Efficacy of biogenic selenium nanoparticles against Leishmania major: In vitro and in vivo studies

Current chemotherapeutic drugs, although effective, lack cell-specific targeting, instigate adverse side effects in healthy tissue, exhibit unfavourable bio-circulation and can generate drug-resistant cancers. The synergistic use of nanotechnology and gene therapy, using nanoparticles (NPs) for therapeutic gene delivery to cancer cells is hereby proposed. This includes the benefit of cell-specific targeting and exploitation of receptors overexpressed in specific cancer types. The aim of this study was to formulate dendrimer-functionalized selenium nanoparticles (PAMAM-SeNPs) containing the targeting moiety, folic acid (FA), for delivery of pCMV-Luc-DNA (pDNA) in vitro. These NPs and their gene-loaded nanocomplexes were physicochemically and morphologically characterized. Nucleic acid-binding, compaction and pDNA protection were assessed, followed by cell-based in vitro cytotoxicity, transgene expression and apoptotic assays. Nanocomplexes possessed favourable sizes (<150 nm) and ζ-potentials (>25 mV), crucial for cellular interaction, and protected the pDNA from degradation in an in vivo simulation. PAMAM-SeNP nanocomplexes exhibited higher cell viability (>85%) compared to selenium-free nanocomplexes (approximately 75%), confirming the important role of selenium in these nanocomplexes. FA-conjugated PAMAM-SeNPs displayed higher overall transgene expression (HeLa cells) compared to their non-targeting counterparts, suggesting enhanced receptor-mediated cellular uptake. Overall, our results bode well for the use of these nano-delivery vehicles in future in vivo studies.

Download Full-text

Bioactive anti-oxidative polycaprolactone/gelatin electrospun nanofibers containing selenium nanoparticles/vitamin E for wound dressing applications

Journal of Biomaterials Applications ◽

10.1177/08853282211001359 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088532822110013

Author(s):

Mohsen Doostmohammadi ◽

Hamid Forootanfar ◽

Mojtaba Shakibaie ◽

Masoud Torkzadeh-Mahani ◽

Hamid-Reza Rahimi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Electrospun Nanofibers ◽

Inflammatory Cells ◽

Selenium Nanoparticles ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Solution Ph ◽

High Level ◽

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles

In this study, polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) electrospun nanofibers containing biogenic selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and Se NPs/vitamin E (VE) with average diameters of 397.8 nm and 279.5 nm, respectively (as determined by SEM inspection) were prepared and their effect on wound healing was evaluated using in-vivo studies. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, TEM micrograph, and FTIR spectra of the prepared nanofibers strongly demonstrated well entrapment of Se NPs and VE into scaffolds. An amount of 57% Se NPs and 43% VE were gradually released from PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffold after 4 days immersion in PBS solution (pH 7.4). The both PCL/GEL/Se NPs and PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffolds supported 3T3 cell proliferation and attachment as confirmed by MTT assay and SEM imaging. Complete re-epithelialization, low level of edema and inflammatory cells in coordination with high level of oriented collagens demonstrated the wound healing activity of PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE. Besides, significant antioxidant efficacy of PCL/GEL/Se NPs and PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffolds was demonstrated according to GSH and MDA assays. To sum up, the prepared PCL/GEL/Se NPs/VE scaffold in the present study represented suitable healing effect on animal model which candidate it for further studies.

Download Full-text

Biogenic selenium nanoparticles produced by Lactobacillus casei ATCC393 inhibit colon cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Nanoscale Advances ◽

10.1039/d0na00984a ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Katerina Spyridopoulou ◽

Eleni Tryfonopoulou ◽

Georgios Aindelis ◽

Petros Ypsilantis ◽

Charalampos Sarafidis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactobacillus Casei ◽

Colon Cancer Cell ◽

Selenium Nanoparticles ◽

Therapeutic Window ◽

Cancer Cell Growth ◽

Selenium Compounds ◽

Anticancer Properties ◽

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles

Selenium compounds exhibit excellent anticancer properties but have a narrow therapeutic window. Selenium nanoparticles however, are less toxic compared to other selenium forms, and their biogenic production leads to improved...

Download Full-text

Appraisal of a Leishmania major Strain Stably Expressing mCherry Fluorescent Protein for Both In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of Potential Drugs and Vaccine against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0001927 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. e1927 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Estefania Calvo-Álvarez ◽

Nestor Adrian Guerrero ◽

Raquel Álvarez-Velilla ◽

Christopher Fernández Prada ◽

Jose María Requena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Major Strain

Download Full-text

MicroRNAs Expression Induces Apoptosis of Macrophages in Response to Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER): An In-Vitro and In-Vivo Study

Iranian Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.18502/ijpa.v15i4.4851 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mostafa GHOLAMREZAEI ◽

Soheila ROUHANI ◽

Mehdi MOHEBALI ◽

Samira MOHAMMADI-YEGANEH ◽

Mostafa HAJI MOLLA HOSEINI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Lesion Size ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Raw 264.7 Cells ◽

Control Group

Background: We aimed to investigate the effect of miR-15a mimic and inhibitor of miR-155 expression on apoptosis induction in macrophages infected with Iranian strain of Leishmania major in-vitro and in-vivo. Methods: RAW 264.7 cells were infected with L. major promastigotes (MRHO/IR/75/ER), and then were treated with miRNAs. For in-vivo experiment, BALB/c mice were inoculated with L. major promastigotes, and then they were treated with miRNAs. For evaluation of miRNA therapeutic effect, in-vitro and in-vivo studies were performed using quantitative Real-time PCR, Flow cytometry, lesion size measurement, and Limiting Dilution Assay (LDA). This study was performed in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Results: In-vitro results of flow cytometry showed that using miR-15a mimic, miR-155 inhibitor or both of them increased apoptosis of macrophages. In in-vivo, size of lesion increased during experiment in control groups (P<0.05) while application of both miR-155 inhibitor and miR-15a mimic inhibited the increase in the size of lesions within 6 wk of experiment (P=0.85). LDA results showed that microRNA therapy could significantly decrease parasite load in mimic or inhibitor receiving groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-155 inhibitor and miR-15a mimic in L. major infected macrophages can induce apoptosis and reduce parasite burden. Therefore, miRNA-based therapy can be proposed as new treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Download Full-text