On the pathway of cellular uptake: new insight into the interaction between the cell membrane and very small nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: For any living cell the exchange with its environment is vital. Therefore, many different kinds of cargo are able to enter cells via energy-dependent or -independent routes. Nanoparticles are no exemption. It is known that small silica nanoparticles with a diameter below 50 nm are taken up by cells and that their uptake exerts pronounced toxic effects beyond a certain concentration threshold. However, neither the exact uptake mechanism of these particles nor the actual reason for their toxicity has yet been elucidated. In this study we examined the uptake of silica nanoparticles with a diameter of 7, 12 and 22 nm by means of transmission electron microscopy, accompanied by toxicological assays. We show that for every particle diameter tested a different membrane morphology during uptake ca

SUBMITTER: Messerschmidt C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5082453 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature