Acute exposure to silica nanoparticles enhances mortality and increases lung permeability in a mouse model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia

Table 1 Nanoparticle characterisation

Nanopaticle	Physico-chemical properties									Endotoxin
	Water			PBS			RPM
	Size (nm)	Pdl	Z-pot (mV)	Size (nm)	Pdl	Z-pot (mV)	Size (nm)	Pdl	Z-pot (mV)
SiO₂	50.9	0.271	−11.2	53.6	0.217	−10.1	68.1	0.207	−13.2	<0.25 EU/mg
FITC-SiO₂	44.4	0.262	−64.5	56.4	0.306.	−10.5	54.4	0.305	−21.9	<0.25 EU/mg

Labelled or unlabelled 15 nm SiO2 NPs were characterised in different media. The hydrodynamic size of agglomerates and polydispersity index (PdI) of suspensions were determined by DLS and their charge by measuring the zeta-potential (Z-pot). Endotoxin detection was performed by the Limulus amebocyte Assay (LAL) method following manufacturer’s instructions. Detection limit of the assay was 0.1 EU/ml and concentration of NPs in the assay was 0.4 mg/ml.

ISSN: 1743-8977