Cellular Interactions and Formation of an Epithelial "Nanocoating-Like Barrier" with Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.
Oral mucosa as the front-line barrier in the mouth is constantly exposed to a complex microenvironment with multitudinous microbes. In this study, the interactions of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with primary human gingival epithelial cells were analyzed for up to 72 h, and their diffusion capacity in the reconstructed human gingival epithelia (RHGE) and porcine ear skin models was further assessed at 24 h. It was found that the synthesized fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (RITC-NPs) with low cytotoxicity could be uptaken, degraded, and/or excreted by the human gingival epithelial cells. Moreover, the RITC-NPs penetrated into the stratum corneum of RHGE in a time-dependent manner, while they were unable to get across the barrier of stratum corneum in the porcine ear skins. Consequently, the penetration and accumulation of RITC-NPs at the corneum layers of epithelia could form a "nanocoating-like barrier". This preliminary proof-of-concept study suggests the feasibility of developing nanoparticle-based antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents through topical application for oral healthcare.
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. lixuanlwj@hotmail.com.
Xuan
X
Li
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. nisdabendan@gmail.com.
Ka Yan
KY
Pang
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Creativity, and Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental & Biological Analysis, The Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. 12018112@life.hkbu.edu.hk.
Tsz Wing
TW
Ng
Institute of Chinese Medicine and Partner State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. pingcleung@cuhk.edu.hk.
Ping Chung
PC
Leung
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. zhangcf@hku.hk.
Cheng Fei
CF
Zhang
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Creativity, and Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental & Biological Analysis, The Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. cfleung@hkbu.edu.hk.
Ken Cham-Fai
KC
Leung
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. ljjin@hku.hk.
Lijian
L
Jin
coating; human gingival epithelium; nanoparticles; stratum corneum