Ameliorative effect of chitosan nanoparticles against carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

Yousra A. Nomier, Saeed Alshahrani, Mahmoud Elsabahy*, Gihan F. Asaad, Azza Hassan, Walaa A. El-Dakroury

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Context: Chitosan is a biocompatible polysaccharide that has been widely exploited in biomedical and drug delivery applications. Objective: This study explores the renoprotective effect of chitosan nanoparticles in vivo in rats. Materials and methods: Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared via ionotropic gelation method, and several in vitro characterizations were performed, including measurements of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. Wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups; negative control, CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity (untreated), and two groups receiving CCl4 + chitosan NPs (10 and 20 mg/kg) orally for 2 weeks. The renoprotective effect was assessed by measuring oxidative, apoptotic, and inflammatory biomarkers, and via histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations for the visualization of NF-κB and COX-2 in renal tissues. Results: Monodisperse spherical nanosized (56 nm) particles were successfully prepared as evidenced by dynamic light scattering and TEM. Oral administration of chitosan nanoparticles (10 and 20 mg/kg) concurrently with CCl4 for 2 weeks resulted in 13.6% and 21.5% reduction in serum creatinine and increase in the level of depleted reduced glutathione (23.1% and 31.8%), respectively, when compared with the positive control group. Chitosan nanoparticles (20 mg/kg) revealed a significant (p ˂ 0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde levels (30.6%), tumour necrosis factor-α (33.6%), interleukin-1β (31.1%), and caspase-3 (36.6%). Conclusions: Chitosan nanoparticles afforded significant protection and amelioration against CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity. Thus, chitosan nanoparticles could afford a potential nanotherapeutic system for the management of nephrotoxicity which allows for broadening their role in biomedical delivery applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2134-2144
Number of pages11
JournalPharmaceutical Biology
Volume60
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • CCl4
  • Renoprotective
  • drug delivery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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