Impact of labile metal nanoparticles on cellular homeostasis. Current developments in imaging, synthesis and applications

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 1861; no. 6; pp. 1566 - 1577
• Main Authors: Chevallet, Mireille, Veronesi, Giulia, Fuchs, Alexandra, Mintz, Elisabeth, Michaud-Soret, Isabelle, Deniaud, Aurélien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; biochemical compounds; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biological Assay; Biophysics; Cell Biology; Cell Line; Cellular Biology; Copper; Copper - chemistry; Copper - toxicity; cosmetics; cupric oxide; electronics; food additives; Homeostasis; Humans; image analysis; inflammation; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - metabolism; Labile metal nanoparticles; Life Sciences; Metal homeostasis; metal ions; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Microscopy, Fluorescence - methods; nanoparticles; Nanotechnology - methods; Oxidation-Reduction; Particle Size; physiological response; Risk Assessment; scientists; Silver; Silver Compounds - chemistry; Silver Compounds - toxicity; therapeutics; toxicity; Toxicity Tests; Toxicology; X-ray fluorescence microscopy; Zinc; zinc oxide; Zinc Oxide - chemistry; Zinc Oxide - toxicity; Labile metal nanoparticles; Silver; X-ray fluorescence microscopy; Copper; Metal homeostasis; Zinc
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.12.012

The use of nanomaterials is constantly increasing in electronics, cosmetics, food additives, and is emerging in advanced biomedical applications such as theranostics, bio-imaging and therapeutics. However their safety raises concerns and requires appropriate methods to analyze their fate in vivo. In this review, we describe the current knowledge about the toxicity of labile metal (ZnO, CuO and Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) both at the organism and cellular levels, and describe the pathways that are triggered to maintain cellular homeostasis. We also describe advanced elemental imaging approaches to analyze intracellular NP fate. Finally, we open the discussion by presenting recent developments in terms of synthesis and applications of Ag and CuO NPs. Labile metal nanoparticles (MeNPs) release metal ions that trigger a cellular response involving biomolecules binding to the ions followed by regulation of the redox balance. In addition, specific mechanisms are set up by the cell in response to physiological ions such as Cu(I) and Zn(II). Among all types of NPs, labile MeNPs induce the strongest inflammatory responses which are most probably due to the combined effects of the NPs and of its released ions. Interestingly, recent developments in imaging technologies enable the intracellular visualization of both the NPs and their ions and promise new insights into nanoparticle fate and toxicity. The exponential use of nanotechnologies associated with the difficulties of assessing their impact on health and the environment has prompted scientists to develop novel methodologies to characterize these nanoobjects in a biological context. •Labile metal nanoparticles release ions in biological media.•Labile metal NPs induce inflammation and metal homeostasis disruption.•CuO- and ZnO-NP exposure trigger physiological detoxifying mechanisms.•Synchrotron-based methods enable to follow the distribution of both ions and NPs.•Safer-by-design labile metal NPs are in progress for nanomedicine applications.