Oxidative stress contributes to cobalt oxide nanoparticles-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human hepatocarcinoma cells.

BackgroundCobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co(3)O(4)NPs) are increasingly recognized for their utility in biological applications, magnetic resonance imaging, and drug delivery. However, little is known about the toxicity of Co(3)O(4)NPs in human cells.MethodsWe investigated the possible mechanisms of genotoxicity induced by Co(3)O(4)NPs in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, apoptosis, and DNA damage were assessed in HepG2 cells after Co(3)O(4)NPs and Co(2+) exposure.ResultsCo(3)O(4)NPs elicited a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in glutathione with a concomitant increase in lipid hydroperoxide, ROS generation, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity after 24- and 48-hour exposure. Co(3)O(4)NPs had a mild cytotoxic effect in HepG2 cells; however, it induced ROS and oxidative stress, leading to DNA damage, a probable mechanism of genotoxicity. The comet assay showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) dose- and time-related increase in DNA damage for Co(3)O(4)NPs, whereas Co(2+) induced less change than Co(3)O(4)NPs but significantly more than control.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that Co(3)O(4)NPs induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in HepG2 cells through ROS and oxidative stress

Synthesis and characterization of some abundant nanoparticles, their antimicrobial and enzyme inhibition activity

Although the antimicrobial activity of the engineered nanoparticles (NPs) is well known, the biochemical mechanisms underlying this activity are not clearly understood. Therefore, four NPs with the highest global production, namely SiO2, TiO2, ZnO, and Ag, were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized SiO2, TiO2, ZnO, and Ag NPs exhibit an average size of 11.12, 13.4, 35, and 50 nm, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized NPs against bacteria and fungi were also determined. NPs-mediated inhibition of two very important enzymes, namely urease and DNA polymerase, is also reported. The synthesized NPs especially Ag and ZnO show significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus even at low concentration. The DNA polymerase activity was inhibited at a very low concentration range of 2–4 µg/ml, whereas the urease activity was inhibited at a high concentration range of 50–100 µg/ml. Based on their ability to inhibit the urease and DNA polymerase, NPs can be arranged in the following order: Ag > ZnO > SiO2 > TiO2 and Ag > SiO2 > ZnO > TiO2, respectively. As the synthesized NPs inhibit bacterial growth and suppress the activity of urease and DNA polymerase, the use of these NPs to control pathogens is proposed

Prevalence of physical inactivity in Aligarh: scope for primary prevention

Background: Physical Inactivity is an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases accounting for 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Knowledge of prevalence of physical inactivity in different populations is limited. Methods: The present community based study was conducted in the field practice areas of the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) and Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. Systemic random sampling to include subjects was used. Six hundred and forty subjects were chosen for the study. The study was carried out for one year. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 13. Percentages and Chi Square Test used. Objective was to study the prevalence of physical inactivity and its sociodemographic correlates in rural and urban areas of Aligarh, UP. Results: The overall prevalence of work related physical inactivity and leisure time physical inactivity was 32% and 80.6% respectively. The prevalence of physical inactivity showed a significantly increasing trend with increasing age in both males and females. The physical inactivity related to work and leisure time was more in rural than urban areas and directly proportional to income and social class of the subjects. Conclusion: Physical inactivity has emerged as a fairly important risk factor and associated with all the age groups. Major ‘at risk’ groups are higher age groups and those belonging to higher socio economic strata. \ud

Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction of zinc ferrite nanoparticle through the oxidative stress pathway in human breast cancer cells

The nanoparticles of Zinc ferrite have been broadly used in various fields such as solar cells, photocatalysis, hydrogen storage, sensors etc. Here, the zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4NPs) was prepared via solution process and characterized in detail with instruments such as XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR and TGA. The characterization studies revealed that the average individual size of each NP is ∼ 27 ± 1 nm size. The FTIR shows the functional band of metal and oxygen was obtained at 570 cm−1. Although, the processing and use of zinc iron oxide based nanostructures are very widely utilized in industries but a limited studies are available towards the biological studies. The current work explores the application of ZnFe2O4NPs with the concentration range from 2 to 200 μg/mL against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) to examine the cytotoxicity of oxidative stress and morphological variations using MTT, NRU, LPO, GSH assays after 24 h of treatment. Dose dependent drop in cell survival was seen in MTT and NRU assays. A significant increase in LPO was observed in MCF-7 cells exposed to ZnFe2O4NPs after 24 h of treatment. However, the GSH levels in MCF-7 cells exposed to ZnFe2O4NPs decreased significantly after 24 h. Further, the study of apoptotic gene expression was seen by real time PCR analysis was also conducted and described

Design of targeted dosage form of ofloxacin

The targeted pro-drug is a classical pro-drug design often representing a non-specific chemical approach to mask undesirable drug properties, such as limited bioavailability, lack of site specificity, and chemical instability. On the other hand, targeted pro-drug design represents a new strategy for directed and efficient drug delivery. Quinolone antibiotics exert their pharmacological effect by inhibiting the cell wall synthesis of the pathogen. However, development of resistance exists, which instigates for a new higher congener to remain in clinical practice. To overcome this phenomenon and also to produce site-specific activity of the cell walls of the pathogen, ofloxacin is conjugated with a hydroxypropyl methacrylamide polymer backbone moiety. The results of in vitro release studies indicate the possibilities for the development of a new drug for site-specific therapy with an improved t1/2 of the drug. This novel pro-drugmay have opened a new vista in antibiotic chemotherapy

SHORT COMMUNICATION Design of targeted dosage form of ofloxacin +

Abstract: The targeted pro-drug is a classical pro-drug design often representing a non-specific chemical approach to mask undesirable drug properties, such as limited bioavailability, lack of site specificity, and chemical instability. On the other hand, targeted pro-drug design represents a new strategy for directed and efficient drug delivery. Quinolone antibiotics exert their pharmacological effect by inhibiting the cell wall synthesis of the pathogen. However, development of resistance exists, which instigates for a new higher congener to remain in clinical practice. To overcome this phenomenon and also to produce site-specific activity of the cell walls of the pathogen, ofloxacin is conjugated with a hydroxypropyl methacrylamide polymer backbone moiety. The results of in vitro release studies indicate the possibilities for the development of a new drug for site-specific therapy with an improved t1/2 of the drug. This novel pro-drug may have opened a new vista in antibiotic chemotherapy

Nickel oxide nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis in cultured human cells that is abrogated by the dietary antioxidant curcumin. Food Chem Toxicol. 2012;50(3–4):641–647. O nc oT ar ge ts a nd T he ra py d ow nl oa de d fro m h

a b s t r a c t Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) are increasingly utilized in a number of applications. However, little is known about the toxicity of NiO NPs following exposure to human cells. This study was designed to investigate NiO NPs induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis in cultured human airway epithelial (HEp-2) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The results show that cell viability was reduced by NiO NPs and degree of reduction was dose-dependent. NiO NPs were also found to induce oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner indicated by depletion of glutathione and induction of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Induction of caspase-3 enzyme activity and DNA fragmentation, biomarkers of apoptosis were also observed in NiO NPs exposed cells. Preventive potential of a dietary antioxidant curcumin against NiO NPs induced toxicity in HEp-2 MCF-7 cells was further examined. We found that co-exposure of curcumin significantly attenuated the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by NiO NPs in both types of cells. This is the first report showing that NiO NPs induced ROS mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis that is abrogated by curcumin. The pharmacological potential of curcumin against NiO NPs induced toxicity warrants further investigation

Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Induced Mitochondria Mediated Apoptosis in Human Hepatocarcinoma Cells

<div><p>Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are heavily utilized in semiconductor devices, gas sensor, batteries, solar energy converter, microelectronics and heat transfer fluids. It has been reported that liver is one of the target organs for nanoparticles after they gain entry into the body through any of the possible routes. Recent studies have shown cytotoxic response of CuO NPs in liver cells. However, the underlying mechanism of apoptosis in liver cells due to CuO NPs exposure is largely lacking. We explored the possible mechanisms of apoptosis induced by CuO NPs in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Prepared CuO NPs were spherical in shape with a smooth surface and had an average diameter of 22 nm. CuO NPs (concentration range 2–50 µg/ml) were found to induce cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells in dose-dependent manner, which was likely to be mediated through reactive oxygen species generation and oxidative stress. Tumor suppressor gene p53 and apoptotic gene caspase-3 were up-regulated due to CuO NPs exposure. Decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential with a concomitant increase in the gene expression of bax/bcl2 ratio suggested that mitochondria mediated pathway involved in CuO NPs induced apoptosis. This study has provided valuable insights into the possible mechanism of apoptosis caused by CuO NPs at <i>in vitro</i> level. Underlying mechanism(s) of apoptosis due to CuO NPs exposure should be further invested at <i>in vivo</i> level.</p></div