Effects of functionalized silver nanoparticles on aggregation of human blood platelets.

PURPOSE: We studied the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on human blood platelet function. We hypothesized that AgNPs, a known antimicrobial agent, can be used as blood-compatible, "ideal material'' in medical devices or as a drug delivery system. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate if functionalized AgNPs affect platelet function and platelets as well as endothelial cell viability in vitro. METHODS: AgNPs, functionalized with reduced glutathione (GSH), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lipoic acid (LA) were synthesized. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation was used to measure the effect of AgNPs on platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation was measured by changes in frequency and dissipation, and the presence of platelets on the sensor surface was confirmed and imaged by phase contrast microscopy. Flow cytometry was used to detect surface abundance of platelet receptors. Lactate dehydrogenase test was used to assess the potential cytotoxicity of AgNPs on human blood platelets, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Commercially available ELISA tests were used to measure the levels of thromboxane B2 and metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2) released by platelets as markers of platelet activation. RESULTS: 2 nm AgNPs-GSH, 3.7 nm AgNPs-PEG both at 50 and 100 µg/mL, and 2.5 nm AgNPs-LA at 100 µg/mL reduced platelet aggregation, inhibited collagen-mediated increase in total P-selectin and GPIIb/IIIa, TXB2 formation, MMP-1, and MMP-2 release. The tested AgNPs concentrations were not cytotoxic as they did not affect, platelet, endothelial cell, or fibroblast viability. CONCLUSION: All tested functionalized AgNPs inhibited platelet aggregation at nontoxic concentrations. Therefore, functionalized AgNPs can be used as an antiplatelet agent or in design and manufacturing of blood-facing medical devices, such as vascular grafts, stents, heart valves, and catheters.

Pegylation increases platelet biocompatibility of gold nanoparticles.

The increasing use of gold nanoparticles in medical diagnosis and treatment has raised the concern over their blood compatibility. The interactions of nanoparticles with blood components may lead to platelet aggregation and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, medical applications of gold nanoparticles call for increased nanoparticle stability and biocompatibility. Functionalisation of nanoparticles with polythelene glycol (PEGylation) is known to modulate cell-particle interactions. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of PEGylated-gold nanoparticles on human platelet function and endothelial cells in vitro. Gold nanoparticles, 15 nm in diameter, were synthesised in water using sodium citrate as a reducing and stabilising agent. Functionalised polyethylene glycol-based thiol polymers were used to coat and stabilise pre-synthesised gold nanoparticles. The interaction of gold nanoparticles-citrate and PEGylated-gold nanoparticles with human platelets was measured by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation. Platelet-nanoparticles interaction was imaged using phase-contrast, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The inflammatory effects of gold nanoparticles-citrate and PEGylated-gold nanoparticles in endothelial cells were measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. PEGylated-gold nanoparticles were stable under physiological conditions and PEGylated-gold nanoparticles-5400 and PEGylated-gold nanoparticles-10800 did not affect platelet aggregation as measured by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation. In addition, PEGylated-gold nanoparticles did not induce an inflammatory response when incubated with endothelial cells. Therefore, this study shows that PEGylated-gold nanoparticles with a higher molecular weight of the polymer chain are both platelet- and endothelium-compatible making them attractive candidates for biomedical applications.

The use of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) for studying nanoparticle-induced platelet aggregation.

Interactions between blood platelets and nanoparticles have both pharmacological and toxicological significance and may lead to platelet activation and aggregation. Platelet aggregation is usually studied using light aggregometer that neither mimics the conditions found in human microvasculature nor detects microaggregates. A new method for the measurement of platelet microaggregation under flow conditions using a commercially available quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) has recently been developed. The aim of the current study was to investigate if QCM-D could be used for the measurement of nanoparticle-platelet interactions. Silica, polystyrene, and gold nanoparticles were tested. The interactions were also studied using light aggregometry and flow cytometry, which measured surface abundance of platelet receptors. Platelet activation was imaged using phase contrast and scanning helium ion microscopy. QCM-D was able to measure nanoparticle-induced platelet microaggregation for all nanoparticles tested at concentrations that were undetectable by light aggregometry and flow cytometry. Microaggregates were measured by changes in frequency and dissipation, and the presence of platelets on the sensor surface was confirmed and imaged by phase contrast and scanning helium ion microscopy.