The use of a complex tetra-culture alveolar model to study the biological effects induced by gold nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties

Melissa Saibene; Tommaso Serchi; Patrizia Bonfanti; Anita Colombo; Inge Nelissen; Rashi Halder; Jean-Nicolas Audinot; Beatriz Pelaz; Mahmoud G Soliman; Wolfgang J Parak; Paride Mantecca; Arno C Gutleb; Sebastien Cambier

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2023.104353

The use of a complex tetra-culture alveolar model to study the biological effects induced by gold nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2024 Mar:106:104353. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104353. Epub 2023 Dec 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ EH Group, SUSTAIN Unit, ERIN Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg; Polaris Research Centre, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
² EH Group, SUSTAIN Unit, ERIN Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg.
³ Polaris Research Centre, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
⁴ Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO nv), Mol, Belgium.
⁵ Sequencing platform, LCSB, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
⁶ AINA Group, SIPT Unit, MRT Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg.
⁷ Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Grupo de Física de Coloides y Polímeros, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
⁸ Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, University of Hamburg, Germany; Chemistry Department, RCSI, Ireland; Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
⁹ Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, University of Hamburg, Germany; The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Germany.
¹⁰ EH Group, SUSTAIN Unit, ERIN Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg. Electronic address: sebastien.cambier@list.lu.

PMID: 38163529
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104353

Abstract

A substantial increase in engineered nanoparticles in consumer products has been observed, heightening human and environmental exposure. Inhalation represents the primary route of human exposure, necessitating a focus on lung toxicity studies. However, to avoid ethical concerns the use of in vitro models is an efficient alternative to in vivo models. This study utilized an in vitro human alveolar barrier model at air-liquid-interface with four cell lines, for evaluating the biological effects of different gold nanoparticles. Exposure to PEGylated gold nanospheres, nanorods, and nanostars did not significantly impact viability after 24 h, yet all AuNPs induced cytotoxicity in the form of membrane integrity impairment. Gold quantification revealed cellular uptake and transport. Transcriptomic analysis identified gene expression changes, particularly related to the enhancement of immune cells. Despite limited impact, distinct effects were observed, emphasizing the influence of nanoparticles physicochemical parameters while demonstrating the model's efficacy in investigating particle biological effects.

Keywords: Air-liquid-interface; Alveolar in vitro model; Gold nanoparticles; Transcriptomic.

MeSH terms

Cell Line
Gold* / chemistry
Gold* / toxicity
Humans
Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Metal Nanoparticles* / toxicity

Substances

Gold