Issue 2, 2012

SiO2nanoparticles biocompatibility and their potential for gene delivery and silencing

Abstract

Despite the extensive use of silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) in many fields, the results about their potential toxicity are still controversial. In this work, we have performed a systematic in vitro study to assess the biological impact of SiO2NPs, by investigating 3 different sizes (25, 60 and 115 nm) and 2 surface charges (positive and negative) of the nanoparticles in 5 cell lines (3 in adherence and 2 in suspension). We analyzed the cellular uptake and distribution of the NPs along with their possible effects on cell viability, membrane integrity and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Experimental results show that all the investigated SiO2NPs do not induce detectable cytotoxic effects (up to 2.5 nM concentration) in all cell lines, and that cellular uptake is mediated by an endocytic process strongly dependent on the particle size and independent of its original surface charge, due to protein corona effects. Once having assessed the biocompatibility of SiO2NPs, we have evaluated their potential in gene delivery, showing their ability to silence specific protein expression. The results of this work indicate that monodisperse and stable SiO2NPs are not toxic, revealing their promising potential in various biomedical applications.

Graphical abstract: SiO2 nanoparticles biocompatibility and their potential for gene delivery and silencing

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Sep 2011
Accepted
13 Oct 2011
First published
18 Nov 2011

Nanoscale, 2012,4, 486-495

SiO2 nanoparticles biocompatibility and their potential for gene delivery and silencing

M. A. Malvindi, V. Brunetti, G. Vecchio, A. Galeone, R. Cingolani and P. P. Pompa, Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 486 DOI: 10.1039/C1NR11269D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements