Inhalation exposure of nano diamond induced oxidative stress in lung, heart and brain

Apigenin ameliorates petrol vapors-induced oxidative stress as occupational and environmental pollutants in rats: An in vivo study

Petrol vapors as important occupational and environmental pollutants can cause oxidative stress and may play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases along with the risk factors involved. This research is designed as a preliminary study to evaluate the protective effects of apigenin (APG) on oxidative stress caused by petrol vapors inhalation in rats. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups inside the inhalation chamber. Body weight changes and oxidative stress markers were investigated. The average body weight of the group exposed to petrol vapors was significantly lower compared to the other groups. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), content of oxidized-glutathione (GSSG), and Malondialdehyde were found to be higher in the petrol-inhaled group, while the content of reduced-glutathione (GSH) was lower compared to the other groups. APG administration did result in any significant improvement in these toxicities induced by petrol vapor. APG administration may ameliorate the petrol-induced oxidative stress. In chronic exposures, in addition to personal protection and engineering control, the use of compounds of natural origin may help in reducing the side effects (such as CNS) caused by exposure to petrol vapors.

Survival, growth and digestive functions after exposure to nanodiamonds - Transgenerational effects beyond contact time in house cricket strains

The long-term exposure effects of nanodiamonds (NDs), spanning an organism's entire lifespan and continuing for subsequent generation, remain understudied. Most research has focused on evaluating their biological impacts on cell lines and selected organisms, typically over short exposure durations lasting hours or days. The study aimed to assess growth, mortality, and digestive functions in wild (H) and long-lived (D) strains of Acheta domesticus (Insecta: Orthoptera) after two-generational exposure to NDs in concentrations of 0.2 or 2 mg kg-1 of food, followed by their elimination in the third generation. NDs induced subtle stimulating effect that depended on the strain and generation. In the first generation, more such responses occurred in the H than in the D strain. In the first generation of H strain insects, contact with NDs increased survival, stimulated the growth of young larvae, and the activity of most digestive enzymes in mature adults. The same doses and exposure time did not cause similar effects in the D strain. In the first generation of D strain insects, survival and growth were unaffected by NDs, whereas, in the second generation, significant stimulation of those parameters was visible. Selection towards longevity appears to support higher resistance of the insects to exposure to additional stressor, at least in the first generation. The cessation of ND exposure in the third generation caused potentially harmful changes, which included, e.g., decreased survival probability in H strain insects, slowed growth of both strains, as well as changes in heterochromatin density and distribution in nuclei of the gut cells in both strains. Such a reaction may suggest the involvement of epigenetic inheritance mechanisms, which may become inadequate after the stress factor is removed.

Differences in the Cell Type-Specific Toxicity of Diamond Nanoparticles to Endothelial Cells Depending on the Exposure of the Cells to Nanoparticles

Introduction

Diamond nanoparticles are considered to be one of the most cytocompatible carbon nanomaterials; however, their toxicity varies significantly depending on the analysed cell types. The aim was to investigate the specific sensitivity of endothelial cells to diamond nanoparticles dependent on exposure to nanoparticles.

Methods

Diamond nanoparticles were characterized with Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Toxicity of diamond nanoparticles was assessed for endothelial cells (HUVEC), human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) and HS-5 cell line. The effect of diamond nanoparticles on the level of ROS, NO, NADPH and protein synthesis of angiogenesis-related proteins of endothelial cells was evaluated.

Results and Discussion

Our studies demonstrated severe cell type-specific toxicity of diamond nanoparticles to endothelial cells (HUVEC) depending on nanoparticle surface interaction with cells. Furthermore, we have assessed the effect on cytotoxicity of the bioconjugation of nanoparticles with a peptide containing the RGD motive and a serum protein corona. Our study suggests that the mechanical interaction of diamond nanoparticles with the endothelial cell membranes and the endocytosis of nanoparticles lead to the depletion of NADPH, resulting in an intensive synthesis of ROS and a decrease in the availability of NO. This leads to severe endothelial toxicity and a change in the protein profile, with changes in major angiogenesis-related proteins, including VEGF, bFGF, ANPT2/TIE-2, and MMP, and the production of stress-related proteins, such as IL-6 and IL-8.

Conclusion

We confirmed the presence of a relationship between the toxicity of diamond nanoparticles and the level of cell exposure to nanoparticles and the nanoparticle surface. The results of the study give new insights into the conditioned toxicity of nanomaterials and their use in biomedical applications.

Co-modification with MSC membrane and PDA prevents Fe3O4-induced pulmonary toxicity in mice via AMPK-ULK1 axis

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases due to their superparamagnetism, but their toxicity in vivo, which can result in apoptosis or autophagy, cannot be ignored. It has been reported that polydopamine (PDA) modification can reduce the toxicity of Fe₃O₄ and increase its biocompatibility. However, more research is warranted to further improve the modification method. We therefore developed a new method to coat Fe₃O₄@PDA nanoparticles with the mesenchymal stem cell membrane (MSCM) and evaluated the toxicity of the modified particles in the lungs of mice. We found that the MSCM modification significantly reduced lung injury induced by Fe₃O₄ particles in mice. Compared with Fe₃O₄@PDA nanoparticles, co-modification with MSCM and PDA significantly reduced autophagy and apoptosis in mouse lung tissue, and reduced activation of autophagy mediated by the AMPK-ULK1 pathway axis. Thus, co-modification with MSCM and PDA prevents Fe₃O₄-induced pulmonary toxicity in mice by inhibiting autophagy, apoptosis, and oxidative stress.

Apigenin ameliorates oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage induced by multiwall carbon nanotubes in rat kidney mitochondria

The toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) toward the mitochondria of the kidney is not fully recognized and still needs further research. Apigenin (APG) is known as a flavonoid compound and natural antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to assess the ameliorative role of APG against multiwall CNT (MWCNT)-induced kidney toxicity in rats. The animals were administrated with APG (10 mg/kg) for 2 weeks and then were exposed to MWCNTs (5 mg/m³ ) in pure and impure forms (10 and 100 nm) for 5 h/day and 5 days/week. Then, mitochondria were isolated from the kidney tissue and mitochondrial toxicity parameters were measured. Decreases in succinate dehydrogenase activity have been reported in all groups exposed to MWCNTs. Results indicated that MWCNTs in both forms and sizes were able to increase the generation of reactive oxygen species, decline mitochondrial membrane potential, induce mitochondrial swelling, and release cytochrome c in isolated kidney mitochondria. The pretreatment of APG decreased all the abovementioned mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress parameters induced by both pure and impure MWCNTs. Our results showed that MWCNTs have the ability to enter the body, subsequently, cross cellular barriers, and reach the kidney as a sensitive organ, which can result in mitochondrial damage in kidney cells including renal tubular cells. In addition, APG can be an effective nutritional antioxidant regimen against MWCNT-induced kidney damage.

Nanodiamond-based microRNA delivery system promotes pluripotent stem cells toward myocardiogenic reprogramming

BACKGROUND

Gene therapy is the advanced therapeutics for supplying or replacing the genetic material in patients with inherited disorders. Recent clinical studies have made some progress in a wide range of applications, including monogenic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, malignant tumors, and congenital diseases. Heart diseases, especially myocardial ischemia, remain one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and usually result in irreparable cardiomyocyte damage and severe heart failure.

METHODS

Most advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies for promoting regenerative medicine and stem cell research. However, the driver molecules of myocardial-lineage differentiation and the functional reconstruction capacity of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes are still an open question. Nanomedicine-based gene delivery provided a crucial platform to carry on the biogenomic materials for equipping functionalities and engineering the living organ environment. Nanodiamond (ND), a carbon-based nanomaterial, has been discovered and shown the high biocompatible and less toxicity for transporting protein, drug, and genomic plasmids.

RESULTS

Here, we applied ND as a gene delivery vehicle to carry microRNA (miR-181a), and then transfected into iPS to promote cardiomyocyte-lineage differentiation. Notably, miR-181a plays a key role in iPS-derived cardiomyocyte differentiation which directly targets Hox-A11, leading to elevated MyoD expression and enhanced cardiomyocyte differentiation.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that miR-181a promotes iPSC differentiation into functional cardiomyocytes. Delivery of NANO-DIAMOND-miR-181a may host clinical potential to enhance the differentiation and recovery of the cardiogenic function in injured cardiomyocytes.

Nanodiamonds inhibit scratch-wound repair in lung epithelial cell monolayers by blocking cell migration and inhibiting cell proliferation

Proliferation and migration of lung epithelial cells following the injury to the epithelial lining of alveoli and airways in the lung are pivotal for remodeling and repair of the wound to restore normal lung function. In the present study, we examined the modulatory effect of carboxylated nanodiamonds (cNDs) on the cell division, migration, and adhesion of epithelial cells in the well-established in vitro model of wound repair and cell migration. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy results indicated that both LA4 and A549 cells effectively internalized fluorescent carboxylated nanodiamonds (cFNDs) and the internalized nanodiamonds were essentially localized in the cytoplasmic region. Treatment with cNDs blocked the division and migration of cells to fill the scratch wound. Live cell imaging and time-lapse videography of the wound healing process indicated a significant inhibition of cell proliferation activity in cND-treated cells and blocked the wound repair process. Trans-well cell-migration assay results further support the inhibitory effect of cNDs on the cell migration process. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining indicated that the crucial proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration i.e. β-catenin, Vimentin, NM-myosin, and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) were downregulated after treatment with cNDs, while the expression of E-cadherin and Claudin-1, major cell adhesion markers remained unaltered. Taken together, our results indicate that the decline in cell proliferation activity, downregulation in the expression of various crucial protein like β-Catenin, NM-myosin, FAK, and Vimentin involved in the cell migration and unaltered expression of cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin and Claudin-1, may be the factors that contribute to the cND-mediated inhibition of EMT during the wound repair process in the monolayers of lung epithelial cells.

Nanomaterial-mediated autophagy: coexisting hazard and health benefits in biomedicine

BACKGROUND

Widespread biomedical applications of nanomaterials (NMs) bring about increased human exposure risk due to their unique physicochemical properties. Autophagy, which is of great importance for regulating the physiological or pathological activities of the body, has been reported to play a key role in NM-driven biological effects both in vivo and in vitro. The coexisting hazard and health benefits of NM-mediated autophagy in biomedicine are nonnegligible and require our particular concerns.

MAIN BODY

We collected research on the toxic effects related to NM-mediated autophagy both in vivo and in vitro. Generally, NMs can be delivered into animal models through different administration routes, or internalized by cells through different uptake pathways, exerting varying degrees of damage in tissues, organs, cells, and organelles, eventually being deposited in or excreted from the body. In addition, other biological effects of NMs, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, have been associated with autophagy and cooperate to regulate body activities. We therefore highlight that NM-mediated autophagy serves as a double-edged sword, which could be utilized in the treatment of certain diseases related to autophagy dysfunction, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease. Challenges and suggestions for further investigations of NM-mediated autophagy are proposed with the purpose to improve their biosafety evaluation and facilitate their wide application. Databases such as PubMed and Web of Science were utilized to search for relevant literature, which included all published, Epub ahead of print, in-process, and non-indexed citations.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we focus on the dual effect of NM-mediated autophagy in the biomedical field. It has become a trend to use the benefits of NM-mediated autophagy to treat clinical diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the regulatory mechanism of NM-mediated autophagy in biomedicine is also helpful for reducing the toxic effects of NMs as much as possible.

Nanotechnology-based Drug Delivery, Metabolism and Toxicity

BACKGROUND

Nanoparticles (NPs) are being used extensively owing to their increased surface area, targeted delivery and enhanced retention. NPs have the potential to be used in many disease conditions. Despite widespread use, their toxicity and clinical safety still remain a major concern.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore the metabolism and toxicological effects of nanotherapeutics.

METHODS

Comprehensive, time-bound literature search was done covering the period from 2010 till date. The primary focus was on the metabolism of NP including their adsorption, degradation, clearance, and bio-persistence. This review also focuses on updated investigations on NPs with respect to their toxic effects on various in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

RESULTS

Nanotechnology is a thriving field of biomedical research and an efficient drug delivery system. Further their applications are under investigation for diagnosis of disease and as medical devices.

CONCLUSION

The toxicity of NPs is a major concern in the application of NPs as therapeutics. Studies addressing metabolism, side-effects and safety of NPs are desirable to gain maximum benefits of nanotherapeutics.

Toxicity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes inhalation on the brain of rats

This study was designed to investigate the brain toxicity following the respiratory contact with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in male Wistar rats. Rats were exposed to 5 mg/m³ MWCNT aerosol in different sizes and purities for 5 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks in a whole-body exposure chamber. After 2-week exposure, mitochondrial isolation was performed from different parts of rat brain (hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum) and parameters of mitochondrial toxicity including mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release, ATP level, mitochondrial GSH, and lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Our results demonstrated that MWCNTs with different characteristics, in size and purity, significantly (P < 0.05) decreased SDH activity, GSH, and ATP level, and increased mitochondrial ROS production, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial swelling, MMP collapse, and cytochrome c release in the brain mitochondria. In conclusion, we suggested that MWCNTs with different characteristics, in size and purity, induce damage in varying degrees on the mitochondrial respiratory chain and increase mitochondrial ROS formation in different parts of rat brain (hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum).

Application of Advanced Microscopic Methods to Study the Interaction of Carboxylated Fluorescent Nanodiamonds with Membrane Structures in THP-1 Cells: Activation of Inflammasome NLRP3 as the Result of Lysosome Destabilization

Nanodiamonds (ND), especially fluorescent NDs, represent potentially applicable drug and probe carriers for in vitro/in vivo applications. The main purpose of this study was to relate physical-chemical properties of carboxylated NDs to their intracellular distribution and impact on membranes and cell immunity-activation of inflammasome in the in vitro THP-1 cell line model. Dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and microscopic methods were used to characterize ND particles and their intracellular distribution. Fluorescent NDs penetrated the cell membranes by both macropinocytosis and mechanical cutting through cell membranes. We proved accumulation of fluorescent NDs in lysosomes. In this case, lysosomes were destabilized and cathepsin B was released into the cytoplasm and triggered pathways leading to activation of inflammasome NLRP3, as detected in THP-1 cells. Activation of inflammasome by NDs represents an important event that could underlie the described toxicological effects in vivo induced by NDs. According to our knowledge, this is the first in vitro study demonstrating direct activation of inflammasome by NDs. These findings are important for understanding the mechanism(s) of action of ND complexes and explain the ambiguity of the existing toxicological data.

Toxicity of carbon-based nanomaterials: Reviewing recent reports in medical and biological systems

Application of nanomaterials in our daily life is increasing, day in day out and concerns have raised about their toxicity for human and other organisms. In this manner, carbon-based nanomaterials have been applied to different products due to their unique physicochemical, electrical, mechanical properties, and biological compatibility. But, there are several reports about the negative effects of these materials on biological systems and cellular compartments. This review article describes the various types of carbon-based nanomaterials and methods that use for determining these toxic effects that are reported recently in the papers. Then, extensively discussed the toxic effects of these materials on the human and other living organisms and also their toxicity routs including Neurotoxicity, Hepatotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity, Immunotoxicity, Cardiotoxicity, Genotoxicity and epigenetic toxicity, Dermatotoxicity, and Carcinogenicity.