The pulmonary delivery of nanoparticles (NPs) is a promising approach in nanomedicine. For the efficient and safe use of inhalable NPs, understanding of NP interference with lung surfactant metabolism is needed. Lung surfactant is predominantly a phospholipid substance, synthesized in alveolar type II cells (ATII), where it is packed in special organelles, lamellar bodies (LBs). In vitro and in vivo studies have reported NPs impact on surfactant homeostasis, but this phenomenon has not yet been sufficiently examined. Our results demonstrate that non-cytotoxic concentrations of SiO2-SPIONs interfere with surfactant metabolism and LB biogenesis, leading to disturbed ability to reduce hypophase surface tension. To ensure the safe use of NPs for pulmonary delivery, we propose that potential NP interference with LB biogenesis is obligatorily taken into account.
COBISS.SI-ID: 30433319
We have studied materials with controllable multifunctional abilities for optical imaging (OI) and magnetic resonant imaging (MRI). They can be used in photodynamic therapy are very interesting for future applications. Mesoporous TiO 2 sub-micrometer particles are doped with gadolinium to improve photoluminescence functionality and spin relaxation for MRI, with the added benefit of enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Gd-doped TiO 2 exhibits red emission at 637 nm that is beneficial for OI and significantly improves MRI relaxation times, with a beneficial decrease in spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times. Cellular internalization and biocompatibility of TiO 2 @xGd NBs are tested in vitro on MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells, showing full biocompatibility. After photoactivation of the particles, anticancer trace by means of ROS photogeneration is observed just after 3 min irradiation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 30414375
Nanomaterials (NM) that enter a biological environment are immediately covered by a layer of proteins, which form a protein corona that governs further interactions of NM within the organism. In this study, we investigated the bovine serum albumin corona and the human serum protein corona, formed on three different carbon-based NM: carbon black, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide. The serum protein corona of all three studied NM was found to be enriched with complement factors and apolipoproteins. In addition, by measuring the enzymatic activity of the serum butyrylcholinesterase, we have shown that also less abundant proteins could be included in and affected by the corona formation. The studied NM show NM-specific affinities towards albumin binding, both in the pure bovine serum albumin solution or in the human serum.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3557967
We studied the effect of carbon black (CB) agglomerated nanomaterial on biological membranes as revealed by shapes of human erythrocytes, platelets and giant phospholipid vesicles. Diluted human blood was incubated with CB nanomaterial and observed by different microscopic techniques. Giant unilamellar phospholipid vesicles (GUVs) created by electroformation were incubated with CB nanomaterial and observed by optical microscopy. Populations of erythrocytes and GUVs were analyzed: the effect of CB nanomaterial was assessed by the average number and distribution of erythrocyte shape types (discocytes, echinocytes, stomatocytes) and of vesicles in test suspensions, with respect to control suspensions. Ensembles of representative images were created and analyzed using computer aided image processing and statistical methods. In a population study, blood of 14 healthy human donors was incubated with CB nanomaterial. Blood cell parameters (concentration of different cell types, their volumes and distributions) were assessed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4845675
This book is a survey on the theoretical as well as experimental results on nanostructures in biological systems. It shows how a unifying approach starting from single-particle energy, deriving free energy of the system and determining the equilibrium by minimizing the free energy, can be applied to describe electrical and elastic phenomena. It helps the readers to use this basic, transparent, and simple approach to develop additional new systems and interactions and describes the theoretical and experimental aspects together so that they support each other in broadening the knowledge on biological systems. It suggests potential use of this knowledge in clinically relevant phenomena such as hemostasis, inflammation, and spreading of cancer and describes some applications in nanotoxicology, such as the interactions between biological membranes and inorganic nanostructures.
COBISS.SI-ID: 11076436