Zohre Eftekhari

Title : Evaluation of the encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles on pulmonary changes induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae in NMRI Mice

Abstract:

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a primary cause of many diseases that leads to mortality worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effects of saponin encapsulated by ferritin nanoparticles on pulmonary changes induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae in NMRI mice. After fabrication and characterization of encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles through a scanning electron microscope and dynamic light scattering, the human alveolar basal epithelial cell cytotoxicity of saponin, nano ferritin, and encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles (10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg) concentrations was evaluated. NMRI mice were divided into control, pneumonia, pneumonia+ferritin nanoparticle, pneumonia with saponin, and pneumonia with nanoparticle-saponin treatment groups. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to determine the histology of the lungs, and ELISA was used to specify serum IL-4 levels. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and protein cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene expression, respectively.  Pneumonia treated via the encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles group had a statistically significant decrease in pneumonia severity index and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression compared to the pneumonia group (p<0.001). The tumor necrosis factor-alpha and serum levels of IL-4 expression were also significantly lower in the saponin-loaded ferritin group. The histopathology results revealed that the rates of inflammation, mucus secretion, pulmonary hemorrhage, thickening of the alveoli wall, and secretion of inflammatory cells in the saponin-nanoparticle group were lower than in other groups. It can be concluded that encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles, with their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential, have protective effects against pneumonia. Oral administration may be incredibly assertive against progressively severe bacterial infections.

Biography:

I hold a DVM from Urmia University and a DVSc , Veterinary Internal Medicine, from the University of Tehran. I also conducted additional postdoctoral research course about Design and Development the Biological Products (Lung Surfactant) at the University of Tehran, before accepting my first position at the Pasteur Institute of Iran. I began as an Assistant Professor in 2015 and am still active in this position today as head of the Biotherium department, where the in vivo assays of vaccines and biological drugs have been carried out. Additionally, I have collaborated with the Iranian Food and Drug Administration since 2020 as an advisor in preclinical studies of vaccines and biotechnological drugs.