Aggregation and protein corona formation on gold nanoparticles affect viability and liver functions of primary rat hepatocytes.

AIM

We examined the impact of aggregation and protein corona formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the cytotoxicity, uptake and metabolism, specifically urea and albumin synthesis, of primary rat hepatocytes.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The AuNPs were synthesized via citrate reduction and the human serum protein corona was preformed on the AuNPs. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from male Wistar rats via two-step in situ collagenase perfusion method, and were dosed with both citrate-capped (AuNP-Cit) and protein corona coated AuNPs (AuNP-Cor).

RESULTS

The AuNP-Cor showed higher cell uptake and reduced cell viability compared with aggregated AuNP-Cit. Urea and albumin secretions showed AuNP dose dependency. Both AuNP-Cit and AuNP-Cor exerted only an acute effect on the albumin synthesis of hepatocytes with no chronic impact.