TY - JOUR A1 - Drescher, Daniela A1 - Zeise, Ingrid A1 - Traub, Heike A1 - Guttmann, P. A1 - Seifert, Stephan A1 - Büchner, Tina A1 - Jakubowski, Norbert A1 - Schneider, G. A1 - Kneipp, Janina T1 - In situ characterization of SiO2 nanoparticle biointeractions using BrightSilica N2 - By adding a gold core to silica nanoparticles (BrightSilica), silica-like nanoparticles are generated that, unlike unmodified silica nanoparticles, provide three types of complementary information to investigate the silica nano-biointeraction inside eukaryotic cells in situ. Firstly, organic molecules in proximity of and penetrating into the silica shell in live cells are monitored by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The SERS data show interaction of the hybrid silica particles with tyrosine, cysteine and phenylalanine side chains of adsorbed proteins. Composition of the biomolecular corona of BrightSilica nanoparticles differs in fibroblast and macrophage cells. Secondly, quantification of the BrightSilica nanoparticles using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) micromapping indicates a different interaction of silica nanoparticles compared to gold nanoparticles under the same experimental conditions. Thirdly, the metal cores allow the investigation of particle distribution and interaction in the cellular ultrastructure by cryo nanoscale X-ray tomography (cryo-XT). In 3D reconstructions the assumption is confirmed that BrightSilica nanoparticles enter cells by an endocytotic mechanism. The high SERS intensities are explained by the beneficial plasmonic properties due to agglomeration of BrightSilica. The results have implications for the development of multi-modal qualitative and quantitative characterization in comparative nanotoxicology and bionanotechnology. KW - Silica nanoparticles KW - Surface-enhanced Raman scattering KW - X-ray tomography KW - LA-ICP-MS KW - Core–shell structures PY - 2014 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201304126 SN - 1616-301X SN - 1616-3028 VL - 24 IS - 24 SP - 3765 EP - 3775 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-30924 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Orts Gil, Guillermo A1 - Natte, Kishore A1 - Drescher, Daniela A1 - Bresch, Harald A1 - Mantion, Alexandre A1 - Kneipp, J. A1 - Österle, Werner T1 - Characterisation of silica nanoparticles prior to in vitro studies: from primary particles to agglomerates N2 - The size, surface charge and agglomeration state of nanoparticles under physiological conditions are fundamental parameters to be determined prior to their application in toxicological studies. Although silica-based materials are among the most promising candidates for biomedical applications, more systematic studies concerning the characterisation before performing toxicological studies are necessary. This interest is based on the necessity to elucidate the mechanisms affecting its toxicity. We present here TEM, SAXS and SMPS as a combination of methods allowing an accurate determination of single nanoparticle sizes. For the commercial material, Ludox TM50 single particle sizes around 30 nm were found in solution. DLS measurements of single particles are rather affected by polydispersity and particles concentration but this technique is useful to monitor their agglomeration state. Here, the influence of nanoparticle concentration, ionic strength (IS), pH and bath sonication on the agglomeration behaviour of silica particles in solution has been systematically investigated. Moreover, the colloidal stability of silica particles in the presence of BSA has been investigated showing a correlation between silica and protein concentrations and the formation of agglomerates. Finally, the colloidal stability of silica particles in standard cell culture medium has been tested, concluding the necessity of surface modification in order to preserve silica as primary particles in the presence of serum. The results presented here have major implications on toxicity investigations because silica agglomeration will change the probability and uptake mechanisms and thereby may affect toxicity. KW - Silica KW - Toxicology KW - Agglomeration KW - BSA KW - Nanoparticles KW - Characterisation PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-9910-9 SN - 1388-0764 SN - 1572-896X VL - 13 IS - 4 SP - 1593 EP - 1604 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-21179 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -