Biomedical Potential of Ultrafine Ag/AgCl Nanoparticles Coated on Graphene with Special Reference to Antimicrobial Performances and Burn Wound Healing

In recent years, researchers have proven the release of silver ions (Ag(+)) from silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) significantly affects their toxicity to bacteria and other organisms. Due to the difficulty in maintaining a steady flux of a high concentration of Ag(+), it is still challenging to develop a highly efficient, stable, and biocompatible Ag NP-based antimicrobial material. To circumvent this issue, we developed a new Ag-based bactericide through the fabrication of sunlight-driven and ultrafine silver/silver chloride anchored on reduced graphene oxide (Ag/AgCl/rGO). This stable Ag/AgCl nanophotocatalyst with negligible release of Ag(+) generated a high amount of oxidative radicals, killing the bacteria, thus achieving both high bactericidal efficiency and stability. Moreover, functionalization of the nanomaterial with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) gives it a highly adsorptive capacity, which allows it to capture the bacteria and possibly enhances the bactericidal activity. In vivo histopathological studies showed that the Ag/AgCl/rGO nanomaterial could obviously promote the regeneration of the epidermis, which indicated the good biomedical potential of Ag/AgCl/rGO nanomaterial in burn wound healing.

Apoptotic body engulfment by hepatic stellate cells promotes their survival by the JAK/STAT and Akt/NF-kappaB-dependent pathways

BACKGROUND/AIMS

We have previously shown that phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies (AB) by hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is profibrogenic. As HSC survival is central to the progression of liver fibrosis, our goal was to investigate if phagocytosis induces HSC survival.

METHODS

Apoptosis of phagocytosing HSC was studied in the presence of known apoptotic agents. The JAK/STAT- and PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways, NF-kappaB activation and expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1 and A1 were evaluated. Apoptosis was assessed after blocking A1 by an siRNA approach.

RESULTS

Phagocytosing HSC were resistant to FasL/cycloheximide or TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of the JAK/STAT or PI3K-mediated pathways induced apoptosis of HSC. Phagocytosis induced JAK1/STAT3 phosphorylation, and this was prevented by inhibiting JAK. Translocation of STAT3 to the nucleus was also blocked by JAK inhibition. Mcl-1 expression was upregulated in a JAK-dependent manner. PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt depended on NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide production. NF-kappaB activation and subsequent upregulation of A1 was observed, and A1 inhibition induced apoptosis of HSC.

CONCLUSION

Phagocytosis of AB promotes HSC survival by two pathways, of which the A1 dependent is more significant. This represents a new mechanism by which engulfment of AB contributes to the propagation of liver fibrosis.