Hematobiochemical, Oxidative Stress, and Histopathological Mediated Toxicity Induced by Nickel Ferrite (NiFe2O4) Nanoparticles in Rabbits

Muhammad Shahid Khan; Saeed Ahmad Buzdar; Riaz Hussain; Gulnaz Afzal; Ghazala Jabeen; Muhammad Arshad Javid; Rehana Iqbal; Zahid Iqbal; Khola Bint Mudassir; Saba Saeed; Abdur Rauf; Hafiz Ishfaq Ahmad

doi:10.1155/2022/5066167

Hematobiochemical, Oxidative Stress, and Histopathological Mediated Toxicity Induced by Nickel Ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) Nanoparticles in Rabbits

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022 Mar 11:2022:5066167. doi: 10.1155/2022/5066167. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Physics, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
² Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
³ Department of Zoology (Life sciences), The Islamia University, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Zoology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Basic Sciences, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan.
⁶ Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Zoology Division, Bhauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
⁷ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Swabi-Anbar KPK, Pakistan.
⁹ Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract

From the past few decades, attention towards the biological evaluation of nanoparticles (NPs) has increased due to the persistent and extensive application of NPs in various fields, including biomedical science, modern industry, magnetic resonance imaging, and the construction of sensors. Therefore, in the current study, magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanoparticles (NFNPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their possible adverse effects in rabbits. The crystallinity of the synthesized NFNPs was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The saturation magnetization (46.7 emug^-1) was measured using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and 0.35-tesla magnetron by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The adverse effects of NFNPs on blood biochemistry and histoarchitecture of the liver, kidneys, spleen, brain, and heart of the rabbits were determined. A total of sixteen adult rabbits, healthy and free from any apparent infection, were blindly placed in two groups. The rabbits in group A served as control, while the rabbits in group B received a single dose (via ear vein) of NFNPs for ten days. The blood and visceral tissues were collected from each rabbit at days 5 and 10 of posttreatment. The results on blood and serum biochemistry profile indicated significant variation in hematological and serum biomarkers in NFNP-treated rabbits. The results showed an increased quantity of oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidant enzymes in treated rabbits. Various serum biochemical tests exhibited significantly higher concentrations of different liver function tests, kidney function tests, and cardiac biomarkers. Histopathologically, the liver showed congestion, edema, atrophy, and degeneration of hepatocytes. The kidneys exhibited hemorrhages, atrophy of renal tubule, degeneration, and necrosis of renal tubules, whereas coagulative necrosis, neutrophilic infiltration, and severe myocarditis were seen in different sections of the heart. The brain of the treated rabbits revealed necrosis of neurons, neuron atrophy, and microgliosis. In conclusion, the current study results indicated that the highest concentration of NPs induced adverse effects on multiple tissues of the rabbits.

MeSH terms

Animals
Ferric Compounds* / pharmacology
Nanoparticles* / toxicity
Nickel / toxicity
Oxidative Stress
Rabbits

Substances

Ferric Compounds
nickel ferrite
Nickel