Biocompatibility analysis of Borassus flabellifer biomass-derived nanofibrillated cellulose.

The increased awareness about environment conservation and sustainable progress has encouraged the use of agricultural byproducts. Here, we investigated Borassus flabellifer leaf stalk residues as a sustainable precursor for nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) production by sequential process. Alkali pretreatment and bleaching removed hemicellulose and lignin from B. flabellifer leaf stalk. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed the diameter and length of fibrillated cellulose nanostructure as 12-27 nm and 0.5-1 µm, respectively. NFC biocompatibility was analyzed in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) using cell viability assay, cellular and nuclear morphology analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assessment, and gene expression analysis. NFC showed no significant effect on hMSC viability at high concentration and failed to alter nuclear architecture and MMP. Biocompatibility assessment suggests that NFC is non-toxic and NFC-based films may enhance the adhesion and proliferation of hMSCs, highlighting its potential role as a suitable matrix for stem cell differentiation and biomedical applications.

Aluminium oxide nanoparticles induce mitochondrial-mediated oxidative stress and alter the expression of antioxidant enzymes in human mesenchymal stem cells.

An urgent need for toxicological studies on aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al(2) [Formula: see text]NPs) has arisen from their rapidly emerging range of applications in the food and agricultural sectors. Despite the widespread use of nanoscale aluminium and its composites in the food industry, there is a serious lack of information concerning the biological activities of Al(2) [Formula: see text]NPs (ANPs) and their impact on human health. In this preliminary study, the effects of ANPs on metabolic stress in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were analysed. The results showed dose-dependent effects, including cellular toxicity. The mitochondrial membrane potential in the hMSCs decreased with increasing ANP concentrations after 24 h of exposure. The expression levels of oxidative stress-responsive enzymes were monitored by RT-PCR. The expression levels of CYP1A and POR were up-regulated in response to ANPs, and a significant down-regulation in the expression of the antioxidant enzyme SOD was observed. Further, dose-dependent changes in the mRNA levels of GSTM3, GPX and GSR were noted. These findings suggest that the toxicity of ANPs in hMSCs may be mediated through an increase in oxidative stress. The results of this study clearly demonstrate the nanotoxicological effects of ANPs on hMSCs, which will be useful for nanotoxicological indexing.