Interactions of human endothelial cells with gold nanoparticles of different morphologies

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Description/Abstract

The interactions between noncancerous, primary endothelial cells and gold
nanoparticles with different morphologies but the same ligand capping are
investigated. The endothelial cells are incubated with gold nanospheres, nanorods,
hollow gold spheres, and core/shell silica/gold nanocrystals, which are coated with
monocarboxy (1-mercaptoundec-11-yl) hexaethylene glycol (OEG). Cell viability
studies show that all types of gold particles are noncytotoxic. The number of particles
taken up by the cells is estimated using inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and are
found to differ depending on particle morphology. The above results are discussed
with respect to heating effi ciency. Using experimental data reported earlier and
theoretical model calculations which take into account the physical properties and
distribution of particles in the cellular microenvironment, it is found that collective
heating effects of several cells loaded with nanoparticles must be included to explain
the observed viability of the endothelial cells.