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Nanomaterials Toxicology and Application in Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnostics

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 12919

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Dr. Ali Daoud

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Guest Editor

Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: systematic toxicology; nanomaterial toxicology; genetic toxicology; aquatic toxicology and biology; cell biology; environmental toxicology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanoparticles (NPs) are an important nanomaterial, with a small size, large surface to volume ratio, and distinctive biological and physiochemical characteristics from the bulk material. NPs are extensively used in drugs, consumer products, and drug delivery systems. However, wide application of NPs may lead to environment contamination; additionally, NPs can have an adversely toxic effect on both animals and humans, penetrating them through oral routes, inhalation, and the skin. Despite extensive explorations into how pulmonary exposure to NPs may affect lung and cardiovascular toxicity, the underlying mechanisms of this toxicity are still unknown. Researchers have demonstrated that pulmonary treatments to particle-sized air pollutants are capable of inducing adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether pulmonary exposure to NPs and/or their coatings adversely affects vascular homeostasis. Therefore, the purpose of this Special Issue is to gather studies that comprehensively assess the cardiovascular effects of pulmonary exposure of NPs of different sizes and types. Our issue is focused on safety issues, and it should thus facilitate our understanding of NPs toxicity and identification of potential hazards.

Dr. Ali Daoud
Guest Editor

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Keywords

synthesis
inorganic nanoparticles
nanostructures
drug delivery
nanobiomedicine
cardiovascular treatment
nanotoxicology
anticancer nanomaterials

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 5560 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Salvia verticillata and Filipendula ulmaria Extracts: Optimization of Synthesis, Biological Activities, and Catalytic Properties

by Vladimir Mihailović, Nikola Srećković, Zoran P. Nedić, Silvana Dimitrijević, Miloš Matić, Ana Obradović, Dragica Selaković, Gvozden Rosić and Jelena S. Katanić Stanković

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020808 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2629

Abstract

The study’s objective was to obtain silver nanoparticles (SVAgNP and FUAgNP) using aqueous extracts of Salvia verticillata and Filipendula ulmaria. The optimal conditions for nanoparticle synthesis were determined and obtained; nanoparticles were then characterized using UV-Vis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). SVAgNP and FUAgNP possessed a crystalline structure with 48.42% and 60.41% silver weight, respectively. The highest percentage of nanoparticles in the solution had a diameter between 40 and 70 nm. In DPPH˙ and ABTS˙⁺ methods, FUAgNP (IC₅₀ 15.82 and 59.85 µg/mL, respectively) demonstrated a higher antioxidant capacity than SVAgNP (IC₅₀ 73.47 and 79.49 µg/mL, respectively). Obtained nanoparticles also showed pronounced antibacterial activity (MIC ˂ 39.1 µg/mL for most of the tested bacteria), as well as high biocompatibility with the human fibroblast cell line MRC-5 and significant cytotoxicity on some cancer cell lines, especially on the human colon cancer HCT-116 cells (IC₅₀ 31.50 and 66.51 µg/mL for SVAgNP and FUAgNP, respectively). The nanoparticles demonstrated high catalytic effectiveness in degrading Congo red dye with NaBH₄. The results showed a rapid and low-cost methodology for the synthesis of AgNPs using S. verticillata and F. ulmaria with promising biological potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials Toxicology and Application in Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnostics)

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16 pages, 4721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Hydroxyapatite/Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and Hydroxyapatite/Polyethyleneimine Composite Scaffolds in Bone Regeneration of Swine Mandibular Critical Size Defects: In Vivo Study

by Momir Stevanovic, Dragica Selakovic, Miroslav Vasovic, Biljana Ljujic, Suzana Zivanovic, Milos Papic, Marko Zivanovic, Nevena Milivojevic, Milica Mijovic, Sasa Z. Tabakovic, Vukoman Jokanovic, Aleksandra Arnaut, Pavle Milanovic, Nemanja Jovicic and Gvozden Rosic

Molecules 2022, 27(5), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051694 - 04 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1909

Abstract

Reconstruction of jaw bone defects present a significant problem because of specific aesthetic and functional requirements. Although widely used, the transplantation of standard autograft and allograft materials is still associated with significant constraints. Composite scaffolds, combining advantages of biodegradable polymers with bioceramics, have potential to overcome limitations of standard grafts. Polyethyleneimine could be an interesting novel biocompatible polymer for scaffold construction due to its biocompatibility and chemical structure. To date, there have been no in vivo studies assessing biological properties of hydroxyapatite bioceramics scaffold modified with polyethyleneimine. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo effects of composite scaffolds of hydroxyapatite ceramics and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and novel polyethyleneimine on bone repair in swine’s mandibular defects, and to compare them to conventional bone allograft (BioOss). Scaffolds were prepared using the method of polymer foam template in three steps. Pigs, 3 months old, were used and defects were made in the canine, premolar, and molar area of their mandibles. Four months following the surgical procedure, the bone was analyzed using radiological, histological, and gene expression techniques. Hydroxyapatite ceramics/polyethyleneimine composite scaffold demonstrated improved biological behavior compared to conventional allograft in treatment of swine’s mandibular defects, in terms of bone density and bone tissue histological characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials Toxicology and Application in Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnostics)

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18 pages, 3249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Detoxification Mechanism Assessment of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) against Indoxacarb

by Junaid Ali Siddiqui, Yuping Zhang, Yuanyuan Luo, Bamisope Steve Bamisile, Naveed Ur Rehman, Waqar Islam, Muhammad Qasim, Qiuying Jiang and Yijuan Xu

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030870 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2805

Abstract

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is one of the deadliest invasive ant species that threatens the world by disrupting biodiversity, important functions within a natural ecosystem, and community structure. They are responsible for huge economic losses in the infested countries every year. Synthetic insecticides, especially indoxacarb, have been broadly used to control S. invicta for many years. However, the biochemical response of S. invicta to indoxacarb remains largely undiscovered. Here, we used the sublethal doses of indoxacarb on the S. invicta collected from the eight different cities of Southern China. The alteration in the transcriptome profile of S. invicta following sublethal dosages of indoxacarb was characterized using high-throughput RNA-seq technology. We created 2 libraries, with 50.93 million and 47.44 million clean reads for indoxacarb treatment and control, respectively. A total of 2018 unigenes were regulated after insecticide treatment. Results indicated that a total of 158 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the indoxacarb-treated group, of which 100 were significantly upregulated and 58 were downregulated, mostly belonging to the detoxification enzymes, such as AChE, CarE, and GSTs. Furthermore, results showed that most of these DEGs were found in several KEGG pathways, including steroid biosynthesis, other drug metabolizing enzymes, glycerolipid metabolism, chemical carcinogenesis, drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450, glutathione metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and metabolism of xenobiotics. Together, these findings indicated that indoxacarb causes significant alteration in the transcriptome profile and signaling pathways of S. invicta, providing a foundation for further molecular inquiry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials Toxicology and Application in Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnostics)

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10 pages, 4539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potato Peels Mediated Synthesis of Cu(II)-nanoparticles from Tyrosinase Reacted with bis-(N-aminoethylethanolamine) (Tyr-Cu(II)-AEEA NPs) and Their Cytotoxicity against Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

by Akbar Idhayadhulla, Aseer Manilal, Anis Ahamed, Saud Alarifi and Gurusamy Raman

Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6665; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216665 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2165

Abstract

The synthesis of nanoparticles is most important in the context of cancer therapy, particularly copper nanoparticles, which are widely used. In this work, copper(II)-tyrosinase was isolated from potato peel powder. Copper nanoparticles (Tyr-Cu(II)-AEEA NPs) were synthesized via the reaction of tyrosinase with N-aminoethylethanolamine to produce Cu(II)-NPs and these were characterized by means of FT-IR, UV-Spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, TEM and a particle size analyzer. These Tyr-Cu(II)-AEEA NPs were tested as anticancer agents against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Fluorescence microscopy and DNA fragmentation were also performed, which revealed the inhibiting potentials of Cu(II)-AEEA NPs and consequent cell death; Tyr-Cu(II)-AEEA NPs show potential cytotoxicity activity and this nano material could be contemplated as an anticancer medicament in future investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials Toxicology and Application in Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnostics)

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15 pages, 3391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Orexin-A Regulates Follicular Growth, Proliferation, Cell Cycle and Apoptosis in Mouse Primary Granulosa Cells via the AKT/ERK Signaling Pathway

by Muhammad Safdar, Aixin Liang, Shahid Ali Rajput, Nasir Abbas, Muhammad Zubair, Aftab Shaukat, Aziz ur Rehman, Huma Jamil, Yan Guo, Farman Ullah and Liguo Yang

Molecules 2021, 26(18), 5635; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26185635 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2505

Abstract

Granulosa cells (GCs) are essential for follicular growth, development, and atresia. The orexin-A (OXA) neuropeptide is widely involved in the regulation of various biological functions. OXA selectively binds to orexin receptor type 1 (OX1R) and mediates all its biological actions via OX1R. This study aimed to explore the expression of OXA and OX1R and their regulatory role in GCs proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, oocyte maturation, and underlying molecular mechanisms of these processes and elucidate its novel signaling pathway. Western blotting and RT-qPCR showed that OXA and OX1R were expressed during different developmental stages of GCs, and siRNA transfection successfully inhibited the expression of OX1R at the translational and transcriptional levels. Flow cytometry revealed that OX1R knockdown upregulated GCs apoptosis and triggered S-phase arrest in cell cycle progression. RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed significantly reduced expression of Bcl-2 and elevated expression of Bax, caspase-3, TNF-α, and P21 in OX1R-silenced GCs. Furthermore, the CCK-8 assay showed that knockdown of OX1R suppressed GCs proliferation by downregulating the expression of PCNA, a proliferation marker gene, at the translational and transcriptional levels. Western blotting revealed that knockdown of OX1R resulted in a considerable decrease of the phosphorylation level of the AKT and ERK1/2 proteins, indicating that the AKT/ERK1/2 pathway is involved in regulating GCs proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, OX1R silencing enhanced the mRNA expression of GDF9 and suppressed the mRNA expression of BMP15 in mouse GCs. Collectively, these results reveal a novel regulatory role of OXA in the development of GCs and folliculogenesis by regulating proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. Therefore, OXA can be a promising therapeutic agent for female infertility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials Toxicology and Application in Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnostics)

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