Effects of functionalized silver nanoparticles on aggregation of human blood platelets

Justyna Hajtuch,1 Nadhim Hante,2 Ewelina Tomczyk,3 Michal Wojcik,3 Marek Witold Radomski,4 Maria Jose Santos-Martinez,2 Iwona Inkielewicz-Stepniak1 1Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 2School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; 3Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; 4Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaCorrespondence: Maria Jose Santos-MartinezSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandTel +353 1 896 4281Fax +353 1 608 2821Email santosmm@tcd.ieIwona Inkielewicz-StepniakDepartment of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St. Gdansk 80-211, PolandTel +48 58 349 1450Fax +48 58 349 1450Email iinkiel@gumed.edu.plPurpose: We studied the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on human blood platelet function. We hypothesized that AgNPs, a known antimicrobial agent, can be used as blood-compatible, “ideal material’’ in medical devices or as a drug delivery system. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate if functionalized AgNPs affect platelet function and platelets as well as endothelial cell viability in vitro.Methods: AgNPs, functionalized with reduced glutathione (GSH), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lipoic acid (LA) were synthesized. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation was used to measure the effect of AgNPs on platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation was measured by changes in frequency and dissipation, and the presence of platelets on the sensor surface was confirmed and imaged by phase contrast microscopy. Flow cytometry was used to detect surface abundance of platelet receptors. Lactate dehydrogenase test was used to assess the potential cytotoxicity of AgNPs on human blood platelets, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Commercially available ELISA tests were used to measure the levels of thromboxane B2 and metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2) released by platelets as markers of platelet activation.Results: 2 nm AgNPs-GSH, 3.7 nm AgNPs-PEG both at 50 and 100 μg/mL, and 2.5 nm AgNPs-LA at 100 μg/mL reduced platelet aggregation, inhibited collagen-mediated increase in total P-selectin and GPIIb/IIIa, TXB2 formation, MMP-1, and MMP-2 release. The tested AgNPs concentrations were not cytotoxic as they did not affect, platelet, endothelial cell, or fibroblast viability.Conclusion: All tested functionalized AgNPs inhibited platelet aggregation at nontoxic concentrations. Therefore, functionalized AgNPs can be used as an antiplatelet agent or in design and manufacturing of blood-facing medical devices, such as vascular grafts, stents, heart valves, and catheters.Keywords: functionalized silver nanoparticles, blood platelets, QCM-D, platelets receptors, TXB2, MMP-1 and MMP-2