Sulfidation of silver nanowires inside human alveolar epithelial cells: A potential detoxification mechanism

Abstract

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are being developed for use in optoelectronics. However before widespread usage, it is crucial to determine their potential effects on human health. It is accepted that Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) exert toxic effects by releasing Ag⁺ ions, but much less is known about whether Ag⁺ reacts with compounds, or any downstream bioactive effects of transformed AgNPs. Analytical high-resolution transmission electron microscopy has been employed to elucidate cellular uptake and reactivity of AgNWs inside human alveolar epithelial type 1-like cells. AgNWs were observed in the cytoplasm and membrane-bound vesicles, and precipitation of Ag₂S within the cell occurred after 1 h exposure. Cell viability studies showed no evidence of cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species were not observed on exposure of cells to AgNWs. We suggest that Ag₂S formation acts as a 'trap' for free Ag⁺, significantly limiting short-term toxicological effects-with important consequences for the safety of Ag-nanomaterials to human health.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	9839-9847
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nanoscale
Volume	5
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/c3nr03205a
Publication status	Published - 21 Oct 2013
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Materials Science(all)
Medicine(all)

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10.1039/c3nr03205a

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Chen, S., Goode, A. E., Sweeney, S., Theodorou, I. G., Thorley, A. J., Ruenraroengsak, P., Chang, Y., Gow, A., Schwander, S., Skepper, J., Zhang, J., Shaffer, M. S., Chung, K. F., Tetley, T. D., Ryan, M. P., & Porter, A. E. (2013). Sulfidation of silver nanowires inside human alveolar epithelial cells: A potential detoxification mechanism. Nanoscale, 5(20), 9839-9847. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3nr03205a

Sulfidation of silver nanowires inside human alveolar epithelial cells : A potential detoxification mechanism. / Chen, Shu; Goode, Angela E.; Sweeney, Sinbad; Theodorou, Ioannis G.; Thorley, Andrew J.; Ruenraroengsak, Pakatip; Chang, Yan; Gow, Andrew; Schwander, Stephan; Skepper, Jeremy; Zhang, Junfeng; Shaffer, Milo S.; Chung, Kian Fan; Tetley, Teresa D.; Ryan, Mary P.; Porter, Alexandra E.

In: Nanoscale, Vol. 5, No. 20, 21.10.2013, p. 9839-9847.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Chen, S, Goode, AE, Sweeney, S, Theodorou, IG, Thorley, AJ, Ruenraroengsak, P, Chang, Y, Gow, A, Schwander, S, Skepper, J, Zhang, J, Shaffer, MS, Chung, KF, Tetley, TD, Ryan, MP & Porter, AE 2013, 'Sulfidation of silver nanowires inside human alveolar epithelial cells: A potential detoxification mechanism', Nanoscale, vol. 5, no. 20, pp. 9839-9847. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3nr03205a

Chen, Shu ; Goode, Angela E. ; Sweeney, Sinbad ; Theodorou, Ioannis G. ; Thorley, Andrew J. ; Ruenraroengsak, Pakatip ; Chang, Yan ; Gow, Andrew ; Schwander, Stephan ; Skepper, Jeremy ; Zhang, Junfeng ; Shaffer, Milo S. ; Chung, Kian Fan ; Tetley, Teresa D. ; Ryan, Mary P. ; Porter, Alexandra E. / Sulfidation of silver nanowires inside human alveolar epithelial cells : A potential detoxification mechanism. In: Nanoscale. 2013 ; Vol. 5, No. 20. pp. 9839-9847.

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abstract = "Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are being developed for use in optoelectronics. However before widespread usage, it is crucial to determine their potential effects on human health. It is accepted that Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) exert toxic effects by releasing Ag+ ions, but much less is known about whether Ag+ reacts with compounds, or any downstream bioactive effects of transformed AgNPs. Analytical high-resolution transmission electron microscopy has been employed to elucidate cellular uptake and reactivity of AgNWs inside human alveolar epithelial type 1-like cells. AgNWs were observed in the cytoplasm and membrane-bound vesicles, and precipitation of Ag2S within the cell occurred after 1 h exposure. Cell viability studies showed no evidence of cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species were not observed on exposure of cells to AgNWs. We suggest that Ag2S formation acts as a 'trap' for free Ag+, significantly limiting short-term toxicological effects-with important consequences for the safety of Ag-nanomaterials to human health.",

author = "Shu Chen and Goode, {Angela E.} and Sinbad Sweeney and Theodorou, {Ioannis G.} and Thorley, {Andrew J.} and Pakatip Ruenraroengsak and Yan Chang and Andrew Gow and Stephan Schwander and Jeremy Skepper and Junfeng Zhang and Shaffer, {Milo S.} and Chung, {Kian Fan} and Tetley, {Teresa D.} and Ryan, {Mary P.} and Porter, {Alexandra E.}",

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AU - Thorley, Andrew J.

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AU - Chang, Yan

AU - Gow, Andrew

AU - Schwander, Stephan

AU - Skepper, Jeremy

AU - Zhang, Junfeng

AU - Shaffer, Milo S.

AU - Chung, Kian Fan

AU - Tetley, Teresa D.

AU - Ryan, Mary P.

AU - Porter, Alexandra E.

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