Metal Nanozymes: New Horizons in Cellular Homeostasis Regulation

Nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity (nanozymes) have found applications in various fields of medicine, industry, and environmental protection. This review discusses the use of nanozymes in the regulation of cellular homeostasis. We also review the latest biomedical applications of nanozymes related to their use in cellular redox status modification and detection. We present how nanozymes enable biomedical advances and demonstrate basic design strategies to improve diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy in various diseases. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions for developing nanozymes for applications in the regulation of the redox-dependent cellular processes and detection in the cellular redox state changes

Coordination of iron ions in the form of histidinyl dinitrosyl complexes does not prevent their genotoxicity

Formation of dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) was observed in a wide spectrum of pathophysiological conditions associated with overproduction of NO. To gain insight into the possible genotoxic effects of DNIC, we examined the interaction of histidinyl dinitrosyl iron complexes (HIS-DNIC) with DNA by means of circular dichroism. Formation of DNIC was monitored by EPR and FT/IR spectroscopy. Vibrational bands for aquated HIS-DNIC are reported. Dichroism results indicate that HIS-DNIC changes the conformation of the DNA in a dose-dependent manner in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6). Increase of the buffer pH or ionic strength decreased the effect. Comparison of HIS-DNIC DNA interaction with the effect of hydrated Fe 2+ ion revealed many similarities. The importance of iron ions in HIS-DNIC induced genotoxicity is confirmed by plasmid nicking assay. Treatment of pUC19 plasmid with 1 μM HIS-DNIC did not affect the plasmid supercoiling. Higher concentrations of HIS-DNIC induced single strand breaks. The effect was completely abrogated by addition of deferoxamine, a specific strong iron chelator. Our data reveal that formation of HIS-DNIC does not prevent DNA from iron-induced damage and imply that there is no direct interrelationship between iron-NO coordination and their mutual toxicity modulation. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Research on BNCT in Poland and in the world

Przy Reaktorze MARIA w Narodowym Centrum Badań Jądrowych (NCBJ) powstaje stanowisko do badań nad terapią borowo-neutronową (BNCT). Terapia polega na napromienianiu nowotworu wiązką neutronów o odpowiednich parametrach po uprzednim podaniu pacjentowi związku boru, który w wyniku określonych mechanizmów gromadzi się głównie w komórkach rakowych. W wyniku reakcji 10B(n,α)7Li emitowane są cząstki jonizujące powodujące zniszczenie tylko tych komórek, w których zgromadzony jest bor [1]. Badania kliniczne prowadzone na świecie potwierdzają skuteczność metody, otwierając nowe perspektywy dla jej zastosowania w terapii konwencjonalnej.The stand for research on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) at the MARIA Reactor at the National Centre for Nuclear Research is being created. The therapy consists of irradiation of the tumour with a neutron beam with specific parameters after prior administration of the boron compound to the patient, which accumulates mainly in cancer cells as a result of specific mechanisms. As a result of 10B(n,α)7Li reaction, ionising particles are emitted and destroy only those cells, in which boron is accumulated. Clinical trials conducted in the world show relatively high efficiency of BNCT, opening new perspectives for its use in conventional therapy