{"title":"Effects of titanium oxide nanoparticles on growth, biochemical composition, and photosystem mechanism of marine microalgae <i>Isochrysis galbana</i> COR-A3.","authors":"Manikandan Sivakumar, Inbakandan Dhinakarasamy, Subham Chakraborty, Clarita Clements, Naren Kumar Thirumurugan, Anu Chandrasekar, Jeevitha Vinayagam, Chandrasekar Kumar, Rajendar Thirugnanasambandam, Ramesh Kumar V, Valli Nachiyar Chandrasekaran","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2025.2454267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17435390.2025.2454267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The widespread utilization of titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) in various industrial applications has raised concerns about their potential ecological risks in marine environment. Assessing the toxicity of TiONPs on primary producers is essential to understand their impact on marine ecosystem. This study investigates the acute toxicity effect of TiONPs on <i>Isochrysis galbana</i> COR-A3 cells, focusing on structural and physiological changes that can compromise algal viability and ecological function. Cells were exposed to TiONPs concentration of 10-50 mg/L and assessments were conducted over 96 h to evaluate cell viability, biochemical composition, photo-physiology, oxidative stress and morphological deformations. At 50 mg/L concentration, cell viability was significantly reduced by 73.42 ± 3.46% and subsequent decrease of 42.8%, 29.2%, 44.2% in carbohydrate, protein and lipid content were observed. TiONPs exposure elevates the reactive oxygen species production and thereby impairing the photosystem II efficiency and disrupting the cellular metabolism. Morphological analysis revealed significant cell membrane disruption and plasmolysis. These cascading effects reveal TiONPs ability to interfere with algal physiological process, potentially affecting the primary productivity in marine ecosystem. Our findings highlight the ecological risk associated with the TiONPs, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to mitigate the nanoparticle pollution in aquatic environment. This study provides more insights on the TiONPs induced toxicity in marine microalgae by altering the photosynthetic performance and biochemical integrity.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"1-24"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143066846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2025.2454967
Ali Ashraf Soltani Toularoud, Samira Nasrollahi, Esmaiel Goli Kalanpa, Tohid Rouhi Kelarlou, Ali Nematollahzadeh
{"title":"Toxicological impact of silver nanoparticles on soil microbial indicators in contaminated soil (pot experiment).","authors":"Ali Ashraf Soltani Toularoud, Samira Nasrollahi, Esmaiel Goli Kalanpa, Tohid Rouhi Kelarlou, Ali Nematollahzadeh","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2025.2454967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17435390.2025.2454967","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), recognized for their unique properties, are widely applied in fields such as agriculture, biotechnology, food security, and medicine. However, concerns persist regarding their interactions with living organisms and potential environmental impacts. This study investigates the effects of AgNPs on key soil microbial indicators that are essential for ecological functioning. A pot experiment was conducted with varying concentrations of AgNPs (0, 30, 60, 120, 240 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>) and incubation periods (0, 15, 30, and 45 days). The results demonstrated a substantial reduction in microbial indicators, including bacterial and fungal colony-forming units (B.CFUs and F.CFUs), total microbial population (MPN), microbial basal respiration (BR), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MBC and MBN). These declines were more pronounced with increasing AgNP concentrations and prolonged incubation times, particularly within the first 15 days. Notably, even at lower concentrations, AgNPs exhibited significant toxicity to microbial indicators. The most severe impact was observed at 240 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> of AgNPs after 45 days, where B.CFUs, F.CFUs, MPN, MBC, and MBN showed substantial declines, with the greatest reduction at the highest concentration. Additionally, the microbial quotient (qmic) decreased by 66%, and variations in the respiratory quotient (qCO<sub>2</sub>) were observed. Strong positive correlations were found among the microbial indicators, highlighting their interconnected responses to AgNP exposure. Overall, the study emphasizes the significant toxicity of AgNPs, raising concerns about their potential to disrupt soil ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143008629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CoCrMo nanoparticle induces neurotoxicity mediated via mitochondrial dysfunction: a study model for implant derived nanoparticle effects.","authors":"Priyadarshini Vijayakumar, Yongchao Mou, Xuejun Li, Jahnavi Anil, Neeraja Revi, Kai-Yuan Cheng, Mathew T Mathew, Divya Bijukumar","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2438118","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2438118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxicity associated with elevated levels of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) nanoparticles in total hip replacement (THR) patients has been a rising concern. Recent investigations demonstrated that these particles can induce polyneuropathy in THR patients. The current study aims to address a detailed molecular investigation of CoCrMo nanoparticle-mediated mitochondrial dynamics using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (iPSC neurons). Telencephalic neurons from iPSCs were used in this study. A statistically significant dose-dependent reduction in membrane potential and mitochondrial superoxide generation was observed after CoCrMo nanoparticle treatment. The gene expression analysis confirmed that the oxidative-specific genes were significantly upregulated in particle-treated cells compared to untreated cells. When iPSCs were exposed to CoCrMo nanoparticles, there was a significant reduction in the area, perimeter, and length of mitochondria. Live cell imaging (mitochondrial tracking) revealed a significant reduction in mitochondrial movements in the presence of CoCrMo nanoparticles. Further protein expression confirmed increased mitochondrial fission in CoCrMo particle-treated cells by significantly upregulating Drp-1 protein and downregulating Mfn-2. In conclusion, the results show that CoCrMo nanoparticles can significantly alter neuronal mitochondrial dynamics. The disturbance in balance restricts mitochondrial movement, reduces energy production, increases oxidative stress, and can cause subsequent neurodegeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"707-723"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11789272/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-11-22DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2423653
Vaishnavi Rana, Unnati Dani, Alkesh Shah
{"title":"Environmental toxicity assessment of engineered nanoparticles manifest histo-hemato alterations to fresh water fish.","authors":"Vaishnavi Rana, Unnati Dani, Alkesh Shah","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2423653","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2423653","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study rigorously examined the toxicological effects of nanoparticles (NPs), specifically nickel (Ni) and chromium oxide (Cr<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) NPs, synthesized under controlled conditions and characterized. To evaluate their potential environmental impact exposed the freshwater fish <i>Labeo rohita</i> (<i>L. rohita</i>) to environmentally relevant concentrations of both NPs within a controlled laboratory conditions. Vital organs, including gills and liver were subjected to histopathological analysis, revealing profound alterations in tissue architecture that were distinctly correlated with pathological damage. The lesions exhibited moderate to severe changes that are further correlated with the semi-quantitative mean alteration value (MAV). Furthermore, conducted a quantitative assessment of tissue-specific morphological changes. Notably, there was a significant reduction in critical hematological changes, including red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hemoglobin concentrations and other parameters. All of which exhibited significant fluctuations in relation to increasing NPs concentrations. These findings underscore the critical necessity for continued investigation into the ecological risks associated with these nanoparticles.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"645-660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142693296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-11-12DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2426548
Sherif S Mahmoud, Amira E Ibrahim, Magda S Hanafy
{"title":"<i>In vivo</i> assessment of topically applied silver nanoparticles on entire cornea: comprehensive FTIR study.","authors":"Sherif S Mahmoud, Amira E Ibrahim, Magda S Hanafy","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2426548","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2426548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained attention in medicine for their potent antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. The use of silver nanoparticles in ophthalmic solutions raises concerns regarding potential toxicity of nanoparticles to ocular tissues, such as the cornea, conjunctiva, and retina, which necessitates further toxicity assessments aiding in the development of safer ophthalmic solutions. This study investigates the impact of AgNPs on corneal tissue using ophthalmic investigations, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and chemometric analyses. Three concentrations of AgNPs (0.48 µg/mL, 7.2 µg/mL, and 15.5 µg/mL) were topically applied twice daily for 10 days, synthesized biologically by reducing silver nitrate with almond kernels water extract. Corneas, obtained by cutting 2-3 mm below the ora serrata, were analyzed with FTIR spectroscopy and subjected to chemometric analyses. Results reveal AgNPs' influence on constituents with OH and NH groups, affecting corneal lipids and reducing the lipid saturation index. AgNPs alter both bulk and interfacial water, leading to changes in corneal hydration thus modifying corneal physico-chemical properties. The influence extends to the water environment around proteins and lipids, releasing bound water from phospholipids and disrupting hydrogen bonding networks around proteins. In conclusion, the applied AgNPs concentrations can be linked to dry eye onset.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"661-677"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142623691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-12-04DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2431242
Niels Hadrup, Ulla Vogel, Nicklas R Jacobsen
{"title":"Biokinetics of carbon black, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, cerium oxide, silica, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles after inhalation: a review.","authors":"Niels Hadrup, Ulla Vogel, Nicklas R Jacobsen","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2431242","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2431242","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the biokinetics of nanoparticles will support the identification of target organs for toxicological endpoints. We investigated the biokinetics of poorly soluble nanomaterials carbon black, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), cerium oxide (CeO<sub>2</sub>), titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>), crystalline silica (SiO<sub>2</sub>) in inhalation studies in rodents (the soluble amorphous silica was also included). By reviewing research papers on the inhalation of these substances, we collected physico-chemical data and elemental distribution to organs, urine, and feces. Carbon black, MWCNT, cerium, and titanium accumulated during exposure and persisted in the lung post-exposure (still present at >3000 h). For silica, the amorphous form resulted in silicon accumulation in the lungs. Silicon was increased in the blood. Lymph node accumulation was observed for MWCNT, cerium, and titanium. Liver accumulation was observed for cerium and titanium. Cerium and silicon were increased in the spleen. Titanium accumulated and remained in the spleen (>4000 h). MWCNT were increased in several organs, some of which had a persistent presence of this material. In conclusion, we collected data on the biodistribution of five nanomaterials that, except for amorphous silica, are poorly soluble. The poorly soluble materials or their elements were persistent in the lungs but also showed persistence in other organs. In addition, the data on lung content supports Haber's rule, with titanium being deposited to a greater extent at exposure end than the other materials. Lung deposition seems relatively linear for the collected MMAD values, indicating size may be less important than previously suggested regarding alveolar deposition of the sub-2-micrometer size.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"678-706"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142770596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-12-14DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2438116
Nienke Ruijter, Matthew Boyles, Hedwig Braakhuis, Rafael Ayerbe Algaba, Morgan Lofty, Veronica di Battista, Wendel Wohlleben, Flemming R Cassee, Ana Candalija
{"title":"The oxidative potential of nanomaterials: an optimized high-throughput protocol and interlaboratory comparison for the ferric reducing ability of serum (FRAS) assay.","authors":"Nienke Ruijter, Matthew Boyles, Hedwig Braakhuis, Rafael Ayerbe Algaba, Morgan Lofty, Veronica di Battista, Wendel Wohlleben, Flemming R Cassee, Ana Candalija","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2438116","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2438116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Successful implementation of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) and grouping approaches requires simple, reliable, and cost-effective assays to facilitate hazard screening at early stages of product development. Especially for nanomaterials (NMs), which exist in many different forms, efficient hazard screening is of utmost importance. Oxidative potential (OP), which is the ability of a substance to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS), is an important indicator of the potential to induce oxidative damage and oxidative stress. A frequently used assay to measure OP of NMs is the ferric reducing ability of serum (FRAS) assay. Although the widely used cuvette-based FRAS protocol is considered a robust assay, its low throughput makes the screening of multiple materials challenging. Here, we adapt the original cuvette-based FRAS assay protocol, into a 96-well format and thereby improve its user-friendliness, simplicity, and screening capacity. The adapted protocol allows for the screening of multiple NMs per plate, and multiple plates per day, where the original protocol allows for the screening of one NM dose-range per day. When comparing the two protocols, the adapted protocol showed slightly decreased assay precision as compared to the original protocol. The results obtained with the adapted protocol were compared using eight reference NMs in an interlaboratory study and showed acceptably low intra- and interlaboratory variation. We conclude that the adapted FRAS assay protocol is suitable to be used for hazard screening to facilitate SSbD and grouping approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"724-738"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-11-01DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2419418
Nikita Dinger, Carmela Russo, Sabato Fusco, Paolo A Netti, Mariano Sirignano, Valeria Panzetta
{"title":"Carbon quantum dots in breast cancer modulate cellular migration via cytoskeletal and nuclear structure.","authors":"Nikita Dinger, Carmela Russo, Sabato Fusco, Paolo A Netti, Mariano Sirignano, Valeria Panzetta","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2419418","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2419418","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Carbon nanomaterials have been widely applied for cutting edge therapeutic applications as they offer tunable physio-chemical properties with economic scale-up options. Nuclear delivery of cancer drugs has been of prime focus since it controls important cellular signaling functions leading to greater anti-cancer drug efficacies. Better cellular drug uptake per unit drug injection drastically reduces severe side-effects of cancer therapies. Similarly, carbon dots (CDs) uptaken by the nucleus can also be used to set-up cutting edge nano delivery systems. In an earlier paper, we showed the cellular uptake and plasma membrane impact of combustion generated yellow luminescing CDs produced by our group from fuel rich combustion reactors in a one-step tunable production. In this paper, we aim to specifically study the nucleus by establishing the uptake kinetics of these combustion-generated yellow luminescing CDs. At sub-lethal doses, after crossing the plasma membrane, they impact the actin and microtubule mesh, affecting cell adhesion and migration; enter nucleus by diffusion processes; modify the overall appearance of the nucleus in terms of morphology; and alter chromatin condensation. We thus establish how this one-step produced, cost and bulk production friendly carbon dots from fuel rich combustion flames can be innovatively repurposed as potential nano delivery agents in cancer cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"618-644"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142558285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2407352
Nour Kahil, Noura S Abouzeinab, Mohamed A A Hussein, Mahmoud I Khalil
{"title":"Intraperitoneal hepatorenal toxicity of zinc oxide and nickel oxide nanoparticles in rats: a systematic review.","authors":"Nour Kahil, Noura S Abouzeinab, Mohamed A A Hussein, Mahmoud I Khalil","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2407352","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2407352","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Zinc oxide (ZnO) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in various industries due to their distinctive physico-chemical and biological properties. However, concerns have been raised about their potential toxicity in humans. While many studies have reviewed their effects on visceral organs upon ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, limited reviews are available regarding their adverse consequences on the liver and kidneys resulting from intraperitoneal administration in rats. Hence, this systematic review is the first to uniquely address this issue. A systematic search was performed on PubMed and Google scholar to identify articles that explored the toxic effects of ZnO-NPs and NiO-NPs in rats following intraperitoneal injection. The quality of the articles was assessed using SYCLE's risk of bias tool, leading to the selection of 16 articles; 14 for ZnO-NPs, 1 for NiO-NPs and 1 for both NPs. This review revealed that ZnO-NPs induces an acute toxicity in liver and kidney that is dose dependent. The impairments were marked by changes in organs functional markers, lipid and glucose levels and antioxidant deficiencies and lipid peroxidation. NiO-NPs also showed considerable toxicity, despite the limited studies. Further, variability of physico-chemical properties among studies complicated the toxicity assessment. To conclude, this study provides a novel contribution by summarizing the literature findings that suggest potential adverse intraperitoneal hepatorenal toxic outcomes associated with ZnO-NPs and NiO-NPs. Future research should focus on long-term effects and standardizing protocols to ensure the safe use of ZnO-NPs and NiO-NPs in industrial and clinical practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"583-598"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142350441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NanotoxicologyPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-10-26DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2024.2418088
Jason William Grunberger, Hannah S Newton, Duncan Donohue, Marina A Dobrovolskaia, Hamidreza Ghandehari
{"title":"Role of physicochemical properties in silica nanoparticle-mediated immunostimulation.","authors":"Jason William Grunberger, Hannah S Newton, Duncan Donohue, Marina A Dobrovolskaia, Hamidreza Ghandehari","doi":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2418088","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17435390.2024.2418088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immunostimulation caused by nanoparticles may be beneficial or adverse depending on their intended application. Activation of immune cells is beneficial for indications targeting the immune system for therapeutic purposes, such as tumor microenvironment reprogramming, immunotherapy, and vaccines. When it is unwanted, however, immunostimulation may lead to excessive inflammation, cytokine storm, and hypersensitivity reactions. The increasing use of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) for the delivery of drugs, imaging agents, and antigens warrants preclinical studies aimed at understanding carrier-mediated effects on the number, activation status, and function of immune cell subsets. Herein, we present an <i>in vitro</i> study utilizing primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to investigate the proinflammatory properties of four types of SiNPs varying in size and porosity. Cytokine analysis was performed in resting and LPS-primed PBMC cultures to understand the ability of silica nanoparticles to induce <i>de novo</i> and exaggerate preexisting inflammation, respectively. Changes in the number and activation status of lymphoid and myeloid cells were studied by flow cytometry to gain further insight into SiNP-mediated immunostimulation. Nonporous SiNPs were found to be more proinflammatory than mesoporous SiNPs, and larger-sized particles induced greater cytokine response. LPS-primed PBMC resulted in increased susceptibility to SiNPs. Immunophenotyping analysis of SiNP-treated PBMC resulted in T and B lymphocyte, natural killer cell, and dendritic cell activation. Additionally, a loss of regulatory T cells and an increase in γδ TCR T cell population were observed with all particles. These findings have implications for the utility of SiNPs for the delivery of drugs and imaging agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":18899,"journal":{"name":"Nanotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"599-617"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142504446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}