title: A semi-empirical model for transport of inorganic nanoparticles across a lipid bilayer: implications for uptake by living cells.
abstract: Due to increasing application, release of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomaterials into the environment becomes likely. Knowledge about NP uptake in organisms is crucial for risk assessment including estimations on the behavior of NPs based on their physicochemical properties. In the present study, the authors have applied current scientific knowledge to construct a mathematical model, which estimates the transport of NPs through a model biological membrane. The semi-empirical model developed showed all parameters studied to substantially affect the agglomeration of the NPs in suspension, thereby also affecting passive transport. The authors quantified the effects of pH, ionic strength, organic matter concentration of medium, and NP size of several inorganic NPs on the permeation through the lipid membrane. Model outcomes and experimental results described in literature were strongly correlated for several metal oxide NPs. With caution, the model may be used to explain some of the existing variance in nano-uptake and toxicity experiments.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Environmental Science, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tom M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kettler
authors.forename: Johannes A J
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Meesters
authors.forename: A Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Dik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Meent
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010539:Permeability
chemical_list: D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D008051:Lipid Bilayers
keywords: (Size-dependent) uptake; Agglomeration; Model membrane; Nanoparticles; Passive uptake