title: Interference of Steroidogenesis by Gold Nanorod Core/Silver Shell Nanostructures: Implications for Reproductive Toxicity of Silver Nanomaterials.
abstract: As a widely used nanomaterial in daily life, silver nanomaterials may cause great concern to female reproductive system as they are found to penetrate the blood-placental barrier and gain access to the ovary. However, it is largely unknown about how silver nanomaterials influence ovarian physiology and functions such as hormone production. This study performs in vitro toxicology study of silver nanomaterials, focusing especially on cytotoxicity and steroidogenesis and explores their underlying mechanisms. This study exposes primary rat granulosa cells to gold nanorod core/silver shell nanostructures (Au@Ag NRs), and compares outcomes with cells exposed to gold nanorods. The Au@Ag NRs generate more reactive oxygen species and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and less production of adenosine triphosphate. Au@Ag NRs promote steroidogenesis, including progesterone and estradiol, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Chemical reactivity and transformation of Au@Ag NRs are then studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge structure, which analyze the generation of free radical and intracellular silver species. Results suggest that both particle-specific activity and intracellular silver ion release of Au@Ag NR contribute to the toxic response of granulosa cells.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ambient Particles Health Effects and Prevention Techniques, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Xiumei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ambient Particles Health Effects and Prevention Techniques, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Yinglu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ambient Particles Health Effects and Prevention Techniques, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Jinglong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ambient Particles Health Effects and Prevention Techniques, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Mingjing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: The General Hospital of the Air Force, PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
authors.forename: Jingxuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The General Hospital of the Air Force, PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
authors.forename: Shuying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ambient Particles Health Effects and Prevention Techniques, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Chunying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
authors.forename: Jun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold
keywords: Au@Ag NRs; cell apoptosis; electron spin resonance; silver nanomaterials; steroidogenesis