Cytotoxicity of Nanoparticles in cultured THP-1 cells under the Standardized Condition of Size Distribution

Abstract

Effect of nanoparticles on cellular toxicity can be influenced by size and/or size distribution of the tested nanoparticles. Therefore, it is necessary to fulfill the requirement of standardized dispersion when toxicity potencies of different types of nanoparticles are compared. In this study, probe-sonicator calibration for delivered acoustic power was performed according to the NANoREG protocol for standardized size-distribution of test nanoparticles including silica nanoparticles (SiNP), ceria nanopaaticles (CeNP), titania nanoparticles (TiNP), silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and zinc nanoparticles(ZnNP). Based on the protocol, the increase of water temperature by sonication power was monitored and Pac value was obtained. When the time of 8 minutes and 25% amplitude calculated from the Pac value was applied to the sonication of silica nanoparticles, size distribution reached to the effective level, 210 nm < size < 270 nm, Polydispersity index(PDI) < 0.46. The same acoustic power used in the dispersion of silica nanoparticles was applied to the other test nanoparticles, and cytotoxicity test was performed by MTS assay in cultured THP-1 cells treated with nanoparticles for 24 hrs. As results, Lethal Concentration 50% (LC50) of silver nanoparticles was 78.44 ppm, which was most toxic among the test nanoparticles. The toxicity compared by the LC50 seemed to be AgNP > SiNP > TiNP > ZnNP > CeNP.