title: Factors Ruling the Uptake of Silica Nanoparticles by Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Agglomeration Versus Dispersions, Absence Versus Presence of Serum Proteins.
abstract: The results of a systematic investigation of the role of serum proteins on the interaction of silica nanoparticles (NP) doped in their bulk with fluorescent molecules (IRIS Dots, 50 nm in size), with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are reported. The suspension of IRIS Dots in bare Dulbecco-modified Eagle's medium results in the formation of large agglomerates (≈1.5 μm, by dynamic light scattering), which become progressively smaller, down to ≈300 nm in size, by progressively increasing the fetal bovine serum (FBS) content of the solutions along the series 1.0%, 2.5%, 6.0%, and 10.0% v/v. Such difference in NP dispersion is maintained in the external cellular microenvironment, as observed by confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. As a consequence of the limited diffusion of proteins in the inter-NP spaces, the surface of NP agglomerates is coated by a protein corona independently of the agglomerate size/FBS concentration conditions (ζ-potential and UV circular dichroism measurements). The protein corona appears not to be particularly relevant for the uptake of IRIS Dots by hMSCs, whereas the main role in determining the internalization rate is played by the absence/presence of serum proteins in the extracellular media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Interdepartmental Centre of Excellence "Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces - NIS," University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Accomasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Interdepartmental Centre of Excellence "Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces - NIS," University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alberto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raimondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giachino
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Interdepartmental Centre of Excellence "Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces - NIS," University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianmario
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martra
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004705:Endocytosis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007700:Kinetics; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: serum protein adsorption; silica nanoparticles; uptake, mesenchymal stem cells