Impact of diamond nanoparticles on neural cells

Abstract

Diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) are very attractive for biomedical applications, particularly for bioimaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of DNPs on neural cancer cells and thus to assess the possible application of DNPs for these cells imaging. For this purpose, the neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line was chosen. Cells were cultured in medium with different concentrations (15, 50, 100 and 150 mu g/ml) of DNPs. After 48 h of incubation, cell metabolic activity was evaluated by the XTT assay. For assessment of cellular metabolic activity, cells were also cultured on differently terminated nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) coatings in medium with 150 mu g/ml of DNPs. Cell adhesion and morphology were evaluated by brightfield microscopy. Diamond nanoparticle internalization was determined by confocal microscopy. The obtained results showed that low concentrations (15, 50 and 100 mu g/ml) of nanoparticles did not significantly affect the SH-SY5Y cell metabolic activity. However, a higher concentration (150 mu g/ml) of DNPs statistically significantly reduced SH-SY5Y cell metabolic activity. After 48 h incubation with 150 mu g/ml DNPs, cell metabolic activity was 23% lower than in medium without DNPs on standard tissue culture polystyrene. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.