title: Glutathione reduces cytotoxicity of polyethyleneimine coated magnetic nanoparticles in CHO cells.
abstract: Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a polycationic compound frequently used as a transfection agent. However, cytotoxicity of PEI and PEI-coated nanoparticles (PEI NPs) is still a major obstacle in its use. In this study we report a method for reducing cytotoxicity of PEI NPs by addition of glutathione in NPs synthesis. Glutathione reduced cytotoxic effects for at least 30% and decreased observed oxidative stress response compared to standard formulation. Results showed that the effect was partially due to reduced zeta potential and partially due to protective antioxidant properties of glutathione. Addition of glutathione to cell culture media with concurrent exposure to PEI NPs proved to be insufficient for cytotoxicity reduction. Additionally, we compared internalization pathways of both PEI NPs and GSH NPs. NPs were only found in endosomes and no NPs were found free in the cytosol, as would be expected according to so called proton sponge hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: klemen.strojan@fe.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Klemen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strojan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: jasna.lojk@fe.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lojk
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: vladimir.bregar@kolektor.com.
authors.forename: Vladimir B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Bregar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: peter.veranic@mf.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veranič
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: mojca.pavlin@fe.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000633:toxicity*; D003412:Cricetulus; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000633:toxicity*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C569492:cobalt ferrite; D003035:Cobalt; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Cytotoxicity; Glutathione; Magnetic nanoparticles; Polyethyleneimine