title: The influence of silica nanoparticles on small mesenteric arterial function.
abstract: To determine the influence of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) on small arterial function; both ex vivo and in vivo.
  
  
  
  Mono-dispersed dye-encapsulated SiNPs (97.85 ± 2.26 nm) were fabricated and vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses of mesenteric arteries assessed.
  
  
  
  We show that while exposure to SiNPs under static conditions, attenuated endothelial dependent dilator responses ex vivo, attenuation was only evident at lower agonist concentrations, when exposed under flow conditions or after intravenous administration in vivo. Pharmacological inhibition studies suggest that SiNPs may interfere with the endothelial dependent hyperpolarizing factor vasodilator pathway.
  
  
  
  The dosage dependent influence of SiNPs on arterial function will help identify strategies for their safe clinical administration.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shukur
authors.affiliation: School of Science & the Environment, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifalian
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azzawi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: EDHF; mesenteric artery; nanomedicine; silica nanoparticles; vasoconstriction; vasodilation