International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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15 pages, 6756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Sensitivity of A549 Cells to Doxorubicin with WS₂ and WSe₂ Nanosheets via the Induction of Autophagy

by Weitao Jin, Ting Yang, Jimei Jia, Jianbo Jia and Xiaofei Zhou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021164 - 18 Jan 2024

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Abstract

The excellent physicochemical properties of two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) such as WS₂ and WSe₂ provide potential benefits for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and bioimaging. WS₂ and WSe₂ have recently been used as chemosensitizers; however, [...] Read more.

The excellent physicochemical properties of two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) such as WS₂ and WSe₂ provide potential benefits for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and bioimaging. WS₂ and WSe₂ have recently been used as chemosensitizers; however, the detailed molecular basis underlying WS₂- and WSe₂-induced sensitization remains elusive. Our recent findings showed that 2D TMDCs with different thicknesses and different element compositions induced autophagy in normal human bronchial epithelial cells and mouse alveolar macrophages at sublethal concentrations. Here, we explored the mechanism by which WS₂ and WSe₂ act as sensitizers to increase lung cancer cell susceptibility to chemotherapeutic agents. The results showed that WS₂ and WSe₂ enhanced autophagy flux in A549 lung cancer cells at sublethal concentrations without causing significant cell death. Through the autophagy-specific RT² Profiler PCR Array, we identified the genes significantly affected by WS₂ and WSe₂ treatment. Furthermore, the key genes that play central roles in regulating autophagy were identified by constructing a molecular interaction network. A mechanism investigation uncovered that WS₂ and WSe₂ activated autophagy-related signaling pathways by interacting with different cell surface proteins or cytoplasmic proteins. By utilizing this mechanism, the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin was enhanced by WS₂ and WSe₂ pre-treatment in A549 lung cancer cells. This study revealed a feature of WS₂ and WSe₂ in cancer therapy, in which they eliminate the resistance of A549 lung cancer cells against doxorubicin, at least partially, by inducing autophagy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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19 pages, 5576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multigenerational Effects of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles on Acheta domesticus DNA Stability

by Barbara Flasz, Amrendra K. Ajay, Monika Tarnawska, Agnieszka Babczyńska, Łukasz Majchrzycki, Andrzej Kędziorski, Łukasz Napora-Rutkowski, Ewa Świerczek and Maria Augustyniak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12826; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612826 - 15 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1222

Abstract

The use of nanoparticles like graphene oxide (GO) in nanocomposite industries is growing very fast. There is a strong concern that GO can enter the environment and become nanopollutatnt. Environmental pollutants’ exposure usually relates to low concentrations but may last for a long [...] Read more.

The use of nanoparticles like graphene oxide (GO) in nanocomposite industries is growing very fast. There is a strong concern that GO can enter the environment and become nanopollutatnt. Environmental pollutants’ exposure usually relates to low concentrations but may last for a long time and impact following generations. Attention should be paid to the effects of nanoparticles, especially on the DNA stability passed on to the offspring. We investigated the multigenerational effects on two strains (wild and long-lived) of house cricket intoxicated with low GO concentrations over five generations, followed by one recovery generation. Our investigation focused on oxidative stress parameters, specifically AP sites (apurinic/apyrimidinic sites) and 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine), and examined the global DNA methylation pattern. Five intoxicated generations were able to overcome the oxidative stress, showing that relatively low doses of GO have a moderate effect on the house cricket (8-OHdG and AP sites). The last recovery generation that experienced a transition from contaminated to uncontaminated food presented greater DNA damage. The pattern of DNA methylation was comparable in every generation, suggesting that other epigenetic mechanisms might be involved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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21 pages, 1843 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age- and Lifespan-Dependent Differences in GO Caused DNA Damage in Acheta domesticus

by Barbara Flasz, Marta Dziewięcka, Amrendra K. Ajay, Monika Tarnawska, Agnieszka Babczyńska, Andrzej Kędziorski, Łukasz Napora-Rutkowski, Patrycja Ziętara, Ewa Świerczek and Maria Augustyniak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010290 - 24 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1998

Abstract

The rising applicability of graphene oxide (GO) should be preceded by detailed tests confirming its safety and lack of toxicity. Sensitivity to GO of immature, or with different survival strategy, individuals has not been studied so far. Therefore, in the present research, we [...] Read more.

The rising applicability of graphene oxide (GO) should be preceded by detailed tests confirming its safety and lack of toxicity. Sensitivity to GO of immature, or with different survival strategy, individuals has not been studied so far. Therefore, in the present research, we focused on the GO genotoxic effects, examining selected parameters of DNA damage (total DNA damage, double-strand breaks—DSB, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine-8-OHdG, abasic site—AP sites), DNA damage response parameters, and global methylation in the model organism Acheta domesticus. Special attention was paid to various life stages and lifespans, using wild (H), and selected for longevity (D) strains. DNA damage was significantly affected by stage and/or strain and GO exposure. Larvae and young imago were generally more sensitive than adults, revealing more severe DNA damage. Especially in the earlier life stages, the D strain reacted more intensely/inversely than the H strain. In contrast, DNA damage response parameters were not significantly related to stage and/or strain and GO exposure. Stage-dependent DNA damage, especially DSB and 8-OHdG, with the simultaneous lack or subtle activation of DNA damage response parameters, may result from the general life strategy of insects. Predominantly fast-living and fast-breeding organisms can minimize energy-demanding repair mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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10 pages, 2414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multichannel Fluorescent Tongue for Amyloid-β Aggregates Detection

by Fei Li, Lingjia Zhou, Xu Gao, Weiwei Ni, Jiabao Hu, Meicen Wu, Shouwang Chen, Jinsong Han and Jin Wu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314562 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2310

Abstract

Attention has been paid to the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, due to the maximum benefit acquired from the early-stage intervention and treatment. However, the sensing techniques primarily depended upon for neuroimaging and immunological assays for the detection of AD biomarkers are expensive, [...] Read more.

Attention has been paid to the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, due to the maximum benefit acquired from the early-stage intervention and treatment. However, the sensing techniques primarily depended upon for neuroimaging and immunological assays for the detection of AD biomarkers are expensive, time-consuming and instrument dependent. Here, we developed a multichannel fluorescent tongue consisting of four fluorescent dyes and GO through electrostatic and π–π interaction. The array distinguished multiple aggregation states of 1 µM Aβ40/Aβ42 with 100% prediction accuracy via 10-channel signal outputs, illustrating the rationality of the array design. Screening vital sensor elements for the simplified sensor array and the optimization of sensing system was achieved by machine learning algorithms. Moreover, our sensing tongue was able to detect the aggregation states of Aβ40/Aβ42 in serum, demonstrating the great potential of multichannel array in diagnosing the Alzheimer’s diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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16 pages, 18034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Long-Term Tracing of Fibroblasts on Three-Dimensional Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Based on Graphene Quantum Dots

by Tian Hou, Haiyang Ma, Xiang Gao, Haoyu Sun, Li Wang and Meiwen An

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11040; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911040 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1663

Abstract

In order to find a convenient and stable way to trace human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) in three-dimensional tissue engineering scaffolds for a long time, in this experiment, Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots (GOQDs), Amino Graphene Quantum Dots (AGQDs) and Carboxyl Graphene Quantum Dots (CGQDs) [...] Read more.

In order to find a convenient and stable way to trace human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) in three-dimensional tissue engineering scaffolds for a long time, in this experiment, Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots (GOQDs), Amino Graphene Quantum Dots (AGQDs) and Carboxyl Graphene Quantum Dots (CGQDs) were used as the material source for labeling HSFs. Exploring the possibility of using it as a long-term tracer of HSFs in three-dimensional tissue engineering scaffolds, the contents of the experiment are as follows: the HSFs were cultured in a cell-culture medium composed of three kinds of Graphene Quantum Dots for 24 h, respectively; (1) using Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8), Transwell migration chamber and Phalloidin-iFlior 488 to detect the effect of Graphene Quantum Dots on the biocompatibility of HSFs; (2) using a living cell workstation to detect the fluorescence labeling results of three kinds of Graphene Quantum Dots on HSFs, and testing the fluorescence attenuation of HSFs for 7 days; (3) the HSFs labeled with Graphene Quantum Dots were inoculated on the three-dimensional chitosan demethylcellulose sodium scaffold, and the living cell workstation was used to detect the spatial distribution of the HSFs on the three-dimensional scaffold through the fluorescence properties of the HSFs.. Experimental results: (1) the results of CCK8, Transwell migration, and FITC-Phalloidin cytoskeleton test showed that the three kinds of Graphene Quantum Dots had no effect on the biological properties of HSFs (p < 0.05); (2) the results of the fluorescence labeling experiment showed that only AGQDs could make HSFs fluorescent, and cells showed orange–red fluorescence; (3) the results of long-range tracing of HSFs which were labeled by with AGQDs showed that the fluorescence life of the HSFs were as long as 7 days; (4) The spatial distribution of HSFs can be detected on the three-dimensional scaffold based on their fluorescence properties, and the detection time can be up to 7 days. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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Review

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33 pages, 11443 KiB

Open AccessReview

Zebrafish Insights into Nanomaterial Toxicity: A Focused Exploration on Metallic, Metal Oxide, Semiconductor, and Mixed-Metal Nanoparticles

by Chinmaya Mutalik, Nivedita, Chandrasekaran Sneka, Dyah Ika Krisnawati, Sibidou Yougbaré, Chuan-Chih Hsu and Tsung-Rong Kuo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1926; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031926 - 5 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Nanomaterials are widely used in various fields, and ongoing research is focused on developing safe and sustainable nanomaterials. Using zebrafish as a model organism for studying the potentially toxic effects of nanomaterials highlights the importance of developing safe and sustainable nanomaterials. Studies conducted [...] Read more.

Nanomaterials are widely used in various fields, and ongoing research is focused on developing safe and sustainable nanomaterials. Using zebrafish as a model organism for studying the potentially toxic effects of nanomaterials highlights the importance of developing safe and sustainable nanomaterials. Studies conducted on nanomaterials and their toxicity and potential risks to human and environmental health are vital in biomedical sciences. In the present review, we discuss the potential toxicity of nanomaterials (inorganic and organic) and exposure risks based on size, shape, and concentration. The review further explores various types of nanomaterials and their impacts on zebrafish at different levels, indicating that exposure to nanomaterials can lead to developmental defects, changes in gene expressions, and various toxicities. The review also covers the importance of considering natural organic matter and chorion membranes in standardized nanotoxicity testing. While some nanomaterials are biologically compatible, metal and semiconductor nanomaterials that enter the water environment can increase toxicity to aquatic creatures and can potentially accumulate in the human body. Further investigations are necessary to assess the safety of nanomaterials and their impacts on the environment and human health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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54 pages, 2205 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Overview of the Potential of Food-Based Carbon Dots for Biomedical Applications

by Chen-Yow Wang, Nodali Ndraha, Ren-Siang Wu, Hsin-Yun Liu, Sin-Wei Lin, Kuang-Min Yang and Hung-Yun Lin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16579; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316579 - 21 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

Food-based carbon dots (CDs) hold significant importance across various fields, ranging from biomedical applications to environmental and food industries. These CDs offer unique advantages over traditional carbon nanomaterials, including affordability, biodegradability, ease of operation, and multiple bioactivities. This work aims to provide a [...] Read more.

Food-based carbon dots (CDs) hold significant importance across various fields, ranging from biomedical applications to environmental and food industries. These CDs offer unique advantages over traditional carbon nanomaterials, including affordability, biodegradability, ease of operation, and multiple bioactivities. This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in food-based CDs, focusing on their characteristics, properties, therapeutic applications in biomedicine, and safety assessment methods. The review highlights the potential of food-based CDs in biomedical applications, including antibacterial, antifungal, antivirus, anticancer, and anti-immune hyperactivity. Furthermore, current strategies employed for evaluating the safety of food-based CDs have also been reported. In conclusion, this review offers valuable insights into their potential across diverse sectors and underscores the significance of safety assessment measures to facilitate their continued advancement and application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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17 pages, 991 KiB

Open AccessReview

Carbon Nanomaterials: Emerging Roles in Immuno-Oncology

by Bbumba Patrick, Tahira Akhtar, Rubina Kousar, Chih-Ching Huang and Xing-Guo Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076600 - 1 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2309

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has made breakthrough progress in cancer treatment. However, only a subset of patients benefits from immunotherapy. Given their unique structure, composition, and interactions with the immune system, carbon nanomaterials have recently attracted tremendous interest in their roles as modulators of antitumor [...] Read more.

Cancer immunotherapy has made breakthrough progress in cancer treatment. However, only a subset of patients benefits from immunotherapy. Given their unique structure, composition, and interactions with the immune system, carbon nanomaterials have recently attracted tremendous interest in their roles as modulators of antitumor immunity. Here, we focused on the latest advances in the immunological effects of carbon nanomaterials. We also reviewed the current preclinical applications of these materials in cancer therapy. Finally, we discussed the challenges to be overcome before the full potential of carbon nanomaterials can be utilized in cancer therapies to ultimately improve patient outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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22 pages, 2787 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sensing and Stimulation Applications of Carbon Nanomaterials in Implantable Brain-Computer Interface

by Jinning Li, Yuhang Cheng, Minling Gu, Zhen Yang, Lisi Zhan and Zhanhong Du

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5182; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065182 - 8 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3101

Abstract

Implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are crucial tools for translating basic neuroscience concepts into clinical disease diagnosis and therapy. Among the various components of the technological chain that increases the sensing and stimulation functions of implanted BCI, the interface materials play a critical role. [...] Read more.

Implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are crucial tools for translating basic neuroscience concepts into clinical disease diagnosis and therapy. Among the various components of the technological chain that increases the sensing and stimulation functions of implanted BCI, the interface materials play a critical role. Carbon nanomaterials, with their superior electrical, structural, chemical, and biological capabilities, have become increasingly popular in this field. They have contributed significantly to advancing BCIs by improving the sensor signal quality of electrical and chemical signals, enhancing the impedance and stability of stimulating electrodes, and precisely modulating neural function or inhibiting inflammatory responses through drug release. This comprehensive review provides an overview of carbon nanomaterials’ contributions to the field of BCI and discusses their potential applications. The topic is broadened to include the use of such materials in the field of bioelectronic interfaces, as well as the potential challenges that may arise in future implantable BCI research and development. By exploring these issues, this review aims to provide insight into the exciting developments and opportunities that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine)

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