In vivo immunotoxicity evaluation of Gd2O3 nanoprobes prepared by laser ablation in liquid for MRI preclinical applications

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 16; no. 9
• Main Authors: Tian, Xiumei, Guan, Xiaoying, Luo, Ningqi, Yang, Fanwen, Chen, Dihu, Peng, Ye, Zhu, Jixiang, He, Fupo, Li, Li, Chen, Xiaoming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.09.2014; Springer
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Exact sciences and technology; General equipment and techniques; Inorganic Chemistry; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Lasers; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Laser ablation in liquid; Biocompatibility; Gadolinium; Nanoprobe; Immunotoxicity; NMR imaging; Cytotoxicity; In vivo; Biomedical materials; Endocytosis; Transmission electron microscopy; Stress effects; Laser ablation technique; Microstructure
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2594-9

Gd 2 O 3 nanoprobes prepared by laser ablation in liquid can be used as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. However, their immunotoxicity in vivo remains unknown. In this article, the in vitro biocompatibility of the Gd 2 O 3 nanoprobe was evaluated in terms of cell uptake, cell viability, and apoptosis. In vivo immunotoxicity was detected by monitoring the levels of the immunity mediator, cluster of differentiation (CD) markers in Balb/c mice. The results show that no in vitro cytotoxicity was observed, and no significant changes in the expression levels of CD206 and CD69 between the nanoprobe-injected group and the Gd-DTPA group in mice were observed. Importantly, the immunotoxicity data revealed significant differences in the expression levels of CD40, CD80, CD11b, and reactive oxygen species. In addition, transmission electron microscopy images showed that few Gd 2 O 3 nanoprobes were localized in phagosomes by the endocytic pathway. In conclusion, the toxic effects of our Gd 2 O 3 nanoprobe may be due to endocytosis during which the microstructure or ultrastructure of cells is slightly damaged and induces the generation of an oxidative stress reaction that further stimulates the innate immune response. Therefore, it is important to use a sensitive assay for the in vivo immunotoxicity measurements to evaluate the risk assessment of Gd 2 O 3 -based biomaterials at the molecular level.