Organotypic and primary neural cultures as models to assess effects of different gold nanostructures on glia and neurons

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have unique physicochemical properties and have been used as delivery vehicles, contrast agents, and therapeutic compounds. Although the effects of AuNPs on peripheral tissues and immortalized cell lines have been extensively characterized, their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) are predominantly unknown. The main objective of the current study was to evaluate how AuNPs of varying sizes (1-100 nm), shapes (clusters, spheres, rods, flowers), and surfaces impact synaptic structures in the hippocampus, a brain structure often affected in neurodegeneration. Using a combination of organotypic hippocampal, as well as, primary neuronal, glial, and astrocytic cultures, we examined AuNPs impact on hippocampal dendritic spine density, internalization in various neural cells, and the status of the lysosome. Results from these studies show that AuNPs with poly(ethylene glycol) surfaces (AuNPs-PEG) do not substantially decrease hippocampal dendritic spine density. Conversely, AuNPs coated with the detergent, CTAB, significantly

The emergence of mass spectrometry for characterizing nanomaterials. Atomically precise nanoclusters and beyond

“…245- 247 The aging of USNPs in vitro (or in vivo) remain a challenging issue in nanomedicine. [245][246][247][248] For instance, the characterization and a comprehensive picture of…”

The Effect of Ligands on Noble Metal Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems to the Brain

“…Positive and negative charges can also interact with proteins which create unwanted immune responses and more rapid blood clearance via increased uptake. By regulating the charge on a pure noble metal nanoparticle, NMNPs have a higher chance of passing through the BBB (Ji et al, 2019). Through ligands, the charge on NMNP's can be regulated and able to pass through the BBB.…”

“…Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is one of the most common coatings because of its affordability and its efficiency (D'souza & Shegokar, 2016). PEG is an agent used to modify the surface of NMNPs to provide anchor points for biomolecule conjugation (Ji et al, 2019). Furthermore, the PEGylation strategy is extensively used for increasing the protein lifespan in the bloodstream as well as for stabilizing protein structures (Huang et al, 2014).…”

“…It prevents other nanoparticles or cells from accumulating and white cells from attacking the nanoparticles and filtering them out of the body. PEG can coat all different shapes, but it works particularly well with gold because it provides stability (Ji et al, 2019). Ji et al, coated gold nanospheres, nanorods and flowers with PEG.…”

“…They examined the effect of PEG-coated nanoparticles on dendritic spine morphology in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. It was found that the gold nanoparticle flowers coated in PEG are internalized by neurons as well as glial cells (Ji et al, 2019). In the study, they tested PEG and CTAB and found the optimal coating, size, and shape to effect spine density, which was AuNP-flower-CTAB and AuNP-rod-CTAB.…”