Gold Nanocluster-Mediated Cellular Death under Electromagnetic Radiation.

ACS applied materials & interfaces · 2017 · Harm · Low evidence

← Research stream

HarmLow evidencePaper 6605

Study snapshot

PublicationACS applied materials & interfaces · 2017

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have become a promising nanomaterial for cancer therapy because of their biocompatibility and fluorescent properties. In this study, the effect of ultrasmall protein-stabilized 2 nm Au NCs on six types of mammalian cells (fibroblasts, B-lymphocytes, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, and two types of prostate cancer cells) under electromagnetic radiation is investigated. Cellular association of Au NCs in vitro is concentration-dependent, and Au NCs have low intrinsic toxicity. However, when Au NC-incubated cells are exposed to a 1 GHz electromagnetic field (microwave radiation), cell viability significantly decreases, thus demonstrating that Au NCs exhibit specific microwave-dependent cytotoxicity, likely resulting from localized heating. Upon i.v. injection in mice, Au NCs are still present at 24 h post administration. Considering the specific microwave-dependent cytotoxicity and low intrinsic toxicity, our work suggests the potential of Au NCs as effective and safe nanomedicines for cancer therapy.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationSix types of mammalian cells in vitro (fibroblasts, B-lymphocytes, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, and two types of prostate cancer cells); mice (i.v. injection)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 1000 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Protein-stabilized 2 nm gold nanoclusters showed concentration-dependent cellular association and low intrinsic toxicity in vitro. When gold nanocluster-incubated cells were exposed to a 1 GHz electromagnetic field, cell viability significantly decreased, indicating microwave-dependent cytotoxicity (described as likely due to localized heating). After i.v. injection in mice, gold nanoclusters were still present at 24 h post administration.

Outcomes measured

Cellular association (uptake/association) of gold nanoclusters
Intrinsic toxicity of gold nanoclusters
Cell viability under 1 GHz electromagnetic field exposure
Presence/retention of gold nanoclusters in mice at 24 h post i.v. injection

Limitations

Exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, power density) and exposure duration are not provided in the abstract.
In vitro findings are reported across multiple cell types, but quantitative effect sizes are not stated in the abstract.
The mouse component reports presence at 24 h but does not describe health outcomes under electromagnetic exposure in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 1000,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Six types of mammalian cells in vitro (fibroblasts, B-lymphocytes, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, and two types of prostate cancer cells); mice (i.v. injection)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cellular association (uptake/association) of gold nanoclusters",
    "Intrinsic toxicity of gold nanoclusters",
    "Cell viability under 1 GHz electromagnetic field exposure",
    "Presence/retention of gold nanoclusters in mice at 24 h post i.v. injection"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Protein-stabilized 2 nm gold nanoclusters showed concentration-dependent cellular association and low intrinsic toxicity in vitro. When gold nanocluster-incubated cells were exposed to a 1 GHz electromagnetic field, cell viability significantly decreased, indicating microwave-dependent cytotoxicity (described as likely due to localized heating). After i.v. injection in mice, gold nanoclusters were still present at 24 h post administration.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, power density) and exposure duration are not provided in the abstract.",
    "In vitro findings are reported across multiple cell types, but quantitative effect sizes are not stated in the abstract.",
    "The mouse component reports presence at 24 h but does not describe health outcomes under electromagnetic exposure in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "gold nanoclusters",
    "Au NCs",
    "microwave radiation",
    "1 GHz",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "cell viability",
    "cytotoxicity",
    "localized heating",
    "in vitro",
    "mice",
    "cancer therapy"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b13100
PubMed: 29116739

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library