Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) Nanoparticles Exert Cytotoxicity through Oxidative Stress in Human Lung Carcinoma (A549) Cells

Biological properties of polycaprolactone and barium titanate composite in biomedical applications

The ceramic-polymer composite materials are widely known for their exceptional mechanical and biological properties. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polymer material extensively used in various biomedical applications. At the same time, barium titanate (BT), a ceramic material, exhibits piezoelectric properties similar to bone, which is essential for osseointegration. Furthermore, a composite material that combines the benefits of PCL and BT results in an innovative composite material with enhanced properties for biomedical applications. Thus, this review is organised into three sections. Firstly, it aims to provide an overview of the current research on evaluating biological properties, including antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity and osseointegration, of PCL polymeric matrices in its pure form and reinforced structures with ceramics, polymers and natural extracts. The second section investigates the biological properties of BT, both in its pure form and in combination with other supporting materials. Finally, the third section provides a summary of the biological properties of the PCLBT composite material. Furthermore, the existing challenges of PCL, BT and their composites, along with future research directions, have been presented. Therefore, this review will provide a state-of-the-art understanding of the biological properties of PCL and BT composites as potential futuristic materials in biomedical applications.

Magnetic PiezoBOTs: a microrobotic approach for targeted amyloid protein dissociation

Piezoelectric nanomaterials have become increasingly popular in the field of biomedical applications due to their high biocompatibility and ultrasound-mediated piezocatalytic properties. In addition, the ability of these nanomaterials to disaggregate amyloid proteins, which are responsible for a range of diseases resulting from the accumulation of these proteins in body tissues and organs, has recently gained considerable attention. However, the use of nanoparticles in biomedicine poses significant challenges, including targeting and uncontrolled aggregation. To address these limitations, our study proposes to load these functional nanomaterials on a multifunctional mobile microrobot (PiezoBOT). This microrobot is designed by coating magnetic and piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles on helical biotemplates, allowing for the combination of magnetic navigation and ultrasound-mediated piezoelectric effects to target amyloid disaggregation. Our findings demonstrate that acoustically actuated PiezoBOTs can effectively reduce the size of aggregated amyloid proteins by over 80% in less than 10 minutes by shortening and dissociating constituent amyloid fibrils. Moreover, the PiezoBOTs can be easily magnetically manipulated to actuate the piezocatalytic nanoparticles to specific amyloidosis-affected tissues or organs, minimizing side effects. These biocompatible PiezoBOTs offer a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for amyloidosis diseases by targeting and breaking down protein aggregates at specific organ or tissue sites.

CO to formaldehyde transformation study on pristine and Au-modified BaTiO3(001) through DFT calculations

CONTEXT

BaTiO3 is one of the most important ferroelectric oxides in electronic applications. Also, it has attractive properties for catalysis that could be used for reducing contamination levels, especially carbon monoxide, CO. CO is one of the main gaseous pollutants generally released from the combustion of fossil fuel. In this work, the CO transformation on pristine and Au-modified BaTiO3 perovskite for H2CO obtention is studied. The CO adsorption and hydrogenation on pristine BaTiO3 leads to formaldehyde synthesis as the most stable product through two possible routes. Furthermore, hydrogenation stages are less probable on pristine BaTiO3. On Au-modified BaTiO3 formaldehyde is the principal product too but Au adatom generates H2CO competition with HCOH. After BaTiO3 modification with Au unpaired electrons were generated. These unpaired electrons are related to the adatom reactivity. According to the obtained results, pristine and Au-modified BaTiO3 can adsorb and hydrogenate CO generating formaldehyde as the principal product. BaTiO3 modifications with Au increase the reactivity of the perovskite in the CO hydrogenation reactions. CO hydrogenation process on Au suggests that further hydrogenation stages beyond formaldehyde are possible.

METHODS

The study was performed through ab initio calculations using the periodic spin-polarized Density Functional Theory (DFT) as implemented in Quantum ESPRESSO. DFT calculations were carried out using the Plane Wave self-consistent field (PWscf). Spin density difference allows us to identify reactive regions related to dangling bonds and unpaired electrons. A plane wave basis set was used to represent the electron states. Vanderbilt pseudopotentials with nonlinear core correction were used to model the ionic cores and valence electrons interaction. Exchange-correlation energies were treated within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) parameterization.

The Contribution of BaTiO3 to the Stability Improvement of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Rubber: Part I-Pristine Filler

This study presents the functional effects of BaTiO₃ powder loaded in ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) in three concentrations: 0, 1, and 2.5 phr. The characterization of mechanical properties, oxidation strength, and biological vulnerability is achieved on these materials subjected to an accelerated degradation stimulated by their γ-irradiation at 50 and 100 kGy. The thermal performances of these materials are improved when the content of filler becomes higher. The results obtained by chemiluminescence, FTIR-ATR, and mechanical testing indicate that the loading of 2.5 phr is the most proper composition that resists for a long time after it is γ-irradiated at a high dose. If the oxidation starts at 176 °C in the pristine polymer, it becomes significant at 188 and 210 °C in the case of composites containing 1 and 2.5 phr of filler, respectively. The radiation treatment induces a significant stability improvement measured by the enlargement of temperature range by more than 1.5 times, which explains the durability growth for the radiation-processed studied composites. The extension of the stability period is also based on the interaction between degrading polymer substrate and particle surface in the composite richest in titanate fraction when the exposure is 100 kGy was analyzed. The mechanical testing as well as the FTIR investigation clearly delimits the positive effects of carbon black on the functionality of EPDM/BaTiO₃ composites. The contribution of carbon black is a defining feature of the studied composites based on the nucleation of the host matrix by which the polymer properties are effectively ameliorated.

A Comprehensive Review on Barium Titanate Nanoparticles as a Persuasive Piezoelectric Material for Biomedical Applications: Prospects and Challenges

Stimulation of cells with electrical cues is an imperative approach to interact with biological systems and has been exploited in clinical practices over a wide range of pathological ailments. This bioelectric interface has been extensively explored with the help of piezoelectric materials, leading to remarkable advancement in the past two decades. Among other members of this fraternity, colloidal perovskite barium titanate (BaTiO₃ ) has gained substantial interest due to its noteworthy properties which includes high dielectric constant and excellent ferroelectric properties along with acceptable biocompatibility. Significant progression is witnessed for BaTiO₃ nanoparticles (BaTiO₃ NPs) as potent candidates for biomedical applications and in wearable bioelectronics, making them a promising personal healthcare platform. The current review highlights the nanostructured piezoelectric bio interface of BaTiO₃ NPs in applications comprising drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging, bioelectronics, and wearable devices. Particular attention has been dedicated toward the fabrication routes of BaTiO₃ NPs along with different approaches for its surface modifications. This review offers a comprehensive discussion on the utility of BaTiO₃ NPs as active devices rather than passive structural unit behaving as carriers for biomolecules. The employment of BaTiO₃ NPs presents new scenarios and opportunity in the vast field of nanomedicines for biomedical applications.

Synthesis and Functional Characterization of CoxFe3-xO4-BaTiO3 Magnetoelectric Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Nowadays, magnetoelectric nanomaterials are on their way to finding wide applications in biomedicine for various cancer and neurological disease treatment, which is mainly restricted by their relatively high toxicity and complex synthesis. This study for the first time reports novel magnetoelectric nanocomposites of Co_xFe_3-xO₄-BaTiO₃ series with tuned magnetic phase structures, which were synthesized via a two-step chemical approach in polyol media. The magnetic Co_xFe_3-xO₄ phases with x = 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 were obtained by thermal decomposition in triethylene glycol media. The magnetoelectric nanocomposites were synthesized by the decomposition of barium titanate precursors in the presence of a magnetic phase under solvothermal conditions and subsequent annealing at 700 °C. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of both spinel and perovskite phases after annealing with average crystallite sizes in the range of 9.0-14.5 nm. Transmission electron microscopy data showed two-phase composite nanostructures consisting of ferrites and barium titanate. The presence of interfacial connections between magnetic and ferroelectric phases was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Magnetization data showed expected ferrimagnetic behavior and σ_s decrease after the nanocomposite formation. Magnetoelectric coefficient measurements after the annealing showed non-linear change with a maximum of 89 mV/cm*Oe with x = 0.5, 74 mV/cm*Oe with x = 0, and a minimum of 50 mV/cm*Oe with x = 0.0 core composition, that corresponds with the coercive force of the nanocomposites: 240 Oe, 89 Oe and 36 Oe, respectively. The obtained nanocomposites show low toxicity in the whole studied concentration range of 25-400 μg/mL on CT-26 cancer cells. The synthesized nanocomposites show low cytotoxicity and high magnetoelectric effects, therefore they can find wide applications in biomedicine.

Structural characterization, stability, and cytocompatibility study of chitosan BaTiO3@ZnO:Er heterostructures

New imaging agents are required in cancer diagnosis to enhance the diagnostic accuracy, classification, and therapeutic management of tumors. Nanomaterials have emerged as a promising alternative to developing new nanostructures with imaging applications. In this study, a heterostructure based on barium titanate (BT), zinc oxide (ZnO), and erbium (Er) was prepared and coated with Chitosan (CS) to investigate their stability and compatibility with biological systems. The structure, particle morphology, luminescence properties, stability, and cytotoxicity of different nanoparticles (NPs) were assessed. The results demonstrated the formation of a [BT@ZnO:Er]-CS heterostructure, which is consistent with the relative intensities and positions of peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) with an average crystallite size of ~76 nm. The electrokinetic measurement results indicate that the coated NPs are the most stable and have an average size close to 200 nm when the pH is between 3 and 5. Finally, we presented a cytotoxicity study of naked and CS-coated NPs. The results indicate that naked NPs exhibit varying cellular toxicity, as indicated by decreased cell viability, morphological changes, and an increase in an apoptotic marker. The CS-coated NPs prevented the cytotoxic effect of the naked NPs, demonstrating the significance of CS as a stabilizing agent.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of BaTiO3 Nanoparticles for Anti-Cancer Activity

Barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles (BTNPs) have been considered as emerging materials in biomedical sector through last decades due to the excellent physicochemical properties such as dielectric and piezoelectric structures, biocompatibility, and nonlinear optical characteristics. In this study, BTNPs were synthesized via the co-precipitation method using barium carbonate and titanium dioxide by stirring for 5 h. Then, it was annealed at 850 °C for 5 h with five different concentrations: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 g/mL. The structural, morphological, and optical analyses were demonstrated by different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The perovskite phase of BTNPs, an intense peak at 31.6°, was observed at the lowest concentration (0.2 g/mL), and the average crystalline size was 1.42 nm based on XRD pattern. The results have been justified by SEM and EDX. TGA demonstrated the adequate thermal stability of this material. EDX analysis confirmed the composition of Ti, Ba, and O elements. Raman peaks at 305 cm−1 and 517 cm−1 confirmed the formation of BaTiO3. UV–visible spectra presented that its’ absorbance edge shifted into visible range at 404 nm. Application of BTNPs on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) presented significant dispersion effect at 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/mL of BaTiO3. A strong toxicity rate of BaTiO3 has been observed against the MCF-7 cell line. Maximum % of cell viability loss, $$\cong$$ ≅ 57% was recorded at 200 µg/mL of BTNPs, and minimum % of cell viability loss was observed as 19% at 50 µg/mL of BTNPs. The results presented that a higher concentration of BTPNs dosage was more effective in inhibition of breast cancer cells. Therefore, BTNPs can be recommended as a promising nanomaterial for anti-cancer drug discovery.

Exposure to barium and blood pressure in children and adolescents: results from the 2003-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Barium (Ba) is ubiquitous in the environment, and humans are primarily exposed to it through ingestion of drinking water. Previous studies focused on the exposure to lead, cadmium, and arsenic, but have not focused on exposure to Ba. Recent studies found a significant association between Ba exposure and elevated blood pressure in pregnant women and adults. However, there are no studies regarding the effect of Ba exposure on blood pressure in children and adolescents, and the potential biological mechanisms remain unclear. We evaluated the associations between urinary Ba and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) among 8- to 17-year-old participants (n = 3707) of the 2003-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Furthermore, the potential roles of inflammation in these associations were explored. Weighted linear regression was used to analyze the association between urinary Ba and blood pressure, and mediation analyses were used to estimate the potential role of white blood cell count (WBC) in these associations. Quantile g-computation models were used to explore the effect of co-exposure to Ba and other metals on blood pressure. After adjusting for covariates, a two-fold increase in urinary Ba concentration was associated with a 0.41 (95% CI 0.12, 0.70) mmHg increase in SBP, a 1.04 (95% CI 0.55, 1.53) mmHg increase in PP, but a -0.63 (95% CI -1.04, -0.22) mmHg decrease in DBP. WBC significantly mediated 6% of the association between urinary Ba and SBP. Quantile g-computation models suggested that urinary Ba was the main contributor to the elevation of SBP and PP in the urinary metal mixture. Our findings revealed that exposure to Ba was associated with elevated SBP and PP among children and adolescents. Inflammation may play an important role in the associations of Ba exposure with SBP.

Recent trends in the application of nanoparticles in cancer therapy: The involvement of oxidative stress

In the biomedical area, the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology has the potential to bring numerous unique applications, including better tactics for cancer detection, diagnosis, and therapy. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been the topic of many research and material applications throughout the last decade. Unlike small-molecule medications, NPs are defined by distinct physicochemical characteristics, such as a large surface-to-volume ratio, which allows them to permeate live cells with relative ease. The versatility of NPs as both therapeutics and diagnostics makes them ideal for a broad spectrum of illnesses, from infectious diseases to cancer. A significant amount of data has been participated in the current scientific publications, emphasizing the concept that NPs often produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to a larger degree than micro-sized particles. It is important to note that oxidative stress governs a wide range of cell signaling cascades, many of which are responsible for cancer cell cytotoxicity. Here, we aimed to provide insight into the signaling pathways triggered by oxidative stress in cancer cells in response to several types of nanomaterials, such as metallic and polymeric NPs and quantum dots. We discuss recent advances in developing integrated anticancer medicines based on NPs targeted to destroy malignant cells by increasing their ROS setpoint.

High-Concentration Metformin Reduces Oxidative Stress Injury and Inhibits the Growth and Migration of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Objective

To explore the mechanism of metformin in treating CCRCC.

Methods

Prospective cohort study was conducted. SOD and cyclin D in six CCRCC samples donated by volunteers were detected to compare the degree of oxidative stress injury and the status of cell proliferation. 786-0 CCRCC cells were cultured in vitro with different concentrations of metformin, and MTT assay and Transwell cell migration and wound healing assay were used to detect their proliferation and migration. After culture, SOD and cyclin D in 786-0 CCRCC cells were also detected.

Results

In the edge tissue, SOD was lower than in the tumor nest and normal tissue, and cyclin D was highly expressed. In grade II CCRCC, SOD was higher than in grade IV CCRCC, but cyclin D was also highly expressed in grade IV CCRCC. The cell proliferation rate and density of the metformin group were lower than the control group, while in the high-concentration metformin group, it was lower than medium- and low-concentration groups. After culture, the migration of 786-0 cells in the metformin group was significantly lower than that in the control group, the wound healing rate was decreased, and the migration and wound healing rates in the high-concentration metformin group were significantly lower than those in the medium- and low-concentration groups. However, the SOD of the metformin group was higher than the control group, but the cyclin D was lower, while the SOD was higher than medium- and low-concentration groups in the high-concentration group, but the cyclin D was lower after cultured.

Conclusion

High-concentration metformin can reduce oxidative stress injury, increase the expression of SOD in CCRCC, and reduce cyclin D in CCRCC to inhibit proliferation and migration, which has optimistic prospects and application value in controlling the progression of CCRCC.

The Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles on the Osteogenic Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate various functions of cells, including cell death, viability, and differentiation, and nanoparticles influence ROS depending on their size and shape. Selenium is known to regulate various physiological functions, such as cell differentiations and anti-inflammatory functions, and plays an important role in the regulation of ROS as an antioxidant. This study aims to investigate the effect of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on the differentiation of osteogenic MC3T3-E1 cells. After fabrication of SeNPs with a size of 25.3 ± 2.6 nm, and confirmation of its oxidase-like activity, SeNPs were added to MC3T3-E1 cells with or without H₂O₂: 5~20 μg/mL SeNPs recovered cells damaged by 200 μM H₂O₂ via the intracellular ROS downregulating role of SeNPs, revealed by the ROS staining assay. The increase in osteogenic maturation with SeNPs was gradually investigated by expression of osteogenic genes at 3 and 7 days, Alkaline phosphatase activity staining at 14 days, and Alizarin red S staining at 28 days. Therefore, the role of SeNPs in regulating ROS and their therapeutic effects on the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells were determined, leading to possible applications for bone treatment.