Investigation of the phototoxic effect of ZnO nanorods on fibroblasts and melanoma human cells

• Photo-cytotoxicity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) either bare or conjugated with photosensitizers was studied in dark and after ultraviolet light exposure, in human melanoma and foreskin fibroblast cells. ZnO NWs were grown on the capillary tip and then coated with photosensitizer. This coated tip was used as pointer for intracellular insertion of ZnO NWs and photosensitizer. ZnO NWs pointer was inserted into a specific cell and then irradiated with ultraviolet (UVA), which led to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, as estimated by loss of the Mitotracker Red staining. Dissolved ZnO NWs showed cytotoxicity as detected by MTT viability assay and morphological evaluation. UVA-irradiation enhanced the toxicity and caused the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in cell necrosis. ZnO NWs were photo-toxic for both normal and cancer cells, questioning their bio-safety.

Nyckelord

ZnO nanowires

photodynamic therapy

reactive oxygen species

δ- Aminolevulinic acid

protoporphyrin 1X

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