Differential cytotoxicity exhibited by silica nanowires and nanoparticles

Abulaiti Adili, Saskia Crowe, Miles F. Beaux, Timothy Cantrell, Pamela J. Shapiro, David N. McIlroy, Kurt E. Gustin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Silica nanowires are one-dimensional nanomaterials that are being developed for use in biological systems. Unfortunately, little is known regarding the cytotoxic potential of this type of nanomaterial. Here, using two different human epithelial cell lines we have examined the cytotoxicity of silica nanowires over a broad concentration range. The results indicate that silica nanowires are nontoxic at concentrations below 190 μg/ml but exhibit considerable cytotoxicity at higher concentrations. Examination of the mechanisms responsible for nanowire-induced cytotoxicity indicates that apoptotic pathways are not activated. Instead, cytotoxicity appears to be primarily due to increased necrosis in cells exposed to high concentrations of nanowires. In contrast to what was seen with silica nanowires, analysis of silica nanoparticles revealed very little cytotoxicity even at the highest concentrations tested. These results indicate that structural differences between silica nanomaterials can have dramatic effects on interaction of these nanomaterials with cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalNanotoxicology
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cytotoxicity
  • Nanowires
  • Necrosis
  • Silica

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Toxicology

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