Protective Role of Melatonin against Liver Toxicity from Black Phosphorus Nanosheets via Oxidative Stress and Pyroptosis

In the field of contemporary medicine, with the rapid application of nanomaterials, evaluating their biocompatibility and potential toxicity has become increasingly important. This study characterized black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) and employed both in vivo and in vitro models to assess the impact of BPNSs exposure on oxidative stress and pyroptosis in hepatocytes. We investigated the hepatotoxicity of this emerging nanomaterial and the protective role of melatonin against BPNSs induced hepatocyte pyroptosis. The results showed that BPNSs exposure reduced hepatocyte viability, induced morphological changes, and elevated the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, suggesting that BPNSs promote hepatocyte pyroptosis through the ROS-NLRP3-GSDMD pathway, thereby exacerbating the inflammatory response. Melatonin, a bioactive substance with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, was found in our study to significantly mitigate these adverse effects. It emphasized the role of melatonin in regulating ROS production and related pathways, effectively protecting hepatocytes from BPNSs induced damage. This study elucidates the mechanistic link between BPNSs exposure and hepatocyte pyroptosis, emphasizing the efficacy of melatonin as a protective agent. It offers new insights for preventing BPNSs induced liver injury and provides a foundation for safer nanomaterial application strategies.