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Polymer-coated nanoparticles and their effects on mitochondrial function in brain endothelial cells
Aniela Bittner1, Angélique Dominique Ducray1, Michael Hubert Stoffel2
1Division of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
|November 4, 2019
Summary
Polymer-coated silica nanoparticles impact brain endothelial cell mitochondria, altering respiration under stress but not morphology. Further research is needed for laser tissue soldering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Laser tissue soldering is a novel treatment for hollow organ injuries.
- Nanomaterials in solders necessitate evaluation of adverse effects.
- Polymer-coated silica nanoparticles (NPs) are used in laser tissue soldering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of polymer-coated silica nanoparticles (NPs) on brain endothelial cell mitochondrial function.
- To investigate NP effects at varying concentrations on mitochondrial integrity.
- To understand NP-induced metabolic changes in brain endothelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (rBCEC4).
- Measured oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate.
- Assessed mitochondrial mass, distribution, morphology, ATP content, and membrane potential.
Main Results:
- NP exposure decreased oxygen consumption rate at maximal capacity; glycolysis was unaffected.
- Under glucose deprivation, NPs primarily affected glycolytic ATP generation.
- NPs induced a metabolic shift towards a stressed phenotype with increased respiration and acidification rates.
- Mitochondrial mass, distribution, morphology, and ATP content remained unchanged.
- Increased mitochondrial membrane potential and slight changes in mitochondrial dynamics proteins were observed at high NP concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Polymer-coated silica nanoparticle exposure alters mitochondrial respiration, particularly under glucose deprivation.
- NP exposure did not affect mitochondrial morphology or distribution.
- Further studies are required to determine the transient or long-term nature of these functional effects for clinical application in laser tissue soldering.
