Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes multiple cerebrovascular disruptions and oxidative stress. These pathological mechanisms are often accompanied by serious impairment of cerebral blood flow autoregulation and neuronal and glial degeneration. Background/Objectives: Multiple biochemical cascades are...

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Main Authors: Parasuraman Padmanabhan, Jia Lu, Kian Chye Ng, Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, Kumar Sundramurthy, Lizanne Greer Nilewski, William K. A. Sikkema, James M. Tour, Thomas A. Kent, Balázs Gulyás, Jan Carlstedt-Duke
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2832
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author Parasuraman Padmanabhan
Jia Lu
Kian Chye Ng
Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan
Kumar Sundramurthy
Lizanne Greer Nilewski
William K. A. Sikkema
James M. Tour
Thomas A. Kent
Balázs Gulyás
Jan Carlstedt-Duke
author_facet Parasuraman Padmanabhan
Jia Lu
Kian Chye Ng
Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan
Kumar Sundramurthy
Lizanne Greer Nilewski
William K. A. Sikkema
James M. Tour
Thomas A. Kent
Balázs Gulyás
Jan Carlstedt-Duke
author_sort Parasuraman Padmanabhan
collection DOAJ
description Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes multiple cerebrovascular disruptions and oxidative stress. These pathological mechanisms are often accompanied by serious impairment of cerebral blood flow autoregulation and neuronal and glial degeneration. Background/Objectives: Multiple biochemical cascades are triggered by brain damage, resulting in reactive oxygen species production alongside blood loss and hypoxia. However, most currently available early antioxidant therapies lack capacity and hence sufficient efficacy against TBI. The aim of this study was to test a novel catalytic antioxidant nanoparticle to alleviate the damage occurring in blast TBI. Methods: TBI was elicited in an open blast rat model, in which the rats were exposed to the effects of an explosive blast. Key events of the post-traumatic chain in the brain parenchyma were studied using immunohistochemistry. The application of a newly developed biologically compatible catalytic superoxide dismutase mimetic carbon-based nanocluster, a poly-ethylene-glycol-functionalized hydrophilic carbon cluster (PEG-HCC), was tested post-blast to modulate the components of the TBI process. Results: The PEG-HCC was shown to significantly ameliorate neuronal loss in the brain cortex, the dentate gyrus, and hippocampus when administered shortly after the blast. There was also a significant increase in endothelial activity to repair blood–brain barrier damage as well as the modulation of microglial and astrocyte activity and an increase in inducible NO synthase in the cortex. Conclusions: We have demonstrated qualitatively and quantitatively that the previously demonstrated antioxidant properties of PEG-HCCs have a neuroprotective effect after traumatic brain injury following an explosive blast, acting at multiple levels of the pathological chain of events elicited by TBI.
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spelling doaj-art-eb41fbc7927643ff988e45488c291e022025-08-20T02:53:23ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-12-011212283210.3390/biomedicines12122832Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat ModelParasuraman Padmanabhan0Jia Lu1Kian Chye Ng2Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan3Kumar Sundramurthy4Lizanne Greer Nilewski5William K. A. Sikkema6James M. Tour7Thomas A. Kent8Balázs Gulyás9Jan Carlstedt-Duke10Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, SingaporeLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, SingaporeDefence Science Organisation National Laboratories, Singapore 117510, SingaporeDepartment of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore 119228, SingaporeLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, SingaporeDepartment of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USADepartment of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USADepartment of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USADepartment of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USALee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, SingaporePresident’s Office (Retired), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, SingaporeTraumatic brain injury (TBI) causes multiple cerebrovascular disruptions and oxidative stress. These pathological mechanisms are often accompanied by serious impairment of cerebral blood flow autoregulation and neuronal and glial degeneration. Background/Objectives: Multiple biochemical cascades are triggered by brain damage, resulting in reactive oxygen species production alongside blood loss and hypoxia. However, most currently available early antioxidant therapies lack capacity and hence sufficient efficacy against TBI. The aim of this study was to test a novel catalytic antioxidant nanoparticle to alleviate the damage occurring in blast TBI. Methods: TBI was elicited in an open blast rat model, in which the rats were exposed to the effects of an explosive blast. Key events of the post-traumatic chain in the brain parenchyma were studied using immunohistochemistry. The application of a newly developed biologically compatible catalytic superoxide dismutase mimetic carbon-based nanocluster, a poly-ethylene-glycol-functionalized hydrophilic carbon cluster (PEG-HCC), was tested post-blast to modulate the components of the TBI process. Results: The PEG-HCC was shown to significantly ameliorate neuronal loss in the brain cortex, the dentate gyrus, and hippocampus when administered shortly after the blast. There was also a significant increase in endothelial activity to repair blood–brain barrier damage as well as the modulation of microglial and astrocyte activity and an increase in inducible NO synthase in the cortex. Conclusions: We have demonstrated qualitatively and quantitatively that the previously demonstrated antioxidant properties of PEG-HCCs have a neuroprotective effect after traumatic brain injury following an explosive blast, acting at multiple levels of the pathological chain of events elicited by TBI.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2832traumatic brain injury (TBI)poly-ethylene-glycol-functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs)biologically compatible carbon-based nanoclustersopen blast rat TBI model
spellingShingle Parasuraman Padmanabhan
Jia Lu
Kian Chye Ng
Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan
Kumar Sundramurthy
Lizanne Greer Nilewski
William K. A. Sikkema
James M. Tour
Thomas A. Kent
Balázs Gulyás
Jan Carlstedt-Duke
Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model
Biomedicines
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
poly-ethylene-glycol-functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs)
biologically compatible carbon-based nanoclusters
open blast rat TBI model
title Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model
title_full Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model
title_fullStr Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model
title_full_unstemmed Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model
title_short Neuroprotective Effects of Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters: Targeted Therapy of Traumatic Brain Injury in an Open Blast Rat Model
title_sort neuroprotective effects of functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters targeted therapy of traumatic brain injury in an open blast rat model
topic traumatic brain injury (TBI)
poly-ethylene-glycol-functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs)
biologically compatible carbon-based nanoclusters
open blast rat TBI model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2832
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