Silver Nanoparticles Cause Neural and Vascular Disruption by Affecting Key Neuroactive Ligand-Receptor Interaction and VEGF Signaling Pathways

Silver Nanoparticles at Low Concentrations Embedded in ECM Promote Endothelial Monolayer Formation and Cell Migration

Several scientific studies have reported the opposing effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on angiogenesis, ranging from proangiogenic to anti-angiogenic. The widespread use of AgNPs in biomedical applications and the variability of their effects depending on concentration and exposure conditions highlight the need for further research into their impact on vascularization and endothelial cell behavior. This study aimed to investigate the potential influence of AgNPs on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using a model incorporating a thin layer of an extracellular matrix (ECM). To this end, cytotoxicity was assessed, and endogenous nitric oxide and superoxide levels were measured. Additionally, the effects of AgNPs on HUVEC confluence and migration were evaluated. The expression levels of 43 proteins involved in angiogenesis were also analyzed. The results revealed that ECM enriched with AgNPs at a concentration of 0.5 mg/L enhanced cell coverage, promoted migration, and supported monolayer formation without inducing cytotoxicity.

Prediction of the neurotoxic mechanisms of the pesticide phorate using network toxicology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation

Phorate is an organophosphate pesticide that may cause neurotoxicity, although the exact mechanisms remain unclear.This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of neurotoxicity caused by phorate overexposure using network toxicology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation.We identified 104 potential targets and 20 core targets associated with phorate-induced neurotoxicity. Key targets, including MMP9, CASP1, and KEAP1, may be involved in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signalling, as well as the cAMP and calcium signalling pathways. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted on the KEAP1 and CASP1 protein-ligand complexes, which demonstrated the highest binding stabilities in molecular docking analysis. The binding free energies were calculated to be -27.08 and -22.80 kcal/mol for KEAP1 and CASP1, respectively, indicating that both complexes are thermodynamically stable.The methodology used in this study facilitates the identification and assessment of previously unexplored agrochemical toxicity pathways and molecular mechanisms. These findings suggest a novel approach to controlling pesticide residues and screening drugs.

Inorganic nanoparticles and blood-brain barrier modulation: Advancing targeted neurological therapies

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective barrier that complicates the treatment of neurological disorders. Pharmaceutical compounds encounter significant challenges in crossing the central nervous system (CNS). Nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for treating neurological conditions as they help facilitate drug delivery. This review explores the diverse characteristics and mechanisms of inorganic NPs (INPs), including metal-based, ferric-oxide, and carbon-based nanoparticles, which facilitate their passage through the BBB. Emphasis is placed on the physicochemical properties of NPs such as size, shape, surface charge, and surface modifications and their role in enhancing drug delivery efficacy, reducing immune clearance, and improving BBB permeability. Specific synthesis approaches are demonstrated, with an emphasis on the influence of each one on NP property, biological activity and the capability of an NP for its intended application. As for the advances in the field, the review emphasizes those characterized the NP formulation and surface chemistry that conquered the BBB and tested the need for its alteration. Current findings indicate that NP therapy can in the future enable effective targeting of specific brain disorders and eventually evolve this drug delivery system, which would allow for lower doses with less side effects.

Mechanistic Insights into 3-Isopropylphenol-Induced Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish: A Network Toxicology and Molecular Docking Approach

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances discharged into the environment through human activities. 3-Isopropylphenol, a typical alkylphenol-based EDC, has been extensively studied due to its broad application and potential ecological impacts. However, the mechanism of its neurotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, the neurotoxic effects of 3-isopropylphenol were examined using the zebrafish model. We predicted its potential toxic mechanisms and action targets using network toxicology and molecular docking and verified them via RT-qPCR. Results showed that 3-isopropylphenol exposure inhibits the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in zebrafish larvae, promoting apoptosis, impairing neural development, and suppressing locomotor behavior. These findings enhance our understanding of the toxic effects and mechanisms of 3-isopropylphenol on zebrafish larval neural development and aid in evaluating its potential ecological hazards.

Transcriptome analysis unveils the mechanisms of oxidative stress, immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity induced by benzotriazole UV stabilizer-328 in zebrafish embryos

As an emerging pollutant, ultraviolet stabilizer-328 (UV-328) has been frequently detected in aquatic environments and attracted great attention. Nevertheless, the toxicity and mechanisms of UV-328 to aquatic organisms are still not fully understood. In particular, the immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity of UV-328 to aquatic organisms and their mechanisms have not been reported yet. In this experiment, the developmental toxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryos exposed to UV-328 with concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µg/L for 120 h were studied. By measuring the growth and developmental indices, production of ROS, enzyme activities, MDA content and expression of genes related to oxidative, immune and nerve, and histopathological analysis, it was found that UV-328 had developmental toxicity to zebrafish larvae, and could induce oxidative stress, immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity to zebrafish larvae even at environmental concentrations with concentration-dependent effects. Moreover, the results of transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR validation suggested that immune and nerve disorders were caused by UV-328 in zebrafish larvae through regulating the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, respectively. In addition, transcriptome analysis further revealed that UV-328 could mediate the RIG-I to induce oxidative stress through p38-MAPK/p53 signaling pathway, leading to apoptosis and oxidative damage. In addition, the p38-MAPK signaling pathway enhanced ROS production and activated inflammatory cytokines to induce immunotoxicity. The results of the present work provided important information for understanding the toxicity of UV-328 to aquatic organisms and evaluating its ecological risk in aquatic environment.

Acute indomethacin exposure impairs cardiac development by affecting cardiac muscle contraction and inducing myocardial apoptosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The accumulation of the active pharmaceutical chemical in the environment usually results in environmental pollution to increase the risk to human health. Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that potentially causes systemic and developmental toxicity in various tissues. However, there have been few studies for its potential effects on cardiac development. In this study, we systematically determined the cardiotoxicity of acute indomethacin exposure in zebrafish at different concentrations with morphological, histological, and molecular levels. Specifically, the malformation and dysfunction of cardiac development, including pericardial oedema, abnormal heart rate, the larger distance between the venous sinus and bulbus arteriosus (SV-BA), enlargement of the pericardial area, and aberrant motor capability, were determined after indomethacin exposure. In addition, further investigation indicated that indomethacin exposure results in myocardial apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in zebrafish at early developmental stage. Mechanistically, our results revealed that indomethacin exposure mainly regulates key cardiac development-related genes, especially genes related to the cardiac muscle contraction-related signaling pathway, in zebrafish embryos. Thus, our findings suggested that acute indomethacin exposure might cause cardiotoxicity by disturbing the cardiac muscle contraction-related signaling pathway and inducing myocardial apoptosis in zebrafish embryos.

Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Cardiovascular Diseases

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability. While there are many therapeutic alternatives available for the management of CVDs, the majority of classic therapeutic strategies were found to be ineffective at stopping or significantly/additionally slowing the progression of these diseases, or they had unfavorable side effects. Numerous metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) have been created to overcome these limitations, demonstrating encouraging possibilities in the treatment of CVDs due to advancements in nanotechnology. Metallic nanomaterials, including gold, silver, and iron, come in various shapes, sizes, and geometries. Metallic NPs are generally smaller and have more specialized physical, chemical, and biological properties. Metal-based NPs may come in various forms, such as nanoshells, nanorods, and nanospheres, and they have been studied the most. Massive potential applications for these metal nanomaterial structures include supporting molecular imaging, serving as drug delivery systems, enhancing radiation-based anticancer therapy, supplying photothermal transforming effects for thermal therapy, and being compounds with bactericidal, fungicidal, and antiviral qualities that may be helpful for cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the present paper aims to review the applications of relevant metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in CVDs, creating an up-to-date framework that aids researchers in developing more efficient treatment strategies.

Individual and binary exposure of embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) to single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the absence and presence of dissolved organic matter

The available toxicological information was inadequate to assess the potential ecological risk of a mixture of different nanostructured carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to aquatic organisms, especially for the co-existence of mixed CNTs with dissolved organic matter (DOM). Herein, we investigated individual and binary exposure of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to single-walled (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the absence and presence of DOM. Results indicated that embryonic chorions were more resistant to mixed-type CNTs than to single-type CNTs, yet the addition of DOM decreased this resistance. The mixed-type CNTs increased the antioxidant capacity of zebrafish embryos by increasing superoxide dismutase activity in comparison to the single-type CNTs. Furthermore, the mixed-type CNTs caused oxidative damage to the zebrafish embryos, characterized by an increase in malondialdehyde level. Nevertheless, the activation of the antioxidant defense system was modulated by the presence of DOM. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that the number of unique genes (UGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the mixed-type CNTs and control groups was significantly enhanced compared to the single-type CNTs. DOM increased the number of UGs and up-regulated DEGs, but decreased the number of down-regulated DEGs. GO classification analysis revealed that the mixed-type CNTs mainly altered the cellular component process of single-type CNTs to induce joint effects. DOM generally enhanced the GO enrichment of DEGs in D. rerio embryos exposed to the mixed-type CNTs during the biological process. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis for the mixed-type CNTs showed enrichment of DEGs encoding ether lipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, citrate cycle, and biosynthesis of nucleotide sugars. However, DOM allowed more specific KEGG pathways towards the mixed-type CNTs to be identified. Despite the mixed-type CNTs exhibiting differential expression of functional genes compared to the control and single-type CNTs, DOM could regulate the expression of these functional genes associated with oxidative stress response, carbohydrate metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, neuroendocrine, osmotic stress, and DNA damage and repair. Our study thus paves a solid way for exploring the molecular mechanism of aquatic toxicity of multiple nanomaterials under field-relevant conditions.