title: Cytocompatibility and cellular internalization mechanisms of SiC/SiO2 nanowires.
abstract: First evidence of in vitro cytocompatibility of SiC/SiO2 core-shell nanowires is reported. Different internalization mechanisms by adenocarcinomic alveolar basal epithelial cells, monocytic cell line derived from an acute monocytic leukemia, breast cancer cells, and normal human dermal fibroblasts are shown. The internalization occurs mainly for macropinocytosis and sporadically by direct penetration in all cell models considered, whereas it occurred for phagocytosis only in monocytic leukemia cells. The cytocompatibility of the nanowires is proved by the analysis of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and oxidative stress on the cells treated with NWs as compared to controls. Reactive oxygen species generation was detected as an early event that then quickly run out with a rapid decrease only in adenocarcinomic alveolar basal epithelial and human dermal fibroblasts cells. In all the cell lines, the intracellular presence of NWs induce the same molecular events but to a different extent: peroxidation of membrane lipids and oxidation of proteins. The NWs do not elicit either midterm (72 h) or long-term (10 days) cytotoxic activity leading to irreversible cellular damages or death. Our results are important in view of a possible use of SiC/SiO2 core-shell structures acting as biomolecule-delivery vectors or intracellular electrodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Normal Veterinary Anatomy, University of Parma , Parma 43126, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cacchioli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ravanetti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alinovi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedogni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campanini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lagonegro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bigi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salviati
mesh_terms: D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000737:chemistry*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008422:Materials Testing; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C022088:silicon carbide