scholarly journals A novel in silico tool for dose assessment in cell culture nanotoxicology

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermes Botte ◽  
Pietro Vagaggini ◽  
Joana Costa ◽  
Lara Faccani ◽  
Ilaria Zanoni ◽  
...  

Dose assessment is essential for understanding the mechanisms triggering nanomaterial toxicity in vitro and for meaningful translations to in vivo. We propose a novel computational approach for improving the accuracy of biological dose-response characterization, demonstrating its robustness for insoluble Engineered Nanomaterials (ENMs).

Author(s):  
Danlei Wang ◽  
Maartje H. Rietdijk ◽  
Lenny Kamelia ◽  
Peter J. Boogaard ◽  
Ivonne M. C. M. Rietjens

AbstractDevelopmental toxicity testing is an animal-intensive endpoints in toxicity testing and calls for animal-free alternatives. Previous studies showed the applicability of an in vitro–in silico approach for predicting developmental toxicity of a range of compounds, based on data from the mouse embryonic stem cell test (EST) combined with physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modelling facilitated reverse dosimetry. In the current study, the use of this approach for predicting developmental toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was evaluated, using benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) as a model compound. A rat PBK model of BaP was developed to simulate the kinetics of its main metabolite 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OHBaP), shown previously to be responsible for the developmental toxicity of BaP. Comparison to in vivo kinetic data showed that the model adequately predicted BaP and 3-OHBaP blood concentrations in the rat. Using this PBK model and reverse dosimetry, a concentration–response curve for 3-OHBaP obtained in the EST was translated into an in vivo dose–response curve for developmental toxicity of BaP in rats upon single or repeated dose exposure. The predicted half maximal effect doses (ED50) amounted to 67 and 45 mg/kg bw being comparable to the ED50 derived from the in vivo dose–response data reported for BaP in the literature, of 29 mg/kg bw. The present study provides a proof of principle of applying this in vitro–in silico approach for evaluating developmental toxicity of BaP and may provide a promising strategy for predicting the developmental toxicity of related PAHs, without the need for extensive animal testing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitriy V. Ivashchenko ◽  
Anastasia V. Rudik ◽  
Andrey A. Poloznikov ◽  
Sergey V. Nikulin ◽  
Valeriy V. Smirnov ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Phenazepam (bromdihydrochlorphenylbenzodiazepine) is the original Russian benzodiazepine tranquilizer belonging to 1,4-benzodiazepines. There is still limited knowledge about phenazepam’s metabolic liver pathways and other pharmacokinetic features. Methods: To determine phenazepam’s metabolic pathways, the study was divided into three stages: in silico modeling, in vitro experiment (cell culture study), and in vivo confirmation. In silico modeling was performed on the specialized software PASS and GUSAR to evaluate phenazepam molecule affinity to different cytochromes. The in vitro study was performed using a hepatocytes’ cell culture, cultivated in a microbioreactor to produce cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. The culture medium contained specific cytochrome P450 isoforms inhibitors and substrates (for CYP2C9, CYP3A4, CYP2C19, and CYP2B6) to determine the cytochrome that was responsible for phenazepam’s metabolism. We also measured CYP3A activity using the 6-betahydroxycortisol/cortisol ratio in patients. Results: According to in silico and in vitro analysis results, the most probable metabolizer of phenazepam is CYP3A4. By the in vivo study results, CYP3A activity decreased sufficiently (from 3.8 [95% CI: 2.94–4.65] to 2.79 [95% CI: 2.02–3.55], p=0.017) between the start and finish of treatment in patients who were prescribed just phenazepam. Conclusions: Experimental in silico and in vivo studies confirmed that the original Russian benzodiazepine phenazepam was the substrate of CYP3A4 isoenzyme.


2021 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 1287-1301
Author(s):  
Isaac Omwenga ◽  
Shensheng Zhao ◽  
Laetitia Kanja ◽  
Hans Mol ◽  
Ivonne M. C. M. Rietjens ◽  
...  

AbstractOrganophosphate pesticides (OPs) are known to inhibit acetylcholine esterase (AChE), a critical effect used to establish health-based guidance values. This study developed a combined in vitro–in silico approach to predict AChE inhibition by the OP profenofos in rats and humans. A physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model was developed for both species. Parameter values for profenofos conversion to 4-bromo-2-chlorophenol (BCP) were derived from in vitro incubations with liver microsomes, liver cytosol, and plasma from rats (catalytic efficiencies of 1.1, 2.8, and 0.19 ml/min/mg protein, respectively) and humans (catalytic efficiencies of 0.17, 0.79, and 0.063 ml/min/mg protein, respectively), whereas other chemical-related parameter values were derived using in silico calculations. The rat PBK model was evaluated against literature data on urinary excretion of conjugated BCP. Concentration-dependent inhibition of rat and human AChE was determined in vitro and these data were translated with the PBK models to predicted dose-dependent AChE inhibition in rats and humans in vivo. Comparing predicted dose-dependent AChE inhibition in rats to literature data on profenofos-induced AChE inhibition revealed an accurate prediction of in vivo effect levels. Comparison of rat predictions (BMDL10 of predicted dose–response data of 0.45 mg/kg bw) and human predictions (BMDL10 of predicted dose–response data of 0.01 mg/kg bw) suggests that humans are more sensitive than rats, being mainly due to differences in kinetics. Altogether, the results demonstrate that in vivo AChE inhibition upon acute exposure to profenofos was closely predicted in rats, indicating the potential of this novel approach method in chemical hazard assessment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1s) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Samaa Alrushaid ◽  
Neal M. Davies ◽  
Judy E. Anderson ◽  
Tyson Le ◽  
Jaime A. Yáñez ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: MyoNovin is a novel skeletal muscle-regenerating compound developed through synthesis of two nitro groups onto a guaifenesin backbone to deliver nitric oxide to skeletal muscle with a potential to treat muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to utilize in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches to characterize MyoNovin and examine its safety, biodistribution, and feasibility for drug delivery. METHODS: In silico software packages were used to predict the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of MyoNovin. In vitro cardiotoxicity was assessed using human cardiomyocytes (RL-14) while effects on CYP3A4 metabolic enzyme and antioxidant activity were examined using commercial kits. A novel HPLC assay was developed to measure MyoNovin concentration in serum, and delineate initial pharmacokinetic and acute toxicity after intravenous administration (20 mg/kg) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: MyoNovin showed relatively high lipophilicity with a LogP value of 3.49, a 20-fold higher skin permeability (19.89 cm/s*107) compared to guaifenesin (0.66 cm/s*107), and ~10-fold higher effective jejunal permeability (2.24 cm/s*104) compared to guaifenesin (0.26 cm/s*104). In vitro, MyoNovinwas not cytotoxic to cardiomyocytes at concentrations below 8 μM and did not inhibit CYP3A4 or show antioxidant activity. In vivo, MyoNovin had a short half-life (t1/2) of 0.16 h, and a volume of distribution Vss of 0.62 L/kg. Biomarkers of MyoNovincardiac and renal toxicity did not differ significantly from baseline control levels.CONCLUSIONS: The predicted high lipophilicity and skin permeability of MyoNovin render it a potential candidate for transdermal administration while its favourable intestinal permeation suggests it may be suitable for oral administration. Pharmacokinetics following IV administration of MyoNovin were delineated for the first time in a rat model. Preliminary single 20 mg/kg dose assessment of MyoNovin suggest no influenceon cardiac troponin or β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Chen ◽  
Andrew Martin ◽  
Warren H. Finlay

Background: Many drugs are delivered intranasally for local or systemic effect, typically in the form of droplets or aerosols. Because of the high cost of in vivo studies, drug developers and researchers often turn to in vitro or in silico testing when first evaluating the behavior and properties of intranasal drug delivery devices and formulations. Recent advances in manufacturing and computer technologies have allowed for increasingly realistic and sophisticated in vitro and in silico reconstructions of the human nasal airways. Objective: To perform a summary of advances in understanding of intranasal drug delivery based on recent in vitro and in silico studies. Conclusion: The turbinates are a common target for local drug delivery applications, and while nasal sprays are able to reach this region, there is currently no broad consensus across the in vitro and in silico literature concerning optimal parameters for device design, formulation properties and patient technique which would maximize turbinate deposition. Nebulizers are able to more easily target the turbinates, but come with the disadvantage of significant lung deposition. Targeting of the olfactory region of the nasal cavity has been explored for potential treatment of central nervous system conditions. Conventional intranasal devices, such as nasal sprays and nebulizers, deliver very little dose to the olfactory region. Recent progress in our understanding of intranasal delivery will be useful in the development of the next generation of intranasal drug delivery devices.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-221
Author(s):  
Haroon Khan ◽  
Muhammad Zafar ◽  
Helena Den-Haan ◽  
Horacio Perez-Sanchez ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Kamal

Aim and Objective: Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play an important role in the pathophysiology of several inflammatory and allergic diseases including bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Inhibitors of the LOX are believed to be an ideal approach in the treatment of diseases caused by its over-expression. In this regard, several synthetic and natural agents are under investigation worldwide. Alkaloids are the most thoroughly investigated class of natural compounds with outstanding past in clinically useful drugs. In this article, we have discussed various alkaloids of plant origin that have already shown lipoxygenase inhibition in-vitro with possible correlation in in silico studies. Materials and Methods: Molecular docking studies were performed using MOE (Molecular Operating Environment) software. Among the ten reported LOX alkaloids inhibitors, derived from plant, compounds 4, 2, 3 and 1 showed excellent docking scores and receptor sensitivity. Result and Conclusion: These compounds already exhibited in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition and the MOE results strongly correlated with the experimental results. On the basis of these in vitro assays and computer aided results, we suggest that these compounds need further detail in vivo studies and clinical trial for the discovery of new more effective and safe lipoxygenase inhibitors. In conclusion, these results might be useful in the design of new and potential lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (26) ◽  
pp. 2209-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Pham-The ◽  
Miguel Á. Cabrera-Pérez ◽  
Nguyen-Hai Nam ◽  
Juan A. Castillo-Garit ◽  
Bakhtiyor Rasulev ◽  
...  

One of the main goals of in silico Caco-2 cell permeability models is to identify those drug substances with high intestinal absorption in human (HIA). For more than a decade, several in silico Caco-2 models have been made, applying a wide range of modeling techniques; nevertheless, their capacity for intestinal absorption extrapolation is still doubtful. There are three main problems related to the modest capacity of obtained models, including the existence of inter- and/or intra-laboratory variability of recollected data, the influence of the metabolism mechanism, and the inconsistent in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) of Caco-2 cell permeability. This review paper intends to sum up the recent advances and limitations of current modeling approaches, and revealed some possible solutions to improve the applicability of in silico Caco-2 permeability models for absorption property profiling, taking into account the above-mentioned issues.


Author(s):  
Ya-Nan Li ◽  
Ni Ning ◽  
Lei Song ◽  
Yun Geng ◽  
Jun-Ting Fan ◽  
...  

Background: Deoxypodophyllotoxin, isolated from theTraditional Chinese Medicine Anthriscus sylvestris, is well-known because of its significant antitumor activity with strong toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Objective: In this article, we synthesized a series of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives, and evaluated their antitumor effectiveness.Methods:The anti tumor activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives was investigated by the MTT method. Apoptosis percentage was measured by flow cytometer analysis using Annexin-V-FITC. Results: The derivatives revealed obvious cytotoxicity in the MTT assay by decreasing the number of late cancer cells. The decrease of Bcl-2/Bax could be observed in MCF-7, HepG2, HT-29 andMG-63 using Annexin V-FITC. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in the administration group was decreased, which was determined by the ELISA kit. Conclusion: The derivatives of deoxypodophyllotoxin could induce apoptosis in tumor cell lines by influencing Bcl-2/Bax.


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