Palladium and platinum nanoparticles attenuate aging-like skin atrophy via antioxidant activity in mice

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 15;9(10):e109288. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109288. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1) loss causes a redox imbalance as it leads to excess superoxide generation, which results in the appearance of various aging-related phenotypes, including skin atrophy. Noble metal nanoparticles, such as palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles, are considered to function as antioxidants due to their strong catalytic activity. In Japan, a mixture of Pd and Pt nanoparticles called PAPLAL has been used to treat chronic diseases over the past 60 years. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of PAPLAL against aging-related skin pathologies in mice. Transdermal PAPLAL treatment reversed skin thinning associated with increased lipid peroxidation in Sod1-/- mice. Furthermore, PAPLAL normalized the gene expression levels of Col1a1, Mmp2, Has2, Tnf-α, Il-6, and p53 in the skin of the Sod1-/- mice. Pt nanoparticles exhibited marked SOD and catalase activity, while Pd nanoparticles only displayed weak SOD and catalase activity in vitro. Although the SOD and catalase activity of the Pt nanoparticles significantly declined after they had been oxidized in air, a mixture of Pd and Pt nanoparticles continued to exhibit SOD and catalase activity after oxidation. Importantly, a mixture of Pd and Pt nanoparticles with a molar ratio of 3 or 4 to 1 continued to exhibit SOD and catalase activity after oxidation, indicating that Pd nanoparticles prevent the oxidative deterioration of Pt nanoparticles. These findings indicate that PAPLAL stably suppresses intrinsic superoxide generation both in vivo and in vitro via SOD and catalase activity. PAPLAL is a potentially powerful tool for the treatment of aging-related skin diseases caused by oxidative damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Atrophy / drug therapy
  • Atrophy / metabolism
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Palladium / administration & dosage
  • Palladium / therapeutic use*
  • Platinum / administration & dosage
  • Platinum / therapeutic use*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology*
  • Skin Aging / drug effects*
  • Skin Aging / pathology
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Superoxide Dismutase

Grants and funding

This research was supported by funds from Musashino Pharmaceutical Co. (http://www.musashino-p.co.jp/). The PAPLAL and the Pd and Pt nanoparticles were provided from Musashino Pharmaceutical and Toyo Kosei pharmaceutical (http://toyokosei.co.jp/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.