The effect of core and lanthanide ion dopants in sodium fluoride-based nanocrystals on phagocytic activity of human blood leukocytes

Bartlomiej Sojka,Aurelia Liskova,Mira Horvathova,Jan Misiewicz,Maria Dusinska,Michaela Szabova,Mateusz Banski,Eva Rollerova,Artur Podhorodecki,Miroslava Kuricova,Silvia Ilavska,Jana Tulinska

doi:10.1007/s11051-017-3779-9

Abstract

Sodium fluoride-based β-NaLnF4 nanoparticles (NPs) doped with lanthanide ions are promising materials for application as luminescent markers in bio-imaging. In this work, the effect of NPs doped with yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), europium (Eu), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and terbium (Tb) ions on phagocytic activity of monocytes and granulocytes and the respiratory burst was examined. The surface functionalization of <10-nm NPs was performed according to our variation of patent pending ligand exchange method that resulted in meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) molecules on their surface. Y-core-based NCs were doped with Eu ions, which enabled them to be excited with UV light wavelengths. Cultures of human peripheral blood (n = 8) were in vitro treated with five different concentrations of eight NPs for 24 h. In summary, neither type of nanoparticles is found toxic with respect to conducted test; however, some cause toxic effects (they have statistically significant deviations compared to reference) in some selected doses tested. Both core types of NPs (Y-core and Gd-core) impaired the phagocytic activity of monocytes the strongest, having minimal or none whatsoever influence on granulocytes and respiratory burst of phagocytic cells. The lowest toxicity was observed in Gd-core, Yb, Tm dopants and near-infrared nanoparticles. Clear dose-dependent effect of NPs on phagocytic activity of leukocytes and respiratory burst of cells was observed for limited number of samples.

Highlights

In recent years, many research groups have used sodium fluoride-based nanoparticles (NPs) doped with lanthanide ions for application as luminescent markers in bio-imaging (Chen et al 2012; Hou et al 2013; Liu et al 2013; Sudheendra et al 2014; Cui et al 2015; Ma et al 2015)
We examine the effect of sodium fluoride-based NPs doped with yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), europium (Eu), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and terbium (Tb) ions on phagocytosis, which is considered among first-line responders after exposure to NPs
We evaluate the effect of core and dopant of sodium fluoride-based NCs doped with lanthanide ions on function of professional phagocytes

Summary

Introduction

Many research groups (including ours) have used sodium fluoride-based nanoparticles (NPs) doped with lanthanide ions for application as luminescent markers in bio-imaging (Chen et al 2012; Hou et al 2013; Liu et al 2013; Sudheendra et al 2014; Cui et al 2015; Ma et al 2015). NIR excitation is one of the biggest advantages of β-NaLnF4 doped NCs over other biomarkers like fluorescent proteins and organic dyes

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Discussion

Conclusion