Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

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Evaluation of Gold Nanoparticles Toxicity to Human Epithelial Cells (HEp-2 cells) and Effect on Apoptotic Genes

Undergraduate #277
Discipline: Nanoscience
Subcategory: Nanoscience

Joshua Middleton - Alabama State University
Co-Author(s): Pooja Tiwari, Swapnil Pawage, Erdal Eroglu, Shree R. Singh, and Komal Vig


Nanomaterial has become a leading field of science and its studies are contributing immensely to the creation of: insulation materials, elimination of pollutants, panel displays, more durable cutting tools, high energy density batteries, high-power magnets, high-sensitivity sensors, automobiles with greater fuel efficiency, and even aerospace components. Nanotechnology is providing stimulating new tools and materials to the pharmaceutical industry that have the potential to dramatically improve drug delivery methods. Gold Nanoparticles have tunable optical and electronic properties and are used in a number of applications such as: electronics, photodynamic therapy, therapeutic agent delivery, sensors, probes, diagnostics, and catalysis. In the present study we evaluated PEGylated gold nanoparticle (2025nM in size) toxicity to HEp-2 cells using MTT assay at four concentrations; 0.625nM, 1.25nM, 2.5nM, and 5nM; and, at three time intervals; 24hrs, 48hrs, and 72hrs. Toxicity was also measured using trypan blue cell exclusion assay, using 5nM and 2.5nM at 48hrs. Our results showed that after 24hrs the maximum observed cell death was 10% and, by 72hrs it increased to 15%. We further investigated the effect of gold nanoparticles on apoptotic genes. RNA from nanoparticle incubated HEp-2 cells was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Primers specific for p53, capsase 3, Bc12, and Bax were used to amplify cDNA using Bio-Rad Master Cycler. Amplified DNA was evaluated for the gene product using agarose gel electrophoresis. Based on our results we can conclude that the addition of gold nanoparticles has little to no toxicity on the HEp-2 cells, essentially allowing for gold nanoparticles to be a carrier for vaccines, diagnostics, and other biomedical applications.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Center of BioNanotechnology at Alabama State University and the National Science Foundation

Faculty Advisor: Komal Vig,

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.