Biology subjects

Gargano, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Gargano, P..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory Effects of Aerosolised microalgal-derived extracellular vesicles in Bronchial Epithelial-Macrophage Co-cultures at the Air-Liquid Interface

AbstractInflammation and oxidative stress are key drivers in the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases, including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Extracellular vesicles derived from the marine microalga Tetraselmis chuii, referred to as nanoalgosomes, have recently gained attention as natural nanocarriers that possess inherent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the biocompatibility and protective effects of aerosolized nanoalgosomes in a bronchial epithelial-macrophage co-culture model at the air-liquid interface. Co-cultures of CALU-3 epithelial cells and differentiated THP-1 macrophages were primed with aerosolised nanoalgosomes and subsequently exposed to either oxidative stress (tert-butyl hydroperoxide) or an inflammatory stimulus (lipopolysaccharide; LPS). Epithelial barrier integrity and cytotoxicity were evaluated using transepithelial electrical resistance and lactate dehydrogenase release assays, respectively, while intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and cytokine secretion were measured to assess antioxidant and immunomodulatory responses. Nanoalgosomes were non-cytotoxic, preserved epithelial barrier integrity, and significantly reduced oxidative stress. In addition, nanoalgosomes priming attenuated LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1{beta}, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, TNF-) as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, suggesting a balanced immunomodulatory response. Overall, aerosolized nanoalgosomes maintained epithelial homeostasis and mitigated both oxidative and inflammatory stress, underscoring their potential as a safe, sustainable, and effective therapeutic strategy for chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Given their natural origin, excellent biocompatibility, and suitability for aerosol delivery, nanoalgosomes represent a promising class of inhalable biotherapeutics.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2025

Nanoalgosomes from Tetraselmis chuii: Microalgal Extracellular Vesicles for UV Protection, Anti-Aging, and Skin Depigmentation

The search for effective dermocosmetic treatments has recently been accompanied by the growing demand for ingredients that are both naturally derived and sustainable. In this context, microalgae have emerged as a promising biofactory, producing bioactive compounds for skin health, widely recognized for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging activities. To leverage these properties, besides the conventional use of microalgal mass or extracts, the isolation and application of their secretome, including the extracellular vesicles named "nanoalgosomes", emerged as a novel and increasingly studied approach. EVs are membranous nanoparticles released by all cells and naturally efficient in the transport of both endogenous and exogenous bioactive molecules. Their unique biological properties make them ideal candidates for therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Here, we propose nanoalgosomes, as a sustainable and effective solution for innovative dermocosmetic treatments. In this study we exemplify the use of the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii, an edible, green and renewable bio-source of extracellular vesicles. We demonstrated the nanoalgosomes skin-health promoting potential, by employing the human skin cells as model to evidence the nanoalgosome ability to protect the cells from ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation-related damages, by reducing both the oxidative stress, and senescence-associated phenotype in UVB-exposed skin cells. Furthermore, nanoalgosomes modulate melanogenesis in UVB-stimulated melanocytes by downregulating tyrosinase, significantly reducing melanin content, supporting their role as photoprotective and pigmentation-modulating agents. Altogether, our results provide a solid foundation for the development of nanoalgosome-based formulations in dermocosmetic applications aimed at UV protection, anti-aging, and depigmentation, supporting the transition toward natural and sustainable skincare solutions.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Functional enzymatic assays to predict the potency of extracellular vesicles

The application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as therapeutics or nanocarriers in cell-free therapies necessitates meticulous evaluations of different features, including their identity, bioactivity, batch-to-batch reproducibility, and stability. Given the inherent heterogeneity in EV preparations, this assessment demands sensitive functional assays to provide key quality control metrics, complementing established methods to ensure that EV preparations meet the required functionality and quality standards. Here, we introduce the detectEV assay, an enzymatic-based approach for assessing EV luminal cargo bioactivity and membrane integrity. This method is fast, cost-effective, and quantifiable through enzymatic units. Utilizing microalgae-derived EVs, known as nanoalgosomes, as model systems, we optimized the assay parameters and validated its sensitivity and specificity in quantifying the enzymatic activity of esterases within the EV lumen while also evaluating EV membrane integrity. Compared to conventional methods that assess physicochemical features of EVs, our single-step analysis efficiently detects batch-to-batch variations by evaluating changes in luminal cargo bioactivity and integrity across various EV samples, including differences under distinct storage conditions and following diverse isolation and exogenous loading methods, all using small sample sizes. The detectEV assays application to various human-derived EV types demonstrated its versatility and potential universality. Additionally, the assay effectively predicted EV functionality, such as the antioxidant activity of different nanoalgosome batches. Our findings underscore the detectEV assays utility in comprehensive characterization of EV functionality and integrity, enhancing batch-to-batch reproducibility and facilitating their therapeutic applications. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=98 SRC="FIGDIR/small/563745v3_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (35K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b1c552org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@11a70eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@eec5b7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f699dd_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Microalgae as a novel biofactory for biocompatible and bioactive extracellular vesicles

Nanoalgosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by microalgal cells that can mediate intercellular and cross-kingdom communication. In the present study, starting from the optimized nanoalgosome manufacturing from cultures of marine microalgae, we evaluated their innate biological properties in preclinical models. Our investigation of nanoalgosome biocompatibility included toxicological analyses, starting from studies on the invertebrate model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, proceeding to hematological and immunological evaluations in mice and immune-compatibility ex vivo. Nanoalgosome biodistribution was evaluated in mice with accurate space-time resolution, and in C. elegans at cellular and subcellular levels. Further examination highlighted the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities of nanoalgosomes. This holistic approach to nanoalgosome functional characterization showcases that nanoalgosomes are innate effectors and potential drug delivery system for novel cosmetic formulations and EV-based therapies.

cell biology↗