Possible role of nano-sized particles in chronic tonsillitis and tonsillar carcinoma: a pilot study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the palatine tonsils of patients with chronic tonsillitis and spinocellular carcinoma to determine the presence of nano-sized particles. Tonsil samples from adult patients with chronic tonsillitis and spinocellular carcinoma of the palatine tonsil were dried and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope with the X-ray microprobe of an energy-dispersive spectroscope. Demographic data and smoking histories were obtained. The principal metals found in almost all tissues analyzed were iron, chromium, nickel, aluminum, zinc, and copper. No significant difference in elemental composition was found between the group of patients with chronic tonsillitis and the group with spinocellular carcinoma of the palatine tonsil. Likewise, no significant difference was found between the group of smokers and the group of nonsmokers. The presence of various micro- and nano-sized metallic particles in human tonsils was confirmed. These particles may potentially cause an inflammatory response as well as neoplastic changes in human palatine tonsils similar to those occurring in the lungs. Further and more detailed studies addressing this issue, including studies designed to determine the chemical form of the metals detected, studies devoted to quantitative analysis, biokinetics, and to the degradation and elimination of nanoparticles are needed for a more detailed prediction of the relation between the diagnosis and the presence of specific metal nanoparticles in tonsillar tissue.

Raman microspectroscopy as a useful tool for nanopathology

“…This study does not investigate targeted exposure, but focuses on the real human samples and particles detected in body fluids and/or tissues presumably originating from environmental pollution or working exposure. Some of our results in this field have been published [11‐14], and our results proved that Raman spectroscopy has the potential in detection of the particles of unknown nature; thus, this method could be a very useful supporting tool for the nanopathology field. Three different approaches of analysis are discussed: (1) analysis of the whole area of the sample, (2) division of the sample in sections and subsequent analysis of a defined number of points in selected parts, and (3) Raman spectral imaging of the selected parts.…”

Micro- and Nanosized Particles in Nasal Mucosa: A Pilot Study

“…So far only a few clinical studies have been conducted; for example, Zeleník et al studied presence and elemental composition in tissues of palatine tonsils [16]. The behavior of NPs in human tissues and immunologic reaction of the organism is still unclear; further understanding of the role of NPs in inflammation induction may contribute to better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammatory changes in the nasal mucosa in chronic hypertrophic rhinosinusitis.…”

“…We did not assess histological changes in the mucosa, which is an objective of a subsequent ongoing study conducted in our department. The possibility of quantification of NPs has been only limited so far as the principle of their detection in tissues is vastly different than in larger particles due to the enormously small scale of the “nanoworld” [16]. In our study we present a novel method of quantification of the nano- and microparticles in the nasal mucosa.…”

“…Although the pathological influence of fine and ultrafine particles including elemental metal particles on lungs is well-known (e.g., occupational pneumoconiosis due to exposure to rare metals) [15], only few clinical studies on nanotoxicology and nanopathology in airways have been conducted so far; for example, Zeleník et al studied presence and elemental compositions of nanoparticles in human palatine tonsils [16]. …”

“…One of the main challenges of clinical research focusing on nanotoxicology and nanopathology has been only a limited possibility to quantify and determine the concentration of NPs in the examined tissues, because the principle of their detection in tissues is vastly different from that of larger particles [16]. Mapping of the tissues and statistical analysis of the presence of NPs becomes difficult due to the enormously small scale of the “nanoworld.” The main aim of this prospective study was to design and test a novel method of quantification of micro- and nanosized particles in tissue samples.…”