Cell-excreted proteins mediate the interactions of differently sized silica nanoparticles during cellular uptake

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-05, Vol.469, p.133894, Article 133894
• Main Authors: Huang, Bin, Li, Jia-Ming, Zang, Xiao-Mei, Wang, Mei, Pan, Wei, Zhang, Ke-Da, He, Huan, Tan, Qiao-Guo, Miao, Ai-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregation; Cell Line; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Co-exposure; Humans; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Protein corona; Proteins - metabolism; Silicon Dioxide - chemistry; Uptake competition
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133894

Exposure to different types of nanoparticles (NPs) results in their deposition in human bodies. While most studies have examined the cellular uptake of only one type of NP at a time, how the dynamics of NP uptake may change in the presence of other types of NPs remains unclear. We therefore investigated the interplay of two differently sized SiO2 NPs during their uptake by A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Both NPs contained a CdSeTe core, which was labeled with different Cd isotopes to differentiate between them. Our study showed that the uptake of one size of SiO2 NPs either increased or decreased with the concentration of the other size of SiO2 NPs. This variation in uptake was attributable to the concentration-dependent aggregation of SiO2 NPs, as determined by the amount of cell-excreted proteins adsorbed on the NP surface. Further, the effects of the protein corona on the attachment of SiO2 NPs to the cell surface and uptake competition between differently sized SiO2 NPs also played important roles. Cell-excreted proteins were then analyzed by proteomics. Overall, the complex interactions between coexisting NPs of different physicochemical properties and cell-excreted proteins should be considered during bio-applications and bio-safety evaluations of NPs. [Display omitted] •SiO2 nanoparticles of different sizes interacted with each other during the uptake.•A549 cells excreted a substantial amount of proteins into the exposure medium.•The uptake increase was due to aggregation and their decreased protein adsorption.•The uptake decrease was due to disaggregation and uptake competition.