ABSTRACT
The vascular complications of diabetes are the most serious manifestations of the disease. The hyperglycemia can directly promote an inflammatory state where the increase C-reactive (CRP) and cytokines, such as interleukins (IL-1 and IL-6), which contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases. The current study was aimed to evaluate the role of environmentally-synthesized zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO-NPs) in augmentation of hyperglycemia and its complications, as well as the preservation of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) level as a specific marker for endothelial dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. ZnO-NPs was chemically-synthesized using environmental benign biodegradable hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HES) as both a stabilizing and directing agent in the presence of potassium hydroxide. HES is a biomaterial compound used in many biomedical applications due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility in nature. Particle size, morphological structure, purity, and crystallinity of the as-prepared ZnO-NPs were evaluated through different techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy connected to energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (SEM-EDS). Sixty male albino rats were used in this study and divided into four groups: control, ZnO-NPs, diabetic and treated groups; after the experimental period, CRP and interleukin-1 (IL-1α) were determined by ELISA. ADMA was estimated by RP-HPLC using a fluorescence detector. The results obtained indicate that CRP, IL-1α, and ADMA levels increased significantly concomitant with a reduction in NO level in the diabetic group, whereas ZnO-NPs supplementation significantly attenuated these parameters. Based on these encouraging results, the reported approach of environmental synthesis and application has the potential of leading to a new generation of nanometerials for treatment of diabetic complications with considerably enhanced selectively towards atherosclerosis.
