Cerium oxide nanoparticles administration during machine perfusion of discarded human livers: A pilot study

The combined approach of ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) and nanotechnology represents a strategy to mitigate ischemia/reperfusion injury in liver transplantation (LT). We evaluated the uptake, distribution, and efficacy of antioxidant cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) during normothermic perfusion of discarded human livers. A total of 9 discarded human liver grafts were randomized in 2 groups and underwent 4 h of NMP: 5 grafts were treated with nanoceria conjugated with albumin (Alb-NC; 50 µg/ml) and compared with 4 untreated grafts. The intracellular uptake of nanoceria was analyzed by electron microscopy (EM) and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The antioxidant activity of Alb-NC was assayed in liver biopsies by glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) assay, telomere length, and 4977-bp common mitochondrial DNA deletion (mtDNA ⁴⁹⁷⁷ deletion). The cytokine profile was evaluated in perfusate samples. EM and ICP-MS confirmed Alb-NC internalization, rescue of mitochondrial phenotype, decrease of lipid droplet peroxidation, and lipofuscin granules in the treated grafts. Alb-NC exerted an antioxidant activity by increasing GSH levels (percentage change: +94% ± 25%; p = 0.01), SOD (+17% ± 4%; p = 0.02), and CAT activity (51% ± 23%; p = 0.03), reducing the occurrence of mtDNA ⁴⁹⁷⁷ deletion (−67.2% ± 11%; p = 0.03), but did not affect cytokine release. Alb-NC during ex situ perfusion decreased oxidative stress, upregulating graft antioxidant defense. They could be a tool to improve quality grafts during NMP and represent an antioxidant strategy aimed at protecting the graft against reperfusion injury during LT.