Comparative toxicity of green and chemically synthesized CuO NPs during pregnancy and lactation in rats and offspring: Part I -hepatotoxicity

Molecular mechanism of nanomaterials induced liver injury: A review

The unique physicochemical properties inherent to nanoscale materials have unveiled numerous potential applications, spanning beyond the pharmaceutical and medical sectors into various consumer industries like food and cosmetics. Consequently, humans encounter nanomaterials through diverse exposure routes, giving rise to potential health considerations. Noteworthy among these materials are silica and specific metallic nanoparticles, extensively utilized in consumer products, which have garnered substantial attention due to their propensity to accumulate and induce adverse effects in the liver. This review paper aims to provide an exhaustive examination of the molecular mechanisms underpinning nanomaterial-induced hepatotoxicity, drawing insights from both in vitro and in vivo studies. Primarily, the most frequently observed manifestations of toxicity following the exposure of cells or animal models to various nanomaterials involve the initiation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, we delve into the existing in vitro models employed for evaluating the hepatotoxic effects of nanomaterials, emphasizing the persistent endeavors to advance and bolster the reliability of these models for nanotoxicology research.

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.

Synthesis, biomedical applications, and toxicity of CuO nanoparticles

Versatile nature of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) has made them an imperative nanomaterial being employed in nanomedicine. Various physical, chemical, and biological methodologies are in use for the preparation of CuO NPs. The physicochemical and biological properties of CuO NPs are primarily affected by their method of fabrication; therefore, selectivity of a synthetic technique is immensely important that makes these NPs appropriate for a specific biomedical application. The deliberate use of CuO NPs in biomedicine questions their biocompatible nature. For this reason, the present review has been designed to focus on the approaches employed for the synthesis of CuO NPs; their biomedical applications highlighting antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant studies; and most importantly, the in vitro and in vivo toxicity associated with these NPs. This comprehensive overview of CuO NPs is unique and novel as it emphasizes on biomedical applications of CuO NPs along with its toxicological assessments which would be useful in providing core knowledge to researchers working in these domains for planning and conducting futuristic studies. KEY POINTS: • The recent methods for fabrication of CuO nanoparticles have been discussed with emphasis on green synthesis methods for different biomedical approaches. • Antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, and antiviral properties of CuO nanoparticles have been explained. • In vitro and in vivo toxicological studies of CuO nanoparticles exploited along with their respective mechanisms.

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle-enhanced radiotherapy for lung adenocarcinoma via delivery of siBIRC5 and AS-ODN

Background

Radiotherapy is the mainstay treatment for lung adenocarcinoma, yet remains highly susceptible to resistance. Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) possess the ability to induce biological therapeutic effects. Herein, the current study set out to explore the effects of Fe₃O₄ MNPs on radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Methods

Fe₃O₄ MNPs loaded with both negatively-charged small interfering RNA against baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5 (siBIRC5) and oligodeoxynucleotide antisense (AS-ODN) to generate co-delivery NPs, followed by evaluation. Gel retardation assay was further performed to determine the binding ability of Fe₃O₄ MNPs to AS-ODN/siBIRC5. The radiosensitizing effect of NPs on lung adenocarcinoma cells was determined in the absence or the presence of NPs or radiotherapy. A549 and H460 tumor-bearing mice were established, where tumor tissues were subjected to immunohistochemistry.

Results

NPs were successfully prepared and characterized. BIRC5 expression levels were augmented in tissues of lung cancer patients. Fe₃O₄ MNPs enhanced the uptake of siBIRC5 and AS-ODN by lung adenocarcinoma cells. The presence of NPs under magnetic field reduced the BIRC5 expression and elevated the DR5 expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Lung adenocarcinoma cells treated with NPs exhibited inhibited tumor cell migration and increased DNA damage. After magnetic field treatment, tumors were better suppressed in the tumor-bearing mice treated with NPs, followed by radiotherapy.

Conclusion

Findings obtained in our study indicated that Fe₃O₄ MNPs-targeted delivery of siBIRC5 and AS-ODN enhances radiosensitivity, providing an innovative solution for the current clinically existing lung adenocarcinoma patients with radiotherapy resistance with a low risk of toxicity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-02971-7.