Effect of silica nanoparticles on kidney of albino rats with the potential ameliorative efficacy of liposomal curcumin

Silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) are widely used commercially in various biomedical and industrial applications. However, their potential toxicity on human and animal health hasattracted particular attention. Liposomal curcumin (LP-Cur) has effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense mechanism.So, this study was achieved toassess the potential ameliorative effect of (LP-Cur) on (SiO2-NPs) induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Twenty four adult male albino  rats of the same weight  were divided into four groups: (Gp I) negative control group (received single intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% saline, standard diet and distilled water), (Gp II) SiO2-NPs  exposed group  (received 200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally), (Gp III) SiO2-NPs and LP-Cur co-treated  group  (received 200 mg/kg body weight SiO2-NPsintraperitoneally + 80 mg/kg body weight LP-Cur orally), and (Gp IV) LP-Cur treated group (received 80 mg/kg body weight orally) for 30 days. At the end of experiment, the rats were euthanized by inhalation of 2% isoflurane (0.10 ml) in internal volume of chamber. Blood and kidney samples were collected from all rats for biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. SiO2-NPssignificantly increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine levels and malondialdehyde. Whereas they substantially reduced the glutathione levels. SiO2-NPs also caused dilatation, congestion ofmost glomeruli in addition to, some atrophied ones. Also, most renal tubulesshowed degenerative changes and marked interstitial hemorrhage. A significant increase in the immunoreactions of caspase-3 of SiO2-NPs exposed rats. Conversely, the administration of LP-Cur ameliorated the detrimental toxic effects caused by SiO2-NPs.In conclusion, antiapoptotic and antioxidant actions of LP-Cur ameliorate the nephrotoxic effect induced by SiO2-NP