Size-dependent cellular toxicity of silver nanoparticles.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have found a variety of uses including biomedical materials; however, studies of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs by size effects are only in the beginning stage. In this study, we examined the size-dependent cellular toxicity of AgNPs using three different characteristic sizes (∼ 10, 50, and 100 nm) against several cell lines including MC3T3-E1 and PC12. The cytotoxic effect determined based on the cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, lactate dehydrogenase release, ultrastructural changes in cell morphology, and upregulation of stress-related genes (ho-1 and MMP-3) was fairly size- and dose-dependent. In particular, AgNPs stimulated apoptosis in the MC3T3-E1 cells, but induced necrotic cell death in the PC12 cells. Furthermore, the smallest sized AgNPs (10 nm size) had a greater ability to induce apoptosis in the MC3T3-E1 cells than the other sized AgNPs (50 and 100 nm). These data suggest that the AgNPs-induced cytotoxic effects against tissue cells are particle size-dependent, and thus, the particle size needs careful consideration in the design of the nanoparticles for biomedical uses.
Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, South Korea.
Tae-Hyun
TH
Kim
Meeju
M
Kim
Hyung-Seok
HS
Park
Ueon Sang
US
Shin
Myoung-Seon
MS
Gong
Hae-Won
HW
Kim
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D006224:Cricetinae; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
D017931:DNA Primers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012834:Silver; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase