Effects of Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Bioactive Compounds from <i>Cornus mas</i> Fruit on Aorta Ultrastructural and Biochemical Changes in Rats on a Hyperlipid Diet—A Preliminary Study
Remus Moldovan,
Daniela-Rodica Mitrea,
Adrian Florea,
Irina-Camelia Chiş,
Şoimiţa Suciu,
Luminiţa David,
Bianca Elena Moldovan,
Laura Elena Mureşan,
Manuela Lenghel,
Rodica Ana Ungur,
Răzvan Vlad Opriş,
Nicoleta Decea,
Simona Valeria Clichici
Affiliations
Remus Moldovan
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1-3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Daniela-Rodica Mitrea
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1-3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Adrian Florea
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Irina-Camelia Chiş
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1-3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Şoimiţa Suciu
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1-3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Luminiţa David
Research Center for Advanced Chemical Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 11 Arany Janos Street, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Bianca Elena Moldovan
Research Center for Advanced Chemical Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 11 Arany Janos Street, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Laura Elena Mureşan
Raluca Ripan Institute of Research in Chemistry, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Manuela Lenghel
Radiology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1–3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Rodica Ana Ungur
Department of Rehabilitation, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Răzvan Vlad Opriş
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Nicoleta Decea
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1-3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Simona Valeria Clichici
Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 1-3 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cornus mas L. extract (CM) presents hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered potent delivery systems and may be used to release pharmaceutical compounds at the level of injury. In our study, we used gold nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive compounds from Cornus mas L. (AuNPsCM) in an experimental model of a high-fat diet (HFD), and we assessed their effects on aorta wall but also in the serum, as compared to Cornus mas (CM) administration. Sprague Dawley female rats were fed for 9 months with an HFD. During the last month of the experiment, we randomly allocated the animals into three groups that received, by oral gavage: saline solution, CM solution (0.158 mg/mL polyphenols) or AuNPsCM solution (260 μg Au/kg/day), while a Control group received a standard diet and saline solution. At the end of the experiment, we performed an ultrasonography of the aorta and left ventricle and a histology and transmission electron microscopy of the aorta walls; we investigated the oxidative stress and inflammation in aorta homogenates and in serum and, in addition, the lipid profile. AuNPsCM presented better effects in comparison with the natural extract (CM) on lipid peroxidation (p p p p p p < 0.001), in comparison with the HFD group. In intima, AuNPsCM produced ultrastructural lesions, with the disorganization of intima and subendothelial connective layer, whereas CM administration preserved the intima normal aspect, but with a thinned subendothelial connective layer. AuNPsCM oral administration presented certain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic effects in an experimental model of HFD, but with a negative impact on the ultrastructure of aorta walls, highlighted by the intima disorganization.
