Benefit of magnesium-25 carrying porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Abstract

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a debilitating disorder occurring in most diabetic patients without a viable treatment yet. The present work examined the protective effect of ²⁵Mg-PMC₁₆ nanoparticle (porphyrin adducts of cyclohexil fullerene-C60) in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN. ²⁵Mg-PMC₁₆ (0.5 lethal dose₅₀ [LD₅₀]) was administered intravenously in two consecutive days before intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg). ²⁴Mg-PMC₁₆ and MgCl₂ were used as controls. Blood 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), oxidative stress biomarkers, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were determined as biomarkers of DN. Results indicated that 2,3-DPG and ATP decreased whereas oxidative stress increased by induction of DN which all were improved in ²⁵Mg-PMC₁₆-treated animals. No significant changes were observed by administration of ²⁴Mg-PMC₁₆ or MgCl₂ in DN rats. It is concluded that in DN, oxidative stress initiates injuries to DRG neurons that finally results in death of neurons whereas administration of ²⁵Mg-PMC₁₆ by release of Mg and increasing ATP acts protectively.

Keywords:

• diabetes
• neuropathy
• ²⁵Mg-magnetic isotope effect
• porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles
• oxidative stress
• adenosine triphosphate
• nanotechnology

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by funds from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.