Examining the quaternary ammonium chitosan Schiff base-ZnO nanocomposite's potential as protective therapy for rats' cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-09, Vol.276 (Pt 1), p.133616, Article 133616
• Main Authors: Kotb, Ebtesam S., Alhamdi, Heba W., Alfaifi, Mohammad Y., Darweesh, Omeed, Shati, Ali A., Elbehairi, Serag Eldin I., Serag, Waleed M., Hassan, Yasser A., Elshaarawy, Reda F.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: albino; cancer therapy; chitosan; cisplatin; Cisplatin hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation; drug therapy; hepatotoxicity; histopathology; immunohistochemistry; liver; males; nanocomposites; necrosis; Quaternary ammonium chitosan Schiff base; quaternary ammonium compounds; schiff bases; ZnO nanocomposites
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133616

Despite cisplatin's long history as a cornerstone in cancer therapy, both acquired chemoresistance and significant impacts on healthy tissues limit its use. Hepatotoxicity is one of its side effects. Adjunct therapies have shown promise in not only attenuating liver damage caused by cisplatin but also in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy. In this context, a new quaternary ammonium chitosan Schiff base (QACSB) was synthesized and applied as an encapsulating agent for the in-situ synthesis of QACSB-ZnO nanocomposite. Thirty male albino rats were classified into Group 1 (control) distilled water, Group 2 (Cisplatin-treated) (12 mg/kg, i.p), and Group 3 (QACSB-ZnO NCs/cisplatin-treated) (150 mg/kg/day QACSB-ZnO NCs, i.p) for 14 days + a single dose of cisplatin. Liver functions, tissue TNF-α, MDA, and GSH were measured as well as histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were performed. The QACSB-ZnO NCs significantly restore liver functions, tissue TNF-α, MDA, and GSH levels (p