High resolution imaging and 3D analysis of Ag nanoparticles in cells with ToF-SIMS and delayed extraction.

Within this study, the authors use human mesenchymal stem cells incubated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a model system to systematically investigate the advantages and drawbacks of the fast imaging delayed extraction mode for two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) analyses at the cellular level. The authors compare the delayed extraction mode with commonly employed measurement modes in terms of mass and lateral resolution, intensity, and dose density. Using the delayed extraction mode for single cell analysis, a high mass resolution up to 4000 at m/z = 184.08 combined with a lateral resolution up to 360 nm is achieved. Furthermore, the authors perform 3D analyses with Ar-clusters (10 keV) and O2+ (500 eV) as sputter species, combined with Bi3+ and delayed extraction for analysis. Cell compartments like the nucleus are visualized in 3D, whereas no realistic 3D reconstruction of intracellular AgNP is possible due to the different sputter rates of inorganic and organic cell materials. Furthermore, the authors show that the sputter yield of Ag increases with the decreasing Ar-cluster size, which might be an approach to converge the different sputter rates.

Splenocyte Infusion and Whole-Body Irradiation for Induction of Peripheral Tolerance in Porcine Lung Transplantation: Modifications of the Preconditioning Regime for Improved Clinical Feasibility.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative low-dose whole-body irradiation (IRR) with 1.5 and 7 Gy thymic IRR of the recipient, combined with a perioperative donor splenocyte infusion lead to reliable donor specific peripheral tolerance in our allogeneic porcine lung transplantation model. To reduce the toxicity of this preconditioning regime, modifications of the IRR protocol and their impact on allograft survival were assessed. METHODS: Left-sided single lung transplantation from major histocompatibility complex and sex mismatched donors was performed in 14 adult female minipigs. Recipient animals were exposed to 3 different protocols of nonmyeloablative IRR within 12 hours before transplantation. All animals were administered a donor splenocyte infusion on the day of lung transplantation. Intravenous pharmacologic immunosuppression was withdrawn after 28 postoperative days. Allograft survival was monitored by chest radiographs and bronchoscopy. RESULTS: IRR prolonged transplant survival in a dose- and field-dependent manner. Shielding of the bone marrow from IRR (total lymphoid IRR at 1.5 and 7 Gy thymic IRR) significantly reduced protocol toxicity defined as thrombocytopenia and consecutive increased bleeding propensity, but had a less effective impact on graft survival. Whole-body IRR at 0.5 and 7 Gy thymic IRR proved to be ineffective for reliable tolerance induction. Eventually, high levels of circulating CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells were present in long-term survivors. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the infusion of donor-specific alloantigen in combination with IRR is efficient once a threshold dose is exceeded.

In vitro assessment of nanosilver-functionalized PMMA bone cement on primary human mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts.

Peri-prosthetic infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria have become a serious problem in surgery and orthopedics. The aim is to introduce biomaterials that avoid implant-related infections caused by multiresistant bacteria. The efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) against a broad spectrum of bacteria and against multiresistant pathogens has been repeatedly described. In the present study polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement functionalized with AgNP and/or gentamicin were tested regarding their biocompatibility with bone forming cells. Therefore, influences on viability, cell number and differentiation of primary human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs cultured in osteogenic differentiation media (MSC-OM) caused by the implant materials were studied. Furthermore, the growth behavior and the morphology of the cells on the testing material were observed. Finally, we examined the induction of cell stress, regarding antioxidative defense and endoplasmatic reticulum stress. We demonstrated similar cytocompatibility of PMMA loaded with AgNP compared to plain PMMA or PMMA loaded with gentamicin. There was no decrease in cell number, viability and osteogenic differentiation and no induction of cell stress for all three PMMA variants after 21 days. Addition of gentamicin to AgNP-loaded PMMA led to a slight decrease in osteogenic differentiation. Also an increase in cell stress was detectable for PMMA loaded with gentamicin and AgNP. In conclusion, supplementation of PMMA bone cement with gentamicin, AgNP, and both results in bone implants with an antibacterial potency and suitable cytocompatibility in MSCs and MSC-OM.

Synergistic toxicity of gentamicin- and nanosilver-doped polymethylmethacrylate bone cement on primary human osteoclasts.

Bacterial colonization of implant surfaces is a feared complication in surgery and orthopedics. Due to the increasing number of periprosthetic infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, new antibacterial coatings for biomaterials must be developed. The excellent antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against multidrug-resistant bacteria, for example, have been repeatedly described. For this reason, we tested a nanosilver-doped polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement and a nanosilver-coated titanium alloy regarding their influence on osteoclastogenesis of primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both implant variants did not inhibit osteoclast differentiation. Excellent cell attachment and unaltered podosomal structures were confirmed. Additionally, no induction of oxidative or endoplasmic reticulum stress could be observed. However, PMMA loaded with gentamicin and nanosilver inhibited preosteoclast fusion and further osteoclastogenesis. The material also led to decreased clathrin-dependent endocytosis as well as decreased levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Therefore, biomaterial functionalization with AgNPs did not disturb osteoclastogenesis, while addition of gentamicin reduced the cytocompatibility of nanosilver-doped materials towards human osteoclasts.

Silver nanoparticles do not alter human osteoclastogenesis but induce cellular uptake.

Based on the increasing number of multi-drug resistant bacteria in periprosthetic infections, improvement of the antibacterial activity of commonly used biomaterials must be achieved. The broad-spectrum, high antimicrobial efficacy has made silver nanoparticles a promising new antibacterial agent. However, there is still a serious lack of knowledge concerning the impact of nanosilver on bone cells. For this reason a study was conducted to evaluate the influence of silver nanoparticles on osteoclastogenesis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Upon incubation with subtoxic concentrations of nanosilver the cells did not exhibit changes in osteoclast differentiation and podosomal structures. However, the osteoclasts were able to uptake the nanoparticles, accumulating them in endo-lysosomal compartments. Furthermore, nanosilver exposure led to an increase in oxidative stress and a decrease in clathrin-dependent endocytosis on the mRNA level. In conclusion, our results indicate nanosilver-induced cell stress at higher concentrations. For this reason antibacterial benefits and possible health risks should be weighed in more detail in further studies.

Biocompatibility of silver nanoparticles and silver ions in primary human mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts.

The prevention of implant-related infections is an important issue in medical research. The aim is to exploit the strong antimicrobial effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) to develop new antibacterial coatings for implants. However, there is still a serious lack of information on the influence of AgNP on bone metabolism. In the present study we have evaluated the influence of AgNP on cell stress, viability, proliferation and differentiation of primary human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and osteoblasts (OB). Finally, cellular uptake of the AgNP was examined. After 21 days impairment of cell viability of MSC and OB occurred at a concentration of 10 µg/g of AgNP. Cytotoxicity and inhibition of proliferation was highly time and dose dependent. No influence on cell differentiation, but an increase in cell stress, was observed. Uptake of AgNP into MSC and OB could be confirmed. In summary, these results demonstrate AgNP-mediated cytotoxicity at higher concentrations. Therefore, a therapeutical window for the application of AgNP in medical products might exist. However, the antibacterial benefits and potential health risks of AgNP need to be weighed in further studies.