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Influence of HepG2 cell shape on nanoparticle uptake
Batirtze Prats-Mateu1, Peter Ertl, José Luis Toca-Herrera
1Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190, Vienna, Austria; BioSensor Technologies, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
Microscopy Research and Technique
|May 9, 2014
Summary
Cell mechanics influences hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell shape and nanoparticle uptake. Cationic interfaces promote cell spreading and enhance the uptake of larger nanoparticles, impacting cell function.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
- Materials science
Background:
- Cell mechanics and external stress significantly influence cell functions and responses.
- Understanding the relationship between mechanical stimuli, cell shape, and function is crucial for controlling cell culture environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of cationic and anionic interfaces on HepG2 cell shape and nanoparticle uptake.
- To determine how changes in cell morphology induced by surface charge affect the internalization of nanoparticles of different sizes.
Main Methods:
- HepG2 cells were cultured on polystyrene plates coated with polystyrene sulfonate (anionic) and poly-ethylene imine (cationic).
- Cell shape was observed using fluorescence and confocal microscopy.
- Nanoparticle uptake (49-nm and 240-nm diameter) was quantified using flow cytometry at 4°C and 37°C over 6 hours.
Main Results:
- HepG2 cells adopted a spread-like morphology with lamellar protrusions on cationic poly-ethylene imine (PEI) surfaces, compared to a round-like shape on anionic polystyrene sulfonate.
- Cell shape changes did not affect the uptake of 49-nm nanoparticles, which entered via diffusion.
- Internalization of 240-nm nanoparticles was significantly higher on cationic PEI-coated surfaces.
Conclusions:
- Surface charge influences HepG2 cell morphology, promoting a spread-like shape on cationic interfaces.
- The internalization of larger nanoparticles (240-nm) by HepG2 cells is enhanced on cationic surfaces, suggesting a charge-dependent uptake mechanism.
- Cellular responses to surface properties are critical for optimizing nanoparticle delivery and understanding cell behavior in engineered microenvironments.
