title: Altered sensitivity to nitric oxide donors, induced by intravascular infusion of quantum dots, in murine mesenteric arteries.
abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) are utilised in imaging diagnostics, tissue engineering and medical therapeutics, however, their influence on vascular function is not ascertained. Here, we examined small mesenteric arterial responses after acute intravascular exposure to QDs. Incubation in mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-coated QDs (at 15 μg/mL) had no influence on endothelial-dependent dilator responses (Acetylcholine; Ach) but led to an attenuated relaxation to the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Conversely, incubation in POSS-PCU coated QDs (at 15 μg/mL) led to attenuated Ach responses (10(-11)-10(-3)M; n=5, P<0.05), but had no influence on SNP-induced relaxation. At lower concentrations of POSS-PCU coated QDs (5 μg/mL), Ach responses were preserved. We demonstrate that acute exposure to QDs, can attenuate vasodilation but not vasoconstriction, and is dependent on their surface coatings. Our findings have implications in QD use for imaging diagnostics in disease states, where SNP based drugs are used in therapeutic intervention.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In this paper, the influence of quantum dots on vascular function is investigated---an important aspect to consider with the growing utility of quantum dots in imaging diagnostics, tissue engineering and medical therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shukur
authors.forename: Sarwat B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifalian
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azzawi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000378:metabolism*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents