ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis of novel photothermal nanomaterial ZnSe-PAM@1 and its treatment of knee osteoarthritis cells

Zhigang Li, Xuzhuo Liu, Chunlong Wang, Hanbing Song, and Jie Zhang

Orthopedics and Traumatology Department II, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China

E-mail: songhanbing@hljucm.edu.cn

Received: 13 May 2024  Accepted: 5 August 2024

Abstract:

In this study, we synthesized zinc selenide (ZnSe)-polyacrylamide (PAM) nanomaterials for their potential application in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Initially, we characterized the newly prepared material through various techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption to confirm its identity as the desired product. The results demonstrated that ZnSe-PAM nanomaterial exhibited excellent water solubility, biocompatibility, and stability, along with a large surface area, making it suitable for use as a drug carrier. Subsequently, the material was loaded with the drug 1 to obtain ZnSe-PAM@1. Cellular and thermosensitive experiments were then conducted, revealing that this nanomaterial could facilitate drug release by generating heat, thereby reducing the level of microRNA-146a-5P and blocking the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin/extracellular (PI3K/Akt/mTOR/ERK) signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway, thus alleviating the symptoms of KOA. These findings present a new direction for drug intervention in KOA and highlight the potential of developing ZnSe-PAM nanomaterials as novel drug carriers.

Keywords: ZnSe-polyacrylamide; Photothermal-assisted; Knee osteoarthritis

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03646-5

Chemical Papers 78 (14) 7943–7950 (2024)