Research

16 pages, 3506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Size and Concentration of Copper Nanoparticles on the Antimicrobial Activity in Escherichia coli through Multiple Mechanisms

by Meng-Jiun Lai, Yue-Wern Huang, Hsuan-Chun Chen, Li-I Tsao, Chih-Fang Chang Chien, Bhaskar Singh and Betty Revon Liu

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3715; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213715 - 22 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2115

Abstract

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, including copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), display antimicrobial activities and are regarded as promising microorganism inhibitors. Here, we explored the antimicrobial activity of CuNPs in Escherichia coli (E. coli) using two particle sizes (20 and 60 nm) and [...] Read more.

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, including copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), display antimicrobial activities and are regarded as promising microorganism inhibitors. Here, we explored the antimicrobial activity of CuNPs in Escherichia coli (E. coli) using two particle sizes (20 and 60 nm) and five concentrations (1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 μg/mL). The result showed a concentration-dependent trend of bactericidal activities for both size groups, with 20 nm particles more effective than 60 nm particles at low concentrations. The membrane disruption caused by CuNPs was confirmed by electron microscopy, PI staining and protein leaking analysis. However, the results of reactive oxygen species generation and genomic DNA damage revealed that the size and concentration of CuNPs were factors affecting the induction of multiple bactericidal mechanisms simultaneously on different scales. Further results of annexin V-PI staining supported this hypothesis by showing the shifting composition of the early-, late- and non-apoptotic dead cells across the CuNP groups. Many CuNP treatment groups were rescued when four mammalian modulators—wortmannin, necrosulfonamide, Z-VAD-FMK, and SBI-0206965—were applied separately. The results suggest the possible existence of bacterial programmed cell death pathways in E. coli which could be triggered by CuNP treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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23 pages, 4305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The High-Throughput In Vitro CometChip Assay for the Analysis of Metal Oxide Nanomaterial Induced DNA Damage

by Andrey Boyadzhiev, Silvia Aidee Solorio-Rodriguez, Dongmei Wu, Mary-Luyza Avramescu, Pat Rasmussen and Sabina Halappanavar

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(11), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12111844 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1885

Abstract

Metal oxide nanomaterials (MONMs) are among the most highly utilized classes of nanomaterials worldwide, though their potential to induce DNA damage in living organisms is known. High-throughput in vitro assays have the potential to greatly expedite analysis and understanding of MONM induced toxicity [...] Read more.

Metal oxide nanomaterials (MONMs) are among the most highly utilized classes of nanomaterials worldwide, though their potential to induce DNA damage in living organisms is known. High-throughput in vitro assays have the potential to greatly expedite analysis and understanding of MONM induced toxicity while minimizing the overall use of animals. In this study, the high-throughput CometChip assay was used to assess the in vitro genotoxic potential of pristine copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) MONMs and microparticles (MPs), as well as five coated/surface-modified TiO₂ NPs and zinc (II) chloride (ZnCl₂) and copper (II) chloride (CuCl₂) after 2–4 h of exposure. The CuO NPs, ZnO NPs and MPs, and ZnCl₂ exposures induced dose- and time-dependent increases in DNA damage at both timepoints. TiO₂ NPs surface coated with silica or silica–alumina and one pristine TiO₂ NP of rutile crystal structure also induced subtle dose-dependent DNA damage. Concentration modelling at both post-exposure timepoints highlighted the contribution of the dissolved species to the response of ZnO, and the role of the nanoparticle fraction for CuO mediated genotoxicity, showing the differential impact that particle and dissolved fractions can have on genotoxicity induced by MONMs. The results imply that solubility alone may be insufficient to explain the biological behaviour of MONMs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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22 pages, 2294 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Aerosol–Cell Exposure System Applied to Semi-Adherent Cells for Aerosolization of Lung Surfactant and Nanoparticles Followed by High Quality RNA Extraction

by Mélanie M. Leroux, Romain Hocquel, Kevin Bourge, Boštjan Kokot, Hana Kokot, Tilen Koklič, Janez Štrancar, Yaobo Ding, Pramod Kumar, Otmar Schmid, Bertrand H. Rihn, Luc Ferrari and Olivier Joubert

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(8), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12081362 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2484

Abstract

Nanoparticle toxicity assessments have moved closer to physiological conditions while trying to avoid the use of animal models. An example of new in vitro exposure techniques developed is the exposure of cultured cells at the air–liquid interface (ALI), particularly in the case of [...] Read more.

Nanoparticle toxicity assessments have moved closer to physiological conditions while trying to avoid the use of animal models. An example of new in vitro exposure techniques developed is the exposure of cultured cells at the air–liquid interface (ALI), particularly in the case of respiratory airways. While the commercially available VITROCELL^® Cloud System has been applied for the delivery of aerosolized substances to adherent cells under ALI conditions, it has not yet been tested on lung surfactant and semi-adherent cells such as alveolar macrophages, which are playing a pivotal role in the nanoparticle-induced immune response. Objectives: In this work, we developed a comprehensive methodology for coating semi-adherent lung cells cultured at the ALI with aerosolized surfactant and subsequent dose-controlled exposure to nanoparticles (NPs). This protocol is optimized for subsequent transcriptomic studies. Methods: Semi-adherent rat alveolar macrophages NR8383 were grown at the ALI and coated with lung surfactant through nebulization using the VITROCELL^® Cloud 6 System before being exposed to TiO₂ NM105 NPs. After NP exposures, RNA was extracted and its quantity and quality were measured. Results: The VITROCELL^® Cloud system allowed for uniform and ultrathin coating of cells with aerosolized surfactant mimicking physiological conditions in the lung. While nebulization of 57 μL of 30 mg/mL TiO₂ and 114 μL of 15 mg/mL TiO₂nanoparticles yielded identical cell delivered dose, the reproducibility of dose as well as the quality of RNA extracted were better for 114 μL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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30 pages, 6872 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Bioactivity of PEGylated Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles Combined with Near-Infrared Laser Irradiation Studied in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

by Natalia Krasteva, Dessislava Staneva, Bela Vasileva, George Miloshev and Milena Georgieva

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 3061; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11113061 - 14 Nov 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1888

Abstract

Central focus in modern anticancer nanosystems is given to certain types of nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO). Its functionalization with polyethylene glycol (PEG) demonstrates high delivery efficiency and controllable release of proteins, bioimaging agents, chemotherapeutics and anticancer drugs. GO–PEG has a good [...] Read more.

Central focus in modern anticancer nanosystems is given to certain types of nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO). Its functionalization with polyethylene glycol (PEG) demonstrates high delivery efficiency and controllable release of proteins, bioimaging agents, chemotherapeutics and anticancer drugs. GO–PEG has a good biological safety profile, exhibits high NIR absorbance and capacity in photothermal treatment. To investigate the bioactivity of PEGylated GO NPs in combination with NIR irradiation on colorectal cancer cells we conducted experiments that aim to reveal the molecular mechanisms of action of this nanocarrier, combined with near-infrared light (NIR) on the high invasive Colon26 and the low invasive HT29 colon cancer cell lines. During reaching cancer cells the phototoxicity of GO–PEG is modulated by NIR laser irradiation. We observed that PEGylation of GO nanoparticles has well-pronounced biocompatibility toward colorectal carcinoma cells, besides their different malignant potential and treatment times. This biocompatibility is potentiated when GO–PEG treatment is combined with NIR irradiation, especially for cells cultured and treated for 24 h. The tested bioactivity of GO–PEG in combination with NIR irradiation induced little to no damages in DNA and did not influence the mitochondrial activity. Our findings demonstrate the potential of GO–PEG-based photoactivity as a nanosystem for colorectal cancer treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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13 pages, 5837 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Skin Sensitization Potential and Cellular ROS-Induced Cytotoxicity of Silica Nanoparticles

by Sung-Hyun Kim, Dong Han Lee, SeoYoon Choi, Jun-Young Yang, Kikyung Jung, Jayoung Jeong, Jae Ho Oh and Jin Hee Lee

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2140; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082140 - 22 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2579

Abstract

Nowadays, various industries using nanomaterials are growing rapidly, and in particular, as the commercialization and use of nanomaterials increase in the cosmetic field, the possibility of exposure of nanomaterials to the skin of product producers and consumers is increasing. Due to the unique [...] Read more.

Nowadays, various industries using nanomaterials are growing rapidly, and in particular, as the commercialization and use of nanomaterials increase in the cosmetic field, the possibility of exposure of nanomaterials to the skin of product producers and consumers is increasing. Due to the unique properties of nanomaterials with a very small size, they can act as hapten and induce immune responses and skin sensitization, so accurate identification of toxicity is required. Therefore, we selected silica nanomaterials used in various fields such as cosmetics and biomaterials and evaluated the skin sensitization potential step-by-step according to in-vitro and in-vivo alternative test methods. KeratinoSens^TM cells of modified keratinocyte and THP-1 cells mimicking dendritic-cells were treated with silica nanoparticles, and their potential for skin sensitization and cytotoxicity were evaluated, respectively. We also confirmed the sensitizing ability of silica nanoparticles in the auricle-lymph nodes of BALB/C mice by in-vivo analysis. As a result, silica nanoparticles showed high protein binding and reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated cytotoxicity, but no significant observation of skin sensitization indicators was observed. Although more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of skin sensitization by nanomaterials, the results of this study showed that silica nanoparticles did not induce skin sensitization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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17 pages, 3899 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Titanium Dioxide Induces Apoptosis under UVA Irradiation via the Generation of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species in HaCat Cells

by In Young Kim, Tae Geol Lee, Vytas Reipa and Min Beom Heo

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081943 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2680

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) have wide commercial applications, owing to their small size; however, the biosafety of TiO₂ NPs should be evaluated further. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of TiO₂ NPs in the presence and [...] Read more.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) have wide commercial applications, owing to their small size; however, the biosafety of TiO₂ NPs should be evaluated further. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of TiO₂ NPs in the presence and absence of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. TiO₂ NPs did not significantly affect cell viability in the absence of UVA irradiation. Nonetheless, UVA-irradiated TiO₂ NPs induced caspase-dependent apoptosis of HaCaT cells. Exposure of HaCaT cells to TiO₂ NPs and UVA resulted in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP); both effects were not observed in the absence of UVA irradiation. An analysis of the relationship between LMP and ROS, using CA-074 as a cathepsin inhibitor or NAC as an antioxidant, showed that LMP stimulates ROS generation under these conditions. These results imply that LMP-dependent oxidative stress plays a critical role in the UVA phototoxicity of TiO₂ NPs in HaCaT cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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20 pages, 9084 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Continuous Long-Term Exposure to Low Concentrations of MWCNTs Induces an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in BEAS-2B Cells

by Hélène Barthel, Christian Darne, Laurent Gaté, Athanase Visvikis and Carole Seidel

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1742; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071742 - 01 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

In the field of nanotechnology, the use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is growing. Pulmonary exposure during their production, use, and handling is raising concerns about their potential adverse health effects. The purpose of this study is to assess how the physical characteristics [...] Read more.

In the field of nanotechnology, the use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is growing. Pulmonary exposure during their production, use, and handling is raising concerns about their potential adverse health effects. The purpose of this study is to assess how the physical characteristics of MWCNTs, such as diameter and/or length, can play a role in cellular toxicity. Our experimental design is based on the treatment of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) for six weeks with low concentrations (0.125–1 µg/cm²) of MWCNTs having opposite characteristics: NM-403 and Mitsui-7. Following treatment with both MWCNTs, we observed an increase in mitotic abnormalities and micronucleus-positive cells. The cytotoxic effect was delayed in cells treated with NM-403 compared to Mitsui-7. After 4–6 weeks of treatment, a clear cellular morphological change from epithelial to fibroblast-like phenotype was noted, together with a change in the cell population composition. BEAS-2B cells underwent a conversion from the epithelial to mesenchymal state as we observed a decrease in the epithelial marker E-cadherin and an increased expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Fibronectin. After four weeks of recovery, we showed that the induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition is reversible, and that the degree of reversibility depends on the MWCNT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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22 pages, 3920 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impact of Nanocomposite Combustion Aerosols on A549 Cells and a 3D Airway Model

by Matthias Hufnagel, Nadine May, Johanna Wall, Nadja Wingert, Manuel Garcia-Käufer, Ali Arif, Christof Hübner, Markus Berger, Sonja Mülhopt, Werner Baumann, Frederik Weis, Tobias Krebs, Wolfgang Becker, Richard Gminski, Dieter Stapf and Andrea Hartwig

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071685 - 27 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3148

Abstract

The use of nanomaterials incorporated into plastic products is increasing steadily. By using nano-scaled filling materials, thermoplastics, such as polyethylene (PE), take advantage of the unique properties of nanomaterials (NM). The life cycle of these so-called nanocomposites (NC) usually ends with energetic recovery. [...] Read more.

The use of nanomaterials incorporated into plastic products is increasing steadily. By using nano-scaled filling materials, thermoplastics, such as polyethylene (PE), take advantage of the unique properties of nanomaterials (NM). The life cycle of these so-called nanocomposites (NC) usually ends with energetic recovery. However, the toxicity of these aerosols, which may consist of released NM as well as combustion-generated volatile compounds, is not fully understood. Within this study, model nanocomposites consisting of a PE matrix and nano-scaled filling material (TiO₂, CuO, carbon nano tubes (CNT)) were produced and subsequently incinerated using a lab-scale model burner. The combustion-generated aerosols were characterized with regard to particle release as well as compound composition. Subsequently, A549 cells and a reconstituted 3D lung cell culture model (MucilAir™, Epithelix) were exposed for 4 h to the respective aerosols. This approach enabled the parallel application of a complete aerosol, an aerosol under conditions of enhanced particle deposition using high voltage, and a filtered aerosol resulting in the sole gaseous phase. After 20 h post-incubation, cytotoxicity, inflammatory response (IL-8), transcriptional toxicity profiling, and genotoxicity were determined. Only the exposure toward combustion aerosols originated from PE-based materials induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and transcriptional alterations in both cell models. In contrast, an inflammatory response in A549 cells was more evident after exposure toward aerosols of nano-scaled filler combustion, whereas the thermal decomposition of PE-based materials revealed an impaired IL-8 secretion. MucilAir™ tissue showed a pronounced inflammatory response after exposure to either combustion aerosols, except for nanocomposite combustion. In conclusion, this study supports the present knowledge on the release of nanomaterials after incineration of nano-enabled thermoplastics. Since in the case of PE-based combustion aerosols no major differences were evident between exposure to the complete aerosol and to the gaseous phase, adverse cellular effects could be deduced to the volatile organic compounds that are generated during incomplete combustion of NC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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12 pages, 1635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparisons of the Effect of Different Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on the Root and Shoot Growth under Shaking and Non-Shaking Incubation, Different Plants, and Binary Mixture Conditions

by In Chul Kong, Kyung-Seok Ko and Dong-Chan Koh

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071653 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1896

Abstract

We evaluated the toxicity of five metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in single or binary mixtures based on root and shoot growth of two plant species under non-shaking and shaking conditions. The effects of NPs on root and shoot growth differed depending on the [...] Read more.

We evaluated the toxicity of five metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in single or binary mixtures based on root and shoot growth of two plant species under non-shaking and shaking conditions. The effects of NPs on root and shoot growth differed depending on the NP type, incubation condition, and plant type. The half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of NPs based on root growth were significantly lower, by 2.6–9.8 times, under shaking than non-shaking conditions (p = 0.0138). The magnitude of the effects of NPs followed the order CuO > ZnO > NiO >> Al₂O₃, TiO₂. In addition, Lactuca sativa L. was more sensitive to the tested NPs than Raphanus sativus L., with an EC₅₀ 0.2–0.7 times lower (p = 0.0267). The observed effects of 12 combinations of binary NP mixtures were slightly, albeit non-significantly, lower than expected, indicative of an additive effect of the individual NPs in the mixtures. The results emphasize the importance of careful plant model selection, appropriate application of incubation conditions, and consideration of chemical mixtures rather than single compounds when evaluating the effects of metal oxide NPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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18 pages, 3682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to TiO₂ Nanostructured Aerosol Induces Specific Gene Expression Profile Modifications in the Lungs of Young and Elderly Rats

by Sarah A. Valentino, Laëtitia Chézeau, Carole Seidel, Sylvie Sébillaud, Mylène Lorcin, Monique Chalansonnet, Frédéric Cosnier and Laurent Gaté

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1466; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11061466 - 01 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2021

Abstract

Although aging is associated with a higher risk of developing respiratory pathologies, very few studies have assessed the impact of age on the adverse effects of inhaled nanoparticles. Using conventional and transcriptomic approaches, this study aimed to compare in young (12–13-week-old) and elderly [...] Read more.

Although aging is associated with a higher risk of developing respiratory pathologies, very few studies have assessed the impact of age on the adverse effects of inhaled nanoparticles. Using conventional and transcriptomic approaches, this study aimed to compare in young (12–13-week-old) and elderly (19-month-old) fisher F344 rats the pulmonary toxicity of an inhaled nanostructured aerosol of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Animals were nose-only exposed to this aerosol at a concentration of 10 mg/m³ for 6 h per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Tissues were collected immediately (D0), and 28 days after exposure (D28). A pulmonary influx of neutrophilic granulocytes was observed in exposed rats at D0, but diminished with time while remaining significant until D28. Similarly, an increased expression of several genes involved in inflammation at the two post-exposure time-points was seen. Apart from an age-specific pulmonary influx of lymphocyte, only slight differences in physio-pathological responses following TiO₂ exposure between young and elderly animals were noticed. Conversely, marked age-related differences in gene expression profiles were observed making possible to establish lists of genes specific to each age group and post-exposure times. These results highlight different signaling pathways that were disrupted in rats according to their age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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25 pages, 4536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanochemistry as an Alternative Method of Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Antibacterial Activity: A Comparative Study

by Matej Baláž, Zdenka Bedlovičová, Nina Daneu, Patrik Siksa, Libor Sokoli, Ľudmila Tkáčiková, Aneta Salayová, Róbert Džunda, Mária Kováčová, Radovan Bureš and Zdenka Lukáčová Bujňáková

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051139 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2905

Abstract

This study shows mechanochemical synthesis as an alternative method to the traditional green synthesis of silver nanoparticles in a comparative manner by comparing the products obtained using both methodologies and different characterization methods. As a silver precursor, the most commonly used silver nitrate [...] Read more.

This study shows mechanochemical synthesis as an alternative method to the traditional green synthesis of silver nanoparticles in a comparative manner by comparing the products obtained using both methodologies and different characterization methods. As a silver precursor, the most commonly used silver nitrate was applied and the easily accessible lavender (Lavandula angustofolia L.) plant was used as a reducing agent. Both syntheses were performed using 7 different lavender:AgNO₃ mass ratios. The synthesis time was limited to 8 and 15 min in the case of green and mechanochemical synthesis, respectively, although a significant amount of unreacted silver nitrate was detected in both crude reaction mixtures at low lavender:AgNO₃ ratios. This finding is of particular interest mainly for green synthesis, as the potential presence of silver nitrate in the produced nanosuspension is often overlooked. Unreacted AgNO₃ has been removed from the mechanochemically synthesized samples by washing. The nanocrystalline character of the products has been confirmed by both X-ray diffraction (Rietveld refinement) and transmission electron microscopy. The latter has shown bimodal size distribution with larger particles in tens of nanometers and the smaller ones below 10 nm in size. In the case of green synthesis, the used lavender:AgNO₃ ratio was found to have a decisive role on the crystallite size. Silver chloride has been detected as a side-product, mainly at high lavender:AgNO₃ ratios. Both products have shown a strong antibacterial activity, being higher in the case of green synthesis, but this can be ascribed to the presence of unreacted AgNO₃. Thus, one-step mechanochemical synthesis (without the need to prepare extract and performing the synthesis as separate steps) can be applied as a sustainable alternative to the traditional green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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20 pages, 5639 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Antibacterial Activity Using Various Medicinal Plant Extracts: Morphology and Antibacterial Efficacy

by Aneta Salayová, Zdenka Bedlovičová, Nina Daneu, Matej Baláž, Zdenka Lukáčová Bujňáková, Ľudmila Balážová and Ľudmila Tkáčiková

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 1005; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11041005 - 14 Apr 2021

Cited by 117 | Viewed by 11111

Abstract

A green synthetic route for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using five different aqueous plant extracts, namely, Berberis vulgaris, Brassica nigra, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lavandula angustifolia and Origanum vulgare, was investigated in this study. The present work demonstrates the [...] Read more.

A green synthetic route for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using five different aqueous plant extracts, namely, Berberis vulgaris, Brassica nigra, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lavandula angustifolia and Origanum vulgare, was investigated in this study. The present work demonstrates the influence of plant extract composition (antioxidant and total phenolic content) on the size and morphology of the produced AgNPs. The biosynthetic procedure was rapid and simple and was easily monitored via colour changes and ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Subsequently, measurement of zeta potential (ZP), photon cross-correlation spectroscopy (PCCS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis were employed to characterise the as-synthesised nanoparticles. The XRD investigation confirmed the presence of Ag⁰ in the nanoparticles, and interactions between the bioactive compounds of the plants and the produced AgNPs were evident in the FTIR spectra. TEM indicated that the nanoparticles exhibited a bimodal size distribution, with the smaller particles being spherical and the larger having a truncated octahedron shape. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was tested against five bacterial strains. All synthesised nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity at a precursor concentration of 5 mM compared to the control substance, gentamicin sulphate, with the best results observed for AgNPs prepared with B. nigra and L. angustifolia extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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18 pages, 4857 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Combined In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches to Propose a Putative Adverse Outcome Pathway for Acute Lung Inflammation Induced by Nanoparticles: A Study on Carbon Dots

by Maud Weiss, Jiahui Fan, Mickaël Claudel, Luc Lebeau, Françoise Pons and Carole Ronzani

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(1), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010180 - 13 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2540

Abstract

With the growth of nanotechnologies, concerns raised regarding the potential adverse effects of nanoparticles (NPs), especially on the respiratory tract. Adverse outcome pathways (AOP) have become recently the subject of intensive studies in order to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of [...] Read more.

With the growth of nanotechnologies, concerns raised regarding the potential adverse effects of nanoparticles (NPs), especially on the respiratory tract. Adverse outcome pathways (AOP) have become recently the subject of intensive studies in order to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of NP toxicity, and hence hopefully predict the health risks associated with NP exposure. Herein, we propose a putative AOP for the lung toxicity of NPs using emerging nanomaterials called carbon dots (CDs), and in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches. We first investigated the effect of a single administration of CDs on mouse airways. We showed that CDs induce an acute lung inflammation and identified airway macrophages as target cells of CDs. Then, we studied the cellular responses induced by CDs in an in vitro model of macrophages. We observed that CDs are internalized by these cells (molecular initial event) and induce a series of key events, including loss of lysosomal integrity and mitochondrial disruption (organelle responses), as well as oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, inflammatory cytokine upregulation and macrophage death (cellular responses). All these effects triggering lung inflammation as tissular response may lead to acute lung injury. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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22 pages, 1839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air–Liquid Interface Exposure of Lung Epithelial Cells to Low Doses of Nanoparticles to Assess Pulmonary Adverse Effects

by Silvia Diabaté, Lucie Armand, Sivakumar Murugadoss, Marco Dilger, Susanne Fritsch-Decker, Christoph Schlager, David Béal, Marie-Edith Arnal, Mathilde Biola-Clier, Selina Ambrose, Sonja Mülhopt, Hanns-Rudolf Paur, Iseult Lynch, Eugenia Valsami-Jones, Marie Carriere and Carsten Weiss

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010065 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4158

Abstract

Reliable and predictive in vitro assays for hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) are still limited. Specifically, exposure systems which more realistically recapitulate the physiological conditions in the lung are needed to predict pulmonary toxicity. To this end, air-liquid interface (ALI) systems have [...] Read more.

Reliable and predictive in vitro assays for hazard assessments of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) are still limited. Specifically, exposure systems which more realistically recapitulate the physiological conditions in the lung are needed to predict pulmonary toxicity. To this end, air-liquid interface (ALI) systems have been developed in recent years which might be better suited than conventional submerged exposure assays. However, there is still a need for rigorous side-by-side comparisons of the results obtained with the two different exposure methods considering numerous parameters, such as different MNMs, cell culture models and read outs. In this study, human A549 lung epithelial cells and differentiated THP-1 macrophages were exposed under submerged conditions to two abundant types of MNMs i.e., ceria and titania nanoparticles (NPs). Membrane integrity, metabolic activity as well as pro-inflammatory responses were recorded. For comparison, A549 monocultures were also exposed at the ALI to the same MNMs. In the case of titania NPs, genotoxicity was also investigated. In general, cells were more sensitive at the ALI compared to under classical submerged conditions. Whereas ceria NPs triggered only moderate effects, titania NPs clearly initiated cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory gene expression and genotoxicity. Interestingly, low doses of NPs deposited at the ALI were sufficient to drive adverse outcomes, as also documented in rodent experiments. Therefore, further development of ALI systems seems promising to refine, reduce or even replace acute pulmonary toxicity studies in animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Toxicological Studies of Nanoparticles)

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