Subacute toxicity of cadmium on hepatocytes and nephrocytes in the rat could be considered as a green biosynthesis of nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract:The purpose was to study the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and to explore its potential to generate nanoparticles during detoxification. In order to demonstrate this, in vivo fluorescence imaging, X-ray diffraction, and flow cytometry were performed. The in vivo imaging showed a fluorescence signal after Cd treatment (CdCl2, 1.50 mg/Kg, intraperitoneally). By contrast, the control-rat fluorescence was negative. The fluorescence was divided into three colors, red, yellow, and green, and probably indicates the presence of quantum dots. X-ray diffraction results revealed the presence of Cd sulfide (CdS) and/or Cd selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles following Cd injection in the liver (6.52 nm) and kidneys (56.30 nm). Interestingly, flow cytometry revealed a heterogeneous size distribution and a homogeneous granularity of synthesized nanoparticles. Using the green fluorescence channel and the red fluorescence channel, a narrow green emission spectrum and a broad red emission spectrum were detected, respectively, by cytometric analysis.

Nanotoxicological evaluation of oxidative responses in rat nephrocytes induced by cadmium

“…Interestingly, fluorescence microscopy images show that co-treatment (Cd + Se group) induced a localized red fluorescence signal. 17 The superposition of fluorescence images and light microscopy images showed that fluorescence was localized in the glomeruli and renal tubules as shown in Figure 2E …”

“…Cd ions are bound by MTs via thiol groups of cysteine residues leading to Cd-MT complexes; 2,3,[25][26][27][28][29] then from the liver the Cd ions circulate in blood bound to MTs until reaching the kidneys. 7,17,30 The Cd-MT complex is easily filtered through the glomerular membrane and taken up by renal tubular cells. MTs are then catabolized, releasing Cd ions in the cytoplasm where they induce the synthesis of new MT molecules.…”

“…4,31,32 Previously, Trabelsi et al showed that Cd may induce nanoparticle biosynthesis. 17 This biosynthesis was explained by the ability of Cd to react with sulfur in MTs and/or with Se, leading to CdS and/or CdSe nanoparticles in hepatocytes and nephrocytes. Moreover, the current results show that Se increased the accumulation of Cd in kidneys.…”

“…2,3 However, Trabelsi et al showed that the subacute toxicity of Cd may be related to its eventual potential to generate Cd sulfide (CdS) and/or Cd selenide (CdSe) nanomaterials at the cellular level. 17 In addition, to the authors' knowledge, there are no studies investigating whether the protective effect of Se is related to its eventual potential to bind Cd, leading to nanocomplexes in living systems.…”

“…35 Interestingly, the current results show that 2θ values are almost the same as those observed after chemical or biological synthesis of CdSe and/or CdS nanoparticles, as reported in many studies. 17,[36][37][38] Differences observed in 2θ values compared to chemical synthesis may be due to temperature variation, ie, the high temperature during chemical synthesis and rat body temperature (about 37°C). Moreover, the size of nanoparticles found in kidneys (98.65 nm) following subacute exposure (1.50 mg/kg for 14 days) indicates a probable agglomeration of nanoparticles related to the histological properties of nephrocytes.…”