Nanoparticles for intravascular applications: physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity testing.

AIM: We report the physicochemical analysis of nanosystems intended for cardiovascular applications and their toxicological characterization in static and dynamic cell culture conditions. METHODS: Size, polydispersity and ζ-potential were determined in 10 nanoparticle systems including liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, polymeric and iron oxide nanoparticles. Nanoparticle effects on primary human endothelial cell viability were monitored using real-time cell analysis and live-cell microscopy in static conditions, and in a flow model of arterial bifurcations. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: The majority of tested nanosystems were well tolerated by endothelial cells up to the concentration of 100 µg/ml in static, and up to 400 µg/ml in dynamic conditions. Pilot experiments in a pig model showed that intravenous administration of liposomal nanoparticles did not evoke the hypersensitivity reaction. These findings are of importance for future clinical use of nanosystems intended for intravascular applications.