Editorial

4 pages, 192 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Challenges to Safe Nanomedicine Treatment

by Chunhua Yang and Didier Merlin

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1171; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071171 - 25 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1452

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the field of drug treatment by enabling the targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs at a cellular level [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

Research

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21 pages, 9786 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biocompatibility Evaluation of TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ Nanomaterials: Insights into Potential Toxic Effects in Erythrocytes and HepG2 Cells

by Luis Paramo, Arturo Jiménez-Chávez, Iliana E. Medina-Ramirez, Harald Norbert Böhnel, Luis Escobar-Alarcón and Karen Esquivel

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(21), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13212824 - 25 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1038

Abstract

Nanomaterials such as titanium dioxide and magnetite are increasingly used in several fields, such as water remediation and agriculture. However, this has raised environmental concerns due to potential exposure to organisms like humans. Nanomaterials can cause adverse interactions depending on physicochemical characteristics, like [...] Read more.

Nanomaterials such as titanium dioxide and magnetite are increasingly used in several fields, such as water remediation and agriculture. However, this has raised environmental concerns due to potential exposure to organisms like humans. Nanomaterials can cause adverse interactions depending on physicochemical characteristics, like size, morphology, and composition, when interacting with living beings. To ensure safe use and prevent the risk of exposure to nanomaterials, their biocompatibility must be assessed. In vitro cell cultures are beneficial for assessing nanomaterial–cell interactions due to their easy handling. The present study evaluated the biocompatibility of TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanomaterials thermally treated at 350 °C and 450 °C in erythrocytes and HepG2 cells. According to the hemolysis experiments, non-thermally treated NMs are toxic (>5% hemolysis), but their thermally treated counterparts do not present toxicity (<2%). This behavior indicates that the toxicity derives from some precursor (solvent or surfactant) used in the synthesis of the nanomaterials. All the thermally treated nanomaterials did not show hemolytic activity under different conditions, such as low-light exposure or the absence of blood plasma proteins. In contrast, non-thermally treated nanomaterials showed a high hemolytic behavior, which was reduced after the purification (washing and thermal treatment) of nanomaterials, indicating the presence of surfactant residue used during synthesis. An MTS cell viability assay shows that calcined nanomaterials do not reduce cell viability (>11%) during 24 h of exposure. On the other hand, a lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay resulted in a higher variability, indicating that several nanomaterials did not cause an increase in cell death as compared to the control. However, a holotomographic microscopy analysis reveals a high accumulation of nanomaterials in the cell structure at a low concentration (10 µg mL⁻¹), altering cell morphology, which could lead to cell membrane damage and cell viability reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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20 pages, 6283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Toxicological Assessment of Anoectochilus burmannicus Ethanolic-Extract-Synthesized Selenium Nanoparticles Using Cell Culture, Bacteria, and Drosophila melanogaster as Suitable Models

by Pensiri Buacheen, Jirarat Karinchai, Woorawee Inthachat, Chutikarn Butkinaree, Chonchawan Jankam, Ariyaphong Wongnoppavich, Arisa Imsumran, Teera Chewonarin, Nuttaporn Pimpha, Piya Temviriyanukul and Pornsiri Pitchakarn

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(20), 2804; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13202804 - 22 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1273

Abstract

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are worthy of attention and development for nutritional supplementation due to their health benefits in both animals and humans with low toxicity, improved bioavailability, and controlled release, being greater than the Se inorganic and organic forms. Our previous study reported [...] Read more.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are worthy of attention and development for nutritional supplementation due to their health benefits in both animals and humans with low toxicity, improved bioavailability, and controlled release, being greater than the Se inorganic and organic forms. Our previous study reported that Anoectochilus burmannicus extract (ABE)-synthesized SeNPs (ABE-SeNPs) exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, ABE could stabilize and preserve the biological activities of SeNPs. To promote the ABE-SeNPs as supplementary and functional foods, it was necessary to carry out a safety assessment. Cytotoxicity testing showed that SeNPs and ABE-SeNPs were harmless with no killing effect on Caco2 (intestinal epithelial cells), MRC-5 (lung fibroblasts), HEK293 (kidney cells), LX-2 (hepatic stellate cells), and 3T3-L1 (adipocytes), and were not toxic to isolated human PBMCs and RBCs. Genotoxicity assessments found that SeNPs and ABE-SeNPs did not induce mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 (Ames test) as well as in Drosophila melanogaster (somatic mutation and recombination test). Noticeably, ABE-SeNPs inhibited mutation in TA98 and TA100 induced by AF-2, and in Drosophila induced by urethane, ethyl methanesulfonate, and mitomycin c, suggesting their anti-mutagenicity ability. This study provides data that support the safety and anti-genotoxicity properties of ABE-SeNPs for the further development of SeNPs-based food supplements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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10 pages, 2679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hemolytic Activity and Cytotoxicity of Synthetic Nanoclays with Montmorillonite Structure for Medical Applications

by Olga Yu. Golubeva, Yulia A. Alikina, Elena Yu. Brazovskaya and Nadezhda M. Vasilenko

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(9), 1470; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13091470 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1489

Abstract

The factors influencing the appearance of toxicity in samples of synthetic montmorillonite with a systematically changing chemical composition Na_x(Al, Mg)_2-3Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ nH₂O, which are potentially important for their use in medicine as drug [...] Read more.

The factors influencing the appearance of toxicity in samples of synthetic montmorillonite with a systematically changing chemical composition Na_x(Al, Mg)_2-3Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ nH₂O, which are potentially important for their use in medicine as drug carriers, targeted drug delivery systems, entero- and hemosorbents have been studied. Samples synthesized under hydrothermal conditions had the morphology of nanolayers self-organized into the nanosponge structures. The effect of the aluminum content, particle sizes, porosity, and ζ-potential of the samples on their toxicity was studied. The cytotoxic effect of the samples on eukaryotic cells Ea. hy 926 was determined using the MTT assay. The hemolytic activity of the samples in the wide concentration range in relation to human erythrocytes was also estimated. It has been established that the toxicity of aluminosilicate nanoparticles can be significantly reduced by correctly selecting their synthesis conditions and chemical composition, which opens up the opportunities for their use in medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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18 pages, 6844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesized Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Increased Oxidative Stress and Induced Cell Death in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells

by Cristina Bidian, Gabriela Adriana Filip, Luminița David, Bianca Moldovan, Diana Olteanu, Simona Clichici, Maria-Cristina Olănescu-Vaida-Voevod, Cristian Leostean, Sergiu Macavei, Dana Maria Muntean, Mihai Cenariu, Adriana Albu and Ioana Baldea

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071251 - 01 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1385

Abstract

The research investigated the effect of gold (Au-CM) and silver nanoparticles (Ag-CM) phytoreduced with Cornus mas fruit extract (CM) on a human colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cell line. The impact of nanoparticles on the viability of DLD-1 tumor cells and normal cells was evaluated. [...] Read more.

The research investigated the effect of gold (Au-CM) and silver nanoparticles (Ag-CM) phytoreduced with Cornus mas fruit extract (CM) on a human colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cell line. The impact of nanoparticles on the viability of DLD-1 tumor cells and normal cells was evaluated. Oxidative stress and cell death mechanisms (annexin/propidium iodide analysis, caspase-3 and caspase-8 levels, p53, BCL-2, BAX, NFkB expressions) as well as proliferation markers (Ki-67, PCNA and MAPK) were evaluated in tumor cells. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by measuring zeta potential, hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity index (PDI). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses were also performed. The nanoparticles induced apoptosis and necrosis of DLD-1 cells and reduced cell proliferation, especially Ag-CM, while on normal cells, both nanoparticles maintained their viability up to 80%. Ag-CM and Au-CM increased the expressions of p53 and NFkB in parallel with the downregulation of BCL-2 protein and induced the activation of caspase-8, suggesting the involvement of apoptosis in cell death. Lipid peroxidation triggered by Ag-CM was correlated with tumor cell necrosis rate. Both nanoparticles obtained with phytocompounds from the CM extract protected normal cells and induced the death of DLD-1 tumor cells, especially by apoptosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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19 pages, 4742 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effects of Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Cornus mas L. Fruit Extract on the Aorta Wall in Rats with a High-Fat Diet and Experimental-Induced Diabetes Mellitus—An Imaging Study

by Remus Moldovan, Daniela-Rodica Mitrea, Adrian Florea, Luminiţa David, Laura Elena Mureşan, Irina Camelia Chiş, Şoimița Mihaela Suciu, Bianca Elena Moldovan, Manuela Lenghel, Liviu Bogdan Chiriac, Irina Ielciu, Daniela Hanganu, Timea Bab and Simona Clichici

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13061101 - 19 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1604

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus and high-fat diets trigger the mechanisms that alter the walls of blood vessels. Gold nanoparticles, as new pharmaceutical drug delivery systems, may be used in the treatment of different diseases. In our study, the aorta was investigated via imaging after the [...] Read more.

Diabetes mellitus and high-fat diets trigger the mechanisms that alter the walls of blood vessels. Gold nanoparticles, as new pharmaceutical drug delivery systems, may be used in the treatment of different diseases. In our study, the aorta was investigated via imaging after the oral administration of gold nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive compounds derived from Cornus mas fruit extract (AuNPsCM) in rats with a high-fat diet and diabetes mellitus. Sprague Dawley female rats that received a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 months were injected with streptozotocin to develop diabetes mellitus (DM). The rats were randomly allocated into five groups and were treated, for one additional month with HFD, with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), insulin, pioglitazone, AuNPsCM solution or with Cornus mas L. extract solution. The aorta imaging investigation consisted of echography, magnetic resonance imaging and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Compared to the rats that received only CMC, the oral administration of AuNPsCM produced significant increases in aorta volume and significant decreases in blood flow velocity, with ultrastructural disorganization of the aorta wall. The oral administration of AuNPsCM altered the aorta wall with effects on the blood flow. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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26 pages, 13456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Magnetic Nanoclusters Stabilized with Poly[3,4-Dihydroxybenzhydrazide] as Efficient Therapeutic Agents for Cancer Cells Destruction

by Ioana Baldea, Anca Petran, Adrian Florea, Alexandra Sevastre-Berghian, Iuliana Nenu, Gabriela Adriana Filip, Mihai Cenariu, Maria Teodora Radu and Cristian Iacovita

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 933; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050933 - 03 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1761

Abstract

Magnetic structures exhibiting large magnetic moments are sought after in theranostic approaches that combine magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MH) and diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging in oncology, since they offer an enhanced magnetic response to an external magnetic field. We report on the synthesized production [...] Read more.

Magnetic structures exhibiting large magnetic moments are sought after in theranostic approaches that combine magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MH) and diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging in oncology, since they offer an enhanced magnetic response to an external magnetic field. We report on the synthesized production of a core–shell magnetic structure using two types of magnetite nanoclusters (MNC) based on a magnetite core and polymer shell. This was achieved through an in situ solvothermal process, using, for the first time, 3,4-dihydroxybenzhydrazide (DHBH) and poly[3,4-dihydroxybenzhydrazide] (PDHBH) as stabilizers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the formation of spherical MNC, X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) analysis proved the existence of the polymer shell. Magnetization measurement showed saturation magnetization values of 50 emu/g for PDHBH@MNC and 60 emu/g for DHBH@MNC with very low coercive field and remanence, indicating that the MNC are in a superparamagnetic state at room temperature and are thus suitable for biomedical applications. MNCs were investigated in vitro, on human normal (dermal fibroblasts-BJ) and tumor (colon adenocarcinoma-CACO2, and melanoma-A375) cell lines, in view of toxicity, antitumor effectiveness and selectivity upon magnetic hyperthermia. MNCs exhibited good biocompatibility and were internalized by all cell lines (TEM), with minimal ultrastructural changes. By means of flowcytometry apoptosis detection, fluorimetry, spectrophotometry for mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress, ELISA-caspases, and Western blot–p53 pathway, we show that MH efficiently induced apoptosis mostly via the membrane pathway and to a lower extent by the mitochondrial pathway, the latter mainly observed in melanoma. Contrarily, the apoptosis rate was above the toxicity limit in fibroblasts. Due to its coating, PDHBH@MNC showed selective antitumor efficacy and can be further used in theranostics since the PDHBH polymer provides multiple reaction sites for the attachment of therapeutic molecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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20 pages, 5311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trophic Transfer of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes at the Base of the Food Chain and Toxicological Response

by Majed Al-Shaeri, Lynn Paterson, Margret Stobie, Paul Cyphus and Mark G. J. Hartl

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(24), 4363; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12244363 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1427

Abstract

The potential for trophic transfer of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was assessed using the green algae Tetraselmis suecica and the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in a series of laboratory experiments. Swanee River Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM)-dispersed SWCNTs were introduced into growing algal cultures. [...] Read more.

The potential for trophic transfer of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was assessed using the green algae Tetraselmis suecica and the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in a series of laboratory experiments. Swanee River Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM)-dispersed SWCNTs were introduced into growing algal cultures. Light microscopical observations, confirmed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy, showed that SWCNT agglomerates adhered to the external algal cell walls and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) results suggested internalization. A direct effect of SWCNT exposure on the algae was a significant decrease in growth, expressed as chlorophyll a concentration and cell viability. Mussels, fed with algae in the presence of SWCNTs, led to significantly increased pseudofaeces production, indicating selective feeding. Nevertheless, histological sections of the mussel digestive gland following exposure showed evidence of SWCNT-containing algae. Furthermore, DNA damage and oxidative stress biomarker responses in the mussel haemocytes and gill tissue were significantly altered from baseline values and were consistent with previously observed responses to SWCNT exposure. In conclusion, the observed SWCNT-algal interaction demonstrated the potential for SWCNT entrance at the base of the food chain, which may facilitate their trophic transfer with potential consequences for human exposure and health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Organisms)

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