Metabolic variation in cultured cells treated with differentially functionalised gold nanoparticles (GNPs)

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and differentially functionalised or ligand exchanged GNPs (Lig-GNPs) present promising advantages in a variety of fields. Surface functionalisation of GNPs with ligands is believed to improve the biocompatibility of the GNPs. However, the effects of these particles on biological systems remain unclear due to contradictions and several limitations in the literature, such as unstandardised protocols. Standardised methods and compatibility of assays with GNPs are essential in accurately determining the overall effect of GNPs on biological systems. Metabolomics analysis may present answers to the possible effects observed in the literature as it presents the metabolites, which are the closest to the functional phenotype of a biological system. However, research in these two fields as a combination is greatly limited. This study reveals the metabolic variation that occurs in HepG2 cells when treated with PVP-GNPs, PSSNa-GNPs and Citrate-GNPs by using standardised, pre-evaluated protocols. The results show that even though differentially functionalised GNPs seem to improve the biocompatibility of the particles, GNPs do induce variation on metabolome level; however, the variation is not necessarily linked with cytotoxicity. This field presents opportunities to further elucidate the effects that GNPs may have on biological systems.