title: Contact-dependent transfer of TiO₂ nanoparticles between mammalian cells.
abstract: Cellular organelles have been shown to shuttle between cells in co-culture. We hereby show that titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) can be transferred in such a manner, between cells in direct contact, along with endosomes and lysosomes. A co-culture system was employed for this purpose and the NP transfer was observed in mammalian cells including normal rat kidney (NRK) and HeLa cells. We found that the small GTPase Arf6 facilitates the intercellular transfer of smaller NPs and agglomerates. Spherical, anatase nano-TiO2 with sizes of 5 (Ti5) and 40 nm (Ti40) were used in this study. Humans are increasingly exposed to TiO2 NPs from external sources such as constituents of foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, or from internal sources represented by Ti-based implants, which release NPs upon abrasion. Exposure to 5 mg/l of Ti5 and Ti40 for 24 h did not affect cellular viability but modified their ability to communicate with surrounding cells. Altogether, our results have important implications for the design of nanomedicines, drug delivery and toxicity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway and.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoelermann
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway and.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burtey
authors.affiliation: b Division of Biomaterials, Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Zouhir Ekeland
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Allouni
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway and.
authors.forename: Hans-Hermann
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Gerdes
authors.affiliation: b Division of Biomaterials, Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Mihaela Roxana
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cimpan
mesh_terms: D000089982:ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6; D020727:ADP-Ribosylation Factors / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002450:Cell Communication; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003412:Cricetulus; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000089982:ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D020727:ADP-Ribosylation Factors; C000715348:ARF6 protein, human; C000715349:Arf6 protein, rat
keywords: ADP ribosylation; cell-to-cell transfer; drug delivery; factor 6 (ARF6); nanoparticles; titanium dioxide; toxicity