title: Gold nanoparticles stimulate differentiation and mineralization of primary osteoblasts through the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.
abstract: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have shown great promise for a variety of applications, including chemistry, biology, and medicine. Recently, AuNPs have found promising applications in cartilage and bone repair. However, to realize the above promised applications, more work needs to be carried out to clarify the interactions between biological systems and AuNPs. In the present study, primary osteoblasts were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of 20-nm and 40-nm AuNPs, including morphology, proliferation, differentiation, gene and protein expression, and the underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that AuNPs were taken up by osteoblasts and aggregated in perinuclear compartment and vescular structures, but no morphological changes were observed. AuNPs could significantly promote the proliferation of osteoblasts, enhance the ALP activities, and increase the number of bone nodules and calcium content in vitro. In addition, the expression of BMP-2, Runx-2, OCN and Col-1 was remarkably up-regulated in the presence of AuNPs. It is noteworthy that 20-nm AuNPs are more potent than 40-nm AuNPs in regulating osteoblast activities. Besides, AuNPs increased the level of ERK phosphorylation/total ERK, suggesting the activation of ERK/MAPK pathway is involved in above activities. In conclusion, AuNPs exhibited great biocompatibility with osteoblasts, and have tremendous potential to be used as drug and/or gene delivery carrier for bone and tissue engineering in the future.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, PR China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors: Dawei
authors: D
authors: Zhang
authors: College of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Hebei University, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Baoding 071002, PR China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors: Dandan
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: College of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Hebei University, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Baoding 071002, PR China. Electronic address: jczhang6970@163.com.
authors: Jinchao
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors: Chichun
authors: C
authors: Fong
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: bhmyang@cityu.edu.hk.
authors: Mengsu
authors: M
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; C493716:Runx2 protein, mouse; D006046:Gold
keywords: Differentiation; Extracellular signal-regulated kinases; Gold nanoparticles; Primary osteoblast; Runt-related transcription factor 2