IntroductionNanoscale gold particles (AuNPs) have wide perspectives for biomedical applications because of their unique biological properties, as antioxidative activity and potentials for drug delivery.Aims and objectivesThe aim was to test effects of AuNPs using suggested heart failure rat model to compare with proved medication Simdax, to test gold nanoparticle for drug delivery, and to test sonoporation effect to increase nanoparticles delivery into myocardial cells.Material and methodsWe performed biosafety and biocompatibility tests for AuNPs and conjugate with Simdax. For in vivo tests, we included Wistar rats weighing 180–200 g (n = 54), received doxorubicin in cumulative dose of 12.0 mg/kg to model advance heart failure, registered by ultrasonography. We formed six groups: the first three groups of animals received, respectively, 0.06 ml Simdax, AuNPs, and conjugate (AuNPs-Simdax), intrapleurally, and the second three received them intravenously. The seventh group was control (saline). We performed dynamic assessment of heart failure regression in vivo measuring hydrothorax. Sonoporation of gold nanoparticles to cardiomyocytes was tested.ResultsWe designed and constructed colloidal, spherical gold nanoparticles, AuNPs-Simdax conjugate, both founded biosafety (in cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and immunoreactivity). In all animals of the six groups after the third day post-medication injection, no ascites and liver enlargement were registered (P < 0.001 vs controls). Conjugate injection showed significantly higher hydrothorax reduction than Simdax injection only (P < 0.01); gold nanoparticle injection showed significantly higher results than Simdax injection (P < 0.05). AuNPs and conjugate showed no significant difference for rat recovery. Difference in rat life continuity was significant between Simdax vs AuNPs (P < 0.05) and Simdax vs conjugate (P < 0.05). Sonoporation enhances AuNP transfer into the cell and mitochondria that were highly localized, superior to controls (P < 0.01 for both).ConclusionsGold nanoparticles of 30 nm and its AuNPs-Simdax conjugate gave positive results in biosafety and biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. AuNPs-Simdax and AuNPs have similar significant cardioprotective effects in rats with doxorubicin-induced heart failure, higher than that of Simdax. Intrapleural (local) delivery is preferred over intravenous (systemic) delivery according to all tested parameters. Sonoporation is able to enhance gold nanoparticle delivery to myocardial cells in vivo.

In recent decades, the attention of scientists has been drawn towards nanoparticles (NPs) of metals and metalloids. Traditional methods for the manufacturing of NPs are now being extensively studied. However, disadvantages such as the use of toxic agents and high energy consumption associated with chemical and physical processes impede their continued use in various fields. In this article, we analyse the relevance of the use of living systems and their components for the development of "green" synthesis of nano-objects with exceptional properties and a wide range of applications. The use of nano-biotechnological methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles has the potential of large-scale application and high commercial potential. Bacteria are an extremely convenient target for green nanoparticle synthesis due to their variety and ability to adapt to different environmental conditions. Synthesis of nanoparticles by microorganisms can occur both intracellularly and extracellularly. It is known that individual bacteria are able to bind and concentrate dissolved metal ions and metalloids, thereby detoxifying their environment. There are various bacteria cellular components such as enzymes, proteins, peptides, pigments, which are involved in the formation of nanoparticles. Bio-intensive manufacturing of NPs is environmentally friendly and inexpensive and requires low energy consumption. Some biosynthetic NPs are used as heterogeneous catalysts for environmental restoration, exhibiting higher catalytic efficiency due to their stability and increased biocompatibility. Bacteria used as nanofactories can provide a new approach to the removal of metal or metalloid ions and the production of materials with unique properties. Although a wide range of NPs have been biosynthetic and their synthetic mechanisms have been proposed, some of these mechanisms are not known in detail. This review focuses on the synthesis and catalytic applications of NPs obtained using bacteria. Known mechanisms of bioreduction and prospects for the development of NPs for catalytic applications are discussed.

The article overviews the potential biomedical applications of nanoscale gold particles for predictive, preventive and personalised nanomedicine in cardiology. The review demonstrates the wide opportunities for gold nanoparticles due to their unique biological properties. The use of gold nanoparticles in cardiology is promising to develop fundamentally new methods of diagnosis and treatment. The nanotheranostics in cardiovascular diseases allows the non-invasive imaging associated with simultaneous therapeutic intervention and predicting treatment outcomes. Imaging may reflect the effectiveness of treatment and has become a fundamental optimisation setting for therapeutic protocol. Combining the application of biomolecular and cellular therapies with nanotechnologies foresees the development of complex integrated nanodevices. Nanocardiology may challenge existing healthcare system and economic benefits as cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality at present.

Modern industrial poultry farming occupies a leading position in the production of dietary foods, for which it is appropriate to use biologically active substances and probiotics. The study compared the effectiveness of compound feed with the addition of sodium selenite, bio-nano-selenium and L. plantarum in terms of body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and safety of experimental quail. The quails of the Pharaoh meat breed were kept in the vivarium of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University and by the method of analogues were divided into 4 groups - control and three experimental ones. The duration of the study was 35 days. The results of the study indicate that the use in the quail’s diet of probiotics (L. plantarum) and selenium preparations (sodium selenite and bio-nano-selenium) leads to a predominance of poultry experimental groups in live weight over control analogs. It was found that the growth of bird’s live weight during the experiment differed depending on the use of the Selenium medication or probiotic, and the most intense effect on live weight of quails was the use of bio-nanоselenium in the diet of poultry (11.8% at the end of the experiment). Changes in absolute and average daily body weight gains of experimental birds have been clarified. The use of sodium selenite in the diet of quail caused a tendency for an increase in gains compared with control analogs at the beginning of the study and a downward trend during the fifth week of the study. It was found that the use of probiotics and bio-nano-selenium caused an increase in quail growth, which was more pronounced and reliable when feeding bio-nano-selenium. The obtained results show that probiotic and selenium preparations reduce feed consumption by 1 kg of weight gain, body weight increase by 3.05–11.8% and by 3.3–6.6% increase the safety of the experimental livestock with the best indicators in the group, receiving bio-nano-selenium.

The article is devoted to the mechanisms of regulation of redox processes in cells, a review of the Keap1 / Nrf2 / ARE redox-sensitive signaling system as a fundamental pathway that plays a key role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis under stressful, inflammatory, carcinogenic and proapoptotic conditions. The structure of the cysteine-rich repressor protein Keap1, which is responsible for sensory perception of electrophiles and reactive oxygen species, the structure and functions of the transcription factor Nrf2, mechanisms of Nrf2 activation through the Keap1 / Nrf2 / ARE signaling system, which regulates the transcription and expression of cellular cytoprotective and antioxidant proteins, are described. Published data on the specificity of the interaction of the components of this cellular signaling pathway, the mechanisms of Keap1 dependent and independent adaptive response to the action of inductors, the role of biogenic selenium nanoparticles synthesized by green chemistry with the participation of bacteria in these processes are analyzed; features of Nrf2 induction depending on the type of bacteria and the stabilizing shell. It has been shown that biogenic selenium nanoparticles (BNSe), synthesized by different types of bacteria, activate the transcription factor Nrf2 using the Keap1-independent activation pathway through mitogen-protein kinases (MAPK): p38, ERK1 / 2 and AKT-mediated phosphorylation of Nrf2, protect the intestinal epithelial barrier function from the effects of oxidative damage, normalize mitochondrial function. A detailed understanding of thiol-dependent and independent redox signaling mechanisms under physiological and pathological conditions will lead to a deeper understanding of the redox component in human and animal diseases. The use of biogenic nanoselen, synthesized with the participation of various bacterial species, has been demonstrated to activate the Keap1 / Nrf2 / ARE signaling pathway, which may be of practical interest as a therapeutic target for many redox-mediated diseases.