Screening of different metal oxide nanoparticles reveals selective toxicity and inflammatory potential of silica nanoparticles in lung epithelial cells and macrophages

Abstract

In cell culture studies, foetal calf serum (FCS) comprising numerous different proteins is added, which might coat the surface of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and thus could profoundly alter their biological activities. In this study, a panel of industrially most relevant metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) was screened for toxic effects in A549 lung epithelial cells and RAW264.7 macrophages in the presence and absence of FCS. In medium without FCS amorphous SiO2-NPs were the most cytotoxic NPs and induced a significant pro-inflammatory response in both cell types. An increased anti-oxidative response after exposure to SiO2-NPs was, however, only observed in RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, pre-coating of SiO2-NPs with FCS proteins or simply bovine serum albumin abrogated responses in A549 lung epithelial cells. Thus, the protein corona bound to the surface of SiO2-NPs suppresses their biological effects, an issue which needs to be more carefully considered for in vitro-in vivo extrapolations.

Impact of silica nanoparticle surface chemistry on protein corona formation and consequential interactions with biological cells

“…Although the five types of NP were able to enhance TNFα production at high doses, NP(-) and NPpeg(-) induced the highest levels ( Figure 4). No significant oxidative stress was detected which is consistent with similar studies carried out by Panas et al where the same RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with engineered silica NP of 25 nm diameter [48].…”

Adsorption at cell surface and cellular uptake of silica nanoparticles with different surface chemical functionalizations: impact on cytotoxicity

“…Indeed, NP(0), NP(-) and NP(+) did not show a significant loss of membrane integrity but provided pro-inflammatory effect at high dose (300 µg/ml). No significant oxidative stress was detected which is consistent with a similar study carried out by Panas et al where the same RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with engineered silica nanoparticles of 25 nm diameter (Panas et al 2013).…”

Nanoparticle Technology as a Double-Edged Sword: Cytotoxic, Genotoxic and Epigenetic Effects on Living Cells

“…[83] Lymphocytes Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity [84] Silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 ) Fibroblast Cytotoxicity [25] Hepatocytes Genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity and inflammation [48,85] Renal cells Induction of oxidative stress and cytotoxicity [86] Neurons Neurotoxicity [7] Lung epithelial cells Genotoxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity [87,88] Lymphocytes Induction of oxidative stress and reduction of immune capacity, Genotoxicity [27,80] Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 )…”