Due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability and their unique structural and physicochemical properties, laser-synthesized silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) are one of the nanomaterials which have been most studied as potential theragnostic tools for non-invasive therapeutic modalities. However, their ability to modulate cell behavior and to promote proliferation and differentiation is still very little investigated or unknown. In this work, ultrapure ligand free Si-NPs of 50 ± 11.5 nm were prepared by femtosecond (fs) laser ablation in liquid. After showing the ability of Si-NPs to be internalized by murine C2C12 myoblasts, the cytotoxicity of the Si-NPs on these cells was evaluated at concentrations ranging from 14 to 224 μg mL-1. Based on these findings, three concentrations of 14, 28 and 56 μg mL-1 were thus considered to study the effect on myoblast differentiation, proliferation and motility at the molecular and phenotypical levels. It was demonstrated that up to 28 μg mL-1, the Si-NPs are able to promote the proliferation of myoblasts and their subsequent differentiation. Scratch tests were also performed revealing the positive Si-NP effect on cellular motility at 14 and 28 μg mL-1. Finally, gene expression analysis confirmed the ability of Si-NPs to promote proliferation, differentiation and motility of myoblasts even at very low concentration. This work opens up novel exciting prospects for Si-NPs made by the laser process as innovative tools for skeletal muscle tissue engineering in view of developing novel therapeutic protocols for regenerative medicine.
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