Treatment of Anemia Progression via Magnetite and Folate NanoparticlesIn Vivo

A Review of the Use of Metallic Nanoparticles as a Novel Approach for Overcoming the Stability Challenges of Blood Products: A Narrative Review from 2011-2021

PURPOSE

To obtain safe and qualified blood products (e.g., platelets, plasma, and red blood cells), various limitations such as limited shelf life (especially for platelets) and stability must be addressed. In this review study, the most commonly used metal nanomaterials (e.g., gold, silver, iron, and magnetic) reported in the literature from 2011 to 2021 were discussed owing to their unique properties, which provide exciting approaches to overcome these limitations and improve the stability, safety, and quality of blood products. Novelty: This study reviews for the first time the results of studies (from 2011 to 2021) that consider the effects of various metallic nanoparticles on the different blood products.

RESULTS

The results of this review study showed that some metallic nanoparticles are effective in improving the stability of plasma proteins. For this purpose, modified Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles and citrate-AuNPs protect albumin products against stressful situations. Also, SiO₂ microspheres and silicacoated magnetite nanoparticles are highly capable of improving IgG stability. ZnO nanoparticles also reduced thrombin production, and protein-coated GMNP nanoparticles prevented unwanted leakage of factor VIII through blood vessels. Furthermore, the stability and longevity of erythrocytes can be improved by AuNP nanoparticles and Zr-based organic nanoparticles. In addition, platelet storage time can be improved using PEGylated Au and functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles.

SUGGESTION

According to the results of this study, it is suggested that further research should be conducted on metal nanoparticles as the most promising candidates to prepare metal nanoparticles with improved properties to increase the stability of various blood products.

Assessment of nano-iron particles impact on the reproductive health of female Wistar rats

Background

Iron oxide nanoparticles, especially nano-magnetite, are promising candidates for use in a variety of applications. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nano-magnetite on the reproductive health of female Wistar rats. Twenty-one adult female rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 served as the control group, Group 2 received a low dose of 5 mg/kg of nano-magnetite, and Group 3 received a high dose of 10 mg/kg of nano-magnetite. For 30 days, rats were intraperitoneally injected three times per week.

The main findings

Revealed that nano-magnetite did not induce a change in body weight or absolute as well as relative reproductive organs weight. Nano-magnetite nanoparticles influenced the reproductive serum hormone levels as well as imbalanced the ovarian and uterine malondialdehyde and total antioxidant activity. After nano-magnetite nanoparticle injection, the histopathological examination revealed apoptosis of granulosa cells of various types of follicles, degenerated corpora lutea, congested blood vessels, and uterine epithelial cells of uterine tissue showed a high level of apoptosis and inflammation. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated a significant increase in activated caspase-3 following nano-magnetite injection, indicating an increase in cell apoptosis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the negative effect of magnetite nanoparticle on reproductive health and increased the likelihood of infertility.

Nano-formulations in treatment of iron deficiency anaemia: An overview

BACKGROUND

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a significant challenge to global health. The absorption and bioavailability depend on the delivery vehicle being used. Ferrous sulphate is a drug of choice for IDA but leads to frequent gastrointestinal tract side effects that force the patient to discontinue the treatment. Gastrointestinal side effects result from converting bivalent iron into trivalent iron accompanied by reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Due to lower absorption, oral preparations of trivalent iron are recommended in patients with intolerance to ferrous sulphate. Nanosized iron preparation can resolved these concerns. The particle size of iron salts has been observed to have a significant impact on iron absorption. The surface area of iron compounds is increased by reducing their particle size, which improves their solubility in gastric juice and boosts their absorption. Sucrosomial iron, ferric citrate complexes, and ferric maltol are some of the novel iron preparations that ensure high bioavailability and good tolerance in chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, the parenteral route of administration of iron is unacceptable to most patients. Moreover, it leads to high free iron levels in circulation, resulting in ROS generation.

CONCLUSION

This article provides an informative summary of iron deficiency anaemia causes and treatment through nanoformulations and literature and in-depth patent analysis.

Influence of Polymer Shell Molecular Weight on Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Morphology and In Vivo Biodistribution

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been extensively used in different biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and magnetic properties. However, different functionalization approaches have been developed to improve their time-life in the systemic circulation. Here, we have synthesized IONPs using a modified Massart method and functionalized them in situ with polyethylene glycol with different molecular weights (20 K and 35 K). The resulting nanoparticles were characterized in terms of morphology, structure, and composition using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). In vivo biodistribution was evaluated in Balb/c mice, the presence of IONP being evidenced through histopathological investigations. IONP morphological characterization showed a change in shape (from spherical to rhombic) and size with molecular weight, while structural characterization proved the obtaining of highly crystalline samples of spinel structured cubic face-centered magnetite. In vivo biodistribution in a mice model proved the biocompatibility of all of the IONP samples. All NPs were cleared through the liver, spleen, and lungs, while bare IONPs were also evidenced in kidneys.

Application of FeOOH Nano-Ellipsoids as a Novel Nano-Based Iron Supplement: an In Vivo Study

The possibility of employing FeOOH nano-ellipsoids as a novel shape nano-based iron supplement was investigated. Ferrous sulfate and nano-ellipsoids were daily administered by gavage at low and high dosages. After 1 month of treatment, the hematologic parameters along with serum and organs' iron contents were measured. Liver enzymes, total serum bilirubin, and LDH level were assayed to evaluate any possible toxicity. More investigation was also performed by organ index calculation and also pathologic studies. It was found that nano-ellipsoids are an effective iron supplement to improve iron-related blood parameters. Interestingly, low-dose nano-ellipsoids were even more effective than high-dose ferrous sulfate. Nano-ellipsoids had no considerable impact on the liver enzymes and serum bilirubin. Meanwhile, high-dose ferrous sulfate significantly increases liver enzyme activity. The increased serum LDH was also the only concern in the groups that were treated with high-dose ferrous sulfate and nano-ellipsoids. Pathologic evaluations revealed some signs of liver inflammation after supplementation with high dose nano-ellipsoids and also ferrous sulfate. Overall, these data indicate FeOOH nano-ellipsoids as a novel shape iron supplement to be employed at low dosage but with greater beneficial effects than high-dose ferrous sulfate.

Comparative Evaluation of Sucrosomial Iron and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Oral Supplements in Iron Deficiency Anemia in Piglets

Iron deficiency is the most common mammalian nutritional disorder. However, among mammalian species iron deficiency anemia (IDA), occurs regularly only in pigs. To cure IDA, piglets are routinely injected with high amounts of iron dextran (FeDex), which can lead to perturbations in iron homeostasis. Here, we evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of non-invasive supplementation with Sucrosomial iron (SI), a highly bioavailable iron supplement preventing IDA in humans and mice and various iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Analysis of red blood cell indices and plasma iron parameters shows that not all iron preparations used in the study efficiently counteracted IDA comparable to FeDex-based supplementation. We found no signs of iron toxicity of any tested iron compounds, as evaluated based on the measurement of several toxicological markers that could indicate the occurrence of oxidative stress or inflammation. Neither SI nor IONPs increased hepcidin expression with alterations in ferroportin (FPN) protein level. Finally, the analysis of the piglet gut microbiota indicates the individual pattern of bacterial diversity across taxonomic levels, independent of the type of supplementation. In light of our results, SI but not IONPs used in the experiment emerges as a promising nutritional iron supplement, with a high potential to correct IDA in piglets.

Efficiency of Novel Antimicrobial Coating Based on Iron Nanoparticles for Dairy Products’ Packaging

The main function of food packaging is to maintain food’s quality and safety. The use of active packaging, including antimicrobial materials, can significantly extend the shelf life of food. Many of these packaging solutions are based on the application of polymer films containing metal nanoparticles (e.g., Ag, Au, Cu) or metal oxides (e.g., TiO2, ZnO, MgO). However, the use of iron nanoparticles is rarely mentioned. In the study, polylactide (PLA) films containing zero-valent iron (ZVI) were made by casting method. Pure PLA films and PLA films with the addition of Fe2O3 were used as comparative materials. The composition and structure of ZVI/PLA films were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy. The XRD spectra performed on ZVI/PLA films confirmed the presence of iron in the packaging material and revealed their oxide form (Fe2O3). The addition of zero-valent iron in the concentration 1%, 3%, or 5% resulted in the formation of crystallographic planes measuring 40.8, 33.6, and 28.6 nm, respectively. The color and gloss of the films, and their antimicrobial activity against bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and fungi (Geotrichum candidum, Rhodotorula rubra) were also examined. The PLA films with addition of 3% of ZVI (w/w) inhibited the growth of all tested organisms in contrast to PLA and PLA/Fe2O3 films. The addition of ZVI to polymer matrix caused changes in its appearance and optical properties. The ZVI/PLA coating used on polyolefin film allowed to extend the shelf life of goat cheese packed in examined material to 6 weeks. Considering the antimicrobial properties of the ZVI/PLA films and PLA biodegradability the obtained material can be successfully applied in the food industry.