Investigating the influence of molybdenum disulfide quantum dots coated with DSPE-PEG-TPP on molecular structures of liver lipids and proteins: An in vivo study

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) quantum dots (QDs) based therapeutic approaches hold great promise for biomedical applications, necessitating a thorough evaluation of their potential effects on biological systems. In this study, we systematically investigated the impact of MoS2 QDs coated with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethyleneglycol)-2000](DPSE-PEG) linked with (3-carboxypropyl)triphenyl-phosphonium-bromide (TPP) on molecular structures of hepatic tissue lipids and proteins through a multifaceted analysis. The DSPE-PEG-TPP-MoS2 QDs were prepared and administered to the mice daily for 7 weeks. Liver tissues were subjected to a comprehensive examination using various techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, and liver function tests. FTIR revealed subtle changes in the lipid composition of liver tissues, indicating potential modifications in the cell membrane structure. Also, the (CH stretching and amides I and II regions) analysis unveiled tiny alterations in lipid chain length and fluidity without changes in the protein structures, suggesting a minor influence of DSPE-PEG-TPP-MoS2 QDs on the liver’s cellular membrane and no effect on the protein structures. Further scrutiny using UV–vis spectroscopy demonstrated that DSPE-PEG-TPP-MoS2 QDs had no discernible impact on the absorbance intensities of aromatic amino acids and the Soret band. This observation implies that the treatment with SPE-PEG-TPP-MoS2 QDs did not induce significant alterations in helical conformation or the microenvironment surrounding prosthetic groups in liver tissues. The liver function tests, including ALP, ALT, AST, and BIL levels, revealed no statistically significant changes in these key biomarkers despite minor fluctuations in their values, indicating a lack of significant liver dysfunction. This study provides a detailed understanding of the effects of DSPE-PEG-TPP-MoS2 QDs on hepatic lipids and proteins, offering valuable insights into the biocompatibility and limited impact on the molecular and functional aspects of the liver tissue. These findings could be essential for the application of MoS2 QDs-based therapies.