Amorphous silica nanoparticles induce tumorigenesis via regulating ATP5H/SOD1-related oxidative stress, oxidative phosphorylation and EIF4G2/PABPC1-associated translational initiation

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles as a protective agent against As(III) toxicity in Vigna mungo L. Hepper

The toxicity of As(III) significantly disrupts the growth and development of plants. In this study, black gram plants were exposed to 75 μM NaAsO2 and 10 mg/L SiO2 NPs, and various physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes were observed. Arsenic toxicity led to a notable reduction in plant development, accompanied by an accumulation of ROS and disturbances in proline levels due to electrolyte production. Treating As(III) contaminated black gram with SiO2 NPs resulted in increased root length and chlorophyll content, while decreasing ROS levels. The application of SiO2 NPs effectively mitigated As(III) toxicity by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase, catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase, consequently reducing lipid peroxidation attributed to lower ROS production. RNA-seq analysis revealed several differentially expressed genes. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy was utilized to explore the plant's capability to remove arsenic, identifying ligands such as O-H, C-O, C-C, and C-H that aid in the accumulation of heavy metals in plant tissues. An investigation using HR-LC/MS unveiled about 199 potential phytochemical components. A SwissADME analysis of these compounds showed that 136 out of 199 compounds followed Lipinski's rule. The bioavailability radar determined that 71 of these phytoconstituents had good oral bioavailability. Overall, the study indicates that the phytoconstituents that were found to have a shedload of pharmacological potential. The overall study showed that identified potential phytochemical compounds with pharmaceutical values, showing promise for drug development.

The Genetic and Epigenetic Toxicity of Silica Nanoparticles: An Updated Review

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are widely used in biomedical fields, such as drug delivery, disease diagnosis, and molecular imaging. An increasing number of consumer products containing SiNPs are being used without supervision, and the toxicity of SiNPs to the human body is becoming a major problem. SiNPs contact the human body in various ways and cause damage to the structure and function of genetic material, potentially leading to carcinogenesis, teratogenicity and infertility. This review summarizes SiNPs-induced genetic and epigenetic toxicity, especially to germ cells, and explore their potential mechanisms. SiNPs cause genetic material damage mainly by inducing oxidative stress. Furtherly, the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic toxicity are discussed in detail for the first time. SiNPs alter DNA methylation, miRNA expression, histone modification and inhibit chromatin remodeling by regulating epigenetic-related enzymes and transcription factors. This review is beneficial for investigating potential solutions to avoid toxicity and provide guidance for better application of SiNPs in the biomedical field.

Research progress on the carcinogenicity of metal nanomaterials

With the rapid development of nanotechnology, new nanomaterials with enormous potentials continue to emerge, especially metal nanomaterials. Metal nanomaterials possess the characteristics of metals and nanomaterials, so they are widely used in many fields. But at the same time, whether the use or release of metal nan4omaterials into the environment is toxic to human beings and animals has now attained widespread attention at home and abroad. Currently, it is an indisputable fact that cancer ranks among the top causes of death among residents worldwide. The properties of causing DNA damage and mutations possessed by these metal nanomaterials make them unpredictable influences in the body, subsequently leading to genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Due to the increasing evidence of their roles in carcinogenicity, this article reviews the toxicological and carcinogenic effects of metal nanomaterials, including nano-metal elements (nickel nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, and cobalt nanoparticles) and nano-metal oxides (titanium dioxide nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and alumina nanoparticles). This article provides a reference for the researchers and policymakers to use metal nanomaterials rationally in modern industries and biomedicine.

Toxicologic Evaluation for Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles: Genotoxic and Non-Genotoxic Tumor-Promoting Potential

Amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiO₂NPs) have been widely used in medicine including targeted drug/DNA delivery, cancer therapy, and enzyme immobilization. Nevertheless, SiO₂NPs should be used with caution due to safety concerns associated with unique physical and chemical characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of SiO₂NPs on genotoxic and non-genotoxic mechanisms associated with abnormal gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in multistage carcinogenesis. The SiO₂NPs exhibited negative responses in standard genotoxicity tests including the Ames test, chromosome aberration assay, and micronucleus assay. In contrast, the SiO₂NPs significantly induced DNA breakage in comet assay. Meanwhile, SiO₂NPs inhibited GJIC based on the results of scrape/loading dye transfer assay for the identification of non-genotoxic tumor-promoting potential. The reduction in expression and plasma membrane localization of Cx43 was detected following SiO₂NP treatment. Particularly, SiO₂NP treatment increased Cx43 phosphorylation state, which was significantly attenuated by inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and threonine and tyrosine kinase (MEK), but not by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Taken together, in addition to a significant increase in DNA breakage, SiO₂NP treatment resulted in GJIC dysregulation involved in Cx43 phosphorylation through the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Overall findings of the genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogenic potential of SiO₂NPs provide useful toxicological information for clinical application at an appropriate dose.