Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) offer a wide range of applications in biomedicine due to their unique physicochemical properties, usually associated with their size and shape. The effects of drugs and other materials, such as nanoparticles, on mitochondrial bioenergetics can be analyzed to evaluate their toxicity. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the shape-dependent effect of AuNPs on mitochondrial bioenergetics. As a case of study, we exposed isolated rat liver mitochondria to gold nanoparticles with different shapes. Our initial results showed that the presence of the same amounts of gold nanorods (AuNRs) and nanospheres (AuNSs), resulted in similar effects of decreases in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, H2O2 levels, and swelling, even in the presence of Cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). However, the mitochondrial electrochemical potential could be either sustained or dissipated depending on the total surface area of the particles in the medium.
Graphical abstract
Toxicity of gold nanoparticles with different shapes on isolated mitochondria
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Abbreviations
- AuNPs:
-
Gold nanoparticles
- AuNRs:
-
Gold nanorods
- AuNSs:
-
Gold nanospheres
- BSA:
-
Bovine serum albumin
- CCCP:
-
Carbonyl cyanide chlorophenyl hydrazone
- CsA:
-
Cyclosporin A
- CTAB:
-
Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide
- LSPR:
-
Localized surface plasmon resonance
- MMP:
-
Mitochondrial electrochemical membrane potential
- MPTP:
-
Mitochondrial permeability transition pore
- MS:
-
Maximal state
- RLM:
-
Rat liver mitochondria
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- PS:
-
Phosphorylation state
- SI:
-
Substrates for complex I
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the support of the following Brazilian research agencies: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas (FAPEAL), Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP), and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Catálise em Sistemas Moleculares e Nanoestruturados (INCT-Catalise). AMN, RCSF, KRMS, and SMB acknowledge CNPq for scholarships. MRM is grateful to CNPq for a research fellowship.
Funding
This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)—Project n° 408139/2018–8.
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Abner Magalhães Nunes was responsible for conceptualization; investigation; methodology; writing—original draft; and writing—review and editing. Reginaldo Correia da Silva Filho was responsible for investigation; methodology; and writing—original draft. Kleyton Ritomar Monteiro da Silva was responsible for investigation; methodology; and writing—original draft. Sarah Morais Bezerra was responsible for investigation and methodology. Regina Célia Bressan Queiroz de Figueiredo was responsible for investigation; methodology; and writing—original draft. Karina Lidianne Alcântara Saraiva was responsible for investigation; methodology; and writing—original draft. Ana Catarina Rezende Leite was responsible for conceptualization; funding acquisition; investigation; methodology; project administration; writing—original draft; and writing—review and editing. Mario Roberto Meneghetti was responsible for conceptualization; funding acquisition; investigation; methodology; project administration; writing—original draft; and writing—review and editing.
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Highlights
• The shape-dependent toxicity and mechanism of AuNPs were studied in isolated RLM.
• AuNSs and AuNRs show a similar effect in most of the mitochondrial bioenergetic parameters.
• AuNPs can interact with the mitochondria and disrupt the electron transport chain.
• AuNRs can induce an early dissipation of the MMP.
• The MMP disruption induced by AuNRs is not related to the opening of the MPTP.
• The differences were attributed to the total surface area of the AuNPs.
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Nunes, Á.M., da Silva Filho, R.C., da Silva, K.R.M. et al. Gold nanoparticles with different shapes can cause distinct effect on mitochondria bioenergetics. J Nanopart Res 24, 31 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-022-05410-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-022-05410-w