Hexagonal boron nitrides reduce the oxidative stress on cells

Nanotechnology. 2020 May 22;31(21):215101. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab6fdc. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Abstract

The molecular stress caused by a drug administered to treat a disorder on healthy cells appears as a side effect. In this study, we aim to understand the potential of hexagonal boron nitrides (hBNs) as a therapeutic agent to relieve the cellular stress exerted by drugs. First, the cytotoxicity of hBNs and their possible degradation product, boric acid (BA), on the embryonic mouse hippocampal cell line mHippo E-14 was assessed in a wide concentration range (4.4-440 μg ml-1) of boron including hBNs and BA for 24 and 72 h exposure. Then, cell cycle, reactive oxygen species generation, cell death mechanism and apoptotic body formation in nuclei with hBN and BA exposure were evaluated at increased concentrations and incubation times. Finally, the cells, exposed to doxorubicin (DOX), an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug, to exert oxidative stress, were treated with hBNs and BA. The results indicate that hBNs decrease the oxidative stress at the concentrations that are nontoxic to cells. The study suggests that hBNs can open new venues for their investigation to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of toxic drugs used in the treatment of several fatal diseases including neurological disorders and cancer with their slow degradation feature.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Boron Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry
  • Boron Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects*
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / embryology*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nanostructures
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Particle Size
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Boron Compounds
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • boron nitride
  • Doxorubicin