Partial Mitigation of Gold Nanoparticle Interactions with Human Lymphocytes by Surface Functionalization with A ‘Mixed Matrix‘

Abstract

Aim: To investigate interactions of gold nanoparticles with primary human lymphocytes and determine if the addition of a self-assembled monolayer of ‘mixed-matrix’ ligands influenced these interactions. Materials & methods: The effect of gold nanoparticles was measured by exposure to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers with subsequent examination of cell proliferation, cytokine secretion and CD4⁺ T-cell activation relative to controls. Results: Capped and as-synthesized gold nanoparticles augmented PBMC proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin and this effect was greater for as-synthesized than for capped gold nanoparticles. Release of IL-10 and IFN-γ from PBMCs was increased and the effect was again more marked for as-synthesized than capped gold nanoparticles. Conclusion: This method provides an ex vivo approach for studying the interaction of nanoparticles with the human immune system. Further research is required to determine the specific mechanisms for reduction of immune activation seen here which could then be used to design a truly ‘stealth’ nanoparticle.

Original submitted 11 October 2013; Revised submitted 30 January 2014

Keywords::

• gold nanoparticle
• immune cells
• immune interaction
• ligand shell

Author contributions

NJ Liptrott conceived and carried out the experiments and wrote the manuscript. E Kendall carried out experiments and reviewed the manuscript. DJ Nieves prepared the gold nanoparticles and the mix-matrix coated material as well as reviewing the manuscript. J Farrell assisted with experiments and reviewed the manuscript. S Rannard reviewed the manuscript prior to submission. DG Fernig is principal investigator for the nanomaterials and reviewed the manuscript. A Owen is principal investigator for the experimental investigation and reviewed the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors would like to thank EPSRC, MRC, BSAC, the Cancer and Polio Research Fund and the North West Cancer Research for research funding. DJ Nieves is a MRC-funded PhD student. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank EPSRC, MRC, BSAC, the Cancer and Polio Research Fund and the North West Cancer Research for research funding. DJ Nieves is a MRC-funded PhD student. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.