lowest litter size in the 200 mg/kg treated group. Despite testis, epididymis and accessory sex organs like prostate, seminal vesicle, and vas deferens, histoarchitecture also showed impairment. This is the first report on how CuNPs affect the male reproductive system in mice even after treatment was terminated. The current study also demonstrated possible negative effects on male reproductive function that might last for longer at higher dosages of chronic CuNPs exposure even after termination.

Copper oxide nanoparticles exhibit variable response against enzymatic toxicity biomarkers of Moina macrocopa

Growing toxicity of nanomaterials to aquatic organisms is a major area of concern as it is destroying the carefully evolved aquatic ecosystem and food web. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are among the top industrially manufactured nanomaterials having multifaceted applications in medicine, agriculture, energy, water technology, and other areas. However, reports on detailed scientific understanding behind toxic effects of CuONPs on aquatic organisms are scant. The present work reports on the interaction of CuONPs of 10 ± 05 nm with an ecologically significant aquatic species, Moina macrocopa, at morphological and enzymatic levels. CuONPs were found to be severely toxic just within 48 h of exposure as seen from the lethal value (48 h LC50) of 0.137 ± 0.002 ppm. Profiling of enzymatic toxicity biomarkers indicated variable response of CuONPs on selected enzymes of M. macrocopa at two sub-lethal concentrations (0.013 to 0.039 ppm). While the activities of acetyl cholinesterase and digestive enzymes (trypsin, amylase) were found to be significantly (p < 0.001) lowered after exposure to CuONPs, the β-galactosidase activity was completely inhibited. Among the antioxidant enzymes that were assayed, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase activity was found to increase (p > 0.001), while that of catalase decreased (p > 0.001, < 0.05) with increase in exposure to CuONPs. An upsurge of several folds was seen in the activity of alkaline phosphatase after exposure to CuONPs as compared to the control group. CuONPs accumulated in the gut region of M. macrocopa which provided an ideal environment for CuONP to interact and alter the enzymes in M. macrocopa. This report highlights the use of enzymes as sensitive biomarker to detect toxicity of trace amount of CuONPs in a very sensitive non-target crustacean species found in water bodies.

Bafi A1 inhibits nano-copper oxide-induced mitochondrial damage by reducing the release of copper from lysosomes

This study demonstrated that both copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) can cause swelling, inflammation, and cause damage to the mitochondria of alveolar type II epithelial cells in mice. Cellular examinations indicated that both CuO-NPs and Cu-NPs can reduce cell viability and harm the mitochondria of human bronchial epithelial cells, particularly Beas-2B cells. However, it is clear that CuO-NPs exhibit a more pronounced detrimental effect compared with Cu-NPs. Using bafilomycin A1 (Bafi A1), an inhibitor of lysosomal acidification, was found to enhance cell viability and alleviate mitochondrial damage caused by CuO-NPs. Additionally, Bafi A1 also reduces the accumulation of dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT), a marker for mitochondrial protein toxicity, induced by CuO-NPs. This observation suggests that the toxicity of CuO-NPs depends on the distribution of copper particles within cells, a process facilitated by the acidic environment of lysosomes. The release of copper ions is thought to be triggered by the acidic conditions within lysosomes, which aligns with the lysosomal Trojan horse mechanism. However, this association does not seem to be evident with Cu-NPs.

Insight into the molecular mechanism, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities of phyto-reduced silver nanoparticles in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines

This contribution insight on the cytotoxic and anticancer activities and molecular mechanism of phyto-reduced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. A simple, entirely green synthesis process was optimized for the phyto-reduction of AgNP (~12.7 nm) using aqueous leaf extracts of Indigofera heterantha. The structural and vibrational properties of biosynthesized AgNPs were extensively characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, x-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while their shape and morphology was studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay indicates concentration dependent inhibition with IC50, 27.93 ± 2.10 μg/mL against MCF-7 cells and 294.38 ± 3.87 μg/mL against L929 cells. The manifested anticancer mechanism in MCF-7 cells was extensively studied using Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and Annexin-V/propedium iodide fluorescence microscopic assays. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using DCFH-DA fluorescent spectroscopy. Overall, the results show that AgNPs exhibit cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on breast cancer MCF-7 cells by damaging membrane integrity and nuclear fragmentation due to oxidative stress generated by elevated level of ROS. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Biomimetic synthesis of nano dimension size silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Characterization of AgNPs through UV-Vis, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Cytotoxic and anticancer effects of the biosynthesized AgNPs in L929 fibroblast cells and MCF7 breast cancer respectively. Determination of morphological, and nuclear changes triggered by AgNPs in MCF 7 breast cancer cells using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. Apoptosis induction by AgNPs in cancer cells through oxidative stress generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Histotoxicity induced by copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) on developing mice (Mus musculus)

The wide range of applications of nanoparticles (NPs) in various industries have led to serious consequences in terms of teratogenic toxicity. The aim of current work was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles in albino mice.In this experimental study, after mating, inseminated 40 female mice were divided randomly into 4 pools (1 control and 3 experimental), ten each. Doses were administered intravenously (We followed the protocol by Yaqub et al. (2018), intravenous application is faster route as compared to oral dosage)to all the experimental groups on the 6th day of gestation (GD), dose concentrations were 200, 133.3 and 100 mg/kg body weights respectively.The doses were prepared in sequence (1/2, 1/3, 1/4 0f LD50) according to already published work. The effects of CuO-NPs show linear relationship with the above sequence. The control group was administered only with distilled water.The gravid females were sacrificed through cervical disruption at the 18th day of gestation, fetuses were removed and divided into four sets (pools) for morphometric, morphological and histological studies. Data were subjected to statistical analysis by using Tukey's test in light of ANOVA at p < 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the present study showed that CuO-NPs various concentrations affect developmental abnormalities i.e.runt embryos, resorbed uteri, exencephaly, hygroma, macroglossia, micromelia, open eye, omphalocoel, scoliosis, kyphosis and kinked tail. It is concluded that exposure to CuO-NPs may potentially lead to the developmental deformities in mice.

"From shadows to shores"-quantitative analysis of CuO nanoparticle-induced apoptosis and DNA damage in fish erythrocytes: A multimodal approach combining experimental, image-based quantification, docking and molecular dynamics

The usage of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) has significantly expanded across industries and biomedical fields. However, the potential toxic effects on non-target organisms and humans lack comprehensive understanding due to limited research on molecular mechanisms. With this study, by combining the 96 h in vivo exposure of crucian carp fish, Carassius carassius, to sub-lethal CuO NPs doses (0.5 and 1 mg/dL) with image-based quantification, and docking and molecular dynamics approaches, we aimed to understand the mechanism of CuO NPs-induced cyto-genotoxicity in the fish erythrocytes. The results revealed that both doses of copper NPs used were toxic to erythrocytes causing oxidative stress response and serious red blood cell morphological abnormalities, and genotoxicity. Docking and 10-ns molecular dynamics confirmed favorable interactions (ΔG = -2.07 kcal mol-1) and structural stability of Band3-CuO NP complex, mainly through formation of H-bonds, implying the potential of CuO NPs to induce mitotic nuclear abnormalities in C. carassius erythrocytes via Band3 inhibition. Moreover, conventional and multiple ligand simultaneous docking with DNA revealed that single, double and triple CuO NPs bind preferentially to AT-rich regions consistently in the minor grooves of DNA. Of note, the DNA-binding strength subtantially increased (ΔG = -2.13 kcal mol-1, ΔG = -4.08 kcal mol-1, and ΔG = -6.03 kcal mol-1, respectively) with an increasing number of docked CuO NPs, suggesting that direct structural perturbation on DNA could also count for the molecular basis of in-vivo induced DNA damage in C. carassius erythrocytes. This study introduces the novel term "erythrotope" to describe comprehensive red blood cell morphological abnormalities. It proves to be a reliable and cost-effective biomarker for evaluating allostatic erythrocyte load in response to metallic nanoparticle exposure, serving as a distinctive fingerprint to assess fish erythrocyte health and physiological fitness.

Effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on reproductive system of zebrafish

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were regarded as the versatile materials in daily life and the in-depth evaluation of their biological effects is of great concern. Herein the female and male zebrafishes were chosen as the model animals to analyze the reproductive toxicity caused by CuO NPs at low concentration (10, 50 and 100 μg/L) After 20-days exposure, the structure of zebrafish ovary and testis were impaired. Moreover, the contents of 17β-estradiol (E2) in both females and males were increased, while the contents of testosterone (T) were decreased, indicating the imbalanced sex hormones caused by CuO NPs. The expression of genes along the hypothalamic pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, were examined with quantitative real-time PCR to further evaluate the toxic mechanisms. Meanwhile, the levels of erα/er2β and cyp19a in female zebrafishes and erα/er2β, lhr, hmgra/hmgrb, 3βhsd and 17βhsd in male zebrafishes were obviously up-regulated. While, the level of αr was obviously down-regulated in female and male zebrafishes. Thus, the obtained data uncovered that long-term exposure of CuO NPs with low dose could trigger the endocrine disorder, resulting in the disturbance of E2 and T level, inhibition of gonad development, and alteration of HPG axis genes. In brief, this study enriched the toxicological data of NPs on aquatic vertebrates and provided the theoretical support for assessing the environmental safety of NPs.

Investigating the biocompatibility, flexural strength, and surface roughness of denture base resin containing copper oxide nanoparticles: An in vitro study

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility, flexural strength, and surface roughness of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) containing Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (CuO NPs) at different concentrations.

Methods

25 heat-polymerized PMMA wax patterns fabricated in 5 groups containing 0.5, 5, 50, and 500 μg/ml CuO NPs and nanoparticle (NP)-free PMMA discs were prepared. 5 growth mediums (DMEM with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin-streptomycin) without disks were also incubated similarly to serve as the control groups. The cytotoxicity of the discs was measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on cultured Human Gingival Fibroblasts. The number of 1.3 × 104 cells were seeded in each well of 96-well plates (5 wells for the extract of each specimen). Days 1, 3, 5, and 7 were the intervals that the culture media were in direct contact with the PMMA discs for either 24 or 72 h. After that, a total of 40 specimens with 65 × 10 × 2.5 mm dimensions were prepared in five groups (n = 8). The specimens were subjected to a rugosimeter for the evaluation of surface roughness. The flexural strength test was performed using a universal testing machine. Microscopic evaluation was performed for the dispersion of the NPs. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and parametric one-way ANOVA test were used for data analysis.

Results

The samples containing 500 μg/ml NPs showed the lowest percentage of cell viability at all incubation periods, while the highest cell viability was observed in NP-free PMMA 24 h after the seventh day of incubation. NPs at 50 and 500 μg/ml concentrations showed strongly significant differences in cytotoxicity compared to the 0 concentration and the control group (p < 0.001). Although all the samples demonstrated an increasing pattern of cell viability on the third, fifth, and seventh days, the percentage of cell viability was significantly lower after 72 h than after 24 h in all incubation periods (p < 0.001). NPs significantly increased flexural strength (p = 0.005) but did not affect the surface roughness of the PMMA discs (p = 0.396).

Significance

The CuO NPs were cytotoxic only when applied in high concentrations, but presented a descending trend over time. No cytotoxic effect was observed in the experimental groups after seven days of incubation. Furthermore, CuO NPs increased flexural strength, but the surface roughness of the PMMA discs was not affected.

Intraperitoneal hepato-renal toxicity of zinc oxide and nickel oxide nanoparticles in male rats: biochemical, hematological and histopathological studies

In recent years, zinc oxide (ZnO) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) have become more prevalent in commercial and industrial products. However, questions have been raised regarding their potential harm to human health. Limited studies have been conducted on their intraperitoneal toxicity in rats, and their co-exposure effects remain uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate some biological responses induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of ZnO-NPs (200 mg/kg) and/or NiO-NPs (50 mg/kg) in rats over time intervals. Blood and organ samples were collected from 36 male rats for hematological, biochemical, oxidative stress, and histological analysis. Results showed that the administration of NPs reduced the body and organ weights as well as red blood cell (RBC) indices and altered white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts. The experimental groups exhibited elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatinine (CREA), urea, lipid profile, glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased uric acid (UA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). Histological observations also revealed architectural damages in liver and kidneys. These alterations were time-dependent and varied in their degree of toxicity. Co-exposure of NPs initially lessened the damage but increased it afterwards compared to individual exposure. In conclusion, intraperitoneal injection of ZnO-NPs and/or NiO-NPs alters biological processes and induces oxidative stress in rats' liver and kidneys in a time-dependent manner, with NiO-NPs being more potent than ZnO-NPs. Furthermore, co-exposed NPs initially appeared to be antagonistic to one another while further aiming toward synergism.

Copper oxide nanoparticles: In vitro and in vivo toxicity, mechanisms of action and factors influencing their toxicology

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have received increasing interest due to their distinctive properties, including small particle size, high surface area, and reactivity. Due to these properties, their applications have been expanded rapidly in various areas such as biomedical properties, industrial catalysts, gas sensors, electronic materials, and environmental remediation. However, because of these widespread uses, there is now an increased risk of human exposure, which could lead to short- and long-term toxicity. This review addresses the underlying toxicity mechanisms of CuO NPs in cells which include reactive oxygen species generation, leaching of Cu ion, coordination effects, non-homeostasis effect, autophagy, and inflammation. In addition, different key factors responsible for toxicity, characterization, surface modification, dissolution, NPs dose, exposure pathways and environment are discussed to understand the toxicological impact of CuO NPs. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that CuO NPs cause oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and inflammation in bacterial, algal, fish, rodents, and human cell lines. Therefore, to make CuO NPs a more suitable candidate for various applications, it is essential to address their potential toxic effects, and hence, more studies should be done on the long-term and chronic impacts of CuO NPs at different concentrations to assure the safe usage of CuO NPs.

Human and environmental impacts of nanoparticles: a scoping review of the current literature

Use of nanoparticles have established benefits in a wide range of applications, however, the effects of exposure to nanoparticles on health and the environmental risks associated with the production and use of nanoparticles are less well-established. The present study addresses this gap in knowledge by examining, through a scoping review of the current literature, the effects of nanoparticles on human health and the environment. We searched relevant databases including Medline, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, and SAGE journals, as well as Google, Google Scholar, and grey literature from June 2021 to July 2021. After removing duplicate articles, the title and abstracts of 1495 articles were first screened followed by the full-texts of 249 studies, and this resulted in the inclusion of 117 studies in the presented review.In this contribution we conclude that while nanoparticles offer distinct benefits in a range of applications, they pose significant threats to humans and the environment. Using several biological models and biomarkers, the included studies revealed the toxic effects of nanoparticles (mainly zinc oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, silver, and carbon nanotubes) to include cell death, production of oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and induction of inflammatory responses. Most of the included studies (65.81%) investigated inorganic-based nanoparticles. In terms of biomarkers, most studies (76.9%) used immortalised cell lines, whiles 18.8% used primary cells as the biomarker for assessing human health effect of nanoparticles. Biomarkers that were used for assessing environmental impact of nanoparticles included soil samples and soybean seeds, zebrafish larvae, fish, and Daphnia magna neonates.From the studies included in this work the United States recorded the highest number of publications (n = 30, 25.64%), followed by China, India, and Saudi Arabia recording the same number of publications (n = 8 each), with 95.75% of the studies published from the year 2009. The majority of the included studies (93.16%) assessed impact of nanoparticles on human health, and 95.7% used experimental study design. This shows a clear gap exists in examining the impact of nanoparticles on the environment.

A Novel Vision of Reinforcing Nanofibrous Masks with Metal Nanoparticles: Antiviral Mechanisms Investigation

Prevention of spreading viral respiratory disease, especially in case of a pandemic such as coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), has been proved impossible without considering obligatory face mask-wearing protocols for both healthy and contaminated populations. The widespread application of face masks for long hours and almost everywhere increases the risks of bacterial growth in the warm and humid environment inside the mask. On the other hand, in the absence of antiviral agents on the surface of the mask, the virus may have a chance to stay alive and be carried to different places or even put the wearers at risk of contamination when touching or disposing the masks. In this article, the antiviral activity and mechanism of action of some of the potent metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in the role of promising virucidal agents have been reviewed, and incorporation of them in an electrospun nanofibrous structure has been considered an applicable method for the fabrication of innovative respiratory protecting materials with upgraded safety levels.

Graphical Abstract

Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles: a novel multifunctional biomimetic drug delivery system

Recently, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been widely used for the treatment, prevention, and detection of diseases. Improving the targeted delivery ability of nanoparticles has emerged as a critical issue that must be addressed as soon as possible. The bionic cell membrane coating technology has become a novel concept for the design of nanoparticles. The diverse biological roles of cell membrane surface proteins endow nanoparticles with several functions, such as immune escape, long circulation time, and targeted delivery; therefore, these proteins are being extensively studied in the fields of drug delivery, detoxification, and cancer treatment. Furthermore, hybrid cell membrane-coated nanoparticles enhance the beneficial effects of monotypic cell membranes, resulting in multifunctional and efficient delivery carriers. This review focuses on the synthesis, development, and application of the cell membrane coating technology and discusses the function and mechanism of monotypic/hybrid cell membrane-modified nanoparticles in detail. Moreover, it summarizes the applications of cell membranes from different sources and discusses the challenges that may be faced during the clinical application of bionic carriers, including their production, mechanism, and quality control. We hope this review will attract more scholars toward bionic cell membrane carriers and provide certain ideas and directions for solving the existing problems.

Nanoparticle formulations: A smart era of advanced treatment with nanotoxicological imprints on the human body

In the modern era, nanoparticles are the preferred dosage form, and maximum research is going on in the field of nanoparticle formulations. But as they are so small, nanoparticles are able to slip through the body's defenses and cause damage to the organs and tissues deep inside. In recent years, most researchers have focused solely on the therapeutic value of drugs or, at times, the performance of dosage forms, but few have given toxicity studies equal weight in their research. This review demonstrates that nanoparticle formulations are not suitable from a safety standpoint. So, researchers should be focused on alternative formulations like nanoemulsion, nanogel, and other liquids as well as semisolid formulations.

Synthesis of an Environmentally Friendly Modified Mulberry Branch-Derived Biochar Composite: High Degradation Efficiency of BPA and Mitigation of Toxicity in Silkworm Larvae

In the present study, mulberry branch-derived biochar CuO (MBC/CuO) composite was successfully synthesized and used as a catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The MBC/CuO/PS system exhibited a high degradation efficiency (93%) of BPA, under the conditions of 0.1 g/L MBC/CuO, 1.0 mM PS, 10 mg/L BPA. Free radical quenching and electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR) experiments confirmed that both free radicals ^•OH, SO₄^•- and O₂^•- and non-radicals ¹O₂ were involved in the MBC/CuO reaction system. Cl^- and NOM displayed negligible influence on the degradation of BPA, while HCO₃^- promoted the removal of BPA. In addition, the toxicity tests of BPA, MBC/CuO and the degraded BPA solution were conducted by the 5th instar silkworm larvae. The toxicity of BPA was reduced after the treatment in the MBC/CuO/PS system, and no obvious toxicity of the synthesized MBC/CuO composite was found in the toxicity evaluation experiments. This work provides a new value-added utilization of mulberry branches as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly PS activator.

The Toxic Effects of Cu and CuO Nanoparticles on Euplotes aediculatus

The single-celled eukaryote Euplotes aediculatus was chosen to test and compare the toxic effects of Cu and CuO nanoparticles (NPs). The antioxidant enzymatic activity, morphological changes, and functional groups on the membrane were determined using spectrophotometry, microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after NPs treatment. The toxicity of the NPs to cells was dose-dependent, and the 24 h-LC₅₀ values of the CuNPs and CuONPs were 0.46 µg/L and 1.24 × 10³ µg/L, respectively. These NPs increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase and destroyed the cell structure; moreover, the CuNPs were more toxic than the CuONPs. In addition to the higher enzymatic activity, CuNPs also caused nucleoli disappearance, chromatin condensation, and mitochondrial and pellicle damage. The oxidization of the functional groups of the membrane (PO₂ - , C-O-C, and δ(COH) of carbohydrates) also confirmed the severe damage caused by CuNPs. Our study showed that oxidative stress and organelle destruction played important roles in the toxic effects of these NPs on this protozoan. Compared with other aquatic organisms, E. aediculatus can be considered a potential indicator at the preliminary stage of environmental pollution.

Comparative Toxic Effect of Bulk Copper Oxide (CuO) and CuO Nanoparticles on Human Red Blood Cells

Destruction of red blood cell is associated with anemia and other pathological status; hence, the hemolytic effects of all chemicals and particles which come into contact with blood components must be considered. Nanomaterials and nanoparticles are potential substitutes for common material and particles, and assessment of their effect on blood components is a necessary part of their safety evaluation. High surface-to-volume ratio of nanoparticles may cause their toxic effects differ from those observed for bulk material. The aim of this study was to compare the hemolytic effects of CuO nanoparticles and bulk CuO. Red blood cells were isolated from blood of healthy subjects and hemolytic effects assayed following treatment of cells with 0.005-0.25 mM of CuO (bulk and nanoparticles) for 6 h. For assessment of other parameters, cells were incubated with 0.01, 0.05, and 0.25 mM of CuO nanoparticles and bulk CuO for 1, 2, and 3 h. Our results demonstrate that CuO nanoparticles, in particular, caused toxic hemolytic effects in concentration-dependent manner, and this effect maybe through formation of ROS, glutathione depletion, and lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, CuO nanoparticles are shown to effectively destruct human red blood cells in comparison to bulk CuO.

Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Exhibit Cell Death Through Oxidative Stress Responses in Human Airway Epithelial Cells: a Mechanistic Study

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are purposefully used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Several studies on the beneficial and harmful effects of CuONPs have been conducted in vivo and in vitro, but there are a few studies that explain the toxicity of CuONPs in human airway epithelial cells (HEp-2). As a result, the purpose of this study is to look into the dose-dependent toxicity of CuONPs in HEp-2 cells. After 24 h of exposure to 1-40 µg/ml CuONPs, the MTT and neutral red assays were used to test for cytotoxicity. To determine the mechanism(s) of cytotoxicity in HEp-2 cells, additional oxidative stress assays (LPO and GSH), the amount of ROS produced, the loss of MMP, caspase enzyme activities, and apoptosis-related genes were performed using qRT-PCR. CuONPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HEp-2 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of ~ 10 μg/ml. The morphology of HEp-2 cells was also altered in a dose-dependent manner. The involvement of oxidative stress in CuONP-induced cytotoxicity was demonstrated by increased LPO levels and ROS generation, as well as decreased levels of GSH and MMP. Furthermore, activated caspase enzymes and altered apoptotic genes support CuONPs' ability to induce apoptosis in HEp-2 cells. Overall, this study demonstrated that CuONPs can cause apoptosis in HEp-2 cells via oxidative stress; therefore, CuONPs may pose a risk to human health and should be handled and used with caution.

Effects of differently incubated cupric oxide nanoparticles on the granulosa cells of caprine ovary in vitro

In the nanoscience metal and metal oxide, nanoparticles have a prominent place because of their vast applications. Recent finding shows that in addition to size, there are other critical factors governing the biological response of nanoparticles. These factors include surface chemistry and shape that influences solubility, rate of diffusion, drug delivery, melting temperature, and colour of the nanoparticles. It is thus the present study that was aimed to investigate the effect of temperature on the shape and size of nanoparticles and related cytotoxicity of these particles on ovarian granulosa cells. Cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were synthesized using a simple, efficient, and reproducible precipitation method involving the reduction of Cu metal salt with sodium hydroxide and then incubation of the precipitates at 70 °C for 5 h. Subsequently, this prepared sample was divided into 3 subsamples and incubated at 3 different temperatures, i.e. 70 °C, 150 °C, and 350 °C for 5 h to study the effect of temperature on the particles. The products were characterized by XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, and FESEM. Characterization of the particles revealed that all particles were monoclinic crystalline in nature and had a size range from 9 to 60 nm. Particles were of different shapes: spherical, needle, and capsule. The toxicity of each particle was determined on granulosa cells by exposing cells for 24 h at 2 different doses. Toxicological results showed the size and shape-related toxicity of nanoparticles where spherical shapes were significantly more toxic than capsule-shaped particles.

Autophagy and lipid droplets are a defense mechanism against toxic copper oxide nanotubes in the eukaryotic microbial model Tetrahymena thermophila

The widespread use of inorganic nanomaterials of anthropogenic origin has significantly increased in the last decade, being now considered as emerging pollutants. This makes it necessary to carry out studies to further understand their toxicity and interactions with cells. In the present work we analyzed the toxicity of CuO nanotubes (CuONT) in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, a eukaryotic unicellular model with animal biology. CuONT exposure rapidly induced ROS generation in the cell leading to oxidative stress and upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), metal-chelating metallothioneins and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Comet assays and overexpression of genes involved in DNA repair confirmed oxidative DNA damage in CuONT-treated cells. Remarkably, both electron and fluorescent microscopy revealed numerous lipid droplets and autophagosomes containing CuONT aggregates and damaged mitochondria, indicating activation of macroautophagy, which was further confirmed by a dramatic upregulation of ATG (AuTophaGy related) genes. Treatment with autophagy inhibitors significantly increased CuONT toxicity, evidencing the protective role of autophagy towards CuONT-induced damage. Moreover, increased formation of lipid droplets appears as an additional mechanism of CuONT detoxification. Based on these results, we present a hypothetical scenario summarizing how T. thermophila responds to CuONT toxicity. This study corroborates the use of this ciliate as an excellent eukaryotic microbial model for analyzing the cellular response to stress caused by toxic metal nanoparticles.

Effect of the Graphene- Ni/NiFe2O4 Composite on Bacterial Inhibition Mediated by Protein Degradation

Recent investigations have demonstrated that nickel ferrite nanoparticles and their derivatives have toxicity effects on bacterial cells. In this study, we have prepared nickel ferrite nanoparticles (Ni/NiFe₂O₄) and nickel/nickel ferrite graphene oxide (Ni/NiFe₂O₄-GO) nanocomposite and evaluated their toxic effects on E. coli cells ATCC 25922. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques. The toxicity was evaluated using variations in cell viability, cell morphology, protein degradation, and oxidative stress. Ni/NiFe₂O₄-GO nanocomposites likewise prompt oxidative stress proved by the age of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exhaustion of antioxidant glutathione. This is the first report indicating that Ni/NiFe₂O₄-GO nanocomposite-initiated cell death in E. coli through ROS age and oxidative stress.

Biosynthesis of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 nanoparticles and their cytotoxic activity

Zn-doped CuFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were eco-friendly synthesized using plant extract. These nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM image showed spherical NPs with size range less than 30 nm. In the EDS diagram, the elements of zinc, copper, iron, and oxygen are shown. The cytotoxicity and anticancer properties of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 NPs were evaluated on macrophage normal cells and A549 lung cancer cells. The cytotoxic effects of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 NPs on A549 cancer cell lines were analyzed. The Zn-doped CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 NPs demonstrated IC50 values 95.8 and 278.4 µg/mL on A549 cancer cell, respectively. Additionally, Zn-doped CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 NPs had IC80 values of 8.31 and 16.1 µg/mL on A549 cancer cell, respectively. Notably, doping Zn on CuFe2O4 NPs displayed better cytotoxic effects on A549 cancer cells compared with the CuFe2O4 NPs alone. Also spinel nanocrystals of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 (~ 13 nm) had a minimum toxicity (CC50 = 136.6 µg/mL) on macrophages J774 Cell Line.

An Integrated Testing Strategy for Ecotoxicity (ITS-ECO) Assessment in the Marine Environmental Compartment using Mytilus spp.: A Case Study using Pristine and Coated CuO and TiO2 Nanomaterials

An integrated testing strategy for ecotoxicity assessment (ITS-ECO) was developed to aid in the hazard and fate assessment of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) deposited in marine environments using the bivalve Mytilus spp. as a test species. The ENMs copper(II) oxide (CuO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂ ), either in pristine form (core) or with functionalized coatings (polyethylene glycol [PEG], carboxyl [COOH], and ammonia [NH₃ ]) were selected as case study materials based on their production levels and use. High-throughput in vitro testing in Tier 1 of the ITS-ECO revealed CuO ENMs to elicit cytotoxic effects on lysosomes of hemocytes of mussels, with the hazard potential CuO PEG > CuO COOH > CuO NH₃  > CuO core, whereas TiO₂ ENMs were not cytotoxic. Genotoxicity in hemocytes as well as gill cells of mussels following in vivo exposure (48 h) to CuO ENMs was also seen. Longer in vivo exposures in Tier 2 (48 h-21 days) revealed subacute and chronic oxidative effects for both CuO and TiO₂ ENMs, in some cases leading to lipid peroxidation (core TiO₂ ENMs). In Tier 3 bioaccumulation studies, distinct patterns of uptake for Cu (predominantly in gills) and Ti (predominantly in digestive glands) and between the different core and coated ENMs were found. Clear NM-specific and coating-dependent effects on hazard and fate were seen. Overall, using a tiered testing approach, the ITS-ECO was able to differentiate the hazard (acute, subacute, and chronic effects) posed by ENMs of different compositions and coatings and to provide information on fate for environmental risk assessment of these ENMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1390-1406. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Histomorphological changes and molecular mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effect of resveratrol on the liver of silver nanoparticles-exposed rats

Exposure to the deleterious effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is inevitable due to their wide use in medicine and daily life. The current study aimed to delineate the histomorphological changes and the molecular mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effect of Resveratrol (RSV) on rats' livers exposed to AgNPs. Fifty healthy adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: control, AgNPs-exposed, RSV-treated after AgNPs exposure, and recovery groups. Liver sections were examined by light and electron microscopes, and immunohistochemistry was performed for detection of activated caspase3 and TNFα. Serum ALT and AST, plasma levels of TNFα, IL-6, GSH and SOD were measured. mRNA expression of SIRT1, ADORA3, PAI, CDK1, Nrf2 and NFκB genes in liver tissue homogenate was performed using qRT-PCR. AgNPs-exposure for 28 days caused marked liver tissue damage with trapping in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, while RSV treatment ameliorated liver ultrastructure and function. Our results clarified the molecular basis of RSV ameliorative effect on liver tissue by significant upregulation of SIRT1-NrF2 signaling pathway with increased levels of the antioxidant GSH and SOD, which represent the antioxidant effect of RSV. Significant upregulation of the protective ADORA3 with downregulation of the proinflammatory PAI-1 and NFκB mRNA expression levels besides decreased plasma levels of TNFα, IL-6 and decreased immunoexpression of TNFα in liver tissue, represent the anti-inflammatory effect of RSV. In addition, decreased immunoexpression of caspase3 and downregulation of CDK1 expression, represent its antiapoptotic effect. In conclusion: RSV ameliorates AgNPs-induced liver damage by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects.Abbreviations: AgNPs: Silver nanoparticles, RSV: Resveratrol, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, ESR: Electron spin resonance, DMPO: 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, H₂O₂: Hydrogen peroxide, SOD: Superoxide dismutase, CAT: Catalase, GPx: Glutathione peroxidase, MPTP: Methyl-4-phenyl-1.2.3.6-tetrahydropyridine, MDA: Malondialdehyde, TNF: Tumor necrosis factor, GSH: Glutathione, Nrf2: Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2, ARE: Antioxidant response elements, KEAP1: Kelch-1ike ECH-associated protein l, AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase, HO-1: Heme oxygenase-1, NF-κB: Nuclear factor-kappa B, SIRT1: Sirtuins, FOXO: Forkhead box, UCP2: Uncoupling protein 2, STZ: Streptozotocin nicotinamide, HSC: hepatic stellate cells, ECM: extracellular matrix.

Trigger of apoptosis in adenocarcinoma gastric cell line (AGS) by a complex of thiosemicarbazone and copper nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

Seeking novel anticancer agents with minimal side effects against gastric cancer is vitally important. Copper, as an important trace element, takes roles in different physiologic pathways. Also, there is a higher demand for copper in cancer cells than normal ones. Copper complexes containing a therapeutic ligand could be promising candidates for gastric cancer chemotherapy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this work, copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized, functionalized with glutamic acid (CuO@Glu) and conjugated with thiosemicarbazone (CuO@Glu/TSC NPs). The NPs were characterized and their antiproliferative potential against AGS cancer cells was investigated using MTT, flow cytometry, Hoechst staining, and caspase 3 activation assays. The FT-IR results showed the proper binding of TSC to CuO@Glu NPs and crystallinity of the prepared NPs was confirmed by the XRD pattern. The EDX analysis confirmed the presence of Cu, N, C, O, and S elements and lack of impurities. The Hydrodynamic size and zeta potential of the CuO@Glu/TSC NPs were 168 nm and 27.5 mV, respectively. The NPs had spherical shape and were in a size range of 10 to 60 nm in diameter. This work revealed that CuO@Glu/TSC NPs efficiently inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells with significantly lower IC₅₀ value (203 µg/mL) than normal HEK293 cells (IC₅₀ = 435 µg/mL). Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining obviously revealed apoptosis induction among CuO@Glu/TSC treated cells, and caspase-3 activity significantly increased by 1.4 folds.

CONCLUSIONS

This study introduced CuO@Glu/TSC as an efficient anticancer against gastric cancer cells with lower toxicity toward normal cells which could be employed for cancer treatment after further studies.

Renal ultrastructural damage induced by chronic exposure to copper oxide nanomaterials: Electron microscopy study

Copper oxide nanomaterials are used in many biomedical, agricultural, environmental, and industrial sectors with potential risk to human health and the environment. The present study was conducted to determine the renal ultrastructural damage caused by 25 nm CuO nanoparticles in renal tissues. Adult healthy male Wister Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were administered 35 intraperitoneal injections of CuO nanoparticles (2 mg/kg). Ultrastructural changes were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy techniques. The renal tissues of rats with subchronic exposure to CuO nanoparticles demonstrated glomerular alterations that included hypertrophic endothelial cells, dilated capillaries and occlusions, podocyte hypertrophy, pedicle disorganization, mesangial cell hyperplasia, and crystalloid precipitation. Moreover, the treated renal cells exhibited mitochondrial swelling and crystolysis, cytoplasmic vacoulization, lysosomal hypertrophy, apoptotic activity, endoplasmic reticulum dilatation, nuclear deformity, chromatin dissolution, and basement membrane thickening. In addition, disruption and disorganization of the renal cells microvilli together with cystolic inclusions were also detected. It was concluded from the present findings that CuO nanoparticles could interact with the components of the renal tissues in ways that could cause ultrastructural injury, suggesting renal tissue pathophysiology. Additional studies are suggested for a better understanding the nanotoxicity of CuO nanomaterials.

Review on Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Materials: Bioimaging, Biosensing, Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering, Antimicrobial, and Agro-Food Applications

In the last few decades, the vast potential of nanomaterials for biomedical and healthcare applications has been extensively investigated. Several case studies demonstrated that nanomaterials can offer solutions to the current challenges of raw materials in the biomedical and healthcare fields. This review describes the different nanoparticles and nanostructured material synthesis approaches and presents some emerging biomedical, healthcare, and agro-food applications. This review focuses on various nanomaterial types (e.g., spherical, nanorods, nanotubes, nanosheets, nanofibers, core-shell, and mesoporous) that can be synthesized from different raw materials and their emerging applications in bioimaging, biosensing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial, and agro-foods. Depending on their morphology (e.g., size, aspect ratio, geometry, porosity), nanomaterials can be used as formulation modifiers, moisturizers, nanofillers, additives, membranes, and films. As toxicological assessment depends on sizes and morphologies, stringent regulation is needed from the testing of efficient nanomaterials dosages. The challenges and perspectives for an industrial breakthrough of nanomaterials are related to the optimization of production and processing conditions.

Green synthesis of bimetallic ZnO-CuO nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity properties

In this study, a simple and green strategy was reported to prepare bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by the combination of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) using Sambucus nigra L. extract. The physicochemical properties of these NPs such as crystal structure, size, and morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results suggested that these NPs contained polygonal ZnO NPs with hexagonal phase and spherical CuO NPs with monoclinic phase. The anticancer activity of the prepared bimetallic NPs was evaluated against lung and human melanoma cell lines based on MTT assay. As a result, the bimetallic ZnO/CuO NPs exhibited high toxicity on melanoma cancer cells while their toxicity on lung cancer cells was low.

Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Copper oxide Nanoparticles in chickens

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are consciously used to control the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae. Several studies documented the beneficial and hazardous effects of CuO-NPs on human cells and different experimental animals but there are not many studies that report the effect of CuO-NPs in poultry. Therefore, the present study was performed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on the growth performance, immune status, oxidant/antioxidant capacity, DNA status, and histological structures of most edible parts of broiler chickens (muscle, heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys). The experiment was carried out on 90 1-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) which were divided into three experimental groups (n = 30) in three replicates (n = 10). Group 1 was kept as a control group and did not receive copper oxide nanoparticles. Groups 2 and 3 received CuO-NPs by oral gavage at dose 5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg bwt respectively at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of the life of the chickens. An increase in the amount of feed intake and weight was recorded every week, and finally, the food conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Our results showed dose-dependent increases in malondialdehyde levels, copper contents, DNA fragmentation percent, and microscopic scoring in different examined organs of CuO-NPs-receiving groups associated with a remarkable reduction in weight gain, food conversion ratio, catalase activity, and antibody titer of both New Castle and Avian Influenza viruses. Histopathological alterations were observed in both groups receiving CuO-NPs with some variations in its severity. Our study concluded that CuO-NPs are considered cytotoxic and we recommend not adding them to poultry feed.

Phytoantioxidant Functionalized Nanoparticles: A Green Approach to Combat Nanoparticle-Induced Oxidative Stress

Nanotechnology is gaining significant attention, with numerous biomedical applications. Silver in wound dressings, copper oxide and silver in antibacterial preparations, and zinc oxide nanoparticles as a food and cosmetic ingredient are common examples. However, adverse effects of nanoparticles in humans and the environment from extended exposure at varied concentrations have yet to be established. One of the drawbacks of employing nanoparticles is their tendency to cause oxidative stress, a significant public health concern with life-threatening consequences. Cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory problems and diabetes are among the oxidative stress-related disorders. In this context, phytoantioxidant functionalized nanoparticles could be a novel and effective alternative. In addition to performing their intended function, they can protect against oxidative damage. This review was designed by searching through various websites, books, and articles found in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. To begin with, oxidative stress, its related diseases, and the mechanistic basis of oxidative damage caused by nanoparticles are discussed. One of the main mechanisms of action of nanoparticles was unearthed to be oxidative stress, which limits their use in humans. Secondly, the role of phytoantioxidant functionalized nanoparticles in oxidative damage prevention is critically discussed. The parameters for the characterization of nanoparticles were also discussed. The majority of silver, gold, iron, zinc oxide, and copper nanoparticles produced utilizing various plant extracts were active free radical scavengers. This potential is linked to several surface fabricated phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids and phenols. These phytoantioxidant functionalized nanoparticles could be a better alternative to nanoparticles prepared by other existing approaches.

Effect of Nanostructures on the Properties of Glass Ionomer Dental Restoratives/Cements: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

Overall perspective of nanotechnology and reinforcement of dental biomaterials by nanoparticles has been reported in the literature. However, the literature regarding the reinforcement of dental biomaterials after incorporating various nanostructures is sparse. The present review addresses current developments of glass ionomer cements (GICs) after incorporating various metallic, polymeric, inorganic and carbon-based nanostructures. In addition, types, applications, and implications of various nanostructures incorporated in GICs are discussed. Most of the attempts by researchers are based on the laboratory-based studies; hence, it warrants long-term clinical trials to aid the development of suitable materials for the load bearing posterior dentition. Nevertheless, a few meaningful conclusions are drawn from this substantial piece of work; they are as follows: (1) most of the nanostructures are likely to enhance the mechanical strength of GICs; (2) certain nanostructures improve the antibacterial activity of GICs against the cariogenic bacteria; (3) clinical translation of these promising outcomes are completely missing, and (4) the nanostructured modified GICs could perform better than their conventional counterparts in the load bearing posterior dentition.

Integrated in silico analysis for the identification of key genes and signaling pathways in copper oxide nanoparticles toxicity

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are used in various industrial and commercial products due to their enhanced physicochemical properties. The vast consumption increases their exposure in the environment, thereby affecting the ecosystem. Even with the rise in research towards understanding their toxicity, the major signaling cascades and key genes involved in CuO-NPs remain elusive due to the various attributes involved (size, shape, charge, coating in terms of nanoparticles, and dose, duration, and species used in the experiment). The focus of the study is to identify the key signaling cascades and genes involved in CuO-NPs toxicity irrespective of these attributes. CuO-NPs related microarray expression profiles were screened from GEO database and were subjected to toxicogenomic analysis to elucidate the toxicity mechanism. In silico tools were used to obtain the DEGs, followed by GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis. The identified DEGs were then analyzed to determine major signaling pathways and key genes. Module and centrality parameter analysis was performed to identify the key genes. Further, the miRNAs and transcription factors involved in regulating the genes were predicted, and their interactive pathways were constructed. A total of 44 DEGs were commonly present in all the analysed datasets and all of them were downregulated. GO analysis reveals that most of the genes were enriched in functions related to cell division and chemotaxis. Cell-cycle, chemokine, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and p53 signaling pathways were the key pathways with Cdk1 as the major biomarker altered irrespective of the variables (dosage, duration, species used, and surface coating). Overall, our integrated toxicogenomic analysis reveal that Cdk1 regulated cell cycle and cytokine-cytokine signaling cascades might be responsible for CuO-NPs toxicity. These findings will help us in understanding the mechanisms involved in NPs toxicity.

Toxicity assessment of metallic nickel nanoparticles in various biological models: An interplay of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and apoptosis

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) are widely used for multiple purposes in industries. Ni-NPs exposure is detrimental to ecosystems owing to widespread use, and so their toxicity is important to consider for real-world applications. This review mainly focuses on the notable pathophysiological activities of Ni-NPs in various research models. Ni-NPs are stated to be more toxic than bulk forms because of their larger surface area to volume ratio and are reported to provoke toxicity through reactive oxygen species generation, which leads to the upregulation of nuclear factor-κB and promotes further signaling cascades. Ni-NPs may contribute to provoking oxidative stress and apoptosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways are involved in Ni-NPs associated toxicity. Ni-NPs trigger the transcription factors p-p38, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, interleukin (IL)-3, TNF-α, IL-13, Fas, Cyt c, Bax, Bid protein, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, Ni-NPs have an occupational vulnerability and were reported to induce lung-related disorders owing to inhalation. Ni-NPs may cause serious effects on reproduction as Ni-NPs induced deleterious effects on reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) in animal models and provoked hormonal alteration. However, recent studies have provided limited knowledge regarding the important checkpoints of signaling pathways and less focused on the toxic limitation of Ni-NPs in humans, which therefore needs to be further investigated.

Effects of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Immune and Metabolic Parameters of Galleria mellonella L

In this study, the effects of dietary CuO nanoparticles (NPs) on metabolic enzyme activity, biochemical parameters, and total (THC) and differential hemocyte counts (DHC) were determined in Galleria mellonella larvae. Using concentrations of 10, 100, 1000 mg/L and the LC10 and LC30 levels of CuO NPs, we determined that the NPs negatively impacted metabolic enzyme activity and biochemical parameters in larval hemolymph. Compared with the control, the greatest increase in THC was observed in larvae fed on diets with 100 mg L^-1 of CuO NPs. Plasmatocytes and granulocytes were among the most numerous hemocytes in all treatments. These results suggest that dietary CuO NPs effects the metabolic metabolism and immune system of G. mellonella and provide indirect information regarding the toxic effects of CuO NPs in mammalian immune system given similarities between mammalian blood cells and insect hemocytes.

Copper Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Acute Inflammatory Response and Injury in Murine Lung Is Ameliorated by Synthetic Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside (LGM2605)

Metal-oxide nanoparticles (MO-NPs), such as the highly bioreactive copper-based nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), are widely used in manufacturing of hundreds of commercial products. Epidemiological studies correlated levels of nanoparticles in ambient air with a significant increase in lung disease. CuO-NPs, specifically, were among the most potent in a set of metal-oxides and carbons studied in parallel regarding DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Despite advances in nanotoxicology research and the characterization of their toxicity, the exact mechanism(s) of toxicity are yet to be defined. We identified chlorination toxicity as a damaging consequence of inflammation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activation, resulting in macromolecular damage and cell damage/death. We hypothesized that the inhalation of CuO-NPs elicits an inflammatory response resulting in chlorination damage in cells and lung tissues. We further tested the protective action of LGM2605, a synthetic small molecule with known scavenging properties for reactive oxygen species (ROS), but most importantly, for active chlorine species (ACS) and an inhibitor of MPO. CuO-NPs (15 µg/bolus) were instilled intranasally in mice and the kinetics of the inflammatory response in lungs was evaluated 1, 3, and 7 days later. Evaluation of the protective action of LGM2605 was performed at 24 h post-challenge, which was selected as the peak acute inflammatory response to CuO-NP. LGM2605 was given daily via gavage to mice starting 2 days prior to the time of the insult (100 mg/kg). CuO-NPs induced a significant inflammatory influx, inflammasome-relevant cytokine release, and chlorination damage in mouse lungs, which was mitigated by the action of LGM2605. Preventive action of LGM2605 ameliorated the adverse effects of CuO-NP in lung.

Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application: Nanotoxicology

Nanoparticles are of great importance in development and research because of their application in industries and biomedicine. The development of nanoparticles requires proper knowledge of their fabrication, interaction, release, distribution, target, compatibility, and functions. This review presents a comprehensive update on nanoparticles' toxic effects, the factors underlying their toxicity, and the mechanisms by which toxicity is induced. Recent studies have found that nanoparticles may cause serious health effects when exposed to the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact without caution. The extent to which toxicity is induced depends on some properties, including the nature and size of the nanoparticle, the surface area, shape, aspect ratio, surface coating, crystallinity, dissolution, and agglomeration. In all, the general mechanisms by which it causes toxicity lie on its capability to initiate the formation of reactive species, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity, among others.

Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Aerva javanica Leaf Extract and Their Characterization and Investigation of In Vitro Antimicrobial Potential and Cytotoxic Activities

The development of green technology is creating great interest for researchers towards low-cost and environmentally friendly methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) attracted many researchers due to their electric, catalytic, optical, textile, photonic, monofluid, and pharmacological activities that depend on the shape and size of the nanoparticles. This investigation aims copper oxide nanoparticles synthesis using Aerva javanica plant leaf extract. Characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized by green route was performed by three different techniques: X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the crystalline morphology of CuO-NPs and the average crystal size obtained is 15 nm. SEM images showed the spherical nature of the particles and size is lying in the 15-23 nm range. FTIR analysis confirms the functional groups of active components present in the extract which are responsible for reducing and capping agents for the synthesis of CuO-NPs. The synthesized CuO-NPs were studied for their antimicrobial potential against different bacterial as well as fungal pathogens. The results indicated that CuO-NPs show maximum antimicrobial activities against all the selected bacterial and fungal pathogens. Antimicrobial activities of copper oxide nanoparticles were compared with standard drugs Norfloxacin and amphotericin B antibiotics. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of copper oxide nanoparticles were 128 μg/mL against all selected bacterial pathogens. MIC of fungus and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of CuO-NPs were 160 μg/mL. Thus, CuO-NPs can be utilized as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. The cytotoxic activity of the synthesized CuO-NPs suggested that toxicity was negligible at concentrations below 60 μg/mL.

A tandem activation of NLRP3 inflammasome induced by copper oxide nanoparticles and dissolved copper ion in J774A.1 macrophage

For the first time, we reported that CuONPs exposure induced interleukin (IL)-1β-mediated inflammation via NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in J774A.1 macrophage. Mechanistically, CuONPs activated NLRP3 inflammasome is a two-fold process. Firstly, CuONPs challenge caused lysosomal damage, along with the release of cathepsin B, which directly mediated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Interestingly, after the deposition in lysosomes, CuONPs may release copper ion due to the acidic environment of lysosomes. Consequently, the released copper ions significantly induced cellular oxidative stress and further mediated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Moreover, CuONPs exposure could prime J774A.1 macrophage to express pro-IL-1β through myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal pathway subsequently activating nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB).

TGF-β1-induced EMT activation via both Smad-dependent and MAPK signaling pathways in Cu-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Copper (Cu) is considered as an essential trace element for living organisms. However, over-exposure to Cu can lead to adverse health effects on human and animals. There are limited researches on pulmonary toxicity induced by Cu. Here, we found that copper sulfate (CuSO4)-treatment could induce pulmonary fibrosis with Masson staining and up-regulated protein and mRNA expression of Collagen I and α-Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA) in mice. Next, the mechanism underlying Cu-induced pulmonary fibrosis was explored, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-mediated Smad pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CuSO4 triggered pulmonary fibrosis by activation of the TGF-β1/Smad pathway, which was accomplished by increasing TGF-β1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 protein and mRNA expression levels. Also, up-regulated protein and mRNA expression of p-JNK, p-ERK, and p-p38 demonstrated that CuSO4 activated MAPKs pathways. Concurrently, EMT was activated by increasing vimentin and N-cadherin while decreasing E-cadherin protein and mRNA expression levels. Altogether, the abovementioned findings indicate that CuSO4 treatment may induce pulmonary fibrosis through the activation of EMT induced by TGF-β1/Smad pathway and MAPKs pathways, revealing the mechanism Cu-caused pulmonary toxicity.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Toxicity and Biosafety of Plasma Polymerized Nanoparticles

The rapid growth of nanoparticle-based therapeutics has underpinned significant developments in nanomedicine, which aim to overcome the limitations imposed by conventional therapies. Establishing the safety of new nanoparticle formulations is the first important step on the pathway to clinical translation. We have recently shown that plasma-polymerized nanoparticles (PPNs) are highly efficient nanocarriers and a viable, cost-effective alternative to conventional chemically synthesized nanoparticles. Here, we present the first comprehensive toxicity and biosafety study of PPNs using both established in vitro cell models and in vivo models. Overall, we show that PPNs were extremely well tolerated by all the cell types tested, significantly outperforming commercially available lipid-based nanoparticles (lipofectamine) used at the manufacturer’s recommended dosage. Supporting the in vitro data, the systemic toxicity of PPNs was negligible in BALB/c mice following acute and repeated tail-vein intravenous injections. PPNs were remarkably well tolerated in mice without any evidence of behavioral changes, weight loss, significant changes to the hematological profile, or signs of histological damage in tissues. PPNs were tolerated at extremely high doses without animal mortality observed at 6000 mg/kg and 48,000 mg/kg for acute and repeated-injection regimens, respectively. Our findings demonstrate the safety of PPNs in biological systems, adding to their future potential in biomedical applications.

High-Throughput Screening Platform for Nanoparticle-Mediated Alterations of DNA Repair Capacity

The potential genotoxic effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) may occur through the induction of DNA damage or the disruption of DNA repair processes. Inefficient DNA repair may lead to the accumulation of DNA lesions and has been linked to various diseases, including cancer. Most studies so far have focused on understanding the nanogenotoxicity of ENM-induced damages to DNA, whereas the effects on DNA repair have been widely overlooked. The recently developed fluorescence multiplex-host-cell reactivation (FM-HCR) assay allows for the direct quantification of multiple DNA repair pathways in living cells and offers a great opportunity to address this methodological gap. Herein an FM-HCR-based method is developed to screen the impact of ENMs on six major DNA repair pathways using suspended or adherent cells. The sensitivity and efficiency of this DNA repair screening method were demonstrated in case studies using primary human small airway epithelial cells and TK6 cells exposed to various model ENMs (CuO, ZnO, and Ga2O3) at subcytotoxic doses. It was shown that ENMs may inhibit nucleotide-excision repair, base-excision repair, and the repair of oxidative damage by DNA glycosylases in TK6 cells, even in the absence of significant genomic DNA damage. It is of note that the DNA repair capacity was increased by some ENMs, whereas it was suppressed by others. Overall, this method can be part of a multitier, in vitro hazard assessment of ENMs as a functional, high-throughput platform that provides insights into the interplay of the properties of ENMs, the DNA repair efficiency, and the genomic stability.

Spectroscopic and Antibacterial Properties of CuONPs from Orange, Lemon and Tangerine Peel Extracts: Potential for Combating Bacterial Resistance

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using citrus peel extracts is known to be environmentally friendly and non-toxic when compared to chemical methods. In this study, different citrus peel extracts obtained with the solvents acetone and distilled water were used to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs). The nanoparticles were characterized using cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The absorption spectrum of CuONPs prepared with acetone exhibited characteristic peaks at the wavelengths between 280-293 nm, while those with distilled water had peaks at 290 nm. The acetone-synthesized CuONPs were spherical while those produced using distilled water were rod-shaped. Based on EDS, the analysis revealed a trace spectrum of CuO nanoparticles with different weight compositions that varied with the type of citrus peel and solvent used. FTIR measurements were carried out in the range of 500-4000 cm^-1 for citrus peel extract mediated CuONPs. The spectra had five vibrations occurring at approximately 473, 477, 482, 607 and 616 cm^-1 for all samples, which can be attributed to the vibrations of CuO, validating the formation of highly pure CuONPs.

Exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles triggers oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress induced toxicology and apoptosis in male rat liver and BRL-3A cell

Copper oxide nanoparticles (Nano-CuO) toxicity has been researched widely in recent years. However, the relationship between oxidative stress and ER-stress and the possible mechanisms induced by Nano-CuO have been rarely studied. Here, the mechanism of hepatotoxicity and apoptosis through oxidative stress and ER-stress induced by Nano-CuO was investigated in vivo and in vitro. In in vivo experiments, male Wistar rats were intranasally instilled 10 μg Nano-CuO/g body weight daily for 60 days, which caused liver function impairment, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, histopathological and ultrastructural damage, ER-stress and apoptosis in liver tissue. in vitro experiments on rat hepatocytes BRL-3A cells showed that exposure to Nano-CuO for 24 h resulted in excess production of reactive oxygen species leading to decrease in mitochondria membrane potential causing cell death by inducing apoptosis. However, administration of n-acetyl cysteine decreased the apoptosis in Nano-cuo treated group. The in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that oxidative stress triggered ER-stress pathway, leading to the opening of apoptosis pathways of CHOP, JNK, and Caspase-12. In summary, treatment of Nano Cuo triggered oxidative stress by ROS, which in turn resulted in activation of ER stress pathways causing cell death in liver tissue and BRL-3A cells.

Antibacterial and cytotoxic evaluation of copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles as a potential disinfectant material of connections in implant provisional abutments: An in-vitro study

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the antibacterial activity against mono and multispecies bacterial models and the cytotoxic effects of zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles(ZnO-NPs/Cu-NPs) in cell cultures of human gingival fibroblasts(HGFs).

DESIGN

The antibacterial activities of ZnO-NPs and Cu-NPs against 4 bacteria species were tested according to their minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) and against mature multispecies anaerobic model by spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy. The viabilities and cytotoxic effects of ZnO-NPs and Cu-NPs to HGFs cell cultures were tested by MTT, LDH assays, production of ROS, and the activation of caspase-3. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey tests, considering p < 0.05 as statistically significant.

RESULTS

For all strains, MICs of ZnO-NPs and Cu-NPs were in the range of 78.3 μg/mL-3906 μg/mL and 125 μg/mL-625 ug/mL, respectively. In a multispecies model, a significant decrease in the total biomass volume(μ3) was observed in response to exposure to 125 μg/mL of each NPs for which there was bactericidal activity. Significant differences were found between the volumes of viable and nonviable biomass exposed to nanostructures with Cu-NPs compared to ZnO-NPs. Both NPs induced mitochondrial dose-dependent cytotoxicity, ZnO-NPs increases LDH release and intracellular ROS generation. Cu-NPs at a concentration of 50 μg/mL induced production of cleaved caspase-3, activating the apoptotic pathway early and at low doses.

CONCLUSIONS

After 24 h, ZnO-NPs are biocompatible between 78-100 μg/mL and Cu-NPs below 50 μg/mL. Antibacterial activity in a monospecies model is strain dependent, and in a multispecies model was a lower doses after 10 min of exposure.

Current understanding of nanoparticle toxicity mechanisms and interactions with biological systems

Nanotechnology is an emerging science involving the manipulation of matter on the nanometer scale.