Development of human dermal PBPK models for the bisphenols BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPAF with parallel-layered skin compartment: Basing on dermal administration studies in humans

Exploring the toxicological impact of bisphenol a exposure on psoriasis through network toxicology, machine learning, and multi-dimensional bioinformatics analysis

Psoriasis is a common immune - mediated skin disease, the pathogenesis of which is not completely elucidated. Environmental factors are key to its onset and progression. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant that endangers human health. Previous research shows that BPA exposure disrupts immunity and causes skin inflammation and autoimmune diseases. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of BPA in psoriasis are unclear. In this study, we used network toxicology, machine learning, and bioinformatics to study BPA - induced psoriasis mechanisms. Public database analyses identified 100 potential targets, with significant enrichment in the PI3K - AKT and Chemokine signaling pathways. Machine learning identified five core targets: PTAFR, MMP9, CXCR2, IDO1, and LCK. These genes are highly expressed in psoriatic lesion tissues than controls and associated to immune cell infiltration. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed stable interactions between BPA and these targets, which supports their role in disease progression. We also developed a novel Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework for BPA-induced psoriasis, providing key toxicological insights into the risks of exposure. These findings highlight the impact of BPA on immune regulation, offering a foundation for understanding associated health risks and formulating mitigation strategies. Our study provides an in-depth exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying BPA-induced psoriasis. The findings underscore the practical application of integrating network toxicology, machine learning, multidimensional bioinformatics approaches, and AOP frameworks in assessing environmental pollutant risks. Furthermore, it lays the foundation for understanding BPA-related health risks and developing strategies to mitigate its impact on psorasis.

Exposure to benzophenones during pregnancy and the influence of socioeconomic, lifestyle, and environmental factors on exposure levels

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have emerged as significant environmental pollutants. Benzophenones (BPs), a group of EDCs, are widely used and suspected of interfering with human health from early development to later life stages. This study assessed urinary concentrations of selected BPs, including 2,4-dihydroxy benzophenone (BP-1), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone (BP-3), 4-hydroxy benzophenone (4-OH-BP), and 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone (BP-8), in 166 pregnant women from the PERSIAN cohort in Isfahan, Iran, during the first trimester. The study also examined the associations between maternal BP levels and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. BP-1 and BP-3 were detected in all samples, followed by 4-OH-BP (98 %) and BP-8 (95 %). Among the BP metabolites, the highest level belonged to BP-3 with a median concentration of 7.50 μg/g Creatinine (Cr) and the lowest was assigned to BP-8 amounting to 1.32 μg/g Cr. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that food consumption behaviour and storage methods, physical activity, and education level were significantly correlated with urinary 4-OH-BP concentrations (p ≤ 0.5). BP-3 levels were positively associated with personal care product (PCP) use, food consumption habits, physical activity, and income. BP-1 was linked to food consumption habits and PCP usage, while BP-8 was associated with household cleaning product (HCP) use and income level. These findings suggest that demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and environmental factors influence maternal BP exposure in early pregnancy, potentially affecting foetal development. Further research is needed to confirm these effects. Regulatory measures should be considered to minimize BP exposure, particularly among pregnant women.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) in drug delivery systems: Characteristics, applications, and future perspectives

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a class of low-melting mixtures formed by the hydrogen-bond interactions between hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) and hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) in specific molar ratios. Their unique physicochemical properties enable DESs to significantly enhance drug solubility and permeability, while also serving as carriers to facilitate efficient drug delivery. A subclass of DESs, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), is found in the metabolites of natural organisms, such as plants. With low toxicity and biodegradability, NADESs possess distinct advantages for applications in the pharmaceutical field.The therapeutic efficacy of drugs is often limited by imprecise release mechanisms, leading to the metabolism or degradation of a portion of the drug before it reaches the target site, thereby reducing its effectiveness. Moreover, many drugs exhibit poor solubility and stability, resulting in low efficiency during absorption and metabolism, which further diminishing their therapeutic impact. NADESs, with their excellent tunability and biocompatibility, have demonstrated great potential in drug delivery systems.This paper first provides an overview of the fundamental characteristics of NADESs, followed by a detailed summary of recent advancements and applications of NADESs across various administration routes, including transdermal, mucosal, and inhalation drug delivery. Finally, the paper explores the prospects of NADESs in novel drug delivery systems and proposes strategies for optimizing their performance to promote clinical applications.

The biological effects of bisphenol AF in reproduction and development: What do we know so far?

Due to the established endocrine-disrupting effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), alternative bisphenols entered the market. Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is now commonly used in the industrial manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. However, BPAF's effects on reproduction and development have not been thoroughly reviewed. We investigated the relationship between BPAF exposure and reproduction and early development. We performed a literature review of studies on BPAF and reproductive physiology. Using keywords, we searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library Database, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov for English language literature available until December 2024; we additionally identified and included studies from bibliographies. We included 125 articles, spanning in vitro and in vivo model organism and human studies. BPAF is a selective estrogen receptor modulator and an androgen receptor antagonist and is more potent than BPA. It is detected in urine, blood products, saliva, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate a spectrum of BPAF-induced endocrine and reproductive changes in both sexes. There is strong evidence of alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and of altered steroidogenesis pathways. Multiple studies using zebrafish, Xenopus, chickens, and rodents, show BPAF's effects on embryogenesis, morphology, and sexual differentiation. Decreased serum testosterone and impaired spermatogenesis and oocyte viability have been demonstrated. The current literature shows clear disruptive effects of BPAF on reproductive health and embryonic development. Though further investigation is warranted, there is ample converging evidence to support limiting the use of BPAF and other similar bisphenols.

Bisphenol pollutants bind with human hair keratin: Combining evidence from fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking

Bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs such as bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA) and tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS), are typical endocrine disruptors widely used in plastic production. However, until now, the occurrence mechanisms of these bisphenols in hair, a non-invasive material for human biomonitoring, have been inadequately explored. This study employed fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking to investigate the interactions between these 6 bisphenols and hair keratin. The findings revealed that these bisphenols quenched keratin's intrinsic fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner and exhibited a mixed quenching mechanism. Their binding constants to keratin at 308 K range from 6.98 × 102 to 7.24 × 106 M-1, with a spontaneous binding mode observed. Halogenated bisphenols demonstrated a higher binding affinity to keratin compared to non-halogenated bisphenols, with bromobisphenols showing a greater affinity than chlorinated bisphenols. The combined results from fluorescence and molecular docking suggest that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions are the predominant forces driving the binding of bisphenols to hair keratin. These insights first provide a novel perspective on understanding the mechanisms of small molecular pollutants deposition in hair, marking an important step toward utilizing hair as a biomonitoring tool.

In vitro pharmacologic profiling aids systemic toxicity assessment of chemicals

An adapted in vitro pharmacology profiling panel (APPP) was developed that included targets used in the pharmaceutical industry alongside additional targets whose cellular functions have been linked to systemic toxicities. This panel of 83 target assays was used to profile the activities of 129 cosmetic relevant chemicals with diverse chemical structures, physiochemical properties and cosmetic use types. Internal data consistency was proved robust, as evidenced by the reproducibility between single concentration and concentration-response data and showed good concordance with data reported in the ToxCast and drug excipient datasets. We discuss how the data can be analyzed and multiple potential contexts of use illustrated by case studies, alongside other new approach methodologies, to support cosmetic chemical risk assessments that do not require data from new animal studies.

A critical review to identify data gaps and improve risk assessment of bisphenol A alternatives for human health

Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, has been associated with a variety of adverse effects in humans including metabolic, immunological, reproductive, and neurodevelopmental effects, raising concern about its health impact. In the EU, it has been classified as toxic to reproduction and as an endocrine disruptor and was thus included in the candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC). On this basis, its use has been banned or restricted in some products. As a consequence, industries turned to bisphenol alternatives, such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), which are now found in various consumer products, as well as in human matrices at a global scale. However, due to their toxicity, these two bisphenols are in the process of being regulated. Other BPA alternatives, whose potential toxicity remains largely unknown due to a knowledge gap, have also started to be used in manufacturing processes. The gradual restriction of the use of BPA underscores the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with its alternatives to avoid regrettable substitutions. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the potential hazards related to BPA alternatives prioritized by European Regulatory Agencies based on their regulatory relevance and selected to be studied under the European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC): BPE, BPAP, BPP, BPZ, BPS-MAE, and TCBPA. The focus is on data related to toxicokinetic, endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, developmental neurotoxicity, and genotoxicity/carcinogenicity, which were considered the most relevant endpoints to assess the hazard related to those substances. The goal here is to identify the data gaps in BPA alternatives toxicology and hence formulate the future directions that will be taken in the frame of the PARC project, which seeks also to enhance chemical risk assessment methodologies using new approach methodologies (NAMs).

Occurrence of bisphenol analogues and their conjugated metabolites in foodstuff

Bisphenol analogues (BPs) are prevalent in diverse foodstuff samples worldwide. However, the occurrence of conjugated bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) metabolites in foodstuff remains poorly understood. This study analyzed eight BPs, and four conjugated BPA and BPS metabolites, in three animal-derived foodstuff and five plant-derived foodstuff samples from China. Results showed that fish foodstuff (9.7 ng/g ww) contained the highest mean concentration of BPA, followed by rice (5.1 ng/g ww) and beans foodstuff (3.6 ng/g ww). BPA-sulfate had higher mean concentrations than BPA-glucuronide in different foodstuff categories, except that in eggs foodstuff (p < 0.05). Compared with other foodstuff items, fish (3.4 ng/g ww) and vegetable (1.6 ng/g ww) foodstuff samples exhibited comparatively higher mean concentrations of BPS. Mean concentrations of BPS-sulfate were consistently higher than BPS-glucuronide in vegetables, meats, and fish foodstuff (p < 0.05). BPA contributed the major total dietary intake (DI) of BPs, with the mean DI of 435 ng/kg bw/day for women and 374 ng/kg bw/day for men, respectively. To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the occurrence of conjugated BPA and BPS metabolites in foodstuff, which enhances our comprehension of the origins of these conjugated metabolites in the human body.

Towards the assessment of exposure to bisphenols in everyday items with increased accuracy by the use of integrated calibration method (ICM)-based methodology

The most crucial purpose of the measurement is to obtain a reliable result that reflects the actual qualitative and/or quantitative features of the tested material. The overriding goal of analytical chemistry is to obtain accurate results after compensating of various interference effects as well as non-linear calibration dependence. A new approach based on an integrated calibration method (ICM) supported by H-point standard addition method (HPSAM) has been used to improve the quality of analytical results. The proposed methodological approach was extended using the step-by-step dilution procedure, and five measurement conditions were used to eliminate multiplicative, additive, and non-linear interferences. On this basis, a set of estimations is obtained to improve the quality of the analytical results. The analytical usefulness of the proposed approach was tested on the example of the determination of three compounds from the group of bisphenols (BPs) using the chromatographic technique - HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection). Compared to the reference method - fluorescence spectroscopy - the obtained results were characterized by excellent accuracy (RE=3 % in most cases). The developed methodology allowed to carry out a risk assessment on BPA, BPF, and BPS present in samples of shop receipts and canned food. Store clerks have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to PBF and BPS in receipts due to skin permeation (exposure factors were equal to 308.97 µg/g for BPF and 181.89 µg/g for BPS). Consumers should also pay close attention to the BPA found in canned food samples (the average concentration was equal to 20.61 µg/mL, and the tolerable daily intake was exceeded over 165.000 times). The analytical method and the methodological approach were evaluated using the RGB model and the AGREE approach - it was shown that the method can be successfully used for other analytical purposes (the method is White) and is environmentally friendly (Significance=0.63).