Evaluation of the radio-protective role of PEG-Fe3O4 NPs on γ-irradiated male Wistar rats

Abstract

This study explores the conceivable ameliorative outcome of iron oxide nanoparticles (1.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal (IP) injection) on γ-irradiated male Wistar rats. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) were prepared via the co-precipitation method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an emulsifier to yield PEG-Fe3O4 NPs. XRD, TEM, and FTIR clarified that PEG-Fe3O4 NPs were formed with a spherical shape (5–15 nm) and cubic crystal configuration. Whole-body γ-irradiation of rats at 5.5 Gy (single sublethal dose) instigated significant biochemical disorders in the blood picture, protein fractions, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and kidney function after three weeks post-irradiation. Histo-pathological images displayed diverse distortion in the liver and renal architecture after three weeks post-γ-irradiation. These distortions varied from swelling, vacuolization to necrosis and complete degeneration of the epithelial cells. Histopathological image of liver sections of the group injected by PEG-Fe3O4 NPs pre-γ-irradiation (group 4) showed Kupffer cells activation. Likewise, photomicrograph of the same group signposts the inhibition in the kidney morphological alterations induced by γ-irradiation. So In vivo administration of PEG-Fe3O4 NPs pre-γ-irradiation diminishes the impact of γ-irradiation to a great extent on biochemical and histological disorders. On the other hand, administration of the PEG-Fe3O4 NPs post-irradiation couldn't overcome the damaging effect of γ-irradiation. Therefore, PEG-Fe3O4 NPs can be a useful radio-protective agent when administered before γ-irradiation. This study introduces a thorough report on the radio-protective role of PEG-Fe3O4 NPs on γ-irradiated rats exploiting the biosafety of PEG-Fe3O4 NPs.