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Silver, gold, and alloyed silver–gold nanoparticles: characterization and comparative cell-biologic action

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Abstract

Silver, gold, and silver–gold-alloy nanoparticles were prepared by citrate reduction modified by the addition of tannin during the synthesis, leading to a reduction in particle size by a factor of three. Nanoparticles can be prepared by this easy water-based synthesis and subsequently functionalized by the addition of either tris(3-sulfonatophenyl)phosphine or poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone). The resulting nanoparticles of silver (diameter 15–25 nm), gold (5–6 nm), and silver–gold (50:50; 10–12 nm) were easily dispersable in water and also in cell culture media (RPMI + 10 % fetal calf serum), as shown by nanoparticle tracking analysis and differential centrifugal sedimentation. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed a polycrystalline nature of all nanoparticles. EDX on single silver–gold nanoparticles indicated that the concentration of gold is higher inside a nanoparticle. The biologic action of the nanoparticles toward human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) was different: Silver nanoparticles showed a significant concentration-dependent influence on the viability of hMSC. Gold nanoparticles showed only a small effect on the viability of hMSC after 7 days. Surprisingly, silver–gold nanoparticles had no significant influence on the viability of hMSC despite the silver content. Silver nanoparticles and silver–gold nanoparticles in the concentration range of 5–20 μg mL−1 induced the activation of hMSC as indicated by the release of IL-8. In contrast, gold nanoparticles led to a reduction of the release of IL-6 and IL-8.

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Acknowledgments

Matthias Epple and Manfred Koeller thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for funding within the priority program 1313 BioNanoResponses. Michael Farle and Zi-An Li acknowledge support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the collaborative research center SFB 445. We thank K. Brauner, V. Hiltenkamp, B. Sures, and N. Zimmermann for AAS measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstr. 5-7, 45117, Essen, Germany

    Dirk Mahl, Jörg Diendorf, Simon Ristig & Matthias Epple

  2. Bergmannsheil University Hospital/Surgical Research, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Christina Greulich & Manfred Köller

  3. Faculty of Physics, Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, 47048, Duisburg, Germany

    Zi-An Li & Michael Farle

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  1. Dirk Mahl
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Correspondence to Matthias Epple.

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Mahl, D., Diendorf, J., Ristig, S. et al. Silver, gold, and alloyed silver–gold nanoparticles: characterization and comparative cell-biologic action. J Nanopart Res 14, 1153 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1153-5

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