Research Article

The influence of silica nanoparticles on small mesenteric arterial function

School of Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

School of Science & the Environment, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

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Alexander Seifalian

Centre for Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK

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May Azzawi

*Author for correspondence:

E-mail Address: m.azzawi@mmu.ac.uk

School of Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

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Published Online:2 Aug 2016https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2016-0124

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Abstract

Aim: To determine the influence of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) on small arterial function; both ex vivo and in vivo. Methods: Mono-dispersed dye-encapsulated SiNPs (97.85 ± 2.26 nm) were fabricated and vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses of mesenteric arteries assessed. Results: We show that while exposure to SiNPs under static conditions, attenuated endothelial dependent dilator responses ex vivo, attenuation was only evident at lower agonist concentrations, when exposed under flow conditions or after intravenous administration in vivo. Pharmacological inhibition studies suggest that SiNPs may interfere with the endothelial dependent hyperpolarizing factor vasodilator pathway. Conclusion: The dosage dependent influence of SiNPs on arterial function will help identify strategies for their safe clinical administration.

Graphical abstract

A schematic illustration summarizing the effect of silica nanoparticles on the vasodilator function of endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells of the mesenteric artery and the potential associated mechanisms involved in mediating their behavior ex vivo.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Vol. 11, No. 16

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Published online 2 August 2016

Published in print August 2016

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank A Mironov in the EM facility, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK, for his assistance with tissue processing and electron microscopy.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was partially supported by the EPSRC-funded ‘Bridging the Gaps: Nano-Info-Bio’ project, grant reference EP/H000291/1; TSB (development of nerve conduit with nanotopography). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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