title: Uptake and toxicity studies of poly-acrylic acid functionalized silicon nanoparticles in cultured mammalian cells.
abstract: Poly-acrylic acid (PAAc) terminated silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been synthesized and employed as a synchronous fluorescent signal indicator in a series of cultured mammalian cells: HHL5, HepG2 and 3T3-L1. Their biological effects on cell growth and proliferation in both human and mouse cell lines have been studied. There was no evidence of in vitro cytotoxity in the cells exposed to PAAc terminated SiNPS when assessed by cell morphology, cell proliferation and viability, and DNA damage assays. The uptake of the nanocrystals by both HepG2 and 3T3-L1 cells was investigated by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, which showed a clear time-dependence at higher concentrations. Reconstructed 3-D confocal microscope images exhibited that the PAAc-SiNPs were evenly distributed throughout the cytosol rather than attached to outer membrane. This study provides fundamental evidence for the safe application and further modification of silicon nanoparticles, which could broaden their application as cell markers in living systems and in micelle encapsulated drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Energy Materials Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Coxon
authors.forename: Upali A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Jayasooriya
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004058:Diffusion; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; C006903:carbopol 940; D012825:Silicon