The technological development of nanomaterials has been underway for decades. Only in the past decade has serious attention been paid to their potential unwanted health and environmental effects. Many nanomaterials do not readily dissolve or disintegrate in biological and environmental milieu. As a result, they can persist where they are sequestered (in mammals, mostly in mononuclear phagocyte system organs such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow) for months, possibly years, often associated with inflammatory/oxidative stress responses, including granuloma. These unwanted effects have been seen with nanoceria (nanoscale cerium dioxide). On the other hand, nanoceria has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory/antioxidant in numerous cellular, cell, and whole animal models of inflammation/oxidative stress. Nanoceria's pro- and antioxidant effects result from its auto-catalytic redox behavior (oxidation from Ce (III) to Ce (IV) and reduction back to Ce (III)). The first specific aim of this project will determine if nanoceria can produce inflammatory/pro- oxidant effects in the absence of elevated inflammation/oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects when inflammation/oxidative stress is elevated, and determine the lowest observed adverse dose and lowest observed beneficial dose. Four nanoceria will be studied: a 5 and a 30 nm nanoceria extensively studied for their distribution, persistence and effects in the rat (preliminary findings) and a third that others have demonstrated produces beneficial inflammatory/pro-oxidant effects. These three will be synthesized and extensively characterized in-house. The fourth will be NM-212, a commercial nanoceria that is being extensively studied by the inhalation route by others. Due to the very low oral and pulmonary absorption of nanomaterials, nanoceria will be delivered by intravenous injection to establish sufficient levels in multiple organs to study its biodistribution, persistene, biotransformation, and effects. Preliminary findings indicate that nanoceria undergoes some bioprocessing in mammalian cells over months to a more stable form. This appears to occur via dissolution and formation of very small nanoceria particles. These very small nanoceria particles have a greater enrichment of Ce (III) on their surface; therefore they are expected to have enhanced anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties. This biotransformation suggests enhanced benefit over time associated with nanoceria's persistence and bioprocessing. The second specific aim will test the hypothesis that the distribution, form, and effects of nanoceria change over time due to its bioprocessing in the liver to smaller, more antioxidant forms. The third specific aim will identify factors that contribute to nanoceria dissolution and precipitation and mediate its bioprocessing and precipitation in the liver. The proposed studies will identify nanoceria doses that maximize its efficacy relative to its unwanted effects, elucidate nanoceria's long term fate in a model mammal, the rat, and provide the insight into its biotransformation that may enable safer by design nanoceria for use as a therapeutic agent with prolonged anti-inflammatory/antioxidant activity.

Public Health Relevance

Cerium dioxide nanomaterials (nanoceria) have many current commercial uses, including as a diesel fuel additive to catalyze combustion and in chemical-mechanical polishing to manufacture integrated circuits, with future applications expected in fuel cells and batteries. Nanocerias have been shown to produce adverse effects as well as beneficial antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, the latter suggesting potential medical applications. The proposed research will determine the influence of dose and biotransformation on long-term nanoceria effects with the goal of minimizing its adverse and maximizing its beneficial effects, supporting its design for safe use for its many potential applications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM109195-03
Application #
9303423
Study Section
Nanotechnology Study Section (NANO)
Program Officer
Edmonds, Charles G
Project Start
2015-06-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2017-06-01
Budget End
2018-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$328,470
Indirect Cost
$83,215
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Graham, Uschi M; Yokel, Robert A; Dozier, Alan K et al. (2018) Analytical High-resolution Electron Microscopy Reveals Organ-specific Nanoceria Bioprocessing. Toxicol Pathol 46:47-61
Graham, Uschi M; Jacobs, Gary; Yokel, Robert A et al. (2017) From Dose to Response: In Vivo Nanoparticle Processing and Potential Toxicity. Adv Exp Med Biol 947:71-100