Size-dependent toxicity and cell interaction mechanisms of gold nanoparticles on mouse fibroblasts

This work presents an in vitro toxicological study of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which investigates cellular uptake and possible mechanisms of nanoparticles internalization. After a detail characterization of the physico-chemical properties of AuNPs 5 and 15 nm citrate stabilized, cytotoxicity was assessed in vitro on Balb/3T3 cells. No toxicity was detected by Trypan Blue, while by CFE toxicity was found for 5 nm AuNPs at concentration ≥ 50 µM after 72 h of exposure. Using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) we verified that NPs were taken-up by cells, and the extent of the uptake was quantified by Inductively Coupled Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The involvement of clathrin and caveolin in the mechanism of nanoparticles cell internalization was investigated using immunocytochemistry and western blot, and no changes in the expression levels of these proteins were found. Following exposure to AuNPs, the cell footprints became narrow and contracted and disruption of the cytoskeleton structure was evident.

CORADEGHINI Rosella;  GIORIA Sabrina;  PASCUAL GARCIA Cesar;  NATIVO Paola;  FRANCHINI Fabio;  GILLILAND Douglas;  PONTI Jessica;  ROSSI Francois; 

2013-12-11

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

JRC71598

0378-4274,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378427412014026,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC71598,   

10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.11.022,