Biocompatibility of Calcined Mesoporous Silica Particles with Cellular Bioenergetics in Murine Tissues

Abstract

A novel in vitro system was developed to investigate the effects of two forms of calcined mesoporous silica particles (MCM41-cal and SBA15-cal) on cellular respiration of mouse tissues. O(2) consumption by lung, liver, kidney, spleen, and pancreatic tissues was unaffected by exposure to 200 μg/mL MCM41-cal or SBA15-cal for several hours. Normal tissue histology was confirmed by light microscopy. Intracellular accumulation of the particles in the studied tissues was evident by electron microscopy. The results show reasonable in vitro biocompatibility of the mesoporous silicas with murine tissue bioenergetics.

In vitro biocompatibility of calcined mesoporous silica particles and fetal blood cells

“…The use of such cellular bioenergetics to assess nanoparticle and microparticle biocompatibility is discussed in more detail in our previous publications. 22,23,28 The results of our present work show that respiration in fetal mononuclear blood cells in the presence of MCM41-cal and SBA15-cal is similar to that of untreated cells, indicating reasonable biocompatibility between calcined mesoporous silica particles and fetal cellular bioenergetics (Table 2 and Figures 4 and 5).…”

“…Furthermore, calcined mesoporous silica particles are shown to be bioavailable and biocompatible. 22,23,28 MCM41-cal and SBA15-cal were present inside fetal macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes (Figures 2 and 3, and Figures S1 and S2). Their engulfment occurred without a need for surface activation by organic or polymeric groups, as previously reported for similar materials in other tissues.…”

“…Recent studies have reported their safety in vitro, 23 but Hudson et al have described in vitro toxicity when using relatively high doses of MCM41 and SBA15 in mesothelial cells. 21 Cellular mitochondrial oxygen consumption (respiration) implies delivery of O 2 and metabolic fuels to the mitochondria, oxidation of reduced metabolic fuels with release of electrons to O 2 , and synthesis of adenosine triphosphate.…”

“…These findings are consistent with prior in vitro studies of biocompatibility of these two mesoporous silica particles in murine tissues. 23,28 This compatibility could be attributable to the refined method of particle preparation, including the lack of residual surfactant molecules as well as less density of surface silanols (Table 1). MCM41 and SBA15, with their amphiphilic templates extracted by solvent washing, were not found to be biocompatible with lymphoid and myeloid hematopoietic cells.…”

“…In our recent studies, we showed that MCM41-cal or SBA15-cal prepared by calcination did not inhibit cellular bioenergetics and were biocompatible in murine liver, lung, pancreas, kidney, and spleen tissue. 23 The particles also did not alter cellular configurations or organelles. However, their solvent-extracted counterparts inhibited pneumatocyte respiration.…”