Effects of phonophoresis with ibuprofen associated with gold nanoparticles in animal model of traumatic muscle injury

Anti-inflammatory role of gold nanoparticles in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes memory and cognitive dysfunction and reduces a person's decision-making and reasoning functions. AD is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Patients with AD have increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the nervous system, and the sustained inflammatory response impairs neuronal function. Meanwhile, long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the incidence of AD to some extent. This confirms that anti-neuroinflammation may be an effective treatment for AD. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are an emerging nanomaterial with promising physicochemical properties, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. AuNPs reduce neuroinflammation by inducing macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, blocking leukocyte adhesion, and decreasing oxidative stress. Therefore, AuNPs are gradually attracting the interest of scholars and are used for treating inflammatory diseases and drug delivery. Herein, we explored the role and mechanism of AuNPs in treating neuroinflammation in AD. The use of AuNPs for treating AD is a topic worth exploring in the future, not only to help solve a global public health problem but also to provide a reference for treating other neuroinflammatory diseases.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation in Wistar rats

This study aimed to investigate the effect of intranasal treatment of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and Curcumin (Cur) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute pulmonary inflammatory response. A single intraperitoneal injection of LPS (0.5 mg/Kg) was performed, and the animals in the Sham group were injected with 0.9% saline. Treatment was daily intranasally with GNPs (2.5 mg/L), Cur (10 mg/kg) and GNP-Cur started 12 h after LPS administration and ended on the seventh day. The results show that the treatment performed with GNP-Cur was the most effective to attenuate the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a lower leukocyte count in the bronchoalveolar lavage, in addition to positively regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines in relation to other groups. As a result, it promoted an oxirreductive balanced environment in the lung tissue, providing a histological outcome with a reduction in inflammatory cells and greater alveolar area. The group treated with GNPs-Cur was superior to the other groups, with better anti-inflammatory activity and reduced oxidative stress, resulting in less morphological damage to lung tissue. In conclusion, the use of reduced GNPs with curcumin demonstrates promising effects in the control of the acute inflammatory response, helping to protect the lung tissue at the biochemical and morphological levels.

Gold nanoparticles application to the treatment of brain dysfunctions related to metabolic diseases: evidence from experimental studies

Nanotechnology is an emerging and expanding technology worldwide. The manipulation of materials on a nanometric scale generates new products with unique properties called nanomaterials. Due to its significant expansion, nanotechnology has been applied in several fields of study, including developing materials for biomedical applications, i.e., nanomedicine. The use of nanomaterials, including nanoparticles, in nanomedicine, is promising and has been associated with pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and therapeutic advantages. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs). AuNPs' biomedical application is extensively investigated due to their high biocompatibility, simple preparation, catalytic, and redox properties. Experimental studies have pointed out critical therapeutic actions related to AuNPs in different pathophysiological contexts, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Thus, in this review, we will discuss the main experimental findings related to the therapeutic properties of AuNPs in metabolic, neurodegenerative diseases, and ultimately brain dysfunctions related to metabolic diseases.

Phonophoresis through Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease. The administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by phonophoresis is a therapeutic alternative to relieve pain in inflammatory pathologies. The main aim was to analyze the efficacy of the application of NSAIDs by phonophoresis in knee OA. A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials were performed between January and March 2021 in the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cinahl, SciELO, and PEDro. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the level of evidence of the selected studies. The RevMan 5.4 statistical software was used to obtain the meta-analysis. Eight studies were included, of which five were included in the meta-analysis, involving 195 participants. The NSAIDs used through phonophoresis were ibuprofen, piroxicam, diclofenac sodium, diclofenac diethylammonium, ketoprofen, and methyl salicylate. The overall result for pain showed not-conclusive results, but a trend toward significance was found in favor of the phonophoresis group compared to the control group (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.92; 95% confidence interval: -1.87-0.02). Favorable results were obtained for physical function (SMD = -1.34; 95% CI: -2.00-0.68). Based on the selected studies, the application of NSAIDs by phonophoresis is effective in relieving the symptoms of knee OA. Future long-term studies are recommended.

Gold Nanoparticle-Based Therapy for Muscle Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species are released after muscle damage, and although they are necessary for the muscle regeneration process, an excess of these substances leads to the destruction of biomolecules and impairment of the repair system. Several drugs have emerged in recent years to control the muscle inflammatory response, and studies have shown that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This review reveals the effects of AuNPs on the inflammatory and redox mechanisms of muscles. We assessed the results of several studies published in different journals over the last 20 years, with a focus on the effects of AuNPs on possible aspects of muscle regeneration or recovery, namely, inflammatory processes and redox system mechanisms. A systematic database search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Bireme, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed studies from the 2000s. Combinations of keywords related to muscle damage, regeneration or repair, AuNPs, oxidative stress, and antioxidants were used in the search. This review did not address other variables, such as specific diseases or other biological effects; however, these variables should be considered for a complete understanding of the effects of AuNPs on skeletal muscles.

Evaluation of the in vivo acute toxicity of poly(thioether-ester) and superparamagnetic poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene miniemulsion polymerization

Poly(thioether-ester) (PTEe) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization have received attention of many researchers due to several advantages, including, biocompatibility and biodegradability. The search for new nanomaterials requires toxicity studies to assess potential toxic effects of their administration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo acute toxicity of PTEe and poly(thioether-ester)-coated magnetic nanoparticles prepared by thiol-ene polymerization in miniemulsion. These nanoparticles presented a mean size of approximately 120 nm, spherical morphology, and negative surface charge. Doses of 40 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally to Swiss mice and nociceptive, behavioral and biochemical parameters were investigated in five different organs. None of the nanoparticles led to any alterations in the nociceptive and behavioral responses. Biochemical alterations were observed in liver, decreasing the sulfhydryl and glutathione (GSH) levels, suggesting the dependence of the GSH metabolism in the elimination of the nanoparticles. In general, both nanoparticle types did not cause disturbances in biochemical parameters analyzed in others organs. These results suggest that both nanoparticle types did not induce acute toxicity to the different organs evaluated, reinforcing the biocompatibility of PTEe nanoparticles synthetized by thiol-ene polymerization.

Effect of Phonophoresis and Copaiba Oil on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers after Skeletal Muscle Injury in Rats

The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of phonophoresis with copaiba oil gel, in comparison to therapeutic pulsed ultrasound alone or topical application of copaiba oil gel, on oxidative stress after a traumatic muscle injury. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, muscle injury, therapeutic pulsed ultrasound (TPU), copaiba oil gel (CO) and TPU plus CO. TPU and CO application occurred at 2, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after injury. The gastrocnemius muscle was injured by mechanical trauma. Malondialdehyde (a lipoperoxidation marker) and superoxide dismutase and catalase (antioxidant enzymes) were assessed 98 h after muscle injury. All were elevated in the muscle injury group. There was a significant difference among treatment groups favoring TPU plus CO for reducing malondialdehyde levels, but all treatments reduced superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, with no between-groups difference. In conclusion, phonophoresis-the application of TPU plus CO-was superior to TPU or CO alone for reducing lipoperoxidation. Phonophoresis, TPU alone and CO were all effective in decreasing antioxidant enzyme activity after a traumatic skeletal muscle injury.

Incorporation of indomethacin into a mesoporous silica nanoparticle enhances the anti-inflammatory effect Indomethacin into a mesoporous silica

PURPOSE

We evaluated the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and toxicological effects of indomethacin incorporated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (IND+NP).

METHODS

Nociception was evaluated by the formalin assay. The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed by cell migration and paw edema assays, modulation of nitric oxide and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) by macrophages production. Toxicity was evaluated in peritoneal macrophages and by the locomotion assay and assessment of gastric injuries, presence of occult blood and hepatic and renal markers.

RESULTS

IND+NP reduced nociception during phases 1 by 53% and 2 by 79% of the formalin assay and the influx of peritoneal cells by 94%, indicating an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect more efficiently than indomethacin alone. Indomethacin, but not IND+NP, caused macroscopic gastric injuries, the presence of fecal occult blood, and an increase of ALT levels. In the paw edema assay, IND+NP reduced edema by 21%. IND+NP has no effect on the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α on no cytotoxic concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of indomethacin into mesoporous silica nanoparticles effectively increased the activity of the drug observed in the formalin and cell migration assays and prevented the gastric and hepatic damage associated with its use.