Synthesis, characterization and toxicological evaluation of maltodextrin capped cadmium sulfide nanoparticles in human cell lines and chicken embryos

Abstract

BackgroundSemiconductor Quantum dots (QDs) have become quite popular thanks to their properties and wide use in biological and biomedical studies. However, these same properties entail new challenges in understanding, predicting, and managing potential adverse health effects following exposure. Cadmium and selenium, which are the major components of the majority of quantum dots, are known to be acutely and chronically toxic to cells and organisms. Protecting the core of nanoparticles can, to some degree, control the toxicity related to cadmium and selenium leakage.ResultsThis study successfully synthesized and characterized maltodextrin coated cadmium sulfide semiconductor nanoparticles. The results show that CdS-MD nanoparticles are cytotoxic and embryotoxic. CdS-MD nanoparticles in low concentrations (4.92 and 6.56 nM) lightly increased the number of HepG2 cell. A reduction in MDA-MB-231 cells was observed with concentrations higher than 4.92 nM in a dose response manner, while Caco-2 cells showed an important increase starting at 1.64 nM. CdS-MD nanoparticles induced cell death by apoptosis and necrosis in MDA-MD-231 cells starting at 8.20 nM concentrations in a dose response manner. The exposure of these cells to 11.48-14.76 nM of CdS-MD nanoparticles induced ROS production. The analysis of cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 showed different effects. Low concentrations (1.64 nM) increased cell proliferation (6%) at 7 days (p < 0.05). However, higher concentrations (>4.92 nM) increased cell proliferation in a dose response manner (15-30%) at 7 days. Exposures of chicken embryos to CdS-MD nanoparticles resulted in a dose-dependent increase in anomalies that, starting at 9.84 nM, centered on the heart, central nervous system, placodes, neural tube and somites. No toxic alterations were observed with concentrations of < 3.28 nM, neither in cells nor chicken embryos.ConclusionsOur results indicate that CdS-MD nanoparticles induce cell death and alter cell proliferation in human cell lines at concentrations higher than 4.92 nM. We also demonstrated that they are embryotoxic. However, no toxic effects were observed with doses lower than 3.28 nM in neither cells nor chicken embryos. The CdS-MD nanoparticles used in this study can be potentially used in bio-imaging applications. However, further studies using mammalian species are required in order to discard more toxic effects.

Sodium selenite/selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) protect cardiomyoblasts and zebrafish embryos against ethanol induced oxidative stress

“…Treatment with 100 nM sodium selenite and SeNPs are effective in protecting the cells from apoptosis at 24 hrs and this property of selenium and its nanoparticles indicate their potential usefulness as a therapeutic agent against cardiomyopathy ( Figure.8). In MDA-MB-231 cells the apoptosis was induced by CdS-MD nanoparticles after AO/EB staining and the nuclei of early apoptotic cells had yellow, slightly condensed and fragmented chromatin [33]. The late apoptotic cells had orange, condensed and fragmented nuclear chromatin [34].…”

Embryonic Toxicity of Nanoparticles

“…Protection of the core by capping can decrease the toxicity of the NP. Exposure of chicken embryos to cadmium sulfide semiconductor NP coated with maltodextrin resulted in dose-dependently increased developmental anomalies ( table 3 ) [ Rodriguez-Fragoso et al, 2012]. However, no toxic effect was observed with low concentrations, which enables them to be used in bioimaging applications at this low concentration [Rodriguez-Fragoso et al, 2012].…”

Potential Harm of Maltodextrin‐Coated Cadmium Sulfide Quantum Dots in Embryos and Fetuses

“…We recently synthesized maltodextrin-coated cadmium sulfide QDs (CdS-maltodextrin) [14]. Although the in vitro studies revealed that these CdS-maltodextrin QDs produced distinct dose-dependent toxic effects, in vivo studies demonstrated that, when administered to rodents, CdS-maltodextrin QDs were biocompatible and nontoxic after 15 days of exposure.…”

“…Our group is interested in the biomedical application of maltodextrin-coated cadmium sulfide QDs, semiconductor nanoparticles of about 3.5 nm in size with superior optical properties when compared to conventional organic dyes [14]. Although the in vitro studies revealed that these CdS-maltodextrin QDs produced distinct dose-dependent toxic effects, in vivo studies demonstrated that, when administered to rodents, CdS-maltodextrin QDs were biocompatible and nontoxic after 5 and 15 days [15].…”

“…Early results by this group demonstrated that CdS-maltodextrin QDs were embryotoxic in a chicken embryo model [14]. The nature of the observed abnormalities suggests that these effects could be directly associated with nanoparticle concentrations.…”