Intracellular dynamics of cationic and anionic polystyrene nanoparticles without direct interaction with mitotic spindle and chromosomes

Yuexian Liu, Wei Li, Fang Lao, Ying Liu, Liming Wang, Ru Bai, Yuliang Zhao, Chunying Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fate of nanomaterials with different sizes and charges in mitotic cells is of great importance but seldom explored. Herein we investigate the intracellular fate of negatively charged carboxylated polystyrene (COOH-PS) and positively charged amino-modified polystyrene (NH 2-PS) nanoparticles of three different diameters (50, 100 and 500 nm) on cancer HeLa cells and normal NIH 3T3 cells during the cell cycles. The results showed that all the fluorescent PS nanoparticles differing in size and/or charge did not interact with chromosome reorganization and cytoskeleton assembly during the mitotic process in live cells. They neither disturbed chromosome reorganization nor affected the cytoskeleton reassembly in both normal and cancer cells. However, NH 2-PS at the size of 50 nm caused G1 phase delay and a decrease of cyclin (D, E) expression, respectively. Moreover, NH 2-PS displayed higher cellular toxicity and NH 2-PS of 50 nm disturbed the integrity of cell membranes. Both cationic and anionic PS nanoparticles had a more pronounced effect on normal NIH 3T3 cells than cancer HeLa cell. Our research provides insight into the dynamic fate, intracellular behavior, and the effects of nanoparticles on spindle and chromosomes during cell division, which will enable the optimization of design and selection of much safer nanoparticles for lower risk to human health and widely medical applications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8291-8303
Number of pages13
JournalBiomaterials
Volume32
Issue number32
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Live cell imaging
  • Mitosis
  • Polystyrene nanoparticles
  • Size effect
  • Surface charge

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomaterials
  • Bioengineering
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Biophysics

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