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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 17, 2017
Biological responses to core-shell-structured Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles in rats by a nuclear magnetic
Zhongxue Yuan1, Rui Xu1, Jinquan Li1
1Department of Electronic Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plasma and Magnetic Resonance, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Background:
Core-shell-structured nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted much scientific attention due to their promising potential in biomedical fields in recent years. However, their underlying mechanisms of action and potential adverse effects following administration remain unknown.
Methods:
In the present study, a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabonomic strategy was applied to investigate the metabolic consequences in rats following the intravenous administration of parent NPs of core-shell-structured nanoparticles, Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 (Fe@Si) NPs.
Results:
Alterations reflected in plasma and urinary metabonomes indicated that Fe@Si NPs induced metabolic perturbation in choline, ketone-body, and amino-acid metabolism besides the common metabolic disorders in tricarboxylic acid cycle, lipids, and glycogen metabolism often induced by the exogenous agents. Additionally, intestinal flora metabolism and the urea cycle were also influenced by Fe@Si NP exposure. Time-dependent biological effects revealed obvious metabolic regression, dose-dependent biological effects implied different biochemical mechanisms between low- and high-dose Fe@Si NPs, and size-dependent biological effects provided potential windows for size optimization.
Conclusion:
Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabonomic analysis helps in understanding the biological mechanisms of Fe@Si NPs, provides an identifiable ground for the selection of view windows, and further serves the clinical translation of Fe@Si NP-derived and -modified bioprobes or bioagents.
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