Copper-Based Nanoparticles for Effective Treatment Against Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury in Mice Model

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine 2024-01, Vol.19, p.13507-13524
• Main Authors: Li, Jie-Mei, Zhang, Lu, Pei, Sheng-Lin, Guo, Liang, Shen, Hong-Lei, He, Jing, Guo, You-Yuan, Zhang, Wei-Qing, Lin, Fei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; anti-inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Bioengineering; Cell death; Copper - administration & dosage; Copper - chemistry; Copper - pharmacology; Disease Models, Animal; Enzymes; Hydrogen Peroxide; lung injury; Lung Injury - drug therapy; Male; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; mitochondria; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Original Research; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; reactive oxygen species scavenging; Sepsis; Sepsis - complications; Sepsis - drug therapy; Spectrum analysis; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; ultrasmall copper-based nanoparticles
• ISSN: 1178-2013; 1176-9114; 1178-2013
• DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S488357

Lung injury, a common complication of sepsis, arises from elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death driven by inflammation. In this study, a novel class of ultrasmall nanoparticles (Cu O USNPs) was developed to address sepsis-induced lung injury (SILI). The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized to assess their properties. In vitro experiments were conducted to determine the biologically effective concentration and elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action. These findings were further supported by in vivo studies, showcasing the material's efficacy in mitigating SILI. The Cu O USNPs demonstrated remarkable scavenging capabilities for hydrogen peroxide (H O ), superoxide anions (O ), and hydroxyl radicals (·OH), attributed to their catalase (CAT)- and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities. Additionally, the nanoparticles exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effects, preserved mitochondrial homeostasis through potent ROS scavenging, and significantly reduced cell death. In vivo studies on mice further validated their protective role against SILI. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of Cu O USNPs in treating sepsis-induced lung injury by effectively scavenging ROS and reducing cell death. These findings provide compelling evidence for the future use of copper-based nanoparticles as antioxidant therapeutics.