Comparative cytotoxicity evaluation of different size gold nanoparticles in human dermal fibroblasts

Figures & data

Table 1. Size distribution of AuNPs measured by TEM and DLS.

	Particle size (nm)
Measuring method	30	50	90
TEM (aqueous solution)^a	38.6 ± 6.1	56.1 ± 3.7	92.0 ± 6.2
TEM in fibroblast medium 2% FBS	46.3 ± 6.9	80.4 ± 5.9	115.5 ± 8.5
DLS (aqueous solution)^a	46.7 ± 1.0	53.3 ± 0.5	90.6 ± 0.3
DLS in fibroblast medium 2% FBS	70.4 ± 0.5	96.3 ± 1.4	125.1 ± 1.0

^a From Mateo et al.[32]

Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

Figure 1. Analysis of 30 (1), 50 (2) and 90 (3) nm gold nanoparticles size by TEM and DLS. Representative TEM images (A) and size distribution by DLS (B) after 24 h incubation in cell-free culture medium. Scale bars represent 100 nm (1A and 3A) and 200 nm (2A).

Figure 2. Effect of 30 nm (A), 50 nm (B) and 90 nm (C) AuNPs on NHDF cell viability by MTT (2.1) and LDH (2.2) assays. Cells were cultured with different concentrations of AuNPs for 24 (▪), 48 (□) and 72 h (

). Control, untreated cells. Asterisks indicate significant difference from control *** p ≤ 0.001, ** p ≤ 0.01 and * p ≤ 0.05.

Table 2. Calculated IC₅₀ values in NHDF cell line determined by MTT and LDH.

	IC50 gold nanoparticles (μg/mL)
Cell line	AuNP 30 nm		AuNP 50 nm		AuNP 90 nm
	MTT	LDH	MTT	LDH	MTT	LDH
NHDF	17.9	13.9	18.0	15.4	19.3	17.5

Figure 3. Effect of NAC on NHDF cell viability after the treatment with AuNPs. Cells were treated with IC₅₀ for 24 h. Control, untreated cells.

Figure 4. Effect of AuNPs on the total glutathione content in NHDF cells. Cells were treated with the IC₅₀ for 24 (▪), 48 (□) and 72 h (

). Control, untreated cells. Asterisks indicate significant difference from control *** p ≤ 0.001.

Figure 5. Effect of AuNPs on the SOD activity in NHDF cells. Cells were treated with the IC₅₀ for 24 (▪), 48 (□) and 72 h (

). Control, untreated cells.

Figure 6. Time course of ROS production in NHDF cells, untreated (○) and treated with the IC₅₀ AuNPs of 30 nm (•), 50 nm (▪) and 90 nm (▴). Asterisks indicate significant difference from control *** p ≤ 0.001.

Mateo D, Morales P, Ávalos A, Haza AI. Oxidative stress contributes to gold nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity in human tumor cells. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2014;24:161–172.

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