Polymeric nanoparticle-aptamer bioconjugates can diminish the toxicity of mercury in vivo

Targeted delivery drugs by nanoparticles and aptamers is a hot issue; however, the application to ameliorate toxicity of toxicants is unknown, and the information about nanoparticle-aptamer toxicology and pharmacology is limited. In this work, nanoparticle-aptamer was synthesized and then its toxicological and pharmacological information was studied. Mercury was selected as a model toxicant and the antidote was entrapped by nanoparticle-aptamer. The nanoparticle-aptamer with a suitable size of 120 nm avoided aptamer biodegradation and achieved an effective release of antidote. Rats were orally administered mercury-contaminated rice and then nanoparticle-aptamer was intravenously injected. The nanoparticle-aptamer markedly reduced the quantity of mercury in both the brain and kidney, and enhanced the excretion of urinary mercury. Water Maze and Open Field tests showed that nanoparticle-aptamer ameliorated the neurotoxicity and improved the learning and memory of rats. The pharmacology of nanoparticle-aptamer involved slow antidote release, antidote-toxicant antagonism, enhancement of crucial enzymes activity and decreased lipid peroxidation. Toxicology of nanoparticle-aptamer was also studied by hematologic tests (creatinine, urea, red and white blood cell), and exhibited little toxicity. Nanoparticle-aptamer can diminish the toxicity of mercury in vivo with few adverse effects, and is a potential tool in reducing the hazards of toxicants to human health.