Cytoprotective effects of cerium and selenium nanoparticles on heat-shocked human dermal fibroblasts: an in vitro evaluation

Abstract

It is a widely accepted fact that environmental factors affect cells by modulating the components of subcellular compartments and altering metabolic enzymes. Factors (such as oxidative stress and heat-shock-induced proteins and heat shock factors, which upregulate stress-response related genes to protect affected cells) are commonly altered during changes in environmental conditions. Studies by our group and others have shown that nanoparticles (NPs) are able to efficiently attenuate oxidative stress by penetrating into specific tissues or organs. Such findings warrant further investigation on the effects of NPs on heat-shock-induced stress, specifically in cells in the presence or absence (pretreated) of NPs. Here, we examined the cytoprotective effects of two different NPs (cerium and selenium) on heat-induced cell death for a model cell using dermal fibroblasts. We report for the first time that both ceria and selenium NPs (at 500 µg/mL) possess stress-relieving behavior on fibroblasts undergoing heat shock. Such results indicate the need to further develop these NPs as a novel treatment for heat shock.

Increased viability of fibroblasts when pretreated with ceria nanoparticles during serum deprivation

“…The Ce NPs used were synthesized by mixing a cerium nitrate hexahydrate solution and a sodium hydroxide solution for an hour and drying it for 24 hours, as described earlier. 9 The stock solutions of cerium and sodium hydroxide were prepared separately by dissolving and mixing 21.7 g of cerium nitrate hexahydrate in 100 mL of water and by adding 2 g of sodium hydroxide to 50 mL of distilled water in beaker. In another beaker, 85 mL of ceria nitrate, 5 mL of sodium hydroxide, and 75 mL of distilled water were added.…”

Unintended effects of drug carriers: Big issues of small particles

“…There are instances where biodegradable nanoparticles are non-biocompatible and where non-biodegradable nanoparticles are biocompatible. These can occur when the nanoparticle degradation byproducts induce inflammatory or toxic effects [1,15,27], or when a non-biodegradable nanoparticles induces anti-oxidant or cytoprotective effects [28–30]. …”

A Study on Myogenesis by Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Cytotoxic Activity by Selenium Nanoparticles

“…Selenium is one of the essential trace elements that regulate various physiological functions, including anti-inflammatory effects and immune functions [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], and is also well known to play an essential role in regulating ROS levels [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Selenium has been reported to protect fibroblasts from oxidative stress [ 36 ] and apoptosis [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Nanoscale selenium is a highly effective molecular compound with higher antioxidant activity and lower toxicity than regular selenium [ 42 ].…”