Basis of nanomaterials evaluation in respiratory ex vivo models: Physiological and biochemical biomarkers, perspectives, challenges, and opportunities
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abstract
This decade has brought relevant nanotechnological advances in electronics and biomedicine, and it is evident that living organisms and the environment are daily exposed to nanomaterials. The following review provides a comprehensive overview of the biological effects of some nanomaterials (NMs) on specific respiratory system structures, such as the trachea, as a model of acute exposure to NMs. This is accomplished using an ex vivo model based on isolated rodent tracheal rings in a physiological solution under isometric conditions. This experimental approach helps to establish a physiological profile (muscle contraction) triggered by NMs, and it allows the study of the mechanisms of action by determining biomarkers such as nitric oxide (NO) and using pharmacological tools (e.g., blocker receptors). From ex vivo models, it is also possible to analyze the expression/translation of relevant genes and tissue integrity or, through cell isolation, study signaling pathways using various techniques. The effects on isolated tracheal rings, the use of pharmacological tools, and the evaluation of cellular effects will be described in more detail, particularly for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and mesoporous silica particles (MSP) loaded with 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ), only in the presence of an important bioactive contractile agent in trachea; acetylcholine (ACh). This review also emphasizes the pivotal role that NO plays in these physiological actions. These findings underscore the importance of preclinical evaluations using cellular and tissue models to comprehend the interactions of NMs in the respiratory system and their relevance for future biomedical applications and safety regulations.
