title: Effects of aggregation and the surface properties of gold nanoparticles on cytotoxicity and cell growth.
abstract: The effect of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on cells remains open for investigation. Here we show that small Au NPs can be endocytosed by cells and form aggregates inside the cell, resulting in cytotoxicity. When the aggregates become too large to enter the cell and instead adhere onto the cell surface, however, the growth rate of HeLa cells increases. Printed patterns of Au NPs fabricated through inkjet printing technology were used to study the effects of Au NP aggregation on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell activity. The growth of the HeLa cells was inhibited on the polymer-coated Au NPs but increased on the silicon substrate. On the uncoated Au NP surface, however, the HeLa cell growth rate was higher than that on the silicon substrate. Experiments with Escherichia coli cells showed a similar effect of the Au NPs. This phenomenon provides a new perspective for research on toxicity in nanoparticle biology.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Printed patterns of Au NPs fabricated through inkjet printing technology were used to study the effects of Au NP aggregation on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell activity. Small Au NPs can be endocytosed by cells resulting in cytotoxicity; in contrast, large aggregates adhere onto the cell surface and increase the growth rate of HeLa cells.
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Colloids and Surfaces, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jinru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yakun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huilin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Wensheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006046:Gold / Q000633:toxicity*; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011205:Povidone / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D006046:Gold; D011205:Povidone