Short-term culture of monocytes as an in vitro evaluation system for bionanomaterials designated for medical use

Biosynthesis of P(3HB-co-3HHx) Copolymers by a Newly Engineered Strain of Cupriavidus necator PHB−4/pBBR_CnPro-phaCRp for Skin Tissue Engineering Application

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers synthesized by certain bacteria and archaea with functions comparable to conventional plastics. Previously, our research group reported a newly PHA-producing bacterial strain, Rhodococcus pyridinivorans BSRT1-1, from the soil in Thailand. However, this strain’s PHA synthase (phaCRp) gene has not yet been characterized. Thus, this study aims to synthesize PHA using a newly engineered bacterial strain, Cupriavidus necator PHB−4/pBBR_CnPro-phaCRp, which harbors the phaCRp from strain BSRT1-1, and characterize the properties of PHA for skin tissue engineering application. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the characterization of the PhaC from R. pyridinivorans species. The results demonstrated that the expression of the phaCRp in C. necator PHB−4 had developed in PHA production up to 3.1 ± 0.3 g/L when using 10 g/L of crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) as a sole carbon source. Interestingly, the engineered strain produced a 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) with 2 mol% of 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) monomer without adding precursor substrates. In addition, the 70 L stirrer bioreactor improved P(3HB-co-2 mol% 3HHx) yield 1.4-fold over the flask scale without altering monomer composition. Furthermore, the characterization of copolymer properties showed that this copolymer is promising for skin tissue engineering applications.

Metabolomic method to detect a metabolite corona on amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles

Protein coronas on nanoparticles (NPs) affect their physicochemical properties, cellular uptake, and toxicity, and have been described extensively. To date, studies of the occurrence of small molecule (metabolite) coronas are limited. We sought to determine whether a metabolite corona forms on NPs, using high-sensitivity metabolomics combined with a model system for freshwater ecotoxicology (Daphnia magna feeding on Chlorella vulgaris). Using amino-functionalized polystyrene NPs (NH₂-pNPs), we showed the impact of this material on Daphnia feeding to provide a rationale for the detailed molecular investigations. We then employed a targeted LC-MS/MS approach for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an analog to signaling molecules known to occur in our freshwater model system and optimized a corona extraction method for this representative metabolite. Next, we performed an untargeted discovery-based metabolomics study - using high-sensitivity nanoelectrospray direct infusion mass spectrometry (DIMS) - to enable an unbiased assessment of the metabolite corona of NH₂-pNPs in the freshwater model system. Our results demonstrate that SDS was successfully recovered from NH₂-pNPs, confirming that the extraction protocol was fit-for-purpose. Untargeted DIMS metabolomics reproducibly detected 100 s of small molecule peaks extracted from NH₂-pNPs exposed to conditioned media from the D. magna-C. vulgaris model system. Attempts to annotate these extracted metabolites, including by using van Krevelen and Kendrick Mass Defect plots, indicate a diverse range of metabolites that were not clustered into any particular class. Overall we demonstrate the existence of an ecologically relevant metabolite corona on the surface of NPs through application of a high-sensitivity, untargeted mass spectrometry metabolomics workflow.

In vitro blood compatibility and in vitro cytotoxicity of amphiphilic poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles

This study focused on defining the in vitro behavior of amphiphilic poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone (Amph-PVP) nanoparticles toward whole blood, blood plasma and blood cells in order to assess nanoparticle blood compatibility. In addition, possible effects on endothelium cell growth/viability were evaluated. The Amph-PVP nanoparticles were formed via self-assembling in aqueous media and composed of a hydrophobic alkyl core and a hydrophilic PVP outer shell. Their blood compatibility was evaluated by investigating their effect on red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes, white blood cells (WBCs) or leukocytes, platelets (PLTs) and on complement system activation. Our results clearly demonstrate that the Amph-PVP nanoparticles are stable in presence of blood serum, have no significant effects on the function of RBCs, WBCs, PLTs and complement system activation. The Amph-PVP nanoparticles did not show considerable hemolytic or inflammatory effect, neither influence on platelet aggregation, coagulation process, or complement activation at the tested concentration range of 0.05-0.5 mg/ml. The Amph-PVP nanoparticles did not exhibit any significant effect on HMEC-1 microvascular skin endothelial cells' growth in in vitro experiments. The excellent blood compatibility of the Amph-PVP nanoparticles and the lack of effect on endothelium cell growth/viability represent a crucial feature dictating their further study as novel drug delivery systems.

In vitro assessment of silver nanoparticles immunotoxicity

This study aimed to characterize unwanted immune effects of nanoparticles (NP) using THP-1 cells, human whole blood and enriched peripheral blood monocytes. Commercially available silver NP (AgNP < 100 nm, also confirmed by Single Particle Extinction and Scattering) were used as prototypical NP. Cells were treated with AgNP alone or in combination with classical immune stimuli (i.e. LPS, PHA, PWM) and cytokine assessed; in addition, CD54 and CD86 expression was evaluated in THP-1 cells. AgNP alone induced dose-related IL-8 production in all models, with higher response observed in THP-1 cells, possibly connected to different protein corona formation in bovine versus human serum. AgNP potentiated LPS-induced IL-8 and TNF-α, but not LPS-induced IL-10. AgNP alone induced slight increase in IL-4, and no change in IFN-γ production. While responses to PHA in term of IL-4 and IFN-γ production were not affected, increased PWM-induced IL-4 and IFN-γ production were observed, suggesting potentiation of humoral response. Reduction in PHA-induced IL-10 was observed. Overall, results indicate immunostimulatory effects. THP-1 cells work as well as primary cells, representing a useful and practical alternative, with the awareness that from a physiological point of view the whole blood assay is the one that comes closest to reality.

V, S. P, N. R, K. K. In vitro cytotoxicity of zinc oxide, iron oxide and copper nanopowders prepared by green synthesis

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In vitro cyototoxicity of green synthesized copper, iron oxide and zinc oxide nanopowders were assessed.

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Vero, PK 15 and MDBK cells used for in vitro study for nanopowders use in animal applications.

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Effect of various concentrations (10–50 μg/100 μl) and exposure time of nanopowders were evaluated in the current study.

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It suggested that the activity of green synthesized NPs were highly dependent on concentration, exposure time and type of cells.

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Present study revealed that the all the three selected metallic nanoparticles were found non-toxic.

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The synthesized nanoparticles may be used for in vivo application.

In vitro cytotoxic effects of ZnO, FeO and Cu metallic nanopowders (NPs) on Vero (African green monkey kidney cell line), PK 15 (Pig kidney cell line) and Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cell lines were investigated at different time intervals (24 and 48 h). MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of green synthesized (plant based) nanopowders. The comparative effects of exposure period and concentration of nanopowders on cell viability were studied. Green synthesized nanopowders showed varying activity on different type of cells and the effect was generally based on the concentration and exposure time. In MDBK cells, only ZnO nanopowder (NP) showed significant effect on cell viability. The ZnO NP showed improved cell viability at lower concentration (10 μg/100 μl) in all type of cells (Vero, PK 15 and MDBK cells). In contrast, FeO NP showed better activity at the concentration of 10 μg/100 μl, 50 μg/100 μl and 40 μg/100 μl after 24 h exposure time in Vero, PK 15 and MDBK cells respectively. However better cell viability was observed in Cu NP treated Vero, PK 15 and MDBK cells at 40 μg/100 μl, 20 μg/100 μl and 10 μg/100 μl correspondingly. These studies suggested that the activity of green synthesized NPs were highly dependent on concentration, exposure time and type of cells.