Nickel nanoparticle-induced dose-dependent cyto-genotoxicity in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells

Nanoparticle Polymers Influence on Cardiac Health: Good or Bad for Cardiac Physiology?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death and morbidity worldwide. Lifestyle modifications, medications, and addressing epidemiological factors have long been at the forefront of targeting therapeutics for CVD. Treatments can be further complicated given the intersection of gender, age, unique comorbidities, and healthcare access, among many other factors. Therefore, expanding treatment and diagnostic modalities for CVD is absolutely necessary. Nanoparticles and nanomaterials are increasingly being used as therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in various disciplines of biomedicine. Nanoparticles have multiple ways of interacting with the cardiovascular system. Some of them alter cardiac physiology by impacting ion channels, whereas others influence ions directly or indirectly, improving cellular death via decreasing oxidative stress.  While embedding nanoparticles into therapeutics can help enhance healthy cardiovascular function in other scenarios, they can also impair physiology by increasing reactive oxidative species and leading to cardiotoxicity. This review explores different types of nanoparticles, their effects, and the applicable dosages to create a better foundation for understanding the current research findings.

Aquatic Peptide: The Potential Anti-Cancer and Anti-Microbial Activity of GE18 Derived from Pathogenic Fungus Aphanomyces invadans

Small molecules as well as peptide-based therapeutic approaches have attracted global interest due to their lower or no toxicity in nature, and their potential in addressing several health complications including immune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis and cancer. This study proposed a peptide, GE18 of subtilisin-like peptidase from the virulence factor of aquatic pathogenic fungus Aphanomyces invadans, which elicits anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. To understand the potential GE18 peptide-induced biological effects, an in silico analysis, in vitro (L6 cells) and in vivo toxicity assays (using zebrafish embryo), in vitro anti-cancer assays and anti-microbial assays were performed. The outcomes of the in silico analyses demonstrated that the GE18 peptide has potent anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. GE18 is non-toxic to in vitro non-cancerous cells and in vivo zebrafish larvae. However, the peptide showed significant anti-cancer properties against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 35.34 µM, at 24 h. Besides the anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells, the peptide exposure does promote the ROS concentration, mitochondrial membrane potential and the subsequent upregulation of anti-cancer genes. On the other hand, GE18 elicits significant anti-microbial activity against P. aeruginosa, wherein GE18 significantly inhibits bacterial biofilm formation. Since the peptide has positively charged amino acid residues, it targets the cell membrane, as is evident in the FESEM analysis. Based on these outcomes, it is possible that the GE18 peptide is a significant anti-cancer and anti-microbial molecule.

PS9, Derived from an Aquatic Fungus Virulent Protein, Glycosyl Hydrolase, Arrests MCF-7 Proliferation by Regulating Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species and Apoptotic Pathways

One of the most common diseases in women is breast cancer, which has the highest death globally. Surgery, chemotherapy, hormone treatments, and radiation are the current treatment options for breast cancer. However, these options have several adverse side effects. Recently, peptide-based drugs have gained attention as anticancer therapy. Studies report that peptides from biological toxins such as venom and virulent pathogenic molecules have potential therapeutic effects against multiple diseases, including cancers. This study reports on the in vitro anticancer effect of a short peptide, PS9, derived from a virulent protein, glycosyl hydrolase, of an aquatic fungus, Aphanomyces invadans. This peptide arrests MCF-7 proliferation by regulating intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic pathways. Based on the potential for the anticancer effect of PS9, from the in silico analysis, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 cells were executed. PS9 showed a dose-dependent activity; its IC50 value was 25.27-43.28 μM at 24 h. The acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining, to establish the status of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, showed morphologies for early and late apoptosis and necrotic cell death. The 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) staining and biochemical analyses showed a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Besides, PS9 has been shown to regulate the caspase-mediated apoptotic pathway. PS9 is nontoxic, in vitro, and in vivo zebrafish larvae. Together, PS9 may have an anticancer effect in vitro.

Developing Benign Ni/g-C3N4 Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation: Activity and Toxicity Study

This research discusses the CO₂ valorization via hydrogenation over the non-noble metal clusters of Ni and Cu supported on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄). The Ni and Cu catalysts were characterized by conventional techniques including XRD, AFM, ATR, Raman imaging, and TPR and were tested via the hydrogenation of CO₂ at 1 bar. The transition-metal-based catalyst designed with atom-economy principles presents stable activity and good conversions for the studied processes. At 1 bar, the rise in operating temperature during CO₂ hydrogenation increases the CO₂ conversion and the selectivity for CO and decreases the selectivity for methanol on Cu/CN catalysts. For the Ni/CN catalyst, the selectivity to light hydrocarbons, such as CH₄, also increased with rising temperature. At 623 K, the conversion attained ca. 20%, with CH₄ being the primary product of the reaction (CH₄ yield >80%). Above 700 K, the Ni/CN activity increases, reaching almost equilibrium values, although the Ni loading in Ni/CN is lower by more than 90% compared to the reference NiREF catalyst. The presented data offer a better understanding of the effect of the transition metals’ small metal cluster and their coordination and stabilization within g-C₃N₄, contributing to the rational hybrid catalyst design with a less-toxic impact on the environment and health. Bare g-C₃N₄ is shown as a good support candidate for atom-economy-designed catalysts for hydrogenation application. In addition, cytotoxicity to the keratinocyte human HaCaT cell line revealed that low concentrations of catalysts particles (to 6.25 μg mL^–1) did not cause degenerative changes.

Hematobiochemical, Oxidative Stress, and Histopathological Mediated Toxicity Induced by Nickel Ferrite (NiFe2O4) Nanoparticles in Rabbits

From the past few decades, attention towards the biological evaluation of nanoparticles (NPs) has increased due to the persistent and extensive application of NPs in various fields, including biomedical science, modern industry, magnetic resonance imaging, and the construction of sensors. Therefore, in the current study, magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanoparticles (NFNPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their possible adverse effects in rabbits. The crystallinity of the synthesized NFNPs was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The saturation magnetization (46.7 emug⁻¹) was measured using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and 0.35-tesla magnetron by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The adverse effects of NFNPs on blood biochemistry and histoarchitecture of the liver, kidneys, spleen, brain, and heart of the rabbits were determined. A total of sixteen adult rabbits, healthy and free from any apparent infection, were blindly placed in two groups. The rabbits in group A served as control, while the rabbits in group B received a single dose (via ear vein) of NFNPs for ten days. The blood and visceral tissues were collected from each rabbit at days 5 and 10 of posttreatment. The results on blood and serum biochemistry profile indicated significant variation in hematological and serum biomarkers in NFNP-treated rabbits. The results showed an increased quantity of oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidant enzymes in treated rabbits. Various serum biochemical tests exhibited significantly higher concentrations of different liver function tests, kidney function tests, and cardiac biomarkers. Histopathologically, the liver showed congestion, edema, atrophy, and degeneration of hepatocytes. The kidneys exhibited hemorrhages, atrophy of renal tubule, degeneration, and necrosis of renal tubules, whereas coagulative necrosis, neutrophilic infiltration, and severe myocarditis were seen in different sections of the heart. The brain of the treated rabbits revealed necrosis of neurons, neuron atrophy, and microgliosis. In conclusion, the current study results indicated that the highest concentration of NPs induced adverse effects on multiple tissues of the rabbits.

Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity in vitro of surface-functionalized drug-loaded spinel ferrite nanoparticles

In this study, poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMA)-coated spinel ferrite (MFe2O4, where M = Fe, Co, Ni, or Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) were developed as carriers of the anticancer drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and methotrexate (MTX). Physical characterizations confirmed the formation of pure cubic structures (14-22 nm) with magnetic properties. Drug-loaded NPs exhibited tumor specificity with significantly higher (p < 0.005) drug release in an acidic environment (pH 5.5). The nanoparticles were highly colloidal (zeta potential = -35 to -26 mV) in deionized water, phosphate buffer saline (PBS), and sodium borate buffer (SBB). They showed elevated and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in vitro compared to free drug controls. The IC50 values ranged from 0.81 to 3.97 μg/mL for HepG2 and HT144 cells, whereas IC50 values for normal lymphocytes were 10 to 35 times higher (18.35-43.04 µg/mL). Cobalt ferrite (CFO) and zinc ferrite (ZFO) NPs were highly genotoxic (p < 0.05) in cancer cell lines. The nanoparticles caused cytotoxicity via oxidative stress, causing DNA damage and activation of p53-mediated cell cycle arrest (significantly elevated expression, p < 0.005, majorly G1 and G2/M arrest) and apoptosis. Cytotoxicity testing in 3D spheroids showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in spheroid diameter and up to 74 ± 8.9% of cell death after two weeks. In addition, they also inhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) pump activity in both cell lines suggesting effectivity in MDR cancers. Among the tested MFe2O4 NPs, CFO nanocarriers were the most favorable for targeted cancer therapy due to excellent magnetic, colloidal, cytotoxic, and biocompatible aspects. However, detailed mechanistic, in vivo cytotoxicity, and magnetic-field-assisted studies are required to fully exploit these nanocarriers in therapeutic applications.

Nickel nanoparticle-induced cell transformation: involvement of DNA damage and DNA repair defect through HIF-1α/miR-210/Rad52 pathway

Background

Nickel nanoparticles (Nano-Ni) are increasingly used in industry and biomedicine with the development of nanotechnology. However, the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of Nano-Ni and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

Methods

At first, dose–response (0, 10, 20, and 30 μg/mL) and time-response (0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h) studies were performed in immortalized normal human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B to observe the effects of Nano-Ni on DNA damage response (DDR)-associated proteins and the HIF-1α/miR-210/Rad52 pathway by real-time PCR or Western blot. Then, a Hsp90 inhibitor (1 µM of 17-AAG, an indirect HIF-1α inhibitor), HIF-1α knock-out (KO) cells, and a miR-210 inhibitor (20 nM) were used to determine whether Nano-Ni-induced Rad52 down-regulation was through HIF-1α nuclear accumulation and miR-210 up-regulation. In the long-term experiments, cells were treated with 0.25 and 0.5 µg/mL of Nano-Ni for 21 cycles (~ 150 days), and the level of anchorage-independent growth was determined by plating the cells in soft agar. Transduction of lentiviral particles containing human Rad52 ORF into BEAS-2B cells was used to observe the role of Rad52 in Nano-Ni-induced cell transformation. Nano-Ni-induced DNA damage and dysregulation of HIF-1α/miR-210/Rad52 pathway were also investigated in vivo by intratracheal instillation of 50 µg per mouse of Nano-Ni. gpt delta transgenic mice were used to analyze mutant frequency and mutation spectrum in mouse lungs after Nano-Ni exposure.

Results

Nano-Ni exposure caused DNA damage at both in vitro and in vivo settings, which was reflected by increased phosphorylation of DDR-associated proteins such as ATM at Ser1981, p53 at Ser15, and H2AX. Nano-Ni exposure also induced HIF-1α nuclear accumulation, miR-210 up-regulation, and down-regulation of homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene Rad52. Inhibition of or knocking-out HIF-1α or miR-210 ameliorated Nano-Ni-induced Rad52 down-regulation. Long-term low-dose Nano-Ni exposure led to cell malignant transformation, and augmentation of Rad52 expression significantly reduced Nano-Ni-induced cell transformation. In addition, increased immunostaining of cell proliferation markers, Ki-67 and PCNA, was observed in bronchiolar epithelial cells and hyperplastic pneumocytes in mouse lungs at day 7 and day 42 after Nano-Ni exposure. Finally, using gpt delta transgenic mice revealed that Nano-Ni exposure did not cause increased gpt mutant frequency and certain DNA mutations, such as base substitution and small base insertions/deletions, are not the main types of Nano-Ni-induced DNA damage.

Conclusions

This study unraveled the mechanisms underlying Nano-Ni-induced cell malignant transformation; the combined effects of Nano-Ni-induced DNA damage and DNA repair defects through HIF-1α/miR-210/Rad52 pathway likely contribute to Nano-Ni-induced genomic instability and ultimately cell transformation. Our findings will provide information to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of Nano-Ni-induced genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-01117-7.

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.

Study on the damage of sperm induced by nickel nanoparticle exposure

As a new type of nanomaterials, nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have been widely used by human beings, whose exposure probability was greatly increasing. Many studies have shown that Ni NPs can induce apoptosis, oxidative stress and DNA damage. Nowadays, male reproductive health is an important public health problem, which is a hot topic in toxicological research. In the present study, to protect reproductive health, the effect of Ni NPs exposure on spermatogenesis injury was assessed, understanding the toxicity and safety of Ni NPs. Sixty ICR male mice with 20 ± 2 g were randomly divided into five groups. The experimental groups were treated with 5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg and 45 mg/kg Ni NPs. The reproductive toxicity of Ni NPs on male mice was evaluated by the indexes of testicular organ coefficient, testicular marker enzyme, sperm motility and histopathology. As a result, the somatic index of testis and epididymis increased in each group. Compared with the control group, the activity of testicular markers increased and the sperm motility index decreased in the low-, middle- and high-dose groups. Pathological results indicated that various cell apoptosis and disordered arrangement of cells occurred in the seminiferous tubules of the exposed groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that Ni NPs have certain damage to spermatogenesis in mice.

The damage of the Watson-Crick base pairs by nickel nanoparticles: A first-principles molecular dynamics study

The nickel nanoparticles are harmful atmospheric pollutants, and the damage caused by them in humans has become a topic of great relevance. In this study we investigate the interaction of the Ni2 and Ni3 clusters with the AT and GC Watson-Crick base pairs in an aqueous medium. Molecular dynamics in combination with density functional theory are employed. A novel method is implemented to create realistic thermodynamic conditions (NVT) in the simulations. The energies, the charges of the interacting compounds, the temperature changes, and the geometric rearrangements are reported. The results show the formation of stable organometallic compounds of the nickel nanoparticles with the DNA nucleic acid bases. In this respect, the biological processes where the DNA is implicated may be altered by the formation of such super-structures.

Effect on Platelet Function of Metal-Based Nanoparticles Developed for Medical Applications

Nanomaterials have been recently introduced as potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the medical field. One of the main concerns in relation to the use of nanomaterials in humans is their potential toxicity profile and blood compatibility. In fact, and due to their small size, NPs can translocate into the systemic circulation even after dermal contact, inhalation, or oral ingestion. Once in the blood stream, nanoparticles become in contact with the different components of the blood and can potentially interfere with normal platelet function leading to bleeding or thrombosis. Metallic NPs have been already used for diagnosis and treatment purposes due to their unique characteristics. However, the potential interactions between metallic NPs and platelets has not been widely studied and reported. This review focuses on the factors that can affect platelet activation and aggregation by metal NPs and the nature of such interactions, providing a summary of the effect of various metal NPs on platelet function available in the literature.

High-throughput transcriptomics: Insights into the pathways involved in (nano) nickel toxicity in a key invertebrate test species

Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) have an estimated production of ca. 20 tons per year in the US. Nickel has been risk-assessed for long in Europe, but not NiNPs, hence the concern for the environment. In the present study, we focused on investigating the mechanisms of toxicity of NiNPs and the comparison to NiNO₃. The high-throughput microarray for the soil ecotox model Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) was used. To anchor gene to phenotype effect level, organisms were exposed to reproduction effect concentrations EC20 and EC50, for 3 and 7 days. Results showed commonly affected pathways between NiNPs and NiNO₃, including increase in proteolysis, apoptosis and inflammatory response, and interference with the nervous system. Mechanisms unique to NiNO₃ were also observed (e.g. glutathione synthesis). No specific mechanisms for NiNPs were found, which could indicate that longer exposure period (>7 days) is required to capture the peak response to NiNPs. A mechanisms scheme is assembled, showing both common and unique mechanisms to NiNO₃ and NiNPs, providing an important framework for further, more targeted, studies.

Genotoxic and mutagenic properties of Ni and NiO nanoparticles investigated by comet assay, γ-H2AX staining, Hprt mutation assay and ToxTracker reporter cell lines

Nickel (Ni) compounds are classified as carcinogenic to humans but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Furthermore, effects related to nanoparticles (NPs) of Ni have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate genotoxicity and mutagenicity of Ni and NiO NPs and compare the effect to soluble Ni from NiCl2 . We employed different models; i.e., exposure of (1) human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) followed by DNA strand break analysis (comet assay and γ-H2AX staining); (2) six different mouse embryonic stem (mES) reporter cell lines (ToxTracker) that are constructed to exhibit fluorescence upon the induction of various pathways of relevance for (geno)toxicity and cancer; and (3) mES cells followed by mutagenicity testing (Hprt assay). The results showed increased DNA strand breaks (comet assay) for the NiO NPs and at higher doses also for the Ni NPs whereas no effects were observed for Ni ions/complexes from NiCl2 . By employing the reporter cell lines, oxidative stress was observed as the main toxic mechanism and protein unfolding occurred at cytotoxic doses for all three Ni-containing materials. Oxidative stress was also detected in the HBEC cells following NP-exposure. None of these materials induced the reporter related to direct DNA damage and stalled replication forks. A small but statistically significant increase in Hprt mutations was observed for NiO but only at one dose. We conclude that Ni and NiO NPs show more pronounced (geno)toxic effects compared to Ni ions/complexes, indicating more serious health concerns. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:211-222, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society.

Comparison of Dissolved Nickel and Nickel Nanoparticles Toxicity in Larval Zebrafish in Terms of Gene Expression and DNA Damage

With the use of nanoparticles (NPs) in many industrial activities and consumer products, it is important to evaluate the effects of their release into the environment. Metal NPs (e.g., Ni-NPs or Cu-NPs) can release metal ions that are toxic to aquatic organisms; however, whether the toxicity is from metal ions rather than unique "nano-scale" effects of the NPs is unresolved. This research investigated Ni-NP toxicity in zebrafish Danio rerio larvae to clarify whether toxic effects are attributable to release of Ni ions. First, the acute (96-h lethal) toxicity of Ni-NPs was determined in comparison to aqueous Ni in fish exposed to Ni(II) by water-soluble NiCl₂. Subsequently, sublethal experiments with Ni-NPs and Ni(II) were conducted to assess changes in expression of stress-related genes (mt2, rad51, and p53) by quantitative PCR. Acute toxicity of Ni in fish exposed to Ni(II) was higher (96-h LC₅₀ = 32.6 mg/L) than for fish exposed to Ni-NPs (96-h LC₅₀ = 122.2 mg/L). Also, DNA strand breaks were higher in Ni(II)- than Ni-NPs-exposed larvae. Induction of stress-related genes in larvae was complex and was not directly related to Ni-NPs and Ni(II) concentration, although there was a significant induction in the mt2 and p53 gene of the larvae exposed to Ni-NPs and Ni(II) relative to controls. Results indicated that while Ni-NPs induced gene expression (presumably by the release of Ni ions), the differences in concentration relationships of gene expression between Ni-NPs and Ni(II) suggest that factors in addition to the release of Ni ions from Ni-NPs influence acute toxicity of Ni-NPs.

Hazard assessment of nickel nanoparticles in soil-The use of a full life cycle test with Enchytraeus crypticus

Nanoparticles (NPs) such as nickel (Ni) are widely used in several applications. Nevertheless, the environmental effects of Ni NPs are still poorly understood. In the present study, the toxicity of Ni NPs and nickel nitrate (NiNO₃ ) was assessed using the standard test species in soil ecotoxicology, Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta), in a full life cycle test, adding the endpoints hatching, growth, and time to reach maturity, besides survival and reproduction as in the standard Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guideline 220 and/or International Organization for Standardization 16387. For Ni NPs, the Ni in soil and in soil solution was concentration- and time-dependent, with a relatively higher soil solution content in the lower and shorter exposure concentrations and times. Overall, NiNO₃ was more toxic than Ni NPs, and toxicity seemed to occur via different mechanisms. The former caused reduced hatching (50% effect concentration [EC50] = 39 mg Ni/kg soil), and the negative effects remained throughout the life cycle, in all measured endpoints (growth, maturation, survival, and reproduction). For Ni NPs, hatching was the most sensitive endpoint (EC50 = 870 mg Ni/kg soil), although the organisms recovered; that is, additional endpoints across the life cycle showed that this effect corresponded to a delay in hatching because organisms survived and reproduced at concentrations up to 1800 mg Ni/kg soil. On the other hand, the lowest tested concentration of Ni NPs (100 mg Ni/kg soil) caused reproduction effects similar to those at higher concentrations (1000 and 1800 mg Ni/kg soil). The present results show that the potential implications of a nonmonotonic dose response should be considered when assessing the risks of Ni NP exposure in soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2934-2941. © 2017 SETAC.

Investigation into the pulmonary inflammopathology of exposure to nickel oxide nanoparticles in mice

We investigated the effects of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) on the pulmonary inflammopathology. NiONPs were intratracheally installed into mice, and lung injury and inflammation were evaluated between 1 and 28 days. NiONPs caused significant increases in LDH, total protein, and IL-6 and a decrease in IL-10 in the BALF and increases in 8-OHdG and caspase-3 in lung tissues at 24 h. Airway inflammation was present in a dose-dependent manner from the upper to lower airways at 24 h of exposure as analyzed by SPECT. Lung parenchyma inflammation and small airway inflammation were observed by CT after NiONP exposure. 8-OHdG in lung tissues had increased with formation of fibrosis at 28 days. Focal adhesion was the most important pathways identified at 24 h as determined by protemics, whereas glutathione metabolism was the most important identified at 28 days. Our results demonstrated the pulmonary inflammopathology caused by NiONPs based on image-to-biochemical approaches.

Nanomaterials as nanocarriers: a critical assessment why these are multi-chore vanquisher in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is a group of diseases with various subtypes and leads to high mortality throughout the globe. Various conventional techniques are in practice to cure breast cancer but these techniques are linked with various shortcomings. Mostly these treatments are not site directed and cause toxicity towards normal cells. In order to overcome these issues, we need smart system that can deliver anticancer drugs to specific sites. Targeted drug delivery can be achieved via passive or active drug delivery using nanocarriers. This mode of drug delivery is more effective against breast cancer and may help in the reduction of mortality rate. Potentially used nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery belong to organic and inorganic molecules. Various FDA approved nano products are in use to cure breast cancer. However, body's defense system is main limitation for potential use of nano systems. However, this can be overcome by surface modification of nanocarriers. In this review, breast cancer and its types, targeted drug delivery and nanocarriers used to cure breast cancer are discussed. By progressing nanotechnology, we will be able to fight against this life threatening issue and serve the humanity, which is the basic aim of scientific knowledge.

Nano NiO induced liver toxicity via activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in rats

Studies have demonstrated that nano NiO could induce liver toxicity in rats, but its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in rat liver toxicity after nano NiO exposure. Male Wistar rats were exposed to nano NiO (0.015, 0.06 and 0.24 mg per kg b.w.) and micro NiO (0.24 mg per kg b.w.) by intratracheal instillation twice a week for 6 weeks. To investigate the liver toxicity induced by nano NiO, the indicators of liver function and inflammatory response were detected, and the histopathological changes were observed. The levels of NF-κB signaling pathway related gene and protein expression were examined using RT-qPCR and western blot techniques in the liver tissue. The results showed that the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) increased after nano NiO exposure. Cellular edema, hepatic sinus disappearance, and neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration were observed. Nano NiO increased the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), but decreased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). It also induced the upregulation of TNF-α, NF-κB-inducible kinase (NIK), IκB kinase alpha (IKK-α) and NF-κB mRNA, while inducing the downregulation of the inhibitor kappa B (IκB) alpha. In addition, we found that the protein content of NIK, IKK-α, p-IKK-α, p-IκB-α and NF-κB was elevated, whereas that of IκB-α was reduced. The results indicated that the NF-κB signaling pathway played an important role in rat liver toxicity induced by nano NiO.

Cytotoxic response of platinum-coated gold nanorods in human breast cancer cells at very low exposure levels

Because of unique optical behavior gold nanorods (GNRs) have attracted attention for the application in biomedical field such as bio-sensing, bio-imaging and hyperthermia. However, toxicological response of GNRs is controversial due to their different surface coating. Therefore, a comprehensive knowledge about toxicological profile of GNRs is necessary before their biomedical applications. First time, we investigated the toxic response of GNRs coated with platinum (GNRs-Pt) in human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Platinum coating further improves the optical and catalytic properties of GNRs. Assays such as 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT), neutral red uptake (NRU) and lactate dehydroganase (LDH) assays have shown that GNRs-Pt induced cytotoxicity at very low exposure levels (0.1-0.8 μg mL^-1 ). Accumulation of cells in SubG1 phase and low mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1 probe) in treated cells suggest that GNRs-Pt induced cell death via apoptotic pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR data demonstrated that mRNA expression of apoptotic genes (bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9) were up-regulated while anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 was down-regulated in cells exposed to GNRs-Pt. We further observed the higher activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9 enzymes in GNRs-Pt treated cells supporting mRNA data. Moreover, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) significantly attenuated the ROS generation and cytotoxicity induced by GNRs-Pt in MCF-7 cells suggesting that ROS might plays a crucial role in GNRs-Pt induced toxicity. This study warns of possible toxicity of GNRs even at very low exposure levels. Further investigations needed to explore potential mechanisms of this low dose toxicity phenomenon. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1344-1356, 2016.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the toxicities induced by metallic nickel nano and fine particles

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have been applied in various fields along with the rapid development of nanotechnology. However, the potential adverse health effects of the Ni NPs are unclear. To investigate the cyto- and genotoxicity and compare the differences between the Ni NPs and the nickel fine particles (Ni FPs), Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and A549 cells were treated with different doses of Ni NPs or FPs. Intra-tracheal instillation of Ni NPs and FPs caused acute toxicity in the lungs, liver and kidneys of the SD rats. Even though the histology of the lungs showed hyperplastic changes and the protein expression of HO-1 and Nrf2 detected by western blot showed lung burden overload, no significant increase was observed to the expression level of oncoprotein C-myc. The results from cell titer-Glo assay and comet assay indicated that Ni NPs were more potent in causing cell toxicity and genotoxicity in vitro than Ni FPs. In addition, Ni NPs increased the expression of C-myc in vitro, but these increases may not have been due to oxidative stress since no significant dose-dependent changes were seen in HO-1 and Nrf2 expressions. Although Ni NPs have the potential to cause DNA damage in A549 cells in vitro, the molecular mechanisms that led to these changes and their tumorigenic potential is still debatable. In short, Ni NPs were more potent in causing cell toxicity and genotoxicity in vitro than Ni FPs, and intra-tracheal instillation of Ni NPs and FPs caused toxicity in organs of the SD rats, while it showed similar to the effects for both particle types. These results suggested that both Ni NPs and FPs have the potential to be harmful to human health, and Ni NPs may have higher cyto- and genotoxic effects than Ni FPs under the same treatment dose.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the toxicities induced by metallic nickel nano and fine particles

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have been applied in various fields along with the rapid development of nanotechnology. However, the potential adverse health effects of the Ni NPs are unclear. To investigate the cyto- and genotoxicity and compare the differences between the Ni NPs and the nickel fine particles (Ni FPs), Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and A549 cells were treated with different doses of Ni NPs or FPs. Intra-tracheal instillation of Ni NPs and FPs caused acute toxicity in the lungs, liver and kidneys of the SD rats. Even though the histology of the lungs showed hyperplastic changes and the protein expression of HO-1 and Nrf2 detected by western blot showed lung burden overload, no significant increase was observed to the expression level of oncoprotein C-myc. The results from cell titer-Glo assay and comet assay indicated that Ni NPs were more potent in causing cell toxicity and genotoxicity in vitro than Ni FPs. In addition, Ni NPs increased the expression of C-myc in vitro, but these increases may not have been due to oxidative stress since no significant dose-dependent changes were seen in HO-1 and Nrf2 expressions. Although Ni NPs have the potential to cause DNA damage in A549 cells in vitro, the molecular mechanisms that led to these changes and their tumorigenic potential is still debatable. In short, Ni NPs were more potent in causing cell toxicity and genotoxicity in vitro than Ni FPs, and intra-tracheal instillation of Ni NPs and FPs caused toxicity in organs of the SD rats, while it showed similar to the effects for both particle types. These results suggested that both Ni NPs and FPs have the potential to be harmful to human health, and Ni NPs may have higher cyto- and genotoxic effects than Ni FPs under the same treatment dose.

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is associated with heavy metal exposure in welding workers

Metals cause nephrotoxicity with acute and/or chronic exposure; however, few epidemiological studies have examined impacts of exposure to metal fumes on renal injury in welding workers. In total, 66 welding workers and 12 office workers were recruited from a shipyard located in southern Taiwan. Urine samples from each subject were collected at the beginning (baseline) and end of the work week (1-week exposure). Personal exposure to PM_2.5 was measured. The 8-h mean PM_2.5 was 50.3 μg/m³ for welding workers and 27.4 μg/m³ for office workers. iTRAQs coupled with LC-MS/MS were used to discover the pathways in response to welding PM_2.5 in the urine, suggesting that extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interactions are a critical mechanism. ECM-receptor interaction-related biomarkers for renal injury, kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), were significantly elevated in welding workers post-exposure, as well as were urinary Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni levels. NGAL was more significantly associated with Al (r = 0.737, p < 0.001), Cr (r = 0.705, p < 0.001), Fe (r = 0.709, p < 0.001), and Ni (r = 0.657, p < 0.001) than was KIM-1, suggesting that NGAL may be a urinary biomarker for welding PM_2.5 exposure. Nephrotoxicity (e.g., renal tubular injury) may be an emerging concern in occupational health.

Proteoglycan 4 is a diagnostic biomarker for COPD

Introduction

The measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) to confirm the stability of COPD has been reported. However, CRP is a systemic inflammatory biomarker that is related to many other diseases.

Objective

The objective of this study is to discover a diagnostic biomarker for COPD.

Methods

Sixty-one subjects with COPD and 15 healthy controls (10 healthy non-smokers and 5 smokers) were recruited for a 1-year follow-up study. Data regarding the 1-year acute exacerbation frequency and changes in lung function were collected. CRP and the identified biomarkers were assessed in the validation COPD cohort patients and healthy subjects. Receiver operating characteristic values of CRP and the identified biomarkers were determined. A validation COPD cohort was used to reexamine the identified biomarker. Correlation of the biomarker with 1-year lung function decline was determined.

Results

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) was identified as a biomarker in COPD. The serum concentrations of PRG4 in COPD Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages 1+2 and 3+4 were 10.29 ng/mL and 13.20 ng/mL, respectively; 4.99 ng/mL for healthy controls (P<0.05); and 4.49 ng/mL for healthy smokers (P<0.05). PRG4 was more sensitive and specific than CRP for confirming COPD severity and acute exacerbation frequency. There was no correlation between CRP and PRG4 levels, and PRG4 was negatively correlated with the 1-year change in predicted forced vital capacity percent (R²=0.91, P=0.013).

Conclusion

PRG4 may be a biomarker for identification of severity in COPD. It was related to the 1-year forced vital capacity decline in COPD patients.

Zinc ferrite nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in different human cells

Background

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) have shown potential to be used in biomedical field such as magnetic resonance imaging and hyperthermia. However, there is limited information concerning the biological response of zinc ferrite NPs. This study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of zinc ferrite NPs in three widely used in vitro cell culture models: human lung epithelial (A549), skin epithelial (A431) and liver (HepG2) cells. Zinc ferrite NPs were characterized by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Cell viability, cell membrane damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), transcriptional level of apoptotic genes were determined in zinc ferrite NPs exposed cells.

Results

Zinc ferrite NPs were almost spherical shaped with an average size of 44 nm. Zinc ferrite NPs induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity (MTT and LDH) and oxidative stress (ROS and GSH) in all three types of cells in the dosage range of 10–40 µg/ml. Transcriptional level of tumor suppressor gene p53 and apoptotic genes (bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9) were up-regulated while the anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 was down-regulated in cells after zinc ferrite NPs exposure. Furthermore, higher activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9 enzymes was also observed in zinc ferrite NPs treated cells. ROS generation, MMP loss and cell death in all three types of cells were abrogated by N-acetyl cysteine (ROS scavenger), which suggests that oxidative stress might be one of the plausible mechanisms of zinc ferrite NPs cytotoxicity. It is worth mentioning that there was marginally difference in the sensitivity of three cell lines against zinc ferrite NPs exposure. Cytotoxicity of zinc ferrite NPs were in following order; A549 > HepG2 > A431.

Conclusion

Altogether, zinc ferrite NPs induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in A549, A431 and HepG2 cells, which is likely to be mediated through ROS generation. This study warrants further investigation to explore the potential mechanisms of toxicity of zinc ferrite NPs in normal cells as well as in animal models.

Aluminum doping tunes band gap energy level as well as oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles in MCF-7 cells

We investigated whether Aluminum (Al) doping tunes band gap energy level as well as selective cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Pure and Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a simple sol-gel method. Characterization study confirmed the formation of single phase of Al_xZn_1-xO nanocrystals with the size range of 33–55 nm. Al-doping increased the band gap energy of ZnO nanoparticles (from 3.51 eV for pure to 3.87 eV for Al-doped ZnO). Al-doping also enhanced the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress response of ZnO nanoparticles in MCF-7 cells. The IC50 for undoped ZnO nanoparticles was 44 μg/ml while for the Al-doped ZnO counterparts was 31 μg/ml. Up-regulation of apoptotic genes (e.g. p53, bax/bcl2 ratio, caspase-3 & caspase-9) along with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential suggested that Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through mitochondrial pathway. Importantly, Al-doping did not change the benign nature of ZnO nanoparticles towards normal cells suggesting that Al-doping improves the selective cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles toward MCF-7 cells without affecting the normal cells. Our results indicated a novel approach through which the inherent selective cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles against cancer cells can be further improved.

Comparative cytotoxic response of nickel ferrite nanoparticles in human liver HepG2 and breast MFC-7 cancer cells

Nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) have received much attention for their potential applications in biomedical fields such as magnetic resonance imaging, drug delivery and cancer hyperthermia. However, little is known about the toxicity of nickel ferrite NPs at the cellular and molecular levels. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic responses of nickel ferrite NPs in two different types of human cells (i.e., liver HepG2 and breast MCF-7). Nickel ferrite NPs induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in both types of cells, which was demonstrated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT), neutral red uptake (NRU) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Nickel ferrite NPs were also found to induce oxidative stress, which was evident by the depletion of glutathione and the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. The mitochondrial membrane potential due to nickel ferrite NP exposure was also observed. The mRNA levels for the tumor suppressor gene p53 and the apoptotic genes bax, CASP3 and CASP9 were up-regulated, while the anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 was down-regulated following nickel ferrite NP exposure. Furthermore, the activities of apoptotic enzymes (caspase-3 and caspase-9) were also higher in both types of cells treated with nickel ferrite NPs. Cytotoxicity induced by nickel ferrite was efficiently prevented by N-acetyl cysteine (ROS scavenger) treatment, which suggested that oxidative stress might be one of the possible mechanisms of nickel ferrite NP toxicity. We also observed that MCF-7 cells were slightly more susceptible to nickel ferrite NP exposure than HepG2 cells. This study warrants further investigation to explore the potential mechanisms of different cytotoxic responses of nickel ferrite NPs in different cell lines.

Characterization of pulmonary protein profiles in response to zinc oxide nanoparticles in mice: a 24-hour and 28-day follow-up study

Although zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are recognized to cause systemic disorders, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the time-dependent differences that occur after exposure. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanistic differences at 24 hours and 28 days after the exposure of BALB/c mice to ZnONPs via intratracheal instillation. An isobaric tag for the relative and absolute quantitation coupled with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the differential protein expression, biological processes, molecular functions, and pathways. A total of 18 and 14 proteins displayed significant changes in the lung tissues at 24 hours and 28 days after exposure, respectively, with the most striking changes being observed for S100-A9 protein. Metabolic processes and catalytic activity were the main biological processes and molecular functions, respectively, in the responses at the 24-hour and 28-day follow-up times. The glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway was continuously downregulated from 24 hours to 28 days, whereas detoxification pathways were activated at the 28-day time-point after exposure. A comprehensive understanding of the potential time-dependent effects of exposure to ZnONPs was provided, which highlights the metabolic mechanisms that may be important in the responses to ZnONP.

Metallothionein 2A core promoter region genetic polymorphism and its impact on the risk, tumor behavior, and recurrences of sinonasal inverted papilloma (Schneiderian papilloma)

Inverted papillomas are a unique group of locally aggressive benign epithelial neoplasms in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses arising from the Schneiderian mucosa. Metallothioneins are sulfhydryl-rich heavy metal-binding proteins required for metal toxicity protection and regulation of biological mechanisms including proliferation and invasion. The goal of this study was to identify three SNPs at loci −5 A/G (rs28366003) and −209 A/G (rs1610216) in the core promoter region and at locus +838 C/G (rs10636) in 3′UTR region of the MT2A gene with IP risk and with tumor invasiveness according to Krouse staging. Genotyping was performed using the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 130 genetically unrelated IP individuals, and 418 randomly selected healthy volunteers. The presence of the rs28366003 SNP was significantly related to the risk of IP within the present population-based case-control study. Compared to homozygous common allele carriers, heterozygosity and homozygosity for the G variant had a significantly increased risk of IP (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 7.71, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 4.01–14.91, p_dominant < 0.001). Moreover, risk allele carriers demonstrated higher Krouse stage (pT1 vs. pT2-4) (OR = 19.32; 95 % CI, 2.30–173.53; p < 0.0001), diffuse tumor growth (OR = 4.58; 95 % CI, 1.70–12.11; p = 0.0008), bone destruction (OR = 4.13; 95 % CI, 1.50–11.60; p = 0.003), and higher incidence of tumor recurrences (OR = 5.11; 95 % CI, 1.68–15.20; p = 0.001). The findings suggest that MT2A gene variation rs28366003 may be implicated in the etiology of sinonasal inverted papilloma in a Polish population.

The effect of metallothionein 2A core promoter region single-nucleotide polymorphism on accumulation of toxic metals in sinonasal inverted papilloma tissues

Metallothioneins (MTs) are intracellular thiol-rich heavy metal-binding proteins which join trace metal ions protecting cells against heavy metal toxicity and regulate metal distribution and donation to various enzymes and transcription factors. The goal of this study was to identify the -5 A/G (rs28366003) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the core promoter region of the MT2A gene, and to investigate its effect on allele-specific gene expression and Cd, Zn, Cu and Ni content in sinonasal inverted papilloma tissue (IP), with non-cancerous sinonasal mucosa (NCM) as a control. The MT2A promoter region -5 A/G SNP was identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism using 117 IP and 132 NCM. MT2A gene analysis was performed by quantitative real-time PCR. Metal levels were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The frequency of A allele carriage was 99.2% and 100% in IP and NCM, respectively. The G allele carriage was detected in 23.9% of IP and in 12.1% of the NCM samples. As a result, a significant association of -5 A/G SNP in MT2A gene with mRNA expression in both groups was determined. A significant association was identified between the -5 A/G SNP in the MT2A gene with mRNA expression in both groups. A highly significant association was detected between the rs28366003 genotype and Cd and Zn content in IP. Furthermore, significant differences were identified between A/A and A/G genotype with regard to the type of metal contaminant. The Spearman rank correlation results showed the MT2A gene expression and both Cd and Cu levels were negatively correlated. The results obtained in this study suggest that the -5 A/G SNP in the MT2A gene may have an effect on allele-specific gene expression and toxic metal accumulation in sinonasal inverted papilloma.

The role of intracellular redox imbalance in nanomaterial induced cellular damage and genotoxicity: a review

The terms oxidative stress, free radical generation, and intracellular antioxidant protection have become part of everyday nanotoxicology terminology. In recent years, an ever increasing number of in vitro and in vivo studies have implicated disruptions to the redox balance and oxidative stress as one of the main contributors to nanomaterial (NM) induced adverse effects. One of the most important and widely investigated of these effects is genotoxicity. In general, systems that defend an organism against oxidative damage to DNA are very complex and include prevention of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, neutralizing ROS (scavengers), enzymatic nucleotide pool sanitation, and DNA repair. This review discusses the importance of the maintenance of the redox balance in this context before examining studies that have investigated engineered NM induced redox imbalance and genotoxicity. Furthermore, we identify data gaps, and highlight a number of issues that exist with the methodologies that are routinely utilized to investigate intracellular ROS production or anti-oxidant depletion. We conclude that for a large number of engineered NM types changes in the redox balance toward oxidative stress are normally associated with DNA damage.

Nickel and platinum group metal nanoparticle production by Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20

Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 is an anaerobic sulfate reducing bacteria. While Desulfovibrio species have previously been shown to reduce palladium and platinum to the zero-state, forming nanoparticles in the process; there have been no reports that D. alaskensis is able to form these nanoparticles. Metal nanoparticles have properties that make them ideal for use in many industrial and medical applications, such as their size and shape giving them higher catalytic activity than the bulk form of the same metal. Nanoparticles of the platinum group metals in particular are highly sought after for their catalytic ability and herein we report the formation of both palladium and platinum nanoparticles by D. alaskensis and the biotransformation of solvated nickel ions to nanoparticle form.