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High-resolution analytical electron microscopy reveals cell culture media-induced changes to the chemistry of silver nanowires.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chen, S; Theodorou, IG; Goode, AE; Gow, A; Schwander, S; Zhang, JJ; Chung, KF; Tetley, TD; Shaffer, MS; Ryan, MP; Porter, AE
Published in: Environmental science & technology
December 2013

There is a growing concern about the potential adverse effects on human health upon exposure to engineered silver nanomaterials (particles, wires, and plates). However, the majority of studies testing the toxicity of silver nanomaterials have examined nominally "as-synthesized" materials without considering the fate of the materials in biologically relevant fluids. Here, in-house silver nanowires (AgNWs) were prepared by a modified polyol process and were incubated in three cell culture media (DMEM, RPMI-1640, and DCCM-1) to examine the impact of AgNW-medium interactions on the physicochemical properties of the AgNWs. High-resolution analytical transmission electron microscopy revealed that Ag2S crystals form on the surface of AgNWs within 1 h of incubation in DCCM-1. In contrast, the incubation of AgNWs in RPMI-1640 or DMEM did not lead to sulfidation. When the DCCM-1 cell culture medium was separated into its small molecule solutes and salts and protein components, the AgNWs were found to sulfidize in the fraction containing small molecule solutes and salts but not in the fraction containing the protein component of the media. Further investigation showed the AgNWs did not readily sulfidize in the presence of isolated sulfur containing amino acids or proteins, such as cysteine or bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results demonstrate that the AgNWs can be transformed by the media before and during the incubation with cells, and therefore, the effects of cell culture media must be considered in the analysis of toxicity assays. Appropriate media and material controls must be in place to allow accurate predictions about the toxicity and, ultimately, the health risk of this commercially relevant class of nanomaterial.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

December 2013

Volume

47

Issue

23

Start / End Page

13813 / 13821

Related Subject Headings

  • Temperature
  • Silver
  • Nanowires
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Kinetics
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Culture Media
 

Citation

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Chen, S., Theodorou, I. G., Goode, A. E., Gow, A., Schwander, S., Zhang, J. J., … Porter, A. E. (2013). High-resolution analytical electron microscopy reveals cell culture media-induced changes to the chemistry of silver nanowires. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(23), 13813–13821. https://doi.org/10.1021/es403264d
Chen, Shu, Ioannis G. Theodorou, Angela E. Goode, Andrew Gow, Stephan Schwander, Junfeng Jim Zhang, Kian Fan Chung, et al. “High-resolution analytical electron microscopy reveals cell culture media-induced changes to the chemistry of silver nanowires.Environmental Science & Technology 47, no. 23 (December 2013): 13813–21. https://doi.org/10.1021/es403264d.
Chen S, Theodorou IG, Goode AE, Gow A, Schwander S, Zhang JJ, et al. High-resolution analytical electron microscopy reveals cell culture media-induced changes to the chemistry of silver nanowires. Environmental science & technology. 2013 Dec;47(23):13813–21.
Chen, Shu, et al. “High-resolution analytical electron microscopy reveals cell culture media-induced changes to the chemistry of silver nanowires.Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 47, no. 23, Dec. 2013, pp. 13813–21. Epmc, doi:10.1021/es403264d.
Chen S, Theodorou IG, Goode AE, Gow A, Schwander S, Zhang JJ, Chung KF, Tetley TD, Shaffer MS, Ryan MP, Porter AE. High-resolution analytical electron microscopy reveals cell culture media-induced changes to the chemistry of silver nanowires. Environmental science & technology. 2013 Dec;47(23):13813–13821.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

December 2013

Volume

47

Issue

23

Start / End Page

13813 / 13821

Related Subject Headings

  • Temperature
  • Silver
  • Nanowires
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Kinetics
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Culture Media