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Effect of silica nanoparticles with variable size and surface functionalization on human endothelial cell viability and angiogenic activity

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Abstract

Silica nanoparticles could be promising delivery vehicles for drug targeting or gene therapy. However, few studies have been undertaken to determine the biological behavior effects of silica nanoparticles on primary endothelial cells. Here we investigated uptake, cytotoxicity and angiogenic properties of silica nanoparticle with positive and negative surface charge and sizes ranging from 25 to 115 nm in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Dynamic light scattering measurements and nanoparticle tracking analysis were used to estimate the dispersion status of nanoparticles in cell culture media, which was a key aspect to understand the results of the in vitro cellular uptake experiments. Nanoparticles were taken up by primary endothelial cells in a size-dependent manner according to their degree of agglomeration occurring after transfer in cell culture media. Functionalization of the particle surface with positively charged groups enhanced the in vitro cellular uptake, compared to negatively charged nanoparticles. However, this effect was contrasted by the tendency of particles to form agglomerates, leading to lower internalization efficiency. Silica nanoparticle uptake did not affect cell viability and cell membrane integrity. More interestingly, positively and negatively charged 25 nm nanoparticles did not influence capillary-like tube formation and angiogenic sprouting, compared to controls. Considering the increasing interest in nanomaterials for several biomedical applications, a careful study of nanoparticle-endothelial cells interactions is of high relevance to assess possible risks associated to silica nanoparticle exposure and their possible applications in nanomedicine as safe and effective nanocarriers for vascular transport of therapeutic agents.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Olimpia Oliviero for her helpful suggestions in HUVECs cell culture and angiogenesis assays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125, Naples, Italy

    Daniela Guarnieri, Valentina Belli & Paolo Netti

  2. Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy

    Daniela Guarnieri, Valentina Belli & Paolo Netti

  3. Center for Bio-Molecular Nanotechnologies@Unile, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti, 73010, Arnesano, Lecce, Italy

    Maria Ada Malvindi & Pier Paolo Pompa

Authors
  1. Daniela Guarnieri
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  2. Maria Ada Malvindi
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  3. Valentina Belli
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  4. Pier Paolo Pompa
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  5. Paolo Netti
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Correspondence to Daniela Guarnieri.

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Daniela Guarnieri and Maria Ada Malvindi have equally contributed to this work

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Guarnieri, D., Malvindi, M.A., Belli, V. et al. Effect of silica nanoparticles with variable size and surface functionalization on human endothelial cell viability and angiogenic activity. J Nanopart Res 16, 2229 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-2229-6

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