title: In vitro cytotoxicity of gold nanorods in A549 cells.
abstract: Gold nanoparticles, which have unique physicochemical characteristics, are being used for an increasingly wide range of applications in biomedical research. In this study, gold nanorods (width of 25 nm, length of 52 nm) were found to be internalized by A549 cells and were primarily localized in the lysosomes and membranous vesicles. The integrity of the membranes of A549 cells exposed to gold nanorods for 4h was damaged, as indicated by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and decreased cell viability further indicated the concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of the gold nanorods to the A549 cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was induced in the A549 cells by the gold nanorods, and this effect was positively correlated with the concentration of the gold nanorods. The results of this study indicated that exposure to gold nanorods caused dose-dependent cytotoxicity in A549 cells and that oxidative stress may be the main factor causing cytotoxicity.
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Yafeng
authors: Y
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Science & Research, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Libin
authors: L
authors: Huang
authors: College of Material Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
authors: Gaojian
authors: G
authors: Lv
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Changhai
authors: C
authors: Lei
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Xiaoyan
authors: X
authors: Fan
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Fangxing
authors: F
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Yuxia
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: dr_wulihui@aliyun.com.
authors: Lihui
authors: L
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Biophysics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: yangyj22@smmu.edu.cn.
authors: Yongji
authors: Y
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006046:Gold / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006046:Gold; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
keywords: A549 cells; Cytotoxicity; Gold nanorods; Laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM); Transmission electron microscope (TEM)