The toxicity of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles induced on the testicular cells: In vitro study.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have gained significant attention in biomedical research due to their potential applications. However, little is known about their impact and toxicity on testicular cells. To address this issue, we conducted an in vitro study using primary mouse testicular cells, testis fragments, and sperm to investigate the cytotoxic effects of sodium citrate-coated SPIONs (Cit_SPIONs). Herein, we synthesized and physiochemically characterized the Cit_SPIONs and observed that the sodium citrate diminished the size and improved the stability of nanoparticles in solution during the experimental time. The sodium citrate (measured by thermogravimetry) was biocompatible with testicular cells at the used concentration (3%). Despite these favorable physicochemical properties, the in vitro experiments demonstrated the cytotoxicity of Cit_SPIONs, particularly towards testicular somatic cells and sperm cells. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed that Leydig cells preferentially internalized Cit_SPIONs in the organotypic culture system, which resulted in alterations in their cytoplasmic size. Additionally, we found that Cit_SPIONs exposure had detrimental effects on various parameters of sperm cells, including motility, viability, DNA integrity, mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and ROS production. Our findings suggest that testicular somatic cells and sperm cells are highly sensitive and vulnerable to Cit_SPIONs and induced oxidative stress. This study emphasizes the potential toxicity of SPIONs, indicating significant threats to the male reproductive system. Our findings highlight the need for detailed development of iron oxide nanoparticles to enhance reproductive nanosafety.

Male reproductive toxicity of inorganic nanoparticles in rodent models: A systematic review.

The use of nanoscale materials for different biomedical applications has grown a lot in the last years and raised several concerns about toxic effects on human health. Several studies have shown that different types of NPs may exert toxic effects on organs such as the brain, the liver and the kidney. However, The toxicological effects of inorganic NPs on reproductive organs only recently has attracted attention. This systematic review selected data published in the last twelve years assessing rodent-male in vitro and in vivo reproductive toxicity caused by different types of inorganic nanoparticles (AgNPs, AuNPs, IONPs, ZnONPs, TiO2NPs and NiNPs). Structural and functional alterations were commonly observed in Sertoli, Leydig, germ and sperm cells in vitro and in vivo. Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and/or necrosis were the most common findings after inorganic nanoparticle exposure. The toxicity of different NPs depends strongly on their physicochemical characteristics and intrinsic properties. Although a broad overview of the toxicity of different inorganic NPs was found in the papers evaluated, the results are highly variable due to the lack of standardization of protocols, regarding NPs sizes, concentration/doses, and routes of administration. Despite focusing on the effect of different nanoparticles on male reproduction, the mechanisms and pathways related to cellular and/or organ toxicity were poorly discussed. Understanding the specific molecular interactions between NPs and male testicular cells is crucial for developing nanobiotechnologies related to reproductive medicine.

Biotechnological approach to induce human fibroblast apoptosis using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to tumour progression and have received significant attention as a therapeutic target. These cells produce growth factors, cytokines and chemokines, stimulating cancer cell proliferation and inhibiting their apoptosis. Recent advances in drug delivery have demonstrated a significant promise of iron oxide nanoparticles in clinics as theranostic agents, mainly due to their magnetic properties. Here, we designed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to induce apoptosis of human fibroblasts. SPIONs were synthesized via co-precipitation method and coated with sodium citrate (SPION_Cit). We assessed the intracellular uptake of SPIONs by human fibroblast cells, as well as their cytotoxicity and ability to induce thermal effects under the magnetic field. The efficiency and time of nanoparticle internalization were assessed by Prussian Blue staining, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. SPIONs_Cit were detected in the cytoplasm of human fibroblasts 15 min after in vitro exposure, entering into cells mainly via endocytosis. Analyses through Cell Titer Blue assay, AnnexinV-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) cellular staining demonstrated that concentrations below 8 × 10-2 mg/mL of SPIONs_Cit did not alter cell viability of human fibroblast. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that SPIONs_Cit associated with alternating current magnetic field were able to induce hyperthermia and human fibroblast cell death in vitro, mainly through apoptosis (83.5%), activating caspase 8 (extrinsic apoptotic via) after a short exposure period. Collectively these findings suggest that our nanoplatform is biocompatible and can be used for therapeutic purposes in human biological systems, such as inducing apoptosis of CAFs.