Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticle dispersants on cytotoxicity and cellular uptake

• DOI: 10.1007/s13273-016-0033-y
• Publication Date: 2016-10-06T03:33:28Z
• Authors: Mi-Rae Jo; Hae-Eun Chung; Hyun-Jin Kim; Song-Hwa Bae; Mi-Ran Go; Jin Yu; Soo-Jin Choi
• Keywords: Internalization; Nanotoxicology; Carboxymethyl cellulose; Bovine serum albumin

Dispersion critically affects the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles and their interactions with biological systems. In this study, the effects of different zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NP) dispersants, that is, bovine serum albumin, citrate, carboxymethyl cellulose, fetal bovine serum, and cell culture medium, were investigated with respect to cytotoxicity and cellular uptake. Parallel comparative studies were also conducted with Zn2+ ions. The results demonstrated that ZnO-NPs dispersed in citrate exhibited the greatest cytotoxicity to human lung cells, probably related to their high cellular uptake via the citrate internalization mechanism, whereas, the energy-dependent endocytosis pathway of ZnO-NP internalization in cells was unaffected by dispersant type. These results emphasize that dispersant choice is important when evaluating the toxicity of nanoparticles and that results should be interpreted with caution.