The importance of an endotoxin-free environment during the production of nanoparticles used in medical applications

• We investigated the effect of spherical gold nanoparticles on immature dendritic cells (DCs). Conventionally produced nanoparticles had a maturating effect on the DCs-a result of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contamination. By modification of the production process, low-LPS particles were obtained, which had practically no effect on phenotypic maturation or cytokine production of the DCs. Our findings emphasize the importance of high purity in the production of nanoparticles, since possible contaminants may interfere with the assessment of biological/medical effects. They also highlight that nanoparticles can function as carriers of immune modulating contaminants.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

human dendritic cells

gold

immunity

lipopolysaccharide

contamination

maturation

particles

receptor

innate

metal

Materials chemistry

Materialkemi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)