Exploring influences on the cellular uptake of medium-sized silver nanoparticles into THP-1 cells

摘要

The evaluation of the uptake of nanomaterials by cells in vitro tests is of great relevance to understand potential toxicity mechanisms of nanomaterials. As an example, the uptake of medium-sized nanosilver (size range of 50 and 75 nm) was studied closely for a relevant human lung cell line (THP-1). Time dependent uptake was studied in relation to different cell culture media with or without the addition of fetal calf serum (FCS). After cell isolation, washing, acid digestion and quantification of silver (Ag) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) were applied to study the general uptake. It is demonstrated that the uptake of Ag (from 75 nm Ag nanoparticles) is a factor of 5 higher in a medium without FCS in comparison to the medium with FCS.