Biocompatibility assessment of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism

Publication date: Available online 22 October 2019Source: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & PharmacologyAuthor(s): Fei Luo, Song Zhu, Yang Hu, Ke-Chen Yang, Mao-Sheng He, Bin Zhu, Gao-Xue Wang, Fei LingAbstractUsing Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an experimental model, the potential toxicological effects of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) were investigated following exposure to 0–600 mg/L for 24 h. Results revealed that cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by Fe3O4-NPs with an IC50 value of 326.66 mg/L. Mortality showed a concentration-dependent increase, and the highest concentration in this study (600 mg/L) resulted in 22.30% mortality. In addition, Effects on proliferation and mortality were accounted for Fe3O4-NPs rather than iron ion released from Fe3O4-NPs. Scanning and transmission electron microscope observation showed that Fe3O4-NPs extensively attached on the cell surfaces, causing cells to deform and shrink. Moreover, Fe3O4-NPs could be internalized in S. cerevisiae cells via endocytosis and then be distributed in cytoplasm and vesicles. The data of uptake kinetics demonstrated that the maximal accumulation (4.898 mg/g) was reached at 15 h. Besides, percentage of late apoptosis/necrosis was observably increased (p < 0.01) at 600 mg/L (15.80%), and the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (SOD, Yca1 and Nuc1) were dramatically increased following exposure to Fe3O4-NPs for 24 h. As expected, mitochon...
Source: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research