title: The importance of an endotoxin-free environment during the production of nanoparticles used in medical applications.
abstract: We investigated the effect of spherical gold nanoparticles on immature dendritic cells (DCs). Conventionally produced nanoparticles had a maturating effect on the DCs--a result of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contamination. By modification of the production process, low-LPS particles were obtained, which had practically no effect on phenotypic maturation or cytokine production of the DCs. Our findings emphasize the importance of high purity in the production of nanoparticles, since possible contaminants may interfere with the assessment of biological/medical effects. They also highlight that nanoparticles can function as carriers of immune modulating contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Allergy Research Unit, Department of Medicine, L2:04, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. helen.vallhov@ki.se
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vallhov
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahlborg
authors.forename: Mamoun A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Muhammed
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheynius
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabrielsson
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides