The toxicity of nanoparticles and their interaction with cells: an in vitro metabolomic perspective

Harnessing the potential of nanoengineered siRNAs carriers for target responsive glioma therapy: Recent progress and future opportunities

Past scientific testimonials in the field of glioma research, the deadliest tumor among all brain cancer types with the life span of 10-15 months after diagnosis is considered as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Even though the availability of treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, are unable to completely cure GBM due to tumor microenvironment complexity, intrinsic cellular signalling, and genetic mutations which are involved in chemoresistance. The blood-brain barrier is accountable for restricting drugs entry at the tumor location and related biological challenges like endocytic degradation, short systemic circulation, and insufficient cellular penetration lead to tumor aggression and progression. The above stated challenges can be better mitigated by small interfering RNAs (siRNA) by knockdown genes responsible for tumor progression and resistance. However, siRNA encounters with challenges like inefficient cellular transfection, short circulation time, endogenous degradation, and off-target effects. The novel functionalized nanocarrier approach in conjunction with biological and chemical modification offers an intriguing potential to address challenges associated with the naked siRNA and efficiently silence STAT3, coffilin-1, EGFR, VEGF, SMO, MGMT, HAO-1, GPX-4, TfR, LDLR and galectin-1 genes in GBM tumor. This review highlights the nanoengineered siRNA carriers, their recent advancements, future perspectives, and strategies to overcome the systemic siRNA delivery challenges for glioma treatment.

Lipidomics Analysis Unravels Aberrant Lipid Species and Pathways Induced by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Kidney Cells

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in versatile applications, from high technology to household products. While numerous studies have examined the toxic gene profile of ZnO NPs across various tissues, the specific lipid species associated with adverse effects and potential biomarkers remain elusive. In this study, we conducted a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based lipidomics analysis to uncover potential lipid biomarkers in human kidney cells following treatment with ZnO NPs. Furthermore, we employed lipid pathway enrichment analysis (LIPEA) to elucidate altered lipid-related signaling pathways. Our results demonstrate that ZnO NPs induce cytotoxicity in renal epithelial cells and modulate lipid species; we identified 64 lipids with a fold change (FC) > 2 and p < 0.01 with corrected p < 0.05 in HK2 cells post-treatment with ZnO NPs. Notably, the altered lipids between control HK2 cells and those treated with ZnO NPs were associated with the sphingolipid, autophagy, and glycerophospholipid pathways. This study unveils novel potential lipid biomarkers of ZnO NP nanotoxicity, representing the first lipidomic profiling of ZnO NPs in human renal epithelial cells.

Unlocking the Mitochondria for Nanomedicine-based Treatments: Overcoming Biological Barriers, Improving Designs, and Selecting Verification Techniques

Enhanced targeting approaches will support the treatment of diseases associated with dysfunctional mitochondria, which play critical roles in energy generation and cell survival. Obstacles to mitochondria-specific targeting include the presence of distinct biological barriers and the need to pass through (or avoid) various cell internalization mechanisms. A range of studies have reported the design of mitochondrially-targeted nanomedicines that navigate the complex routes required to influence mitochondrial function; nonetheless, a significant journey lies ahead before mitochondrially-targeted nanomedicines become suitable for clinical use. Moving swiftly forward will require safety studies, in vivo assays confirming effectiveness, and methodologies to validate mitochondria-targeted nanomedicines' subcellular location/activity. From a nanomedicine standpoint, we describe the biological routes involved (from administration to arrival within the mitochondria), the features influencing rational design, and the techniques used to identify/validate successful targeting. Overall, rationally-designed mitochondria-targeted-based nanomedicines hold great promise for precise subcellular therapeutic delivery.

Understanding PFAS toxicity through cell culture metabolomics: Current applications and future perspectives

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ubiquitous environmental contaminants, pose significant challenges to ecosystems and human health. While cell cultures have emerged as new approach methodologies (NAMs) in ecotoxicity research, metabolomics is an emerging technique used to characterize the small-molecule metabolites present in cells and to understand their role in various biological processes. Integration of metabolomics with cell cultures, known as cell culture metabolomics, provides a novel and robust tool to unravel the complex molecular responses induced by PFAS exposure. In vitro testing also reduces reliance on animal testing, aligning with ethical and regulatory imperatives. The current review summarizes key findings from recent studies utilizing cell culture metabolomics to investigate PFAS toxicity, highlighting alterations in metabolic pathways, biomarker identification, and the potential linkages between metabolic perturbations. Additionally, the paper discusses different types of cell cultures and metabolomics methods used for studies of environmental contaminants and particularly PFAS. Future perspectives on the combination of metabolomics with other advanced technologies, such as single-cell metabolomics (SCM), imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), extracellular flux analysis (EFA), and multi-omics are also explored, which offers a holistic understanding of environmental contaminants. The synthesis of current knowledge and identification of research gaps provide a foundation for future investigations that aim to elucidate the complexities of PFAS-induced cellular responses and contribute to the development of effective strategies for mitigating their adverse effects on human health.

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and molecular docking of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles derived from pumpkin seeds

This study aimed to investigate the characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) produced from Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin seeds) and their selective cytotoxic effectiveness on human colon cancer cells (HCT 116) and African Green Monkey Kidney, Vero cells. The study also investigated the antioxidant activity of ZnONPs. The study also examined ZnONPs' antioxidant properties. This was motivated by the limited research on the comparative cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs on normal and HCT116 cells. The ZnO NPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Transmission Electron Microscope/Selected Area Electron Diffraction (TEM/SAED), and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) for determination of chemical fingerprinting, heat stability, size, and morphology of the elements, respectively. Based on the results, ZnO NPs from pumpkins were found to be less than 5 μm and agglomerates in nature. Furthermore, the ZnO NPs fingerprinting and SEM-EDX element analysis were similar to previous literature, suggesting the sample was proven as ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs also stable at a temperature of 380°C indicating that the green material is quite robust at 60-400°C. The cell viability of Vero cells and HCT 116 cell line were measured at two different time points (24 and 48 h) to assess the cytotoxicity effects of ZnO NP on these cells using AlamarBlue assay. Cytotoxic results have shown that ZnO NPs did not inhibit Vero cells but were slightly toxic to cancer cells, with a dose-response curve IC50 = ~409.7 μg/mL. This green synthesis of ZnO NPs was found to be non-toxic to normal cells but has a slight cytotoxicity effect on HCT 116 cells. A theoretical study used molecular docking to investigate nanoparticle interaction with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), exploring its mechanism in inhibiting CDK2's role in cancer. Further study should be carried out to determine suitable concentrations for cytotoxicity studies. Additionally, DPPH has a significant antioxidant capacity, with an IC50 of 142.857 μg/mL. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Pumpkin seed extracts facilitated a rapid, high-yielding, and environmentally friendly synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to investigate the optical properties, scalability, size, shape, dispersity, and stability of ZnO NPs. The cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs on Vero and HCT 116 cells was assessed, showing no inhibition of Vero cells and cytotoxicity of cancer cells. The DPPH assay was also used to investigate the antioxidant potential of biogenic nanoparticles. A molecular docking study was performed to investigate the interaction of ZnO NPs with CDK2 and to explore the mechanism by which they inhibit CDK2's role in cancer.

Comparative studies on the cytotoxic effects induced by iron oxide nanoparticles in cancerous and noncancerous human lung cells subjected to an alternating magnetic field

The cytotoxic effects of water-based ferrofluids composed of iron oxide nanoparticles, including magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), ranging from 15 to 100 nm, were examined on various lung cancer cells including adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549), nonsmall lung squamous cell carcinoma (H1703), small cell lung cancer cells (DMS 114), and normal bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). The cytotoxic effect was evaluated both with and without exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). The studies revealed that neither AMF nor iron oxide nanoparticles when tested individually, produced cytotoxic effects on either cancerous or noncancerous cells. However, when applied together, they led to a significant decrease in cell viability and proliferative capacity due to the enhanced effects of magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). The most pronounced effects were found for maghemite (<50 nm) when subjected to an AMF. Notably, A549 cells exhibited the highest resistance to the proposed hyperthermia treatment. BEAS-2B cells demonstrated susceptibility to magnetized iron oxide nanoparticles, similar to the response observed in lung cancer cells. The studies provide evidence that MFH is a promising strategy as a standalone treatment for different types of lung cancer cells. Nevertheless, to prevent any MFH-triggered adverse effects on normal lung cells, targeted magnetic ferrofluids should be designed.

Antimicrobial activity of metal-based nanoparticles: a mini-review

The resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to antibiotics is one of the main problems of world health. Of particular concern are multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Infections caused by these microorganisms affect the appearance of acute or chronic diseases. In this regard, modern technologies, such as nanomaterials (NMs), especially promising nanoparticles (NPs), can possess antimicrobial properties or improve the effectiveness and delivery of known antibiotics. Their diversity and characteristics, combined with surface functionalization, enable multivalent interactions with microbial biomolecules. This article presents an overview of the most current research on replacing antibiotics with NPs, including the prospects and risks involved.

Toxicity prediction of nanoparticles using machine learning approaches

Nanoparticle toxicity analysis is critical for evaluating the safety of nanomaterials due to their potential harm to the biological system. However, traditional experimental methods for evaluating nanoparticle toxicity are expensive and time-consuming. As an alternative approach, machine learning offers a solution for predicting cellular responses to nanoparticles. This study focuses on developing ML models for nanoparticle toxicity prediction. The training dataset used for building these models includes the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, exposure conditions, and cellular responses of different cell lines. The impact of each parameter on cell death was assessed using the Gini index. Five classifiers, namely Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Naïve Bayes, and Artificial Neural Network, were employed to predict toxicity. The models' performance was compared based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, F measure, K-fold validation, and classification error. The Gini index indicated that cell line, exposure dose, and tissue are the most influential factors in cell death. Among the models tested, Random Forest exhibited the highest performance in the given dataset. Other models demonstrated lower performance compared to Random Forest. Researchers can utilize the Random Forest model to predict nanoparticle toxicity, resulting in cost and time savings for toxicity analysis.

The comparative effects of visible light and UV-A radiation on the combined toxicity of P25 TiO2 nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics on Chlorella sp

The ubiquitous presence of TiO2 nanoparticles (nTiO2) and microplastics (MPs) in marine ecosystems has raised serious concerns about their combined impact on marine biota. This study investigated the combined toxic effect of nTiO2 (1 mg/L) and NH2 and COOH surface functionalized polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) (2.5 and 10 mg/L) on Chlorella sp. All the experiments were carried out under both visible light and UV-A radiation conditions to elucidate the impact of light on the combined toxicity of these pollutants. Growth inhibition results indicated that pristine nTiO2 exhibited a more toxic effect (38%) under UV-A radiation when compared to visible light conditions (27%). However, no significant change in the growth inhibitory effects of pristine PSMPs was observed between visible light and UVA radiation conditions. The combined pollutants (nTiO2 + 10 mg/L PSMPs) under UV-A radiation exhibited more growth inhibition (nTiO2 + NH2 PSMPs 66%; nTiO2 + COOH PSMPs 50%) than under visible light conditions (nTiO2 + NH2 PSMPs 55%; TiO2 + COOH PSMPs 44%). Independent action modeling indicated that the mixture of nTiO2 with PSMPs (10 mg/L) exhibited an additive effect on the algal growth inhibition under both the light conditions. The photoactive nTiO2 promoted increased production of reactive oxygen species under UV-A exposure, resulting in cellular damage, lipid peroxidation, and impaired photosynthesis. The effects were more pronounced in case of the mixtures where PSMPs added to the oxidative stress. The toxic effects of the binary mixtures of nTiO2 and PSMPs were further confirmed through the field emission electron microscopy, revealing specific morphological abnormalities. This study provides valuable insights into the potential risks associated with the combination of nTiO2 and MPs in marine environments, considering the influence of environmentally relevant light conditions and the test medium.

Advances of medical nanorobots for future cancer treatments

Early detection and diagnosis of many cancers is very challenging. Late stage detection of a cancer always leads to high mortality rates. It is imperative to develop novel and more sensitive and effective diagnosis and therapeutic methods for cancer treatments. The development of new cancer treatments has become a crucial aspect of medical advancements. Nanobots, as one of the most promising applications of nanomedicines, are at the forefront of multidisciplinary research. With the progress of nanotechnology, nanobots enable the assembly and deployment of functional molecular/nanosized machines and are increasingly being utilized in cancer diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. In recent years, various practical applications of nanobots for cancer treatments have transitioned from theory to practice, from in vitro experiments to in vivo applications. In this paper, we review and analyze the recent advancements of nanobots in cancer treatments, with a particular emphasis on their key fundamental features and their applications in drug delivery, tumor sensing and diagnosis, targeted therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and other comprehensive treatments. At the same time, we discuss the challenges and the potential research opportunities for nanobots in revolutionizing cancer treatments. In the future, medical nanobots are expected to become more sophisticated and capable of performing multiple medical functions and tasks, ultimately becoming true nanosubmarines in the bloodstream.

Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Doxorubicin-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines

In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded magnetic nanofluids on 4T1 mouse tumor epithelial cells and MDA-MB-468 human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using sonochemical coprecipitation by applying electrohydraulic discharge treatment (EHD) in an automated chemical reactor, modified with citric acid and loaded with DOX. The resulting magnetic nanofluids exhibited strong magnetic properties and maintained sedimentation stability in physiological pH conditions. The obtained samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro studies using the MTT method revealed a synergistic effect of the DOX-loaded citric-acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles on the inhibition of cancer cell growth and proliferation compared to treatment with pure DOX. The combination of the drug and magnetic nanosystem showed promising potential for targeted drug delivery, with the possibility of optimizing the dosage to reduce side-effects and enhance the cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. The nanoparticles' cytotoxic effects were attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species and the enhancement of DOX-induced apoptosis. The findings suggest a novel approach for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs and reducing their associated side-effects. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of DOX-loaded citric-acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles as a promising strategy in tumor therapy, and provide insights into their synergistic effects.