Toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with or without hydrophobic surface coating to THP-1 macrophages: interactions with BSA or oleate-BSA

Abstract

It is recently shown that biological macromolecules in food could interact with nanoparticles (NPs) and consequently change the biological effects of NPs. In this study, the interactions between ZnO NPs with or without hydrophobic surface coating and bovine serum albumin (BSA) or oleate (OA) complexed to BSA (OA-BSA) were assessed. Atomic force microscope (AFM) showed topographic changes of both types of NPs by BSA or OA-BSA, which could indicate the formation of protein corona. ZnO NPs showed negative Zeta potential, which was slightly decreased by BSA or OA-BSA, with OA-BSA being more effective. The UV-Vis was increased, whereas the fluorescence and synchronous fluorescence was decreased by the presence of ZnO NPs. Exposure to both types of ZnO NPs was associated with cytotoxicity to THP-1 macrophages, which was equally mitigated by BSA or OA-BSA associated with decreased cellular Zn elements. Exposure to ZnO NPs was associated with decreased release of cytokines, which was not affected by BSA or OA-BSA. In combination, the results from this study suggested that both BSA and OA-BSA could be adsorbed to ZnO NPs regardless of hydrophobic surface coating, which reduced the cytotoxicity of NPs to macrophages probably due to reduced association between NPs and cells. BSA and OA-BSA equally protected THP-1 macrophages from ZnO NP exposure, which might indicate that complexation to OA did not compromise the cytoprotective effects of BSA. These data might also indicate the complex interaction between NPs and biological macromolecules as food components, which should be considered for future nanotoxicological studies.

Palmitate enhanced the cytotoxicity of ZnO nanomaterials possibly by promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress

“…The suspensions of ZnO Mini‐NRs contained only a low level of endotoxin (less than 0.05 EU/mL at the concentration of 64 μg/mL), which should have little impact on the biological effects of ZnO NMs. The results that ZnO NMs induced cytotoxicity and reduced sMCP‐1 release are consistent with our previous reports by using spherical ZnO nanoparticles (Gong et al, ; Li, Fang, Ding, Li, & Cao, ). However, it has also been reported before that ZnO NMs could upregulate MCP‐1 in human monocytes (Sahu, Kannan, & Vijayaraghavan, ) and endothelial cells (Suzuki et al, ).…”

The Investigation into the Toxic Potential of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Utilizing Rat Pheochromocytoma and Human Neural Stem Cells

“…There are conflicting results in the literature regarding hydrophobic coatings and their effects on cytotoxicity. For example, some studies have shown that adding a hydrophobic coating such as oleic acid can reduce the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles [54], while other studies have suggested that cytotoxicity and genotoxicity are induced [26,55]. Thus, modulating the hydrophobicity of the nanoparticles is an important factor for biological applications.…”

Insights into Characterization Methods and Biomedical Applications of Nanoparticle–Protein Corona

“…For example, the release of zinc ions from zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs can be tripped by the FBS corona, owing to the mutual electrostatic attraction with the protein, resulting in the inhibition of ZnO dissolution and lowering of its cytotoxicity [159]. The adsorption of the BSA corona can potentially weaken the associations between ZnO NPs and cells and decrease the cellular Zn elements, thereby reducing the cytotoxicity to THP-1 macrophages [160]. Similar results have been reported with nanodiamonds (NDs).…”