title: Silver nanoparticles do not influence stem cell differentiation but cause minimal toxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the toxicity and cellular uptake of both undifferentiated and differentiated human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) exposed to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and to assess their effect on hASC differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  hASC were exposed to 10- or 20-nm Ag-NPs at concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 50.0 and 100.0 µg/ml either before or after differentiation down the adipogenic or osteogenic pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure of hASC to either 10- or 20-nm Ag-NPs resulted in no significant cytotoxicity to hASC, and minimal dose-dependent toxicity to adipogenic and osteogenic cells at 10 µg/ml. Each of the hASC, adipogenic and osteogenic cells showed cellular uptake of both 10- and 20-nm Ag-NPs, without causing significant ultrastructural alterations. Exposure to 10- or 20-nm Ag-NPs did not influence the differentiation of the cells, and at antimicrobial concentrations of Ag-NPs resulted in a minimal decrease in viability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biocompatibility of Ag-NPs with both undifferentiated and differentiated hASC establishes their suitability for incorporation into tissue-engineered graft scaffolds, for the prevention of bacterial contamination upon implantation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chemical Toxicology Research & Pharmacokinetics, North Carolina State University, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Samberg
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Loboa
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Monteiro-Riviere
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012834:Silver