Physics Commons^™

Zno Nanoparticles Modulate The Ionic Transport And Voltage Regulation Of Lysenin Nanochannels, Sheenah L. Bryant, Josh E. Eixenberger, Steven Rossland, Holly Apsley, Connor Hoffman, Nisha Shrestha, Michael Mchugh, Alex Punnoose, Daniel Fologea

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: The insufficient understanding of unintended biological impacts from nanomaterials (NMs) represents a serious impediment to their use for scientific, technological, and medical applications. While previous studies have focused on understanding nanotoxicity effects mostly resulting from cellular internalization, recent work indicates that NMs may interfere with transmembrane transport mechanisms, hence enabling contributions to nanotoxicity by affecting key biological activities dependent on transmembrane transport. In this line of inquiry, we investigated the effects of charged nanoparticles (NPs) on the transport properties of lysenin, a pore-forming toxin that shares fundamental features with ion channels such as regulation and high transport rate.

Results: …

The Influences Of Cell Type And Zno Nanoparticle Size On Immune Cell Cytotoxicity And Cytokine Induction, Cory Hanley, Aaron Thurber, Charles Hanna, Alex Punnoose, Jianhui Zhang, Denise G. Wingett

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nanotechnology represents a new and enabling platform that promises to provide a range of innovative technologies for biological applications. ZnO nanoparticles of controlled size were synthesized, and their cytotoxicity towards different human immune cells evaluated. A differential cytotoxic response between human immune cell subsets was observed, with lymphocytes being the most resistant and monocytes being the most susceptible to ZnO nanoparticle-induced toxicity. Significant differences were also observed between previously activated memory lymphocytes and naive lymphocytes, indicating a relationship between cell-cycle potential and nanoparticle susceptibility. Mechanisms of toxicity involve the generation of reactive oxygen species, with monocytes displaying the highest levels, …