Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Tungsten disulfide (WS<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles have emerged in the biomedical field as potential theranostic agents due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility. However, their impact on the immune response remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of...

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Main Authors: Snežana Zečević, Darinka Popović, Sergej Tomić, Marina Bekić, Sara Rakočević, Maja Kosanović, Dušica Stojanović, Petar Uskoković, Milan Marković, Dejan Bokonjić, Miodrag Čolić
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/322
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author Snežana Zečević
Darinka Popović
Sergej Tomić
Marina Bekić
Sara Rakočević
Maja Kosanović
Dušica Stojanović
Petar Uskoković
Milan Marković
Dejan Bokonjić
Miodrag Čolić
author_facet Snežana Zečević
Darinka Popović
Sergej Tomić
Marina Bekić
Sara Rakočević
Maja Kosanović
Dušica Stojanović
Petar Uskoković
Milan Marković
Dejan Bokonjić
Miodrag Čolić
author_sort Snežana Zečević
collection DOAJ
description Tungsten disulfide (WS<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles have emerged in the biomedical field as potential theranostic agents due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility. However, their impact on the immune response remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inorganic fullerene-like WS<sub>2</sub> (IF-WS<sub>2</sub>) nanostructures on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. The study investigated several parameters to evaluate the effects of IF-WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis. Internalization of IF-WS<sub>2</sub> by PBMCs was analyzed using morphological and flow cytometric techniques. Proliferation was studied in CellTrace Far Red-prestained total PBMCs stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and in isolated T cell cultures stimulated with CD3/CD28-coated beads. Additionally, the production of cytokines and chemokines was measured in culture supernatants of total PBMCs and T cells. IF-WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic up to a concentration of 200 µg/mL. Concentrations ≥25 µg/mL inhibited PHA-stimulated PBMC proliferation but did not affect T cell proliferation. Morphological and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated dose- and time-dependent internalization of IF-WS<sub>2</sub> by macrophages. Additionally, IF-WS<sub>2</sub> significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, MCP-1, and GRO-α) in PHA-stimulated PBMCs. Th1, Th17, and Th21 cytokines were downregulated, while Th2, Th9, and T regulatory cytokines were upregulated. In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time that pristine IF-WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, exhibit notable anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties on activated PBMCs in vitro.
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spelling doaj-art-5d91836fdfb84f44952d31ba728228622025-08-20T02:52:42ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-02-0115532210.3390/nano15050322Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear CellsSnežana Zečević0Darinka Popović1Sergej Tomić2Marina Bekić3Sara Rakočević4Maja Kosanović5Dušica Stojanović6Petar Uskoković7Milan Marković8Dejan Bokonjić9Miodrag Čolić10Medical Faculty Foca, University of East Sarajevo, 73300 Foča, Bosnia and HerzegovinaMedical Faculty Foca, University of East Sarajevo, 73300 Foča, Bosnia and HerzegovinaInstitute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaMedical Faculty Foca, University of East Sarajevo, 73300 Foča, Bosnia and HerzegovinaInstitute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaMedical Faculty Foca, University of East Sarajevo, 73300 Foča, Bosnia and HerzegovinaMedical Faculty Foca, University of East Sarajevo, 73300 Foča, Bosnia and HerzegovinaTungsten disulfide (WS<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles have emerged in the biomedical field as potential theranostic agents due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility. However, their impact on the immune response remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inorganic fullerene-like WS<sub>2</sub> (IF-WS<sub>2</sub>) nanostructures on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. The study investigated several parameters to evaluate the effects of IF-WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis. Internalization of IF-WS<sub>2</sub> by PBMCs was analyzed using morphological and flow cytometric techniques. Proliferation was studied in CellTrace Far Red-prestained total PBMCs stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and in isolated T cell cultures stimulated with CD3/CD28-coated beads. Additionally, the production of cytokines and chemokines was measured in culture supernatants of total PBMCs and T cells. IF-WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic up to a concentration of 200 µg/mL. Concentrations ≥25 µg/mL inhibited PHA-stimulated PBMC proliferation but did not affect T cell proliferation. Morphological and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated dose- and time-dependent internalization of IF-WS<sub>2</sub> by macrophages. Additionally, IF-WS<sub>2</sub> significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, MCP-1, and GRO-α) in PHA-stimulated PBMCs. Th1, Th17, and Th21 cytokines were downregulated, while Th2, Th9, and T regulatory cytokines were upregulated. In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time that pristine IF-WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, exhibit notable anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties on activated PBMCs in vitro.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/322WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticleshuman mononuclear cellscytotoxicityproliferation
spellingShingle Snežana Zečević
Darinka Popović
Sergej Tomić
Marina Bekić
Sara Rakočević
Maja Kosanović
Dušica Stojanović
Petar Uskoković
Milan Marković
Dejan Bokonjić
Miodrag Čolić
Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Nanomaterials
WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles
human mononuclear cells
cytotoxicity
proliferation
title Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
title_full Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
title_fullStr Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
title_full_unstemmed Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
title_short Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles in the Culture of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
title_sort anti inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of inorganic fullerene like tungsten disulfide nanoparticles in the culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
topic WS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles
human mononuclear cells
cytotoxicity
proliferation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/322
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