Cellular interactions of surface modified nanoporous silicon particles

: Bimbo LM, Sarparanta M, Makila E, Laaksonen T, Laaksonen P, Salonen J, Linder MB, Hirvonen J, Airaksinen AJ, Santos HA

Publisher: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

: 2012

: Nanoscale

: NANOSCALE

: 10

: 4

: 10

: 3184

: 3192

: 9

: 2040-3364

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c2nr30397c

In this study, the self-assembly of hydrophobin class II (HFBII) on the surface of thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon (THCPSi) nanoparticles was investigated. The HFBII-coating converted the hydrophobic particles into more hydrophilic ones, improved the particles' cell viability in both HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines compared to uncoated particles, and enhanced the particles' cellular association. The amount of HFBII adsorbed onto the particles was also successfully quantified by both the BCA assay and a HPLC method. Importantly, the permeation of a poorly water-soluble drug, indomethacin, loaded into THCPSi particles across Caco-2 monolayers was not affected by the protein coating. In addition, I-125-radiolabelled HFBII did not extensively permeate the Caco-2 monolayer and was found to be stably adsorbed onto the THCPSi nanoparticles incubated in pH 7.4, which renders the particles the possibility for further track-imaging applications. The results highlight the potential of HFBII coating for improving wettability, increasing biocompatibility and possible intestinal association of PSi nanoparticulates for drug delivery applications.