Objective To study and compare silica nanoparticles (nano-SiO2) and mesoporous silica (SBA-15) induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damage on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).
Methods HUVEC were exposed to nano-SiO2 and SBA-15 with different concentrations (0.00, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00, 200.00 μg/mL) for 24 hours. The inhibition rates of cell proliferation, expression levels of cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the medium supernatant were measured.
Results Compared with the negative control group (0 μg/mL), the inhibition rate of the nano-SiO2 group and the SBA-15 group were significantly increased (P<0.05) and in an distinct dose-effect manner. At a low concentration of 12.50 μg/mL the inhibition rates of the SBA-15 group were higher than those of the nano-SiO2 group, the pattern reversed in high concentration range. Compared with the negative control group (0 μg/mL), the LDH activity and intracellular ROS levels of the nano-SiO2 group or the SBA-15 group were significantly increased (P<0.05), also showing a distinct dose-effect relationship. The LDH activity and the ROS levels of the SBA-15 group at various doses were lower than those of the nano-SiO2 group at the same dose.
Conclusion Both nano-SiO2 and SBA-15 impose toxic effects on HUVEC. Oxidative damage may be one mechanism of cytotoxicity induced by silica materials. SBA-15 shows lower cytotoxicity comparing with silica nanoparticles.
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