Polydopamine Nanoparticles as an Organic and Biodegradable Multitasking Tool for Neuroprotection and Remote Neuronal Stimulation

Abstract

Oxidative stress represents a common issue in most neurological diseases, causing severe impairments of neuronal cell physiological activity that ultimately lead to neuron loss of function and cellular death. In this work, lipid-coated polydopamine nanoparticles (L-PDNPs) are proposed both as antioxidant and neuroprotective agents, and as a photothermal conversion platform able to stimulate neuronal activity. L-PDNPs showed the ability to counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in differentiated SH-SY5Y, prevented mitochondrial ROS-induced dysfunctions and stimulated neurite outgrowth. Moreover, for the first time in the literature, the photothermal conversion capacity of L-PDNPs was used to increase the intracellular temperature of neuron-like cells through near-infrared (NIR) laser stimulation, and this phenomenon was thoroughly investigated using a fluorescent temperature-sensitive dye and modeled from a mathematical point of view. It was also demonstrated that the increment in temperature caused by the NIR stimulation of L-PDNPs was able to produce a Ca 2+ influx in differentiated SH-SY5Y, being, to the best of our knowledge, the first example of organic nanostructures used in such an approach. This work could pave the way to new and exciting applications of polydopamine-based and of other NIR-responsive antioxidant nanomaterials in neuronal research.

Research Progress on Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Tissue Engineering

“…The overproduction of ROS is related to cellular dysfunction and hindered tissue recovery. To protect neurons from the oxidative stress-induced damage, Battaglini et al ( Battaglini et al, 2020 ) proposed to use lipid coated PDA-NPs (L-PDNPs) as neuroprotective agents. L-PDNPs were proved effective in reducing ROS accumulation and resisting mitochondrial morphological alteration.…”

Bioinspired urease-powered micromotor as an active oral drug delivery carrier in stomach

“…S6 ). The degradation profile of micromotors was qualitatively investigated by measuring absorbance and TEM at pH 3 and in the presence of H 2 O 2 (10 mM) as the typical in vivo condition of oxidative stress at the diseased tissue [ 38 ]. In the oxidative condition, absorbance and color of micromotor solution slowly faded for 14 days.…”

Freestanding nanomaterials for subcellular neuronal interfaces

“…To counteract this, lipid-coated polydopamine nanoparticles, an example of a near-infrared light-responsive nanomaterial, can act as neuroprotective agents and antioxidants along with being a photothermal conversion platform to stimulate neuronal activity. Their ability to convert photothermally can transform the energy from NIR (near-infrared) laser stimulation to increase the intracellular temperature of neuron-like cells, stimulating their activity and growth ( Battaglini et al., 2020 ). Moreover, Chen et al.…”