Bioactive silica-based nanoparticles stimulate bone-forming osteoblasts, suppress bone-resorbing osteoclasts, and enhance bone mineral density in vivo

Abstract

Bone is a dynamic tissue that undergoes renewal throughout life by a process whereby osteoclasts resorb worn bone and osteoblasts synthesize new bone. Imbalances in bone turnover lead to bone loss and development of osteoporosis and ultimately fracture, a debilitating condition with high morbidity and mortality. Silica is a ubiquitous biocontaminant that is considered to have high biocompatibility. We report that silica nanoparticles mediate potent inhibitory effects on osteoclasts and stimulatory effects on osteoblasts in vitro. The mechanism of bioactivity is a consequence of an intrinsic capacity to antagonize activation of NF-κB, a signal transduction pathway required for osteoclastic bone resorption, but inhibitory to osteoblastic bone formation. We further demonstrate that silica nanoparticles promote a significant enhancement of bone mineral density (BMD) in mice in vivo providing a proof of principle for the potential application of silica nanoparticles as a pharmacological agent to enhance BMD and protect against bone fracture.

Nanoparticle Technology as a Double-Edged Sword: Cytotoxic, Genotoxic and Epigenetic Effects on Living Cells

“…Interactions of NPs with cellular proteins can also lead to abnormal cytophysiology of the cell [46]. Except nanoparticle-mediated changes in protein folding, NPs can trigger different effects on physiological proteins involved in signal transduction and posttranslational modifications [27,47,48]. It was observed that super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles could affect signaling transduction pathways, through an increase in expression of genes responsible for production of tyrosine kinases and several members of the kinase C family [49].…”

Open air plasma deposited antimicrobial SiOx/TiOx composite films for biomedical applications

“…To overcome this, possible strategies are to optimize the topography or to mix it with another material that can activate cell growth [4]. Silicon oxide supports cell growth and hence can be used as the other phase in the mixture [5]. Another advantage of adding silicon oxide would be the improvement in mechanical stability and abrasive-wear resistance of the coating.…”

Synthesis of pH stable, blue light-emitting diode-excited, fluorescent silica nanoparticles and effects on cell behavior

“…Cells were cultured in α-Modified Eagle's Medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Atlanta Biologicals, Lawrenceville, GA, USA) supplemented with 1% lglutamine (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and 1% of penicillin/ streptomycin (Thermo Fisher Scientific). 15 All cell lines were cultured at 37°C in 5% CO 2 . Cell viability was measured using a commercial 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxyl-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfonyl)-2H-tetrazolium (XTT) assay according to the manufacturer's protocol (Promega Corporation, Fitchburg, WI, USA) as described previously.…”